It's raining hats

It's a quiet morning here at the CoHU, so we'll go easy, and throw some softball links at you:

Start you off here -- what happens when you get a hat trick on cap night? Watch. (WMV required; thanks to the HF Boards for the link).

While watching HNIC Saturday night, you'd think Steve Yzerman had just questioned the parentage of Tie Domi or something, the way they were going at it on the Satellite HotStove mutual admiration society. Yzerman said of this postmodern NHL "it's not hockey", and while the Hotstovers were all nodding their heads, I say -- siddown Stevie. Sure, you've earned the right to your opinion, and yeah, it may not be the hockey you've grown used to, but that's not a bad thing (and by the way, he wasn't complaining before the Wings went three games without a W).

Leafs are off till Wednesday, but here's your daily fix: Paul Hunter takes a look at Alek Ponikarovsky, who was (wait for it) shooting the puck on Saturday night. Even scored a couple, and the line of Poni, Allison and Antropov had a strong game: "That was only their second game together but it has the potential to be a strong unit for us," said Pat Quinn.

Also at ESPN.com, Scott Burnside takes a look at job security around the league, and no surprise, but Columbus and Boston management are feeling the heat.

The Sun's Mike Zeisberger empties his notebook and looks ahead to next June's draft and probable No. 1 Phil Kessel.

It's old, but in case you missed it: Terry Frei at ESPN.com on the morning skate. (One thing worth mentioning, perhaps, from over at the NBA, where teams are curtailing or at least changing the timing of their equivalent, the shootaround, while the NHL retains this game-day ritual, a legacy of the 1972 Summit Series.)

Some off the rink news: Russian club files suit against Caps' Ovechkin; and if you must, Trent Klatt's website has a page of reaction around Steve Larmer's resignation from the NHLPA, including the full Larmer I-quit letter.

(C.Y.)

Comments

[FlamFlim]

Stevie Yzerman's comments only illustrate why we shouldn't have the old fella on the Olympic team this February.

I love Stevie Y the same as the rest of you, but it's time for a changing of the guard on the national team and hopefully Gretzky et al will recognize this.

Team Canada's roster selection process should be based on the player's current play and not former glories. So if that means Stevie and Mario Lemeiux miss the boat, c'est la vie.

But I suspect they'll make like '98 with Moose and pass off a couple of roster spots for purely political brown-nosing reasons and little else.

Unrelated: If I was Alexander Ovechkin, I'd change my citizenship to American, and offer to play for USA in the Olympics. Now wouldn't that be something?

[Gary]

Respectfully Mr Flim Flam, you need a couple of the old guys around to help the players relax if for example we are down a goal or two in the third period of the gold medal game. I have no idea how Eric Staal, Jason Spezza and those types of guys react when the biggest of games is on the line. Mario and Stevie Y have won Cups, gold medals and will not crumble when the heat is on. I think Gretzky believes in guys who have proven they can play under pressure. So as much as I agree the best days for the old guard have passed, you need at least one of them around for crunch time, if only as a dressing room influence. Can't wait to prove Canada is still number 1!

[A&J]

"If I was Alexander Ovechkin, I'd change my citizenship to American, and offer to play for USA in the Olympics. Now wouldn't that be something?"

That would be fun. Flashback to Brett Hull, although Hull was motivated by a temper tantrum with Team Canada 20 years ago, rather than anyone fighting for his services.

At least Ovechkin can be secure in the knowledge that *every* nation would give him citizenship to get him on their team. (Right, Mr. Gretzky? Move over, Mr. Yzerman.)