NHL's scoring surge; Demers' health; Matthews' off-ice development (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.

• Check out Duncan Keith’s cereal. [Tracey Myers]

• Here are five reasons why scoring is up around the NHL. Currently teams are averaging above three goals per-game. [USA Today]

• Former NHL coach and Canadian Senator Jacques Demers is in stable condition after being rushed to hospital on Saturday. [CBC]

• The Toronto Maple Leafs want to make sure Auston Matthews is getting the proper direction as a professional during his hours away from the rink. [Toronto Sun]

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• Boston Bruins defenseman Torey Krug isn’t happy with his recent performances: “I just suck right now.” [Boston Herald]

• Is Connor McDavid the best 19-year-old hockey player ever? [Yahoo!]

• With the earliest revenue projections in place, the NHL and NHLPA set the escrow withholding rate for players at 15.5 percent for the first quarter of the season. [TSN]

• The ice at Barclays Center was an issue last year, and it’s still a problem this season for the New York Islanders. [Lighthouse Hockey]

• Is there a deal to be made between the Los Angeles Kings and Winnipeg Jets for Ondrej Pavelec? The goaltender is in the minors for the Jets and the Kings have some injury woes at that position. [Jets Nation]

• Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Trevor van Riemsdyk is expected to miss five-to-six weeks after suffering an upper-body injury against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Friday. [The Athletic]

• The Anaheim Ducks have put defenseman Simon Despres on long-term injured reserve in order to give them more salary cap flexibility. Despres carred a $3.7 million cap hit. [Orange County Register]

• The Arizona Coyotes listed goaltender Mike Smith as “week-to-week” with a lower body injury. Smith was hurt last Tuesday against the Ottawa Senators. The injury isn’t considered to be serious. [Arizona Republic]

• The Michigan Court of Appeals ruled to uphold a $16.5-million arbitration award to Peter Karmanos Jr., stemming from a lengthy legal battle with Compuware Corp., the company he co-founded. [Detroit News]

• Nick Henry’s decision to join the WHL’s Regina Pats has paid early dividends. [Buzzing the Net]

• On Jaromir Jagr’s past, present and future. [Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]

• Tampa Bay Lightning captain Steven Stamkos on the importance of the captaincy: “When you have that ‘C’ on your jersey, there’s a lot of responsibility and accountability, and you have to make sure you’re doing those things yourself if you want to hold everyone else accountable.” [Tampa Bay Times]

• Taking advantage of your waiver wire, even this early in the season, can help you in your quest in a fantasy hockey championship. [Dobber Hockey]

• The Brampton Thunder have begun the CWHL season with four straight losses. Why are the Thunder struggling? [Today’s Slapshot]

• The Buffalo Beauts should take some positives from a recent loss against the Boston Pride. [The Ice Garden]

• Amanda Pelkey will replace Amanda Kessel on the USA Hockey roster for the 2016 Four Nations Cup. Kessel suffered a lower body injury while playing for the New York Riveters in the NWHL. [Excelle Sports]

• Check out Alex Ovechkin’s man cave. [Nova Caps Fans]

• In 2008, Chad Brownlee told his coach he wanted to quit hockey and pursue his Ph.D. in psychology. But Brownlee had other plans. He’s now a musician. [College Hockey News]

• Legendary Buffalo Sabres play-by-play man Rick Jeanneret is on the road again for 10 games this season. He recently made a trip to Western Canada. [Buffalo News]

• Dave Strader gives an emotional message on Hockey Fights Cancer Night in Dallas.

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