Hardly A Boffo Beginning

NAPLES, Fla.--Well, it's one more trade so far than was actually consummated at the winter GM meetings last year.

Jaroslav Modry, needless to say, is hardly a household name nor the type of NHL star that most hockey fans are anticipating will be on the move over the next week. So having the 37-year-old defenceman move from L.A. today to Philadelphia for a third round pick this summer didn't exactly shake the earth at this gathering.

It may be important to the Flyers, who have lost seven straight and have injuries on defence. Moreover, Kings GM Dean Lombardi is looking to dump a few bodies before next Tuesday's trade deadline, so he was undoubtedly pleased to get that process started.

But given that the Cory Stillman deal between Carolina and Ottawa stands as the only deal of any significance this month, the Modry deal stands alone if only because it represents some level of activity and not just idle chatter.

Otherwise, the announcement that Peter Forsberg isn't coming back this season may have loosened some tongues, but not yet spurred any teams into major action. Columbus GM Scott Howson has found himself a popular man here, with Sergei Fedorov, Adam Foote and David Vyborny among the players the Blue Jackets could move.

Howson said yesterday he's monitoring the progress of his team over the next few days, mindful of the fact Columbus fans have grown weary of never making the playoffs and might not be happy to see the team dumping vets if the playoffs are still a realistic possibility.

Fedorov has been linked to Detroit, while Foote would have any number of teams interested, although Howson said the team is still negotiating with the veteran blueliner and could sign him to a new contract. The Columbus GM huddled for a long time with Minnesota GM Doug Risebrough yesterday, and the Wild were one of the teams thought to be in the running for Forsberg before he informed one and all he wasn't returning this season.

The Toughest Choice

NAPLES, FLA.--Of all the names kicking around these NHL general managers meetings as far as players that might be available, there's one who would almost certainly have more impact than any other player.

Sure, Mats Sundin might get you a few goals. Ditto for Marian Hossa.

But a 27-year-old defenceman who is one of the best skaters in hockey, averages between 21-25 minutes per game, quarterbacks the powerplay, produces 40-45 points per season and rarely visits the penalty box would be a commodity every team needs, correct?

And that would be Brian Campbell of the Buffalo Sabres. The belief is that there is almost no chance the Sabres believe they can sign Campbell, who is headed for unrestricted free agency, and may have to trade him before the deadline after losing Chris Drury and Daniel Briere for nothing last summer under similar circumstances. Its indeed curious the Sabres are again in this position, particularly given the fact that most teams understand they have to lock up their younger talents earlier these days, thus spawning a series of major signings in recent weeks of players like Dion Phaneuf and Henrik Lundqvist.

Back-to-back losses on the weekend -- 4-1 to Pittsburgh on Saturday, 5-1 to the Rangers on Sunday -- left the Sabres back in ninth place in the Eastern Conference after an 8-0-2 run had vaulted them up from being in the same dismal neighborhood as the Maple Leafs.

In the loss to the Pens, Campbell was minus-4 in the first period, perhaps an indication all the indecision regarding his future is starting to wear on him.

It's easy to suggest the Sabres can't afford not to trade Campbell if they can't sign him.

But they're close to a playoff berth. And what would they try to get in a deal? Futures? Immediate help? A proven scorer? A blueline replacement?

This, folks, would be a terribly difficult deal to make for Sabres GM Darcy Regier, who may thus be forced to simply suck it up, keep Campbell, hope to make the playoffs and then deal with the fallout in July.

Regier denied today that he's under a gun to make something happen.

"The urgency can be as much on the part of the buyer as the seller as we get closer to the deadline," he said.

Then again, perhaps some team -- New Jersey, let's say -- will get ambitious and decide Campbell is the perfect fit for a team that has lost a variety of high-profile defencemen in recent years and figures it can sign Campbell for the long-term.

Obviously, Leaf fans are focussed on Sundin's future. But Campbell's immediate future could be the most intriguing to watch heading towards next week's trade deadline.

Leaning On The Finn

The Maple Leafs are riding Vesa Toskala and riding him hard.

But, particularly with 15th place in the Eastern Conference now secured, does it make sense to do so?

At least one emailer, Paul McDougall of New York City, doesn't think so. Moreover, he thinks its simply a survival technique for head coach Paul Maurice as he desperately tries to hang on to his job.

