Top Line: NHL faces new lawsuit; summer of rankings; more links
An annotated guide to this morning’s must read stories.
• After losing a court motion to dismiss the case, the NHL is trying on yet another new suit, this one brought by six fans who claim that the league’s restrictions against teams selling their game broadcast rights out of local markets are anti-competitive. The legal drama is set to unfold next year and could dramatically change the viewing landscape.
• During the dog daze of summer, there’s not much else to do but rate, rank and ruminate. So let’s start with the good folks at The Hockey News, who are now heading for the top 10 in their thoughtful, detailed appraisals of NHL team logos. Your feedback and suggestions are welcome.
• Meanwhile, the ever-entertaining site Icethetics is conducting a bracket competition for logos for TheIceHL, its crowd-sourced fantasy league. Today: the Gold Coast Rush.
• With Hall of Famer Luc Robitaille set to be honored by the Kings with a statue of his earthly likeness, THN’s Ryan Kennedy proposes a player for every NHL team who should be bronzed.
• What would summer be without a little angst? Puck Daddy’s “Summer of Disappointment” series authored by fans serves up the worst that each team has had to offer. Today: Capitals fan J.P. of the blog Japers’ Rink.
• On a more positive note, Sportsnet’s Mike Johnston has 16 Eastern Conference players who are expected to have breakout seasons. Devils fans who have been waiting for Adam Larsson to deliver on his promise as the fourth pick in the 2011 draft will be pleased.
• NHL.com’s 30 in 30 series of pressing questions for each team continues with the Winnipeg Jets. You can also catch up on the Metro Division.
• Care to continue chewing on the best and worst offseason moves?
• Our own Allan Muir has pondered the fate of notable free agents in the scrap heap/bargain bin. Adam Proteau decides if these five aging vets should hang in there or hang ‘em up.
• Today's advanced stats existential question: How valuable are hits? Here’s your answer.
• If you’ve been hanging on the suspense of this drama, the Capitals’ Nicklas Backstrom, who was flagged by a positive drug test at the Sochi Olympic Games, will finally receive his silver medal.
• Nothing like found money, right? It appears a seven-year-old in Tide Head, New Brunswick, stumbled upon a Stanley Cup ring once owned by Canadiens legend Elmer Lach.But was it the real thing?
• And finally, some food for profound thought on a summer Saturday morning: Dustin Penner on stalkers, indecent proposals, and dog-doo.