from Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun,

- Thankfully, the NHL season begins on Tuesday. That month of pre-season games seems a month and a half too long … In Canada, we’d like to see the NHL season start earlier and end earlier. In many U.S. markets, owners would like the seasons to start in November and end late.

- My Stanley Cup pick, and I’m never right on these things: New York Rangers over Edmonton Oilers. This would be the 30th anniversary of the most recent NYR championship. The most recent Oilers title was 34 years ago.

- Department of Nonsense: NHL talk of expansion to Atlanta. I’d been to Atlanta to see the Flames and the Thrashers on many occasions. Don’t think I’ve ever seen a more disinterested fan base.

just a few more hockey notes, but a lot of baseball talk...