Tick Tock, we're on the sloooooow moving clock. (Noon to 1 PM ET, 9 -10 AM PT)

And for those that slept in, congratulations, a wise decision, you haven't missed much.

To recap, Mikka Kiprusoff won't be leaving Calgary, rumours as to his potential retirement marked the last hour.

And that's about it...

Wait, late breaking news, Roberto Luongo has.... arrived at Rogers Arena.

The Trade Deadline watch is shifting, we're now anxiously awaiting the pick ups off the waiver wire, I sense a new feature for the sports options, Waiver madness...

I sense that the 30 league GM's joined together in secret conclave, this lack of trade action is just their little inside joke...

This just in from Montreal...

It's been a while since we took Grade 10 French, but we believe this means that Carey Price is not on the trading block today... Just a guess..

How is Ryan Miller not listed as trade bait, Buffalo who seem to be waving the white flag these days could gain some great pick ups for him and Miller could use a change of scenery as well...

For those wondering how the morning went, Bruce Arthur has the recap...

Big news out of Switzerland, a changing of the guard... we imagine the Strategy room is working this story as we speak..

Ooooh a Trade

TSN outlines the details

A minor league deal is consummated between the Bruins and Black Hawks, Maxime Sauve is moving to Chitown for Rob Flick, the discussion is short on the merits of that blockbuster.

And Sportsnet goes back to the Strategy Room, where baseball players offer up praise for Iron Mike Keenan and throw a few questions to him...

Sportsnet's Bob McCown turns on his twitter feed

He will no doubt expand on this further when he joins the Sportsnet conclave shortly...

TSN in the meantime wraps up their interview with Ryan Clowe, now appearing on Broadway...

And finally a tangible trade report

Sportsnet offering up that Scott Hannan is off to San Jose, details apparently still to come..

For those following at home, that's Sportsnet 1, TSN 0 on name brand trading.. somehow they haven't confirmed the Hannan move to San Jose...

Though to be fair, Pierre LeBrun did  make mention of the possibilities earlier in the hour.

"Most of the action usually happens in the last couple of hours" James Duthie, explaining or wishing, you decide...

And for your viewing pleasure Mike Milbury is back on TSN, offering up his observations on the state of events in Calgary...

Meanwhile over on the internet, Nick Kypreos advises that we should be watching the Jersey shore very carefully in the next two hours...

Gord Miller interrupts things to advise that Florida has made a trade with the Oilers, with Jerred Smithson leaving the beaches of South Florida destined for Oil Country, Florida gaining a fourth round pick in exchange. 

Oh and by the way, Pierre LeBrun reminds his TSN team mates that the Hannan trade took place...

LOL, ah confusion reigns on Sportsnet as they find that live television and live radio sometimes don't quite work out in sync...

TSN meanwhile makes the year for Rob Flick, part of the minor league trade that registers as the first trade of the day, hopefully someone has made a copy for the Flick's to keep in the family archives.

Tick, Tock, you're on the clock... (11-Noon AM ET, 8-9 AM PT)

Hour three opens up on TSN with the Trade Breakers, lonely guys who make the Maytag Repair guy look overworked.

Ottawa is the topic of the start of the hour and whether they will move Ben Bishop, his value apparently has increased as the season has progressed, five teams apparently keeping Ottawa on speed dial to try and snare him.

Ah the real meat of the programming now, TSN with Jay Onrait discussing commercial placements, agreed Shamwow guy has go to go (actually he came close did he not, something in Florida comes to mind)

Sadly we resemble the blogger in the basement reference, though not quite a basement, more of a ground level studio, we digress.

For the love of God, someone swing a couple of minor leaguers for a zamboni please.

Whew, we switch to the TSN Reporters panel, who discuss hockey and offer some interesting observations on the situation in Calgary, where playoff hockey is something you will be watching on TV (for the sake of everyone in Cowtown perhaps the Oilers could skip the playoffs as well)

Sportsnet stakes out the Calgary Westin, some nice rides in Calgary, though parking seems to be a problem at the Westin...

Well the pace of this deadline day means were less than an hour from the combined cast of TSN and Sportsnet doing their version of Les Miserables... Look Down, Look Down, don't look him in the eye...

No Trade but TSN offers up the word that Mikka Kiprusoff won't waive his No Trade clause and will apparently retire at the end of the season.

So.... Luongo to the Leafs back on the front burner then?

And now both networks offer up the in depth review of what Kiprusoff will do and if Luongo should stark packing, anyone wonder if Buffalo would trade Ryan Miller to Toronto, dare they be that bold?

So, the main story of the day thus far, a trade won't take place.

TSN heats up the Ben Bishop will move from Ottawa theme, the Sens are entertaining offers, the price for Bishop goes up with Kiprusoff taking his name out of circulation.

TSN runs a Lotto 6/49 commercial, dream the dream viewers, dream the dream...

Oooh, an interview with a guy traded yesterday, we're getting on to business now..

Sportsnet takes us to the strategy room, and to prove it's not on tape, Mike Keenan is sitting beside Pat Quinn this time around, it's the little things you notice.

Not understanding all the anti Kiprusoff talk on twitter at the moment, he was a pretty darn good goaltender through the years, saddled up on a team that never seemed serious about trying to win a Stanley Cup...

Steve Simmons nails all this trade deadline non activity today...

Sportsnet leaves the Strategy room, the strategy of the moment, looking for toughness on the panel in the studio, this is a segment crying out for an appearance by Brian Burke... he could offer some insight into truculence of sports analysts..

Bill Waters offers up a pretty good observation on the Luongo situation...

Unless Vancouver is ready to cut a cheque for Roberto to take with him to any potential destination, there most likely won't be a deal.

