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.
• There was an outdoor game in Norway on Saturday. Mats Zuccarello and a bunch of current and former NHLers like Henrik Lundqvist, Zdeno Chara and Peter Forsberg took it outside to benefit Right to Play, the Henrik Lundqvist Foundation and the Zuccarello Foundation.
HEN-RIK!
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) August 11, 2018
@HLundqvist30 with some payback stopping @zuccarello36 on the penalty shot! https://t.co/84URcEovta
• Now that he’s signed, it’s time to see how much of an impact a teenage Brady Tkachuk can have on the Ottawa Senators. [Ottawa Citizen]
• The arena saga in Ottawa rolls out after the latest meeting between Eugene Melnyk and the city. [TSN]
• Mark Hunter is heading back to London to be the general manager of the OHL’s Knights. [London Knights]
• The Vegas Golden Knights aren’t feeling the pressure of expectations following an historic inaugural season. [NHL.com]
• On the quality of NHL hockey in 2018. [Yahoo]
• An interesting look at the trade tree of the legendary Wayne Gretzky deal. [Sporting News]
• Jack Eichel could be in store for a big, big season with the Buffalo Sabres. [Featurd]
• Hilary Knight is returning to the CWHL’s Les Canadiennes de Montreal. [Habs Eyes on the Prize]
• Which contracts from this summer warrant the most head scratches? [ESPN]
• How much of this season will ride on the the Calgary Flames’ goalies? [Flames Nation]
• What this off-season means for the Carolina Hurricanes. [Canes Edge]
• Canada downed Sweden 6-2 to take its first Hlinka Gretzky Cup. [IIHF]
• Finally, Alexis Lafreniere, the possible No. 1 pick in 2̶0̶1̶9̶ 2020, is ridiculous:
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Sean Leahy is a writer for Pro Hockey Talk on NBC Sports. Drop him a line at phtblog@nbcsports.com or follow him on Twitter @Sean_Leahy.