Thursday's thoughts: Jordin Tootoo shows off an "eskimo limo"

We've got a heaping helping of hockey news for you this morning - Jordin Tootoo is Twittering from Nunavut, the Philadelphia Flyers answered back in the Stanley Cup Finals, a baseball player got "Raduloved" over the weekend, and there is lots of discussion about NHL franchise sales, with the Colorado Avalanche being added to the mix.

Follow after the jump for all this and a whole lot more!

Stanley Cup Finals

No one's getting out: Hawks 3, Flyers 4 (OT) - Second City Hockey
Did Coach Q get too cute trying to maneuver for preferred matchups last night?

With help from a friend, Giroux tips home OT winner as Flyers win Stanley Cup Final Game 3 - Broad Street Hockey
The largest crowd in Wachovia Center history got to see their Flyers defend home ice, but they still need to win Game Four if they want to make this a series.

Philly isn't alone in NHL with hostile home crowd :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
The Blackhawks aren't intimidated by the crowd in Philadelphia, partly due to what they've already faced in Nashville, Vancouver & San Jose.

Predators News

This is what you call an eskimo limo. | TweetPhoto
If you're not following @Jtootoo22 on Twitter, you need to - Jordin is sharing photos from Rankin Inlet in Nunavut, as he's returned home for the summer.

A Tale of Two Cities – And Two NHL Franchises (A Mini-Series – Part III) " Pull My (Fang)Finger
AJ chronicles the Craig Leipold era in Nashville, which began with so much optimism, and ended in utter turmoil. The interesting question is, how much did the lockout of 2004-5 hurt the Preds in the short-term?

Preds On The Glass: Flyers Make It A Series and Thursday Thoughts
Buddy provides his take on Flyers/Blackhawks, and also the AHL's Calder Cup Finals.

Brent Peterson Celebrity Golf Classic to be held September 10th - Nashville Predators Examiner
Jim Diamond has all the details on the annual fundraiser for Parkinson's research hosted by the Preds' Associate Coach.

2010 Predators Foundation Golf Tournament - Nashville Predators
There's another charity golf tournament sponsored by the Preds in September, the "Dr. Mac Memorial", with proceeds going to the Predators Foundation.

Walkoff Whoops: Angels' Kendry Morales Hits Grand Slam, Breaks Leg In Celebration - SBNation.com
This happened over the weekend in baseball, but can we say Kendry Morales was "Raduloved"?

Around the NHL

Hockey’s Hottest Men and Hollywood Wives - The Daily Beast
The NHL's female fan base is growing... does that have anything to do with celebrity couples like Mike Fisher/Carrie Underwood and Mike Comrie/Hillary Duff?

At Least Baldwin's Trying - Courant.com
In an effort to energize hockey in Connecticut, 20 to 30 outdoor games will be played there in February. While some still dream of an NHL return to Hartford, that's a loooooong ways from happening. They don't have an arena, and aren't even working on one yet.

GM Meetings: Head Shots Addressed; No Overtime Change - The Grinder
At the GM meeting in Philadelphia, in-game penalties for head shots were discussed, along with some suggestions for how to reduce the number of shootouts.

Blindside Hit Proposal A Smart Idea - The Grinder
Colin Campbell complains about the proposed major penalty for blind-side head shots, saying there are too many variables involved. Campbell, however, continuously struggles with the notion of defining a standard and then enforcing it, so I'm not surprised. Relying on his office to police the new standard isn't likely to do much for player safety.

Burke says Kaberle trade a possibility this summer - USATODAY.com
If Toronto moves Tomas Kaberle on the trade market, does that potentially reduce the market for guys like Dan Hamhuis and Denis Grebeshkov?

Making a Case for Claude - Milwaukee Admirals
Aaron Sims makes a compelling case for former Admirals head coach Claude Noel getting the gig in Columbus.

Top four forward draft prospects have real marquee value - USATODAY.com
A good look at prospects for the draft from Red Line Report, one of the best resources out there.

Where to Find Hockey in June - Puck Worlds
Thanks to SB Nation's international hockey blog, you now know where to go for some hockey action after the Stanley Cup Finals are over!

Getting Drafted for a Second Time- A Study - Pension Plan Puppets
Some draftees never get signed by their team and go back in the draft (for example, 2006 pick Niko Snellman's rights were just let go by Nashville). PPP looks at how often such a player gets drafted by a second team, and actually makes it to the NHL.

Capitals Insider - McPhee: Corvo and Walker won't return
It sounds like former Predators Scott Walker (who was named to our All-Time Predators Team last summer) will hit the free agent market...

Another year without a Stanley Cup: Canucks post-mortem | The Hockey Writers
One Vancouver writer sees Dan Hamhuis as a solution to their blueline woes.

Ducks Extend Brookbank - Anaheim Calling
Anaheim locks up a reliable defenseman for two more seasons.

Keith Allain named U.S. World Junior coach - NHL.com
Yale's head coach will lead Team USA's drive for consecutive gold medals in the World Juniors this December in Buffalo, after having previously done so in 2001 and 2002.

Crosby, Doan and Miller vie for Messier Award - NHL.com
The Mark Messier NHL Leadership Award will go to a Penguin, Coyote, or Sabre this year.

Deal in works for Kroenke to buy NFL's Rams; sell Nuggets, Avalanche - Denver Business Journal
Colorado Avalanche owner Stan Kroenke is buying the St. Louis Rams, which means he must unload the Avalanche...

After 40 Minutes - CBC.ca Video
Check out the often combative interview between Ron MacLean and NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman from last night. Ron asks a lot of questions that Gary just isn't going to answer, but Bettman does have a gift for condescension. There are no winners here.

No Olympic effect? Game 1 Stanley Cup ratings actually down - Puck Daddy
Those awesome ratings everyone's been raving about? Still good, but not quite as good as hoped, upon further review.

We’ll Love You Forever " Michelle Kenneth's Hockey & Musings
Michelle takes New York Ranger Aaron Voros to task for deleting his Twitter account, while giving props to Nashville's @jtootoo22 and @dellis39...