from Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun,

On Barry Trotz in the first point...

- ... The expectation from both the inside and outside is that he will be pushed aside at the end of the season — Cup or no Cup.

Only winning the Cup, if that happens, complicates matters. How does general manager Brian MacLellan sell pushing Trotz out the door to a rabid fan base who are more engaged with the Capitals than ever before, after so many seasons of crushed expectations. MacLellan wants assistant Todd Reirden, a fellow Bowling Green alumnus, to be the Capitals head coach. And that has created a pull of sorts on the coaching staff with Trotz knowing the favourite to take his job is working right beside him.....

- Hockey is getting too much like baseball. A season goes wrong and the NHL teams fires the first base coach. Rick Bowness deserved better than to be shown the door in Tampa.

- There were doubts about Bill Peters before Calgary hired him. The doubts increase now after a rather disinterested Canadian performance at the world championships.

more on Trotz and a few more hockey items...