NHL, Apple partnership; Howard off IR; Crosby Q&A (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. Have a link you want to submit? Email us at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com.

• 17-year-old Brad Earlewine saw his beloved Tampa Bay Lightning take on the St. Louis Blues at Scottrade Center. Ben Bishop came back out after warmups to give Earlewine a signed stick. [Raw Charge]

• Sources report the NHL is close to a major partnership with Apple. [TSN]

• The Detroit Red Wings get Jimmy Howard back off the IR as they enter their longest home stand of the season. [Detroit Free Press]

• Florida Panthers interim-coach and GM Tom Rowe talks about his journey to his first job behind an NHL bench. [NHL]

• Former Colorado Avalanche teammates react to Marek Svatos’ cause of death. [Denver Post]

• “Last season’s Capitals were a party; this season’s are a hangover.” [Washington Post]

• Nikita Kucherov’s stellar first quarter of the season is starting to get him some national attention. [Tampa Bay Times]

• Nolan Patrick is the consensus No. 1 pick in the 2017 draft. Beyond him it’s not that exciting. [The Star]

• Part of the success of the Columbus Blue Jackets has to do with set plays on the faceoff. [Blue Jackets Xtra]

• The role Brandon Sutter is currently in with the Vancouver Canucks is not the right fit for him. [Canucks Army]

• Fantasy hockey: An early preview of the top 2017 free agents. [Dobber]

[Join a Yahoo Daily Fantasy Hockey contest now]

• Sidney Crosby likes pizza and other fun facts in a player Q&A from the Pittsburgh Penguins captain. [NHLPA]

• In a preseason media and coaches poll, Bemidji State was picked to finish sixth in the WCHA. The team is currently first place in standings and continuing to exceed expectations. [College Hockey News]

• Alex Carpenter, daughter of three-time Stanley Cup champion Bobby, is not your average NWHL rookie. [NWHL]

• USA Hockey released it’s 37 women’s national roster invites for 2016 winter training camp. [Excelle Sports]

• Examining the evolution of Harvard standout Sydney Daniels. She has five goals in 10 games on a struggling team. [The Ice Garden]

• The best Arizona Coyotes player commercials you either forgot about or didn’t know existed. [Howlin Hockey]

• Meet the Norfolk Admirals mascot, Salty Dog. [TheSinBin.net]

• Finally, Elliotte Friedman goes on a trip to Bruce Boudreau’s home town of Big Smoke with Gabby alongside.

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Jen Neale is an editor for Puck Daddy on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email her at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or follow her on Twitter! Follow @MsJenNeale_PD.