TSN picks up on that theme with Keith Jones and hey that's Mike Milbury... we dare to hope that TSN asks him about what those other guys at Sportsnet are offering up with the Milbury rankings... now that would be some fine television.

Milbury looks like everyone's dad at the moment, trying to figure out his communication device as it keeps pinging away while he's on the air...

Tick, Tock, you're on the clock... (10-11 AM, 7-8 PT)

Patience, we're cautioned that patience is our guiding star today.

In other words, the panels, the Insiders all could have slept in for a few hours as it all turned out.

A look in or two to a team strategy room, panel discussions and more evaluation of what the teams need to pick up (as opposed to what they have picked up) dots the early portion of the hour.

The prospect of overwhelming twitter perhaps may be the one lasting moment for the Deadline day, with each of the networks offering up their twitter portal for us all to share in the glory of reporting on breaking news that isn't exactly breaking.

The TSN Reporters debate which team needs a playoff spot more than others, Columbus, Winnipeg and Edmonton make for the consensus, strangely no one offers up that the long suffering fans of Phoenix deserve another playoff run.

Sportsnet reaches deep deep into the Trade Day stories, with Marty McSorley recounting the days of leisure in LA, when the potential arrival of Shaq to the Lakers laid waste to the Kings empirical plans. Toronto Maple Leaf fans take note, are the Raptors up to anything today?

A non hockey note, but for anyone who ever had a jack ass coach in his or her life, Mike Rice that people person at Rutgers got canned, some people can teach, others go to Rutgers it seems. The only lesson we guess is, that video evidence eventually can even force out of touch University Administrators to do the right thing. Honestly, for any parents out there, maybe stick around at practice once and a while, sometimes the coach isn't right.

Ok, back to the hockey discussion.

The TSN Insiders keep checking their blackberries (they still use those right?) checking their contacts, surfing their sources, coming up with nada....

Sportsnet's panel reviews the fate of the Ottawa Senators, and now we're counting the players on the ice and who drives what car (and by extension we guess, which parking spots remain empty).

TSN peeks into Winnipeg, are they getting worried at their tailspin of late, will they be trading off players, has the snow melted yet, are the rivers rising, is traffic heavy at Ikea? We have it all.

Former Tampa Bay coach Guy Boucher is ready to talk about his departure from Tampa,  schedules a media availability for this afternoon?  The man is brilliant... and he's off the radar!

Kypreos!!! Ah, Sportsnet's panel brings us Fireside Theatre, the Sportsnet travelling troupe with skits and uh, oh just watch... who knows where it's going.  Ooooh obscenities, and a slur against TSN, dropping the gloves broadcast panel style (yes I know it was tongue in cheek)

The CBC's Stombo? Perhaps he's picking up resumes for the Mother Corp?  Any of you guys do curling?

Oh wait, my bad, TSN has the curling franchise...

Hey, I have a programming idea, how about a Curling Trade Deadline Day, Ontario trades three brooms and a couple of stones to Saskatchewan for snappy curling pants... make the deal, hurry, huuuuury...

Grantland gives us more Sean McIndoe more often, some of the better coverage in the US media these days.

TSN and the Sidney Crosby question, how long will he be away, can he still be the league's best player. And now we switch to who can hit the water bottle best...

Man this is going to be one long trade deadline show..

And Sportsnet heads to the western outposts and some thoughts on how Roberto Luongo is feeling today, we can reach him at the bank, where he'll be renegotiating his Mutual funds...

For fun they are staking out the Rogers Arena parking lot, oblivious to the idea that it's 7:45 AM, unless  coach Vigneault is super annoyed, doubtful that they early morning skate is that early...

A full session on the Canucks, who says that the media is Toronto focused... Of course, the majority of the discussion is on whether Roberto Luongo will be disappointed if he isn't moved and where is it hoped he moves to?  Toronto...

Ooh the promise of the Milbury Ranking system explained again.  So do they use shoes as indicators as to the importance of any trade... one shoe for meh, five shoes for Holy #@$%

And we leave hour three behind, the score at this point, Trades 0, Hype 100

Tick, tock, you're on the clock... (8-10 ET, 5-7 PT)

You've built up that "bad cold" credence for the last week, cancelled that long sought after root canal at the dentist and bunkered down in front of the big screen, ready to do the quantum mathematics of capology 101.

Trading Deadline Day has arrived once again, the annual celebration of sub-leases and moving vans across the NHL map, as contenders stock up on the players they think will take them deep into a June Stanley Cup run and the pretenders unload those contracts they never should have signed and begin anew the call of "wait til next year"

And with the arrival of the NHL's day of destiny the sports channels once again unleash the battalions upon our television screens, eager to be the first with the breaking news, more than likely requiring all of that talking head talent just to fill up some time.

The day began at 8 AM in the East, 5 AM in the West (really anyone think that a GM is phoning his player at 5 AM to tell him he's been traded, sorry, not going to happen) and from our observations thus far, the features of the deadline shows are going to be getting a pretty vigorous workout.

Panels, bloggers, tweeters, GM conclaves it's all been in place for the first two hours.

Much discussion on who needs what, not so much on who has acquired whom. One interesting thing is that for the most part, the commercial breaks have been in sync, making your trek to the coffee maker that much more efficient.

Dave Hodge's The TSN Reporters panel offers up an extension of their Sunday morning review of events and will be worth seeking out as the morning morphs into afternoon, likewise the Sportsnet Trading Desk offers up the usual collective of hockey observers, all no doubt hoping to have the scoop of the day, though surely everyone has learned from last week's Iginla's going to Boston moments...

