"Ideologies separate us, but dreams and anguish bring us together." Pretty sure Eugène Ionesco was writing that as a hockey fan in the purgatory of August.

• Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook’s 2011-2012 salaries were used to determine Shea Weber’s arbitration award. [PD]
• A look at what Nick Leddy might be doing this season, and how much of it. [Blackhawk Up]
• Block with more hockey lit recommendations, including books on Hull, Mikita. [The Third Man In]
• Wrapping up the off-season, projecting the next, some more, again. [NESN] [Jaeckel]
• Blues preview. [Cheer the Anthem]
• League-wide off-season grades based on goals gained/lost. [Litterbox Cats]
• On the physics and "luck" of hockey. [Pension Plan Puppets]