Dan’s Daily Links: Larmi’s Crazy Trip, Still No Ice for Canadiens

What an odd moment for sports journalism. There are sports. Players are practicing. And yet we don’t have many stories because of the coronavirus pandemic which rightfully puts a barrier between journalists and the team. There is a great fear among my colleagues that we will never get back to the locker rooms or never again have personal access to players. Players or teams may think that is great, but simply look at the slow pace of stories and wonder how long would any team, including the Pittsburgh Penguins hold anyone’s interest with so little news?

The Pittsburgh Penguins could play their games in Las Vegas. Rumors swept through hockey insiders this weekend; the NHL could “flip” the hub cities, so Western Conference teams play in the eastern building, and the Eastern Conference teams play in the West. Crazy times (Pittsburgh Hockey Now)

I believe the National Hockey Now family was the first to get the scoop, if I may offer a pat to our growing network.

One kid who holds interest via social media is Penguins goalie prospect Emil Larmi. HIs airport tweets and running Twitter banter with the WBS Penguins made the cesspool of Twitter worthwhile this weekend. It took Larmi three attempts to get from Helsinki airport to Pittsburgh, and that’s when the WBS Penguins twitter account began to troll him, including this gem.

A new blockbuster for sure. pic.twitter.com/VX47u2bToD

— WBS Penguins (@WBSPenguins) June 12, 2020

Anyway, to hockey…

As of Saturday, the Montreal Canadiens still don’t have ice at their practice facility to enter the NHL Return to Play Phase 2, at least as a team (Montreal Gazette).

Here are five questions about the Montreal effort in the playoffs (NHL.com)

The NHL is “strongly encouraging” players to arrive in their hockey home by June 21, so that Phase 3 can begin on time (Sportsnet)

Hey golfers–check out Pittsburgh Golf Now. Add your favorite little course if you haven’t done so (PGN)

NHL players are coming to grips with playing without fans. “We gotta do, what we gotta do…” (TSN)

The Colorado Avalanche are loaded with talent. They’re my favorite to win the West if goaltending holds out. Here’s a look at their offensive production–free for all (Colorado Hockey Now)

Ray Bourque really likes this Bruins team… (Boston Hockey Now)

And a message from the National Hockey Now founder ahem about our growing company (National Hockey Now)