One thing perhaps worth keeping an eye out for as you channel surf through the morning, the Milbury Rating Scale on Sportsnet, where Puck Daddy (doing double duty) will rate the trades on a sliding scale of importance as though Mike Milbury had been left in the room with a cel phone. That could make for some entertaining commentary as the day moves along.

The hour by hour reviews continue on, the archive of network portals and past trades to date can be found in our Pre Game Skate section, near the top of our right hand column.

The Deadline Headlines, take one, take two, take three...

With some of the higher profile of NHLer's already having changed jerseys, the Canadian sports channels with their investment into the culture of Trading Deadline Day might be getting a little nervous about how they're going to fill all that time on Wednesday.

The Jarome Iginla trade of last week took one of the marquee names off the billboard for Wednesday's deadline and while we still have the Roberto Luongo watch, Mike Gillis has delayed this so long now,  that Strombone may be tweeting from Van City through til the 2013 Amateur draft.

The Trading Deadline for a bit was morphing into the Countdown to Ryan Clowe,  wait this just in... New York, he's off to New York.

On to the next name...  and on it shall go, Kiprusoff, Khabibulin, pick a K any K...

Whether we have lots of trades to talk about, or the assembled GM panels, hockey experts and other hangers on spend the morning and afternoon recounting the great tales of years gone by remains to be seen.

Regardless, they air time is blocked off, the guests have been booked, the cel phones are charged and the twitter feeds will soon be tweeting.

Deadline Day is but a few hours away, unleash the hounds...

You can review the trades to date from our Trading Post archive

The NHL Trade Deadline page can be found here

While the various offerings from the world of Sports Television can be found below.

TSN Trade Centre Page

Sportsnet Hockey Central Trade Deadline Page

Hockey Night in Canada Trade Tracker


Our Hockey Nation Trade Review hour by hour

The Final Hour
Segment Four
Segment Three
Segment Two
Segment One
The Opening Shots

A Flames Farewell as Iginla heads east

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“He’s played a lot of years here and played as hard as he could,” Flames forward Mike Cammalleri said. “I’ll tell you one thing about Jarome. Every day he tried his best to win hockey games with his teammates.” -- Mike Cammalleri, astute obsverver of Flames hockey, providing the concise and fitting  epitaph for the Jarome Iginla's years as a Flame.

The Flames Mike Cammalleri perhaps offered up the most telling review of the news that the long time Captain of the Calgary Flames had been dispatched to the Boston Bruins, er make that the Pittsburgh Penguins on Wednesday night/Thursday morning.  

His spot on observation that Iginla at all times tried his best, is the thing of a hockey gospel. The only problem being, for most of that time in Calgary, the Flames didn't provide him with the assembled talent to fully utilize his talents.

And now, with the long rumoured Iggy is gone headline finally delivered, the consensus is that the stumbling Flames, were a day late and a dollar short in value for their prized asset.

Though no one will find fault with Iginla's new hockey destination, heading to the Penguin's a most active squad in the run up to the Trade Deadline of the 4th of April and already it would seem loaded for war in the Stanley Cup playoffs to come.

The move to Pittsburgh for Iginla is a good fit, he'll find much to celebrate in a culture of success that the Penguins have built, in what seems to the complete opposite of the situation he leaves behind. Pittsburgh, with a line up that most GM's can now only dream of  seems to be the odds on favourite to work their way to the Stanley Cup, a fitting destination for the hard working Iginla, who had but one chance of that ticket in his Calgary days.

The nature of the trade which brings draft picks and unsigned college players, (prospects who perhaps have more on their minds at the moment with the NCAA Frozen Four), highlights the nature of the deprecation of the trade market when you dither in putting together your plan, or facing the cold hard reality of your situation.

Part of that may have been Iginla's oft stated desire to see things through in Calgary, still in a year full of failed expectations and the perception of a team in a free fall to the bottom, even Iginla it seems saw the rebuilding plan to come and submitted his list of teams for consideration.

How he ended up in Pittsburgh over Boston (especially with all that media speculation of Wednesday night) will be the thing of media chortling for the week to come, the preamble to the wall to wall manic obsession with the trade deadline shows.

All of which should be doing like Santa for Wednesday, making their lists and checking them twice.

One name they can scratch off those lists though is one Jarome Iginla and most likely the Penguins too, who surely have the pieces in place now for their Stanley Cup run.

Jarome Iginla will finally get a chance it seems to pursue Lord Stanley's chalice, it should have been as a Flame, a team which in a perfect hockey world (or at least a better managed one) he would have retired with. 

No doubt one day he will return to see that number 12 jersey lifted to the rafters and forever placed as part of the fabric of the Flames franchise.

Still, who can begrudge the guy who gave it all to Calgary for perhaps his last real shot at that which all players seek. Come playoff time, with the Flames most likely long forgotten from the playoff schedule, Albertans can settle in and cheer the Pens on. t

The thought of, "win one for Jarome" perhaps the theme of the playoffs for them.

