Your savory breakfast links:
- Reports are swirling that the Caps are nearing a deal with Belarusian center Mikhail Grabovski… news which gotten some of his alleged future teammates pretty excited, and driven fans into a bit of a frenzy. [Rink, TSN, Spector, RDS, Sportsnet (and again), CBS Sports, Sporting News, Edmonton Journal, PHT (and again), CSNW, WaPo, LeafsNation, RMNB, Too Many Men on the Site, Faceoff Violation]
- One guy who might be thrilled to have Grabovski on his side? Michal Neuvirth, who probably still has nightmares about this spinning shootout tally. [Caps Outsider]
- Oh, and here’s Exhibit A for why you don’t print calendars way in advance… Maple Leafs. [stevedangle]
- Slightly lower on the excitement scale but good news nonetheless, a very busy George McPhee has also reportedly signed 2013 draftee Andre Burakovsky to an entry level contract. Burakovsky has decided to suit up for the Erie Otters of the OHL this year. [GoErie, Otters Hockey, PHT, RMNB]
- If you missed it in the Grabovski-Burakovsky one-two punch, be sure to check out this week’s Mailbag where we tackled potential UFA upgrades for the blue line and Marcus Johansson. [Rink]
- Karl Alzner is headed to Team Canada’s summer evaluation camp with big Olympic dreams in sight. [NHLPA, WaPo, CSNW]
- Nine others have come before, but the #1 must-see game of the 2013-14 season is the return of Bruce Boudreau at the end of December. Welcome back, BB! [CSNW]
- Tom Wilson and Joel Ward chat about participating in this year’s Biosteel training camp, at which Wilson’s team won the Camp Cup. Hopefully the first of many chalices, Tom. [TSN.ca, @tom_wilso]
- Speaking of Wilson, he’ll be one of 27 players on display at this year’s NHLPA Rookie Showcase next week. [PHT, Beckett, Fire & Ice]
- Plenty of must-see games on the slate for the Hershey Bears, as well, as they’ve released their 2013-14 season schedule. [Pennlive (and again), SHOE]
- The rationale for the Caps’ 28th place spot on a ranking of NHL jerseys just further proves my theory that boys tend to romanticize the jerseys of their youth. As does the fact that a skating penguin is deemed awesome. [ESPN]
- You have the chance to pick the panel you want to see at this year’s Caps Convention, and the options are pretty awesome. [Caps]
- Because the mind of the Peerless Prognosticator is a weird and wonderful place, here’s a new scientific way to count down the remaining days until Opening Night. [Peerless, and again]
- Monumental Network, home of your Caps and all things DC sports, is looking for a digital content intern. [Teamwork Online]