Morning Skate: NHL comes up small at its biggest event

Here are all the links from around the hockey world, and what I’m reading, while just shaking my head at the Golden State Warriors. Just too damn good.

*I’ve got to say that Steve Simmons has a point here. Nobody ever wants to hear the media whining about access issues of any kind, but the truth is that the NHL, its players and its officials should be looking to sell, sell, sell the league at their showcase Stanley Cup Final event. That means very regularly making the star players available to the media, and doing their best to market the game to an ever-expanding audience. That means going overboard with it in the Stanley Cup Final, where everything should be about making the game and its player the top trending topic while the series is going on. It’s certainly something that the NBA seems to do in a much savvier way.

*Chicago Blackhawks owner Rocky Wirtz has acknowledged that there could be changes coming for the Blackhawks after missing the playoff cut.

*Embarrassing situation for the Ottawa Senators as their assistant GM is set to appear in court in Buffalo on Monday after his alleged actions during the NHL scouting combine last week.

*It could be an interesting combo for Michigan Wolverines defenseman Quinn Hughes and the Detroit Red Wings if they select him in the draft in a couple of weeks.

*Are the Vegas Golden Knights rattled by the Washington Capitals really taking control in the series? I think it’s a little early to say that, but they need a big response in Game 4.

*For something completely different: I’ve got to say that I completely agree with Kevin Smith’s sentiments about "Solo: A Star Wars Story".