from Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun,

- I asked the most accomplished hockey person I know if Patrick Kane should win the Hart Trophy. His answer: “Offensively yes, defensively no.” If Chicago makes the playoffs, Kane and Kucherov will probably finish 1-2 or 2-1 in battle for MVP of the NHL.

- This is Jack Eichel’s fourth NHL season. Still not heading to the playoffs. Still not close enough in Buffalo.

- Department of Still crazy after all these years — playing games on NHL trade deadline day.

- Connor McDavid, currently suspended on an unnecessary reach by the NHL’s department of safety, is about to miss the post-season in Edmonton for the third time in his four-year career. The best comparison that can be made in terms of team and performance is made to the early years of Mario Lemieux, who missed the post-season in Pittsburgh in his first four NHL campaigns.

The Oilers are an embarrassing 28th in the NHL right now, won’t be anywhere close to a playoff spot and McDavid, the game’s most exciting player, will miss the bright lights of April, May and June once again. We’ll miss it and we’ll miss him.

There is a lot to do in Edmonton — a general manager to be hired, a roster to be built — but what a shame it is that hockey fans from across North America are deprived of watching McDavid as this giant sits inactive when the game matters most.

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