Top Line: Ray Emery vs. Braden Holtby fight sparks rules talk; more links
Ray Emery's beatdown of Braden Holtby was one of the more lopsided goalie bouts of recent years. (Tom Mihalek/AP)
By Allan Muir
An annotated guide to this morning's must-read hockey stories:
• Gary Bettman danced around a question about Ray Emery's beating of Braden Holtby of Friday night, but not before suggesting that it was something the league's general managers would look at. Could a rule change be on the horizon?
• Mike Russo says that the Wild could definitely use more scoring, but adds that with a promising group of kids on the roster, and in the pipeline, they may have more pressing needs than Islanders' winger Thomas Vanek next summer. Maybe Russo is just throwing a little cold water on a rumor . . . or maybe Minnesota is hoping to send out a message that it's not sitting around waiting for Vanek with bags of money.
• Sabres enforcer Patrick Kaleta cleared waivers on Sunday. Now what?
• Nazem Kadri has always wanted to be the go-to guy for the Maple Leafs. With forwards Tyler Bozak and Dave Bolland out indefinitely, Kadri finally has his chance.
• Toronto GM Dave Nonis admits that the Maple Leafs are fortunate to be 10-5-0, and also discusses what lies ahead for the team in this interview with Mike Zeisberger.
• Great goaltending and a star player channeling his inner Jonathan Toews have made the Lightning the surprise team in the East.
• With his Hall of Fame induction on the horizon, Fred Shero's legacy as a progressive thinker is examined by Bill Meltzer.
• With a kinder schedule now working in their favor, have the Rangersfinally put their horrific start in the past?
• The Senators aren't blaming Stars winger Valeri Nichushkin, but his hard drive to the net led to Ottawa goalie Craig Anderson being wheeled off the ice on a stretcher. No word yet on how long the keeper will be out of action.
• Senators rookie Mark Borowieckiowes winger Bobby Ryan a beer after the sniper salvaged what could have been a disastrous season debut for the 24-year-old blueliner.
• The pressure is on the Oilers' internal leadership as Edmonton tries to tackle a mountain of early season problems. First on the agenda: establishing an identity.
• Jim Matheson has an idea for how the Oilers can fill their hole in net, and points out the biggest slap in the face to the Flyers' Claude Giroux this season.
• Admitting that he needed something of an attitude adjustment, defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk is back to being an impact player for the Blues.
• There aren't many goalies who've gotten off to a better start than the Penguins' Marc-Andre Fleury, but is that enough for him to work his way into the mix for Team Canada? His numbers are great, but it's hard to believe that his early performance this season will outweigh the memories of his disastrous playoff outings in each of the last two seasons.
• Is Canadiens coach Michel Therrien's use of P.K. Subban undermining the defenseman's chances of making Team Canada? And more worrisome for Montreal's fans . . . is Therrien paving P.K.'s path out of town?
• The Flames cut goalie Joey MacDonald over the weekend, deciding it was time to give rookie Reto Berra a chance in net for the rebuilding club. Good call. After Berra's amazing first start, it won't be long before there's a mini-Berra behind the net at home games.
• Tim Wharnsby looks at a lost weekend for Canada's teams, the amazing history of coaches in St. Louis and the key events of the week ahead in his Monday Morning Musings column.-
• Randal Wheeler writes that Canadian hockey fans need to stop ragging on southern U.S. markets. He's right, of course, but it would be a lot easier if a few of the Sun Belt teams weren't a couple of Boy Scout troop group ticket sales away from having a half empty arena on most nights.
• The Blackhawks have big plans today.
• Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff says he won't rush into a trade to boost his team. Which basically means he's ready to sacrifice this season to his long-term vision.