The reviews (from all three locations)of the Wednesday night trade can be found below:

Calgary

National Post-- Jarome Iginla traded to Penguins, not Bruins, after strange night for TSN
Calgary Herald-- Iginla says goodbye as he moves on to Pittsburgh
Calgary Herald-- Jarome Iginla trade inglorious end to a glorious era
Calgary Herald-- Iginla embracing fresh opportunity in Pittsburgh
Calgary Herald-- King Flames embark on a 'new chapter' after Iginla trade
Calgary Herald-- Flames deal greatest legend in franchise history to Penguins
Calgary Herald-- Jarome Iginla represented Flames with 'dignity, class and pride' says Feaster
Calgary Herald-- Conroy reflects on trade of good friend and old linemate Iginla
Calgary Sun-- 'A difficult day': Jarome Iginla bids farewell to Calgary
Calgary Sun-- Close but no Iggy
Calgary Sun-- Gretzky relates to Iggy's situation
Calgary Sun-- Iginla traded: Flames joined at the hip
Calgary Sun-- Meet the new kids
Calgary Sun-- Ben who? Ken who? for Flames
Calgary Sun-- Chase is on for Stanley Cup
Calgary Sun-- Flames never found No. 1 centre
Calgary Sun-- Iginla trade the best thing for everybody
Calgary Sun-- End of an era in Calgary with Jarome Iginla's departure

Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh Post Gazette-- Visa troubles keeping Iginla from joining Penguins
Pittsburgh Post Gazette-- Penguins' pursuit of Iginla was months in the making
Pittsburgh Post Gazette-- Penguins expectations even higher
Pittsburgh Post Gazette-- Iginla is ready for any new role with Penguins
Pittsburgh Post Gazette-- Pens acquire Iginla from Calgary
Pittsburgh Trib-Review-- Cup appeal drew Iginla to Pens
Pittsburgh Trib-Review-- Pressure on Penguins? Please
Pittsburgh Trib-Review-- Trading frenzy started with Staal

Boston

Boston Herald -- Mis-deal, try again, Bruins
Boston Herald-- Jarome Iginla deal falls apart
Boston Herald-- We believed we had a deal for Jarome Iginla
NESN--  Peter Chiarelli Admits He Must Get "Creative" As Bruins Need to Improve Becomes more pressing
NESN-- Flames Told Bruins They Had "Won the Jarome Iginla Sweepstakes,' But Winger chose Penguins over B's
NESN-- Jarome Iginla Trade to Bruins Rumour proves to be False, as Aaron Ward Places Blame on "Multiple Sources"

Number Fawr, Bobby Orr, turns sixty five!

One of the NHL's true legends marks a milestone today, as Robert Gordon Orr celebrates his 65th birthday.

An amazing thing for those of us who grew up marvelling at his on ice skill and all secretly wished that we could fly through the air like number four.

Injuries limited his playing time, but while he was on the NHL stage it was a sight to behold, a player who changed the nature of the game and the way it was played.

He was the template for many a defenceman to come up in the years to come.

Enjoy, the tributes, they reflect our collective recollections of a glimpse of greatness...
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Ducks open the vaults to reward top players

They may be playing their hockey on the west coast these days in the shadow of the Stanley Cup Kings, but the Anaheim Ducks aren't letting any moss grow between their webbed feet in the quest for their second Stanley Cup and bragging rights in Southern California.

Towards that end, the Ducks have been busy getting players signed on the dotted line, first with Ryan Getzlaf and now Corey Perry. Knocking the heck out of the free agency sweepstakes and by securing contracts with no move clauses, moving the Ducks out of the trading day deadline dramatics for the most part we would imagine.

OC Register-- Ducks' Perry signs eight-year, $69 million contract extension
OC Register-- How does Perry's new megadeal affect the Ducks?
OC Register-- Ducks sign Getzlaf to eight year extension
LA Times-- Ducks extend Corey Perry for eight years, $69 million
LA Times-- Ducks centre Ryan Getzlaf signs eight year, $66 million contract
LA Daily News-- Anaheim wins on night it signs Corey Perry to eight year, $69M extension
LA Daily News-- Anaheim Ducks' Ryan Getzlaf signs eight year, $66 million contract extension
National Post-- Ducks sign Corey Perry to eight-year contract extension
National Post-- Ducks lock up Ryan Getzlaf for eight more years
CBC-- Trading Corey Perry was not an option for Ducks
CBC-- Corey Perry: Ryan Getzlaf biggest reason for staying
CBC-- Ducks reward Ryan Getzlaf with 8 year contract extension
The Hockey News-- Will Ducks contend throughout Corey Perry's eight year extension?

The moves solidify the Ducks roster heading into the final portion of this shortened season and the playoff ramble to come.

While most have cast their gaze on the Chicago Blackhawks and their remarkable start, perhaps one of the most solid of performances this season comes from Anaheim, who have been taking to Bruce Boudreau's urgings quite nicely.

Providing for a season for the coach that takes away the sting of the last team that Boudreau was charged with, as the work ethic in Anaheim it seems is just a little more intense than that of DC.

Add on the help that Boudreau is getting from GM Bob Murray, who secured the top tier of Ducks in  the Pond for a few more years, and Boudreau is surely finding all is well in the shadow of the Mouse and the Duck.

The Hawks of course remain their biggest obstacle, a juggernaut of a team that seems to have the rest of the West looking on in awe.

However, with a few solid pins secured in place, Anaheim is serving notice that Chicago will have to battle their way to the Stanley Cup.

Below some exclusive footage from the Ducks comptrollers office, explaining how carefully the Ducks are calculating their budget concerns.

Buddies til the end, or the trading deadline, whichever comes first...

For those that haven't seen it yet, TSN's version of the Buddy Film has made for much in viral rotation over the last few days.

The daily rapport between Roberto Luongo and Corey Schneider, made for a very funny video vignette from last Wednesday's TSN coverage of the Canucks and Predators.

Like Hope and Crosby, Crockett and Tubbs and hell, even Abbott and Costello, both of the Canucks' goaltenders are making the best of a rather drawn out goaltending situation and handling it all in not only good humour, but as we say with some fine acting...

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A well done feature and one that showcases the spirit of co-peration that the two have in Vancouver, attached at the hip until April it seems and maybe beyond...

Sequels anyone?

