PHT’s Morning Skate takes a look around the world of hockey to see what’s happening and what we’ll be talking about around the NHL world and beyond.
Yesterday’s meetings with federal mediators didn’t exactly sit too well with CBC’s Elliotte Friedman. “Non-binding mediation is the worst. A waste of time. A useless process. No mediator is going to get them to budge.” (CBC)
Mark Spector of Sportsnet wasn’t much of a fan of it either. “Let’s face it: Bettman does not require a mediator to show him where middle ground lies. Bettman knows where it is. He just does not want to go there.” (Sportsnet)
On the other hand, Damien Cox of The Toronto Star is a bit more upbeat that we’ll see hockey come January. (Toronto Star)
In actual on-ice news, Detroit’s Damien Brunner is the top player in Europe. (ESPN)
Montreal’s Carey Price is auctioning off 31 goalie masks for charity. Take that, Henrik Lundqvist! (Montreal Gazette)
Michael Del Zotto’s back is apparently OK. (Craig Custance via Twitter)
Oh look, Ottawa fans are eschewing buying Sens gear in favor of football stuff. (Senators Extra)
Boston’s Chris Kelly is back from Switzerland. We’ll assume he didn’t have his mother in tow with him. (CSNNE.com)
The Jets aren’t confirm whether or not youngster Mark Scheifele will stay at World Juniors full-time even though all signs say he will. Oh, mystery! (Winnipeg Sun)
Is Malcolm Subban in trouble to be Team Canada’s top WJC goalie? (Calgary Sun)
The LNAH “goon league” in Quebec is going straight? Did Doug Glatt or Ross Rhea show up? (Montreal Gazette)
Today marks Day 89 of the NHL lockout. Somewhere, Sam Gagner is wondering when he’ll be able to go for eight points in a game again.