BHN Puck Links: Boston Bruins Send Out HOF Congrats to Big Papi

The Boston Bruins are great teammates in terms of the greater Boston sports world, and always have been through thick and thin.

The B’s players and coaching are always there rooting on the other three teams during big games and playoff runs, and the other teams and players have returned the favor through Boston being the City of Champions over the last 20 plus years. So it’s no surprise the Bruins wasted no time in congratulating David Ortiz on Tuesday’s induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

Congrats to the legend, @davidortiz! 👏 pic.twitter.com/3mSlHxuN57

— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) January 26, 2022

Ortiz has enjoyed his share of Boston Bruins games over the years, and this humble hockey writer will never forget the respect that Big Papi had for the B’s players when they visited Fenway Park to take a little batting practice years ago. Ortiz was pretty confident he could play football or basketball at a pretty high level, but he let out a trademark laugh and a “no way” when asked if he could ever be a good hockey player.

Congrats to Big Papi on a Hall of Fame career, an amazing run with the Red Sox that resulted in three World Series titles and so many memorable moments that made him the best clutch hitter of his generation, and arguably the greatest clutch hitter in MLB history.

Now on to the BHN Puck Links:

*Great story from partner-in-crime Jimmy Murphy about Ray Bourque’s influence on Brad Marchand enjoying every interaction he has with the fans, and those viral moments that Marchand is involved in. (Boston Hockey Now)

*While clearly there was some disappointment about NHL players skipping the Olympics, it has opened the door for some great Olympic hockey stories. One of them is Landon Ferraro making the Team Canada roster and fulfilling a dream for Ray Ferraro to watch his son play for the Gold while broadcasting the Winter Games. (Vancouver Hockey Now)

*The Washington Capitals are looking into Marc-Andre Fleury. Wouldn’t that be an interesting turn of events in the Caps goaltending situation? (Washington Hockey Now)

*Mad props to Milton’s own Keith Yandle for becoming the NHL’s iron man after breaking Doug Jarvis’ record that stood for over three decades. (Pucks with Haggs)

*Speaking of the Flyers, what is Flyers GM Chuck Fletcher going to say today as his hockey team is amidst a franchise-worst 13-game losing streak? Is there anything to say? (Philly Hockey Now)

*What a sneaky play from Buffalo Sabres backup goaltender Aaron Dell wiping out the Ottawa Senators best player Drake Batherson as he circled high speed behind the net. Now Batherson is out with a long-term ankle injury and the Senators will be without their All-Star caliber player. It’s good to hear Dell is going to face supplemental discipline because this isn’t the first time he’s done something like this. Just a dirty play from a goalie that will never have to answer for his actions on the ice.

Oh my.

Aaron Dell absolutely levels Drake Batherson who is down and injured. pic.twitter.com/3tMQX1erzI

— The Charging Buffalo (@TheChargingBUF) January 26, 2022

*The USA Hockey NTDP Star Wars jerseys are always tremendous, and this season is no different, to the point that Mark Hamill even chimed in with how much he liked them. The Force is strong with those hockey sweaters. (ESPN)

*For something completely different: Interesting piece on why more Americans are starting their own businesses than ever before. (Vox)