Curtis Joseph is back in the NHL, backing up Miikka Kiprusoff in Calgary.
You have to admit it would be pretty funny if Dominik Hasek announced he was going to join the Flames, too.
In my head CuJo is forever sad that Hasek crashed the party in Detroit, kind of like when you're the only guy at a party full of women, when suddenly a bunch of hot guys show up and take all the ladies.
FULL DISCLOSURE: I've never been a goalie or at a party where I was the only guy, so I could have this simile wrong.

Is it too early to start talking about the Jack Adams award? Because I'd like to nominate Carolina's Peter Laviolette as coach of the year.
Picking the NHL's best coach is a complex process. You can look at wins and losses. You can examine strategy. You should probably look at post-season success. But for me, when you look at Laviolette this year, and across his entire career, really, one stat is going to make the case for you: The coach got a one goal/three-point night out of Sergei Samsonov Tuesday.
The Hurricanes have lost four out of their last five, and that always brings up calls to fire the coach. If you get three points of the 2007 Samsonov, I say you get to keep your job for the rest of the season.

Call it the Curse of the Washington Post:

You know. All healthy except for Michael Nylander, who's out for the rest of the season.
Obviously, Alexander Ovechkin represents a disproportionate percentage of Washington's goals, but without Nylander, things are going to be even tighter. Ovechkin could wind up being responsible for 60% of Washington's goals for the rest of the season.

Scotty Bowman needs a blog because this is the quote of the week: "There's nothing anybody can do there now, anyways."
That's Bowman on the Leafs. I think it should be sewn on towels. The Leafs rather famously didn't pursue Bowman as aggressively as they might have this summer. Given the Leafs current record, it seems they probably should have.
Bowman still works for the Red Wings. Speaking of the Wings, former Wing (and Flame) Darren McCarty is apparently a bit of an IHL draw.
Can you imagine if he got Steve Yzerman to sign with the Flint Generals?
Also, IN THE CREASE, the hockey documentary I mentioned way back in November 2006, is coming to Versus next week, a huge coup for the film. It'll be on Versus Sunday at 4. It's an interesting film — definitely worth checking out.

I guess pretty much everyone has heard Alex Ovechkin signed some kind of contract extension?
Thirteen years is pretty insane, though. I understand the desire to get one of the NHL's best young players locked up, especially before other teams started making offers to the restricted free agent, but how can anyone in the Caps organization guarantee Ovechkin will be worth $10 million a season in 7 years or 10 years or 12 years? If Ovechkin is still an elite player then, it's not an issue, but if any component of his game slips, or doesn't develop as anticipated, how can Washington possibly compensate for whatever's missing with such a big percentage of the cap tied up. The whole deal felt like it hinged on the NHL eventually moving up to a $100 million salary cap.
Look at Daniel Briere and his first of eight years in Philadelphia. After a super hot start, he's slowed down, and become a bit of defensive liability (he's -9), something coach John Stevens admits he needs to address (login info.). Briere is a pro, so it shouldn't be a huge issue, but if does become an issue, Stevens can't possibly bench a player who'll be there for the next 7 seasons.
Now try disciplining a forward who'll be there for the next 13. Bruce Boudreau has got to love this new contract.
At least there's no no-trade.