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.
• New Canadien Eric Staal on his old team‘s issues: “The good part for me, right now, is I don’t really need to explain. I can kind of put that behind me and focus on what I can do for the Montreal Canadiens, which is what I’m going to try to do.” [Buffalo Hockey Beat]
• Cole Caufield is leaving Wisconsin after signing his entry-level deal with the Canadiens. [College Hockey News]
• UMass, Minnesota-Duluth, Minnesota State, and St. Cloud State make up the 2021 men’s Frozen Four. [USCHO]
• Northeastern goaltender Aerin Frankel is the 2021 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award winner. She posted a 0.81 goals against average, .965 save percentage and recorded nine shutouts for the Huskies. [The Ice Garden]
• Bryan Rust is becoming more and more valuable each and every game for the Penguins. [Pensburgh]
• The Oilers have had the look of two different teams this season. [TSN]
• Former Devils prospect Chris Nelson is the man behind a unique hockey equipment storage and cleaning startup company. [NHL.com]
• A look at what point during NHL games penalties are called. [Sound of Hockey]
• What’s ailing the Wild power play at the moment? [Zone Coverage]
• The fire still burns for Corey Perry in his quest for another Stanley Cup. [Sportsnet]
• Add Alex Iafallo to your fantasy hockey team this week and reap the benefits. [NBC Sports Edge]
• Charting the path to the playoffs for the Flames. [Flames Nation]
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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.