Kassian's sobriety; U.S., Canada win at WJC (Puck Headlines)

Here are your 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. Have a link you want to submit? Email us at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com.

• The penalty boxes at the Spengler Cup will make you want to sit for two minutes. [Swiss Habs]

• A year of sobriety has helped turn around Zack Kassian’s life and career. [Edmonton Sun]

• Tim Peel is looking forward to reffing the Winter Classic in his hometown of St. Louis. [Post-Dispatch]

• “If we don’t win the gold medal, it’s a failure.” Taylor Hall on the importance of the World Junior Championship. [Players’ Tribune]

• The U.S., Sweden, Czech Republic and Canada were winners on the opening day of the tournament. [AP via Yahoo]

• Who are some of the top Euro prospects playing at the WJC? [Yahoo]

• The Vegas Golden Knights are well represented in the press box at the WJC with people scouting for the June draft. [Review-Journal]

• Brendan Shanahan is trying to mold the Toronto Maple Leafs into what his great Detroit Red Wings teams were. [NHL.com]

• Roman Polak is frustrated with why some hits that require trips to the “quiet room” thanks to the concussion spotters don’t result in penalties. [The Star]

• The stick smash, sad slump and charging the ref are some of the top goalie reactions as ranked by Down Goes Brown. [Sportsnet]

• How the NWHL’s attendance bonus policy could help the league’s image. [FanRag Sports]

• Looking at five of the best Columbus Blue Jackets wins this season. [Buckeye State Hockey]

• Examining where all those Colorado Avalanche shot go. [Mile High Hockey]

• Should the New York Rangers finally buy out Dan Girardi? [Blue Seat Blogs]

• Wayne Gretzky, Luc Robitaille, Mike Comrie, David Boreanaz and Bernie Nicholls are just a few of the names set to take part in next week’s Bakersfield Condors alumni-celebrity outdoor game. [Condors]

• Pekka Rinne and Juuse Saros have formed a solid bond while tending net for the Nashville Predators. [Tennessean]

• Looking at some of the biggest happenings that affected the fantasy hockey world in 2016. [Dobber Hockey]

• Finally, how Travis Konecny drew inspiration from his father: