Puck Headlines: Rangers plus Avery plus Isles equals awesome

Here are your Morning Puck Headlines: A glorious collection of news and views collected from the greatest blogosphere in sports and the few, the proud, the mainstream hockey media.

• As you read this (assuming you're reading it between 12:30-1 p.m. EST, Dave Pagnotta and I are talking hockey on the podcast. Call in to chat at 646-929-1165, and listen back to it here.

• So Sean Avery could make his triumphant return to the New York Rangers tonight against the New York Islanders; if he does play, Rangers fans will welcome back their cult hero from the seats of their arch rival's arena. And that would be fun. Avery is happy hockey is back in his life. Larry Brooks believes Operation: Attitude Adjustment has been accomplished in the last two weeks for the Rangers.

Philadelphia Flyers GM Paul Holmgren on trading Scottie Upshall: "Scottie is a good kid, we all like him, but we got a guy back that plays a similar game to Scottie, but a little more aggressive. It's a better fit for us right now in the long run in a lot of ways." Daniel Carcillo as an upgrade of Upshall is a tough sell; better just stick to "it was a total cap move." [Philly.com]

• The Hockey Guy looks at life without Chris Pronger for the St. Louis Blues. Which is to say "life." [Hockey Guy]

• The University of Michigan and Michigan State will face off in another outdoor game tentatively slated for Dec. 11, 2010 at Michigan's football stadium ... but Ken Holland doesn't expect the Red Wings to be an active participant in, say, a double-header. Puck Buddy Jessica writes that this is now two outdoor games for Michigan in one year: They'll also play at Camp Randall stadium against Wisconsin on Feb 6., 2010. [MLive]

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• Lou Lamoriello will be on Gary Bettman's radio show today. We're rooting for conversations about the goalie trapezoid and why Bettman allows NBC to program the Rangers and Flyers every other week. [NHL]

• The delightful Steve Downie gets the mandatory minimum 20-game suspension from the AHL for abuse of an official. Another massive suspension for the former Flyer and current Tampa Bay Lightning farmhand. We hereby nominate the renaming of any player who has multiple suspensions of over 20 games as someone afflicted with "Downie's Syndrome." [Bolts Report]

• Bryan Murray on Pascal Leclaire coming to play for that goaltender graveyard known as the Ottawa Senators: "I talked to people that I know in the business and that have been around him. They all think that he is a No. 1 guy. We hope the mental part of the game goes along with it." [Sun Media]

• Great piece by Earl Sleek on the deadline, as the Battle of California's columnist saw favorite player Sammy Pahlsson traded by the Anaheim Ducks. [BoC]

• Were the San Jose Sharks the only winner in the Pacific Division at the trade deadline? [Defending Big D]

• One interesting aspect of the Sharks' moves yesterday: Both Kent Huskins and Travis Moen have Stanley Cup rings, bringing just a bit more postseason success to a locker room that still needs it. [Seagate]

• Nice TSN roundtable on the deadline. TSN really killed it yesterday. Well, save for Pierre. [TSN]

• Tony was not a fan of NHL Network's deadline coverage. [The Confluence]

• Jagr's Omsk team pulls an upset in the KHL playoffs. Yes, there are KHL playoffs. They didn't run out of money. Or goalies. [Slap Shot]

• NCAA bracketology for the Frozen Four. [The College Hockey Blog]

• Puck Daddy approved winger Milan Lucic is about ready to return for the Boston Bruins, practicing on the No. 1 line with Marc Savard and Phil Kessel. Reinforce the glass and tell your goon that Looch is on the way. [Bruins Blog]

• George James Malik thinks the worst rumor of the deadline was Manny Fernandez to the Detroit Red Wings. Sorry, but that doesn't touch Scott Gomez for Derek Morris. [Snapshots]

• Which Arrested Development character is your NHL team? Awesome. [Ms. Conduct]

• Finally, here's Berube vs. Poeschek from 89-90. Old. Time. Hockey.

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