The Rangers are just over the mid-season mark and their play still doesn't have any kind of personality or definition.
Eric Lindros has been their best player for a few weeks, but even he might not be enough to rescue this lost team (they did manage to tie the Devils last night, though). A possible solution?

...what could be a nice compromise between Ranger fans and Sather, Lindros spent some time against the Lightning playing with Messier, and it didn't look too bad. They're both tough players who have amazing instincts. Whereas you can often see Simon and Barnaby almost struggling to process Lindros' increasingly brilliant passes, Messier, with over 200 years of NHL experience, might thrive with such a playmaker.

The WHA is looking to set up shop in Detroit next season.
The WHA's commissioner is, of course, Bobby Hull, whose son Brett, of course, plays for the Wings.
WHA is still a big question mark. A lot of people seem to doubt the WHA will ever get off the ground. If they can launch, and the NHL does strike, they could end up a pretty potent league, though. I imagine a lot of NHLers would be willing to take a pay cut not to have to play in Europe.

I missed an interesting article from Cam Neely night. Kevin Paul Dupont had an interesting piece on how the league's crackdown on fighting contributed to the lack of offense. He makes the case that Neely was able to score because players were afraid to obstruct him.
I don't know if fighting is the answer to the NHL's occasionally stunted play, but it's definitely something to chew on.

Yo. What the heck is going on in Philadelphia?
Four losses in a row?
Monday night to the horrible Penguins and Tuesday to Buffalo, 6-2.
Not only is there no defense in Philadelphia, something deadly to a defensive-driven team like the Flyers, but discipline is rapidly leaving.
Exhibit A: Jeremy Roenick chucking his water bottle at a ref over a noncall.
Exhibit B: Roenick implicating coach Ken Hitchcock in the slumps of Justin Williams and Simon Gagne.
And speaking of Roenick, who as the emotional core of the Flyers really is the key to all of this, can Nick Nolte play him in the movie or what?
If Hitchcock wants to get the Flyers back, he's really got to go through Roenick. Roenick never really bought into Hitchcock's system. Its accounted for a lot of the Flyers spotty play (that and horrible goaltending). Hitchcock can't get the Flyers on his side without Roenick.
Maybe they need to work on a project together. An activity like building a birdhouse can build teamwork, too.

So the Coyotes are within striking distance of a playoff spot.
I'm still waiting for them to move some spare goalies and pick up some experienced players. You can't make a playoff run without experience and grit.
If the Coyotes do keep up their relatively winning ways, I'm sure pundits will talk about how Phoenix is this year's Anaheim.
A key difference between the two teams, though, is when their goalies heated up. Phoenix's Brian Boucher had an insanely great stretch, but it was at the midseason. Last season, Anaheim's Jean-Sebastien Giguere didn't get superhot until around the last month of the season. That allowed him to take huge momentum into the playoffs. Just ask the Red Wings.
Just something to think about.

OK. Here's even more on goalie Brent Johnson, who I'm beginning to think I'm obsessed with.
It seems three teams are interested in Johnson: the Blackhawks, the Columbus Blue Jackets, and the LA Kings.
According to the Chicago Sun-Times, the Hawks aren't really interested, though.
Johnson is definitely a fixer-upper. The Kings are the only of the three with a shot at making into the playoffs. I'd think they'd want more of a sure thing to backup the always-questionable Roman Cechmanek. I also think St. Louis would have dealt Johnson if there was any kind of real interest in him. Just getting anything for him, even a third round pick or something, would be better than nothing.
Oh. And if things weren't horrible enough the injury-addled Hawks, Steve Sullivan's knee could be seriously hurt. Worst of all, it was from colliding with fellow Hawk Stephane Robidas.
Why do we always hurt the ones we love (or work with)?
UPDATE: Whew! It's just a deep brusie.

Yee haw! It's time for the underperformance roundup!
First stop Dallas, where Bill Guerin has cooled after a hot start.
Mike Modano is out with a groin injury so everyone is saying Guerin needs to step-up. Like Modano was doing anything before the injury.
The thing is, Dallas can publicly and privately complain about Guerin all they want. I can't think of a team that's willing to take on his huge salary — especially with a possible lockout next season. So they're stuck with him. The sooner they realize that, the sooner things will be easier for everyone.
Next stop on the underperforming express: Philadelphia! Coach Ken Hitchcock was pretty mad after two home losses. He got all Doctor Phil with the Flyers, telling them to play hard or suffer the consequences.
Every time something like this happens, I say the Flyers are starting to tune out the tough Hitchcock. But then the Flyer ship usually rights itself. So this time, I'm not saying anything. Just to see what happens.
Uh oh. Pittsburgh beat the Flyers last night. Hitchcock isn't going to like that.

Last night was Cam Neely night in Boston.
I've been trying to figure out what it is that makes Neely so special to Boston. Not that he wasn't a great player. His numbers speak for themself. The love Boston has for Neely transcends statistics, though.
The best reason I can come up with is that Boston fans love anyone who loves Boston. Neely loved playing in Boston and loved being a Bruin. And it was pretty easy to see that, too.
I like to think that Neely, had his career not been shortened by injuries, would have stayed in Boston for the rest of his career. I'm sure Bruins fans like to think that, too. So while Bruin heroes like Ray Borque, Phil Esposito, and even Bobby Orr, finished their career in other uniforms, Neely never got the chance to turn his back on Boston. Sure, Neely's decision to leave hockey as a Bruin wasn't entirely his decision, but it doesn't really matter. The only thing that matters is that Neely left hockey as a Bruin.
And I really can't think of a more perfect time for Cam Neely Night, a night honoring Boston loyalty, then on the day former Boston Red Sock Roger Clemens, who many Red Sox fans thought should have ended his career in Boston, announced he's coming out of retirement to pitch for the Astros.
It's just cosmic symmetry.
Oh. And Boston came from behind to beat Buffalo 4-3.

OK. I know I already mentioned goalie Brent Johnson getting placed on waivers, but the St. Louis Post-Dispatch has some sad details: "Hopefully, another team claims me off waivers and it's a fresh start for me. A different team, different surroundings — I think all that would be the best for me...I just didn't do well here. I wish it would have been different."
So does this mean Chris Osgood is entrenched in goal for the Blues? I sure hope so. The man gets no respect when he's a fine goalie. Are there better NHL goalies? Sure. But Osgood is solid. He's consistent. You don't have to think about him. And there's nothing wrong with that.

All great things must come to an end.
Phoenix goalie Brian Boucher had a shut-out streak going for 332 minutes, 1 second. During that time, he made 146 saves. That averages out to around a save every two and a half minutes. That's pretty busy.
But as I mentioned, the streak is over. The Thrashers slipped one past Boucher in a 1-1 tie.
I'm not at liberty to give details, but I've heard that Crowded House is getting ready to re-cut "Don't Dream It's Over" as "The Streak is Over."
It's a nice consolation prize.
In other goalie news, the Blues put goalie Brent Johnson on waivers. Johnson was just imploding in the playoffs two seasons ago. It's kind of sad how Johnson's never been able to right his shaky goaltending. It's also kind of sad how St. Louis has given up on him (although, really they're just sending him down to the minors).