from Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun,

- An NHL executive claims Dion Phaneuf wants out “of that nut house in Toronto.” For the record, Phaneuf has never said anything publicly about wanting out of any nut house.

- Almost every night of the Stanley Cup playoffs, I start watching a game and end up watching the Blue Jays or an NBA game. This hockey playoff season is not grabbing me this year the way it has in the past.

- The on-again, off-again Seattle arena project seems to be off again. The minute there’s an arena in Seattle there will be an NHL team there. Even though the locals are more interested in the NBA than the NHL.

more hockey notes, including of course, Babcock talk...