Can Max Talbot help the Avalanche?

While the Avalanche have some problems dealing with goaltender Semyon Varlamov, they also made headlines in a different way.

The Central-Division leading Avalanche have given up some offense in forward Steve Downie in order to get more postseason experience in Flyers forward Max Talbot. Downie is set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer and has seven points in 11 games, while Talbot has a goal and an assist in 11 games for the Flyers.

Downie did have injury issues in 2012-13, but has managed 22 goals in a season. He is an aggressive player who can score 20-plus goals and has accumulated more than 100 penalty minutes.

Talbot is not as aggressive or an offensive player than Downie is, but he scores an average of 12-15 goals per season. He also helped the Penguins win the Stanley Cup in 2009. The Avalanche got him because of his experience in the playoffs. Plus, his presence will help the collection of talented players that the Avalanche have and he will be expected to mentor them.

In terms of offense, I don't think Talbot really brings much to the already high-powered Avalanche and losing Downie might hurt their offensive production. However, the Avalanche desperately wants some playoff experience and they think Talbot fits the bill. He's a good, average player in my opinion, but I would've preferred if the Avalanche picked up a player that was a good offensive player and one that has playoff experience. They solved half of what they need to accomplish. I'm just a little worried about how well they'll play now that Downie's gone, as well as Varlamov probably being out for a certain period of time. Talbot can help mentor and be a playoff presence but in terms of offensive production, I don't really know. I don't even know if the Avs are going to be able to stay hot because of this trade and the issues with Varlamov.

Semyon Varlamov: What Should the Avs Do With Him?

The Colorado Avalanche have been in the news today, and for all the right reasons. Yesterday comes a report that puts one of their star players in the spotlight for the wrong reasons.

According to reports, Avalanche goaltender Semyon Varlamov was in court, facing chargers of second-degree kidnapping and third-degree assault on domestic abuse allegations by his girlfriend. His girlfriend had bruises that matched the physical encounter, according to a police report.

Varlamov has been ordered to stay away from his girlfriend and not contact her. He was also ordered to relinquish any firearms in his possessions. He surrendered to the police Wednesday over the abuse allegations.

The couple have a history of domestic disturbances. Jack Abrams, the attorney for the girlfriend, says this is the fourth or fifth time they've had run-ins with one another. They have been together for four years since meeting in Russia.

The Avalanche sent out a statement reading: "The Colorado Avalanche organization is aware of the allegations concerning Semyon Varlamov. At this time, and until the conclusion of this investigation, the Avalanche organization will have no further comment on this situation."

Varlamov has led to a 10-1 start and is 7-1 in the games that he has started. He's played in the NHL for five seasons and the Avs picked him up in a July 2011 trade with the Washington Capitals.

Forward P.A. Parenteau says "He's a big part of what we've been doing so far, a huge part, actually. So we're behind him and hopefully it will take care of itself."

Unfortunately, I'm not behind P.A. Parenteau and I don't like what Semyon Varlamov did, if it is indeed true. Look, if this didn't want to come out, maybe he shouldn't have gone to her house in the first place. This is a woman, who you cannot do any physical violence against. So anybody who wants to defend Semyon Varlamov, I wish they would take a different approach. I understand that these are his teammates and they're supposed to support him, but not for this. You cannot support anything that involves physically hurting a woman. You cannot defend a man who does this and it'll be very hard for him to redeem. You. Do. Not. Defend. Physical. Violence. Against. The. Other. Gender. I can't believe I had to say those in just one words. I'm sorry, but I have less respect for Varlamov. I hope this is untrue, but until I hear otherwise, I'm going to believe the girlfriend. Physical violence on the ice should not translate to physical violence off the ice. Semyon Varlamov did not follow this thought and he's facing the law because of it.

As for the next few games, who knows what'll happen to the Avalanche? They've been able to get to this hot start because of Varlamov, as well as their defense. I don't expect Varlamov to play in the next few games and I don't think he should anyway. As for that, I believe J.S. Giguere will be getting the start Friday in Dallas. For Saturday, it's a toss-up. If Varlamov is available to play Saturday, they'll probably play him, even though I don't think they should. Either way, they're going to have to make up for this. They should not play Varlamov for the foreseeable future because of his actions. I think any kind of physical violence, whether reported or not, should be suspendable. So in that case, Semyon Varlamov, I hope he gets suspended, whether by the Avs or by the league.

Will the Flames Survive Giordano's Injury?

The Calgary Flames are one of the surprise teams so far this season. Unfortunately, the surprise might be out for a bit.

Flames defenseman and captain Mark Giordano will be out for six to eight weeks due to a broken ankle. He has had a strong start to the season, having two goals and seven assists in eight games. However, he hasn't played since Oct. 21 and the team was vague about the injury from then til now.

This comes after Lee Stempniak and Chris Breen is day-to-day with a broken foot and an abdominal strain, respectively.

This is not good news for Calgary, who has had a strong start to the season thanks to Giordano's captaincy, as well as him racking up points for this team. But they haven't exactly been on fire as of late. They've lost 4 of their last 6 games and not having Giordano could certainly hurt. I'm not sure Monahan can carry this team alone. And they've got big names like Toronto, Chicago, and Detroit coming up on their schedule. I understand that they might be at home, but these teams are big powerhouses that can do damage. And I'm sure that without Giordano, the Flames can win a lot of games. So I don't think the Flames can survive Giordano's injury. I hope that the next few games prove me wrong, but in reality, without Giordano, the defense would be flat and it'll be very hard for Ramo and MacDonald to help keep this team in games.

Should The Sabres Keep Moulson Long-Term?

Ok, remember yesterday when I said I'll talk about the Sabres when it seems like they're making progress with their rebuild? Well, I'm not sure if they're making progress, but there is news about their newest acquisition only being with the team short-term. And although that might not be progress with rebuilding, it is considered worthy to talk about and see if the Sabres are going in the right direction.

New forward Matt Moulson was acquired by the Sabres on Monday from the New York Islanders for Thomas Vanek. However, there is uncertainty about his future with the team. Moulson said he's unsure that his last stop this season will be in Buffalo, meaning that Buffalo might be ready to trade him if they feel he's not producing enough for them.

"I'm just going to take it day-by-day," he said, "If it's for however long, a long period of time, a short period of time or whatever they have planned, I'm going to play and compete, play my game and try to help this team get wins."

That's the right attitude for Moulson, who's been somewhat of a stellar player for the Islanders last season and for some part of this season. However, he is in the final year of his contract and the Sabres believe he is better off with another team, they won't make a move to ship him somewhere else. He is expected to attract lucrative offers next summer.

Ok, now should we bash the Sabres for what they're doing? I don't think so on this part. I would've preferred if the Islanders gave up a player on whom had more than one year left on his contract, but they wanted Vanek badly so that had to make Moulson expendable. I can understand why the Sabres wouldn't commit to this guy long-term. And plus, I don't think he would want to stay in Buffalo past this season or past February. He wants to be with a contender that has a chance for the Stanley Cup and being part of a rebuild doesn't exactly help him. There is also the possibility of him being traded so that the Sabres can figure out other needs for their team in the future.

Coach Rolston said that Moulson "has a reputation for being a good role model." That helps with the youth that the Sabres in their farm system and for their future. Plus, Moulson is no stranger to rebuilding teams, as he was part of a similar process with the Islanders when they were rebuilding. Right now, he's the current answer to the Sabres' problems. Whether or not they decide to trade him will depend on how well they do these next couple of months. The Sabres desperately want to get out of this hole and they hope Moulson can help push things along.

Two Games Enough for Hanzal?

The Coyotes learned of the punishment on their second-leading scorer Martin Hanzal.

Hanzal has been suspended for two games for charging Oilers defenseman Jeff Petry during the first period on Saturday night. Petry was dazed but remained in the game nonetheless.

