Once again, the debate in the NHL over how to handle fighting is at the forefront. (Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
By Allan Muir
An annotated guide to must-read hockey stories this morning:
• Hockey news teased her next interview with Gary Bettman in which the NHL commissioner discussed the possibility of expulsion for fighting and what the league does for retired players. As far as teases go, this one is pretty good.
• Salary cap, player safety and Sochi updates will be on the agenda for today’s meeting. NHL Board of Governors meeting in Florida. Bettman should provide an idea of what the cap will be next season to give general managers an opportunity to do some planning. Look for a figure around $70 million.
• Is it still considered a “staged fight” if both participants you really don’t love yourself? Maybe we’ll find out Tuesday night in Dallas.
• This could become embarrassing for Team Canada. Bruins coach Claude Julien had some harsh words for James Neal after Pittsburgh winger said he didn’t notice Brad Marchand lying helpless on the ice before kneeing the Boston pest in the head on Saturday night. I’m not sure anyone buys the “I haven’t seen it!” by Neal. excuse.
• Steve Buffery calls out disgraceful behavior in Boston on Saturday had nothing to do with the fighting. It’s hard to believe that this point needs to be made, but it clearly is, given all the anti-combat rants that have arisen in the wake of the Shawn Thornton affair/James Neal escapades.
• Any joy the Blackhawks felt after ending a three-game losing streak last night against Florida was tempered by an injury to goaltender Corey Crawford. Coach Joel Quenneville doesn’t seem too concerned, but the Hawks reflect the general mood around Columbus right after the Jackets goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky underwent a small adjustment that is now on track to become a month-long stay on the IR. Beginner Antti Raanta is the go-to guy for Chicago if Crawford is out.
• Most nights this season, I wonder why the Stars use Valéri Nichushkine on their first line. Strong, fast and a great puck protector, sure…but his stick has been where offensive chances go to die. And then he has a game like he had Saturday and you realize why coach Lindy Ruff force-feeds him prime time. Mike Heika takes a look at what makes Nichushkin so special.
• While Nichushkin shows interest in bringing a young player into the NHL gaming microwave, these two Red Wings demonstrate that slow roasting can also be very effective.
• Everything is going so well for this 41-year-old man Martin Brodeur that he is considering play one more season. It’s probably not that Cory Schneider wants to hear, but given the direction Brodeur is taking, why not?
• Jarome Iginla is plan a meeting with his fantasy football buddies before tomorrow evening’s return to Calgary.
• Dion Phaneufwill have an audience with the Department of Player Safety to this blow in Boston Kevin Miller.
• I am not sure that the size of Coyotes defender Olivier Ekman-Larssonis it still a big secretbut it’s a bit like the whole thing “Louis Eriksson is an underrated thing from a few years ago. This is history until something happens to change history. In OEL’s case, that probably means winning the Norris Trophy… which he very well could this season.
• The first rule of broadcasting a shutout? Don’t talk about the whitewash:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gx7wilc0EC4
Yeah, this one is on Vancouver’s defense and should have been stopped by Roberto Luongobut come on Garrett!
• Some injuries seem worse than others, and this one It looks just awful. We wish Vincent Lecavalier a speedy recovery.
• Discussions intensify between the Flyers and goaltender Steve Mason. Saturday’s meltdown aside, it’s easy to see why. It’s been ages since Philly has had someone this stable between the pipes, so locking him up for the next three or four years should be job No. 1 for general manager Paul Holmgren.
• Nashville CEO Jeff Cogen explains why no one should consider The NHL’s southern expansion has failed a bit. This is a good idea from someone who has been on the front lines in a few of these markets.
• Who would have thought that a passage on Battle of the Blades could turn into a showcase for a new career?
• Sharks coach Todd McLellan has a legitimate problem here, but honestly, like Minnesota Josh Harding playedthe Sharks weren’t going to win this game anyway.
• Beware of spoilers: HBO’s “24/7” will be broadcast one day late in Canada. But there is a very good reason for this.
• Bad news from New York, where Rangers defender Marc Staal missed Sunday night’s game because of “neck problems”, a prediction widely read as a recurrence of concussion symptoms.
• It was a pretty soft decision that earned Mikhail Grabovski that penalty shot, but boy, what a bomb he unloaded on Henrik Lundqvist. It amazes me we don’t see more guys trying this:
