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BHN Puck Links: Pitino Weighs In On Keith Yandle Situation

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Boston Bruins

Boy, the Keith Yandle situation with the Florida Panthers is getting kind of crazy.

After Yandle was pulled off the regular practice units and appeared headed for a healthy scratch to end his 866-game iron man streak, there was a flurry of trade rumors and criticism about the move by Florida’s hockey ops group. Boston Hockey Now reported that Yandle would waive his no-trade clause for a deal that got him to the Boston Bruins, but his big salary and age are going to make him a difficult player to deal.

The criticism of the Panthers for the Yandle treatment has also reached new heights as college hoops coach Rick Pitino, of all people, weighed in on twitter to decry the way the Panthers defenseman was being handled. Apparently, all of the harsh talk pushed Florida’s way may have worked as the Panthers finally elevated the Massachusetts native back to the top practice group on Saturday ahead of Sunday’s season opener for the Panthers.

It’s really the only way to treat a quality person and player in Yandle, who has done everything asked of him down in Florida.

It remains to be seen if it’s going to work out for Yandle, but it would really be a shame if anything but an injury ended the longest current iron man streak in the NHL, and the fourth longest in NHL history just 19 games behind Steve Larmer for third place on the all-time list.

Now, on to the puck links:

*Partner-in-crime Jimmy Murphy wonders if a Boston Bruins trade for Yandle even makes sense from a Boston perspective. Certainly, they could use a veteran top-4 presence, but why not sign Torey Krug if they were just going to trade for Yandle? (Boston Hockey Now)

*Interesting times in New York where there’s already shake-ups with the New York Rangers, and outspoken defenseman Tony DeAngelo looks like he’s being demoted. Bigger expectations causing a pressure situation in New York. (New York Post)

*San Jose Sharks center Patrick Marleau could be the new active NHL iron man leader if Yandle does indeed get scratched by the Florida Panthers in the near future. (The Mercury News)

*Pittsburgh Penguins forward Jared McCann will have a hearing with the NHL Player Safety Department after throwing an elbow at Travis Sanheim. (Pittsburgh Hockey Now)

*Boy, Jakub Voracek sure has an issue with somebody in the Philadelphia Flyers media, doesn’t he?

*For something completely different: It’s a sad weekend in the neighborhood as Mr. Roger’s wife has passed away. (Boston.com)

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