When hockey’s even cooler: Tuesday notes

The wind across an outwash plain feels a heck of a lot better on a 95-degree June 8 than it must six months earlier or later. That’s all I can imagine.

Hung out at a hockey rink, caught up with some people, including one we hadn’t seen in nine years. Watched the players skate for about 75 minutes each (goalies extra), and as Jack Capuano emphasized, not a time to be evaluating. We can bust out the camp cliches about how everyone looks bigger and stronger and whatever. (If I must pick one, and logically it’s the youngest guy, Kyle Burroughs looked a little less young.)

Wrote on the defense, which Brent Thompson sees as a strength even as we shout “youuuuuuuuuuuuung” into the wind. Can’t argue with this part, though: “I think our depth is an asset,” Thompson said. “Garth Snow, Doug Weight and Kerry Gwydir did a great job at free agent time grabbing quality guys, quality leadership. Guys will be battling for NHL jobs, too.”

On that guy we hadn’t seen in nine years: Jack Capuano thought Greg Cronin was the best fit for the team, talking in terms of faith and trust in each other. I feel like they’ll work well together. “We share similar views on the penalty kill,” Capuano said. “I’ve known him in Toronto the past few years.”

Goalie Philippe Trudeau wasn’t on the original list of campers, but he’s in town.

The Stockton affiliation remains intact for a second season. I was surprised that many guys were on both rosters; in all, it’s 20. (Of course, Bridgeport had like 4,321 players in all, so they probably had about 20 men in common with everybody.) This feels Sporcle-quiz-worthy, almost, but the release hands you 14.

Marty Reasoner will be around, Arthur Staple notes.

Darien’s Hugh Jessiman joins Jamie Fraser in Vienna. Pierre-Marc Bouchard to Switzerland (hat tip: ol’ buddy Patrick Williams).

Texas assistant Doug Lidster followed Willie Desjardins to Vancouver.

Mark Morris had seemed ticketed for an NHL assistant’s job when the Kings let him go as Manchester’s coach. Monday he joined Gerard Gallant’s staff in Florida.

Be well, Bryan Murray.

And RIP, Eduard Shevardnadze, Jim Brosnan and Rich Curadi.

Michael Fornabaio