Someone needs a line change refresher course

Perhaps one of the most bizarre moments of the year so far in the NHL, as the enigmatic Sergei Kostitsyn picked one of the most unusual moments of last night's Oilers/Predators game to make a line change.

Kostitsyn has been in coach Barry Trotz's doghouse once or twice before during his time with Nashville, and famously observed last October as the lockout moved into it's lengthy session, that it might be best that the NHL not play this year.

Suffice to say that Sergei probably didn't earn any bonus points on effort with the coach on Sunday.

Kostitsyn beaten to the puck in the neutral zone, decided rather than chase down Sam Gagner into the Predators end, he would rather uh, hey, let someone else worry about it...  heading for the bench for a line change, one that didn't end so well for the Preds...




Needless to say, the line change was the subject of much discussion this Monday morning.

We suspect that his may be a name to watch for when the NHL Trade deadline arrives in April.

The Tennessean-- Nashville Predators suffer third straight defeat
The Tennessean-- Post gane quotes: Sergei Kostitsyn
Edmonton Sun-- Oilers Sam Gagner, Lennart Petrell connect as Predators' Sergei Kostitsyn bails on play
Edmonton Journal-- Edmonton Oilers pounce on Nashville Predators

National Post-- Watch Sergei Kostitsyn totally give up, hand Oilers the game
NESN-- Predators' Sergei Kostitsyn Quits on Play, Leads Directly to Oilers Shorthanded goal
Yahoo.ca-- Sergei Kostitsyn 'quits on play, leading to Oilers goal; admits "I made a mistake"

Vigneault's vultures go for a glide

A couple of wins for Vancouver's Canucks and all that talk of the need to have Alain Vigneault take the fall for his non performing hockey club seems to have settled down, for the moment.

Earlier this week, as the Canucks were stumbling out of their perch in the Northwest, the drums of dismissal were starting to sound on the west coast, with some of Vancouver's media having come to the decision that it was the coach that was the root cause of the Canucks' travails.

Vancouver Province-- Vigneault running out of excuses as Canucks continue to struggle
Vancouver Province-- Vigneault's future with Canucks back in question
Vancouver Province-- Removing Vigneault will do one thing - show the real problem
Vancouver Province-- Gallagher vs Willes on Canucks: Coach vs GM gotta go grudge match
Vancouver Sun-- Pros and Cons of Alain Vigneault
Vancouver Sun-- Canucks' Weekly Wayback - Alain Vigneault Almost Gets Fired Again

It's not the first time that the coach has gotta go theme has popped up, heck back on January 21st the Vancouver Observer had floated the idea that coaching change can come quickly, not bad considering that the ink probably wasn't even dry on the truncated 2013 schedule at that point.

The main problem at the moment for the coach under the glare of the spotlight, is that at times this season, his team is giving off the vibe that they may soon fit the profile of the coach killer team.

There was a bit of evidence that perhaps his team was tuning out his message of late, never a good thing for a coach, not to mention some mixed messaging from upper management with GM Mike Gillis throwing his thoughts into the mix on how the Canucks were not performing up to expectations.

However, Mr. Gillis perhaps could look in the mirror before venturing too far down the path of dividing up the blame, his mash up of the Luongo/Schneider duality in the nets has provided for some of the soap opera nature of the Vancouver media of late.

Not to mention, that some secondary scoring and help on the blue line might have been on the scene if he had been able to figure out where he wants to go with his goaltending situation.

Having declared Schneider as the number one at the end of the last season, the Canucks have pretty well abandoned that theme, with either goaltender likely to appear on the ice come game time.

There may be cause to rethink the coaching and management decision making at the end of the season, with the Canucks seemingly having peaked a few years back, the plan for long term success in the Western Conference seems a little bit confusing to most, no doubt to the players on the bench.

But at the moment, with the Canucks still third overall in the West the concept of panic and dismissal seems a tad foolish.

Vancouver's sports media, like that of Montreal, Toronto and well, any other Canadian burg with an NHL team, seems to live for the thrill of the story, even if they have to create the buzz for it themselves.

It may help sell some of the newspapers and make for lively discuss on Vancouver's sports radio programming, but to throw a coach over the side heading towards the playoffs seems somewhat foolish.

Granted the West has a low margin of error between third place and 15th (eight points by the standings last night) the Canucks would seem to have more upside than some of those below.

Before the coach is told to pack his office up and join our list of departed coaches, perhaps the GM could get a little active on the trading floor, there are holes in the Canucks line up, some owing to injury some owing to disappointing play, some of that from players that the GM has brought into the fold.

Fixing those deficiencies should be the first task for Mr. Gillis, a coach normally is only as successful as the line up he has to work with and for much of this season, that line up has been a vague resemblance of the years that have just passed the Canucks by.

Get my Bags to the rink on time!

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Deadspin offers up a tale of going that extra mile, lights a flashing, sirens a wailin' to get the baggage of five Florida Panther call ups to the rink in time for puck drop.

It would seem that not everyone in the Greater Miami area may be Panther fans (surprise, surprise, surprise we know), as some of the fall out from the cross county trek from airport to arena has left a few of Florida's taxpayers a tad unimpressed.

The question of ethics and consequences was brought up with a New York Law Professor, which probably works in the favour of the Panthers in the Public Relations battles of Florida.

The Panthers are reimbursing the police force for gas and such for the off the books escort, though judging by the picture atop the Deadspin article, it would appear that even if offered, the lure of free tickets probably doesn't guarantee that the Police officers actually stick around the rink once the bags come out of the trunk...

Regardless, the expedited delivery of the Sunrise Police Force hasn't translated into much momentum in the Eastern Conference Standings, the Panthers currently are firmly in place in last place with but 20 points at the midway point of the season.

