Wednesday Links - Because #Merica!

BLUES NEWS:

• Hildy posted a purely hypothetical trade possibility with the Blue Jackets involving Kevin Shattenkirk (The Cannon started it, actually, so blame them), and I don't think we liked it. [SLGT]
• The expected became official: Vladimir Sobotka will stay in the KHL for the 2015-16 season. [SLGT FanShots]
• The Stay or Go Series continues with Blues Captain David Backes . . . which, seems moot. [SLGT]
• Chris Pronger--who was just traded to the Coyotes the other day--is one of seven Hockey Hall of Fame selections. Phil Housley--also a former Blue--will join him, along with expected entrants Nicklas Lidstrom and Sergei Fedorov. [SLGT]
• The Blues acquired something called Konrad Abeltshauser from the Sharks yesterday. [SLGT FanShots]
• Qualifying offers were extended to all of the Blues' RFA's except for Sebastian Wannstrom (who'd already signed overseas) and David Shields (who wasn't expected to be qualified). Cody Beach inked a new two-way contract with the team. [SLGT]
• Would you like Alex Semin? Hildy asks you. [SLGT]
• Vladimir Tarasenko and the Blues are talking but no deal is imminent at the time. Not shocking. [StL Today / Morning Skate]

HOCKEY NEWS:

• Free agency starts in earnest today. You may want to keep your eyes here today. [TSN]
• Then again, maybe keep an eye on the trades instead. (If you're a Blues fan, I'd call this a wise choice, actually.) [USA Today]
• Speaking of trades . . . could Phil Kessel end up with the Penguins? Maybe. [Sportsnet]
• Also speaking of trades . . . a massive one between the Blackhawks and Blue Jackets sends Brandon Saad east. Wowzers. [TSN]
• Or, maybe you should keep an eye on this . . . a report from the New York Times said the Coyotes were being sold to William Foley and being moved to Las Vegas in time for the 2016-17 season . . . a report that Gary Bettman called "garbage". [Puck Daddy]
• Ryan Lambert wonders how competitive the 2015-16 Sabres can be in this week's Trending Topics. [Puck Daddy]
• The Sharks acquired recently-traded goaltender Martin Jones from the Bruins . . . [Sharks]
• . . . and then signed their recently-acquired goaltender of the future to a three-year pact. [CBS Sports Eye on Hockey]
• The Sharks goaltender of the past, Antti Niemi, signed a three-year deal with the Stars yesterday. [Stars]
• The Flyers somehow coaxed a 3rd round pick out of the Bruins for Zac Rinaldo, who is not good at hockey. [Broad Street Hockey]
• The Flames signed Dougie Hamilton to a six-year deal and thought the rumors about his attitude were silly. [Calgary Sun]
• The Red Wings want you to know about their new arena design, but they also bought out Stephen Weiss yesterday because he kinda didn't work out for them. [Detroit Free Press]
• Drew Stafford re-upped with the Jets for two years. [Jets]

OTHER SHIT:

• (AMERICAN FLAG EMOJI) [NPR / The Two-Way]
• Today is Canada Day! Exactly what the fuck are they celebrating, though? [Mental Floss]
• Take a look at the new Ghostbusters proton pack. [Nerdist]
• Scottish soccer club Patrick Thistle FC has the scariest new Goddamn mascot. [Deadspin]
• NOTE TO SELF: Do not carry a grenade-shaped bottle of perfume to my court date. [Y! / AP]

VIDEO:

Why do we use Fahrenheit in the United States, instead of Celsius like just about every other respectable country in the Goddamn world does? Mental Floss digs in:

Well, basically, because #Merica. As he said.

BluesMay has your Thursday and Friday links. You should help:

• ncismay87 AT gmail DOT com
• @BluesMay

And be on the lookout for Episode #92 of Beyond Checkerdome later today.