from Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun,

- Not much Olympic talk yet, but the Sochi Games are a year away and you can pencil in a Canadian defence that will include Drew Doughty, Shea Weber, Duncan Keith, Kris Letang and Alex Pietrangelo and then the conversation gets interesting for GM Steve Yzerman, who has yet to pick his coaching staff. The early question: Who plays goal?

- Best part about the NHL lockout being over: Watching five hours of hockey just about every night on television. Worst part about the lockout being over: Watching five hours of hockey just about every night on television.

- Available by trade: Phoenix defenceman Keith Yandle, he of the long-term contract.

more hockey notes