Wednesday, August 31, 2011

POTG Hump Day Headlines, News, and Links

We have made it to mid week in what has to be the slowest week for hockey news of the summer. Yesterday, on RLD Hockey Talk, NHL Home Ice's Mick Kern discussed the dearth of real news and how he has to search for material for the "Around the Rinks in 90 Seconds" segments at this time of year.

As always, we look far and wide to try to give you hockey news every day to help you through the dog days of the hockey summer.

Make the jump for today's news and links.


Special Note...

We continue to be amazed at the outpouring of support for fellow blogger C.J. Shepard who was devastated by floods in New Jersey from Hurricane Irene. You can still go to the virtual Tweet-Up to contribute to help out a friend of hockey in need.

In Pred Nation...

Matt Halischuk is the focus of today's season preview at Smashville 24/7.

Dirk Hoag is up early with his morning links with a curious question about Colin Wilson.

Ryan Ellis and Blake Geoffrion discussed their first NHL trading card after being at the NHL/NHLPA Rookie Showcase.

Ryan Shannon starts his Predators preview series.

Ex-Pred Cody Franson's little brother Cain is facing do or die time with the Vancouver Giants this year.

Around the NHL...

Big news of the day yesterday was James van Riemsdyk signing a six year $25.5 million contract extension with the Flyers. This had to be based on future expectations rather than past numbers.

One of the great guys in hockey, Iam Laperriere became a US citizen in ceremonies yesterday.

Kevin McGran talks to the rookies at the NHL/NHLPA Rookie Showcase.

Chris Johnston sat down with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Gabriel Landeskog and Jonathan Huberdeau and discussed their chances to stay in the NHL when camp breaks.

Ex- Predator Matthew Lombardi has been declared symptom free after riding a bike for twenty minutes. Brian Burke does not expect him to be ready for the opening of camp.

After a couple of down years and with Sidney Crosby questionable for the start of the season Evgeni Malkin will be an X-factor in Pittsburgh.

Robby Stanley has his all-Northeast Division team at Hockey Night in Nashville.

Terry Murray wants to see more out of Drew Doughty and Jack Johnson this season.

Mike Green is expecting a bounce back season this year.

Rhys Richards has his breakdown of the Central Division at The Hockey Guys.

Jamie McLennan ranks the players with the best hands in the NHL at The Hockey News.

Dick Ebersol's absence from NBC was only a short vacation as he returns as a senior adviser.

John Walton introduces himself to the Caps fanbase at his new blog. Walton moves up from Hershey to NHL as the newest radio voice in the league.

Kurtenblog reports that the Kings will take the purple out of their sweaters in order to look less wimpy but the Sharks will continue to wear teal and look like Wussies. That's what you get in the dog days of Summer. How will the Kings' purple-less color scheme still be royal?

Mayors Manor has a better explanation about the Kings' royal colors.

Michael Ryder's day with the Stanley Cup was marred with a spill from a table.

There has been plenty of chatter about Filip Kuba joining the Islanders so that they can get to the cap floor but Lighthouse Hockey looks at the known quantities on defense.

Down Goes Brown has his winners and losers in the offseason.

Biz Nasty was big on the photobombs at the Toronto Blue Jass' batting practice.

Happy 80th Birthday to Jean Beliveau who remains a great guy.

Odds and Ends...

One of the best sports announcers ever, Vin Scully, announced that he will be back for another year over the weekend.

Congrats to Predator fans and POTG readers Hot Chelle Rae for their appearance with Taylor Swift at the Staples Center in LA.

Here is an interesting decision tree on how to choose which social platform to get your message out.

Is anyone surprised that folks are digging tunnels under the US/Mexican border?

More Later...

Buddy Oakes for PredsOnTheGlass

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