from Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun,

- When Bob Johnson was coaching in the NHL, he figured the best way to shut down Gretzky was to ignore him. This came after years of trying to shadow him. Instead of shadowing Gretzky, Johnson chose to shadow linemate Jari Kurri instead. The strategy worked at the time.

- If NHL hockey can’t sustain itself in Winnipeg, then commissioner Gary Bettman will have no choice but to move the team to one of the many American cities that could. The Jets have the wealthiest owner in the NHL. But losing money and trending in the wrong direction isn’t the way to go. Bettman will fight forever to keep hockey in money-losing Arizona. And while he’s fought for Edmonton and Calgary before, we’re not sure he has it in him to do it one more time in Canada.

- At the NHL all-star break, Bettman was quite complimentary about Toronto and how much it has meant to the league. You could, however, reverse the equation and calculate how little the NHL has actually done for the Maple Leafs over time. This is the 19th season since the salary cap was added to hockey. The Leafs were against it then, and probably against it now. In the past 18 years, the Leafs have been in the post-season eight times, missed it 10 times, and are 1-8 in playoff rounds since the cap was introduced.

- The injury to Mark Stone in Vegas gives crafty GM Kelly McCrimmon all kinds of LTIR money to play with as the trade deadline approaches. No doubt, Stone will be back for the playoffs, where dollars don’t count and the McCrimmon will be at the front of the trading line with money to spend.

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