from Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun,

- The men’s tourney at the Winter Games was almost unwatchable and was certainly nothing to remember. The hockey wasn’t much to see four years ago in PyeongChang, but even that — planned in advance — seemed somewhat better, more interesting than this. This last-minute attempt featured rushed-together teams with a strategy of hope and produced roster after roster of excited indifference. The players involved were blessed to be chosen.

Those watching from home, not so much.

I kept watching and waiting and hoping for something good to happen — some play or game to remember, some moment to file away. Instead, a few lost NHLers, a few hopefuls, a bunch of minor leaguers and European professionals were put together and didn’t form teams as much as collections of unconnected parts that didn’t know how to do anything but trap....

- A quick bad trade update: Mason Marchment scored three goals for Florida against the Minnesota Wild. That’s nine goals in his past 12 games and 26 points in 24 games for the season. Denis Malgin, whom the Maple Leafs acquired in exchange for Bryan Marchment’s son, scored a goal for Switzerland, which finished 1-4, at the Beijing Olympics.

- In the NBA, you just don’t ask to be traded. You let them know what team you want to be traded to a la James Harden and Ben Simmons. The same might be working with Marc-Andre Fleury and the Chicago Blackhawks. Don’t be surprised if he winds up in Boston at or before the trade deadline.

more on the first topic plus other hockey notes...