from Larry Brooks of the New York Post,

- Are Vegas’ pregame routines over the top? You bet they are. And there is nothing remotely wrong with that. The NHL is moving, sometimes with glacial speed and sometimes reluctantly, into the show-biz realm of 21st century of sports. The more extravagant the show, the better. The NFL learned that long ago.

This may be a business to the owners (and the players, too, for that matter), but hockey is a game that is meant to be enjoyed by the masses. The Cup finals should be a spectacle.

That’s what it was for the first two games in Vegas, from start to Holtby’s finish.

- If Oliver Ekman-Larsson doesn’t accept what we understand is a Coyotes’ offer of an eight-year extension in the neighborhood of $8 million per, the defenseman with one year to go on his contract will all but certainly be dealt at the draft. Ottawa’s Erik Karlsson, also a pending 2019 free agent, is expected to be traded, as well....

more on the defensemen plus other topic...