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FlightZone: Gary Bettman Supports Shootouts, Water Still Wet

I'll stop posting these Stanley Cup Summer Tour tweets when they stop being endearing.

And now the news.

Central Division

It sounds like Colorado is going to give Carl Soderberg the opportunity to sink or swim as the team's second line center. Worst case scenario, he becomes the Jordan Staal to Duchene/MacKinnon's Crosby and Malkin, or the Carl Soderberg to Krejci and Bergeron. (Denver Post)

It may be true in a season or three, but for 2015-16 it seems a little bit premature to call Valeri Nichushkin's return a bigger deal than Patrick Sharp's addition. (Today's Slapshot)

For the sake of argument, let's say the Nashville Predators sign Craig Smith to an even $4 million. That would give the 2015-16 Perds a pretty solid top-six of Forsberg, Ribeiro, Neal, Wilson, Fisher and Smith to a tune of about $22 million. Toews and Kane are signed for $21 million. (Today's Slapshot)

You and I both have our lunchtime listening, with Episode #2 of the AIH Superfans Podcast ready for your auditory pleasure. Though should we label @arby_18 NSFW? (Podomatic)

And All The Rest

Good news everyone! The shootout is here to stay! #sadness (Yahoo! Sports)

A rather nice breakdown of the Glendale fallout, including who won the amended agreement and where the Coyotes might end up playing as a result. Time to get the 'Anywhere But Glendale' campaign gears turning. (FOX Sports Arizona)

Comparisons to the Jeff Carter/James Wisniewski debacle are inevitable, but these Blue Jackets have a different feel about them. For one, Brandon Saad does not seem to be kicking and screaming all the way to Columbus à la a certain someone. (BlueJacketsXtra)

Scott Burnside lists three Western Conference teams in Los Angeles, San Jose and Dallas as candidates poised to return to the postseason (in addition to Columbus and Boston). It's going to be a tough slog for Winnipeg to return to the playoff dance in 2015-16, so unless Mike Santorelli and Brad Boyes are walking through that door, some of the kids better be ready. And I mean folks other than Nikolaj Ehlers. (ESPN)

Get over your symmetrical OCD, because the league doesn't care about it when awarding NHL expansion franchises. (theScore)

The New Jersey Devils and CCM came together in an act of kindness for a high school goaltender whose house and equipment were lost in a fire. (Sportsnet)

Former Devils' coach Pete DeBoer paints a very different picture of Old Man Lou than his reputation would lead you to believe. Pretty sure Babcock wins any genuine power struggle regardless. (ProHockeyTalk)

I'm all for being wary of the Lou Lamoriello signing in Toronto, but this article chooses some odd examples on the contractual side. Mike Cammalleri, Jaromir Jagr circa 2014-15 and especially Andy Greene are not forefront in my mind when I think of the Devils' woes. (TSN)

Speaking of odd, here is Sports Illustrated's fan misery rankings for 2015. How the New Jersey Devils are 1st when in the very public beginnings of the Ray Shero era is beyond me. Florida at 4th and the New York Rangers at 28th are a couple other eyebrow raisers. (SI)

Ottawa wins its no holds barred cage match against Alex Chiasson, after he was awarded a one-year deal worth $1.2 million. That's a pretty good deal for a still-developing 6'4", 205 lbs 24 year old who had 26 points last season. (The Hockey Writers)

Speaking of Ottawa, all of the buzz and excitement coming out of Toronto has left some wondering if it's time the Senators try and steal some of the front office spotlight. The day they name Daniel Alfredsson to the Front Office will be the day William Nylander stubs his toe and takes over the headlines, just you watch. (Ottawa Citizen)

It will be fascinating to see how and to what degree Lou Lamoriello is able to instill a culture of silence in Toronto. I'm all well and fine with putting an end to organizational leaks; whether contract details are officially announced might be the real litmus test. (Editor In Leaf)

Thanks for reading! Be sure to say in the Comments section what three man units you would like to see in the upcoming glory of 3-on-3 overtime.

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