from Larry Brooks of the New York Post,

- Marian Gaborik, who sustained a broken collarbone on Dec. 21 in his first match after having been sidelined for 17 games with a sprained knee, is determined to compete for Slovakia in Sochi if health permits, even if the Blue Jackets aren’t exactly thrilled by the prospect.

Another injury would destroy the trade deadline market for the former Ranger, who, as an impending free agent, would be considered one of the prime available rentals up front with the Islanders’ Thomas Vanek, Buffalo’s Matt Moulson, Calgary’s Mike Cammalleri and perhaps the Rangers’ captain Callahan and the Devils’ Jaromir Jagr.

- In light of the apparent season-ending injury to Pascal Dupuis, you would have to believe the Penguins will be knee-deep again in that market.

- Boy oh boy, would the Maple Leafs love to find a taker for Nazem Kadri.

- Washington owner Ted Leonsis, who fancies himself a progressive, must be so proud of the intermission feature that ran on his arena’s scoreboard screen during Friday’s match against the Rangers, in which former Cap and current TV analyst Alan May gave a fighting tutorial for … well, for whom, the kids in the stands?

May, who, according to hockeyfights.com, had 92 fighting majors while picking up 1,189 penalty infraction minutes in 345 games for the Capitals from 1989 through 1994, showed how to gain the upper hand in on-ice bouts by grabbing and twisting an opponent’s jersey, and in using body shots before throwing upper cuts to the face to seize control. Clips of the Capitals pummeling opponents with their fists were interspersed with the lecture.

Classy stuff.

more