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? Email us at phtblog@nbcsports.
• Carter Hart on the NHL’s COVID-19 protocols: “Guys are testing positive with no symptoms or mild symptoms. I mean, the league’s got to find a way to change that. We’re either going to keep playing shorthanded all season long or games are going to keep getting postponed. I think it’s a joke. It’s got to change.” [NBC Sports Philadelphia]
• A look at the good and bad of the Bruins bringing back Tuukka Rask. [WEEI]
• Riley Nash being waived by the Lightning means that a Nikita Kucherov return is on the horizon. [Raw Charge]
• After suffering an injury versus the Devils on New Year’s Eve, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is expect to miss a month for the Oilers. [Oilers Nation]
• Marc-Andre Fleury, Joonas Korpisalo, and Braden Holtby are a few of the goalies the Oilers should pursue if they’re looking to upgrade the position. [Sportsnet]
• USA Hockey management is hoping the roster they put together leads to another gold medal for the women’s team. [Team USA]
sooo... Kirill did "The Michigan" at outdoor practice...
— Minnesota Wild (@mnwild) January 4, 2022
Must. Watch. 🤩#mnwild pic.twitter.com/sx9c2DXkb8
• As Hockey Canada puts together its new Olympic men’s roster, Eric Staal is hoping to be included. [Calgary Herald]
• “The National Hockey League and 20 of its teams are suing five of their insurance providers, alleging the companies have breached contracts by refusing to reimburse more than $1 billion worth of losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic.” [TSN]
• “Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek said Wednesday the city will pursue other ways of getting a new downtown arena built after its deal with the Flames owners was officially terminated earlier this week.” [CBC]
• Coyotes fans gathered at Gila River Arena on Wednesday to honor Matt Shott, the team’s director of hockey development who died of cancer last month. [Arizona Republic]
————
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.