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.
• Note: Our second gallery of Puck Daddy Create-a-Card contest entries will publish later today. You've been warned.
• TSN's Darren Dreger reports that Sean Avery is "expected to be cleared from the NHL and NHLPA's Behavioral Modification program later this week or sometime early next." That means the Dallas Stars can soon send him through waivers for reassignment to an AHL team that would actually take him; or hope that another NHL team claims Avery. But honestly, who would want the Dallas Stars' slopp ... we'll stop. [TSN]
• Meanwhile, someone's making the case that the Toronto Maple Leafs can use Avery. Obviously a case of Darcy Tucker Abandonment Syndrome. [T.O. Sports]
• Kevin Paul Dupont believes the Boston Bruins could be targeting Edmonton Oilers winger Erik Cole. Because the Bruins simply don't have enough tenacious yet oft-injured forwards on their roster, apparently. [Globe]
• The Columbus Blue Jackets prepare to be buyers at the deadline for the first time in franchise history. Just don't ask for any of their top prospects or top draft picks or key players. Say, does anyone have a No. 1 center they want to trade for Jared Boll? [Dispatch]
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• Nikita Filatov is headed back to Syracuse of the AHL. Thanks for the hat trick and enjoy the snow, kiddo. [Jackets]
• How the AHL's Philadelphia Phantoms moving will affect the Philadelphia Flyers. Beyond, you know, the availability of eager rookies to pick up the tab at local bars. [Philly.com]
• Gary Bettman on the Phoenix Coyotes: "There's been a tremendous amount of speculation and commentary about the state of the Coyotes, and frankly, I think most of it has been terribly unfair to the Coyotes organization, to the players and most importantly, the fans." And yet the NHL is holding their checkbook. [AZ Central]
• Whether your team is on the playoff bubble or not, a great piece of advice for NHL general managers: Don't be a Don Waddell. [THN]
• The Carolina Hurricanes reveal why Rod Brind'Amour is a minus-eleventy billion this season: a nagging injury that isn't getting any better. [N&O]
• Calgary Flames coach Mike Keenan watched as general manager Darryl Sutter came to the locker room and gave the Flames a stern talkin' to. Thank goodness Mike Keenan is so mild-mannered and free of ego, or else things could get ugly. [Calgary Sun]
• Melt Your Face-Off presents the real story behind why Eric Lindros is no longer the NHLPA's ombudsman. Because who doesn't love concussion humor? [MYFO]
• "She lost how much on the coin toss?" [Getty]
• "The son of retired NHL superstar Guy Lafleur must serve 15 months of community service after pleading guilty last summer to charges related to a tumultuous romantic relationship with a teenage girl." Death threats and forcible confinement are generally frowned upon by the authorities. [CBC Sports]
• Jonathan Roy prepares for his goalie-fight trial in July, which hopefully doesn't affect the dropping of J.O.E. Daking's next hip-hop album, yo. [CBC Sports]
• Ottawa Senators defenseman Filip Kuba has a no-trade clause, but is expected to accept a trade to a contender. Once again: If you can't get Kaberle, this guy is aces. [The Fourth Period]
• The New Jersey Devils hire a lobbyist in order to help grease the wheels and get their former home at the Meadowlands closed down. A lobbyist? That's not change we can believe in. [Bergen Record]
• Finally, this "Dark Knight" dubbing about Henrik Lundqvist's all-star game performance is pretty darn funny. OK, funny if you're a Devils fan:
