How about them Cowboys?

A fascinating bit of reading on the NHL.com site last week as Dan Rosen outlined the relief that Jason Spezza feels these days as he settles into Big D.

Taking part in the NHL.com feature Five Questions, Spezza reviewed some of the changes that the move to Dallas has brought, as he exchanged life in hockey obsessed Ottawa with the more casual acquaintance of the sport in Texas.

Among the apparent little things that can make the former Ottawa Senator love Texas, the ability to turn on his car radio again, where seldom is heard a discouraging word about the Stars or even the game....

Yes, as they say everything is bigger in Texas, and when it comes to the radio sports stations in Dallas, nothing, not by a long shot is bigger than talking about the Cowboys.

Something that Jason Spezza approves of, no doubt still trying to re-educate himself on the push button nature of car radios, after having spent man a cold night heading home from the rink in Ottawa  humming to himself, seemingly not inclined to hear how Bob in Barrhaven, or Gatean in Gatineau felt about the Sens efforts on the night.

So far things are going well on the ice for the former Senator, who joined the Stars on July 1st as part of a blockbuster trade. His stats package thus far in the regular season has the Dallas Center with 2 goals and 10 assists for a total of 12 points.




Beyond the illusion that getting lost in the big city shuffle just suits Spezza fine, the tale is one that should make the Canadian squads of Gary Bettman's collective just a little bit concerned.

Spezza is not alone when it comes to finding something to like about the lure of anonymity for the most part in many of the American outposts of the NHL. For the seven teams above the 49th, the ability to retain, let alone attract name players to the Canadian cities is growing harder by the year.

The pressure, media attention, constant scrutiny of the fans, all of it weighs heavily it seems when contracts come up.  At that point, if even the slightest gap in salary expectations should come into the discussion, suddenly it seems, players are hitting google to learn about the better dining establishments in the cities of the NHL's witness protection plan.

Not surprisingly the Ottawa newspapers were quick to deliver the former Senators post card back to the capital, with reviews of his new found freedom on the roads of Dallas.

Ottawa Sun-- Spezza happy to be out of spotlight in Dallas
Ottawa Citizen-- Jason Spezza learning to love Dallas

Weekly Award Winners for week ending October 26

Our archive of the players named to the NHL's weekly honour roll through the month of October

Week ending October 26

Jeff Carter-- Los Angeles Kings
Ben Scrivens-- Edmonton Oilers
Frans Nielson-- New York Islanders

Three stars item for October 27, from NHL.com

Hired to Be Fired 2014-15

As sure as there are wins and losses (usually associated with the latter), there also will be change somewhere along the way between now and the end of June.

The day eventually comes for many NHL coaches, where they receive the phone call, or tap on the shoulder to go see the GM or owner.

A summons where the usual things are said, "you gave it a good shot, but we're going in a different direction", or variations of the theme.

Of the thirty members of the NHL coaching and managerial fraternity, sometime this year, maybe early, maybe late, the word will come that their services are no longer required.

We will provide the compilation of the summoned from this spot, listing those unlucky members of the club that find themselves outsourced in this 2014-15.

The archive of our list can be quickly referenced on our right hand side bar, in the Owner's Box section.

Tick, tock, tick, tock... the reaper stands ready...

The Listings to Date

January 6 -- Toronto Maple Leafs -- Randy Carlyle
December 28-- New Jersey Devils -- Peter DeBoer
December 15-- Edmonton Oilers -- Dallas Eakins
December 8-- Ottawa Senators -- Paul MacLean

The Reviews of the dismissals:

January 6 -- Toronto Maple Leafs -- Another season and yet more dysfunction for everyone's favourite go to squad for drama, as the Toronto Maple Leafs, once again tied a can to a coach and kicked him down the Gardiner Expressway.

Randy Carlyle it would seem not completely surprised by the latest of developments in Leaf land, having that feeling that coaches sometimes divine after a Saturday night loss to the Winnipeg Jets.

And as it turned out, his gut feeling was indeed on target, a Monday night text from GM Dave Nonis to attend the office on Tuesday for a discussion, Carlyle who was out of town at the time, instead requested a phone call, and with that news of his dismissal was delivered.

The Carlyle years to be counted among the coaching ghosts of the past, though anyone who thinks that were at the dawn of the Peter Horachek era, might want to not get too attached to the idea.

GM Dave Nonis explained that the team wasn't trending in the right direction and that the team felt that they needed to make an immediate change.

Like those before him, Randy Carlyle lost his job because those that were jumping over the boards shift after shift weren't performing at a standard that keeps coaches employed.

And while Carlyle doesn't believe that his players had tuned him out, the lapses on the ice surely indicate that if they weren't tuning him out, he wasn't exactly receiving their undivided attention.

One time Leaf coach Ron Wilson offered up some fingers and pointed, setting a range fire around the Leafs outpost, all while Carlyle was exiting the door.

Providing for just a bit more drama for Canada's media capital to focus on as they reviewed the events of last season and this and pondered where the next coach may come from, more than few pointing to a point at the very end of the 401 on the Michigan border.

That should make the rest of 2015 an interesting season, the players going through the motions for an interim coach, who clearly is just that.

As for the former coach, at some point the now former head coach will again take to back of the bench, the path ahead perhaps similar in nature to that of Barry Trotz and Bruce Boudreau, two recent refugees who found quick employment.

The Leafs, on the other hand enter yet another run towards the end of the season, one where the past once again is the present, same as it ever was...

The Maple Leafs outlined the background to their decision here, expanding on the theme with some notes from GM Nonis here.

NHL.com delivered word of the dismissal with this item.

December 26-- New Jersey Devils -- For Peter DeBoer the Christmas season of good cheer quickly shifted gears to one of what the heck?

That as Lou Mamoriello, watching his Devils team sputtering into the holiday break, made the decision to remove DeBoer and his assistant Dave Barr from the bench, replacing them with a committee featuring Adam Oates, Scott Stevens and Lamoriello himself as the new hands on the Devils tiller.

With the Devils lethargic play of December seeming to seal his fate, Lamoriello would appear to be hoping to use the shock of a Christmas dismissal to snap his faltering squad out of their scoring funk, with hopes that they can make up the difference from the post Christmas break to try and claw their way back from the nine point deficit that currently has them but a distant hope for playoff hockey in Newark.

Whether the triumvirate of coaching styles will work will remain to be seen, though one imagines that Oates and Stevens will defer to Lamoriello on most matters, until the President and GM follows through on his promise to step back at some time in the future.

For now he will be working the role of Supervisor behind the bench, monitoring his players (and his coaches we imagine) before he makes his return to the management box at the Prudential Centre.

However, the process for the short term, is one that reminds us of the old saying of camels being a horse designed by a committee.

You can take the camel to the water, but it's up to the beast to drink and so far this year, the Devils have shown little initiative to try and solve their struggles on ice.

Once the calendar flips into 2015, one thing however would be certain, a lack of effort on the ice or lack of interest in the dressing room will not go un-noticed by the coach, who is fairly familiar with the GM, travel arrangements for more than a few Devils may yet be on the horizon if New Jersey doesn't turn their season around fairly quickly into the new year.

The Devils website wasted few words in bidding farewell to the DeBoer era, with a one line notice, a slightly more expanded overview followed with the announcement of the new regime behind the bench in Newark.

NHL .com provided this overview of the post Christmas dismissal.

