Sunday Night Hockey

GM Meeting

The GMs are schedule to meet soon in Boca Raton. Here are a few things that will be discussed:

• Re-introducing the Red Line
• Coaches Challenge
• 3-on-3 overtime
• And more (that I can't remember, kind of wanted to just talk about those three)

The re-introduction of the Red Line isn't as great of an idea as it may seem. It is there as a player safety issue, but I think it's not the way to go. It also sacrifices some entertainment in games. The best compromise is to widen the rink, make it to international scale. The more room to move around, the less likely of dangerous collisions.

The Coaches Challenge is something that should be implemented. 'Nuff said.

Th 3-on-3 overtime is something that has been experimented with in the R&D camp for the past few years, and has recently been brought back into the spotlight bt Detroit GM Ken Holland.  The 3-on-3 overtime would be placed betwen the end of the 4-on-4 OT period and the shootout (essentially making it 2 OT periods before the shootout). While I still think the shootout is nothing more than a gimmick, the idea of having another (regular season) OT period just irks me. It just has a feling about it that another OT will water down the game (as in the game it takes place in, not the game as a whole).

The Return of the Radulov?

As reported by Dmitry Chesnokov, Alexander Radulov is contemplating a return to Nashville for the
remainder of the season plus the playoffs. This is subjected to NHL and NHLPA approval. If he is allowed to return, then (since he is still technically under contract with Nashville), he is allowed to play in the playoffs, unlike Turco in Boston.

The addition of Radulov to Nashville will only make them more scary. Nashville is already loaded on the defensive side, so any offense added is going to make them deadly. Radulov also benefits from coming back to play since it will burn up the last year on his entry-level deal. He would become an RFA afterwards, finally getting the pay-raise he wanted before he left.

So circle March 15th on your calendars. We'll see if Radulov returns.

Lineup NOTables

Kind of late for the injuries, so just the goalies (and I'm moving the Croatia/fight thing, talk about it later on)

Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Washington Capitals

Toronto: Jonas Gustasvsson starts.
Washington: Michal Neuvirth is expected to start.

Calgary Flames vs. Minnesota Wild

Calgary: Miikka Kiprussoff is in net tonight.
Minnesota: Matt Hackett starts.