Top Line: Blackhawks, Bruins facing post-Cup challenges; more links
Bryan Bickell will likely kiss the Blackhawks goodbye, but most of the team will remain. (Brian Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images)
By Allan Muir
An annotated guide to this morning's must-read hockey stories:
• The difference between the 2010 and 2013 Stanley Cup champion Blackhawks? This time around, management will be able to keep the team mostly intact.
• Well, except for Bryan Bickell.
• Here's why the Blackhawks won the Cup. No surprise that it has something to do with Jonathan Toews.
• Staying the course helped, too.
• Rick Morrissey writes that the Blackhawks embody what Chicago is all about. Notice how no one ever writes stuff like this about a second-place team?
• The Hawks will have their parade on Friday. The mayor said it would be like "Ferris Bueller's Day Off," except, you know, school's already out.
• No denying that the Blackhawks jersey ranks among the most iconic in all of sports. It is a beauty. Which makes it tough to understand why the Trib used a photo of their practice jersey to illustrate this piece.
• If you're a fan of graphic representation of numbers, or even the Blackhawks, you'll dig this.
• Sean McIndoe writes about how the Hawks managed to avoid the pull of parity after winning the Cup in 2010.
• The Bruins have heard that adversity makes you stronger. They're just not in the mood to buy into that right now.
• Andrew Ference has created the greatest Vine video ever. At least, that's what people who dig six-second vignettes are saying.
• The Boston Bruins have pressing player decisions and very little time to make them.
• Ilya Bryzgalov was funny, interesting and a great quote. But he wasn't a great goalie, and that's why the Flyers cut him loose.
• Philly paid top dollar to bring Bryz to town. Now they're paying a record price to send him packing.
• Just because the Flyers need a goalie doesn't mean they become natural trade partners for the Canucks. If anything, the Bryzgalov buyout might force Vancouver to do the same with Roberto Luongo to finally be rid of his deal.
• Miikka Kiprusoff has announced his retirement. Sort of. At this point, even the Flames aren't 100 percent certain what's going on.
• This little Iggy is going to market.
• SI's own Michael Farber examines the use of hockey as a tool to facilitate peace in Northern Israel. This is awesome.
• Don't live in Canada? Couldn't catch TSN's Draft Preview last night? Well, now you can. Actually, now you should.
• The abundance of highly regarded QMJHL prospects at this year's draft proves the wisdom of four-year strategy launched by provincial authorities in 2009 to focus on the development of one-on-one skills, fundamentals, physical fitness and sports psychology.
• The Calgary Flames hold the sixth overall selection on Sunday. They've picked from that spot three times in the past. It hasn't always worked out.
• Ottawa is going the "best player available" route with the 17th overall pick on Sunday, but recent history suggests their fans shouldn't expect a quick fix ... or maybe even a long-term option.
• Damien Brunner "loves Detroit" and would love to stay with the team long term. The trick, as always, is in the numbers. Helene St. James has an idea what it might take.
• Larry Brooks breaks down a rumored trade between Toronto and Tampa Bay involving Vincent Lecavalier and why the league is moving to make sure it never happens.
• John Tortorella made a good first impression in Vancouver. Of course, it's a lot easier to be friendly and thoughtful in the summer than it is when your team is mired in a five-game losing streak in January.