Brian Leetch of the NHL's Department of Player Safety also factored in his May 2012 suspension for this current one. It fell in the last 18 months, making Hanzal a repeat offender and increased his suspension. He will miss $75,609.76 in pay.

I think they got the suspension right. Petry was able to play in the game after the hit, so I'm glad he didn't suffer anything that would keep him off the game. But at the same time, it's a head hit and there was going to be discipline attached to this. So good for Department of Player Safety. They got the suspension right and the Coyotes will have to deal without Hanzal for the next two games.

What Does Vanek Bring to the Islanders?

The Buffalo Sabres aren't waiting around to the trade deadline to see the market price for prize goal scorer Thomas Vanek.

The Sabres traded Vanek to the New York Islanders for a package that includes Matt Moulson, a first-round draft pick in 2014 and a second-round pick in 2015. Eventually, however, the Sabres will have to trade away veterans Ryan Miller and Steve Ott.

It doesn't help the Sabres in any respect, but the Islanders are on the rise and acquiring one of the NHL's premium goal scorers certainly helps them for the future. Vanek has hit 40 goals twice in his career and put up 20 goals in 38 games of last season. So far this season, he has four.

The Islanders are certainly becoming an elite team within the Metropolitan Division, and Vanek is known to be a difference-maker. Unfortunately, Vanek is a free-agent next summer so if the Islanders are planning on making a big run, they'll have to do it this post-season.

I won't say anything about the Sabres. They're in a rebuild and I'll get to them when it looks like they're making progress with it or trade away another player. But how about Vanek going to the Islanders? That's a big move for a team with high aspirations for the Stanley Cup. He has shown to contribute and be a difference-maker and can really put together a solid effort to help this Islanders team. And now that Vanek is there, they'll look to compete with Pittsburgh and Washington within the Metropolitan. Look for this Islanders team to get better in a hurry.

How Many Games for Martin Hanzal?

Brandon Dubinsky might be getting a call on Monday from Brendan Shanahan, but another NHL player is going to be getting a hearing. And that distinction belongs to Martin Hanzal.

The Coyotes center will have a hearing with the league's department of player safety on Monday for a  hit he laid in Saturday's game against the Oilers.

In the first period, at 13:42, Hanzal hit Oilers defenseman Jeff Petry along the boards and his forearm caught the head of Petry. Hanzal's feet also left the ice, and was whistled for a two-minute charging penalty on the play. Petry remained in the game.

The league will look into the charging call and it will also find any other infractions committed on the play.

Hanzal is slim with discipline history. In the 2012 playoffs, he was suspended one game for boarding Kings captain Dustin Brown. And since it falls within the 18 months, it makes Hanzal a repeat offender.

I didn't see this play, but obviously anything to the head, as well as leaping up to hit a player, definitely warrants a suspension. And since he is a repeat offender, I could look anywhere between three to five games. Again, I didn't see the hit but if he is called for an in-person hearing, I would make it five. Other than that, between three to five. He'll have to sit, no doubt. It just depends on what Brendan Shanahan will give to him.

Could Dubinsky Get a Call?

My Ducks are on the road still and they were in Columbus Sunday night for a tilt with the Jackets. They won 4-3, but another Ducks player has been lost for some amount of time. And it's possible Blue Jackets forward Brandon Dubinsky could be getting a call.

Saku Koivu was knocked out of the game from a hit from Dubinsky. Dubinsky was ejected from the game and received a five-minute major for interference and a game misconduct. It happened with 35 seconds left in the period when he hit Koivu soon after releasing the puck. Koivu was dazed and helped by teammates to the dressing room. No update on his condition was given.

Dubinsky has had trouble with the league before. Last season, he was fined $10,000 last season for boarding Rob Scuderi, who then was with the Los Angeles Kings. And it should be no surprise that he might get a call from Brendan Shanahan about this latest hit. I do believe he'll get a call and he'll get a couple of games for this. If this is an in-person hearing, five or six games. If this is not, probably two to three. This was not entirely a vicious hit, in my opinion, but either way, there's gotta be some justice for being this bad of a hit. Let's hope the league listens.

Will Being at Home Help the Rangers?

The New York Rangers return to Madison Square Garden Monday night for a tilt against the Montreal Canadiens. They have been on the road since MSG was in renovation for the first part of the season. Now, the Rangers come on home and they definitely need it.

Also, Henrik Lundqvist will be back between the pipes after he was out two games because of an injury. So the Rangers took advantage and gave him time off to heal.

But being at home must help the New York Rangers. They've had a somewhat dismal start to the season. They need to come home and start putting some pressure on teams. Plus, Henrik Lundqvist needs to get better. He hasn't had a great start to the season either and the reason the Rangers lost some of these games, like San Jose or Anaheim, was because he wasn't able to stop the puck, or Tomas Hertl for that matter. I don't know how the Rangers will do in the next couple of weeks, but they have to get their bearings in order and start playing some home ice hockey. The way they are and being second-to-last in the Metropolitan, they need to play some catch-up.

Can the Ducks Survive without Silfverberg?

Well, my Ducks certainly got off to a somewhat poor start to the road trip. They lost their first two games to Toronto and Montreal and narrowly beat Ottawa in Ottawa. But that victory came with a price.

Jakob Silfverberg has a broken hand after being slashed in third period of the victory in Ottawa and will miss four to six weeks. Silfverberg ranks fourth on the Ducks with seven points and plays on a line with Teemu Selanne.

This comes just as Dustin Penner is scheduled to return from his concussion. Also, third-ranked Mathieu Perreault is day-to-day after spraining his wrist in that same game.

Although injuries are already starting to happen for the Ducks, losing Silfverberg might be a huge loss for a team that relies on his maneuverability and shooting to help them win games. Although it might be a huge loss, I think the Ducks can stay afloat in that amount of time. Penner is coming back and although he's not as agile and quick as Silfverberg, he can still produce and that might help the Ducks in those weeks. The Ducks still have Getzlaf, Perry, and Selanne who can still score and Patrick Maroon is also contributing in some big ways as well as goaltender Frederik Andersen.

I don't think they'll have a real problem in the next couple of games. They have Columbus (who isn't really that good), Philadelphia (who's been terrible), and Buffalo (who can't seem to even win) in their next few games. I think they can pull off a couple wins and stay right there with the Sharks and the Avalanche in the West. It'll be an interesting couple of weeks, but I think the Ducks can stay afloat and continue to win.

Are the Sharks The Team to Beat?

The NHL and its fan base has come to know the San Jose Sharks as a team that does well during the regular season but somehow fails to win the Stanley Cup year after year. It prompted changes by GM Doug Wilson over the years to bring in experienced veterans, as well as youngsters and speed players who can help play the game. This year, it seems the Sharks have one goal in mind: constantly attack the net.

The Sharks have old-timers in Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau, and Dan Boyle and they have made changes by adding youngsters Tomas Hertl and Matt Nieto, as well as acquiring speedster Tyler Kennedy from the Pittsburgh Penguins. These changes have helped transform these Sharks into a high-energy and high-speed team.

This has also helped them because the Sharks are out to a 8-1-1 record.

Doug Wilson wanted the Sharks to be a better improved team and last year dealt away Ryane Clowe, who couldn't do anything with the team anymore, Douglas Murray, and Michal Handzus and gave more time to the youngsters who had better play like Tommy Wingels, Justin Braun, and Matt Irwin. He also acquired Raffi Torres, who is known for his fighting, as well as bringing energy to a team. The Sharks have even moved defenseman Brent Burns to the wing because of his speedy play and his offensive output.

As far as injuries, nothing has slowed them down. Even though Dan Boyle, Brent Burns, and Raffi Torres are out, this team continues to go. They even made a move for Mike Brown to make up for Torres' absence.

They average nearly 40 shots a game, an impressive record for a team that is constantly attacking and always on the offensive. They are ranked third in five-on-five play and sixth on the power play. Even head coach Todd McLellan has changed his style to adapt to the new rookies coming to the team.

"He wants to be more aggressive," said Joe Thornton. "He wants to smother teams."

So far they are. An 8-1-1 record with their only regulation loss at Boston is something to be proud of. But the question becomes: Are they the team to beat right now? Honestly, in a way, yes. I could also put the Avalanche in there because of the way they score and play defense. The Avalanche are mostly defense, as Patrick Roy emphasizes mainly goaltending and defense, while Todd McLellan does mainly offense. Either way, they are up there, but they share the team to beat scenario with the Avalanche. They'll go through rough patches at times, and every team does that at one point. But right now, the Sharks look solid in all areas and look like they have a fighting chance in the playoffs when the time comes.

Will Kaleta Ever Learn His Lesson?

Patrick Kaleta is not getting his suspension reduced, not by Gary Bettman anyway.

On Thursday, the NHL commissioner announced that he will uphold the 10-game suspension imposed on the Sabres forward for his hit to the head of Blue Jackets defenseman Jack Johnson.

Kaleta has been suspended three times and fined another three times for incidents in the past four years, so it's no surprise that Kaleta would lose this appeal.

Bettman agreed with Shanahan on the logic in imposing the 10 games. He was heard as saying, "Kaleta has not responded adequately to the progressive discipline that has been meted out to him so far."

Agreed. Agreed very much on this. Patrick Kaleta is one of the dirtiest players in the league, although with the John Scott hit, maybe you can argue that. But he's becoming worse than Matt Cooke when he got suspended a few times. He's not responding well to the suspensions and he's becoming more aggressive as the suspensions pass. He's gotta get out of the league for a bit. Send him down to the AHL to get him to learn his lesson about head hits. That's the only way I can see him. The Sabres have to do something here. He needs to learn this lesson the hard way. Apparently, the easy way's been done with after his last few hits. He's gotta find a way to stop making these dangerous hits and start learning to be less aggressive and prevent even more serious injury to other players. Based on this, I doubt he'll learn the lesson anytime soon. And that'll be sad because he's an important part to this Sabres team and they're struggling. Who knows what'll happen? Let's see after 10 games have gone by.

Can the Predators Survive Without Pekka Rinne?

Looks like trouble is coming for the Nashville Predators and it's coming in net.

Goaltender Pekka Rinne will miss at least four weeks with hip arthroscopic surgery because of a bacterial infection. The surgery was done to clean the infection, deemed successful, and he'll be out to recover from the surgery. He originally returned to Nashville from his Tuesday game in Minnesota but started experiencing a fever and soreness in his hip. That apparently was enough for GM David Poile to officially say he's out for those four weeks.

Meanwhile, to make up for the loss of Rinne, the Predators have recalled goaltender Magnus Hellberg from the American Hockey League. Carter Hutton, the backup to Rinne, will start Thursday against the Jets.

In all honesty, I have no clue of any of the players outside of Pekka Rinne and Mike Fisher that play for the Predators. I don't even know if they're doing well or not. So in either way, I don't know if the Predators can survive the loss of Rinne. He's arguably their best player and he needs to be in the game in order for this team to go anywhere. My guess would be maybe, but then again, I don't know the Predators' problems. They're the one team in this league that seems to be in hiding while everybody else is always in the news.

How Many Games for John Scott?

Sigh. One day, there's gonna be one week where I don't have to comment on suspensions. But that's not this week and we have another player that's likely to get a call from Brendan Shanahan about a head hit in Wednesday's Bruins-Sabres game.

Buffalo Sabres defenseman John Scott was ejected in third period Wednesday night after a hit to the head of the Bruins' Loui Eriksson, who had to be helped off the ice and taken to the dressing room. Scott got five minutes for charging and a game misconduct, as well as five minutes for fighting when the Bruins' Adam McQuaid decided to fight him. There was not an update on Eriksson after the game.

Scott has drawn attention before during the preseason when he tried to fight the Maple Leafs' star Phil Kessel, which resulted in a brawl. Kessel was suspended for three preseason games for slashing Scott twice.

Shanahan will have another go at figuring out what kind of suspension is likely for John Scott. He has just come off his fifth ruling in suspending Ryan Garbutt of the Dallas Stars for his hit on the Ducks' Dustin Penner. And this suspension will most likely be an in-person hearing. Well, I've had a string of bad luck at always predicting how many games players will be suspended. I always seem to say six to seven games, but it appears Shanahan always settles on five. Look, at one point, he's gonna have to put somebody out there for six or seven games. This was another head hit and I was surprised that Garbutt did not get six games for his head hit on Dustin Penner. So I'm expecting a six or seven game suspension to Scott. I would be surprised if he got five.

Five Games Correct for Ryan Garbutt?

Ryan Garbutt may have scored his first goal of the season on Sunday, but his actions later in the game got him into trouble with the league and his punishment for him came down on Wednesday.

The Dallas Stars forward has been suspended by the NHL for five games for charging Anaheim Ducks winger Dustin Penner. He will forfeit $14,743.60 in pay as a result of his actions.

The hit occurred as Garbutt was leaving the penalty box and rushing back into the defensive zone when Penner had the puck along the boards and then crashed his head into Penner's head when Penner was moving in on Stars rookie goaltender John Campbell. Penner was knocked unconscious briefly and stay behind from the Ducks' trip because of concussion testing.

Penner brought attention to Garbutt's hit by posting a link of the hit on YouTube to his Twitter feed, questioning why there was no call on the hit.

This ruling ended a busy eight days for Brendan Shanahan, who had five hearings, four of them in person.

For Ryan Garbutt, I expected six to seven games because of a head hit, but like I said in my recent post questioning the number of games Garbutt would actually get, I implied that Shanahan was most likely to give five games because in-person hearings recently also gave five games to players like Maxim Lapierre and Cody McLeod. And because their suspensions, as well as Garbutt's, didn't exceed five games, they can't appeal to a neutral arbitrator. So that means Garbutt will have to sit out and the Stars will have to move on without him. They'll need him because he's an aggressive player but you can't be taking out peoples' heads just so you can prevent them from getting a chance on goal. I saw the hit in person and it looked terrifying to see Dustin Penner almost not moving for a second. Again, justice was served. I expected at least one more game of suspension but since five games are the norm these days, I will not go against it.

Can Sean Monahan Be The Long-Term Solution?

While the Edmonton Oilers struggle with problems of injury and ineffective goaltending, their bitter rivals in Southern Alberta are winning right out of the gate. And they've decided what to do with their new star player.

The Calgary Flames have made the decision that rookie center Sean Monahan will be staying with the team for the entire season. He has played in 19 games and once he plays his 10th game the Flames are committed to using the first season of his entry level contract.

GM Jay Feaster believes this was an easy decision. Monahan is leading the team in goals with six. He has nine points, and averaging under 16 minutes per game. "We believe his development is best served with us," Feaster said. "We feel good about him. We feel good about the decision."

I agree with what Jay Feaster has done here. They need someone good this season and because Jarome Iginla was gone, it seemed like there was nobody here to help carry this team. Now Sean Monahan seems to be taking that role of leader and goal-scorer. He has pretty exceptionally well during his first few games and I wasn't surprised that they made his move. They need him all season and the Flames desperately want to get back into playoffs. What better way to do that than have a 19-year-old in Sean Monahan lead this team?

He might be a long-term solution down the road. I think he's done pretty well so far. Again, it's only nine games, so we shouldn't be crazy about his future right now. But the way he's playing, I'm guessing the Flames are getting the exact person they need to rebuild their franchise.

Can the Oilers Survive Taylor Hall's Injury?

Well, when people thought the Edmonton Oilers would be the best team coming out of the gate, they were all geniuses. Well, they should probably recheck because the Oilers are last in the Pacific Division and might be worse after what happened to Taylor Hall.