Toskala, with chronic groin problems, made his 15th start in 16 games last night against the injury-ravaged and slumping Islanders in a crushing 5-4 defeat. Since coming back against Anaheim Jan. 9th in relief of Andrew Raycroft, Toskala has started every game except a Jan. 20 date at New Jersey.

And the Leafs are no further ahead over that period of time. In fact, after being passed by Tampa last night, they're dead last in the east, and just four points ahead of 30th place L.A. for dead last in the entire NHL.

Quite clearly, Toskala is the No. 1 goalie with this team, so that's not in dispute. With two years after this season left on his contract, he will be needed to both carry the team and to help apprentice Justin Pogge.

Toskala has been mostly very good, while Raycroft hasn't won a game since November, so its not hard to see why Maurice keeps calling the Finn's number. Moreover, San Jose is playing Evgeny Nabokov pretty much every minute, while the likes of Marty Brodeur, Miikka Kiprusoff and Roberto Luongo are shouldering heavy loads.

Why not Toskala?

Well, there is the groin issue. As well, winning games now is meaningless, and arguably counter-productive as the Leafs move into prime position in the Steven Stamkos Cup.

No one's saying don't play Toskala. But every single game, including back-to-backers?

Shouldn't Raycroft have been in last night against the Islanders? If there's no confidence at all in him, then bring up Pogge for an NHL start, or Scott Clemmensen.

In fact, if I'm Cliff Fletcher, Pogge is up for Saturday night's game against the Boston and he's starting, not just watching as was in the case in that silly west coast exercise several weeks back.

Toskala, quite simply, is too valuable right now for the Leafs to risk over-playing him and injuring his tender groin muscles.

How about two out of every three games? Six out of every 10 the rest of the way? That would make sense. He's No. 1, but this team will need him to be rested, healthy and ready to go in October, not now.

Riding the Finn hard now won't help this team move forward.

Thursday Mail Bag

Less than two weeks to the NHL trade deadline and not a whole lot of speculation involving the Maple Leafs.

Maybe New Jersey has some interest in Hal Gill after missing out on Mike Commodore. We’ll see. But certainly you’d have to say that if Cliff Fletcher isn’t able to do something of significance, those who argued he was a better executive to manage the Leafs to the trade deadline because of his ability to swing the big deal will have some major explaining to do.

For those clinging to the hope that the Leafs are still somehow going to be a playoff team, games this week against three clubs desperately clawing to get into post-season play – the Islanders tonight, then Boston; and the tough 1-0 loss to Buffalo last night – will demonstrate whether the Leafs were full value for recent wins over Ottawa, Montreal and Detroit or simply taking advantage of higher-ranked teams looking past them.

Now on to this week’s mail bag:

Q: Maybe I'm wrong but I'm getting the bad feeling that this Leaf lineup is going to look very much the same after the trade deadline as it did before the deadline. All I'm hearing is that nobody on this team wants to waive their no-trade clauses.

If that ends up being the case I'm left wondering what exactly Cliff Fletcher was brought in to do. I figured his role would be similar to the one Wayne Embree filled for the Raptors not long ago, clearing away cap space for the next GM.

I hope I'm wrong but I suspect he'll get very little done before the deadline - What do you think?

William Hare, Scarborough

A: Obviously I touched on this in my intro, but I would say it would be premature to comment on Fletcher’s work until the deadline comes and goes. It may well be that the players the Leafs want to dangle could still be dangling out there in the final hours when other clubs are getting desperate to do something. So we’ll all have to wait. But if Fletcher does nothing, there will be a lot of unhappy campers in Leaf Nation.

Q: Well, when does the flurry of trading activity begin? It's Feb 8 as I write and I'm reading nothing about the great things Cliff Fletcher's doing. Do they all wait right up until the deadline? And isn't that kind of stupid?

Jack Bush, Haliburton, Ont.

A: Oops, there it is. More impatience, which is entirely understandable, Jack. You wrote, obviously, before the Senators dealt for Cory Stillman and Mike Commodore, and that may be a deal that gets things rolling. Peter Forsberg’s decision, whenever it comes, may also grease the market, as will Atlanta’s final determination on their ability to sign Marian Hossa and Buffalo’s decision on Brian Campbell. That said, there is some fear out there that there won’t be many moves, and that would be a disappointment to everyone and, I would think, reason for the league to re-examine some of the rules regarding trades and possibly allowing teams to pay the salaries of traded players the way it was once allowable.

