Wednesday Morning Skate: Digging Dougie, Oskar Strong, Bolts strike

Welcome to the Morning Skate, our roundup of links on Philly Hockey Now as well as other sites around the National Hockey Now network and hockey world!

Flyers News

• Dougie Hamilton has been granted permission to talk to other teams, including the Flyers. Chuck Fletcher has to do whatever he can to land the top free-agent defenseman, right? (Philly Hockey Now)

• Well, maybe not. Dougie Hamilton may not be the team’s top target, but the Flyers have a lot of balls in the air and should be in on quite a few defensemen. (Philly Hockey Now)

• Oskar Lindblom is incredibly deserving of the Bill Masterson Memorial Trophy that he won on Tuesday night. (Philly Hockey Now)

• The Flyers are bound to lose a valuable asset in the expansion draft. Who might they protect and who might they lose? (Philly Hockey Now)

• The Flyers signed a pair of pending restricted free agents on Monday. (Philly Hockey Now)

• Ian Laperriere will be authentically himself, make sure players are in shape, instill structure, and use positivity to help Flyers prospects develop as the Phantoms head coach. (Philly Hockey Now)

• The Flyers own the 13th overall pick in the NHL Draft after this week’s draft lottery, but should they use it? Probably not. Chuck Fletcher should use that pick as a trade chip to acquire an impact player that can help the team immediately. (Philly Hockey Now)

• Seth Jones may want out of Columbus. Should the Flyers be interested in the right-handed defenseman to fill their biggest need? (Philly Hockey Now)

Around the NHL

OTR: Kraken Lurking for Trade Splash, Avs Headed for Big Shakeup? | PHN+ –  (National Hockey Now)

The Stanley Cup playoffs are still going, but the Seattle Kraken are lurking on the NHL trade market. We’re watching the Kraken, and GM Ron Francis put the new team in a position to land a superstar in exchange for a top-prospect selected with the second overall pick.

Speaking of the NHL trade winds and the NHL Draft, as reported on Off The Record before, the Los Angeles Kings and the Ottawa Senators are primed to be major players this offseason. One source went off the record to gush about the opportunity both rebuilding franchises have before them.

And there are consequences to failure. For some teams, failure is not making the playoffs. For others, it’s potentially being a great team but continued exits far too early in the NHL playoffs. See also the Colorado Avalanche. Could Colorado cut ties with captain Gabriel Landeskog? OTR is hearing big rumblings out of Colorado that could shake up that franchise in several ways.

Rapid Reaction: Islanders Thunderstruck in Game 2 Loss to Bolts – (NYI Hockey Now)

The Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the New York Islanders in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Semifinals 4-2 on Tuesday night. The best-of-seven series is even at 1-1 as the series shifts to Long Island.

Fleury Brilliant, Theodore Pushes Golden Knights Past Canadiens in Game 1 – (Vegas Hockey Now)

Shea Theodore scored once and added an assist as the Vegas Golden Knights defeated the Montreal Canadiens 4-1 in Game One of the Stanley Cup Semifinal series at TMobile Arena Monday night.

Neely Looks Back ‘A Lot’ on Boston Bruins 2015 Draft Blunders –  (Boston Hockey Now)

On Tuesday, just under a week after Mathew Barzal and the New York Islanders Islanders sent the Bruins to their second-straight exit from the Stanley Cup playoffs after two rounds, Boston Bruins President Cam Neely acknowledged the lingering effects of that botched draft for the Bruins. Neely admitted that maybe he didn’t leave enough time for Bruins General Manager Don Sweeney to acclimate himself into his new role as GM after being hired just over a month before the NHL Draft.

Avalanche and their fans can’t give up now – (Colorado Hockey Now)

This has been a lousy few days. As people who watch and care about the Colorado Avalanche, it was a lousy feeling watching last night’s Vegas-Montreal game.

I’m sure a lot of you felt this way too, but I was like: “This should be the Avs playing Montreal right now, at Ball Arena. It should be a full house. The Avs should be wearing their Quebec Nordiques reverse retro jerseys, and this should be a ball to watch.”

Penguins Free Agency: What is Teddy Blueger Worth and Can Pens Afford Him? – (Pittsburgh Hockey Now)

Money will be tight around the NHL again this summer. The flat salary cap figures to be a fixture until 2024, give or take a year, and RFAs will bear the brunt of the cap-strapped teams, lack of suitors, and restricted free agency rules, which should be more appropriately termed restrictive. The Pittsburgh Penguins have five RFAs, and not all will be back.

Duffer’s Dabbles: Fabbri Acquistion Still Yzerman’s Best Red Wings Deal – (Detroit Hockey Now)

If we’re voting for the sexiest trade Steve Yzerman has made during his tenure as GM of the Detroit Red Wings, certainly the deal that brought Jakub Vrana and first-round pick to the team wins the day. However, that move must do some more moving in order to lay claim to the title as Yzerman’s best trade in Detroit.

Dahlen, Viel, Meloche Re-Sign with Sharks, What’s Cap Hit? – (San Jose Hockey Now)

The San Jose Sharks have re-signed Jonathan Dahlen, Jeffrey Viel, and Nicolas Meloche.

Per The Athletic, Dahlen has been re-signed to a one-year, one-way contract. Multiple sources tell San Jose Hockey Now that his cap hit is the veteran’s minimum of $750,000.

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Photo: Heather Barry Images