from Larry Brooks of the New York Post,

- ... The league could and should elevate the importance of the regular season rather than merely dressing it up by adding the equivalent of costume jewelry to the ensemble. What will they do, paint the neutral zone red?

The NHL could enhance the 82-game marathon by awarding division champions five home games in a best-of-seven playoff series through the first two rounds. And it could limit wild-card entrants to two home games per series for as long as they survive.

Races for first place and to secure either second or third in the division would be amplified. It would add juice to the season. It would add fiber to the seven-month tour rather than the empty calories of a contrived tournament.

It would add meaning to the season.

That should be the point.

- Have you ever heard the story of the union boss who, frustrated with either a lack of information or a stream of misinformation coming from management regarding the arena situation with the Coyotes, picked up the phone and chatted up his pal, the Mayor of Phoenix, to come up with the real info?

- Finally, you tell me.

What are the odds that Steven Stamkos becomes the 2024 trade deadline (healthy) version of Patrick Kane?

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