Rich Chere says Mike Babcock is over-coaching Team Canada, changing lines and goalies too frequently. Just about everyone watching last night’s Germany/Canada game had the same thought: ‘I could successfully play goal for Team Canada against the Germans.’ Germany just wasn’t much of a threat. Babcock probably could have safely given Brodeur another start without [...]

I’m glad to see NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman admit the Olympics does very little for the NHL. Yesterday, I watched Russia-Czech Republic on NBC and USA-Canada on MSNBC, both games moderately-to-negligibly hyped, and both games played with a ton of NHL players (or former NHL players, in the case of Russia-Czech Republic). I wouldn’t have [...]

Is anyone else embarrassed by Olympic hockey so far? Watching U.S./Switzerland yesterday, the American team seemed content to nurse a three-goal lead most of the game. The Americans didn’t go for the throat and in general, seemed to be trying to find their Olympic footing. Basically, it was a super-talented team not executing in a [...]

Tim Panaccio spoke to a Western Conference scout who’s convinced the glass used behind the goals is causing injuries. The scout told Panaccio the puck bounces off of the glass too hard and too fast, forcing goalies and defensemen to constantly swivel to follow the puck as it shoots over the net toward the stands [...]

Vanity Fair has an interesting piece on John Hughes, the iconic director who died in August. In addition to being a huge 80s director, Hughes was also a big hockey fan. In fact, one of his last public appearances might have been the Wings/’Hawks Winter Classic. The article points out some cool things, like how [...]

Who will buy the Dallas Stars? I guess no one knows, but Mike Heika says he keeps hearing the name Doug Miller. Miller has experience with minor league hockey in addition to running a non-hockey Dallas-based business. The interesting name, though, is Mark Cuban, owner of the Dallas Mavericks, who was recently brought in by [...]

Last night in Anaheim, the slumping Oilers broke up their checking line of Shawn Horcoff, Ethan Moreau and Fernando Pisani. The line had imploded in Edmonton’s previous game, against Phoenix, going a combined -10. The breakup didn’t help last night against Anaheim, as the Oilers still lost. But it doesn’t seem like the Oilers were [...]

I like the Kari Lehtonen to Dallas trade because it gives the Stars options at a position where they’re vulnerable. The Stars will soon be parting ways with goalie Marty Turco. If he’s not traded, he won’t be re-signed next season. Stars GM Joe Nieuwendyk doesn’t want to wait until the off-season to get his [...]

Coach Lindy Ruff is trying to stop the slide of the recently slumping Sabres. The Sabres are stuck in a four-game losing streak. The surging Senators are nipping at Buffalo’s heels for the Northeast lead. It’s a pretty complete reversal of fortunes as Buffalo is 2-7-1 in their last 10, while Ottawa is 9-1-0. Coach [...]

Everyone is looking at Atlanta, wondering where they’re going to trade Ilya Kovalchuk. But don’t forget to keep an eye on New Jersey, a team that also might be active before the trade deadline. Not so much for Kovalchuk, but for a goal-scoring center who can help out on the powerplay. I don’t think Kovalchuk [...]