Q: Hey Damien - I enjoy your blog. My question is are you surprised just how bad the Leafs are this season? If you would have told me at the start of the year that Sundin, Antropov, Steen and Stajan would have career years, Toskala would provide better goaltending than Raycroft did last year (not hard to beat) and Carlo would get injured again I would have taken that and been pretty confident about a playoff spot.

Outside of Tucker, Wellwood and Raycroft, who are all playing much worse than last year, why is this team so lousy? Who else is worse? And does any forward in the league give up the puck more in the offensive zone, either by a turnover or a bad shot, than Blake?

Doug J., Vancouver

A: Well, I am surprised to some degree how bad the Leafs are. I thought they’d be in the running for eighth, maybe ninth or 10th. I believed, wrongly, that they were an improved team from last year, largely because their goaltending would be improved. But let’s not exaggerate – Antropov may be having a career year, but Sundin isn’t (he’s still their best player) and Steen sure isn’t. Stajan might be, but he’s still a third liner of moderate impact. I didn’t really factor Colaiacovo into the equation at the start, but I also didn’t factor in the huge step backwards that McCabe would suffer. I thought Blake would add consistent scoring and another pest-like attitude, and he’s done neither. Finally, this team has terrible special teams, and some of that is coaching. But you can’t win with a lousy power play and weak penalty-killing. So while I am surprised the team has done this poorly, the numbers actually do add up to where the Leafs sit.

Q: I keep reading about Mats Sundin and Brian McCabe saying they have no trade contracts and will stay in Toronto. My question would be why? They are playing for a team that appears to be going nowhere now and perhaps for the foreseeable future with no real budding stars in the wings. Should they not want to have a chance to win a Cup? Should they not want to play for an organization that really wants to win, not just fill seats and sell beer? Do they want to stay in Toronto because no matter how well or poorly they play it doesn't seem to matter, the long suffering fans keep coming to the games and the owners make money?

If they moved on they would be doing themselves and the organization a favour, freeing up salary dollars and/or getting young guns and they might just appreciate winning for a change.

George Orser, Ottawa

A: With due respect, George, I think that’s a little unfair. These guys are human, too, and they establish roots in a community and may well simply enjoy living and working in Toronto. Moreover, I don’t necessarily believe its always an admirable quality to be always looking to join a team with a chance to win a championship. Sometimes it takes more guts and determination to try to be part of a solution to a problem. Obviously Sundin and McCabe would prefer to play for a winning team, but I don’t think you can blame them for exercising the parts of their contracts that were fairly negotiated.

Q: Damien,

Just a comment about Jason Blake. Three or four times a game he will speed down the wing into the offensive zone and fire a harmless high wrist shot that is easily snagged by the opposing goalie or deflected out of play entirely. This play never generates anything more than padding Blake's shot count. As an amateur hockey player I play right wing but shoot left-handed. Everytime I come into the zone on a one-on one I find that sling-shotting a fast shot ALONG THE ICE, usually through the defence's legs is a way more effective play. It tends to catch the goalie off guard and at a minimum offers a rebound. Once in a while you'll even score this way. I know this is a very minor issue with all the Leaf's problems, I just don't know why a skilled and fast player would keep trying that harmless wrist shot that misses the net entirely half the time.

Jesse Thomas Cook, Collingwood, Ont.

A: I agree that Blake has taken far too many shots from the perimeter. I also agree that shooting pucks that goalies can easily catch often neutralizes an attack. Otherwise, it's always problematic to take the lessons of amateur hockey and try to apply them to the NHL. What works in the beer league, in other words, may not work in the toughest league in the world. In general, I think Blake has said publicly he has taken too many poor shots and is looking to change that.

Q: What are the rules for putting a player on waivers who has a no trade clause? Can it be done?

Brian M., Barrie, Ont.

A: Yes, and teams will use that as a threat to get players with no-trade clauses to waive them. After all, if you go on waivers you might end up with any club. That’s why the smarter players are getting no-movement clauses as well, which doesn’t permit teams to use the waiver threat.

Q: Hi Damien,

At this point of the season, who do you think has a better shot at winning the Cup this year: the league-leading Detroit Red Wings, or the defending champs Anaheim Ducks (even though they haven't really dominated this season)?

Rick Tulk, Toronto

A: The Ducks look like they’ve got a great shot to repeat, particularly if Selanne can score despite missing most of the season, and if GM Brian Burke can add a little something more before the deadline. For Detroit, I just wonder if their goaltending will hold up. A playoff encounter between these two teams would be terrific, and right now I’d pick Anaheim to win it. But it would be a seven-gamer.

