Dan’s Daily Links: O’Ree-Bettman in Hall of Fame, Tavares Sweepstakes & UFAs

It’s a somewhat quiet day as the hockey eyes turn towards development camps and teams hunker down in preparation for the Pandora’s Box of free agent signings which begin Sunday. The Pittsburgh Penguins will begin development camp today and our Shelly Anderson will be on the scene. In the meantime, the John Tavares soap opera continues, the Canucks inked Derrick Pouliot, and the Hockey Hall of Fame corrected a wrong but made another.

The Hockey Hall of Fame finally invited Willie O’Ree, who broke the NHL’s color barrier, into the hallowed halls. Unfortunately, the HHOF in its perplexing wisdom omitted a couple worthy players and selected NHL commissioner Gary Bettman. (NBC Sports)

Yes, the same Gary Bettman who is being deposed in a concussion lawsuit and uses lockouts as a negotiating tactic (USA Today). 

The Vancouver Canucks signed former Penguins defenseman Derrick Pouliot. Interesting story with a couple sides. (Vancouver Province).

What will you do when the John Tavares “Kiss the Ring and Dinner Tour” ends? Today’s update from Los Angeles comes courtesy of beat writer Andrew Gross. The Bruins are in it. (Newsday).

There are those advocating sneaky tactics to sign Tavares to a 9-year deal. Here’s how (Sportsnet).

A free agent to keep your eyes on, who could help a couple Penguins rivals–Robin Lehner. His dinner tour has begun, too (The Athletic. Subscription required).

The Senators are buying out Alexandre Burrows. Hmmm (TSN).

Frank Seravalli looks at the market for defenseman, trades and free agents (TSN).

That’s it for now. Seriously, Bettman in the Hall, now?!