from Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun,

- Before there was a salary cap, the stingiest of general managers had internal caps within their teams. When Harry Sinden ran the Boston Bruins, the rule was no player earned more than Ray Bouqure. When Lou Lamoriello ran the New Jersey Devils, Martin Brodeur topped the salary grid – all players had to come in below Brodeur’s salary. And the same was true when Ken Holland had Nick Lidstrom on defence. Lidstrom was his highest paid player. Great as Pavel Datsyuk may have been, he had to slide in somewhere beneath Lidstrom. Dubas does not appear to be operating that way with the Leafs. He has John Tavares at $11 million a year and word around is that Matthews will be in the $12 million range when he eventually signs. But could he use Tavares as a top the way Sinden, Lamoriello and Holland did? You could make that argument.

- The NHL Players’ Association has filed an appeal of Tom Wilson’s 20-game suspension. So who exactly speaks for the victim Oskar Sundqvist, the St. Louis player who begins the season injured reserve with both brain and shoulder injuries. Isn’t he an NHLPA member, too?

- Department of bush: The Washington Capitals celebrated their Stanley Cup championship, once again, on opening night with not a single mention of departed coach Barry Trotz.

more