Daily Cupcakes - Links from around the locked out NHL - October 15th, 2012

News is slowly releasing that Joey wasn't at training camp for the Lake Erie Monsters. And, now, the National Post is releasing information. They also had some quotes from McNabb if you are interested.

"He’s back home, still dealing with post-concussion symptoms," Lake Erie coach Dean Chynoweth said on Friday. "He has felt better. He has skated. And he’s dealing with now, similar with Sidney [Crosby], where they’re working neck-related, to the head."

Should be no surprise that I would pimp this article.

The French Connection is together again in Buffalo.

Forty years after Gilbert Perreault, Rene Robert and Rick Martin first skated together on a forward line, the Sabres unveiled a statue honouring the trio in a ceremony Friday night outside First Niagara Center.

The bronze statue, designed and constructed by sculptor Jerry McKenna, is based on a photograph taken by Ron Moscati during an April 1975 playoff victory over the Montreal Canadiens. The statue anchors the Buffalo Sabres Alumni Plaza.

The three French-Canadian players earned the famous nickname after the 1971 film of the same name. In 2,396 games with the Sabres from 1972-79, Perreault, Robert and Martin combined for 1,116 goals and 2,573 points.

Ovie is enjoying his time back in Russia.

"The NHL is not working right now," said Ovechkin, the 2008 and ’09 NHL MVP. "So, the KHL is the best league.

"Well, of course you can see the difference. The first difference is the bigger ice and the game is not that fast than in the NHL , not that many hits in the game, but I can see the level of the game. I can see the guys — the skill of the players how they have great technique."

Evgeni Malkin, a centre with the Pittsburgh Penguins and the NHL’s reigning MVP, is committed to his hometown team in Magnitogorsk, while New Jersey Devils forward Ilya Kovalchuk has been signed by SKA St. Petersburg.

Matt Duchene is perfecting his spin - you can watch it now!

Matt Duchene and Viktor Stalberg both made their debuts with Frolunda in the Swedish Elite League on Saturday and for the Colorado Avalanche forward it was a memorable first game.

"I haven't played a game since April, so I'm just dying to get out there with the boys,"Duchene told the Frolunda website on Friday. It showed.

Terry Frei has an article up - catching up with Adam Foote.

"I've got to get back working out soon," he said. "I'm really into the coaching. Jen came into my office and said, 'You're not being paid for this,' and I said, 'I know,' but I like it. I'm really dialed in with these kids."

Foote said he wouldn't mind getting back into the NHL, perhaps with the Avalanche, in some role and he is pondering business possibilities. But in a way, he's still winding down after walking away following a 19-season career as a physical, cornerstone defenseman.

"It was just healing from a long career and the injuries, and the mental part of going through that 20-year grind," Foote said. "But dealing with retirement blindsided me. I didn't see that coming. I thought I'd be so happy, saying, 'Let's go to the mountains, let's do this, let's do that,' and all I wanted to do was go play hockey. I missed it that much.

Cheryl here. Just thought I'd pass along this information:

The Denver Cutthroats have officially announced the signing of Kyle Quincey. There will be a press conference today to introduce him to the world as a Fish. About joining the Cutthroats, Quincey had this to say:

After spending some time with (Cutthroats' owner John ) Hayes, I realize we have a common desire to further the development of youth hockey in Colorado which is a primary focus of the Cutthroats. Being able to do that while playing for a coach who has helped me throughout my career, and staying home in Denver, is an ideal situation for me considering the circumstances.

Head Coach Derek Armstrong added

We’re excited to have him. It is unfortunate there’s a lockout, but this gives Kyle a chance to stay competitive, continue his conditioning, and at the same time bring some valuable leadership, skill, and experience to our club.

The team's jerseys will also be unveiled today. Stay tuned for articles on both of these topics.