from Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal,

- Where has Phil Kessel gone in the midst of the Toronto Maple Leafs’ eight-game losing streak? Your best players have to be your best players, but he’s missing in action at $8 million a year. Personally, I wouldn’t want to be anybody in the Leafs’ organization because Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment head man Tim Lieuweke likes results and MLSE will take a bath if the hockey club misses the playoffs.

- Anaheim Ducks GM Bob Murray, who has the deepest pool of young talent in the league, will revisit the idea of trading for Vancouver Canucks centre Ryan Kesler at the June draft. Every young gun in his rack is likely available except outstanding rookie Hampus Lindholm, arguably coach Bruce Boudreau’s best defenceman, fellow blueliner Cam Fowler and farm team goalie John Gibson....

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Here too,

- The Calgary Flames are like a hitter at the plate who keeps fouling off pitches. They’re no easy out, maybe the NHL’s toughest out considering their skill set up front. “They have an identity, and the easiest thing to hang your hat on as a coach is a work ethic,” said an opposing NHL coach. “When you have that and you lose, you can say ‘well, we didn’t get the breaks, but we worked hard.’ If you are skilled and you lose, you can’t sell that. Teams that have a work ethic can sell a loss by saying ‘we just didn’t have it tonight.’ Selling work is like selling ice to Eskimos. Calgary’s selling the right thing.”

- Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin has 48 goals but hasn’t scored one at even-strength in a month. Flip side: Jarome Iginla has 26 goals in his last 50 games for Boston. Ovie has 22 on the power play; Iginla has four on the PP of his 30 total.

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