December 15 -- Edmonton Oilers -- The axe fell in Alberta, with Dallas Eakins dismissed by the Oilers after yet another year of lethargic starts for a team that many anticipated was set to finally reward the patience of the fans of the one time City of Champions, a title that hasn't had to be dusted off for a number of years now.

Eakins, became the fall guy for a team that never seemed to gel under his leadership, a squad that appears to be split into factions, each seemingly out of sync with the other, with placement in the standings giving way to individual showcasing, perhaps with a hope that an exit from Edmonton could be theirs if things continue on the path so far.

Eakins arrived in Edmonton as a highly anticipated teacher of youth, his work with the Toronto Marlies, made him a desired boss for the bench heading into his jump to the NHL, the Oilers deemed a good fit for him, though as the 2014-15 season has highlighted, sometimes things move beyond the control of a coach.

To his credit, to a fashion, GM Craig MacTavish took some of the responsibility for the Oilers latest implosion, acknowledging that the lineup handed over to Eakins was one designed by the Oiler GM,  though the blue print put in place less than two years ago hasn't provided for the foundation that the Oilers had hoped for.

The bulk of that responsibility should however be placed in the dressing room at Rexall Place, the chemistry of the players and a lack of focus on the task in front of them more than anything else has cost Eakins his job, as the old saying goes, you can't fire the entire team, though one day we imagine some GM might just put that adage to the test.

Moving forward the Oilers turn to Todd Nelson, promoted from Oklahoma City, familiar with some on the Oilers roster, the task for the interim head coach, to try and refuel some passion for the game from a team that at times tends to just go through the motions.

The real work will be up to MacTavish however, clearly he needs to move some bodies out of Edmonton, remove those that have lapsed into bad habits or worse, just don't care enough to play hard.

Making those moves however will be hard, opposing GM's know they will have the upper hand when it comes to negotiations, who well MacTavish can play poker perhaps, is a key to where the Oilers end up by the time April arrives.

The Oilers outlined the decision to relieve Eakins of his duties through this press release on their website.  That would be followed by the more optimistic outline for the road ahead with Todd Nelson at the helm.

NHL. com provided this review of Monday's developments


December 8, 2014 -- Ottawa Senators -- Of all the coaches that might have been on the hot seat, its doubtful that few would have selected the Senator's Paul MacLean as the most likely to break the ice in the dismissal notices for 2014-15.

Yet Monday morning, GM Bryan Murray delivered the verdict on Mr. MacLean's work with the announcement that he had replaced the four year veteran behind the Sens bench, with assistant coach Dave Cameron, who will assume the reins of the team for the remainder of the season.

The Senators for whatever reason had failed to respond to their coach in recent weeks, with a string of losses over the last few weeks, prior to Sunday's comeback victory over the Vancouver Canucks.

Still, despite that impressive push back on Vancouver, the die it seems had already been cast to make the move to Cameron.  The new coach has roots with the Senators organization having previously coached their Binghamton farm club, as well as the one time Eugene Melnyk owned St Michael's Majors.

Cameron joined the Senators in an assistant's capacity in 2011. The indications out of Ottawa seem to be that perhaps with his past experience in building young teams and communicating with players still finding their game that he will be the right fit with a young Senators squad that has struggled through the 2014 season.

Still, the sudden shift away from MacLean will raise eyebrows, only two years ago the Senators coach was a Jack Adams winner, so some will suggest that any problems may be in the personnel assembled rather than the way they were handled.

For the most part the Senators appear to be indicating that the expectations of this season were not being met, with too many errors and recurring issues, including a growing uneasiness in the room that  left the GM no other choice than the one he made on Monday.

The Senators provided no official media release to their website regarding the change behind the bench, but did offer up this video review of Bryan Murray's press conference.

NHL.com provided this review of the day's activities.

The Injury Parade 201-415

An archive of injury reports from NHL teams in the course of the 2014-15 season. Our accounts of the latest from the M*A*S*H wards of the NHL can be found below.

List updated as of November 22, 2014

Anaheim

Nov 16-- Ducks forwards Perry, Palmieri activated from IR
Nov 15-- Ducks forward Smith-Pelly out with upper-body injury
Nov 14-- Ducks put veteran forward Dany Heatley on injured reserve
Nov 13-- Ducks' Perry practices, says he's weak after mumps
Nov 12-- Perry, Beauchemin diagnosed with mumps
Nov 11-- Perry, Beauchemin out with viral infections
Nov 6-- Ducks' Getzlaf, Perry out vs. Islanders with flu
Nov 4-- Ducks' Gibson to miss six weeks with groin injury
Nov 2-- Weary LaBarbera wins emergency start for Ducks after Gibson is injured in warm up
Oct 27-- Ducks' Lovejoy out 6-8 weeks with fractured finger
Oct 16-- Anaheim Ducks forward Patrick Maroon will be out 4 weeks with sprained ligament in left knee
Oct 13-- Ducks forward Maroon leaves game with lower-body injury
Oct 7-- Dany Heatley, Kyle Palmieri to begin regular season on Ducks' injured list
Oct 2-- Ducks' Fowler day-to-day with leg injury

Boston

Nov 19-- Bruins' McQuaid out 6-8 weeks with broken thumb
Nov 9-- Krug could return Monday for Bruins, Warofsky out
Nov 4-- Bruins' Chara talks injury, no timetable yet
Nov 1-- Bruins make Kerjci late scratch vs. Senators
Oct 29-- Bruins Tory Krug to miss 2-3 weeks with broken finger
Oct 24-- Bruins' Chara out 4-6 weeks with knee injury
Oct 13-- Bruins' Krejci cleared to return to lineup
Oct 2-- Injured Bruins forward Campbell doubtful for opener

Buffalo

Nov 19-- Sabres place Gorges on IR
Nov 18-- Sabres Goalie Neuvirth out after injuring lower body in 1st period
Oct 6-- Sabres' Sam Reinhart to play in season opener

Calgary

Oct 9-- Flames centre Bennett needs shoulder surgery, will be out four to six months
Oct 8-- Flames' Monahan to be a game-time decision
Oct 7-- Flames forward Bennett out with shoulder injury
Oct 4-- Bennett to mis Flames game with injury

Carolina

Oct 17-- Hurricanes' Skinner activated from injured reserve
Oct 13-- Injured Carolina Captain Eric Staal to miss Buffalo game; Skinner close to returning
Oct 13-- Hurricanes' Staal, Dwyer out Tuesday vs. Sabres
Oct 6-- Carolina forward Jeff Skinner out after suffering concussion

Chicago

Nov 20-- Blackhawks' van Riemsdyk has successful surgery
Nov 19-- Blackhawks D Trevor van Riemsdyk scheduled for left knee surgery on Thursday
Nov 17-- Blackhawks put Trevor van Riemsdyk on long term injury list
Nov 6-- Blackhawks forward Sharp will miss 3-4 weeks
Oct 8-- Chicago Blackhawks F Kris Versteeg to miss about 3 weeks with lower-body injury
Oct 7-- Blackhawks place Brandon Mashinter on IR

Colorado

Nov 21-- Avalanche's Tanguay won't play vs. Hurricanes
Nov 18-- Avalanche's Wilson to have season-ending surgery
Nov 18-- Avs goaltender Semyon Varlamov re-injures groin, team will be 'very cautious' with his return
Nov 18-- Varlamov day-to-day
Oct 23-- Avlanche goaltender Semyon Varlamov says groin healed, will start Friday against Canucks
Oct 17-- Pickard debuts for Avalanche after Berra injured
Oct 16-- Avalanche place goaltender Semyon Varlamov on injured reserve with groin ailment

