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.
• Is Auston Matthews really that good? Why, yes. Auston Matthews really is that good. (Pension Plan Puppets)
• The Edmonton Journal reacts to ESPN naming the Oilers tops in terms of their locked-in fountain of youth. (Edmonton Journal)
• The NHL has sued a beer cup make over the shape of one of its steins. (New York Daily News)
• Washington Capitals fans (and sadists in Las Vegas) and re-live Alex Ovechkin and the rest of the Capitals winning the Stanley Cup on DVD at the end of the month. (NHL.com)
• A look at six teams that are hard to predict for this coming season. (Sportsnet)
• Warroad in Minnesota is set to make history with the Stanley Cup’s first visit. (Grand Forks Herald)
• Chris Chelios, a legend in Chicago, is returning to the Blackhawks organization as an ambassador. (NHL.com)
• Could the NHL Ever Expand to a 40-Team League? (Vice)
• Here’s take on 10 teams that are trending in the right direction. (The Hockey Writers)
• And no list of teams going in the right direction would be complete without a list of the ones heading the opposite way. (The Hockey Writers)
• Despite some big changes in their front office, are the Minnesota Wild still in the same place? (Featurd)
• The city of Seattle could use more ice rinks. The NHL’s arrival should help with that. (The Seattle Times)
• Many people are worried about the New York Islanders after the departure of John Tavares. Johnny Boychuk and Josh Bailey aren’t among them. (Sportsnet)
• Lias Andersson should not be rushed to the NHL. (Blue Line Station)
• We featured Dustin Byfuglien in this space last week. Now, here are the top hits from Milan Lucic from this past season:
Scott Billeck is a writer for Pro Hockey Talk on NBC Sports. Drop him a line at phtblog@nbcsports.com or follow him on Twitter @scottbilleck