Hump day Linkdump

Some great stuff out there this week – thanks for the shoutout earlier this week from Frank over at the Rat Trick. I’ve never really liked the Panthers, but Frank does a great job and I find myself following the Panthers more closely just from reading his blog every day. Anyways, here ya go…

Down Goes Brown with a great throwback clip from the Leafs beating Pittsburgh in ’99 – The Markov Salute.

Matt Stajan is one of the Leafs turning heads this season – a great look at his future with the Leafs on Hockey Buzz

Budblog takes a good look at the Leafs’ recent success and the tough decisions Brian Burke will have to make over the next few months.

One of the tragic stories in Leaf history, Bill Barilko died in a plane crash in 1951, months after winning his fourth Stanley Cup with the Leafs. Pension Plan Puppets, one of my favorite Leaf blogs, gives tribute to one of the two Leafs with their numbers retired.

A great story out of Germany – this year’s leading scorer in the DEL, the top professional German league, Thomas Greilinger, has made an incredible comeback from injury and a serious weight problem, and will probably represent Germany in Vancouver at the 2010 Olympics – read his inspiring story here

Blackhawk Up is quickly becoming one of the better recognized Chicago hockey blogs out there – of course, it can’t hurt when you get to write about your team having three of the best forwards in the game right now. Check out his tribute to Hossa, Kane and Toews who will be terrorizing opponents together for at least the better part of the next decade.

I know it’s not hockey-related, but Roy Halladay has been the most successful athlete in Toronto for some time now. It hurts to see him go, but it’s good to see Doc get a chance to show his great stuff in the postseason. The first big blockbuster deal of the MLB offseason is finally done, and the Jays got some very good-looking prospects outta the deal.