Click here to send Damien a question and he'll answer a selection in his mail bag every Thursday in this space.

This Story's Getting Bigger

Don't expect any resolution of the he-said, he-said squabble between Rogers Clemens and his former trainer, Brian McNamee, on Capitol Hill on Wednesday.

The way it looks is that Clemens is going to stick to his story and McNamee isn't backing down an inch. The congressmen can ask all the questions they want, but they don't have the ability to thoroughly examine evidence and make it clear which of these, ahem, gentlemen is lying his butt off here.

It may be rivetting TV, but it'll still be he-said, he-said when the smoke clears.

From McNamee's point-of-view, it's probably somewhat ominous that Andy Pettitte, Clemens' buddy, has now been excused from testifying. Pettitte has already publically corroborated McNamee's statements to some degree, and it's an intriguing question why the former trainer would lie about one player (Clemens) and tell the truth about another (Pettitte).

Remove Pettitte from the picture, however, and its just Clemens vs. McNamee, an easier fight for the pitcher.

Meanwhile, an even more damaging story may have erupted today, albeit through the disgraced John Rocker, a former major league pitcher.

Rocker says back in 2000 that he and other players, including Alex Rodriguez, were counselled by Texas Rangers management and baseball union officials on how to more effectively use steroids.

Hey, isn't that the team George Bush once owned?

Like Jose Canseco, Rocker is easy to discredit because of his checkered past. But it's a controversial angle on baseball's steroid story, one that draws a direct link between player use and possible insider knowledge in the upper levels of the game.

Of course, anyone who thought the owners, Bud Selig and the union was completely unaware of what players were injecting into their bodies has been living in a fairy tale land.

A Blown Call, A Stolen Point

The NHL is very good at disciplining and suspending its players.

Someday, it would be nice to see them apply some performance standards to their on-ice officials outside of firing the ones they don't like at the end of the season.

Yesterday afternoon, the Red Wings and Ducks went at it in an humdinger of a hockey game, won 3-2 by Anaheim. The crime, however, was that the Wings clearly scored in the final minute of play on a Nicklas Lidstrom shot from the point that beat J.S. Giguere but had it incorrectly waved off by veteran official Dan O'Halloran.

O'Halloran thought he saw Tomas Holmstrom interfering with Giguere, and whistled incidental contact, with no penalty. Holmstrom, however, was clearly outside the blue paint with his back to the Anaheim goalie, setting up a perfect screen, and Giguere moved out and bumped the Detroit player as the puck went by him.

Now, it's not as if the Wings need the point, although they've now lost three straight.

But it was still their point, and O'Halloran was dead wrong. Even worse, he was clearly calling what he thought he saw, rather than what he actually saw.

It was particularly strange given that Anaheim, not Detroit, is one of the most notorious crease-crashing teams in the NHL, and that there was an extraordinary amount of obvious interference by defencemen on forecheckers let go in the game, the same kind of interfererence that the league is permitting to increase in virtually every game these days.

If O'Halloran had wanted to call interference, he had a dozen incidents during the contest for which he could have raised his arm rather than on a play on which interference actually didn't occur.

Detroit made a great play to set up the game-tying shot, and Holmstrom did a great job NOT to interfere with Giguere.

But O'Halloran took it away. Totally blew the call.

The NBA has allowed several games to be replayed, including one this year.

Wouldn't you love to see the NHL, in this case, rule the goal should have stood and force the two teams to finish the game at a later date? Or to suspend O'Halloran for making such a grievous error?

Don't bet on either scenario unfolding, and no one's going to lose sleep because the mighty Red Wings didn't get a point yesterday.

But make no mistake about it - they got screwed.

The Toronto Bills

Gotta say, I'm torn on this NFL thing in the GTA.

On one hand, it sure seems there's so much dough in Toronto that the tickets for eight games over five years will be snapped up in a heartbeat. But then I start to think it could be a little more complicated than that.

For starters, the mighty Rogers empire, featuring Paul Godfrey, is pulling this wagon, and given the way in which they haven't made the Blue Jays popular again, what's making everybody so certain they're locks to make this NFL thing work?

