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.
• Confidence should be gained for the Maple Leafs now that Mike Babcock is gone and Sheldon Keefe is in. [Toronto Star]
• The fun is gone in Toronto. [Pension Plan Puppets]
• Babcock is out, but now the pressure is upped on management. [Leafs Nation]
• “The NHL has to stop letting player safety depend on referees’ judgment calls.” [RMNB]
• “Why punching your opponent in hockey is fine but spitting on him is not.” [The Guardian]
• A look at Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and other NHL players carrying large offensive burdens for their teams. [ESPN]
• Jamie McGinn has been released from his tryout with the Blues, while Troy Brouwer inks a one-year deal. [Blues]
• Some goalie gambles haven’t paid off for a number of GMs. [Yahoo]
• It’s been a mixed bag of results for the Sabres’ blue line. [Die by the Blade]
• In good news for the Sabres, assistant coach Don Granato, who’s been out since Oct. 1 while battling severe pneumonia, was back at practice on Wednesday. [Buffalo Hockey Beat]
• The Blue Jackets have faced a pretty tough schedule to start the season. [1st Ohio Battery]
• Yanni Gourde should not longer be considered underrated; he’s just that good. [Raw Charge]
• Sharks’ Evander Kane pushes growth of hockey at Oakland middle school. [NBC Sports Bay Area]
• Finally, a great development for Ryan Straschnitzki, who was paralyzed in the Humboldt Broncos bus crash last April:
Bout time he got off his ass. 1st time since he boarded the bus that horrendous day. 2nd day of doing this. Therapist helping with knees and ankles so they dont buckle. Ryan did so good, I sent him to the beerstore for me. Im thinking he didnt go as Im still waiting. #thirstySON pic.twitter.com/memXrR4yX1
— Tom Straz (@strazsr) November 20, 2019
————
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.