Opinion Links for week of February 7 to 13, 2021 | Headlinehockey.com

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OPINION

RYAN KENNEDY: Meet the Goalie Every Scout Needs to See (The Hockey News)
MATT LARKIN: What do all the NHL's New COVID-19 Protocols Mean? (The Hockey News)
STEVEN ELLIS: Canadiens' Victor Mete Could be a Nice Value Pickup (The Hockey News)
CHRIS JOHNSTON: Leafs' newfound commitment to defence 'foundation' of impressive start (Sportsnet)
ERIC FRANCIS: Gaudreau opens up about handling criticism, fear of flying and more (Sportsnet)
MICHAEL TRAIKOS: One month in, the Maple Leafs are separating themselves from the pack (National Post)
LARRY BROOKS: Rangers' tough loss did have some silver linings (New York Post)
TERRY KOSHAN: Matthews the Maple Leafs' heartbeat in overall team commitment (Toronto Sun)
PAT HICKEY: Habs report card — polar vortex follows hot start (Montreal Gazette)
SAM CARCHIDI: In a season of starts and stops, Flyers need to adjust to ‘curveballs,’ and Brian Elliott should help (Philadelphia Inquirer)
STU COWAN: Rolling four lines is no longer working for the Canadiens (Montreal Gazette)
DAMIEN COX: The Canadiens were a North Division power a week ago. What happened? (Toronto Star)
MIKE McINTYRE: COVID running up the score on some U.S. NHL teams (Winnipeg Free Press)
TERRY JONES: Win in Montreal significant moment for Edmonton Oilers (Edmonton Sun)
KEN WARREN: Paquette's not in Florida anymore (Ottawa Citizen)
MARK MADDEN: Penguins should stick with goalie Casey DeSmith (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review)

KEN CAMPBELL: Meet the 11-year-old Hockey Player Who Beat Cancer and Raised $36,000 for Charity (The Hockey News)
RYAN KENNEDY: College Hockey is Coming Together for Diversity (The Hockey News)
ERIC FRANCIS: Markstrom undaunted by return to Vancouver, guides Flames through slow start (Sportsnet)
IAIN MacINTYRE: Canucks appear to have finally found their game and they're still losing (Sportsnet)
MARK SPECTOR: Oilers finding mojo after near-perfect performance against Canadiens (Sportsnet)
ERIC ENGELS: Canadiens, coach Julien need to find solutions as offence dries up (Sportsnet)
EMILY KAPLAN: Winnipeg Jets prospect Cole Perfetti's 34 days of isolation: 'I'm like a quarantine professional now' (ESPN)
BRUCE GARRIOCH: Senators suffer a huge blow losing Murray in 5-1 loss to Winnipeg (Ottawa Sun)
TIM BENZ: Fun subplot to trade rumor of Marc-Andre Fleury coming back to the Penguins (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review)
ED GRANEY: NHL continues to chase COVID with stricter protocols (Las Vegas Review-Journal)
LARRY BROOKS: There's a dramatic difference in this longtime Rangers weakness (New York Post)
DON BRENNAN: B's keep winning, but who's keeping track, right Tuukka? (Ottawa Sun)
TIM BENZ: Penguins may extend Evgeni Malkin; potential destinations for Le’Veon Bell, Antonio Brown (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review)
TERRY JONES: Former Oilers forward Kyle Brodziak testing the limits at World's Longest Hockey Game (Edmonton Sun)
BRUCE GARRIOCH: The Senators are paying the price to have their prospects develop in Belleville (Ottawa Sun)

