Tavares to be named Isles’ captain; Bobby Ryan’s linemates; Columbus Justice? (Puck Headlines)
• The Kings add some crowns to their red line, because, you know, kings.
• You should probably be playing Yahoo Fantasy Hockey. Probably. [Yahoo]
• John Tavares will be named the Islanders' captain, proving the "C" in Long Island, like heaven, was missing an angel. [Arthur Staple]
• Paul MacLean talks Bobby Ryan linemates: "The chemistry he gets, is it going to be with Jason Spezza or Kyle Turris or Mika (Zibanejad), whoever he gets the best chemistry with is who we're going to play him with, but I think having someone with that ability is certainly going to help our team's confidence as far as it comes to scoring goals." [Senators]
• "To make the playoffs, the Avalanche need Ryan Miller." I haven't read it, but I assume this is an advertorial written by Darcy Regier [Denver Post]
• What does Teemu Selanne's $2 million deal say about Daniel Alfredsson's loyalty? I'll take this one: Teemu might have more. Granted, Selanne's won a Cup. Would he be so loyal if he was still chasing his ring? [Senshot]
• The Columbus Blue Jackets were almost the Columbus Justice. Glad they didn't, just so the name is still available for if Maine ever gets a team. [Greatest Hockey Legends]
• Behind the Minnesota Wild's new road sweater. [Icethetics]
• What do the Blackhawks have now that Corey Crawford is signed for six more years, (besides less cap space than they could have had if they'd negotiated a little harder, maybe)? Stability. [CSN Chicago]
• Evgeny Kuznetsov is looking to get out of Russia because he fears he's becoming stagnant as a player. Great, said the Capitals, finally make the trip over now that you're stagnant. [Ria Novosti]
• In this video, Mike Fisher does his husbandly duty and catches a chipmunk that got into his house with his bare hands. [Yahoo Sports Minute]
• Mikhail Grabovski could be a late-round fantasy steal. [Dobber Hockey]
• Brace yourselves, Minnesota: the Gophers will be playing an outdoor game on January 17. [Gophers]
• What is a role player, anyway? [The Score]
• Ryan O'Byrne is off to the KHL after signing a deal with HC Lev Praha in the Czech Republic. [TSN]
• Former University of Vermont hockey player Justin Milo claims he was wrongfully dropped from the team by his coach in 2010. He sued. The judge threw it out. [Burlington Free Press]
• How do the Hurricanes stack up against their Metropolitan Division rivals in Washington? [Shutdown Line]
• Matt Read is focused on training, which is ideal, I guess. I'd love to read a story about a guy who was like "Oh crap, the season starts this month? Jeeeeeesus I need to hit the gym." [Courier Post]
• Finally, via Buzzing the Net, after a defenceman blows a tire, Red Wings' prospect Andreas Athanasiou pulls off an incredibly sexy breakaway move:
