Welcome to the PHT Morning Skate, a collection of links from around the hockey world. Have a link you want to submit? Email us at phtblog@nbcsports.com.
• What if Marc-Andre Fleury (not Pittsburgh) is actually Washington’s postseason curse? (Puck Prose)
• Caps GM Brian MacLellan admitted that it’s a little awkward to go up against the team’s former architect, George McPhee. They’ve known each other for a very long time. (NBC Sports Washington)
• No matter what happens in the Stanley Cup Final, Caps head coach Barry Trotz deserves a contract extension. (Nova Caps Fans)
• It sounds like the Golden Knights are finally getting closer to trademarking their team name and logo with the U.S. Patent & Trademark office. (ESPN)
• Las Vegas mayor Carolyn Goodman and D.C. mayor Muriel Bowser have made a friendly wager ahead of the Stanley Cup Final. The bet includes a gift basket. (Las Vegas Review-Journal)
• The Golden Knights don’t necessarily have a number one defenseman, but teams might start copying their “balanced” group of defensemen. (SinBin.Vegas)
• Phil Kessel is reportedly on the trade block in Pittsburgh. (Pittsburgh Tribune)
• Rasmus Dahlin hasn’t played a game in the NHL yet, but he’s already being compared to Erik Karlsson and Nicklas Lidstrom. (NHL.com)
• The Acadie-Bathurst Titan defeated the Regina Pats in Sunday’s Memorial Cup Final. (Canadian Press)
• The SPHL’s Macon Mayhem hired Leo Thomas to be their next head coach. He’s currently the only black head coach in hockey anywhere in North American. (The Sin Bin)
• The Victory Press breaks down the upcoming NWHL free-agent period. (Victory Press)
• The Red Wings’ long run of success has caught up to them. Not only is their roster lacking, they also don’t have a top notch prospect in the system that can turn their team’s fortunes around. (Elite Prospects)
• Jimmy Fallon’s superlatives are always hilarious:
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Joey Alfieri is a writer for Pro Hockey Talk on NBC Sports. Drop him a line at phtblog@nbcsports.com or follow him on Twitter @joeyalfieri.