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.
• Justin Williams still is undecided on returning to the Carolina Hurricanes. (NHL.com)
• A few thoughts on 2020 NHL Draft prospects by Craig Button. (TSN.ca)
• Mike Babcock, Bruce Boudreau and four others are on the hot seat for the coming season. (Sporting News)
• A very deep dive into expected goals and pre-shot movement. (Hockey Graphs)
• Still two seasons away from puck drop in Seattle, general manager Ron Francis has so much to do. (Sports Illustrated)
• Joe Sakic, unsurprisingly, wants a long-term deal with Mikko Rantanen (but will settle for shorter if need be.) (TSN.ca)
• Seattle’s expanding NHL front office? New GM Ron Francis has strong candidates looming once he gets hiring go-ahead. (Seattle Times)
• The Athletic’s farm system rankings have begun. (The Athletic)
• Juuso Valimaki’s ACL tear has the Flames on the hunt for a defenseman. (The Score)
• Still-unsigned Blackhawk Brendan Perlini is just one small piece of NHL’s massive restricted free agent blockade. (Chicago Sun-Times)
• The Golden Knights’ offseason has been very bad — how did we get here and what lies ahead? (Knights on Ice)
• NHL teams that still have work to do this summer. (Featurd)
• Why Mitch Marner to the Vancouver Canucks won’t happen. (The Canuck Way)
MORE:
• ProHockeyTalk’s 2019 NHL free agency tracker
• Your 2019-20 NHL on NBC TV schedule
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