Columbus

Nov 18-- Blue Jackets activate left wing Matt Calvert
Nov 12-- Blue Jackets' Horton in constant pain: report
Nov 4-- Blue Jackets activate Matt Calvert from injured list
Oct 30-- Columbus Blue Jackets lose Letestu, Wisniewski
Oct 29-- Blue Jackets' Letestu out 2-4 weeks with groin injury
Oct 27-- Blue Jackets place Calvert on injured reserve
Oct 27-- Blue Jackets' Foligno leaves game after collision
Oct 26-- Blue Jackets activate McElhinney off injured reserve
Oct 21-- Nathan Horton's career could be in jeopardy: report
Oct 20-- Blue Jackets place McElhinney on IR
Oct 8-- Blue Jackets' Johansen practices, status uncertain
Oct 8-- Blue Jackets' Dubinsky out after abdominal surgery
Oct 1-- Columbus Blue Jackets to be without forward Boone Jenner for 5 weeks due to broken hand

Dallas

Nov 18-- Stars right wing Valeri Nichushkin has hip surgery, out 3 to 4 months
Nov 15-- Stars forward Nichushkin to have hip surgery
Oct 20-- Stars' Nemeth out for season with arm laceration
Oct 19-- Stars place Nichuskin on IR
Oct 2-- Stars' Gonchar out 3-5 weeks: Lehtonen healthy

Detroit

Nov 19-- Red Wings put Brendan Smith on 7 day IR
Nov 7-- Red Wings Gustavsson out two months
Nov 7-- Detroit's Pavel Datsyuk misses Devils game with groin injury
Nov 6-- Red Wings goalie Gustavsson dislocated shoulder
Oct 31-- Red Wings' Franzen back Sunday, Weiss to IR 
Oct 21-- Red Wings star Pavel Datsuyk ready to return from shoulder injury
Oct 8-- Red Wings' Datsyuk confirms he won't play in opener
Oct 3-- Red Wings' Datsyuk says shoulder "not ready"

Edmonton

Nov 16-- Hall returns to Oilers lineup for game against Arizona
Nov 3-- Oilers place Hall on injured reserve
Nov 2-- Oilers' Hall out 2-4 weeks with MCL sprain
Nov 1-- Oilers forward Hall leave game with leg injury
Oct 15-- Oilers' Fasth goes on IR 

Florida

Nov 1-- Panthers' Huberdeau out vs Flyers with illness

Los Angeles

Nov 14-- Kings defenceman Martinez has surgery on finger
Oct 27-- Kings' Kopitar leaves with upper-body injury
Oct 9-- Kings' Muzzin, Lewis to miss time

Minnesota

Nov 16-- Marco Sandella returns from illness
Nov 11-- Parise progressing in recovery from concussion
Nov 6-- Concussion for Zach Parise will keep Wild's leader and points leader out indefinitely
Oct 1-- Wild forward Fontaine to miss opening night

Nashville

Oct 28-- Predators to activated Cullen from injured reserve
Oct 7-- Predators place Matt Cullen, Viktor Stalberg on IR to start season

New Jersey

Nov 17-- Devils put Salvador on IR
Oct 27-- Devils place forward Havlat on injured reserve
Oct 24-- Devils' Tootoo placed on IR with foot injury

New York Islanders

Oct 23-- Visnovsky, Lee to play for Islanders, Hamonic out
Oct 16-- Injury forces Islanders' Grabovski from game
Oct 10-- Islanders' Grabner out after hernia surgery

New York Rangers

Nov 18-- Rangers Defenseman McDonagh skates on own
Nov 12-- Defenseman Boyle expected back in Rangers lineup
Nov 8-- Recovered from broken leg, Rangers' Stepan solid in season debut
Nov 7-- Rangers' Stepan to mane season debut Saturday
Nov 3-- Rangers forward Zuccarello out vs. Blues
Nov 2-- Rangers defenseman McDonagh out 3-4 weeks
Nov 1-- McDonagh, Klein injuries diminish Rangers defense
Nov 1-- Rangers Captain McDonagh separates shoulder
Oct 20-- Rangers defenseman Girardi day-to-day report
Oct 10-- Rangers recall Kostka following Boyle injury
Oct 10-- Rangers defenceman Dan Boyle breaks hand blocking shot, out 4-6 weeks

Philadelphia


Nov 19-- Flyers Giroux in lineup
Nov 18-- Flyers forward Giroux will not play Wednesday
Nov 9-- Luke Schenn out two weeks with upper body injury
Oct 24-- Flyers Coburn, MacDonal out; Lecavalier skates
Oct 13-- Flyers' Lecavalier out because of lower-body injury
Oct 10-- Flyers prospect Morin breaks jaw, will have surgery
Oct 10-- Flyers hope Coburn won't be to long-term: report
Oct 9-- Flyers defenseman Coburn out with injury vs Devils
Oct 8-- Flyers' Simmonds to play in opener at Bruins
Oct 2-- Flyers' Simmonds day-to-day with lower body injury

Pittsburgh

Nov 19-- Blood clot in lung sidelines Penguins forward Pascal Dupuis for at least 6 months
Nov 18-- Penguins defencman Olli Maatta returns 2 weeks after cancer surgery
Nov 17-- Penguins forward Pascal Dupuis out at least 1 game with unspecified injury
Nov 17-- Penguins' Matta could return Tuesday
Nov 11-- Penguins' Maatta on ice seven days after surgery
Nov 4-- Penguins' Maatta has tumor removed from thyroid
Oct 27-- Penguins' Maata to have surgery for thyroid tumor
Oct 17-- Penguins forward Pascal Dupuis skates day after frightening moment against Stars
Oct 16-- Penguins forward Dupuis taken off on stretcher
Oct 8-- Penguins defenseman Letang healthy, ready to go
Oct 7-- Penguins' Malkin practices, might play in opener

San Jose

Nov 13-- Sharks goalie Stalock has knee surgery
Nov 12-- Sharks place goaltender Alex Stalock on injured reserve

St. Louis

Nov 13-- Blues activate Oshie from injured reserve
Nov 6-- Blues activated Paul Stastny from injured reserve after missing 8 games with shoulder injury
Oct 29-- Blues captain Backes leaves game with injury
Oct 19-- Blues' Stastny day-to-day with upper body injury

Tampa Bay

Nov 15-- Lightning forward Drouin scratched vs. Islanders
Nov 12-- Lightning forward Johnson day-to-day
Oct 21-- Jonathan Drouin makes his NHL debut after injury to Alex Killorn
Oct 20-- Lightning defenceman Victor Hedman out 4-6 weeks with broken finger
Oct 1-- Lightning's Cooper won't rush Drouin

Toronto

Nov 22-- Leafs' Roman Polak leaves Saturday's game against Detroit with lower-body injury
Nov 11-- Winnik back at Leafs practice, could play less than week after scary fall
Nov 8-- Carlyle says Leafs following protocol as Winnik won't play vs. Rangers
Nov 7-- Maple Leafs forward Winnik taken off ice on stretcher
Nov 1-- Lupul out three weeks with broken bone in hand
Oct 31-- Toronto Maple Leafs scratch left wing Joffrey Lupul at Columbus with a broken right hand
Oct 28-- Leafs Captain Dion Phaneuf leaves game vs. Sabres with apparent right leg injury
Oct 16-- Maple Leafs winger Joffrey Lupul misses practice with lower-body injury
Oct 13-- Maple Leafs goaltender Reimer leaves with injury
Oct 4-- Maple Leafs Kessel, Franson skate briefly
Oct 3-- Maple Leafs' Kessel out with lower-body injury
Oct 1-- Maple Leafs' Franson has no knee damage