That's right. Taylor Hall is expected to be missing four weeks after injuring his left knee in a game on Saturday. Craig MacTavish confirmed the injury timeline Tuesday morning through a post on the Twitter feed for the Oilers.

Hall was the first overall pick in the 2010 draft and has three goals and five assists so far this season. He got hurt on a play in Edmonton's 3-1 win over the Senators.

Ryan Smyth is also expected to be out for a week with a groin injury. The Oilers have recalled Ben Eager and Tyler Pitlick from the American Hockey League.

Well, this just goes from bad to worse for the Edmonton Oilers, as well as a string of bad luck that just keeps on giving. The Oilers can't stay healthy and even though they've won a few games without Hall, it looks like this team's not going to be able to ride the high streak for long. They're in a tightly packed Pacific Division and they're sitting on the bottom. This isn't good. They need Hall to stay in the race and without him, I don't know where they're going to go. And for four weeks is bad too. That amount of time is even enough to put this team too far behind. So they're gonna have to pick up the pieces and try to get back in class. But with all that's happening to this team, especially their goaltending, I don't know where they can go from here.

Can Mike Brown Help the Sharks?

Sorry about the absence in blogging. The internet at my college was down when I upgraded my MacBook to OS X Mavericks, but I'm back after finding a work-around that will be able to bring me back to blogging. So I'll get to some news that came out of the NHL a day ago or so.

The San Jose Sharks, league leaders in the NHL, have made the first trade of the regular season, acquiring rugged player and enforcer Mike Brown from the Edmonton Oilers. They gave up a fourth-round pick in the upcoming draft.

Doug Wilson believes that Mike Browns "plays a speed game and fits the 'Fast, Hard and Supportive' mantra that our team wants to play with. He brings a tough, physical, ingredient to our lineup."

Brown has been in 72 regular-season fights in his seven years in the NHL, according to the website hockeyfights.com. He averages less than six minutes of playing time a night and is scheduled to make $725,00 in his final year of a three-year contract. This trade is also important in that Raffi Torres, who was also acquired for his toughness and speed last season, is out after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament during the preseason.

Dan Boyle has been put on the injured list to allow Brown on the team. Boyle was hurt last week when he was checked from behind by Maxim Lapierre of the St. Louis Blues.

First of all, Mike Brown's fights make good video on hockeyfights.com. And second of all, the Sharks are desperate for some toughness, especially with Raffi Torres out and Andrew Desjardins not playing exactly what the Sharks wanted out of the sometimes-enforcer. I think Mike Brown fits the bill. He can play, he can score, and he can enforce when necessary. But Mike Brown's got a big hand that other players don't seem to have a match for. So, does that mean the end for Raffi Torres? I don't know yet. They might end up trading Mike Brown when he comes back, but right now, they need Brown and I'm sure he can be an asset to this team.

Ryan Garbutt: How Many Games?

The Department of Player Safety and Brendan Shanahan got itself another incident on Sunday. And Dustin Penner of the Anaheim Ducks helped bring attention to it.

Penner went on Twitter after the game to address the hit that the Dallas Stars' Ryan Garbutt put on him during Sunday's game between the Stars and Ducks, a game I was at and saw in live time. Penner pointed out on Twitter that the referees had missed the call and the league announced on Monday that Garbutt has been offered an in-person hearing, meaning he is likely to face a suspension of six games or more. Although with what has happened recently in in-person hearing suspensions, it could most likely be five games.

Garbutt had finished serving a penalty when he skated towards Penner, left his feet, and caught Penner in the head with his shoulder. And with head hits, you're most likely to get the call. And the NHL will be looking at Garbutt for charging and an illegal hit to the head. Penner did not return to the game and did not travel with the team to Toronto.

Penner is known for being an active user of Twitter and he's not afraid to take to it to express something concerning himself or something tied to his involvement. He showed the world what happened and the NHL Player Safety office listened.

Since I saw this in live time, I can give a definite answer for this. This was a head hit. And a deadly one at best. Garbutt left his feet and went directly towards Penner's head. He didn't even stop to consider what he was doing. What Garbutt should've done was check him on the body. It also seemed like a blind hit as well, although Penner could possibly see out of the corner of his eye that Garbutt was coming. Either way, it's directed at the head, which is definitely suspendable and Penner did not come back into the game. I'm a little surprised Garbutt was not ejected for this hit because it seemed like he would. Did the referees not even pick this up when they blew the whistle?

Since this is a head hit and it's an in-person hearing, I think that Garbutt will get either six or seven games. You can't hit the head. The reason Lapierre and McLeod got five-game suspensions is because they didn't directly target the head. This one should have more punishment to it. So, in that case, I would expect six or seven games for Garbutt.

Suspensions for McLeod and Grabner

Brendan Shanahan has officially handed down the suspensions for Avalanche forward Cody McLeod and New York Islanders forward Michael Grabner. So, let's first get to McLeod.

Cody McLeod was suspended for five games on Monday. He applied a devastating hit on the Red Wings' Niklas Kronwall, who had to be escorted off on a stretcher. This is the first suspension in his career for McLeod and he'll forfeit $29,487.20 in pay.

The Department of Player Safety confirmed that they "were convinced McLeod had time to avoid or minimize checking Kronwall from behind."

I'm not going to go into details of the hit and what McLeod should've done because that's Shanahan's job. Find the explanation on YouTube under the NHL user. But this was expected and like Maxim Lapierre, it was deserved.

McLeod had plenty of time to see what he was doing and yet he went ahead and did the check. This was justice served and I hope McLeod learns a hard lesson for this. If not, you might want to ask Maxim Lapierre. Look where his hit on Dan Boyle put him.

Now on to Grabner. This is a lesser hit and therefore Shanahan suspended him for two games and lost over $30,769.24 in pay for his hit on the Hurricanes' Nathan Gerbe. Gerbe remained in the game after Grabner's shoulder hit him on the head Saturday. This is Grabner's first-time offense. Obviously, here, the head is the main point of contact, so you have to sit him for a few games. I think two games here was good enough. This was a head hit, but it did not suffer enough injury to get Gerbe off the time. So I agree with the suspension.

These are the maximum games I expected, although I might've given McLeod one more game to make him six games and not five. Looks like the Avalanche and the Islanders will have some catching up to do now that these players are off the ice for some time.

The Rookie Class: Some Other Names

Rookies are taking over the NHL!!!

Yes, you heard me exactly right. This season, plenty of high-profile rookies like Tomas Hertl, Nathan McKinnon, and Seth Jones have taken the NHL by storm. But those are some of the biggest names. What about the other rookies in this year's class who've also had an impact for their teams? Let's take a look:

1. Defenseman Hampus Lindholm (Anaheim Ducks): He's only 19, but he has averaged more than 19 minutes a game and is a plus-9 so far this season. He's also playing with veteran Francois Beauchemin on his line and has shown considerable speed and poise while playing. He has two assists so far this season.

2. Right wing Alex Chiasson (Dallas Stars): Chiasson is third on the team with six poitns in seven games. He also played last season with the Stars, and has 9 goals in his first 14 NHL games that he's played. He played three seasons at Boston University and then went to the AHL for 66 games before being brought up to Dallas. He has 14 shots on goal going into Sunday's game against the Ducks. He's also 6-4, which is mighty tall for a right winger.

3. Defenseman Ryan Murray (Columbus Blue Jackets): Honestly, I didn't hear about this kid before I read the article on him. He's a No. 2 overall draft pick who suffered a major shoulder injury last season and left the spotlight. Now, he is playing about 16 minutes a game for the Blue Jackets and is even. That doesn't seem impressive, but the team's defense is mainly in the minus zone. Eventually, scouts believe he will develop into a smooth defender that the Blue Jackets need to make it to the playoffs this season.

4. Center Mark Arcobello (Edmonton Oilers): If Edmonton is so packed with rookies, why can't them even score or win? But this former Yale player might help. The undrafted Arcobello has eight assists in nine games with the Oilers. Better not slip off fast. These Oilers are at the bottom of the Pacific and they need all the help they can get.

5. Matthew Nieto (San Jose Sharks): With all the attention for the Sharks centered on Thomas Hertl, this California native has been a solid contributor to this team. He has two goals, three assists, and 17 shots on goal while playing 10 or 11 minutes a game. Pretty good. But again, overshadowed by Tomas Hertl.

There are many more rookies that are making solid contributions as well. Good luck to this rookie class. You're making the NHL proud.

Ducks Sweep Homestand

Well, it seems the power-play finally came together for the Anaheim Ducks. And sometimes, a short-handed goal is just as perfect.

Emerson Etem scored the short-handed goal of the game (his first career short-handed goal) and Corey Perry scored twice and the Ducks have extended their best start in franchise history with a 6-3 win over the Dallas Stars on Sunday.

The Ducks have won seven straight following a 6-1 loss in Colorado on opening night. They have tied the longest streak in club history. Captain Ryan Getzlaf got a goal and three assists, and Teemu Selanne extended his goal streak to three games.

Goaltender Frederik Andersen also made his NHL debut in net, replacing Jonas Hiller after Hiller let in three goals in the first period. Andersen stopped all 24 shots that came his way, a few days after being promoted from Norfolk of the American Hockey League to replace Viktor Fasth, who is still suffering from a lower-body injury. And the Ducks responded when Perry scored a goal just 54 seconds into the second period.

The Ducks made every Ducks fan, like me, proud tonight. Not only do the Ducks have 14 points on the season, they're one point behind the Pacific-leading Sharks. And they have swept the homestand of five games. This is exactly the type of hockey they wanted to play. And they got it. I'm still worried though about that power play. They finally ended that when Selanne snapped home his 678th career goal, but they're gonna need to built on that momentum, especially with the road trip that comes up next.

In the meantime, the Ducks, me, and the rest of the Ducks crew are having a good night. Let's keep it up, boys!

How Many Games For Grabner?

Oh, look, more suspensions are headed on the way. And that's bad news for New York Islanders forward Michael Grabner.

That's right. Grabner will be having a phone hearing with NHL disciplinarian Brendan Shanahan, who is scheduled to have a hearing with Cody McLeod on Tuesday. Grabner is being accused of a head hit on the Hurricanes forward Nathan Gerbe.

This incident happened at 6:42 of the first period. No penalty was called for the hit and Gerbe skated regular shifts afterward.

Grabner ranks fourth on the team with eight points and he has no suspension history. If he's somehow suspended for a long amount of time, it could hurt the Islanders defense, who lost Lubomir Visnovsky to a concussion in Saturday's game.

This suspension is most likely not going to be over five games, which is what Cody McLeod could possibly be getting out of his in-person hearing. I expect a maximum of three to four games for Grabner, especially since it's not another in-person hearing for Brendan Shanahan. But losing Grabner means that the Islanders will have to pick up their pieces and move on. Not having him or Visnovsky could hurt this team in the long run.

Martin Biron Hangs Up His Skates

Well, it seems the career of Martin Biron is finally over.

The 36-year-old goaltender officially announced his retirement on Sunday, just less than a week after being placed on waivers by the New York Rangers. Biron had spent the last three seasons behind a backup to Henrik Lundqvist. He had been a No. 1 goalie with the Sabres and the Flyers earlier in his career and took the Flyers to the 2008 Eastern Conference finals.

His career record was 230-191-25-27 with a 2.62 goals-against average and a .910 save percentage, posting 28 shutouts.

He was a great goaltender for some time, but for this season, he was a casualty as the Rangers got off to a slow start. He appeared in two games this season and gave up five goals, including the between-the-legs goal by Sharks rookie Tomas Hertl. He was pulled in his lone start this season after giving up four goals in two periods to the St. Louis Blues.

He, along with Arron Asham, were placed on waivers and assigned to Hartford in the American Hockey League. But for Biron, it was time to consider retiring or continuing on in Hartford. And his answer to retire came Sunday.

Biron tweeted that "After thinking about it with my family, I've decided to retire as a player and move on to a new chapter. Thank you all for your support."

There are plenty of nice things to say about Martin Biron, especially with his career. I know some people might look at his performance this season and think that he didn't produce enough for the Rangers, but he had been a good goaltender for some time and took the Sabres and Flyers far into the playoffs. But when players get old, sometimes the wear and tear will catch up to them. And it looks like it was his time to hang up his skates and move on to something else. Maybe he'll become an analyst for the NBC Sports Network or the NHL Network. Either way, he's had a great career and hopefully he'll be able to spend some time with his family and maybe some other things. Have a great retirement, Martin Biron! You certainly had quite a career.

Did Lapierre Deserve More Than Five Games?

For everyone who was expecting Maxim Lapierre to get at least six to seven games for his head hit on the Sharks' Dan Boyle, including me, you all were off by one game.

The St. Louis Blues forward was suspended for five games by Brendan Shanahan for his hit on Boyle that sent him to the hospital. NHL disciplinarian Brendan Shanahan brought down the penalty after an in-person hearing with the Blues forward. This meeting would only be called if the suspension could top five games, but Shanahan ultimately decided that five was enough.

Along with his video on the ruling, Shanahan also noted that Lapierre's previous four-game suspension back in March 2010 for a similar type of hit also ruled into play. However, since that was outside the 18-month period that would have him as a repeat offender, he will not have a higher suspension that this one. Lapierre will have to forfeit $28,205.15 in pay and he has already served one game of his suspension, that being the Blues' game Friday night against the Jets.

This is the second in-person hearing that has happened this season. Sabres forward Patrick Kaleta was suspended for 10 games and is currently appealing. Avalanche forward Cody McLeod is scheduled to have an in-person hearing sometime next week for his hit on Red Wings' Niklas Kronwall.

Lapierre didn't exactly get off light. I would've expected him to get six games or more because he did have an in-person hearing but I guess Shanahan thought that five games were enough for him to learn that. I think he deserved more than five games. He hit him on the numbers, which isn't exactly a legal hit and it did send Dan Boyle off on the stretcher. Then again, he's not a repeat offender and he shouldn't be getting a big punishment. Five games is better than nothing, but I would've liked to see six or seven games for what he did.

How Many For Cody McLeod?

Brendan Shanahan has certainly been busy lately with a round of suspensions and hearings that lead to suspensions. He'll be deciding on another one that involves the Red Wings-Avalanche game last tonight.

Avalanche winger Cody McLeod has been offered an in-person hearing to explain himself in the boarding incident that left Red Wings defenseman Niklas Kronwall with a "mild concussion" and lacerations to his ear. When the NHL offers an in-person hearing, the player is most likely to receive six or more games. There is still no decision on when the hearing will be held.

There is already a hearing today with the St. Louis Blues forward Maxim Lapierre over his boarding incident against Sharks defenseman Dan Boyle, so don't expect a hearing until early next week, as early as Monday. He will most likely be suspended til then.

The McLeod hit occurred in the first period of the Red Wings' 4-2 win that ended the Avalanche's season-starting unbeaten streak. McLeod was given a boarding major and a game misconduct. Kronwall was carried off the ice on a stretcher, but did not end up at the hospital. He will be at the game against Phoenix on Saturday.

Detroit head coach Mike Babcock was quoted as saying, "These hits are things we've got to get out of the game."

