BHN Puck Links: Canucks, Flyers Clean House, More DeBrusk Rumors

For the first time since June 8, goalie Tuukka Rask practiced with the Boston Bruins on Monday but he has yet to put pen to paper again with the B’s.

There was total carnage on and off the ice in the NHL Sunday and Monday, including two coaching changes and a former Boston Bruins assistant general manager Jim Benning getting fired. 

Vegas Golden Knights goalie Robin Lehner became the first NHLer to withdraw from the 2022 Winter Olympics. 

That and more in the latest Boston Hockey Now Puck Links:

Boston Bruins

With Boston Bruins goalie Linus UIlmark, along with multiple Bruins players, battling a non-COVID illness, former and likely future Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask played the role of the EBUG at practice Monday. (BHN)

As reported by yours truly last week, Sportsnet NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman confirmed that the Boston Bruins would prefer to get a player of equal value in any trade for Jake DeBrusk. (BHN)

While it likely would never happen, the thought of Boston Bruins captain Patrice Bergeron donning the bleu, blanc, rouge of the Montreal Canadiens did cross this longtime puck scribe’s mind this weekend. Friedman reported that Bergeron’s longtime agent Kent Hughes is likely a candidate to take over as the next GM of the Montreal Canadiens. Could he and one of his mentors and current Director of Player Personnel and Amateur Scouting Martin Lapointe lure Bergeron to Montreal in free agency next summer? (BHN)

National Hockey Now

The Vancouver Canucks finally blew things up on Sunday night as they fired head coach Travis Green and general manager and former Boston Bruins Asst. GM Jim Benning. Bruce Boudreau took over for Green and Scott Walker will be an assistant coach. Canucks legend Stan Smyl as interim GM. Assistant GM and former Bruins Director of Collegiate Scouting, John Weisbrod was also relieved of his duties, as was assistant coach Noel Baumgartner. 

As our man in VAN, Rob Simpson pointed out, it appears a combination of Smyl, assistant GM Chris Gear, Daniel, and Henrik Sedin, and Abbotsford Canucks GM Ryan Johnson will attempt to start righting the ship on the interim management side. (Vancouver Hockey Now)

Here’s Simmer’s post on the Green firing. (Vancouver Hockey Now)

Things got pretty heated between the Winnipeg Jets and Toronto Maple Leafs on Sunday night. After Jets defenseman Neil Pionk kneed Leafs defenseman Rasmus Sandin, Leafs forward Jason Spezza got Pionk with a flying knee to the head. 

Le geste est juste incroyable est répond au geste de Pionk inacceptable de Pionk sur Sandin. pic.twitter.com/E6ZNJwZUTX

— Jeudepuissance (@jeudepuissance) December 6, 2021

Spezza full on wired cross hit on Pionk after he kneed Sandin pic.twitter.com/TCbJU8DXSx

— Spittin' Chiclets (@spittinchiclets) December 6, 2021

There was also plenty of fisticuffs as the Jets beat the Leafs 6-3. (Toronto Hockey Now)

Matthew Tkachuk has matured as a player and a person and the Calgary Flames are reaping the benefits. (Calgary Hockey Now)

What has happened to the scoring depth of the Pittsburgh Penguins? (Pittsburgh Hockey Now)

The 2021-22 COVID tour across the NHL has made its stop in Washington DC and sent three Washington Capitals into COVID protocol on Monday. (Washington Hockey Now)

How badly do the Buffalo Sabres regret trading Sam Reinhart to the Florida Panthers? (Florida Hockey Now)

The winless streak for the New York Islanders has now hit 11 games. (NYI Hockey Now)

Are the Detroit Red Wings for real or just teasing their fans again? (Detroit Hockey Now)

Jared Bednar is wondering when his team became so soft? (Colorado Hockey Now)

Good on Robin Lehner for once again doing what he feels is best for him and his family and skipping out on the Winter Olympics. (Vegas Hockey Now)

Does San Jose Sharks defenseman Bob Boughner need to switch his forward lines up again? (San Jose Hockey Now)

NHL

The coaching carnage continued Monday morning as the Philadelphia Flyers fired head coach Alain Vigneault and asst. Coach Michel Therrien. Mike Yeo will take over as interim head coach. (TSN)

So I guess the NHL Department of Player safety is OK with this reckless, dirty hit Connor McDavid because he’s McDavid? 

Connor McDavid received a five-minute major and game misconduct for this hit on Adrian Kempe. pic.twitter.com/nK0ZQmilNZ

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) December 6, 2021