NHL Combine Daily Links
We’re down to two. The New York Rangers and Los Angeles Kings are the last two teams standing in the NHL Playoffs. They’ll begin their Stanley Cup Final journey on Wednesday when game one begins!
Thomas Vanek decided a year ago that his goal this season was to hit free agency and choose the team he wants to play on. What does that mean? It means there was no way he was going to resign with the Buffalo Sabres, New York Islanders or Montreal Canadiens. Vanek wants to choose where he goes and he’s about to get that opportunity. So where will he go and who is willing to pay the money to land the playoff disappearing act known as Thomas Vanek? [Too Many Men]
The former Nashville Predators bench boss, Barry Trotz, knew that Washington was the right place for him to go after being dismissed in Nashville. I mean having the talent of Alex Ovechkin and several other key players would be pretty hard to say no to. [Stars and Sticks]
Some sad news to report this morning, as Lewis Katz, the former owner of the New Jersey Devils has passed away. Katz was involved in a plane crash on Sunday. Katz co-owned the Devils and the New Jersey Nets of the NBA until 2003. Katz was 72 years-old when his private jet crashed off the runway. [CBS]
Top NHL draft pick, Sam Bennett had an interesting day at the NHL combine in Toronto when doing his fitness testing in front of scouts and GM’s. Bennett, who is expected to go in the top 3, was unable to complete one pull-up during that stage of testing. In all fairness to Bennett he was likely tired due to all the other physical tests and whether or not you can do a pull-up doesn’t determine how good of a player you are. [Bleacher Report]
He’s an NHL passer already. He’s the most flawless of the top players and he’s the most NHL-ready.
While Bennett had some troubles at the combine, Aaron Ekblad did nothing but impress scouts with is efforts in the combine. The scouts and GM’s left the combine feeling very confident int he skills and ability of Ekblad, the projected first overall pick. Scouts were quite impressed with his near NHL-ready skill and flawless play. After the combine, it’s looking like the Panthers will take the defenceman first overall. [Toronto Sun]