We’re getting closer and closer to learning who’s on the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympic international hockey rosters for Team Canada and others, but is Jamie Benn getting closer and closer to making the team?
Steve Yzerman was at the Colorado Avalanche / Dallas Stars game Monday night in Denver and then again on Tuesday where I can tell you he sat with Kevin Lowe, spoke with Jim Nill at length, and, unlike most scouts, stayed until the game was over.
Pierre LeBrun speculates on his attention:
Dallas left wing Jamie Benn, Stars center Tyler Seguin and Colorado center Matt Duchene were likely the players being scouted by the Team Canada boss, but I’d say mostly Benn and Duchene. [ESPN]
If that were the case then it was Matt Duchene, not Benn, who would have been the big winner in the home-and-home set. Duchene created much more skating head-to-head with Dallas’ top line.
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Mike Smith gets brushed with a stick, lightly, and then apparently someone shoots him with a high powered rifle of some kind because man does he go down dramatically… [SB Nation]
Then former Dallas Stars great Mike Ribeiro, he of the hot-dog shootout attempt flamboyant fashion sense, has the gall to complain to the french media after the game about Max Pacioretty’s goal celebration. The rumor is that he was upset because the Coyotes became the only Western Conference team to lose to an Eastern Conference one this year. I’ll have to double check those numbers. [Habs Eyes on the Prize]
Evidently episode two of 24/7 is going to be about the Florida Panthers beating the Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs repeatedly as the two stumble and swerve toward the Winter Classic. Riveting. [Puck Daddy]
More discussion of the trail-by-fire the young Stars defense is experiencing right now. [The Hockey Writers]
Darren Dreger says the New York Rangers are shopping defenseman Michael Del Zotto, and that the Leafs may be interested, but there’s likely to be little or not movement before the Christmas roster freeze next week. [Dreger Report]
ESPN Dallas takes note of Dan Ellis‘ strong 4-0 home record and play. [ESPN Dallas]
Down Goes Brown and comedy: transcriptions from Brian Burke’s interviews for a new GM in Caglary, including Joe Nieuwendyk funny stuff. [DGB]
“Dallas Stars Slip Past Avalanche” – The implication from the headline writer being that Dallas sure was lucky to barely get by on Tuesday night? We’re seeing a lot of this attitude from media and fans in Denver just a couple of months after thinking they’d be down where the Stars are this year or lower, perhaps. Long season, fellas. [CBS Local-Denver]
Discussing an NHL team in Las Vegas, which… is just asking for trouble on a few different fronts, if you ask me. [Puck Daddy]
The Texas Stars have won six in a row after last night’s 4-2 win over the Rampage. Stephen tells us about what it’s like to have such good times here. [Hundred Degree Hockey]