Dan’s Daily Links: Jackets GM Draws Line, Hamilton is ‘Misunderstood’

Columbus Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen did not throw any verbal punches and he’s not being skewered on social media as was Pittsburgh Penguins GM Jim Rutherford, but Kekalainen did draw a line in the sand. The Boston Bruins locker room is already getting to know Boston Hockey Now and Jimmy Murphy’s ringtone and Carolina’s head coach Rod Brind’Amour defended his defenseman Dougie Hamilton.

Brind’Amour said Hamilton is “misunderstood.” Call me crazy, I tend to root for players who play hard but don’t fit societal norms. Can anyone else relate? (Sports Hub)

Boston Hockey Now is making a big splash in Boston. Watch Brad Marchand chirp Jimmy Murphy at the end of the media scrum (Boston Hockey Now)

Also, is Boston already winning the mental battle? (BHN)

Kekalainen drew a big line in the sand for his pending unrestricted free agents. If you don’t want to live in Columbus–goodbye. (1st Ohio Battery)

Gee, to whomever could the GM be referring? Perhaps a Russian goalie who just put his house on the market? Maybe a Russian sniper who played coy all season? I hope the upset of Tampa Bay was worth it. CBJ could have gained a pretty good return on those players.

If you watched Game 1 of the Western Conference Final, Timo Meier was pretty good, huh? Ok, really good (NBC Sports)

Who won the Pittsburgh Penguins Daniel Sprong for Marcus Pettersson trade? The results are clear but the fan anger hasn’t subsided. Just check out the comments, too (Pittsburgh Hockey Now)

I was once in a media scrum at the Steelers practice facility. I was covering the Steelers at the time–before I was all in on hockey and lost touch with other sports. Tommy Maddox was the QB and was giving some general answers to general questions. I was in the center of the scrum..that’s when Maddox began quoting Caddy Shack.

I was so focused on my job, I didn’t realize the comic gold coming my way. So, he looked right at me and repeated the line…”Putting at night.”

Hello is this thing on? The Athletic looks at obtuse stupidity like mine as a reason for the rise in terrible, cliche-laden athlete interviews (The Athletic)

Putting at night…

Happy Mother’s Day!