Top Line: Teal Flyers?; Martin Brodeur still job hunting; more links
An annotated guide to this morning's must-read hockey stories:
• Ken Loh designed one of the most iconic logos in football for the New England Patriots, and one of the most memorable for hockey's Los Angeles Kings. And if he'd had his way, the Philadelphia Flyers would have worn teal. This is the amazing story of a jersey redesign that almost became a reality.
• While we're talking what-ifs, here's a look at what the Hurricanes logo might have looked like if the team had stayed with its original plan for a singular nickname.
• His failure to land a deal early in free agency hasn't frustrated Martin Brodeur.The legendary goalie is willing to wait into next season to find the right fit. But judging by the demand in the marketplace, even that strategy might be too hopeful for the future Hall of Famer.
• No Shawn Thornton is no problem for the Bruins. Boston will focus on team toughness this season to cover for the absence of a true enforcer on the roster.
• A couple of Nova Scotia hockey legends crossed paths for the first time this weekend when Sidney Crosby finally met with Penguins coach Mike Johnston.
• After years of trying to trade for a top defenseman, the Flyers have decided to grow their own. Shayne Gostisbehere and Robert Hagg headline a group of four prospects with the potential to make an impact on Philly's blue line some point.
• Teuvo Teravainen explains why he's ready to move on from being the Blackhawks' top prospect to a key part of Chicago's offense in 2014–15.
• Poor Anthony Mantha. The Red Wings prospect, who believes he's ready to jump directly from the QMJHL to the NHL, was told by the team that he'd be given every chance to earn a spot in Detroit next season. Which, of course, is the kiss of death for a young player's dreams in Motown.
• Why did this summer's top free agents turn up their noses at offers from the Red Wings? Ansar Khan offers some thoughts on the rejections.
• There isn't a more highly anticipated development camp this summer than the one that gets underway this week in Buffalo. Mike Harrington highlights the young Sabres to watch and what to expect from them.
• Fans attending the Predators' prospect game were treated to a dazzling shootout exhibition. Remind me again why some general managers want to phase this out of the game?
• Corsi isn't a perfect stat by any means, but it can offer some interesting insight into what happens when a player is on the ice. Here's a look at the 20 players who had the best and worst Corsi ratings last season. It's not surprising that a member of Stanley Cup champion is at the top of the first list. Nor is it a stunner that a defenseman for the Maple Leafs is atop the other.
• Imperfect or not, more teams are warming up to advanced stats as a way to gain an edge in today's game.
• Blues forward Jaden Schwartz will change his jersey number to 17 next season. Here's why that decision matters.
• The death of a goaltending legend and the infamous bootlegger who introduced hockey to New York are two highlights of this review of the 1925–26 season.