Puck Headlines: NBC, NHL poop on another fan viewing party

Here are your Evening 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.

• First it was the big screen outside of Mellon Arena; now, Detroit Red Wings fans are coping with the news that "there will be no 'Joe Vision' broadcast of Tuesday night's Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals because NBC would not rescind its exclusive rights to the telecast." [Detroit News]

• From Crains, which was one of the first to report the story: "A source familiar with the negotiations, who agreed to speak on the condition of anonymity, said the National Hockey League refused to let the team air with the NBC or CBC broadcast of the game at the arena. Last year's Game 6 used the CBC feed, which the NHL didn't reject." Again, the NHL gave NBC the ball and the Peacock's running with it. It's NBC's air time, NBC's call; blame the League for partnering up with a network that chooses fractions of a ratings point over the fan experience. [Crains]

• As Mike Feld of the Bleacher Report points out, NBC's decision will actually take money out of the coffers of local charities. More on this story from Paul Kukla and Winging It in Motown. [BR]

• We can count on one finger the number of Brooks Orpik profiles that opened with him doing a crossword puzzle. And yet ... [NHL]

• Might the KHL actually make the Washington Capitals' Michael Nylander problem go away? [Examiner]

• Pierre LeBrun of ESPN reports that the Los Angeles Kings are seeking "a star" this summer; hence the Vincent Lecavalier speculation. But LeBrun writes that "the New York Rangers have made Scott Gomez available around the league" and suspects that Ryan Smyth of the Colorado Avalanche is the player "the Kings covet most." Gomez would be a pretty interesting move for the Kings, actually, provided he clicks with the right (as in correct) winger. [ESPN]

• Sen. John McCain laments the potential loss of the Phoenix Coyotes: "I'd hate to see them leave. They have given us some great moments." Some of assumedly didn't involve Alexander Ovechkin or Rick Nash ... [KTAR]

• Sportsnet plans live coverage of the next rounds in the Coyotes hearings on Tuesday. [Sportsnet]

• Darren Eliot makes the point that Tuesday is going to be one weird-ass day for Gary Bettman, as the fate of the Coyotes (and NHL relocation policy until the lawsuits start flying) could be decided on the same day at the Stanley Cup Final. [SI]

Jason Arnott, J.P. Dumont, and Vern Fiddler of the Nashville Predators are scheduled to play softball at the CMA MusicFest. No word yet if Jordan Tootoo is scheduled to be the softball. [On The Forecheck]

• Bruce "Malkin To the Kings" Garrioch reports that the Boston Bruins and Phil Kessel are miles apart on a new deal. (And a hearty stick-tap to Stanley Cup of Chowder for referring to him as "Malkin To the Kings" Garrioch.) [SCOC]

• The Atlanta Thrashers sign Marty Reasoner to a reasonable two-year deal worth a total of $2.3 million ($1.1 million this season, $1.2 million the next), per Craig Custance. [Sporting News]

• The Anaheim Ducks sign forward and destroyer of Hudlers Mike Brown to a two-year deal. [Ducks]

• Pete DeBoer makes some coaching changes with the Florida Panthers, and George Richards does an outstanding job putting some personalities with the names. [On Frozen Pond]

• Some Stanley Cup viewership numbers from the U.S. and Canada. [CBC Sports]

• The Pittsburgh Penguins sold 500 tickets in 10 minutes. Your turn, Yanni. [Penguins]

• The NHL and NHLPA announced today that they have signed a multi-year sponsorship deal with Compuware Corporation, including sponsorship of the NHL Premiere games in Europe. The CEO of Compuware would be Peter Karmanos, principle owner of the Carolina Hurricanes, is also the Chairman and CEO of Compuware. Small world. [Canes Country]

• Jacques Lemaire says "not right now" to the Tampa Bay Lightning as a mystery team has approached him with an offer. If this is some kind of Brent Sutter contingency plan, Lou, I'm crackin' skulls. [Lightning Strikes]

• Finally, the description says it all: "Al Trautwig, Dave Maloney, Ken Daneyko and Butch Goring answer fan-submitted questions about the Stanley Cup Final, the Rangers, Devils and Isles." Listen to Dano mispronounce a name a millisecond after it's pronounced correctly.

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