Here are all the links from around the hockey world, and what I’m reading, with Rene Rancourt warming up for his Christmas Carol crooning today.
*Pittsburgh Penguins tough guy Ryan Reaves seems to be finding his niche with the Pens as a bodyguard to Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, and the kind of player you wouldn’t mind seeing in a Boston uniform as this season rolls along. You wouldn’t see as many runs at Brad Marchand if a guy like Reaves was lurking on the B’s bench.
*The NHL is not ruling out a brief return to the Nassau Coliseum for the New York Islanders as they ready to make the move back to Long Island proper.
*Speaking of NHL arena situations, PHT writer Joel Alfieri has the details on Gary Bettman getting frustrated with how things are going in Calgary.
*An interesting story on Carolina Hurricanes President Don Waddell and the best Christmas present that he ever received.
*Worchester native Kyle Richtelle is chasing down his dream of being an on-ice NHL official and he’s getting closer all the time.
*Auston Matthews was apparently concussed all along, and it sounds like he’ll be making his return for the Maple Leafs.
Boston Bruins
*For something completely different: A moment that will stop you in your tracks is Spaghetti Chewbacca.