Colorado Avalanche: News From Around the NHL December 11th, 2014

Dreger thinks the Avs and the Wild are on the short list to host an outdoor game next season. [TSN.ca]

While next year's Winter Classic is still up in the air, TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger reports the Minnesota Wild and Colorado Avalanche are the frontrunners to host Stadium Series outdoor games next season.

More articles and tributes are coming out in memory of Beliveau (yes, he's a huge deal in Quebec). According to the article Roy wanted to be there, but ran into plane trouble. [TheStar.com] {Video starts automatically}

Members of the Canadiens current roster, all of whom attended Wednesday's mass, were clearly touched by Tuesday night's ceremony. Remarking on the long moment of silence that was observed in Béliveau's memory, forward Max Pacioretty said he'd never heard the Bell Centre so quiet.

"You could hear yourself breathe. . . . You could feel the amount of respect in the building," Pacioretty, 26, said. "I hope I remember this night forever and use it to be a better person."

Scandella will sit out two games. [CBC.ca]

Minnesota Wild defenceman Marco Scandella has been suspended two games for a check to the head of New York Islanders forward Brock Nelson, the NHL announced Wednesday.

Nelson won the puck battle with Wild winger Nino Niederreiter and entered the New York end.

Former NHL players have fired back over their concussion lawsuit with the league. [Eurosport.yahoo.com]

The players, whose claims have not been proven, allege that the NHL did not do enough to protect them from head injuries before it created a committee to study head trauma in 1997. Even after that, the players charge the committee's findings were not adequately shared with players.

"For decades, NHL players who sustained in-game concussions or who lost consciousness were simply propped up, given smelling salts, and quickly returned to game-action," the players allege.

Is this the end of enforcers in hockey? [GlobeandMail.com]

Chicago Blackhawks forward Dan Carcillo said fights aren't going to completely vanish, either.

"I don't think the mindless, senseless, go out and fight, rah-rah, for no reason, I don't think that has a place in the game anymore," Carcillo said. "If guys take runs at other players, I think those players that take the run at them, whether they fight or not, they have to know in the back of their mind that there's still fighting in this game and they're going to have to answer the bell or respond to it if they're going to take dirty runs or cheap shots."

But in the back of everyone minds is the risk of concussions and other long-term health risks that come with trading punches on the ice. The idea that brawling was as much fun as a nasty wreck in NASCAR or bench-clearing brawl in baseball came to a jarring halt in 2011 when three former enforcers were found dead.

Add the Devils as the latest team hit by the mumps outbreak. [NJ.com]

Despite attempts by the Devils to prevent players from getting mumps (which other NHL teams including the New York Rangers have dealt with), defenseman Adam Larsson and center Travis Zajac were both diagnosed with the disease.

"Travis had it, but he's over it.," GM Lou Lamoriello said on Wednesday, via The Record's Tom Gulitti. "This (the confirmation) only came about the last two days. Adam is on the recovery period right now from what the doctors said."

Keith Ballard was hospitalized after hitting his head on the ice. [CBC.ca]

Minnesota Wild defenceman Keith Ballard was hospitalized Tuesday night following a hit into the boards by New York Islanders left wing Matt Martin.

The Wild announced Ballard was conscious while he was taken to Regions Hospital for evaluation and observation.

Coach Mike Yeo said after the Wild's 5-4 victory that he had no further update on Ballard's condition.

Want to know what movies have made some NHL'ers cry? Landeskog and MacKinnon both name their poison. [TorontoSun.com] {It is a video, but doesn't start automatically}

Vancouver Canucks defenceman Kevin Bieksa was forthright.

The more mature, 33-year-old pro didn't have a problem admitting "Draft Day" made him tear up.

"It just brings back memories of when I was drafted," Bieksa explained.