The soundtrack to our game takes a moment of silence

Hello out there, we're on the air, it's 'Hockey Night' tonight. 
Tension grows, the whistle blows, and the puck goes down the ice. 
The goalie jumps, and the players bump, and the fans all go insane. 
Someone roars, "Bobby Scores!" at the good old Hockey Game.

Oh, the good old hockey game, is the best game you can name. 
And the best game you can name, is the good old hockey game.

Second period

Where players dash, with skates aflash, the home team trails behind. 
But they grab the puck, and go bursting up, and they're down across the line. 
They storm the crease, like bumble bees, they travel like a burning flame. 
We see them slide, the puck inside, it's a 1-1 hockey game. 

 Chorus

Third Period

Last game of the playoff too. Oh take me where, the hockey players, face off down the rink
And the Stanley Cup, is all filled up, for the champs who win the drink. 
Now the final flick, of a hockey stick, and the one gigantic scream. 
"The puck is in! The home team wins!", the good old hockey game. 

 Chorus
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The passing of Stompin' Tom Connors, who will be laid to rest with a Memorial Service on Wednesday, has been commemorated far and wide this week.

The finale from the hockey family if you will, tonight's opening for Hockey Night in Canada, as perfect a conclusion to the national days of mourning, Saturday Night Hockey's Holy Night and Hockey Night Canada our collective chapel.

And the CBC did it up right on Saturday Night.
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The troubadour, born in St. John, New Brunswick, but claimed by communities from St. John's Newfoundland to Tofino BC and every hamlet in between, was one of the true Canadian icons and the measure of his resonance across the land could be found in the stories that were exchanged through this week.

Globe and Mail-- Stompin' Tom Connors, Canada's troubadour sang of everyday lives
Globe and Mail-- Stompin' Tom: The closest we may get to a Woody Guthrie of our own
Globe and Mail-- Editorial: Thank You, Stompin' Tom Connors. We needed you
National Post-- The Legend of Stompin' Tom: Dave Bidini bids farewell to a Canadian icon
Toronto Star-- Stompin' Tom Connors dies at 77: A look back at a Canadian country icon
Toronto Star-- Stompin' Tom Connors: His Songs About Canada
Toronto Star-- Stompin' Tom Connors: Mitch Potter's 1990 interview with the legend
Toronto Sun-- Stompin' Tom Connors a true Canadian rebel
Torontoist-- Across this City with Stompin' Tom
Huffington Post-- The Hockey Song, By Stompin' Tom Connors, was Pure Canadianna
Yahoo-- Stomp On: Canada remembers Stompin' Tom Connors
Georgia Straight-- "The Hockey Song" legend Stompin' Tom Connors dead at 77
Maclean's-- Stompin Tom Connors: Our National Poet
CBC-- Stompin' Tom Connors dies at 77
CBC-- Stompin' Tom remembered by fans, friends
CBC-- Canadian Musicians pay tribute to Stompin' Tom Connors
CTV-- Stompin' Tom Connors dead at 77

Known for the wide catalogue of folk songs that triumphed the Canadian spirit and embraced everything Canadian, the tales of Bud the Spud, a Saturday Night in Sudbury or the soundtrack to a game played on ice but lived in homes across the land, his The Hockey Song possibly one of the most recognizable tunes of Canadian music.

And while Canadians will reflect on his passing with a measure of wonder over the simple genius of his songs and the reflection they found in them, his anthem of the sport we claim as ours will remain part of the scene for no doubt years to come.

Played to an appreciative audience nightly wherever it seems in this world that an arena can be found, it's a song which perhaps we will join in on the chorus with just a little more passion, now that we're left to carry the tune on our own.

And to give us a measure of the man he was, upon his passing, a note was released on his website, Thanking us for listening and sharing with him, passing the torch on to Canadians to sing the praises of the Country he was devoted to.

In the days since the announcement, there has been much talk of an appropriate salute for Stompin' Tom, talk of a state funeral, renaming roads and buildings,  or holding some form of public celebration.

One obvious option would be the Canadian Juno Awards, which celebrate Canadian Music, though the Awards and Connors had a falling out a few years back. However, if Juno Organizers want some free advice, including a segment on the singer's vast works probably is a no-brainer, past history or not. (Juno people, You have been warned!)

However, the best we've heard so far, an honour that would surely symbolize what he meant to the game (and it to he) and one that would probably bring a smile to his face as he watches hockey from the great beer parlour in the sky, the prospect of enshrinement in the Hockey Hall of Fame.

As good an idea as there could be, so let's launch the campaign! Write the letters! Bombard the sports talk shows with the idea!

Open the doors and lets get the party started...

Hello out there, we're on the air, it's Hockey Night tonight...

Gary Bettman's Scrapbook - Nashville edition

The quest for the NHL footprint in previously non-hockey markets has been a work in progress for years, dating back to the first expansion as a matter of fact and the westward march to California.

Along the way there have been hits and misses, some of the flags planted have tattered and eventually had to be taken down (Hello Kansas City, Hello Cleveland, Hello Atlanta x2).

Others were removed and never should have been, Bonjour Quebec, welcome back Winnipeg.

In others however, the jury is still deliberating as rows of empty seats on TV can testify towards (though we find it interesting that some markets report crowds of 15,000 plus while the video would suggest otherwise).

The current flash points for Mr. Bettman and the Accountants would seem to be Columbus, Long Island (though they are Brooklyn bound) and of course everyone's favourite wards of the state, the Phoenix Coyotes.

Those three lead our listings of the ink of red, leading the league in lack of attendance.