Vancouver 

Nov 8-- Luca Sbisa
Nov 8-- Radim Vrbata
Nov 8-- Derek Dorsett
Nov 4-- Zach Kazzian
Nov 2-- Tom Sestito


Washington

Oct 22-- Capitals defenseman Erskine out after neck surgery
Oct 20-- Laich won't accompany Capitals on three-game trip
Oct 9-- Capitals' Green out with upper-body injury

Winnipeg

Oct 23-- Jets coach says Evander Kane recovering and could be skating again soon
Oct 10-- Kane unlikely to play for Jets this weekend
Oct 9-- Kane leaves Jets' game with knee injury
Oct 3-- Jets' Byfuglien skating, not expected to play Saturday


Officiating Crews

Oct 28-- Referee Dave Lewis leave Wild-Bruins game after taking puck to face

Hockey stopped to remember slain soldiers on Saturday night

Saturday's cross Canada broadcasts brought Canadians together after a week of unfathomable violence, with the host cities of Ottawa, Toronto and Montreal in the early games providing the forum for the nation to seek a sense of normalcy, from a week that delivered something completely different.

In all of the home cities on the night, salutes were made to the memories of two fallen Canadian soldiers, struck down in terrifying incidents that will remain on our minds, indicative of the times we now live and leaving Canadians to call on the resolve that they have summoned in the past and this week were required to reach back for once again.

The evening started with the tribute from Ottawa, beamed simultaneously to the arenas of Montreal and Toronto, as members of the slain solider Nathan Cirillo's regiment stood at attention, Constable Lyndon Slewidge delivered the first lines of O Canada.

His job then shifted to national conductor, as the sold out crowd at Ottawa's Canadian Tire Centre, joined in by those in Montreal and Toronto, led the nation in a stirring rendition of the anthem, with particular focus on the lines of glorious and free.

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The Flames who also were playing on Saturday, had provided  a similar salute and rousing anthem offered the view from the West on Friday night, as Canadians took stock of the week and exhaled five days of built up anger, concern and grief.

The ceremonies provided the clarion call for the nation to salute it's service members and those that came to their assistance this week. From four cities it was the right tone, the right pace, the right thing to try and bridge a horrid week and bring somewhat of a return to a sense of normalcy.

The evening of remembrance also provided opportunity for Hockey Night in Canada commentator Don Cherry, a strong supporter of Canada's military to deliver a heartfelt tribute to the soldiers murdered this week.

In addition, Mr. Cherry also provided right on the nose commentary on how Canadians tend to forget not only the sacrifices of their military but of the nations veterans, calling attention to a fund that is seeking to raise money in support of the fallen soldiers of this week.

Toronto Sun-- Don't forget Vincent and Cirillo, Canada
National Post-- Don Cherry urges Canadians to support funds for slain soldiers, armed forces: "Do this and send the money, I know I will"
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You can learn more about the StandonGuardFund here.

Next week and in that follows, Canadians will send off their two fallen soldiers with funerals, another heart wrenching moment and one that will be observed from coast to coast to coast.

And while as a nation there will still be mourning, still be questions, for a few hours on a Saturday night, hockey helped regain some of the balance that was desperately needed.

Some accounts of the atmosphere Saturday night can be found below:

NHL.com -- Canadian teams honour slain military personnel
NHL.com -- Hockey Night across Canada pays tribute to fallen soldiers in show of solidarity
Ottawa Sun-- Not a dry eye at Sens' tribute to fallen soldiers
Ottawa Citizen-- A tribute to the fallen soldiers, an overtime victory to New Jersey
Ottawa Citizen-- Senators, Maple Leafs, Canadiens join forces in pre-game tributes
Toronto Star-- NHL honours fallen soldiers in poignant three-city tribute
Globe and Mail-- Hockey returns to Ottawa with emotional pre-game anthem ceremony
Globe and Mail-- Hockey rises to the occasion and unites a nation
National Post-- Ottawa Senators, Maple Leafs, Canadiens hold joint pre-game tribute to fallen Canadian soldiers
National Post-- Toronto Maple Leafs topped by Boston Bruins after emotional pre-game tribute to called Canadian soldiers
CBC-- Senators, Canadiens, Leafs pay tribute in pre-game ceremony

Attendance Watch 2014-15 -- AKA, Mr. Bettman's Box Office

For those that crunch the numbers on the NHL, beyond the salary caps, a free agency calculations, the bottom line for many NHL teams comes from one simple thing, bottoms in the seats.

And this year like the last few of the past, there are some locations that are giving indications that hockey just isn't winning the battle for hearts, minds and wallets.

For hopeful hockey fans in Quebec City, Hamilton, Suburban Toronto and now Seattle, watching the attendance figures becomes more important than which team is actually leading its division or closing in on a playoff spot.

Once again this year, we will track the teams that some suggest are on the bubble, secure leadership or not, financially flush as they may say they are, no one likes to lose money, so we'll scan the attendance numbers through the year, looking for those bargain basement teams that could be looking for a

relocation plan.

As last year, we shall use attendance at the 13,000 mark as our cut off for review.  Only those games that have drawn less than 13,000 or less in attendance will be listed below.

We also will list which team was in town as the visiting squad for the night, perhaps offering an explanation as to the night's recorded attendance.

Last year, as it was the year before, the Coyotes, Islanders and Blue Jackets were the featured attractions of the bottom three attendance reviews, 

And with the exception of the Islanders, who already have the moving vans warming up for a short haul to Brooklyn in the year to come,

Many of those at the bottom tier of the list of the less than faithful observers will seem rather familiar,

As well,  for some observers one more market worth keeping an eye on, is Florida. Where the sunshine state's Panthers are also in the running for team most likely to relocate.

The review can be accessed from our GM's office links on the right hand sidebar.

Attendance Figures as of March 9, 2015

Bottom Feeders (our three dim star selection)

The three teams with the lowest attendance, teams the most times below the 13,000 benchmark.

1. Florida (26)
2. Carolina  (20)
3. Arizona  (18)

Arizona Coyotes (18)

March 9 -- 11,227 ( Nashville) (Event Summary)
March 5 -- 12,589 (Vancouver) (Event Summary)
March 3 -- 11,387 (Anaheim) (Event Summary)
February 21 -- 12,997 (Tampa Bay) (Event Summary)
February 5 -- 12,649 (Carolina) (Event Summary)
January 15-- 12,982 (Calgary) (Event Summary)
January 13-- 10,631 (San Jose) (Event Summary)
January 8-- 11,390 (Winnipeg) (Event Summary)
January 6-- 10,876 (St. Louis) (Event Summary)
December 16-- 12,085 (Edmonton) (Event Summary)
December 11-- 10,194 (Nashville) (Event Summary)
December 4-- 12,254 (Los Angeles) (Event Summary)
November 25--  12,163 (Colorado) (Event Summary)
November 18-- 11,789 (Washington) (Event Summary)
November 11-- 11,866 (Dallas) (Event Summary)
October 18-- 11,100 (St. Louis) (Event Summary)
October 15-- 11,648 (Edmonton) (Event Summary)
October 11-- 12,859  (Los Angeles) (Event Summary)

Carolina (20)

March 8 -- 12,826 (Edmonton) (Event Summary)
March 6 -- 10,857 (Minnesota) (Event Summary)
February 24 -- 11,024 (Philadelphia) (Event Summary)
February 20 -- 12,563 (Toronto) (Event Summary)
February 17 -- 12,665 (NY Islanders) (Event Summary)
February 12 -- 11,991 (Anaheim) (Event Summary)
January 27 -- 12,508 (Tampa Bay) (Event Summary)
January 13-- 13,965 (Colorado) (Event Summary)
January 8-- 9,781 (Buffalo) (Event Summary)
January 2-- 12,682 (Philadelphia) (Event Summary)
December 18-- 12,332 (Toronto) ( Event Summary)
December 8-- 9,815 ( New Jersey ) ( Event Summary )
December 4-- 10,783 (Washington) (Event Summary)
December 2--     9,161 (Nashville) (Event Summary)
November 16-- 12,784 (San Jose) (Event Summary)
November 13-- 10,005 (Winnipeg) (Event Summary)
November 10-- 9,906 (Calgary) (Event Summary)
November 7-- 11,540 (Columbus) (Event Summary)
November 2-- 10,519 (Los Angeles) (Event Summary)
November 1-- 10,879 (Arizona) (Event Summary)

Colorado Avalanche (2)

December 9-- 12,689 (Nashville) (Event Summary)
October 30-- 12,892 (NY Islanders) (Event Summary)

Columbus Blue Jackets (3)

March 3 -- 12,915 (Washington) (Event Summary)
February 26 -- 12,357 (Montreal) (Event Summary)
December 1--  12,309 (Florida) (Event Summary)


Florida Panthers (26)

March 5 -- (8,510) (Dallas) (Event Summary)
March 3 -- 10,198 (Toronto) (Event Summary)
March 1 -- 10,336 (Tampa Bay) (Event Summary)
February 28 -- 10,374 (Buffalo) (Event Summary)
February 15 -- 11,859 (St. Louis) (Event Summary)
February 10 -- 8,576 (Anaheim) (Event Summary)
February 8 -- 10,844 (Nashville) (Event Summary)
February 5 -- 9,624 (Los Angeles) (Event Summary)
January 29 -- 7,917 (Columbus) (Event Summary)
January 27 -- 12,190 (Detroit) (Event Summary)
January 19-- 9,373 (Vancouver) (Event Summary)
January 17-- 10,529 (Edmonton) (Event Summary)
January 15-- 9,584 (Colorado) (Event Summary)
December 16-- 10,012 (Washington) (Event Summary)
December 6-- 8,597 (Buffalo) ( Event Summary )
December 4-- 7,768 (Columbus) (Event Summary)
November 28--  9,758 (Ottawa) (Event Summary)
November 26--  8,119 (Carolina) (Event Summary)
November 24--  8,426 (Minnesota) (Event Summary)
November 14-- 10,010 (NY Islanders) (Event Summary)
November 11-- 8,075 (San Jose) (Event Summary)
November 8-- 9,220 (Calgary) (Event Summary)
November 1- 9,774 (Philadelphia) (Event Summary)
October 30-- 7,691 (Arizona) (Event Summary)
October 13-- 7,311 (Ottawa) (Event Summary)
October 11--11,419 (New Jersey) (Event Summary)

New Jersey Devils (4)

February 23 -- 12,159 (Arizona) (Event Summary)
February 9 -- 11,519 (Edmonton) (Event Summary)
February 3 -- 11,461 (Ottawa) (Event Summary)
October 30-- 12,897 (Winnipeg) (Event Summary)

New York Islanders (6)

November 24-- 12,409 (Philadelphia) (Event Summary)
November 18-- 12,908 (Tampa Bay) (Event Summary)
November 11-- 12,888 (Colorado) (Event Summary)
October 28-- 11,508 (Winnipeg) (Event Summary)
October 21-- 11,408 (Toronto) (Event Summary)
October 16-- 11,248 (San Jose) (Event Summary)

Philadelphia (1)

March 5 -- 12,531 (St. Louis) (Event Summary)

NHL Suspensions and Fines 2014-15

As the new season begins, there's a new Justice sitting on the bench at the NHL Supreme Court.  As Stephane Quintal takes over the administration of Justice from Brendan Shanahan, who relocated to ranks of management with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Quintal will be joined by Chris Pronger, who was named to the Department of Player Safety listings on October 10th.

They will be reviewing on ice incidents and assessing what punishment, if any will be required on a nightly basis.

Quintal, carries the more formal title of NHL Senior Vice President of Player Safety.  It's anticipated that he will make much use of video, as Shanahan did during his term, to outline how a decision is reached in each individual case.

Our listings of his deliberations can be found below, outlining those that have been summoned to the tribunal.

Offenders may now approach the bench, the court is now in session. Chief Justice Quintal presiding.

Cases up to date as of March 6, 2015

The Case files of Stephane Quintal 

Regular Season Suspensions

March 4 -- New York Islanders -- Matt Martin suspended one game for kneeing (details)

February 23 -- Ottawa --  Jared Cowen suspended three games for interference (details)

February 16 -- Florida -- Dmitry Kulikov suspend four games for clipping  (details)

February 10 -- Dallas -- Antoine Roussell suspended two games for cross-checking (details)

January 26 -- Philadelphia -- Zac Rinaldo suspended eight games for charging and boarding (details)

January 19-- Chicago -- Daniel Carcillo suspended 6 games for cross-checking (details)

January 16-- Boston -- Brad Marchand suspended 2 games for slew-footing (details)

January 14-- Minnesota -- Ryan Suter suspended 2 games for elbowing (details)

January 1 -- Edmonton -- Keith Aulie suspended 2 games for illegal check to the head (details)

December 24-- San Jose -- John Scott suspended 4 games for punching an opponent (details)

December 11 -- Dallas -- Ryan Garbutt suspended three games for slew-footing (details)

December 10 -- Minnesota -- Marco Scandella suspended two games for illegal check to the head (details)

December 8 -- Winnipeg -- Evander Kane suspended two games for boarding (details)

December 3-- Pittsburgh -- Robert Bortuzzo suspended two games for interference (details)

November 27-- Winnipeg -- Adam Lowry suspended one game for boarding (details)

November 27-- Dallas-- NHL suspends Ryan Garbutt for two games for kneeing (details)

November 21-- Los Angeles -- NHL announces terms of Voynov suspension will be maintained; Kings to receive salary cap relief (details)

November 6-- Toronto -- Carter Ashton-- Suspended 20 games for violation of Performance enhancing Substances Program (details)

November 5-- Columbus -- Jack Johnson-- Suspended three games for an illegal check to the head (details) (video)

November 3 -- Edmonton -- Andrew Ference-- Suspended 3 games for illegal check (details) (video)

November 2-- Los Angeles -- Jordan Nolan-- Suspended two games for boarding (details) (video)

November 2-- Nashville -- Anton Volchenkov-- Suspended four games for illegal check to the head. (details) (video)

October 31-- Vancouver -- Alexandre Burrows-- Suspended three games for a late, illegal hit to the head (details) (video)

October 29-- New York Rangers -- John Moore-- Suspended five games for check to the head (details) (video)

October 28-- San Jose -- John Scott -- Suspended two games for leaving the bench to start a fight (details) (video)