Larry Tanenbaum's in it too, but he doesn't exactly have the rep as the Bill Veeck of Toronto pro sports either. And I don't think Ted Rogers, Godfrey or Tanenbaum are exactly beloved sports figures in this town.

Second, this is basically the same riff that the Green Bay Packers played in Milwaukee for years. Why would Torontonians want to be used as a satellite for the big show in Buffalo? Suddenly we're playing second fiddle to them?

Third, pro sports works best with a wallop of passionate fan interest, and the NFL is the best example of that.

So for five years people from Toronto are going to get all worked up once a year for the Buffalo Bills to play somebody? And isn't it likely that somebody won't be a prime opponent, given that those teams are likely to be reserved for Buffalo itself?

Maybe this is all nitpicking. Maybe people will open their wallets and their hearts and this will be a roaring success.

But if the Bills don't ultimately come to Toronto, it makes no sense this would be a hit year after year indefinitely.

Thursday Mail Bag

Regulars to this space will know that any and all serious playoff talk involving the Maple Leafs ended in early January.

But after losing to Florida by a touchdown and a two-point conversion Tuesday in the Battle for 13th Place, even the most wildly optimistic members of Leaf Nation will have packed it in. Let the firesale begin. It’s now all about the trade deadline, the draft and the identity of the next Leaf hockey czar.

There’s excitement in that, to be sure. But after missing the playoffs three straight years, MLSE is undoubtedly looking at five or six years without post-season revenue. That should get their attention.

Now on to this week’s mail bag, starting with that dose of Leaf optimism that never, ever dies:

Q: Hi Damien,

I don't agree with everyone who is saying that the Leafs are 5 years away from being a contender in the East. If Fletcher can get good value back for some of the veterans on their team then I think with the right free agent signings they can be competitive as early as next year.

All the talk last year was about the depth of teams like Buffalo and Ottawa and yet they look pretty ordinary without their top players (Drury, Briere, Alfredsson, Heatley) I believe if they can add top notch UFA's this summer (Hossa, Boyle, Campbell, Stillman) and blend them with some young prospects they can challenge for one of the top 4 spots in their conference - especially if they get quality netminding from Toskala/Pogge.

Mike Verdile, Thorold

A: Wow. Have to give you credit, Mike, for seeing the glass half-full. The Leafs have far too many holes to look at such a quick turnaround. Moreover, luring top free agents will be difficult giving the weakness of the roster. It’s trying for the quick fix using free agency, by the way, that has contributed to the mindset that just making the playoffs is a goal, rather than actually during the tough legwork that builds champions. Thinking the Leafs can turn this mess around in a year, in other words, is part of the overall problem.

Q: So I've got an idea for you. I understand the Leafs are trying to dump players and collect draft picks, and I think that's a fine strategy and all, but what about trying to acquire a few young prospects too, such as Pitkanen in Edmonton, or some of the Nashville young D (that rumour has are available)?

Isn't the point of dumping salaries to try to get young players via the draft? And I think I'd prefer Fletcher throwing draft picks at proven prospects as opposed to unproven ones, his history in the draft considered.

Robert Buckler, Walla Walla, WA

A: I think your point is well made, although Pitkanen is a poor example. Philly made an aggressive play last summer to land a good young forward in Scott Hartnell, and those opportunities may be there again this year. Problem is, the Leafs will be in the midst of a transition from the temporary Fletcher regime to a new president/GM, and it seems likely valuable opportunities will be missed during the handover of power.

Q: Hi Damien, my question is in regards to No Trade/ No Movement Clauses in the NHL and specifically with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

I'm not going to blame JFJ at this point. You can, and several have, argue the size and control of these contracts agreed upon under JFJ, were foolishly signed by the organization.

Looking at the 'temperature' of today's NHL marketplace, how important are these NTC to players and did MLSE get a little too free with handing out NTC/NMC deals? Could someone in future negotiations, possibly insist NTC's rest upon a certain amount of games played with an understanding that the team must maintain a winning percentage standard?

Chris Hamilton, Owen Sound

A: The Leafs did get too free with handing out no trade deals, and it is costing them a great deal of flexibility as they consider possible trade deadline moves. In terms of the future, the Leafs can make any rules they want regarding these types of arrangements. They don’t have to give them out at all, but it may cost them players.

Q: I have to admit as a Leaf fan I enjoy your impartial renderings on our plight. Regarding JFJ, I don't think I've ever witnessed a press conference from a fired coach taking place at the scene of the crime, have you? And how bizarre was that? Based on his body of work (or lack of) and they way he conducted himself throughout all of this, what are his odds of future NHL employment and in what capacity do you see him returning in? Thanks.

