from Larry Brooks of the New York Post,

- Calgary as the West’s first-place team, not to mention by a noteworthy six-point margin over San Jose and seven ahead of Winnipeg and Nashville (even if the Jets hold three games in hand), would rate as a most unexpected first-half development.

But nothing, and I mean nothing, comes close to as big an All-Star snapshot surprise as the Islanders being one point ahead of the Maple Leafs, with each having played 49 games and with 33 to go.
Here, you get our best player. In exchange, we’ll take Matt Martin and Leo Komarov. We good?

Here is the unknowable unknown: Just how good would the Barry Trotz Islanders be with John Tavares, and please, please, if you’re going to tell me the team is better off without that selfish, pajama-boy 91, you can go stand over there with the people who think Boyle was a better choice than Stralman.

- Perhaps they carry the curse of the old, never-lamented Southeast Division, but if there is a lifetime achievement award for Unfulfilled Expectations, wouldn’t it be shared by the Carolina Candy Canes and the Florida Puddy Tats, always promising more and somehow delivering less.

I’d suggest naming it the Brian Burke Award.

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