Red’s notebook
L.A. opens vault for Carter
Now that Los Angeles has taken over Jeff Carter’s 11-year, $58-million extension that he signed with the Philadelphia Flyers on Nov. 13, 2010, Kings GM Dean Lombardi has to be kidding when he says: “Carter isn’t a saviour. He’s not going to come in here and be the cavalry. We’ve got a lot of guys who still have to perform at a higher level, grow into becoming winners.” I say when a player still has 10 years on a contract worth that kind of money you’d think the Kings would expect Carter to do the work of an entire division, particularly since the former Flyer isn’t a “rent-a-player.” Carter’s contract features a full no-trade clause for another three seasons, followed by a limited no-trade clause thereafter.
Jets climb in standings
Are the Jets making the season exciting for Winnipeg fans, or what? After Thursday’s 4-3 win against Tampa Bay, the Jets moved into the Southeast Division lead, with a No. 3 ranking alongside the team name. Remarkable, really. “It’s nice to be above, but we understand we still have a long way to go,” captain Andrew Ladd said. “We’re not going to be happy until the season’s over and we’re above the line. We need to keep taking advantage of playing at home here and playing some good hockey.”
Unlucky injury for Anderson
At the very least, you have to feel sorry for Ottawa goaltender Craig Anderson. After coming off a 5-2 victory against the Washington Capitals on Wednesday, he suffered a hand laceration at home while preparing a meal, and now is sidelined indefinitely. No penalty was called on the play.
Cooke shines on penalty kill
Love him or hate him, Matt Cooke continues to deliver for the Pittsburgh Penguins – such as scoring an even-strength goal and a second when the Pens were short-handed two men in a recent 6-4 victory over Philadelphia. How often do you see that?
Important goal by Cammalleri
Did you notice that Mike Cammalleri scored in Calgary’s 1-0 victory in Los Angeles last Saturday? What makes it interesting is that it lifted the Flames into eighth place in the West for the first time this season and that it was the second consecutive 1-0 loss by the Kings and the eighth this season. And how about Hal Gill being a team-high plus-2 in his first game with Nashville and then assisting on the winning goal in the Predators’ 3-1 win over Vancouver.
Hamrlik skates on thin ice
It appears that Roman Hamrlik’s stay in Washington will be a short one. The former Canadiens defenceman was a healthy scratch against the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday and there are reports he’s being shopped around. Hamrlik leads the Capitals in blocked shots (119) and ranks 19th in the league in that category.
Close call for Toews
Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews was in a minor car collision in downtown Chicago several days ago, but the team announced he wasn’t injured.
Waiting game for Lecavalier
If Tampa Bay squeezes into the playoffs, it appears it will have to be done without Vincent Lecavalier. The early prognosis is that he’ll be out three to six weeks for the fractured bone in his hand to heal properly. On the other hand, GM Steve Yzerman acknowledges the three-week window might be pushing it. “Three is on the early side,” he said.
Mixed bag for Crosby
The good news: on Thursday, Sidney Crosby – who hasn’t played since Dec. 5 – skated with his Pittsburgh Penguins teammates for the second time in less than a week. The bad: there’s no change in his status.
Winning starts in locker room
New York Rangers coach John Tortorella is looking at the big picture with his hugely successful team. “If teams are going to be successful, the locker room needs to grow and self-sustain,” Tortorella said. “I think we’re still in the middle of that. I’ve talked to a lot of coaches, guys that have won the Stanley Cup, and you hear about how coaches say the room takes over itself. It’s how the locker room is conducted, and how people handle themselves there sometimes is more important than some of the things on the ice.”
Neal rewarded for big season
James Neal won the lottery with the Penguins on Sunday after scoring his 30th goal the day before in a 6-4 win against Philadelphia. It comes in the form of a six-year, $30-million contract extension that binds him to the team through the 2017-18 season. His current salary is $3.5 million. “I love everything about what goes on here and how we play the game,” Neal said. I suspect he also loves playing on a line with Evgeni Malkin this season, when it’s considered that after being acquired from Dallas last February Neal had just one goal in 20 games, and one goal in seven playoff games with the Penguins.
Predators GM gets extension
Have you noticed the Predators have extended the contract of David Poile, who has served as the franchise’s only general manager since its inception 14 years ago? Good for Poile, who richly deserves the new deal, which runs through the 2014-15 season. Poile’s 1,000-plus wins are third all-time among GMS.
And finally …
Detroit coach Mike Babcock, on the end of his team’s 23-game winning streak at home: “I don’t care what era, and I’m not comparing it to anything. To me, it’s just a real good run for our Red Wings. We’re thrilled to have done it.”