Daily Cupcakes: December 14th, 2017

Colorado Avalanche 

Dater’s Avalanche Mailbag: Is Varlamov the long-term goalie anymore? [BSN Denver]

Joe Sakic assesses his Avalanche team nearly six weeks after Matt Duchene trade. Colorado Avalanche GM says he’s happy with how the Avs responded after a disappointing 1-4 homestand. [Denver Post]

Girard settling in with Avalanche. Defenseman showing how good he could be after dealing with being part of Duchene trade. [NHL]

The Rest of the Game

This one is important, and heartbreaking: Searching for Matt Johnson. The former NHL enforcer has cut ties with family and friends, and they are concerned about him. He has been to rehab a number of times and was prescribed an incredible amount of pain killers while he was playing in the NHL. Does the nHL culture need to be looked at more in-depth? [TSN]

Kyle Turris says Senators owner Melnyk paved his road out of Ottawa. ‘I think management did want to sign me, but I think that the owner didn’t’. [CBC]

Have the Ottawa Senators hit rock-bottom? [Sporting News]

Legendary NHL coach Scotty Bowman was never a fan of morning skates. [National Post]

Documentary revisits ‘First NHL Winter Classic’. NHL Network Original premieres Dec. 20. [NHL]

Ottawa man makes Santa chair out of hockey sticks for Sens outdoor game. [CBC]