And that's true. These are violent hits that have no place in the NHL. But, in truth, it's gonna to take a really long time before we even see these hits completely gotten rid of. As for Cody McLeod, he got what he deserved and based on what I'm hearing, I'm guessing he will get either six or seven games. Most likely, he'll get the same number that Maxim Lapierre will get, depending on what Brendan Shanahan deems a fit suspension. I don't expect an in-person hearing for McLeod until as early as Monday. He can't go today because Shanahan already has one with Lapierre over his hit on Dan Boyle. So don't expect a ruling until early next week. In the meantime, he's most likely to be suspended and that'll be some bad news for the Avalanche, who is one of their primary enforcers on the team.

Can the Rangers Survive Without Callahan?

The New York Rangers won their second game of the season Wednesday night, a 2-0 shutout victory over the Washington Capitals. But their much-needed win came at a very, very high price.

On Tuesday, it was announced that captain Ryan Callahan had suffered a broken thumb during the victory and will be out for three to four weeks. He did not play in the season opener because he was recovering from an offseason shoulder injury.

He is currently tops on the Rangers with two power-play goals and ranks second on the team with three goals overall. He ranks third in hits with 15 and leads all Rangers forwards with eight blocked shots. He is also part of the U.S. Olympic leadership during orientation in August. To deal with Callahan being out, the Rangers have recalled Darroll Powe and brought up goaltender Jason Missiaen to replace Cam Talbot, who was sent back down.

Currently, the Rangers are 2-4-0 which is not bad right now. Going into their West Coast swing, I thought they would do well until they got blown out in San Jose and Anaheim and lost to Phoenix and St. Louis in some heartbreaking losses as well. Losing Callahan really hurts this team because they've got tough teams like Ottawa, Detroit, and the New York Islanders. Powe is certainly not Callahan and doesn't produce as much as he does. I'm going to have to start questioning this team again. That win against Washington might have been a fluke game because Washington certainly didn't play well in that game. I think they'll recover from Callahan and get back into the race. The problem is without Callahan, the leadership role will be hard to come by. The Rangers will have to make do and it isn't an easy road for them coming up.

Penguins-Flyers: Pond Hockey or Discipline tonight?

Oh, good, another Flyers story. These are always good for business because they've been in the news more often than other NHL teams. And guess what? This story also involves their Pennsylvania rival in the Penguins.

As every Penguin or Flyer fan may know, every time these two teams get together, it seems they drop all chances of discipline in the game and start pond hockey -- meaning running and gunning each other down like a bunch of mad men. Even Penguins captain Sidney Crosby acknowledges that. "It seems to progress into that pretty quickly. I thought last year we did a better job of not allowing that to happen."

Although it hasn't happened as much as in previous years, tonight's contest will a real test to see if they can actually play disciplined hockey. There's also that bit of extra pressure for the Flyers, who are 1-6-0 and under new coach Craig Berube, who is still trying to implement his system into the Flyers. And since Berube was a noted tough guy in the league, it seems that all chances of discipline might be thrown out the window. However, he hopes that there is discipline in his club tonight.

The Flyers need offense and they need Claude Giroux to step up. They also need to stay out of the penalty box, one of the reasons they were 1-6-0 to start the season. But since the Penguins are in town, look for more penalties and fights to come.

So, pond hockey or discipline tonight? If there's anything about rivalries, it's that there's no discipline. The Flyers need this game obviously but there's going to show it to their Pennsylvania rival. And that means no discipline or no simple way to stay out of the penalty box. And since this is the most intense rivalry in hockey right now, look for it to stay that way in this game and their remaining games to come.

Does Kaleta Have a Case?

Patrick Kaleta may have been suspended by the NHL for his fierce hit on Blue Jackets defenseman Jack Johnson, but he isn't going away quietly.

There's a report that Patrick Kaleta will appeal his 10-game suspension. This suspension was handed down Tuesday for his hit on Johnson and wasn't hurt. But Shanahan has already taken into account his status as a repeat offender when he shoved the Rangers' Brad Richards into the boards only 21 games ago back to last season. He got five games for it. It cost him $152,439 in lost money.

Commissioner Gary Bettman will hear the case and make a ruling. If Kaleta, however, is unsatisfied with the result, he can have a hearing before an arbitrator, who will determine "whether the final decision...violated the League Playing Rules and whether the length of the suspension imposed were supported by substantial evidence." Katela will still remain suspended during the appeals process.

If you remember at the beginning of the season, Coyotes tough guy Paul Bissonnette appealed his 10-game suspension for leaving the bench to join in on an altercation during the preseason. Video evidence showed that Bissonnette left on a legal line change, and Bettman gave him a three-game suspension instead.

I don't know if Kaleta has a case. I haven't entirely seen the video of Kaleta's hit on Johnson so I can't really say if it's fair or not. But since this is a hit that has attracted the attention of the league office, he's got to get a suspension. And because he is deemed a "repeat offender" I doubt he'll get lower than the five games he got last season. If Bettman were to agree with Kaleta, I think it's between 6-7. I doubt it'll be lower because of his history with the league. Either way, he will sit some games out and that's bad news for the Sabres going forward. At least they won their first game Tuesday night against the Islanders.

Update: Lapierre Gets Hearing

I mentioned yesterday that Maxim Lapierre could get a possibility of suspension as a result of his vicious hit on the Sharks' Dan Boyle. Well, that suspension is now more likely than ever.

Lapierre faces the possibility of a long suspension. He has been offered an in-person hearing, meaning that his suspension could be six games or longer. The meeting is expected to happen on Friday, according to Canadian reporter Renaud Lavoie.  And Lapierre will be suspended until that hearing.

Todd McLellan said of Lapierre's hit. "It's needless. Doesn't have to happen in our game. The respect factor isn't where it needs to be. Hard and stupid are two different people."

I'll tell you this, if Brendan Shanahan says this was a blind hit or a hit that didn't really need to happen, I would agree. Dan Boyle did not see Lapierre coming, so you could make the case that this was a blind hit. Despite that, it doesn't need to happen. I did say yesterday that I would give him five, but now that there is an in-person hearing, I would say either six or seven. Six at the minimum. And plus, if you add this last suspension in March 2010 for a hit from behind when he was a Montreal Canadien, you could agree that his past history with discipline could really factor into this.

Either way, Lapierre will be out of the game for a while. And the Blues are really going to need to find a way to replace him and stay ahead of the pack during that time.

Maxim Lapierre Should Be Suspended

Tonight's Sharks-Blues game was a battle of the unbeatens. However, that was marred when Sharks defenseman Dan Boyle was taken off the ice on a stretcher after a hit from behind by Blues forward Maxim Lapierre.

Boyle was injured in the first period when he pursued the puck along the boards and Lapierre hit him from behind there. His face hit the glass and his lip on the boards.

Lapierre was ejected for the hit, and for the next five minutes of a Sharks power play, they scored twice en route to a 6-2 win that allowed them to remain undefeated. The Blues dropped to 4-1.

This hit was in the wake of Patrick Kaleta's suspension of 10 games by NHL disciplinarian Brendan Shanahan for a head hit against Jack Johnson of the Blue Jackets. Since Lapierre hit him from behind square in the middle means that Lapierre might be getting a call from Shanahan. He has been suspended before for four games in March 2010, for a late hit on then-Shark Scott Nichol.

Lapierre is not a repeat offender because it has been past 12 months since he last got suspended for a hit. But this was a dirty play like his last one. He made no effort to get to the puck and only wanted to crush Boyle's head in. Lapierre has been known as a dirty player at times, so it will not be surprising if he gets suspended for his. My guess on the number of games if he gets suspended: 4-5 games. Most likely 5. He's not a repeat offender but his past actions might convince Shanahan that he might sit him out for more games.

Will the Rangers Be Able to Come Back?

The New York Rangers have started the season poorly. Only 1-4 and have been outscored 20-5 in that span. Their only win coming against the LA Kings. And with that record intact, there seems to be some changes already in effect.

