The Weekly Links post highlights important or interesting writing from the hockey blogosphere and media. Enjoy!
- While the CWHL is currently the top elite circuit for women’s hockey, there was a lot of buzz the past week about the National Women’s Hockey League (NWHL), which launched eight days ago. It will play its first season as a four-team, US-based league with franchises in New York, Buffalo, Boston, and Connecticut. [Stanley Cup of Chowder]
- Dani Rylan, the Commissioner of the NWHL, spoke at length about the challenges and opportunities facing the new league and its future. [The Pink Puck]
- Jen Neale also interview Rylan about the league, which will pay its players a modest salary. [Puck Daddy]
- “5 Hopes for Women’s Professional Hockey,” in light of the NWHL announcement. Can the NWHL coexist with the CWHL? And will we see a greater diversity of international stars with this doubling of elite women’s clubs in North America? [High Heels and Hockey Sticks]
- Sean Leahy interviews US women’s star Meghan Duggan about the future of the CWHL and the current World Championships. [Puck Daddy]
- As the end of the NHL season approaches, there has been lots of chatter about teams “tanking” in order to stand a better lottery chance of securing the top pick in the Entry Draft – which this year will allow them to select elite prospects Connor McDavid or Jack Eichel. Jonathan Willis makes a pitch for a major redesign of how draft picks are awarded. [Sportsnet]
- And Travis Yost argues for an even more radical step – that the NHL eliminate the draft altogether, and allow 18 year-olds to enter the league as unrestricted free agents. [And One More Thing]
- Damien Cox writes about the new wave of young players hailing from non-traditional US locales (such as Texas, California, Nevada, and Arizona), headed by 2016 top prospect Auston Matthews. [Sportsnet]
- Ryan Kennedy writes about the tough choices facing teenage boys about whether they commit to an NCAA school or enter the CHL. [The Hockey News]
- We could see a Winter Classic at Penn State between the Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins in 2017, which is the 50th anniversary of both franchises. [Broad Street Hockey]
- Andre Deveaux viciously attacked an opponent during the pregame warmup of a Swedish hockey match. He is now facing criminal charges. [Bar Down]
- Researchers at Virginia Tech tested hockey helmets from major manufacturers, and found that many of them do not test well for safety. [Virginia Tech]
- Las Vegas’ NHL expansion inches closer to reality, as the potential owners meet a key milestone in their season ticket drive. [Puck Daddy]
Hockey in Society / Hockey dans la société 