October 20-- Los Angeles -- Slava Voynov -- Suspended indefinitely over personal issues (details) (video)


Total Regular Season Games suspended (by team)

Boston -- 2
Chicago -- 6
Columbus -- 3
Dallas -- 7
Edmonton-- 5
Florida -- 4 
Los Angeles -- 2
Minnesota -- 4
Nashville-- 4
New York Islanders -- 1
New York Rangers -- 5
Ottawa -- 3
Philadelphia -- 8
Pittsburgh -- 2
San Jose -- 6
Toronto -- 20
Vancouver -- 3
Winnipeg -- 3

Total Game Suspension to date  86

** Totals Not including the indefinite suspension to the Kings Slava Voynow

Monetary punishment

March 6 -- Toronto Maple Leafs -- Richard Panik -- fined $2,000 dor diving (details)

March 3 -- Colorado Avalanche -- Cody McLeod --  fined $3,091.40 for starting an altercation (details)

March 3 -- Colorado Avalanche -- Gabriel Landeskog -- fined $5,000 for throwing a punch from the bench (details)

February 27 -- San Jose -- Logan Couture -- fined $5,000 for slew footing (details)

December 31 -- Vancouver Canucks -- Jannik Hansen -- fined $5,000 for illegal check to the head (details)

December 9-- NY Islanders -- Anders Lee -- fined $2,286.29 for elbowing

December 1 -- Minnesota -- Marco Scandella -- fined $2,755.38 for illegal check to head

November 29 -- Montreal -- Alexei Emelin -- fined $11,021.51 for illegal check to head

November 10 -- Dallas-- Antoine Roussell -- $5,376.34 fine for punching an unsuspecting opponent (details)

October 17 -- Boston-- Milan Lucic-- $5,000 fine for obscene gesture incident (details)


From the Department of Player Safety

October 29-- NHL Director of Player Safety Leetch joins NHL Live

Weekly Award Winners for week ending October 19

Our archive of the players named to the NHL's weekly honour roll through the month of October

Week ending October 19

Tyler Seguin-- Dallas Stars
Frederik Anderson-- Anaheim Ducks
Steven Stamkos-- Tampa Bay Lightning

Three stars item for October 19, from NHL.com

The Trading Post 2014-15

For many NHL teams, the squad that starts September needs a bit of a tune up by Christmas, with major retooling for some if they still haven't hit their zone as the playoffs beckon.

It's at those points that the General Managers of each of the NHL's member clubs start to earn their pay, making decisions on which players need a fresh start, or which perhaps have seen their best days slip by.

The GM"s sometimes start that process almost as soon as training camp has come to an end, while others hold fast to their line ups until reality tells them that change is required, or injuries force their hand.

Below we will track the deals of 2014-15, providing some background for the names that suddenly find that movers and change of address notifications are part of the NHL experience.

It all of course leads up to the Spring time madness known as the Trade Deadline, a day where hockey fans perhaps suddenly come down with a bad cold or some other suitable malady that will require at least a day at home, perhaps even in front of the television.

The preamble to the Spring trading deadline starts with the first puck drop of game one, the listings of the relocated can be found below:

Trading Period commenced October 1st, The Trading Deadline is March 2nd.

Up to date as of March 2, 2015

Trades announced during the Deadline show broadcasts of the various sports networks. 
( 22 deals on Deadline Day )

March 2  -- Minnesota/ Boston -- The Bruins make one more move post deadline buzzer, advising of the move of Jared Knight to Minnesota, with Zack Phillips Boston bound( NHL Trade Alert)(68)

March 2 -- Anaheim/Colorado -- The Ducks continue to shift some of their pieces around, picking up Michael Sgarbossa from the Avalanche, with Mat Clark moving to Colorado in return ( NHL Trade Alert ) ( 67 )

March 2 -- Toronto/Anaheim -- The Ducks continue to add players to their depth lists, as Korbinian Holzer makes his exit from Toronto and shifts to the Western division, Holzer currently is out of the lineup due to injury. The Leafs receive Eric Brewer and a fifth round pick in return. ( NHL Trade Alert ) ( 66 )

March 2 -- Boston/Colorado -- The Bruins finally make it onto the trade day listings as Maxim Talbot finds himself heading to Colorado, while Jordan Caron is Boston bound ( NHL Trade Alert ) 
( 65 )

March 2 -- Columbus/Anaheim -- James Wisniewski may see some playoff hockey this year after all as the Blue Jackets and Ducks make a deal, heading to Columbus are Rene Borque, William Karlsson and a second round pick ( NHL Trade Alert ) ( 64 )

March 2 -- Vancouver/Calgary -- An unusual swap between Western rivals as the Flames and Cancuks swing a deal with Sven Baertschi heading to the Canucks, while the Flames gain a 2nd round pick ( NHL Trade Alert )  ( 63 )

March 2 -- Pittsburgh/Anaheim -- Ben Lovejoy returns to the Penguins with Simon Depres heading to the Ducks ( NHL Trade Alert )  ( 62 )

March 2 -- Minnesota/Buffalo  -- Chris Stewart finally hears end to speculation on his trade status as he's off to Minnesota  ( NHL Trade Alert ) (  61 )

March 2 -- Montreal/Buffalo -- Torrey Mitchell is off to the Montreal Canadiens as the Habs and Sabres make a deal as the deadline buzzer nears ( NHL Trade Alert  ) ( 60 ) 

March 2 -- St. Louis/Toronto -- Olli Jokinen's stay in Toronto is a short lived thing, as the Leafs send him off to St. Louis reportedly for a fourth round pick  ( NHL Trade Alert )  ( 59 )

March 2 -- Arizona/New York Islanders -- The Coyotes pick up goaltender David Leggio from the Islanders, with the return to Long Island still to be determined  ( NHL Trade Alert ) ( 58 )

March 2 -- Minnesota/Columbus -- Jordan Leopold adds some depth to the Minnesota line up as the Blue Jackets send him to the Wild ( NHL Trade Alert ) ( 57 )

March 2 -- Vancouver/New York Islanders -- The Canucks make a minor swap with the Islanders as Cory Connacher will make his way to the Vancouver system, while Dustin Jeffrey heads to Lon Island ( NHL Trade Alert ) ( 56 )

March 2 -- Buffalo/New York Islanders -- Michal Neuvirth is off to the Stanley Cup contenders on Long Island, while Chad Johnson will play out his season on the spiralling downward Buffalo Sabres lineup, coming along with Johsnon is a 3rd round pick for Buffalo ( NHL Trade Alert ) (55)

March 2 -- San Jose/Colorado -- The Sharks continue to make some minor adjustments to their lineup sending Freddie Hamilton to Colorado in exchange for Karl Stollery ( NHL Trade Alert )
(54)

March 2 -- Pittsburgh/St. Louis -- Ian Cole is on his way to Pittsburgh, as the Penguins and Blues exchange players, Robert Bortuzzo will make his way to St. Louis bringing along a seventh round draft pick ( NHL Trade Alert ) ( 53 )

March 2 -- San Jose/New York Islanders -- San Jose shifts Tyler Kennedy to the Islanders, picking up a conditional pick in 2016 in exchange ( NHL Trade Alert )  ( 52 )

March 2 -- Detroit/New Jersey -- Detroit adds some depth on the blue line with a trade that brings Marek Zidlicky to Motown, with the Devils gaining a third round pick in exchange ( NHL Trade Alert) ( 51 )

