Tavares' Islanders future; NWHL salary cut fallout (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.

• There’s Jake Muzzin hanging out in the background of this postgame interview. [Steve Soeffner]

• Could New York Islanders captain John Tavares walk in 2018 unrestricted free agency? The team has struggled this season and could be falling backwards rather than moving forwards. [New York Post]

• How Steve Yzerman turned into one of the NHL’s best general managers. [Sportsnet]

• It has been a strange few days for the NWHL. Midway through the second season, the league officially announced that the players’ salaries will not be paid in full. How did we get here? [The Ice Garden]

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• Goaltender Shannon Szabados has signed with the Fort Saskatchewan Chiefs in the Chinook Hockey League. Szabados, who won a gold medal with the 2014 Canadian women’s Olympic team, played for the Peoria Rivermen in the SPHL earlier this season before a controversial exit. [Excelle Sports]

• New York Riveters alternate captain Madison Packer tweeted out a long response to the NWHL’s salary cuts. [Fan Rag Sports]

• Even at the age of 44, Jaromir Jagr is enjoying playing hockey more than ever. [Eh Game]

• Jagr says that this is the “the best I ever felt.” He has nine points in 19 games for the Florida Panthers. [NHL]

• How the NHL determines which hits merit suspensions. A deep dive into the league’s Department of Player Safety. [Tampa Bay Times]

• Former NHLer Murray Craven has played a key part in building the Las Vegas NHL team. Craven has known owner Bill Foley for many years. [Courier-Post]

• Some of the NHL’s franchises in non-traditional markets have struggled drawing fans. Are they a cautionary tale for the league and Las Vegas? [National Post]

• Being a backup goaltender is one of the NHL’s cushiest gigs. It’s also one of its toughest. [Sports Illustrated]

• It’s time to give some respect to Columbus Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella for helping the team surge into playoff contention. The Blue Jackets lead the Eastern Conference Wild Card standings at 10-4-2. [ESPN]

• The Boston Bruins have been not just a ‘good’ possession team, but one of the best in the NHL. [WEEI]

• Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand are big reasons why the Bruins have played well this season. Marchand is leading the team in scoring, while Bergeron has played a big role in shutting down the opposition’s top lines. [Boston Sports Desk]

• Bergeron and Marchand both tallied goals in their team’s Saturday win over the Winnipeg Jets. This ended droughts for the two players. [Bruins Daily]

• Retired Pittsburgh Penguins forward Pascal Dupuis is trying to figure out how to handle post-playing life. Last Dec. 8, the Penguins announced that a recurring problem with blood clots had ended his playing career. [Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]

• In 12 games this season with the University of North Dakota, Capitals prospect Shane Gersich has nine goals and eight assists. Last season he had nine goals in 37 games. [Nova Caps Fan]

• Will the NHL and NHLPA extend the collective bargaining agreement so players can go to the 2018 Olympic Games in South Korea? [Spector’s Hockey]

• Here are 10 big named players you should cut in your fantasy league. [Dobber Hockey]

• The latest fantasy stock watch for different players. Featured players include St. Louis Blues forward Jaden Schwartz and Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere. [Yahoo!]

• Notre Dame’s men’s college hockey team has dealt with inconsistency this season. [College Hockey News]

• Wayne Gretzky’s life in photos with explanations on the pictures from The Great One himself. [Players’ Tribune]

• Finally, Carolina Hurricanes forward Bryan Bickell talks about his multiple sclerosis diagnosis.

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