Northeast Division

I know this issue has been discussed ad nausem for the last couple of days, but here are my quick two cents. Many around the game believe the pressure is on the NHL and Colin Campbell to make an example of Steve Downie and crackdown on head shots. I, however, somewhat disagree with this sentiment. The pressure in this instance, lies with the NHLPA. If the NHL gives a twenty game suspension to Steve Downie will things really change? Will players suddenly stop running at opposing players with reckless abandon? This writer doesn't believe so. Therefore, the pressure should be on the NHLPA to organize meetings and information sessions between all NHL players to discuss, not only, the repercussions of giving and receiving a head-shot but the lack of mutual respect in the game today. For me, that is the main issue. NHL players no longer have as much respect for one another as they once did. How can the NHL as a governing body encourage an increase in on-ice respect? In short, it can't. This is where the NHLPA comes in. It is for situations like this one that the PA was created. The leadership (however weak it is right now) has to gather the players together and preach the virtues of respectfully competing with your opponents without crossing the line. Without this message being delivered, the hits will keep on coming and, one day, a player may never get up from a brutal on-ice collision. On to the morning papers: The NHLPA is beginning to consider names for a new union leader writes Dave Shoalts of the Globe & Mail. Stephen Brunt of the Globe & Mail examines the mixed messages that seem to be inherent in hockey in the wake of the Downie hit. Kevin Allen of the USA Today has a neat piece about what to watch for entering the 2007/08 NHL season. It appears that Marc Staal is going to make the Rangers writes John Dellapina of the New York Daily News. It looks like Islanders' forward Chris Simon will be held out of tonight's exhibition rematch with the Rangers writes Greg Logan of Newsday. According to coach John Paddock, Wade Redden and Mike Fisher looked alright on Thursday to be able to resume playing. Dean McAmmond is going to choose to believe Steve Downie's apology was sincere; Don Brennan of the Ottawa Sun has the story. If a deal isn't reached on a new contract for Dany Heatley by the Sens' first regular season game, the two-time 50 goal scorer wants negotiations suspended until season's end. With a rash of injuries at Flyers' camp, Jim Dowd may indeed find himself on the opening day roster writes Tim Pannacio of the Philadelphia Inquirer. The Coyotes were defeated by the Stars 3-2 in a shootout on Thursday. Dave Molinari of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette explains that the Penguins' coaching staff wants to see Adam Hall lineup at center prior to deciding whether he will make the club or not. Apparently Joe Pavelski hasn't been reading Illegal Curve's rants about how meaningless the NHL preseason is, and is excited to see his name atop the exhibition scoring leaders. Jay McKee will be starting the season on the sidelines for the second consecutive season in St. Louis writes Jeremy Rutherford of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. As Lightning coach John Tortorella explains, team toughness is not all about fighting. Leafs' coach Paul Maurice will not make a decision on who his starting goalie will be until after Saturday's exhibition game writes Kevin McGran of the Toronto Star. Doug Wilson, GM of the Sharks, believes Leaf fans need to relax about the play of Vesa Toskala; "He will be very good. You just watch," Wilson told the Toronto Sun. Good friends Matt Cooke and Brendan Morrison have a knack for knowing where each other are going to be on the ice writes Gordon McIntyre of the Vancouver Province. NHL ironman Brendan Morrison has been banged up a bit at training camp and his consecutive games played streak may be in doubt; Elliot Pap of the Vancouver Sun has the story. Markus Naslund lined up with the Sedin brothers on Thursday but there are no guarantees that he will lineup in that slot to start the season. Craig Custance of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution provides an inside look at the excitement of the four youngsters who cracked the opening day Thrashers' lineup. After injuring his shoulder early in the preseason, Bruins' defenseman Zdeno Chara is expected to be back in the lineup for the team's first regular season game next week. Meanwhile, expectations are high for Bruins' off-season acquisition Peter Schaefer, who will see himself lining up beside Marc Savard on the team's top scoring line. Even without playing a preseason game, Lindy Ruff seems confident that Tim Connolly will be ready for the Sabres' first regular season game a week today. Didn't take that long did it? Flames' coach Mike Keenan finally loses it on his team for its lack of work ethic. (Writer's note: A big deal is always made of Keenan getting angry, however, after watching the Flames float through much of last season, including the playoffs, I think this is exactly what this group of players needs.) Jason Karmonos, son of Canes' owner Peter Karmonos, announced his resignation for the organization on Thursday citing personal reasons. Luke Decock provides notes from around Canes' camp in this morning's News Observer. The Blackhawks players were given the day off on Thursday but Chicago GM Dale Tallon remained hard at work claiming Karel Pilar off waivers from the Atlanta Thrashers. As Terry Frei of the Denver Post tells us, Jose Theodore made his first appearance of the season at Avs' practice on Thursday. The Blue Jackets will be cutting down their roster by Sunday or Monday writes Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch. Meanwhile, Steve Mason, the Jackets' best player during its preseason contest versus Carolina on Thursday night will almost surely be sent back to London of the OHL in the next few days. Marty Turco rescues the struggling Stars and it's not even the regular season yet! Goaltender Jimmy Howard has been a pleasant surprise for Mike Babcock at Red Wings' camp writes George Sipple in this morning's Detroit Free Press. Joanne Ireland informs us that the Oilers spent all of Thursday practicing their powerplay in this morning's Edmonton Journal. The off-season additions of Sheldon Souray and Joni Pitkanen should increase the team's poweplay efficiency. Anthony Stewart, Kamil Kreps and Rob Globke are the three players still in camp fighting for the last remaining forward spot in Florida. Jonathan Bernier has impressed many at Kings' camp which is why the team was able to release Dan Cloutier. Pat Hickey of the Montreal Gazette explains that Cristobal Huet is undoubtedly the number one netminder for the Habs heading into the season. It looks like Huet is already in top form as he led the Canadiens to a 3-2 victory over the Bruins on Thursday night. Jacques Lemaire is going to give all of his youngsters who are fighting for a roster spot a chance to strut their stuff tonight versus St. Louis. The Predators are always chasing the Red Wings in the standings and, as John Glennon writes in this morning's Tennessean, this season appears no different. There is unfortunate news out of Devils' camp that Colin White has sustained damage to his right eye and specialists are still trying to determine the extent of it. Suffice to say that White is out of the lineup indefinitely. In other news at Devils' camp, coach Brent Sutter is no rush to hand out the captaincy. For Illegal Curve, I'm Richard Pollock.

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