Sheng’s Daily Links: Welcome Rob Simpson!

Can European free agent Fredrik Handemark supplant Joe Thornton as the San Jose Sharks’ third-line center?

It might be a big ask for a 26-year-old who’s yet to make his NHL debut, but for a shallow San Jose Sharks forwards corps, pushing the 41-year-old Thornton down in the line-up — we assume the UFA will be back — is probably for the best.

Yesterday at San Jose Hockey Now, Hockeysverige’s Uffe Bodin and InStat Hockey filled us in on Handemark’s game here.

Also, check out National Hockey Now’s play-in predictions!

Around the NHL…

Veteran NHL reporter Rob Simpson is joining the National Hockey Now team for the playoffs! (Boston Hockey Now)

Sidney Crosby on social change. (Pittsburgh Hockey Now)

3 X-factors for Isles-Panthers. (NYI Hockey Now)

George Richards tells us what to expect from Florida Hockey Now during the playoffs. (Florida Hockey Now)

The Avs are revving up. (Colorado Hockey Now)

Hockey Diversity Alliance’s Akim Aliu has a stinging rebuke for the President’s son. (Twitter)

In response to what some consider tepid NHL support for the Black Lives Matter movement, #Kneel4Hockey is trending online. (Twitter)

Dougie Hamilton is out for Game One. (Sportsnet)

The NHL settles the James Neal-Milan Lucci trade. (theScore)

Patrick Williams and David Foot break down the latest on AHL restart plans. (Around the A)

Eric Duhatschek on how coaches can innovate during an unprecedented post-season. (The Athletic)

Alexander Ovechkin and the Caps won’t discuss a contract extension until after the playoffs. (NHL)