March 2 -- Chicago/San Jose -- The Blackhawks and Sharks swing a deal, as Andrew Desjardins is destined for the Windy City, while Ben Smith makes the move west  ( NHL Trade Alert )  ( 50 )


March 2 -- St. Lous/Arizona -- The Blues swing a deal with the Coyotes, bringing in Zbynek Michalek from the Coyotes, for UDC Maxim Letunov. The concern for the Blues is when will Zbynek be available to play having been injured for over two weeks now  (NHL Trade Alert ) ( 49 )

March 2 -- Montreal/Buffalo -- The Canadiens continue to add some pieces to their playoff stretch drive, bringing in another player exiled to a struggling team. With Brian Flynn, packing up to leave Buffalo, the Sabres will receive a 2016 draft fifth round pick (NHL Trade Alert) (48)

March 2 -- Montreal/Edmonton -- The Canadiens bring Jeff Petry out of exile in Edmonton, picking up the defenceman for a second and a conditional fifth round pick in the 2015 NHL Draft (NHL Trade Alert) (47)

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The Pre-Deadline show moves leading up to Deadline Day 2015


March 2 -- Tampa Bay/ Philadelphia -- The Lightning continue to make their moves as they pick up Braydon Coburn on Defence sending Radko Gudas as well as a second and third round pick in the 2015 draft.  (NHL Trade Alert)  (46)

March 2 -- Boston Bruins/ Tampa Bay Lightning -- The Boston Bruins add to their forward lines with a trade with the Tampa Bay Lightning, as the Bruins bring Brett Connolly to Boston, sending second round picks for 2015 and 2016 to Tampa ( NHL Trade Alert )  ( 45 )

March 1 -- Detroit Red Wings/Dallas Stars -- The Red Wings shore up the forward units by picking up Erik Cole from the Stars, as well as conditional 3rd round pick in the 2015 draft. Heading to Dalla is Mattias Backman, Mattias Janmark and a second round pick in the 2015 draft ( NHL Trade Alert ) (44)

March 1 -- New York Rangers/San Jose Sharks -- The Ranger acquire Centre James Sheppard from the San Jose Sharks in exchange for a fourth round pick in the 2016 NHL Draft ( NHL Trade Alert ) (43)

March 1 -- New York Rangers/Winnipeg Jets -- Glen Sather kept his pace up on the eve of the Trading deadline, sending Lee Stempniak to the Winnipeg Jets for  Carl Klingberg. (NHL Trade Alert) (42)

March 1 -- New York Rangers/San Jose Sharks -- The Ranger acquire Keith Yandle and Chris Summers from the Arizona Coyotes, sending defenseman John Moore, prospect Anthony Duclair and conditional first round pick to the Dessert. (NHL Trade Alert) (41)

March 1 -- Washington Capitals/Calgary Flames -- The Capitals make a pre deadline trade, bringing Curtis Glecncross to DC to add to their offensive push down the playoff stretch. In return, the Flames pick up a 2nd round pick and a third round pick in the 2015 draft  ( NHL Trade Alert ) ( 40 )

February 28 -- Chicago Blackhawks/Arizona Coyotes -- Antoine Vermette is bound for the Windy City, as Chicago added to its forward lines on Saturday. In return, the Coyotes will receive Klas Dalhbeck and a first round pick in the 2015 NHL Draft  (NHL Trade Alert) (39)

February 28 -- Florida Panthers/Anaheim Ducks -- A new location and maybe one more chance for Dany Heatley as Anaheim Ducks send him to the Florida Panthers, with Tomas Fleischmann heading to Orange County along with a third round pick in the 2015 pick.  Heatley won't join the Panthers just yet, he has been assigned to San Antonio of the AHL, should his game pick up he may be added to the Panthers roster later (NHL Trade Alert)  (38)

February 28 -- Washington Capitols/Carolina Hurricanes -- The Capitals add to their defensive corps, trading Jack Hillen and a 4th round pick in the 2015 draft to Carolina bringing Tim Gleason to DC in exchange (NHL Trade Alert)  (37)

February 27 -- Chicago Blackhawks/Philadelphia Flyers -- The Blackhawks secure more depth on the blue line, picking up Kimmo Timonen from the Flyers, sending a 2nd round pick in the 2015 draft and a conditional 4th round pick in the 2016 draft to Philadelphia ( NHL Trade Alert )  (36)

February 26 -- Toronto Maple Leafs/Columbus Blue Jackets -- The Leafs sent veteran forward David Clarkson to the Columbus Blue Jackets in re turn for injured forward Nathan Horton, a move that is seen as one to create cap space for the Leafs ( NHL Trade Alert ) ( 35 )

February 26 -- New Jersey Devils/Florida Panthers -- He's not quite the same Jaromir of old, but  the Florida Panthers are hoping for some glimpses as they pick up Jaromir Jagr from the New Jersey Devils.  The Devils will receive Forida's second round pick in the 2015 NHL Draft and a third round pick in the 2016 Draft ( NHL Trade Alert ) ( 34 )

February 26 -- Chicago Blackhawks/Toronto Maple Leafs -- An original six exchange, with the Leafs sending Spencer Abbott to the Hawks in exchange for defenseman T. J. Brennan ( NHL Trade Alert )  ( 33 )

February 26 -- St. Louis Blues/ Columbus Blue Jackets -- The Blues pick up forward Adam Cracknell from the Columbus Blue Jackets, sending future considerations to Columbus ( NHL Trade Alert ) ( 32 )

February 25 -- Los Angeles Kings/Carolina Hurricanes -- The LA Kings bulk up their defensive squad picking up Andrej Sekera from the Carolina Hurricanes, sending a first round draft pick and a prospect to Carolina ( NHL Trade Alert ) ( 31 )

February 25 -- Pittsburgh Penguins/Toronto Maple Leafs -- The Penguins add yet more to their front lines with Daniel Winnick coming in from Toronto, the Leafs receive Zach Sill and a fourth round pick in the 2015 NHL Draft and a second round pick in the 2016 Draft ( NHL Trade Alert ) 
( 30 ) 

February 25 -- Winnipeg Jets/ Carolina Hurricanes -- Winnipeg acquire Jiri Tlusty from the Carolina Hurricanes, sending a third round pick and a conditional draft pick to the Hurricances,  the conditional pick could become a fifth round choice if the Jets make the playoffs ( NHL Trade Alert )  ( 29 )

February 24 -- Minnesota Wild/Florida Panthers -- Minnesota acquires Sean Bergenheim in a trade with Florida, sending a their round pick in the 2016 NHL Draft, the Wild also receive the Panther's seventh round pick in 2016 ( NHL Trade Alert )  ( 28 )

February 24 -- Montreal Canadiens/Anaheim Ducks -- Montreal adds to their forward units sending rookie forward Jiri Sekac to Anaheim in exchange for Devante Smith-Pelly ( NHL Trade Alert ) ( 27 )

February 15 -- Nashville Predators/Toronto Maple Leafs -- Nashville adds to its defensive corps, picking up Cody Franson from the Maples Leafs, along with forward Mike Santorelli, heading to Toronto is veteran Olli Jokinen, prospect Brendan Leipsic and a 2015 First round pick ( NHL Trade Alert ) ( 26 )

February 11 -- Dallas Stars/ Buffalo Sabres -- The Sabres weren't finished on the day, sending goaltender Jonas Enroth to the Stars in exchange for goaltender Anders Lindback and a conditional draft pick in the 2016 NHL draft ( NHL Trade Alert ) ( 25 )

February 11 -- Winnipeg Jets/Buffalo Sabres  -- A major deal for mid February with the Jets ending the Evander Kane drama by sending him off to the Buffalo Sabres, also arriving in Buffalo is Zach Bogosian, Winnipeg bound are Tyler Meers, Drew Stafford, two prospects and a first round pick ( NHL Trade Alert ) ( 24 )

February 9 -- San Jose Sharks/Tampa Bay Lightning -- The Sharks Evgeni Nabokov back to Northern California, acquiring the goaltender from the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Bolts receive future considerations ( NHL Trade Alert ) ( 23 )

February 6 -- Tampa Bay Lightning/Toronto Maple Leafs -- The Lightning pick up Carter Ashton and David Broll from the Leafs, sending a conditional seventh round pick in the 2016 NHL entry draft ( NHL Trade Alert ) ( 22 )

January 29 -- Vancouver Cauncks/Chicago Blackhawks -- Times have changed it seems as the Hawks and Canucks can now talk trade, with the Canucks pick up defence man Adam Clendenning from the Hawks in exchange for Gustav Forsling ( NHL Trade Alert ) ( 21 )

January 27 -- Pittsburgh Penguins/St. Louis Blues -- More help on the front end heads the way of Pittsburgh, as the Penguins pick up Maxim Lapierre from the St. Louis Blues, sending Marcel Goc to the Blues  ( NHL Trade Alert ) ( 20 )

January 14 --  Minnesota Wild/Arizona Coyotes -- The Wild pick up some experience in the nets  swinging a deal with the Arizona Coyotes to pick up Devan Dubnyk, sending a third round pick in the 2015 NHL Draft to Arizona ( NHL Trade Alert ) ( 19 )

January 2 -- Pittsburgh Penguins/Edmonton Oilers -- David Perron gets a playoff lifeline, as the Pittsburgh Penguins pick him up from the struggling Edmonton Oilers,  sending recently acquired Rob Klinhammer to Edmonton, along with a first round pick in the 2015 draft for Edmonton ( NHL Trade Alert )  ( 18 )

December 29 -- Edmonton Oilers/Nashville Predators -- Edmonton picks up Derek Roy from the Predators and sending centre Mark Arobello to Nashville ( NHL Trade Alert ) ( 17 )

December 18 -- Winnipeg Jets/Carolina Hurricanes -- Jay Harrison is Winnipeg bound as the Jets send a 6th round pick in the 2015 draft to Carolina ( NHL Trade Alert) ( 16 )

December 16 -- Columbus Blue Jackets/Buffalo Sabres -- The Columbus Blue Jackets continued on with their player moves picking up centre Luke Adam from the Buffalo Sabres, sending Jerry D'Amigo to the Sabres ( NHL Trade Alert ) ( 15 )

December 14 -- Columbus Blue Jackets/Chicago Blackhawks -- Columbus picks up forward Jeremy Morin from Chicago, sending defenseman Tim Erixon to the Windy City 
( NHL Trade Alert ) ( 14 )

December 5 -- Pittsburgh Penguins/Arizona Coyotes -- The Penguins add some depth on forward as they send Phillip Samuelson to Arizona in exchange for Rob Klinkhammer and a condition draft pick ( NHL Trade Alert ) ( 13 )

December 4 -- Anaheim Ducks/Florida Panthers -- The Ducks pick up Colby Robak from the Florida Panthers, sending Jesse Blacker and Future considerations pick to Florida (NHL Trade Alert) ( 12 )

November 28-- Anaheim Ducks/Tampa Bay Lightning-- The Ducks take to the trading block one more time in November, with a deal to bring Eric Brewer to California from the Tampa Bay Lightning. Tampa will receive a third round pick in the 2015 NHL Draft ( NHL Trade Alert ) ( 11 )

November 25-- Vancouver Canucks/New York Islanders-- The Canucks pick up some blue line help as they acquire Andrey Pedan from the Islanders in exchange for Alexandre Mallet and a third round Islanders draft pick ( NHL Trade Alert ) ( 10 )

November 21-- San Jose Sharks/Dallas Stars-- The Sharks send Jason Demers to Dallas for Brenden Dill (NHL trade Alert) ( 9 )

November 20-- Anaheim Ducks/Montreal Canadiens-- The Ducks send Bryan Allen to the Canadiens in exchange for Rene Bourque (NHL Trade Alert) ( 8 )

November 20-- Edmonton Oilers/Vancouver Canucks-- Kellan Lain won't have to make many travel arrangements, with the Canucks leaving him behind in Edmonton as they swing a trade with the Oilers, picking up Will Acton (NHL Trade Alert) ( 7 )

November 15-- Columbus Blue Jackets/St. Louis Blues-- Jordan Leopold is Columbus bound as the Blues and Blue Jackets swing a deal, heading to St. Louis is a fifth round pick in the 2016 draft (NHL Trade Alert) ( 6 )

November 11-- Dallas Stars/Montreal Canadiens -- The Montreal Candiens pick up some experience on the back end as they trade forward Travis Moen to the Dallas Stars, in exchange for defence man Sergei Gonchar (NHL Trade Alert) ( 5 )

October 5-- Winnipeg Jets/Montreal Canadiens-- The Winnipeg Jets pick up goaltender Peter Budaj and forward Patrick Holland from the Montreal Canadiens for forward Eric Tangradi. (NHL Trade Alert) ( 4 )

October 4-- New York Islanders/Chicago Black Hawks -- The Islanders swing a deal with the Blackhawks acquiring defence man Nick Leddy from the Hawks giving up three minor league defence men and the rights to goaltender Anders Nilsson, a restricted free agent playing in the Russian league this year (NHL Trade Alert) ( 3 )

October 4-- Boston/New York Islanders-- Boston sends Johnny Boychuk to the Islander, picking up a the Philadelphia Flyers second round pick in the 2015 NHL draft (which the Islanders had previously acquired, as well as a conditional pick in the 3rd Round should the Islanders trade Boychuk to another Eastern based team this season (NHL Trade Alert) ( 2 )

October 4-- New York Rangers/Florida Panthers-- The Rangers acquired forward Joey Crabb from the Florida Panthers, sending defenceman Steven Kampfer and forward Andrew Yogan to the Panthers. (NHL Trade Alert) ( 1 )


Transactions Counter:  68 Trades to date

Anaheim Ducks-- 9
Arizona Coyotes -- 5
Boston Bruins-- 4
Buffalo Sabres -- 7
Calgary Flames -- 2
Carolina Hurricanes  -- 4
Colorado Avalanche -- 3
Columbus Blue Jackets-- 8
Chicago Blackhawks -- 6
Dallas Stars -- 4
Detroit Red Wings -- 2
Edmonton Oilers -- 4
Florida Panthers -- 5
Los Angeles Kings -- 1
Minnesota Wild -- 5
Montreal Canadiens-- 7
Nashville Predators -- 2
New Jersey Devils -- 2
New York Islanders-- 7
New York Rangers -- 4
Philadelphia Flyers -- 2
Pittsburgh Penguins -- 6
San Jose Sharks-- 7
St. Louis Blues -- 6
Tampa Bay Lightning -- 5
Toronto Maple Leafs -- 7
Vancouver Canucks-- 5
Washington -- 2
Winnipeg Jets -- 5

The link to these Trading Post dispatches can be found in our right hand column in the GM's Office section.

NHL Trade Tracker can be viewed here