Measuring Stick

The Bruins host the Blackhawks tonight at 7:00PM.

• The Bruins and their new additions will face a sobering task tonight. Adam McQuaid has found the experienced John-Michael Liles to be a quick study.[ProvidenceJournal]


• A number of European Bruins join Patrice Bergeron on the rosters of their respective World Cup of Hockey teams. Claude Julien notes that there is one small scheduling conflict...[TheBostonGlobe] full rosters are here.[TheBostonGlobe]


• The Bruins had better bring their "A" games for the foreseeable future.[WEEI]


• As nice as it may be to still have Loui Eriksson for now, did the Bruins overvalue him in the marketplace?[Hockeybuzz]


• The window is closing on the Bruins' core to win a Stanley Cup, and management is focused on extra games for concessions and profits. Welcome back to the golden era of Harry Sinden![BostonSportsDesk]


• Watch Brad Marchand selecting valentines for his teammates on "Behind the B" episode #10. (Video, 21:18)[Bruins.nhl]

Elsewhere around the rink:

• The World Cup of Hockey format leaves questions: For whom will you be cheering? Will players and fans buy in?[TSN]


• Team Canada has made some head-scratching selections for their World Cup roster. Take a look at five of the most mysterious.[TheHockeyNews]


• Miroslav Satan has his work cut out for him- forming a team identity for the the cobbled-together Team Europe.[DailyMail]


• Some World Cup roster choices are debatable, but one notable Czech will bow out to focus on his NHL team's Stanley Cup run.[ESPN]


• One other notable element missing from the tourney will reportedly be the playing of national anthems. Think of the children![Sportsnet]


• Read the history of the Zamboni, brainchild of a son of immigrants whose family business was icemaking. It was originally developed for speed skating surfaces in California.[PopularMechanics]


• Over in the KHL, Niklas Svedberg was the target of some opposing team "fans" and their lasers.[YahooSports]


• One former Providence Bruin was concussed by seemingly minor contact with a teammate at practice. With the help of a neurologist, Adam Estoclet still wants back in the game.[PlayersTribune]


• The Minnesota High School Hockey Tourney is upon us, and we should be watching. (Can the "All Hair Hockey Team" video be far behind?)[LastWordOnSports]


• Meanwhile, in the non-traditional Ohio market... home invaders brandishing a hammer were successfully fended off by a hockey-stick wielding resident.[WBNS10TV]