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.
• NHL scouts are happy about the NHL’s decision to move up the draft lottery. (The Hockey News)
• Are you curious about the two women’s leagues? Check out ESPN’s women’s hockey FAQ. (ESPN)
• Lou Pinella weighed in on whether or not the Lightning should aim to surpass regular-season records. (Tampa Bay Times)
• It might be time for the Buffalo Sabres to move on from Phil Housley. (Buffalo News)
• Former NHLer Brian Rolston was named the new director of Little Caesars Amateur Hockey. (MIHockey.com)
• Jack Hughes is no longer the top prospect on Sportsnet’s March rankings. (Sportsnet)
• Find out how $15.2 million made the Humboldt bus crash even more complicated. (Globe and Mail)
• Evgeni Malkin has enjoyed a tremendous NHL career, but fleeing to North American wasn’t easy for him. (NHL.com/Penguins)
• Speaking of Malkin, his parents wrote him a letter after scored his 1,000th NHL point. (NHL.com/Penguins)
• TSN’s Travis Yost previewed potential first-round matchups involving Canadian teams. (TSN)
• How have the new Blue Jackets fit into the team’s lineup? The Cannon takes a deeper look. (The Cannon)
• A year after being a significant free-agent bust, Brendan Smith has found a way to make himself useful to the Rangers. (New York Post)
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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.