from Steve Simmons of the Toront Sun,

- Still waiting for a hockey fancy stat that can measure gap control by a defenceman, stick positioning, angling, and players who are or aren’t on the proper side of the puck. All of those are essential in every game played.

- more Poile: “Every couple of years I make a trade for a Forsberg. This time (Filip) it seems to have worked out well. Last time, (Peter) it didn’t work out so well.”

- I was convinced Dallas Eakins would fix the Edmonton Oilers. Really, I was.

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from Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun,

Teams which are looking for goaltenders — including the Edmonton Oilers — have a limited crop to choose from at the moment. Minnesota sent down Josh Harding and would like to move him but is not sure if there are going to be any takers there at the moment. If nobody wants to sign UFA Martin Brodeur, then teams could look at the likes of Carolina’s Cam Ward, Vancouver’s Jakob Markstrom and Winnipeg’s Peter Budaj. A check with some NHL teams in the last couple of days indicates that the pickings are pretty slim. The Arizona (don’t call me Phoenix) Coyotes aren’t looking to replace Mike Smith, but they do need him to play better than he has. Backup Devan Dubnyk got a couple of starts this week because Smith just hasn’t performed the way the club expected.

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