The news that Sergei Fedorov is, reportedly, leaving the NHL after 18 years to join Metallurg Magnitogorsk of the KHL is somewhat disappointing to me, seeing as how he was always one of my favorite players growing up in the early 1990's. One of the best two-way players to ever lace up a pair of skates, and part of the Red Wings' famed "Russian Five" line, Fedorov was also involved in some hockey's finer advertising campaigns, including the days when ESPN actually acknowledged the existence of the sport.
In news that is sure to delight the rest of the Eastern Conference, the New York Rangers have claimed forward Sean Avery on re-entry waivers, as reported by TSN. There was some speculation leading up to the announcement that a number of teams might consider a claim before the Rangers, but the Avery-to-New York reunion was destined to happen.
Here's a scary thought as the NHL heads towards the home stretch -- Martin Brodeur still isn't in top form. After three games back from a torn triceps, including Sunday's 3-0 win over Philadelphia, there are still aspects to Brodeur's game -- recovery speed, conditioning -- that need the sort of work that will only come with more playing time.
Yet in those three games he's also 3-0 with a 0.67 goals against average and two shutouts. He's now up to career win No. 547 and career regular season shutout No. 100, five and four away, respectively, from breaking the NHL records. I know I've already gone all homer on how great Brodeur is, but in the two games since it's only become more obvious that this is unreal.
Lately, it's become all the rage for fans and players around the NHL to pile on Penguins captain Sidney Crosby. The latest player to jump on the pile was Atlanta Thrashers forward Ilya Kovalchuk, who responded to Crosby's criticism of Alex Ovechkin for his often times over-the-top goal celebrations.
On Saturday night, legendary Canadian hockey analyst Don Cherry offered up his opinion on Ovechkin, and, well, if you're familiar with Cherry, it shouldn't be much of a shock. Video after the jump.
You might not have noticed while the Devils have made a case for themselves as legitimate Stanley Cup contenders, winning 16 of their last 19 games and residing squarely amongst the league's top-10 offenses, but the team has gone through a bit of crisis of identity with their offense lately.
Basically, the line of Travis Zajac, Zach Parise, and Jamie Langenbrunner had been carrying the team. Entering Saturday, that line had combined for four of the team's six goals in the team's last four games including two ugly shutouts by Florida and the Islanders. Coach Brent Sutter reshuffled his bottom three lines in the most recent contest against the Panthers. Judging by the box score of Saturday's 7-2 win, it seems to have worked.
Typically in the sports world, coaches get too much credit when things are going well, and too much blame when they aren't. When a team isn't meeting expectations, the easy thing to do is fire the coach and bring someone in who will "change the message" or something like that.
On it's surface, the coaching change made Monday by the New York Rangers smacks of this type of desperate management.
For the second game in a row Jamie Langenbrunner scored the game-winner in overtime, leading the Devils to a 4-3 come-from-behind win against Pittsburgh. Langenbrunner has now scored two goals in three consecutive games, while registering seven points.
It's the Devils' eighth win in a row, as they overcame a 3-1 deficit with eight minutes to play in regulation. Brendan Shanahan started the rally for the Devils with a power play goal, while Langenbrunner was credited with the game-tying goal with 30 seconds remaining when his centering pass deflected in off of Ryan Whitney's skate.
Brendan Shanahan made his season debut for the New Jersey Devils on Monday night, and it didn't take him long to make an impact. At the 1:38 mark of the second period, the 39-year-old forward beat Nashville goalie Pekka Rinne from right on top of the crease, giving the Devils a 1-0 lead on their way to a 3-1 win over the Predators.
Shanahan registered nearly 14-minutes of ice-time, while firing six shots on goal. His tally came on the power play, which is where he should make his biggest impact for a New Jersey team that entered play on Monday ranked 15th in the league with the man advantage.
Scott Clemmensen stopped 31 shots to pick up the win for the Devils, while Brian Rolston recorded a pair of assists.
It's one thing to be a Hall of Famer. Mats Sundin, Joe Sakic, Martin Brodeur, and (soon) Brendan Shanahan are examples of active players who will definitely be enshrined once they are done. It's another to be a young superstar. I'm talking about the kind of player you can build a team around for now and the future.
No disrespect to the veterans, but this roundtable is centered around the players we would want to build a new team around. Sure, Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Alexander Ovechkin (in no particular order) are widely recognized as the best players in the game today.
But would you pick them first when trying to build a new franchise?
Here's a scary thought as the NHL heads towards the home stretch -- 
Lately, it's become all the rage for fans and players around the NHL to pile on Penguins captain 
You might not have noticed while the Devils have made a case for themselves as legitimate Stanley Cup contenders, winning 16 of their last 19 games and residing squarely amongst the league's top-10 offenses, but the team has gone through a bit of crisis of identity with their offense lately.
Typically in the sports world, coaches get too much credit when things are going well, and too much blame when they aren't. When a team isn't meeting expectations, the easy thing to do is fire the coach and bring someone in who will "change the message" or something like that.
With 21 games left in the regular season, the struggling New York Rangers have decided to make a change. No, this one doesn't involve 
For the second game in a row 
