It's almost like groundhog day in the NHL. Sidney Crosby has begun skating again. Rick DiPietro is going to have surgery ending his season. Mike Green is back on the IR with his groin injury. Brian Burke is trying to trade away his team before the deadline. The Habs are losers and continuing to lose in new ways. The ASG has been set (and how strange it is) and we have another concussed player to add to the mix.
Ray Shero calmly reminds everyone on Earth that Crosby not cleared for contact or games yet because he doesn't want anyone getting excited. The Penguins seem to have this concussion stuff down to a science. Crosby said he knows more of how he should feel and how to deal. The entire team donned a C (or K in the Russian's case) on their practice jersey in response to a ridiculous article about them not wanting Sid as their captain anymore. Ironically the captain himself didn't have a C taped his jersey. Maybe the taped on C's had some effect since the Penguins broke the losing streak and won last night. Kris Letang has begun light exercise in his concussion rehab. Full comments on Crosby and his view on life, captaincy, being a distraction and the league are here.
Rick DiPetro will once again (not shockingly) finish off his season on the IR. He will be under going sports hernia surgery shortly and they might have him back in April. For the end of the season clean out your locker party. Not the playoffs since a- they probably won't make the playoffs and b- he might fall to pieces if they did use him. "I'm almost bionic at this point" he told Newsday. At least he's honest.
RJ Umberger of the league losing Blue Jackets (with a whopping 29 overall points, good enough for last place with no competition) has been put on the shelf with a concussion. Cue his All-Star bid for the concussed team.
Mike Cammalleri was pulled from Thursday night's Habs game in the 2nd period, told to shower and go back to the Boston hotel the team had checked out of. He would stay there while awaiting further instructions and his luggage- he was being traded. Teams have since said they didn't know he was on the trade block and it's possible the Flames (his first team) and the Habs had been discussing the trade for some time, but why pull the plug mid-game is the question. In reality his 'loser' comments about the Habs probably had some underling tone as to why they did it. The Habs are still losers though since they have more issues than the Titanic did. They seem to be most worried about having a French speaking coach more than getting something going on ice. In this case the Flames who have been quietly making a case for a playoff run gained a 29 year old with much upside. Cam Cole of the National Post has a great write up touching on all the issues the Habs have going on.
The All-Star Game roster in Ottawa is set. It oddly enough features lots of Ottawa players (no stuffing the ballot-box though) and has left out an assortment of deserving players. Of course Ovi made the roster and considering how un All-Star like he's been playing (even by normal player standards) him making the team is quite questionable. Here's the roster. Here's Down Goes Brown take on All-Star snubs and their mid season review. Both are funny and quite accurate.
And in case you wanted to find out how Gary Bettman's New Years party went, here's DGB take on that also.
Till next time...
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