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FlightZone: Dan Carcillo is 98% Retired

Within days, Dan Carcillo has gone from not having made a decision 100% on retirement, to being "about 98 percent ready to move on".

If this is indeed the end for Car Bomb, he’s sure made himself a worthy future endeavour. I can’t emphasize enough how good and necessary the idea behind his nonprofit organization Chapter 5 is. We sometimes get a glimpse into how hard it can be for players when they leave the game, events and stories which only put additional exclamation points on the importance of having organizations which help “bridge the gap between athletes and the career they want to pursue.” At the very least, it sounds as if Chapter 5 will serve an integral role in Dan Carcillo’s own transition.

And now the news.

Central Division

Chicago Blackhawks top-six hopeful Artemi Panarin is wandering the Windy City streets, doing what all good tourists do by taking a photo in front of that giant ode to mercury or whatever it is:

For reasons beyond my comprehension, our Colorado frenemies aren't sold on Reto Berra as their backup goaltender. Weird. (Mile High Sticking)

Eric Burton thinks that the Minnesota Wild are ready to "break out" in 2015-16. No word yet on if we can also expect their voice to crack and copious amounts of moody Slipknot listening in their room. (The Hockey Writers)

Our Nashvillian friends have now begun their own Top 25 Under 25 compilation. Coming #24 on their list, it’ll be very interesting to see how Kristian Nakyva adjusts to the North American ice and style of play. (On The Forecheck)

Captain Ladd says it would be nicer to agree to a contract extension before the season begins. Yes Andrew, yes it would. Also, "Chevy's done a great job of setting us up" sounds likely to have arby_18 in stitches. Or weeping uncontrollably, either or. (TSN)

Justin Bourne of The Score thinks that Dallas will take the Central Division, but that's not the reason this article's here. Nay, it's because he listed Winnipeg sixth, for the following reasons:

“A) I’m not exactly sold on a bottom six of Alexander Burmistrov, Adam Lowry, a 19-year-old Nikolaj Ehlers, Matt Fraser, Andrew Copp, and Chris Thorburn.

“B) Ondrej Pavelec played in 50 games and put up a .920 save percentage last season, boosting his career mark to … .908. I’m guessing that ain’t happening again.

“C) It’s a brutal division, and the question isn’t: “Is this team good?” It’s: “Are they better than X/Y/Z?” I don’t think they are.”

Preach Brother Bourne, preach.

And All The Rest

If you're in the Buffalo area on September 24th, be sure to attend the fourth annual CCM/USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game, which will likely feature at least two future Jets prospects. (USAHockey.com)

Despite a couple of downright miserable seasons, Buffalo Sabres fans are still excited going into 2015-16, as shown by the team's season ticket sales. Considering the additions of Ryan O'Reilly, Evander Kane, Jack Eichel, Robin Lehner and others, I would be too. (Buffalo News)

Forget yesterday's blip. The real Calgary blueline news is Ladislav Smid's prepping to return from injury. Between him, Dennis Wideman and Deryk Engelland, that's a lot of money tied to defencemen not named Brodie, Hamilton or Giordano. (Calgary Sun)

While looking at the Mark Giordano extension, our Calgarian friends remind the reader that they also now have both Oliver Kylington and Rasmus Andersson in the pipeline. The Jets prospect system may be highly touted, but I'm still allowed to be a little jealous. (Matchsticks & Gasoline)

The Red Wings may still sign Dan Cleary. That chill you just felt was a great disturbance in the hockey force, as if thousands of Detroit fans suddenly cried out in terror, and were suddenly facepalming. Something terrible indeed Sir Alec Guinness, something terrible indeed. (MLive)

In much less depressing news for Detroit fans, Pavel Datsyuk sounds to be recovering well from surgery on his right ankle. Even at age 37, he's still sort of important. (MLive)

Over in ECHL news, the Greenville Road Warriors have rebranded themselves as the Swamp Rabbits. I think the new logo is earresistible, but I know some won't carrot all for it. I'll see myself out. (The Hockey News)

LNH.com Managing Editor Arpon Basu sure knows how to start a conversation: "The Montreal Canadiens' prospect pool has decent depth but lacks top-end talent." At least they've got Nikita Scherbak, Artturi Lehkonen, Martin Reway and Noah Juulsen, the latter three of which aren't listed. (NHL)

At last, a 2015-16 Habs article that doesn’t focus on the repeatability of Carey Price’s greatness. Instead, the three questions facing Montreal are its subpar power play, lacking offense and Alex Galchenyuk’s position. (NHL)

Both Steve Bernier and Scott Gomez are getting the old "it's not you, it's me" treatment from New Jersey GM Ray Shero. Looking at the team's roster, boy the Devils are in for a few years of real pain, aren't they? Cory Schneider will limit their ability to truly bottom out, though. (NJ.com)

Now waiver eligible, it's make or break time for Oscar Lindberg when it comes to making the New York Rangers roster out of camp. Despite Larry Brooks' pessimism, my inclination is to believe he'll do just that. (ProHockeyTalk)

And finally, Quebecor controlling shareholder Pierre Karl Peladeau says that public funds aren't needed to bring the Nordiques back to Quebec City, which is an easy sentiment to have when the publically funded Centre Vidéotron is already built. (TSN)

Thanks for reading! Be sure to make more terrible puns in the Comments section below!

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