On Monday the Rangers put backup goaltender Martin Biron and winger Arron Asham on waivers, intending to send them down to their AHL team in Hartford. The belief for this team is that they will recall goalie Cam Talbot, who had a good training camp but wasn't great enough to make it to the NHL team. Also, there is some speculation that the Rangers will bring up either Chris Kreider or J.T. Miller to replace the waived Asham. Also, the Rangers have placed Rick Nash on injured reserve. He is still suffering symptoms of his head injury he incurred a week ago in San Jose.

With all these moves, Coach Alain Vigneault insists that this isn't a shakeup of his team. On Biron, Vigneault stated, "It's a performance-based business, and the organization felt that Marty's first two performances were not what we expected."

Well, his performance has dipped in the past few years since he left Philadelphia. And he certainly looked too rusty in his performances against Los Angeles, San Jose, and St. Louis. I'm getting a hint that he might end up retiring soon. He's had a good career but he's not been playing great of late and with him going to the AHL, I'm sure this is his wake-up call to retire.

As for Asham, he was waived and unclaimed in the summer. However, he made the team in camp and then was made a healty scratch in Saturday's game against the Blues. I'm not sure which team will want to take a chance on Asham. He has been a pest for opponents for the past couple seasons and will be no surprise if no team plans on taking him. Just remember Sean Avery. He was a little bit more pesty than Asham, though, but the point still stands.

Anyway, I don't know what direction the Rangers are going. They're struggling in net. Henrik Lundqvist has definitely not been great either, but he is the face of the Rangers and they're going to need him going forward. I hope Cam Talbot proves a better backup than Biron. He's younger and he's a little more talented while Biron is a bit past his prime and should retire. As for the replacement for Asham, I don't really know these players that well. But if they can provide what Asham couldn't, in terms of defense and helping Lundqvist, then I'd say let them stay. In the meantime, we'll see where the Rangers go. They play the Washington Capitals on Wednesday night.

Should Thomas Vanek Go?

Happy Canadien Thanksgiving and USA Columbus Day, puckheads! Seriously, I keep thinking that Thanksgiving Day is both on the same day in Canada and the US. Guess I'm always surprised at the things I hear. Anyway, let's talk about Thomas Vanek and the Buffalo Sabres.

They are the worst team in the league right, sitting at 0-5-1. They have a stench of a team that can't get up and has basically no defense. Ryan Miller looks like nothing out there and that is very well going to hurt his chances for the USA Olympic team. But the story right now for the Sabres is the possibly that they're going to trade Thomas Vanek. The most likely team to get him is the team that they're playing tonight: The Minnesota Wild. Being traded to the Wild means he'll be reunited with Jason Pominville, who also played for the Sabres at the point, and he'll go to a better team with better odds at making the playoffs. Also, Vanek is a pending free agent next summer and he played college hockey for the University of Minnesota.

So the question is: Should Vanek be traded now? I don't think so. There's plenty of hockey left for the Sabres to make a turn-around. And they're going to need Vanek right now if they want to do now. If the Sabres trade Vanek now, they're basically sending a message that they are done for this season and don't want to make a run when it matters the most. They're basically acting like the Jacksonville Jaguars in just trading away their highest-rated players in exchange for the future. I don't think the Sabres should think about their future right now. They need Vanek at this point in time while it still matters. If by chance they still can't turn it around in February or so, then I would think they should consider trading Vanek away. In the meantime, hold on to him and see if he can help the Sabres in the long-run. Right now, they need him more than ever.

The Sabres play the Wild tonight on NBC Sports Network.

How the Ducks Fare Without Bobby Ryan

Well, Ducks fans weren't especially too pleased with Bobby Ryan being traded away to the Ottawa Senators in the summer, but in truth, it was actually a good deal for both sides, and especially one for the Ducks and GM Bob Murray. Here are five reasons why the Ducks are better off without Bobby Ryan.

1. The play to get Jakob Silfverberg
Silfverberg was the key player that Anaheim wanted. He has four goals so far in his first four games in a Ducks uniform. He's three years younger than Ryan and has the ability to produce what Bobby Ryan has produced in his past seasons with Anaheim. Look for Silfverberg to make a huge impact on this team. He's a young and up-and-coming player with a lot of potential so it made sense for Murray to get him in return for Ryan.

2. The cap position
If Ryan stayed with the Ducks, they would've had to move a veteran or two. They probably would have had to ship Koivu out and the Ducks weren't planning on that. Silfverberg's on an entry level contact that pays him less than $1 million. Ryan is scheduled to earn $5.1 million this season and the coming season. It made sense for him to go so the Ducks can be a lot under the salary cap instead of the 2 million they would've been if Ryan stayed.

3. Well-earned Return of Rookies
In addition to acquiring Silfverberg, Murray also gained a skilled forward in Stefan Noesen, also another up-and-coming player with a potential in the NHL in the next couple years. The Ducks also get Ottawa's first-round pick, which is most likely to be a mid-round pick and would be ahead of their own pick. Hey, the Ducks are projected to finish better than the Senators in my opinion.

4. Ryan trade rumors a distraction
Bobby Ryan's name came up several times over the past three years as a player on the move for the Ducks. People ignored these rumors, but it wasn't easy. They have been open to move Ryan for a while and with Perry and Getzlaf getting new contracts, it seemed like Ryan was the odd-man out. And he'll fit right in with the Senators, now that Daniel Alfredsson has moved on.

5. A freshman roster can build a team
The Ducks disappointed in losing to the Red Wings last spring. They didn't have a lot of cap space to make a move in the playoffs either. This move sends a message to fans that the Ducks plan to stay aggressive in order to stay a playoff contender. Trust me, Bobby Ryan was not much of an aggressor. And in Ottawa, they've got plenty of aggressiveness that Ryan won't need to worry about being an aggressor.

Well, Bobby Ryan is on the move and even though he is gone from Anaheim and in Ottawa, it seems like a fair move for both parties. GM Murray wouldn't be making this move if he wasn't going to get something equal in return. And Silfverberg fits the bill with what the Ducks want in a more youthful and more aggressive squad. Look for big gains for the Ducks in the coming games. Oh, and they beat the Senators tonight 4-1 in their throwback night.

Berube's Plan for the Flyers

Ah, I was waiting for the day when I'd have to write about the Philadelphia Flyers again. And here we are.

Well, as some of you might be aware, Craig Berube is now behind the bench in Philadelphia, replaced the fired Peter Laviolette. Berube played in the NHL in the 80s and 90s and understood penalty minutes the same way that Gretzky knew playmaking and Lemieux knew goal scoring. He played 1,054 games and had a total of 3,054 penalty minutes. He had to learn the difference between taking good and bad penalties. So what's the goal for Craig Berube for the Philadelphia Flyers: Be more disciplined.

Berube said, "We've got to stop taking penalties, we really do. It's been an issue in this organization for too long."

The Flyers lead the NHL in 45 penalties this season. They have played shorthanded for 21:32 in the first six games. And that has resulted in a 1-5 record to start the season, their only win coming against the Florida Panthers at home. However, this team has been offensively challenging since the season began. They started 0-3 before Laviolette got the boot and has been 1-2 since. Not a great record, but it is some improvement. But somehow that offense is taking a beating.

Claude Giroux has been in a slump. This guy is a consistent, high-scorer who's known for putting the puck in quickly. But so far, that hasn't been the case. Vincent Lecavalier and Scott Hartnell have been suffering injuries and will be out for at least a week. So Claude Giroux has had to rely on other players like Brayden Schenn to help him carry the load for this team. But so far, that hasn't worked either.

Craig Berube is taking the right approach to this. They've got to cut down on penalty minutes. They're spending way too much in their own end and it's wearing out their defense. That's why it's getting harder for them offensively to produce. Giroux has to step up some more. He is the captain of this team. When he's in a slump, that entire team does not produce well. I understand Brayden Schenn is doing well so far but the rest of the team is under a slump as well. They're 1-5 and they've got a tough uphill battle ahead of them, especially with games like Vancouver and Pittsburgh on the schedule next.

