Top Line: NHL's anti-bullying stance; Stamkos' shot at Sochi; more links

Looks like fighting is here to stay at least for a while, but NHL bullies are being addressed. (Tom Mihalek/AP)

By Allan Muir

An annotated guide to this morning's must-read hockey stories:

• The NHL is taking steps to ensure it won't have its own Richie Incognito/Jonathan Martin situation. Anti-bullying and hazing protocols were among the hot topics discussed at Tuesday's general managers meeting.

• The topic of fighting was broached, but Dave Feschuk says there wasn't much traction to be found in hockey's eternal debate. For all the progressive talk heard from some corners, altering the place of fighting in the game is not a popular position at the moment.

• Of course, that was all before the head of the Canadian Medical Association has written an open letter to Gary Bettman to outline the organization's concerns about violence in hockey. I'm guessing that Gary will take it under advisement.

• After performing successful surgery yesterday, doctors pinned down a date for the potential return of Steven Stamkos. Should he get his passport ready for Sochi?

• Stamkos' injury has moved several players back into the picture as options for Team Canada. Joffrey Lupulhopes he's one of them.

• Jonathan Quick left last night's loss to Buffalo early in overtime with an apparent lower-body injury. Lisa Dillman has the details on what could be a devastating loss for the Kings and, potentially, Team USA.

• Of course, the way the guy at the other end of the rink is playing, the Americans might not have much to worry about. Ryan Miller was out of his mind again last night, keeping the Sabres in a game against LA where, at one point, they were being outshot 30-7.

• Carey Price may have played the greatest game of his career (so far) last night. Too bad his "goal" didn't count...

• Josh Harding says playing for Team Canada isn't a realistic goal for him. His numbers suggest otherwise.

• Nail Yakupov's comments yesterday veered pretty close to "play me or trade me" territory. Terry Jones lets the kid, and his misplaced sense of entitlement, have it with both barrels.

• Semyon Varlamov's story has slipped from the headlines, but he's still front of mind for many in Colorado. The decision by the team to keep playing him has raised the ire of some, but it's also gained him an unexpected ally.

• What's been revealed about the Canucks through the first 20 games? Jeff Paterson looks at a tough schedule, some valuable depth, and the player who provides the NHL's best bang for the buck.

• Jonathan Toews is making magic in the space created by the NHL's new, shallower nets. Can you imagine what Gretzky could have done with a bit more office space?

• Toronto GM Dave Nonis has heard all the pitches from the advanced stats crowd and he's not a believer . . . at least, not in anything he's seen to this point. Can't say I blame him considering the inconsistency of the data these new stats are built around, but I'd be interested to see what sort of information a SportsVu-type system like the one currently in use by the NBA might create for hockey.

• Robin Lehner had some hot sports opinions aboutRay Emery before Ottawa's game against Philadelphia last night.

• What's it going to take for Kevin Poulin to shed the backup tag and take over as the main man between the pipes for the Islanders?

• Fans reacted with shock at Team Canada's decision to cut veteran defender Tessa Bonhomme on Tuesday, but the early move isn't as surprising as it seems. Canada has better, younger options on the blueline but more to the point, Bonhomme has spread herself too thin since Vancouver. Appearances on "Battle of the Blades" and Leafs TV, among other pursuits, were great for enhancing the Bonhomme brand, but they diminished her focus on her day job. Don't be surprised to see her recruited to work the Olympic broadcasts in Canada.

• A report in a Czech newspaper confirms what everyone has suspected about Milan Hejduk.

• Chris Pronger hasn't yet retired and is set to remain on Philly's payroll until 2017, but that won't prevent him from being inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

• I don't know if this is the greatest post-game celebration ever, but Norwegian minor leaguer Adrian Alvarstein belongs in the conversation after breaking out these moves: