One-Timer

The big news today is that the Ottawa Senators have sacked head coach John Paddock and assistant Ron Low. The Sens have lost 14 of 18 games and that's just not going to cut it. They usually do their loosin' when it counts (in the playoffs), and not a moment sooner. With 18 games left in the regular season, Bryan Murray will descend from his GM perch into the vacant head coach position. As hockey connoisseurs like to say, he's pulling a Lou.

[via Reuters]

TSN is reporting that Peter Forsberg has signed a deal with the Colorado Avalanche for the remainder of the season. This news comes out of left field since Forsberg's agent was letting teams know last week that his client would not be coming back. Said Forsberg:

Over the last several months, I have worked extremely hard in order for this to be possible. I am looking forward to putting this jersey on again. I have so many great memories of my playing days in Denver. I'm excited about helping my new teammates and former teammates in the coming weeks, and hopefully I am able to do that in the very near future.

Mats Sundin won't be waiving his no-trade clause this season. Said Sundin,

I have to do what feels right in my heart. I just don't think I can go to another team if I don't want to play for another team. That wouldn't be right to myself. That's how I feel right now.

On the one hand, Sundin doesn't want to play for another team. On the other hand, most Leafs fans don't want Sundin to play for their team. Expect a quiet summer in Toronto.

[via TSN]

Some people like to accuse TSN (The Sports Network, aka Canada's ESPN) of being a tad bit Toronto-centric in its coverage. Others go as far as calling it the Toronto Sports Network. It's hard to argue with that when things like this pop up on TSN's web site.

In yesterday's Hockeynation poll, TSN asked its readers the following question:

Which player, other than Mats Sundin, would be your #1 trade target?

Dan Boyle, TB (4%)
Brian Campbell, BUF (10%)
Marian Hossa, ATL (34%)
Olli Jokinen, FLA (25%)
Brad Richards, TB (22%)
Alex Tanguay, CGY (4%)

Other than Mats Sundin?

Rumor has it that TSN is considering some of these for next week's Hockeynation poll.

• Which team, other than the Maple Leafs, made the best trade deadline deal?
• Other than Darcy Tucker, who is the biggest pest in the NHL?
• Other than Vesa Toskala, who is the most underrated goalie in the league?
• Which team, other than the Maple Leafs, has the best shot of winning the cup next year?

The NHL GM winter meetings are over and it's safe to say the whole thing was a bigger tease than that Natalie Portman-Scarlett Johansson movie. There were no major trades to report, with Jaroslav Modry being the biggest name that changed addresses.

One thing's always cool about these meetings. Well, two, if you count the ever-present possibility of a Kevin Lowe-Brian Burke brawl. In all seriousness, it's always fun to see what funny proposed rule changes emerge from these meetings. Here's the rundown on what the general managers came up with:

• One minute penalties during regular season overtime periods: There are two schools of thought on this one. 1: Considering that regular season OT only lasts five minutes, a one minute penalty seems more fair than two minutes for an infraction. 2: If players are stupid enough to take a penalty during four on four OT, they deserve to stew in the box for the full two minutes. I'd agree with the second point. The NHL will ask the AHL to test the proposal next year, before making a decision for 09-10. Who needs market research when the AHL serves as your own personal test market?
  
• Offensive zone faceoffs after a penalty, no matter where the puck is when play is stopped: Most GMs supported this one. The AHL currently has the rule in place and it could be implemented as early as next season in the NHL. Seems fair.
  
• Pushing the start of free agency to July 7 instead of July 1. By golly, all those national holidays take the focus off of the NHL. We need people paying attention to hockey in July! Somehow, I don't really think that's a problem for Canadians. Most Canadians would rather watch whatever free agency special TSN cooks up than have to sit through Sam Roberts on the CBC, for the 10th straight year.
• The GMs were split on an 84-game schedule: If Sydney Crosby is your number one draw, it makes so much sense for him to only visit certain cities once every four years. Would anyone really care if Carolina played Atlanta seven times instead of eight?
• Them goalies be cheatin': The GMs are serious about tackling the issue of goalie equipment. They mean it this time. Even more than last time.

So that's about it for another exciting year of winter meetings.

Dallas Stars goalie Marty Turco decided to have a little fun at the expense of team rookie Matt Niskanen. Niskanen, it turns out, drives a Pontiac Sunfire. Obviously, driving that kind of car brings a certain amount of shame to the NHL brotherhood, which is why Turco took it upon himself to have his rookie teammate's car modified or "pimped," as the kids say these days.



What happened to the good old hazing tradition of shaving a rookie's pubes?

