Daily Cupcakes - Links from around the unlocked out NHL - January 14th, 2013

For fans of reality TV, you can cheer on an ex-Colorado Avalanche player soon.

While other National Hockey League players were waiting for the lockout to end, it seems at least one former Carolina Hurricanes player was having a grand adventure.

Several websites and tweets are reporting that former Canes winger and downtown Raleigh bar owner Bates Battaglia will be a contestant on the next edition of CBS’ "The Amazing Race," partnered with his brother, Anthony.

Donal Brasheer is in some hot water.

On Jan. 11, Brashear, playing for RDL, did something rather deplorable for a player that is well aware of the Todd Bertuzzi/Steve Moore incident. Check out this cheap shot on Gaby Roch:

Adrian Dater gives a list of positives and negatives for this season.

Defense. The Avs were much improved on defense last season, lowering their goals-against average from 3.5 to 2.6. But their shots-against average went up, from 29.2 to 29.6. The goaltending tandem of Varlamov and J.S. Giguere probably had more to do with the drop in goals against than the improved play in front of them. The Avs still were hemmed in their own zone too easily. And other than Greg Zanon, there are no notable additions.