from Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun,

- Zach Hyman grew up in Toronto, is a graduate of the Greater Toronto Hockey League and should be playing in next week’s NHL all-star game at Scotiabank Arena.

And what an honour that would have been for a kid who almost no one saw becoming an NHL difference-maker.

But unless something changes quickly — an injury, a no-show, an unlikely circumstance — Hyman will not get the invitation to be part of an event that means so much to him and to his family as well....

- Who would have thought this was possible? But it’s hard to watch Alexander Ovechkin play with the Washington Capitals. He’s scored one goal in January, two in December, three in November, two in October. He has three power-play goals this season and two empty-netters. Hard to watch him get old while Sidney Crosby is still playing like Sidney Crosby.

- Paul Coffey has made a huge difference since taking over the defence of the Edmonton Oilers. The first 15 games of the season, the streaky Oilers gave up 55 goals. In their past 15 games, all of them wins, they’ve given up just 23.

- So who saw this coming: Coffey, the second greatest offensive defence man in history, now teaching stay-at-home defence.

- So 38-year-old Corey Perry is now an Oiler and 39-year-old Zach Parise is signing on in Colorado. Makes you wonder where, if anywhere, 36-year-old Phil Kessel is going? He was a healthy scratch for 18 of Vegas’ 22 playoff games last Stanley Cup season after putting up 36 points in the regular season. Parise had 34 points last season with the Islanders while Perry had five points in six playoff games with Tampa Bay.

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