PHT Morning Skate: Ilya Kovalchuk is getting good at silencing critics

PHT’s Morning Skate takes a look around the world of hockey to see what’s happening and what we’ll be talking about around the NHL world and beyond.

The days of ripping Ilya Kovalchuk for not being a superstar invested in his team are over. (NHL.com)

Jordan Nolan isn’t the only guy in the Nolan family having fun these days. His dad Ted is busy with Team Latvia at Worlds. (L.A. Times)

Bet you didn’t know this: Ray Whitney used to be a stick boy for the Edmonton Oilers. (Edmonton Journal)

Jaroslav Halak says the Blues “didn’t accomplish anything” in the playoffs. Ouch. (Post-Dispatch)

On the positive side, Tom Stillman was approved by the Board of Governors to purchase the Blues. (Post-Dispatch)

Predators GM David Poile would sure love to keep the band together next season. Good luck with that. (Tennessean)

Contract talks with Erik Karlsson are going to take plenty of time to get sorted out. (Ottawa Sun)

Dan Cleary‘s knee surgery went well and he should be ready to go next season. (Detroit Free Press)

Former Lightning head coach Steve Ludzik is battling Parkinson’s. (Tampa Tribune)

Former Red Wings and Lightning forward Shawn Burr is in desperate need of a bone marrow transplant in his battle with acute myeloid leukemia. (London Free Press)