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.
Happy Fourth of July!
-- The 2016 NHL Draft was a memorable one for USA Hockey, which saw a record 12 American-born players selected in the first round. It started with Auston Matthews going No. 1 overall to the Toronto Maple Leafs and ended with Trent Frederic going 29th overall to the Boston Bruins. A total of 55 American players were selected in last month’s draft.
-- Membership -- including players, coaches and officials -- with USA Hockey grew in 2015-16, with 622,833 total members compared to 611,926 in 2014-15. (USA Hockey)
Celebrate July 4th with NHL Network. Tune in all day tomorrow for the best moments in @USAHockey history! pic.twitter.com/6Uz8AOPeO2
— NHL Network (@NHLNetwork) July 4, 2016
-- Former Oilers tough guy George Laraque weighs in on newly signed Milan Lucic wearing No. 27. Ouch!
Hey @EdmontonOilers fans, I'm so glad @MilanLucicCFC17 picked #27, he will represent it better than Dustin Penner did! Lol! #legendsemenko
— Georges Laraque (@GeorgesLaraque) July 3, 2016
-- Speculation on who could be the first GM of the Las Vegas NHL franchise. (Puck Daddy)
-- The structure of three contracts that points to another lockout, according to Larry Brooks. (New York Post)
-- Why the Stars’ goalie tandem and carrying eight defensemen aren’t great ideas. (Dallas Morning News)
-- Vancouver Island-based NHL players present group of minor hockey players with new equipment, registration fees. (Victoria Times Colonist)