Peter Forsberg's agent, Don Baizley, has started the process of informing teams that his client won't be coming back to the NHL this season. Forsberg apparently doesn't feel confident that his foot can hold up. According to TSN:

"The prospect of Peter having enough confidence in the foot-skate issue to commit to being able to play in the NHL this season isn't where it needs to be at this moment," Baizley told TSN. "As a result, teams are being told it is unlikely he will be able to commit to return to the NHL this season."

Sasly, no word on how Forsberg's foot injury will affect his ability to model and hawk Crocs in his native Sweden.

Reading up on various NHL GM's last night, for the Know Your NHL GM game, helped uncover a funny little nugget of information. It turns out that Anaheim GM Brian Burke's middle name is

Marilyn

Marilyn

Marilyn

Flyers GM Paul Holmgren expects Peter Forsberg to make a decision on his playing future tomorrow. Adding Forsberg would be a coup for any team looking to get a boost before the playoffs, without giving anything in return. Well, except for the obvious frustration when Foppa ends up missing what's left of the regular season. Philly and Colorado are rumored to be the most serious contenders for Forberg's services. Chicago also has a chance, apparently.

Having recently retired, Eric Lindros is about to experience one of the honors that typically come a hall of famer's way: the sweater lynching.

Bob Clarke has not officially gone mad. There's no chance of seeing a number 88 in the Wachovia Center rafters anytime soon. Instead, the Oshawa Generals, the Big E's junior team, is retiring his number on March 6. Per durhamregion.com:

The club announced on Saturday that former superstar Eric Lindros will have his famous No. 88 retired by the club in a ceremony prior to their game that night against the Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors.

Lindros will join the late Red Tilson, and his No. 9, as the only other person to have been honoured as such by the Generals.

Special precautions are being taken to make sure number 88 doesn't get dizzy up there.

Word out of Chicago is that the Blackhawks have made an offer to Peter Forsberg and that the Swede is reportedly interested.

Tallon said he's still waiting to hear from free agent Peter Forsberg, who's expected to decide soon whether to return to the NHL and with which team. The Hawks are believed to have made the veteran center an offer for the rest of this season and the next two, which reportedly interests Forsberg.

The Blackhawks? Really? Wasn't Forsberg interested in Stanley Cup contenders? This might be a ploy by the Forsberg camp to up the ante for any potential offer from serious contenders. On the bright side, it looks like Bill Wirtz really is dead. This would never have happened under his dictatorship.

That's Richard Zednik, he of the severed carotid artery, up and ready to leave Buffalo. And that's his wife in the middle. Wouldn't you like to have her caring for your every need during your recovery? Her name is Jessica Welch and she's an actress.

EDIT: Since a lot of people seem to be curious about Jessica Welch, here's one more photo to get those hormones going (I believe she's the one on the left).

With the trade deadline rapidly approaching, it would be a good idea for sports fans to get better acquainted with their favorite team's general manager. And by "better acquainted," I mean being able to pick him or her (not bloody likely) out of a police lineup. Here are your 30 NHL general managers with mugshot goodness, courtesy of TSN. (click the pic for a larger version)

Note: This activity can easily be adapted into a Guess Who? version and/or a drinking game.


The answers:

First row (starting left)
Doug Risebrough (Minnesota Wild)
Don Waddell (Atlanta Thrashers)
Jim Rutherford (Carolina Hurricanes)
David Poile (Nashville Predators)
Lou Lamoriello (New Jersey Devils)
Brian Burke (Anaheim Ducks)
Ray Shero (Pittsburgh Penguins)
Darcy Regier (Buffalo Sabres)
Bob Gainey (Montreal Canadiens)
Kevin Lowe (Edmonton Oilers)

Second row (starting left)
Don Maloney (Phoenix Coyotes)
Paul Holmgren (Philadelphia Flyers)
Peter Chiarelli (Boston Bruins)
Brett Hull (Dallas Stars)
Ken Holland (Detroit Red Wings)
Darryl Sutter (Clagary Flames)
Jay Feaster (Tampa Bay Lightning)
Doug Wilson (San Jose Sharks)
Dave Nonis (Vancouver Canucks)
Cliff Fletcher (Toronto Maple Leafs)

Third row (starting right, just to mess with you)
Dean Lombardi (Los Angeles Kings)
Jacques Martin (Florida Panthers)
Garth Snow (New York Islanders)
Scott Howson (Columbus Blue Jackets)
Bryan Murray (Ottawa Senators)
Dave Tallon (Chicago Blackhaws)
Larry Pleau (St. Louis Blues)
Francois Giguere (Colorado Avalanche)
George McPhee (Washington Capitals)
Glenn Sather (New York Rangers)