Top Line: New gig for Rick DiPietro?; new ugly Olympic jersey?; more links
You may not have seen the last of star-crossed goaltender Rick DiPietro in the NHL. (Kathy Kmonicek/AP)
By Allan Muir
An annotated guide to this morning's must-read hockey stories:
• Knee surgery for Scott Clemmensen means a goaltending job is opening up in Florida, at least temporarily. Could the call go out to Rick DiPietro?
• If you were mortified by the red Team Canada Olympic jersey that leaked last week, you might want to sit down before taking a look at this rumored black third.
• Citing a "family matter," Carolina Hurricanes owner Peter Karmanos fired his son, Jason from his 15-year gig as the team's assistant GM. I mean, Big Tom Callahan didn't fire Tommy Boy, so you know this story is going to get interesting. Grab some popcorn and pull up a chair, kids.
• Wanna watch some hockey today? The Flyers-Capitals rookie game will be streamed online here at 3 p.m. EDT.
• A trio of old guys will be the centerpiece of the new-look Flyers.
• I don't want to lose sight of what a nice story this is about a group of kids learning a more important lesson while playing hockey, but what's up with Scott Hartnell wearing a bun?
• Are the Blue Jackets a team that overachieved, or are they on the right track?
• "I know I made bad choices and wrong decisions," says Tyler Seguin. Please, go on . . .
• It's looking like Edmonton Oilers center Ryan Nugent-Hopkins will miss the month of October while recovering from shoulder surgery. This doesn't deviate from the original timeline, but it does dash any secretly held hopes that he might come in ahead of schedule.
• Things didn't go well for Edmonton's young hopefuls at the Penticton prospect tournament. Is this reason to be concerned for a team in the middle of a rebuild?
• Expectations are running high in St. Louis, even with the possibility hanging over the team of starting camp without Alex Pietrangelo.
• A riser in last June's draft, Zach Nastasiuk ended up a second-round pick of the Red Wings. His performance at the Traverse City tournament offered more proof that Detroit gets all the nice things.
• Jason Spezza says he's ready to hand over his sweater if anyone wants to stitch a C on it. With a longer shelf life ahead of him, Spezza's probably a better choice than Chris Phillips.
• Smart move by the Leafs to invite UFA winger Mason Raymond to camp. Whether he's insurance against Nazem Kadri missing time, or just competing for a third-line role, this is a no-risk add for the Leafs.
• Flames GM Jay Feaster says there's a door to be knocked down by bruising defensive prospect Patrick Sieloff at Calgary's camp. I wouldn't be surprised to see him earn nine games.
• After missing all of last season, L.A. Kings defenseman Willie Mitchell says he's ready to return to action. That means the Kings have nine defenders under contract. Something's got to give . . .
• Read this and it's a good bet Garret Sparks becomes one of those guys you can't help but root for.
• Pittsburgh's system is deep in high-end defensive talent, but none of the blue-chippers play the game quite the way Harrison Roupp does. After making a big impression at rookie camp, he's put himself in the picture with all those first-round picks.
• Have a daughter who wants to play hockey? A legendary coach says that signing her up for a boys' team is a dead end.