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.
• Should the Montreal Canadiens hire Mike Babcock? (Montreal Gazette)
• The Devils have been struggling badly on special teams. (All About the Jersey)
• Lightning forward Yanni Gourde is even better than you think. (Raw Charge)
• How easy will it be to fix the Toronto Maple Leafs? (Pension Plan Puppets)
• Brett Connolly has been a very useful asset for the Florida Panthers. (Rat Trick)
• The Coyotes goalie tandem has been terrific this season. (Five For Howling)
• The NHLPA is challenging the Dustin Byfuglien suspension. (Winnipeg Free Press)
• The Bolts can benefit from this difficult start. (NHL.com)
• Where is the San Jose Sharks’ offense? (Rotoworld)
• The Ducks are satisfied with Garnet Hathaway’s three-game suspension. (OC Register)
• Sheldon Keefe has a quiet confidence about him that should help him guide the Leafs. (TSN)
• Zack Kassian has found a spot on the Oilers’ top line. (Sportsnet)
• There’s a lot of questions facing Keefe and his level of success will depend on how many he can answer. (Editor in Leaf)
• Patrice Bergeron is starting to get healthier. (NBC Sports Boston)
• The Blue Jackets have added Paul MacLean to their staff (NHL.com/BlueJackets)
• Brendan Perlini talks about his fresh start in Detroit and his English upbringing. (Sporting News)
• Isles goalie prospect Ilya Sorokin wants to be in the NHL next season. (The Sports Daily)
• Kris Versteeg left the Rockford Ice Hogs on Sunday and the team isn’t in a rush to name a new captain. (Second City Hockey)
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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.