KEN CAMPBELL: Tortorella, Laine and Blue Jackets Move on From Another Columbus Soap Opera (The Hockey News)
DAVID ALTER: Leafs Get Production From Unlikely Trio to Defeat Habs (The Hockey News)
ERIC ENGELS: Canadiens struggle to find edge against surprisingly stingy Maple Leafs (Sportsnet)
IAIN MacINTYRE: Canucks face make-or-break set vs. Flames with more than just wins at stake (Sportsnet)
ELLIOTTE FRIEDMAN: 31 Thoughts: What Hextall, Burke hirings say about the Penguins (Sportsnet)
MICHAEL TRAIKOS: Laine's problems with coaches nothing new (National Post)
LARRY BROOKS: Rangers need much more from struggling star (New York Post)
HELENE ELLIOTT: With no bubble, the NHL season is in trouble. But there is a solution (Los Angeles Times)
MARK MADDEN: Brian Burke will bring no-nonsense approach to Penguins (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review)
MICHAEL ARACE: Laine benching is latest Tortorella drama (Columbus Dispatch)
KEN WARREN: The goalie story, slowing down the big guns, measuring shots and whatever happened to Erik Karlsson? (Ottawa Citizen)
TERRY KOSHAN: Unusual suspects lead Maple Leafs to win against Canadiens (Toronto Sun)
DAVID LENNON: It's hard not to be a fan of Gov. Cuomo's New York stadium re-opening plan (New York Newsday)
MIKE VACCARO: This is a big step toward normal for New York sports (New York Post)
MIKE SIELSKI: As the Penguins’ new GM, Ron Hextall gets to shape the Flyers’ future all over again (Philadelphia Inquirer)
DAVE HYDE: That’s right, the Panthers are good — and next 3 games vs. Tampa Bay will show how good (South Florida Sun-Sentinel)
TIM BENZ: If Pens fans are skeptical of Hextall-Burke duo, praise from Philadelphia may help (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review)
MIKE HARRINGTON: Sabres know lots of hockey is coming on their daunting schedule (Buffalo News)
MIKE McINTYRE: Jets need more from struggling DeMelo (Winnipeg Free Press)
STEVE SIMMONS: Maple Leafs win how? We'll explain later (Toronto Sun)
DON BRENNAN: Marleau closing in on Mr. Hockey's record that Messier wouldn't touch (Ottawa Sun)
TERRY JONES: Cold weather shattering pucks, not spirits at World's Longest Hockey Game (Edmonton Sun)

KEN CAMPBELL: Lamoureux Twins Left Their Marks On and Off the Ice (The Hockey News)
RYAN KENNEDY: Ron Hextall and Brian Burke Head to Pittsburgh (The Hockey News)
ERIC FRANCIS: Flames hoping to build off complete effort in clutch win over Jets (Sportsnet)
MARK SPECTOR: Oilers slowly finding ways to win on off nights for McDavid, Draisaitl (Sportsnet)
CHRIS JOHNSTON: Matthews, Marner carrying Maple Leafs to new heights with stellar play (Sportsnet)
FRANK SERAVALLI: Heat is on new Pens hires Hextall, Burke to ‘win now’ (TSN)
CATHAL KELLY: Leafs have come miles since the days of Mike Babcock, though Columbus Blue Jackets may be reliving the past (Globe & Mail)
MICHAEL TRAIKOS: Former assistant GM who drafted Tyler Toffoli not surprised by his hot start (National Post)
PAUL ZEISE: How Ron Hextall and Brian Burke blend together will decide Penguins' fate (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
STEVE SIMMONS: A rare glimpse into a remarkable hockey life, the trials and tribulations of Frank Mahovlich (Toronto Sun)
RON COOK: Penguins make boom-or-bust picks with Ron Hextall, Brian Burke (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
ED GRANEY: Goalie tandem continues to produce for Golden Knights (Las Vegas Review-Journal)
MIKE HARRINGTON: Kevyn Adams only looking ahead and Sabres' challenges are daunting (Buffalo News)
TIM BENZ: I get what the Penguins are thinking. But how is this going to work? (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review)
DON BRENNAN: Truculent pair handed keys to Mario's bus. Buckle up (Ottawa Sun)