Michael Nestlehut, Harper Woods, Michigan

A: It’s actually relatively common these days to see a fired coach or GM hold a farewell press confidence in the same stadium or arena in which they worked. It’s a courtesy extended by the team that allows the fired person the chance to deal with all the media at once.

Regarding Ferguson, he’ll be with another NHL team by the summer. He’ll probably need to get a visible job as assistant GM – like ex-Chicago GM Bob Murray in Anaheim – before he gets another crack at being a GM. But he will.

Q: Hey Damien,

The one name I don't hear in rumored trade talks is Vesa Toskala. To my mind he is a goaltender good enough to support a team through multiple rounds in the playoffs. The Leafs claim they have a solid prospect in Pogge already.

Ottawa I think would be a great fit with Sundin also along for the ride. What do you think?

David Isaacs, Toronto

A: I’m sure Toskala could help Ottawa and any number of teams. If the Leafs got a whopper of an offer, I think they would move him. But I doubt that will happen, as no playoff-bound team is so desperate for goaltending that they’ll pay an enormous ransom.

Q: Real quick question Damien... Raycroft to Ottawa for Emery? Why the hell not?

Daniel D., Thornhill

A: Easy answer – because Emery is worth a lot more than Raycroft. From a Leaf point of view, why would they want to add another big contract (3 years, $9.5 million) when you can clear Raycroft off the books after next season? Raycroft needs to be replaced by an affordable backup goalie, not an expensive one.

Q: Hi Damien. Looking at the standings in the east, the strangeness of the system is glaring.

Carolina , a division leader, would just barely have a playoff position if teams were simply 1 through 8 per conference (doing away with divisions).

It is conceivable and likely possible that this year the 3rd place team will actually have less points than the 8th place team. Is there any talk of ending this madness?

James Skarnikat, Sauble Beach

A: It’s an absurd situation. At best, each divisional winner should be guaranteed a playoff spot, but not home-ice in the first round. Sadly, I’ve not heard any meaningful talk of changing the system.

Q: Damien,

What is the point of "clearing cap space" if the Leafs need to take a few years to rebuild? Might as well keep McCabe, Tucker, Blake and Kubina until their contracts approach expiry when other teams may be interested in their services. Trade them now and the Leafs will receive nothing in return (and I don't think I need to be concerned about saving MLSE some small amounts of money). It makes more sense for Cliff Fletcher to focus on trading the only assets that will bring a return - Sundin, Kaberle, Antropov, Toskala and Gill. In a couple years, when the assets received in return start to develop, then we can worry about clearing cap space.

Alan G., Toronto

A: I don’t disagree. But the players you keep need to be quality veterans capable of helping young players learn, and I’m not sure the four players you’ve mentioned are those types of players. I think you move players when good opportunities arise when you’re in a situation like the Leafs are. I agree, however, that trying to make it all happen in a matter of a few weeks isn’t smart.

Q: Hi Damien, love your insigts - keep up the innovative thinking. After 19 seasons watching live hockey working for MLG inc. and MLSE ltd. my query is not about the Leafs soap opera but about league rules and possible changes. The most exciting play in hockey these days is the penalty shot. How about, instead of the double minor for high sticking or the instigator penalty, a penalty shot is implemented when extra infractions occur? After all, scoring is down and sticks still seem to be up.

Mike Hassanally, Toronto

A: Hmm. Never thought of that. Tell you what, I’d use it for checking-from-behind, the worst, most dangerous foul there is. I do think, however, that with the shootout already, there’s danger of rendering the penalty shot a little pedestrian because we see it all the time where once it was rarely seen.

Q: The whole debate on who are the candidates for the Leafs GM position got me wondering about other potential NHL positions that could open up soon. My question is, as Bettman celebrates his 15th year on the job, how long do you think he will last as commissioner? Bettman can't be the head honcho forever (a la Clarence Campbell), so I'm curious about whom you think can step into this very important role. Who do you think are the candidates to be the next commissioner of the NHL? Bill Daly? Colin Campbell? How about Brian Burke? Or does it have to be a lawyer in this day and age?

Matt Blackett, Parkdale

A: I don’t think Bettman’s going anywhere soon. Daly’s the obvious successor, but there’s no term limit here, so the job isn’t likely to open up in the near future.

