Here are your Morning Puck Headlines: A glorious collection of news and views collected from the greatest blogosphere in sports and the few, the proud, the mainstream hockey media.
• Huzzah! The Create-a-Card Flickr Gallery is go! Thanks again to everyone who participated. Now go argue who should have really won. [Flickr]
• Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby had some candid thoughts about Alexander Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals in the Pittsburgh papers, going as far as to say that the Caps star intended to injure both Crosby and Evgeni Malkin: "He taunts and does those things... I don't think that's the way to play. I'm all for playing hard. I think he's a great player. He plays hard. There's no doubt he's a tough guy to play against. But he doesn't need to take runs." [Post Gazette, H/T to Shirtless Joe]
• Meanwhile, add Rob Rossi of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review to those who think the Penguins should consider exploring a Crosby trade in the offseason. Adam Gretz of FanHouse breaks down other mega-trades (Gretzky, Lindros) as points of comparison, and wonders if dealing Sid would be wise for the Pens. [FanHouse]
• Another look at the marketing disparity between Alexander Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby, in the sense that it's become a debate between unbridled excitement and dour sullenness -- at least in the eyes of a Capitals blog. [On Frozen Blog]
• Oh, and the photo featured here is the infamous "Dr. S. Crosby - Proctology" photo from the Pens/Caps game last weekend. [H/T Puck Buddy Sam]
• Reminder: The Puck Daddy/TFP super megapower podcast runs Tuesday and Thursday, and today's edition will begin at 1 p.m. EST. Talk hockey with us at 646-929-1165, and listen here (god willing):
Sports Connection
Connecting you to your favorite North Texas sports teams as well as sports news around the globe.
• Brian Lawton realizes the trade deadline is here and Tampa's former coach is back in the League, so he decided to end the latest round of the Vincent Lecavalier Rumors Game before it begins: "We're not going to trade Vinny Lecavalier ... I'm going to say, 'never,' so I don't have to deal with it.'' So you're saying there's still a chance, or ... ? [Tampa Tribune]
• While Hilary Duff is not a "crazy girlfriend," if you talk smack on Mike Comrie she may just go into the cheap seats and curb-stomp you. [People, via Kukla]
• The worst trends in hockey fandom on YouTube, from recorded goal horns to video game highlights to guys opening up packs of hockey cards on Web cams. Yet if you somehow combined the three ... [Fantasy Hockey Scouts]
• Jarome Iginla's shot breaks a University of Calgary goalie's mask and draws blood, as the kid was an emergency fill-in during Calgary Flames practice. Brett Leonhardt would have gloved it. [Sun Media]
• Michael Ryder is coming back for the Boston Bruins with a full face shield. "It's going to be an adjustment breathing - something's over your face the whole time." (That line was last spoken by John Hurt in "Alien," by the way.) [The Bruins Blog]
• A blistering takedown piece from Kevin Lee about Jason Spezza of the Ottawa Senators, that spans from NHL drug rehab to insubordination to the proclamation that "Spezza isn't an Ottawa Senator come July 1st when his no-trade clause kicks in." [SportsTalkBuzz]
• Wayne Gretzky's six-day fantasy camp makes the list of the best in sports. It costs $9,999, with all the proceeds going to Gretzky's charitable foundation. "For added realism, sign up for a stint at Gretzky's hockey camp while sending your wife to a fantasy sports gambling camp." [Mental Floss]
• Ryan Dempster of the Chicago Cubs poses with a hockey stick during spring training photos, as the undeniable Winter Classic Effect slowly converts all of baseball into hockey fans. Now, can someone explain why the Cubs are taking team pictures in front of a brontosaurus hide? [AP]
• How NHL rules changes have eliminated the opening-whistle, premeditated fight. Which, once in a while, would really juice the crowd like a great opening band at a rock show. [Philly.com]
• Might Jeff Halpern of the Tampa Bay Lightning fit with the Columbus Blue Jackets? [The Hockey Writers, H/T Richard Gethin]
• The Dallas Stars lose Toby Petersen for at least a month with a broken bone in his left foot. [Dallas Stars Blog]
• Brendan Shanahan practices again with the New Jersey Devils, as the Marty Brodeur watch intensifies. [Fire & Ice]
• The Nashville Predators continue their commitment to strong local ownership by committing to Calgary billionaire and second-division English soccer club owner Brett Wilson with a handshake deal to acquire "Boots" Del Biaggio's a stake in the team. What, no one from Dubai would return the calls? [Edmonton Sun]
• Reviewing "Blades of Steel" in a classic hockey video games series: "You got that cut-scene where you throw off the gloves, and try to tag your opponent five times, Loser goes to the box, winner gets to keep skating. A simple rule that some fans say the NHL should institute today." [Life In Hockeywood]
• Finally, this clip is from the weekend but deserves a look. This might be a Mike Richards' dive, captured by a Penguins fan on YouTube. It's hard to tell, what with the Korean judge only giving him a 4.7. (Thanks to GhostWalker33).
