from Frank Seravalli of TSN,

All-Star weekend in Nashville will be an emotional homecoming for Barry Trotz.Washington has clinched the best points percentage in the Metropolitan Division through Jan. 9, the official midway point of the season, so Trotz, who coached the Predators for 15 seasons, will be back behind the bench at Bridgestone Arena. There will be no shortage of strong media material from coaches in Nashville, with two other coaching positions also determined in Dallas’ Lindy Ruff (Central) and Los Angeles’ Darryl Sutter (Pacific). Florida’s Gerard Gallant will represent the Atlantic if the Panthers pick up at least one point through Tuesday or Thursday. The final 40 players, as chosen by the NHL’s hockey operations department, will be announced on Wednesday.

Don’t look now, but Anaheim Ducks awoke Monday in a playoff spot for the first time this season. The Ducks are riding a six-game point streak, but coach Bruce Boudreau warned Sunday night’s win over Winnipeg: “We’re not out of the woods yet, but we’re certainly playing better.” Anaheim is home for the next seven games.

Cheers to outgoing NHL officials Rob Martell and Mike Cvik, both of whom are retiring midway through this season. Martell, 52, refereed his 1,000th and final NHL game on Saturday night in Tampa Bay. The NHL allows officials to choose their crew and assignment for milestone and final games; Martell picked referee Dan O’Halloran and linesmen Brian Mach and Andy McElman to share in his 20-year curtain call. Cvik, 53, debuted as an NHL linesman on Oct. 8, 1987 in Vancouver’s Pacific Coliseum, making him the league’s second-longest tenured on-ice official. Sunday marked the 1,863rd game for the only official as big as Zdeno Chara (6-foot-9). That’s a lot of miles in a cramped airline seat. All the best in your next adventure, gentlemen.

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