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.
• The best player in the NHL debate rages on. (NHL.com)
• Corey Crawford’s lengthy absence due to a concussion has the NHL worried. (TSN.ca)
• Power play goals are up (as is scoring) in the NHL season. Here’s an analysis as to why. (Sportsnet)
• Your team might have one. Here’s a list of the NHL’s underperforming stars. (ESPN)
• Matt and Ashley Duchene brought out the creativity to announce their pregnancy. (Daily Hive)
• Like arena food? Here are some tasty looking options coming to a rink near you. (Business Wire)
• An excellent story here on the biggest “tells” in hockey. (The Athletic)
• The NHL paid USA Hockey to support the US Women’s National Team. (Russian Machine Never Breaks)
• A story on the wonderful art of fly-by stick replacement in the NHL. (Sports Illustrated)
• The search for Seattle’s AHL affiliate is on. (Sonics Rising)
• Tomas Hyka’s NHL odyssey lands him on the Golden Knights second line. (Las Vegas Review-Journal)
• On Duncan Keith and his unfinished legacy. (The Hockey Writers)
• Ken Holland isn’t looking over his shoulder with Steve Yzerman on the horizon. (Sportsnet)
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