Welcome to the PHT Morning Skate, a collection of links from the NHL and around the hockey world. Have a link you want to submit for the PHT Morning Skate? Email us at phtblog@nbcsports.com.
NHL Bubble life, lineup notes
• “Safe and seamless” is the NHL’s goal in running the bubble. Judging by this detailed report from Nick Cotsonika, it sounds like the league is off to a strong start. [NHL.com]
• Could playing in the Toronto bubble actually benefit the mature, experienced Bruins? You could make that argument. [NBC Sports Boston]
• During a Monday Zoom call, Rod Brind’Amour covered a bunch of Hurricanes topics. While Dougie Hamilton was already covered, Brind’Amour also touched on distractions in the bubble, best-of-five series, and more. [Canes Country]
• As intriguing as it was, the Stars line of Tyler Seguin with Denis Gurianov and Roope Hintz didn’t last. Stars coach Rick Bowness explained that the group wasn’t getting Seguin the puck often enough. That ... does honestly sound like a significant issue. [Dallas Morning News]
• The NHL released its full list of King Clancy Award finalists. They also shared the news via this handy graphic:
The @NHL has announced the 31 team nominees for the 2019-20 King Clancy Memorial Trophy. https://t.co/FupLpsuIgA pic.twitter.com/Z379V56Zaw
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) July 27, 2020
Peter Chiarelli, Coyotes GM? And other coaching/front office links
• Jack Han took another look at how “NHL 20" can be used as a teaching tool for hockey players. [The Hockey Tactics Newsletter]
• OK, so this article is back from May. Considering the lack of hockey since the pandemic pause, it seems timely enough after the Coyotes and John Chayka went through a bitter divorce. [J Fresh]
In case you wondered, “The Rock” is a huge human. P.K. Subban provided scale for that:
https://www.instagram.com/p/CDJbNttF1Qu/
• Whether you consider Chayka an “analytics GM” or not, his Coyotes run wasn’t particularly successful. Still, perhaps it could have been worse. Like, say, (gulp) having Peter Chiarelli as GM? Although, maybe Chiarelli would leave the Coyotes before he repeatedly trades away All-Star talent for mediocre returns? It all seems kind of unthinkable. [Oilers Nation]
• Travis Yost looks at how the Seattle Kraken can use the Vegas Golden Knights as a blueprint for NHL expansion success. Among the points Yost brings up is piling up assets. When you account for the potential headaches stemming from a flat salary cap, I wonder if the Kraken can exploit such opportunities even more than the Golden Knights? [TSN]
• For whatever reason, it sounds like the Golden Knights weren’t honest during the process of moving on from goalie coach Dave Prior. At least, that’s what Prior claims. [Sin Bin Vegas]
• Would you partake in the Canucks’ “penalty box patio?” [Canucks]
Tag a goon that would post up in Vancouver’s “Penalty Box Patio.” 😂👊 #JayAndDan
— JayOnSC (@JayOnSC) July 27, 2020
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(📸: @Canucks) pic.twitter.com/ozqy1vPfwh
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James O’Brien is a writer for Pro Hockey Talk on NBC Sports. Drop him a line at phtblog@nbcsports.com or follow him on Twitter @cyclelikesedins.