BHN Daily Links: Ristolainen Sounds Off, LaBanc Does Sharks “Favor”

It was another quiet August weekend around the NHL, with minimal movement and the rumor mill slowing down as everyone tries to enjoy the final weeks of summer. There were some interesting stories that cropped up over the weekend, however. Both Rasmus Ristolainen of the Buffalo Sabres and Kevin LaBanc of the San Jose Sharks sounded off on two very different topics. More on that in a moment. Here are the top stories from around the hockey world on Monday, August 12th.

Rasmus Ristolainen is the second member of the Buffalo Sabres to admit that he just isn’t having fun with the game anymore. The much maligned defender told MTV Sport in Finland that he hasn’t been able to enjoy the game recently. He’s also admitted that he has had talks about moving on from the team that drafted him. (NHL.com)

Kevin LaBanc shocked the hockey world a few weeks ago when he accepted a one-year deal well below market value. Why? He did the Sharks and GM Doug Wilson a favor. The young forward, who broke out this past season, took the deal in order to save some cap space for the club, hoping the Sharks would use it to build a team capable of winning the Stanley Cup. (Yahoo!)

The New York Rangers are still searching for a new captain. Who, if anyone, will take the role? There are four players with a real shot to be the next captain of the historic organization. (Blueline Station)

The Pittsburgh Penguins made one of the biggest deals of the summer when they sent Phil Kessel to Arizona. What will they look like without the sniper in their forward ranks? (Pittsburgh Hockey Now)