Click here to send Damien a question and he'll answer a selection in his mail bag every Thursday in this space.

NHL Bad Boys Return

February, Ray Emery can only hope, will include a lot less attention on he and his tardy ways.

And there will be other, ahem, troubled folks to watch. Or at least begin watching again.

On Thursday, Phoenix assistant coach Rick Tocchet returns to the Coyotes bench for the first time in more than two years after being targetted by Operation Slapshot just prior to the Torino Olympics. He eventually pleaded guilty to gambling felony charges.

Tocchet has paid a significant debt, and one can only hope he returns not bitterly suggesting he was wrongfully prosecuted but rather hoping to be forgiven for injuring the image of the game.

He's a good coach. Whether he'll now ever have the chance to be an NHL head coach, something he was on track to become before Operation Slapshot, will be intriguing to watch.

Two weeks after that, on Feb. 21, the Islanders are expected to welcome back enforcer Chris Simon from his 30-game suspension incurred after he stomped Pittsburgh's Jarkko Ruutu with his skate blade. Hard to say whether the 35-year-old forward will have learned any lessons this time, particularly since he's been suspended over and over and over during his long NHL career without any sense he has ever been inclined to alter his on-ice behavior.

The Isles are in a tough battle for a playoff spot, and they'd tell you Simon can make a sizeable difference, although its worth noting Ted Nolan's club made its successful, last minute charge for a post-season berth without Simon, at that time suspended for trying to separate Ryan Hollweg's head from his body.

Both Tocchet and Simon have, in different ways, stained the game, despite the fact both men have legions of supporters willing to attest to the quality of their characters.

Now they both get another chance. Don't blow it, gentlemen.

Not the Greatest Team, But Maybe the Best Game

No, I haven't seen 'em all. Joe Willie guaranteed before I was watching.

But having seen the last 37 Super Bowls, I'd be prepared to say No. 42 was the best, most dramatic, most taut and unpredictable I've seen.

The best, in other words. The best I've seen. And I got to watch it with all four of my kids, with three of them cheering for New England and me rooting on the Giants.

The two-year-old didn't much care one way or another.

SHAUN BEST/REUTERS Giants’ Reggie Torbor, Amani Toomer and Kevin Dockery jump for joy after New York shocked the Patriots 17-14.

Too low-scoring for some, sure, but for me, every down mattered, every error mattered, and the fact Fox did an absolutely terrific job delivering the Super Bowl last night sure helped. Troy Aikman, to me, just has that Lloyd Robertson-like authority about him.

It also helped that the Eli Manning-to-David Tyree pitch-and-catch that was a critical part of New York's 12 play, 83 drive for the winning score may have been the most incredible single play in Super Bowl history.

How did Manning, not the fleetest afoot, escape the clutches of the savage New England defence that had history and the Giants QB in its grasp?

How did Tyree, not even a starter, manage to control the ball by leaping to catch it at its highest point with Rodney Harrison all over him, then refuse to drop it while falling to the ground, actually using one hand to press it against his helmet?

Incredible.

It was a win for little brothers everywhere, with Eli winning it all a year after Peyton, putting them right there with the Williams sisters and the Richard brothers as the most successful sibling combinations in sports history. Patriots coach Bill Belichick, a little too arrogant for some, was surely Super-arrogant on the day when he stalked off the field with a play still to run. Maybe he was confused or thought the game was over, but when you're opponent has earned a victory like the Giants did yesterday, you stand there until every second is gone.

And so the Giants matched their fellow New York team, the Jets, with the greatest upsets in Super Bowl history. Plaxico Burress, meanwhile, was spot on with his prediction, including his suggestion that the Giants defence would be able to stuff the Tom Brady-led New England attack.

Burress said the Pats would be able to come up with 17 points. They only managed 14, and Burress, rather than blathering about his brilliance, etc, afterwards, broke into tears on national television with the emotion of it all. While "winning it in the trenches" is the most over-used of football clichés, it was true that New York's offensive and defensive lines outplayed their New England counterparts on the day. In particularly, the Patriot offensive line was leakier than it had been all season, with the exception of the near-loss to Baltimore. Nobody had seen Brady hit that often and that hard all year long.

The Patriots, 18-1 rather than 19-0, now go down as one of the best NFL teams ever, but not the best. Not the greatest. Not perfect.

But they did get to play it what to me was the best Super Bowl yet.