Your savory breakfast links:
- Former King Mike Richards is now a current Cap, as the center has signed a pro-rated one-year deal with the club. [Rink, Caps, Monumental video (MacLellan), NHL.com, AP, WaPo, CSNMA, LA Times, TSN, RDS, CBC, SI, Sporting News, Puck Daddy, FOX Sports, SBN, DSP, THW, PHT, PDL, StarsandSticks, RMNB, NoVa Caps, Friends in Cold Places]
- After something of a rough summer, Richards is ready for a fresh start with his new team. [TSN]
- His role with the team hasn’t been determined just yet, but the first step will be to practice with the Caps ahead of tonight’s game in Brooklyn. [CSNMA]
- A look back at Richards’ career. [CSNMA]
- Of course, you may remember Richards as the first guy to ever drop the gloves with Alex Ovechkin in the NHL. Oops. [CSNMA, RMNB]
- This depth signing by the Caps helps strengthen their Cup chances. Hopefully. [ESPN]
- Congrats to Braden Holtby and Nicklas Backstrom, who will join Ovechkin in Nashville for the All-Star Game (and be coached by their own bench boss, Barry Trotz). It’s about damn time. [Rink, Caps, NHL.com, WaPo, WashTimes, CSNMA, AP, StarsandSticks, RMNB, Pressbox DC, WTOP]
- Once a team centered around one or two superstars, the Caps are now focused on a team-first approach. And smooches. [AP]
- Andre Burakovsky has two goals in his last four games; could he finally be shaking off his sophomore slump? [CSNMA, NoVa Caps]
- Talkin’ ’bout MoJo! [Friends in Cold Places]
- Previews of tonight’s playoff rematch with the New York Islanders from Vogs, NHL.com, Peerless, NoVa Caps, Newsday, CBS Sports, and be sure to visit our SB Nation pals over at Lighthouse Hockey for the other side of tonight’s matchup.
- Not surprisingly, Evgeny Kuznetsov has seen a marked improvement in his offensive production since last season. [TSN]
- 30 things we’ve learned from the first half of the season. [USA Today]
- Holtby continues to earn praise for his stellar season. [SI.com]
- A few leftovers from Tuesday’s win in Beantown. [Dump ‘n Chase, Boston Globe, CBS DC]
- Rank ’em! [Rink]
- Zach Sill’s hit on Adam McQuaid brought him in front of the NHL Department of Player Safety… who dished out a two-game suspension. [NHL.com, Puck Daddy, AP, WaPo, CSNMA, SCoC, NESN]
- Former ref Kerry Fraser probably does not agree with the call. [TSN]
- Doesn’t the NFL know that they shouldn’t schedule playoff games for DC teams that conflict with regular-season Caps games? Selfish bastards. [WaPo]
- Finally, happy 51st birthday to Yves Beaudoin, happy 44th to Donald Brashear, happy 48th to Mike Rosati, happy 50th to Randy Burridge, and happy 60th to Mike Liut.