Top Line: Kris Letang relives stroke horror; trade rumors swirl; more links
After suffering a stroke, Kris Letang was found unconscious on the floor by his wife. (Gene J. Puskar/AP)
By Allan Muir
An annotated guide to this morning's must-read hockey stories:
• Speaking for the first time since he suffered a stroke earlier this month, Penguins defenseman Kris Letang shared the horror of his life-altering experience. There's still no word on when he might be able to return to the ice, but the fact that he has an eye on this season is the best possible news.
• Darren Dreger checks in with his take on trade rumors surrounding Ryan Kesler, Chris Phillips and Tyler Myers. I can see Myers moving at some point, but at the draft in June seems like better timing than the March 5 deadline. We'll see.
• Brayden Schenn and Ryan O'Reilly could be among the players who would interest the Canucks in a potential trade trade for Kesler.
• Katie Strang says talks are ongoing between the Rangers and one of their pending free agents, but they're at a stalemate with another.
• Tonight could mark the last home game for several players who are expected to be moved in the Sabres' fire sale.
• Is Zdeno Chara really pressing the Bruins to add this guy at the deadline?
• Here is another player at whom Boston is rumored to be looking, but I agree with Gary Lawless of the Winnipeg Free Press. The Jets should get this guy signed to an extension as soon as possible.
• The Lightning's Jonathan Drouin and the Ducks' John Gibson top this list of the 10 best prospects not yet in the NHL. No. 3 ranks as the biggest surprise to me.
• A brilliant, acrobatic save by Tim Thomas, or a complete screw-up by Mike Green? We'll go with the latter.
https://mediacru.sh/m1gBSH4pvCzi
• Alright, this is a pretty nice pass from Patrik Elias.
• It's nice that Teemu Selanne was the MVP of the Olympic hockey tournament and all, but now he has to show that same zip in Anaheim if he wants to be more than a bit player for the Stanley Cup-contending Ducks.
• Here's an Olympic angle I haven't seen covered yet: the players were allowed to keep one of these as a souvenir of Sochi.
• It stinks that John Tavares was hurt in Sochi, but there are long-term benefits that the Islanders and other teams will reap from Olympic participation.
• The Blackhawks and the Wildare scouting the Devils. Are the two teams hoping that Martin Brodeur can shore up their goaltending depth? The NHL's all-time wins leader will get the start on Saturday night for what could be a showcase game before the trade deadline.
• Tony Gallagher says that Zack Kassian deserves a spot on Vancouver's top line immediately ... and if his defensive game is an issue, that's the fault of coach John Tortorella and his staff.
• Here's Ron Hainsey apprising Antoine Roussel of the toll one must pay for driving the net:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aH22EoRqoMw
• Check out the latest NHL to Seattle buzz in the wake of a fact-finding trip by more than 30 local dignitaries. Interesting to read about a second arena proposal to go along with Chris Hansen's well-known bid for the city's downtown area.
• Kristen Odland looks at how having a baby in-season can be a game-changer for an NHL player.
• With season ticket renewal notices starting to circulate, some fans are bound to be shocked by what it will cost to attend games next season.