Not Passing The Torch Yet

There is no doubt the Chicago Blackhawks have turned themselves into a Stanley Cup contender. Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, Brent Seabrook, Duncan Keith and gang have a very legitimate shot at hoisting Lord Stanley's fabled mug sometime in what late August. They laid the boots to Vancouver the other night on home ice and it looked as if they were going to lay the boots to the Red Wings at home Sunday afternoon as they led the hockey game 2-0 at one point. A one-sided victory over the once dominant Wings could have been a sign that the torch was being passed, but Detroit let everyone know they are keeping their hands on that torch for a while yet and that perhaps those who are discounting them shouldn't be. Detroit roared back to score 5 straight goals and then hung on for a 5-4 win. When you have guys like Lidstrom, Datsyuk and Zetterberg, you still have to be considered as a threat to win it all. Detroit told Chicago they are not ready to give up their throne as the dominant team in the Western Conference yet. If the season were to end today, Detroit would play San Jose. Who would you take? Considering the past playoff failures in Northern California, I would look Detroit's way.
----
NHL GM's say they are ready to talk head shots. The group get together in Florida and headshots are on the agenda. Carolina's Jim Rutherford is one of eight GMs who will be tasked with discussing various aspects of headshots before it is tackled by the larger group. A decision could then be made to recommend a rule change, which would need to be approved by the competition committee and league's board of governors.
Traditionally, the managers have grappled with finding a way to make hitting safer without diminishing the physical aspect of the sport. For example, the Canadian Hockey League currently assesses an automatic minor penalty for any check to the head, but that hasn't been a solution that appeals to many of the NHL general managers because they feel it discourages hitting.
One thing that has to be discussed is what happened last night in Pittsburgh.




Matt Cooke should be expecting a call from the NHL offices today after this cheap shot on Marc Savard. He could have hit him cleanly, but he comes from the side with his elbow. It wasn't needed. This is what the game has to get rid of. I'm not one of these guys that thinks fighting has to be taken out of the game, but stuff like this does.
------
Break up the Oil. They make it two in a row as they shut out New Jersey. At this rate, they will be number 31 in the NHL and will have to take whoever Toronto doesn't want....I mean Boston! Leaf fans are going to be absolutely irate if they lose out on Taylor Hall or Tyler Seguin because of the Phil Kessel trade. It would be almost worth it to see what happens in Toronto, but the way the Oilers need to rebuild, it is best for them to get that number one pick. Then again the way some scouts talk, there isn't a lot of difference between Hall and Seguin so perhaps it will be a win-win for both the Bruins and Oil.
-----
Another successful Telemiracle as over 4 million was raised. They only had just over a million with 5 hours to go. Where did that 3 million come from in the final 5 hours?
------
Is this fog ever going away?
-----
Have we seen the last of "cold" weather?
----
I heard today that I missed a Cubs game on WGN on Saturday. Baseball is back!
---
How long until the BC Lions do something with either Buck Pierce or Jarious Jackson or both now that Casey Printers has signed a contract extension. If Jackson or Pierce are "traded" to Toronto, those that don't like David Braley owning both teams will have something to crow about. I can see Jackson wearing double blue in 10.
---
How many thought Darrell McKee would be 2-1 after weekend action at the Brier?
---
As the WHL season winds down, I see no reason to change my selection of the Calgary Hitmen as the league champs this year.
----
As you start your Monday, I ask you this.

Is the Hokey Pokey really what its all about?