News! News! News! News!

I don't usually trouble myself with news items or pre-game stuff but, for some reason, I'm feeling ambitious today.  Or procrastinating other tasks.  Doesn't matter - onward.

- The Hawks "placed" Rob Scuderi on waivers today, although I believe "hoofed" or "jettisoned" would be more apt.  If another team is daft enough to claim the veteran (read: old) d-man The Hawks would have somewhere around $5 million in cap space with which to shop for a decent left winger or another d-man who is able to reach speeds higher than "dead slow" and "stopped".  If left unclaimed, which seems most likely, The Hawks still receive some cap relief but probably not enough to splash out for any of the coveted rental players, at least not without giving up a roster player.
- On that tack, the soon-to-be-free-agent wingers that will be in highest demand up until the Feb. 29th trade deadline look to be Andrew Ladd and Mikkel Boedker. Since it's assured that The Hawks would not be able to re-sign either of these players the choice comes down to who can they get, what will they cost and which of these guys would fulfill The Hawks' needs the best.  I expect a first-round draft pick would be required and both The Jets and The Coyotes would likely request a roster player, probably beginning with Teuvo Teravainen but more likely to settle with a prospect such as Marko Dano or Ryan Hartman.  My personal preference would be Ladd but either of these fellas would be a nice upgrade.

- It's The Rangers tonight who, after an iffy December have been steadily racking up the points and are a distant but semi-comfortable 2nd place in the Metropolitan Division. The Rangers get it done without any true marquee forwards (I consider Rick Nash Off-Broadway at this time) but rather a potent attack of what really amounts to three second lines, their scoring leader being noted Game of Thrones actor Mats Zuccarello.

                                             Tyrion Zuccarello with his linemates.

Their defense is capable if unspectacular, all of whom average 19-22 minutes per game, which reeks of Socialism but appears to be working despite the persistent presence of apparent septuagenarian Dan Boyle.  These guys toil in front of still-all-world talent and handsome man Henrik Lundquist and his backup, one Antti Raanta, who really only seems to play well against The Hawks.
- Expect more tinkering with the Toews trio, as Richard Panik is rumoured to have gacked his audition on that line, at least as far as Coach Q is concerned. Who's up next...Sekac?  Hinostroza? Noted sniper Mashinter!? Who the hell knows anymore...