KEN CAMPBELL: Bungled Video Review Reveals Flaw in NHL Rulebook (The Hockey News)
MATT LARKIN: Why There's Only One Way to Eliminate Headshots From the NHL (The Hockey News)
DAVID ALTER: Maple Leafs Win Ugly Against Canucks to Sweep Series (The Hockey News)
IAIN MacINTYRE: Canucks must prove effort, intensity displayed vs. Maple Leafs is sustainable (Sportsnet)
CHRIS JOHNSTON: Matthews, Marner carrying Maple Leafs to new heights with stellar play (Sportsnet)
MARK SPECTOR: Oilers' Mike Smith provides 'boost' vs. Senators in season debut (Sportsnet)
ERIC ENGELS: How Canadiens’ Petry is defying aging curve with Norris-worthy effort (Sportsnet)
ERIC FRANCIS: Flames hoping to end Bennett trade chatter with top-line role (Sportsnet)
MICHAEL TRAIKOS: Canucks' Hughes needs to learn how to play defence if he wants to win the Norris Trophy (National Post)
BRUCE GARRIOCH: Senators come up short against Oilers (Ottawa Sun)
PAUL ZEISE: Penguins can’t be in win-now mode unless they get a better goalie (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
LARRY BROOKS: The Alexis Lafreniere trend that’s impossible to ignore (New York Post)
MARK MADDEN: Why Penguins goalies are failing, Super Bowl fallout, Steelers ‘nuclear winter’ (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review)
LARRY BROOKS: Rangers must prioritize kids amid hazy Tony DeAngelo aftermath (New York Post)
DON BRENNAN: Backstrom was key to Habs Cup runs, when he was in the lineup (Ottawa Sun)
TERRY KOSHAN: Confirmed injury prognosis for Simmonds a shot of bad news for Maple Leafs (Toronto Sun)
MIKE McINTYRE: Jets new centre the total package (Winnipeg Free Press)
STU COWAN: Canadiens' Petry tips cap to former teammate Markov (Montreal Gazette)

EMILY KAPLAN: NHL's best and worst this week: Why goalies are struggling so far in 2021 (TSN)
BENJAMIN HOCHMAN: A baker’s dozen of bagels — Blues 0 for 13 on power play vs. Coyotes in past three games (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)
PAT HICKEY: Jake Allen is becoming a tour de force in net (Montreal Gazette)
MARCUS HAYES: Philadelphia Flyers’ best player, Sean Couturier, returns, scores winner in biggest victory of season (Philadelphia Inquirer)
KEVIN PAUL DUPONT: Approaching quarter mark of season, Bruins need to improve 5-on-5 scoring (Boston Globe)
ROSIE DiMANNO: Leafs’ Morgan Rielly is finding joy after so many disappointing endings (Toronto Star)
JACK TODD: Jake Allen gets my vote for the Habs' MVP so far this season (Montreal Gazette)
TERRY JONES: Oilers loss to Flames falls on goaltender Mikko Koskinen (Edmonton Sun)
BRUCE GARRIOCH: D.J. Smith won't just hand the kids a chance to play, they have to work for it (Ottawa Sun)

DAVID ALTER: Matthews, Leafs Pull Away in win over Helpless Canucks (The Hockey News)
IAIN MacINTYRE: Disconnected Canucks fail to find defiant spark in latest Maple Leafs loss (Sportsnet)
ERIC FRANCIS: Backlund spearheads Flames' most emotional win of season (Sportsnet)
MARK SPECTOR: Oilers' loss to Flames shines searing spotlight on cost of goaltending woes (Sportsnet)
ERIC ENGELS: Nick Suzuki's will drives Canadiens to bounce-back win over Senators (Sportsnet)
MIKE CHAMBERS: COVID-19 protocols dictate the NHL schedule in the U.S. (Denver Post)
CHIP SCOGGINS: Some pandemic-driven changes in sports are worth keeping around (Minneapolis Star-Tribune)
KEVIN PAUL DUPONT: Jakub Zboril, Jeremy Lauzon make themselves at home on Bruins’ blue line (Boston Globe)
DAVE POULIN: Rangers defenceman Tony DeAngelo is discovering there’s more to an NHL job than on-ice ability (Toronto Star)
BENJAMIN HOCHMAN: A baker’s dozen of bagels — Blues 0 for 13 on power play vs. Coyotes in past three games (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)
LANCE LYSOWSKI: Jack Eichel, Taylor Hall should skate apart, and other observations amid pause (Buffalo News)
LARRY BROOKS: NHL team's anger could spark COVID-19 policy changes (New York Post)
TERRY JONES: Travel concerns may force NHL back into bubble for playoffs (Edmonton Sun)
LANCE HORNBY: Young stars could challenge Sittler's record (Toronto Sun)
SAM CARCHIDI: Odd start for Flyers, but good signs emerging; patience needed with Nolan Patrick, Oskar Lindblom (Philadelphia Inquirer)
MARK MADDEN: Ron Hextall is best choice for Penguins GM, right now (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review)
MATT PORTER: What led to the NWHL shutting down its mini-season in Lake Placid? (Boston Globe)
PAT HICKEY: Jake Allen is becoming a tour de force in net (Montreal Gazette)
TERRY KOSHAN: Matthews, Marner, Simmonds star as Leafs easily handle Canucks (again) (Toronto Sun)