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O’Reilly, Avs to talk deal in summer; Kovalchuk on life in KHL; Eriksson on concussion; (Puck Headlines)

Sean Leahy
·Contributing writer

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.

• That whole contract squabble last season between Ryan O'Reilly and the Avalanche? All's good now, says Adrian Dater. The two sides should start talking extension this summer. [Denver Post]

• How much fun is Nathan MacKinnon having this season with the Avs? “It’s been the best year of my life so far." [Yahoo]

• Starting from a stop position and crossing over while skating are what's giving Steven Stamkos some issues as he comes back from a broken leg. But he says he's still progressing. [Tampa Bay Times]

• Ilya Kovalchuk on life in the KHL and on getting revenge in the Olympics against Canada. [AP via Yahoo]

• Loui Eriksson on his concussions: “The two hits I got this year I haven’t really seen. Maybe I need to keep my eyes up a little more than I’m used to. I don’t think it’s a fair play when a guy hits you when you’re not ready for it. I definitely didn’t touch the puck on that last one, and I couldn’t do anything about that one. It’s tough.” [CSNNE]

• Henrik Sedin was incorrectly sent to the penalty box for a foul his brother Daniel committed. Henrik's response? "Yeah, I like that though – fantasy points." [LA Kings Insider]

• Central Scouting released their midterm rankings on Monday. Sam Bennett and Leon Draisaitl are your top two North American skaters. [Buzzing the Net]

• Who has the toughest schedules the rest of the way? Minnesota, Washington, Colorado and Philadelphia lead the way. [NHL Numbers]

• The Predators are 0-5 in the shootout and have scored on just one of their 19 attempts this season. That could hurt come April. [Section 303]

• Why Mike Smith was the best choice for Team Canada's no. 3 goaltender. [In Goal Mag]

• What's the best way for a player to get out of a coach's doghouse? [Backhand Shelf]

• An interesting read about a minor league player responding to the comments from fans on message boards and articles. [Journal Gazette]

• Matt Moulson's been traded once this season. Could the pending UFA be dealt again? He's not worrying about that at the moment. [Olean Times]

• Which lines and defense pairings could really help your fantasy hockey team? [Dobber Hockey]

• Jonathan Cheechoo on his new hockey life in Croatia, eight years after winning the Rocket Richard Trophy: "It's something I wouldn't have expected for sure, but everyone goes down a different road in life and I'm just having fun with it." [ESPN]

• Here's Joe Nieuwendyk opening a pack of high-end hockey cards. [Panini]

• The biggest of all the Olympic snubs? Victor Hedman? [SB Nation]

• Some of the things you find on eBay... A Washington Capitals Coke mirror? [The Royal Half]

• Finally, here's the latest NHL Life episode featuring league scout B.J. MacDonald: