from Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal,

- Goalie Nikolai Khabibulin managed to score a $1.7-million contract from the Chicago Blackhawks but will he finish the season as their backup? He’s allowed 14 goals on 74 shots, and now he’s hurt as he so often has been the last few years. They’ll bring up Finn Antti Raanta to caddy for starter Corey Crawford.

- The six outdoor games this season is certainly overkill, but it’s basically a league I.O.U. to the players, who are apparently owed hundreds of millions as part of the collective bargaining agreement. So rather than have the owners dig into their pockets, we get all these games, which are a cash cow.

- What the Edmonton Oilers sorely need is some 25- to 29-year-old hard-nosed leader types to go with the kids and the 30-somethings. Somebody like Andrew Ladd out of Winnipeg or Ryan Callahan of the New York Rangers. There’s a real void there.

a few more points...