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.
• This can only end in disaster. (Edmonton Journal)
• Where are the 30 players taken in the Vegas expansion draft now? (Sportsnet)
• James Neal’s history with Dave Tippett is fueling optimism after his move to Edmonton. (NHL.com)
• The NHL salary cap is here to stay. (Featurd)
• Senators won’t be competitive until they prioritize talent over finances. (Sportsnet)
• Why the Toronto Maple Leafs should be Stanley Cup favorites. (Editor in Leaf)
• Lafreniere laughing all the way to the NHL. (Featurd)
• Are the latest Jake Gardiner rumors about the Montreal Canadiens? (A Winning Habit)
• It’s a made-for-Hollywood story, and NHL nails it with video showcasing Cup champion Blues. (St. Louis Today)
• Can you make a competitive lineup solely out of the Leafs’ draft picks? (Pension Plan Puppets)
• Chris Kunitz reflects after announcing retirement. (Penguins)
• ‘I paved the way’: The story of Fred Sasakamoose’s historic rise to the NHL. (The Daily Press)
• Arizona Coyotes captain Oliver Ekman-Larsson attacked by family dog, hospitalized. (AZ Central)
• The Andrei Vasilevskiy contract is risky business. (Raw Charge)
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