NHL extends Phoenix arena deal; Jon Merrill back to Michigan; Tracking Scott Howson (Puck Headlines)

Here are your 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.

• Zach Galifianakis, Will Ferrell and a Canadian Mountie all meet a real celebrity.

• The NHL is still hoping to finalize a deal with Greg Jamison to purchase the Phoenix Coyotes. To help the process the league has extended its operating agreement of Jobing.com Arena for another 31 days. [Globe and Mail]

• Speaking of the Coyotes, Shane Doan spoke with Jamison over the weekend to get an update on his attempts to purchase the team. [Arizona Republic]

• Mike Colligan looks at the Coyotes and how they keep succeeding despite everything going on off the ice. [The Hockey Writers]

• Alfie's Back! "By announcing his return now, it does remove any uncertainty that would have existed with a potential work stoppage looming on the horizon. We have to hope for the NHLPA and the league to resolve their differences and get a new CBA in place by the start of the season. One would hate for the captain's last season (potentially) to be a shortened one." [The 6th Sens]

• Good news for Michigan hockey. Bad news for the New Jersey Devils. Defenseman Jon Merrill has decided to return to the Wolverines for the 2012-13 season. [Detroit News]

• Calgary Flames draft pick Mark Jankowski will not play in the USHL next season and will instead attend Providence College. [Calgary Sun]

• A hockey fan's guide to the London Games: "The Olympics: Organizers are counting on the efforts of thousands of volunteers who, despite being unpaid, have offered to work at the various events out of a sense of personal pride and civic duty. The NHL: Gary Bettman just had a great idea for his next CBA proposal to Donald Fehr." [Down Goes Brown]

• Part 1 of a two-part interview with Washington Capitals owner Ted Leonsis. [Japers' Rink]

• Team Russia announced their roster for 2012 Canada-Russia Challenge set to take place in Yaroslav and Halifax in August. Nail Yakupov and Mikhail Gregorenko are part of it. [NHL]

• Looking at Scott Howson's track record as Columbus GM and watching him have to start over once again. [NHL Numbers]

• Shawn Hunwick, the Rudy of hockey, moves on to Europe. [Backhand Shelf]

• Martin Frk, the second-round pick of the Detroit Red Wings last month, has signed his three-year entry level contract. [@DetroitRedWings]

• After the Swedish badminton player at the Olympics was discovered to look like Daniel Sedin, here are 15 more who could pass as him. [Pass it to Bulis]

• The Philadelphia Flyers and Trenton Titans have renewed their ECHL affiliation agreement for next season. [Flyers]

• The inaugural USA top prospects game will take place at First Niagara Center in Buffalo in September and CCM has been named title sponsor. [USA Hockey]

• Finally, happy 26th birthday, Evgeni Malkin: