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BHN Puck Links: ‘Vaak’ On NHL Trade Block, Labor Strife Looming?

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The Boston Bruins are still looking to improve their blue line and according to Joe Haggerty, top defensive prospect Urho Vaakanainen is their main trade bait on the NHL Trade block. 

More and more, it appears that COVID19 won’t be the biggest obstacle to having a 2020-21 NHL season. 

Are the San Jose Sharks going to move?

That and more in the latest edition of Boston Hockey Now Puck Links!

The Boston Bruins continue to try and bolster their blue line and it appears that their 2017 first round draft pick, Urho Vaakanainen, whom they selected 18th overall, has been and remains their top trade chip on the NHL trade market. An NHL source bluntly told our own Joe Haggerty of the Bruins: “They’re trying to move him. (Boston Hockey Now)

In my latest ‘Off The Record’ column for the National Hockey Now Network, I had multiple sources telling me we could very well be facing a labor battle between NHL owners and the NHLPA because the owners were expected to ask the players for another deferral from their salaries for the 2020-21 season. Well, Larry Brooks reported on Tuesday night that the owners will do exactly that and that their ask will be another 13-percent on top of the 10-percent deferral and 20-percent escrow they already agreed to in the CBA signed back in July. (New York Post).

Keeping with this situation that could become quite contentious, colleague Dan Kingerski lists this new potential deferral as the biggest obstacle in a path to the NHL hitting the ice this season. (Pittsburgh Hockey Now)

The Florida Panthers continue to receive praise for putting their words into action and hiring the first African American Assistant General Manager in the NHL on Tuesday in Brett Peterson. Hockey Diversity Alliance founder and advocate for racial justice in the NHL, Akim Aliu believes this is a great start to changing the culture in and around the NHL. In addition to making history, the Panthers also got an Assistant GM that is well respected amongst NHL players. Peterson will help Florida acquire players through the NHL trade market and free agency. (TSN)

The San Jose Sharks already lost the best player they ever had in future hall of famer Joe Thornton, who signed as a UFA with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Will they have to leave town now too? Sheng Peng has more on how the Sharks and SAP Arena are trying to change an approved downtown development plan that could greatly affect access to Sharks games for fans and gameday business in and around the arena. (San Jose Hockey Now)

The Colorado Avalanche will be adding a fourth jersey for the upcoming season after revealing their ‘Reverse Retro’ editions that paid homage to the Quebec Nordiques. (Colorado Hockey Now). 

Finally, for Murph’s Music Pick Of The Day, Happy Birthday to the late Jeff Buckley, who would’ve turned 54 today. Buckley, to me, was one of the most underrated musicians of my lifetime. 

 

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