via Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun,

- Funny how things go. Last lockout, Brian Burke was a regular voice on television, arguing with Glenn Healy. This lockout, in a position where his own franchise is getting screwed, he’s not saying a word.

- To those who continually say they are missing hockey terribly, I give you this: Really, you’ve missed nothing so far. The NHL season wasn’t supposed to start until this week. By next weekend, you can officially be missing hockey.

- In his new book, The Best Seat in the House, career backup Jamie McLennan details his first meeting with goaltender coach Billy Smith. McLennan was playing in the minors for the Islanders at the time when the legendary Smith popped in to get a look at him.

At the end of his first game, a rather strong performance, Smith called McLennan said: “I need to talk to you.” McLennan thought he was about to be praised for how well he played. Instead, he was read the riot act for allowing a minor league mascot in St. John’s to stand in his goal crease prior to the game. “I don’t care how many pucks you stop,” Smith said to him. “Don’t you ever let a $%^& mascot stand in your crease. If he’s there the next game, you %^^&$* run him over. Do you understand?” McLennan understood.

He started the next night and just as he was told, skating to his crease at full speed, he sent the mascot flying. He felt horrible about it. And he played horribly that night. But the goalie coach didn’t seem to care. “That’s how you do it, kid. That’s how you get respect in this league.”