Rumblings continue as to other areas of concern, such as in Florida, where it seems many feel the next crisis point for the NHL may soon come home to roost.

Still, for the moment, the footings of the Bettman era of franchise security remain, with Nashville perhaps the one spot that the Commissioner can point towards as a team that keeps chugging along.

It wasn't all that long ago that many might have thought that the Predators were getting ready to back up the moving vans and migrating north, the destination of the day seemingly was to be Hamilton, with one time Blackberry king, Jim Balsillie ready to bring the much coveted second southern Ontario franchise home.

The Commish stepped in, making sure that there were enough hoops to jump through on that plan, that eventually it was abandoned, Mr. Balsillie left to tend to the fate of his daytime job.

As for Nashville, they just kept playing hockey, improving each year, securing a sojourn into the playoffs, making the Bridgestone arena a most happening place and continuing to build the Predator brand.

Grantland the most entertaining of online portals to come along in a while now, has a fascinating essay on the subject of the Predators, hockey, history and Nashville.

More than just a story about a hockey team seeking to find it's place, the article from David Hill takes us into the community rinks, onto the factory floor and explores how a game previously unknown to the region has grown much in the way of roots, most of them transplanted from the North.

It barely mentions the Predators or the NHL, instead it speaks of high school hockey, family and how the game is evolving in one particular outpost of the league.

We're pretty sure that the Commissioner is email links to one and all, it provides at least some proof that if given time, the game can grow in non traditional markets.

The Predators may or may not be a long term fixture for Nashville, the scale of economy both in hockey and in Tennessee, could one day lay waste to even the best of franchise planning. Ownership as we've seen over the years, is a fickle thing, one day steadfast and forward thinking, another desperately looking to get out.

But, for the moment, the imprint of hockey on Tennessee would seem to have been a success.

In fact, of the troubled franchises of recent times, Nashville seems to have done a pretty good job of balancing its financials and building up some loyalty in the community.

A story that offers a sunny break, in the midst of some dark looking clouds in other locales.

You can review the Grantland article here, a celebration of much more than just a sport, it's an item that is well worth the read.

NHL Rookie of the Month -- February

The latest of the first years to catch the attention of the NHL is the Florida Panthers Jonathan Huberdeau.

The Panther's centre a 19 year old from St. Jerome, Quebec, had a most impressive February, leading all rookies with six goals and collecting a total of 9 points over the thirteen games of the month.

Huberdeau was the Panthers 1st pick in the 2011 Entry draft, the 3rd pick overall that year.

You can review the month that was for Huberdeau from the NHL.com archive.

The full list of rookies of the Month for 2012 can be found here.

NHL's Stars of the Month for February

The second edition of the NHL's three stars selections for the 2013 season have been announced as Steven Stamkos, Sidney Crosby and Ray Emery collect the accolades for February,  the second month of the regular season.

Steven Stamkos -- Center-- Tampa Bay Lightning

Sidney Crosby -- Center -- Pittsburgh Penguins

Ray Emery -- Goaltender-- Chicago Blackhawks

Record Making Night on Madison

It's always a little crazy inside the United Center on Madison Street in Chicago, but Friday night took the craziness to a little higher level as the hometown Blackhawks set a new NHL mark in the record books, recording their 17th consecutive game with at least one point to show for it.

The Hawks who have been tearing up the NHL since the truncated season began, had to come from behind to top the San Jose Sharks, but as the momentum built in the third period, there probably weren't many in the crowd who didn't feel that Friday night was going to be the night.

The last few games towards the record have made for some challenging times for the Hawks, they battled off a Vancouver squad that made a stand in the third period earlier this week to try and wrestle the record book away from the Hawks and Friday night it was the San Jose Sharks who gave the Hawks as much as they could handle to claim their spot in the history books.

By games end however, the Hawks by way of a 2-1 victory, were the ones getting ready to thumb through the record book, looking to insert a paragraph or two about their success.

In a season as short as this lockout delayed one will be, a quick start is key to ambitions of Stanley Cup success, the Hawks have already made their case that they would seem to be the team to beat in 2013.

And so far, while some have come close, no one has been able to launch that challenge to the Hawks domination.

All of which bodes well for more noise and more celebration at 1901 West Madison Street, perhaps well on into June.

Chicago Sun Times-- Blackhawks set NHL record for best start, repelling Sharks 2-1
Chicago Tribune-- Hawks Beat Sharks, Set New NHL Record
Chicago Daily Herald-- Blackhawks set NHL record with 2-1 win over Sharks
Toronto Star-- Chicago Blackhwaks set NHL record for best start to a season
NHL.com-- Hawks edge Sharks, extend point streak to 17 games

In the end, Longevity can't trump losing on the ice

"The hockey world knows how I and the entire Buffalo Sabres organization feel about Lindy Ruff not only as a coach but also as a person. His long tenure with the Sabres has ended. His qualities have made this decision very difficult. I personally want Lindy to know that he can consider me a friend always." -- A statement from Sabres owner Terry Pegula after the dismissal of Lindy Ruff as Sabres head coach.

Such is the legacy of Lindy Ruff behind the bench in Buffalo, that even with a struggling team on the ice, few can honestly say they expected the Sabres to bring to an end the longest running streak of coaching in the NHL. At the time of his dismissal Ruff held  the second longest tenure with one of the current four major league sports, only San Antonio Spurs head coach Greg Povich, at 17 seasons has held a bench job longer.

After 1,165 games, the Buffalo Sabres and Lindy Ruff will no longer be synonymous, the Sabres announced on Wednesday that Ron Rolston the head coach of the American Hockey League Rochester Americans would be put in charge of the Sabres for the remainder of the season.

