Your savory breakfast links:
- Vladimir Putin stopped by Team Russia’s Olympic Camp, but you’re more interested in the photos of Semyon Varlamov, Alex Ovechkin and Ilya Kovalchuk, AO and Sergei Fedorov, AO and Alexei Kovalev, AO lying down and, of course, AO and some other dude half-naked. [KHL via SlapShot]
- Varly on his chances at becoming the Caps’ number one netminder this fall: “It is not very easy, but very achievable.” Fair, no? [@dchesnokov]
- Craig Custance would seem to agree. [The Sporting News]
- NHL Coaches! They’re Just Like Us! They contemplate line combos all summer long. [Capitals Insider]
- Gary Bettman confirmed for Caps Convention. Hilarity ensues. [Capitals.com]
- If you want the more realistic cyber-AO, NHL2K10 might be your game. [IGN via First Cuts]
- Then again, 2K Sports doesn’t even think their cover boy is the game’s best player. [Kotaku via First Cuts]
- Another writer leaves Mike Green off his Canadian Olympic roster… [Edmonton Journal]
- … I guess he’s not easily impressed by things like the fact that Green had the second-best Even Strength Total Rating (which “is comparable to GD/60, taking into account strength of teammates and opposition for all goals”) among all NHL D’s last year. [Ice Hockey Metrics]
- At least MTV is interested in Green. [Capitals Insider]
- A brief history of John Erskine‘s professional career. Because why not? [Examiner]
- While some members of the media might not be very good at simple math, even they have to realize that 741,992 is more than 708,835. [A Blog To Be Named Later]
- The Caps have a new video coach. Sadly, it’s not Anton Gustafsson. [Capitals Insider]
- AO’s making friends all over the NHL (two down, 27 to go), but is Leahy right that a (presumably non-Caps) Jaromir Jagr jersey is the worst you could wear into the VC? After giving it some thought, I’m going outside the box with my pick: a Sabres Daniel Briere. [Puck Daddy]
- Speaking of former-Caps-turned-Rangers, Donald Brashear was not warmly received by fans of his new team. [New Daily News]
- Corporate accounts payable, Nina speaking. Just a moment. Corporate accounts payable, Nina speaking. Just a moment. [HockeyJobs.NHL.com]
- Mark French is ready to roll in Hershey. [The Patriot-News]
- Former Cap player/coach Dennis Hextall is the new commish of the IHL. [Pantagraph.com]
- Unsigned 2007 draft pick Brett Leffler isn’t giving up on the NHL dream quite yet. [Regina Leader-Post]
- Finally, happy 63rd birthday to Gerry Meehan and happy 50th to Greg Theberge. It’s also Cristobal Huet‘s birthday.