Berube understands that the team will take time to adjust to his style of coaching. He believes the team is making progress despite the record they currently have. And I would agree. But penaltie cut-downs are crucial in helping this team succeed. And when Lecavalier and Hartnell get back, look for them to help that offense get back on its feet. In the meantime, there's hope, Flyers fans. Your team will get better and Berube's going to make that happen.

Edler Suspended

Alex Edler has been one of the dirtiest players in the NHL. And the NHL took action again on his hit last night in Vancouver against San Jose Sharks' brilliant star Tomas Hertl. He has been suspended for three games and lost $182,926.83. The incident happened in the second period when Edler collided with Hertl near the Canucks bench, causing his helmet to fly off. And according to disciplinarian Brendan Shenahan, Hertl's head was the main target of contact. It violates the illegal hit to the head rule. And plus, since he has been suspended last March for two games for charging Coyotes goaltender Mike Smith. The repeat offender rule is now in effect since it is within 18 months of both hits. He has also been banned from the first two games of the Sochi Olympics because of his knee-on-knee hit to Eric Staal during the world championships.

Seriously, this guy might be the new Matt Cooke. You want to play fair, don't target the head. Otherwise, you take the fall. I'm glad he's getting the three game suspension because it's deserved for targeting young Mr. Hertl, already a star in the making after his brilliant four-goal game Tuesday night against the New York Rangers.

Problem with the New York Rangers?

A 9-2 loss to the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday night and a 6-0 loss to the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday night. Things are not looking so good for the New York Rangers right now and there's some harsh words being said about this team and their performance so far this season. I'll lay out a couple.

1. Henrik Lundqvist is not Henrik Lundqvist. He has been struggling since the season began and he looked like he was out cold on Thursday night. He can't stop anything and he started to look like Marc-Andre Fleury in the playoffs against the Islanders.

2. The first two goals of Thursday's night was a defensive disaster. Ryan McDonagh got beat, which is rare for him. Anton Stralman and Derek Stepan looked weak to backcheck and bail out McDonagh.

3. I hate to go this way, but trading away Marian Gaborik. It came back to bite the Rangers. Rick Nash was out of the lineup on Thursday, but when he was in the lineup, he is not Marian Gaborik. And Derick Brassard has got no production in the four games so far this season. And as far as the other player Derek Dorsett, well, he is what he was, but after his fight with Bryan Allen last night, was not the same. Plus, he got a 10-minute game misconduct.

4. Arron Asham? Seriously? The new rules state that you cannot remove your own helmet. And because of that penalty, the Ducks capitalized. All in all, though, these rules make the game look silly. Then again, it kinda makes the game look safer. I don't care if they're playing it safe or playing it hard, they need to keep the rules that make the game what it is. Until then, Arron Asham needs to learn from these rules.

5. Alain Vigneault's questionable coaching and his decisions, like having no kids on the team, is certainly putting this team at a disadvantage. This is one of the reasons why he got fired from Vancouver. They didn't build up a farm system and they constantly traded away young guns, who could've made an impact for the Canucks. Not with the Rangers, he seems to be going to the exact same method. Not a smart move to hire him if his reputation as a no-kids team is going to take its toll.

6. Every Ranger messed up on the fifth goal. Well, actually it was the six (counting the goaltender) on the ice at the time. Brad Richards was too late on the backcheck that really cost them there.

7. Didn't even call a timeout. Could've used it after that fourth goal. Need I say more?

8. You think the LA Kings regret losing that game against the Rangers at Staples?

9. There's a long season. Who knews what'll happen to the Rangers?

This is trouble. This is a team that's in trouble. They're going to fall too far behind the Penguins and the Capitals in the Metropolitan Division if they can't figure out what they need to do to correct their defense. And honestly, I say pull Henrik Lundqvist. He's not getting the job done and he looks small in net. He's shrinking. He doesn't want the puck and he's having problems reading where the puck is. So all in all, these Rangers have got to figure out their defense and they need to figure out goaltending. I'm surprised the Rangers are this terrible to start the season. I thought they would start out strong but apparently Henrik Lundqvist and the rest of the Rangers are certainly not getting the job done. And plus, if Rick Nash is out long-term, that's a bigger problem for a star with a history of goals. Big, tough test against St. Louis on Saturday. I'm not sure if they can win that game. So many problems for the New York Rangers this early in the season.

Is Hertl the face of the Sharks' future?

The San Jose Sharks are pretty good at building up a farm system for future stars for their team. Just look at Joe Pavelski and Logan Couture, two Sharks who went up through the Sharks' farm system and became great players for the team. But now, it seems like one's risen up above the others in such a short amount of time.

As in my last post, I mentioned that Tomas Hertl got four goals en route to a 9-2 Sharks win over the New York Rangers. The last one he got was the beauty between-the-legs shot. And because of that performance, there's now debates over whether he should be the next Calder Trophy winner and the next face of the Sharks' future.

Now, I gotta admit, a 19-year-old rookie doing this is pretty impressive. But I think we're still looking at a one-night thing. I hope future games prove me wrong and he proves to be exactly what the Sharks are looking for in their future, but right now, I'm going to go on the side of caution and just say this is a one-night thing.

Although Pavelski and Couture are polished players, they didn't exactly make the splash or the buzz that Hertl did in only a short amount of time that he's played in the NHL. Wilson believes he's the next start to the team's 'reset', especially after they shipped out longtime Shark Douglas Murray, Ryan Clowe, and Michal Handzus, who were veterans, but were not part of the Sharks' future. After those trades, the Sharks were a quick and energized team that beat out the Canucks in the first round of last years' playoffs and came close to beating the Kings in the second round.

Now with Hertl a key addition, they look to be a more formidable team in the West. They've outscored their opponents 17-4 in their first three games. And a future they will build on with that with Hertl on their team.

Could Tomas Hertl face backlash?

By now, everybody has seen the incredible performance that Tomas Hertl put on against the New York Rangers on Thursday night. Four goals, capped off by a between-the-legs goal in the third period, which helped the Sharks pile on the Rangers 9-2. But instead of earning praise for his accomplishment, some people believe that it has overshadow the unwritten rule of decorum.

In particular, Washington Capitals coach Adam Oates, who played in the NHL for 19 years, is one of those people. Oates said, "I'm upset. I was just talking to Capitals GM George McPhee and he said all kids do that nowadays, which I understand. But would he have done it on his first goal?"

After the fourth goal, Hertl did not play the 7:55 remaining in the game. Some might see it as punishment by Sharks coach Todd McLellan for what Hertl did but others might see it as a way to protect his young player from retaliation. Although McLellan confirms that it was a real good celebrating time. But said, "He's so innocent that he's excited about doing it. Sometimes that passion is a good thing to have in our game."

I respect Adam Oates' decision to say that what Hertl did breaks the unwritten rules of decorum, but he's only 19. If he was 25 or 26 or something like that, this kind of talk would be deserved. But he doesn't know, and he's only a kid who's trying to enjoy the game. A lot of young people his age have never done that. So I don't agree with Adam Oates about kids this age. He's gotta learn that sometimes you can't teach kids the unwritten rules until they actually do it. Otherwise, they won't ever learn until they know how to do it.

In all honesty, Adam Oates, just coach your team. Oh, and by the way, you lost to the Hurricanes tonight. You should worry about your own team and less about how other players in the NHL are playing their game. Also, leave Tomas Hertl alone. Kid just learned something new, so maybe he'll take a new light on things. On the other hand, maybe you should blame the New York Rangers for looking so bad. After all, didn't they beat you in the playoffs?

Anyway, I respect what Hertl did and I don't have a problem with his celebration at this age. He was a young kid who was learning the NHL rules, written and unwritten. If he wants to celebrate, I say we give him that and move on. That's what we do, anyway, right?