The decision to bring to an end Ruff's time in Buffalo appears to have been made after discussions between GM Darcy Regier and Team owner Terry Pegula, Team President Ted Black and Senior Advisor Ken Sawyer.

The concern of the management cadre was the Sabres 6-10-1 record, which places them well down the listings in the Eastern Conference standings, at the time of his dismissal, Ruff's Sabres were in the midst of a 4-10-1 slide and at the moment sit four points out of a playoff spot in the Conference.

Whatever malaise is stalking the Sabres, the long time coach couldn't seem to find a way through to this years version of the Sabres, a group that seems to have found new and not particularly entertaining ways to lose games since the season began last month.

With fears that the playoffs may once again be but a rumour for Buffalo fans, the management collective made their decision and the fates will deliver what they will.

The first night of the post Lindy Ruff era was not a kind one for the Sabres who fell to the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-1 on Thursday night.

Most hockey observers suggest that should Ruff want a coaching job (and one can't imagine why he wouldn't) that he'll be back behind a bench somewhere in fairly short order, though the nature of this shortened season may make his wait just a little bit longer, perhaps into the off season.

Still, it will look strange, Lindy Ruff it seemed was one of those personalities that seemed destined to be with but one team through his career, that destiny took a detour on Wednesday, where the road goes next remains to be seen.

As for the longest serving coach currently on the books, Nashville's Barry Trotz is the guy looking to perhaps one day claim a spot in the Guinness Book of Records, though the quest for record making has taken a hit with the dismissal of the previous keeper of the flame.

Buffalo News-- Ruffs' departure still stuns Sabres
Buffalo News-- Firing brings Ruff era to startling end
Buffalo News-- Sabres' slide costs Ruff after 26 years with franchise
Buffalo News-- Ruff and family entrenched in WNY
Buffalo News-- Fans of the Sabres deserved more than listless play

NHL.com-- Sabres relieve Ruff of coaching duties, name Rolston

National Post-- Lindy Ruff fired: Sabres part ways with longtime coach
Globe and Mail-- Buffalo Sabres fire head coach Lindy Ruff
Canada.com-- Lindy Ruff fired from Buffalo Sabres job, but where will he end up next?
ESPN-- Sabres still in shock over Lindy Ruff's firing
Yahoo Sports-- After Lindy Ruff's firing, it's time for Buffalo Sabres to take top-to-bottom inventory
The Hockey News-- Lindy Ruff firing gives Sabres chance for change
CBC-- Lindy Ruff firing analysis
CBC-- Sabres fire Lindy Ruff, name Ron Rolston interim coach
Toronto Star-- Buffalo Sabres fire Lindy Ruff
Toronto Sun-- Ruff and Leafs a 'sworded' tale
Toronto Sun-- Sabres shuffle an emotional one
Toronto Sun-- Lindy Ruff's availability might cause some concern among struggling coaches
Toronto Sun-- Buffalo Sabres fire Lindy Ruff as head coach
Sportsnet-- Lindy Ruff Turfed: What Now for the Buffalo Sabres?

Hired to Be Fired 2012-13

As sure as there are wins and losses (usually associated with the latter), there also will be change somewhere along the way in this 2012-13 season.

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 2012-13 season. The archive of our list can be quickly referenced on our right hand side bar, in the GM's Office section.

March 24-- Tampa Bay Lightning-- It's a Tampa Bay farewell to Guy Boucher, as GM Steve Yzerman finding worrisome trends in the play of the Tampa Bay Squad relieved Boucher of his duties on Sunday Morning. A decision that seems to have split the Tampa Bay media, with some suggesting that Boucher wore his welcome out, while others suggest Mr. Yzerman look at the talent he provided for the embattled coach. Boucher's time behind the Bolt's bench checked in at just under three years, the highlight of his career in Tampa the remarkable run in his first year, which saw the Lightning run the table to the Eastern Final before falling to the Bruins in seven games.  Jon Cooper, coach of the Lightning farm club took over duties following Boucher's departure.

February 20-- Buffalo Sabres-- The longest employed coach in the NHL suddenly found himself on the unemployment lines on Wednesday, as the Buffalo Sabres dismissed Lindy Ruff, bringing to an end almost sixteen years behind the Sabres bench. Taking his place in Buffalo is Ron Rolston, the coach of the Sabres AHL farm club in Rochester. Ruff's dismissal marks the first coach to be let go so far in the shortened 2012-13 season, the two previous dismissals have been in the upper management ranks. Our HockeyNation review of the developments in Buffalo can be found here.

February 12-- Columbus Blue Jackets-- Another year and yet another change for the struggling Columbus Blue Jackets, a team which seems perpetually mired in the lower reaches of the NHL standings. To try and change some of that karma, John Davidson announced that Scott Howson would be leaving his post as General Manager of the Blue Jackets, to be replaced by the NHL's first European General Manager, Finland's, Jarmo Keklalainen, who will have a rather daunting challenge in bringing the Blue Jackets into a semblance of competitiveness this year.

January 9 -- Toronto Maple Leafs-- The ink was barely dry on the arrangements between Gary Bettman and Donald Fehr, when the Toronto Maple Leafs made the spotlight grabbing announcement that they were going in a different direction in the managerial ranks. The Leafs dismissed Brian Burke from his post, handing the reins of the fabled NHL franchise to Dave Nonis, Burke's longtime friend and apparent designated replacement if the bizarre career paths of the two NHL executives is to be examined further. The Official notice on Burke's departure from the NHL.com can be found here. Our Hockey Nation review of Burke's dismissal can be found here, while other items of note from our portal on the Burke firing can be found here, here and here.