The SBP Archives - Your less than frequent dose of SBP!

There has been very little news going on in the NHL league as teams prepare for training camp and I have been dying to talk a little hockey, so let's go over a few things that have happened.

- Bruce Garrioch thinks there might be a deal for P.J. Axelsson to the Sens for D Anton Volchenkov. Alfredsson played on the same line with P.J. when the Swedes took home the gold medal at the past Olympics and they were perhaps the best line. That would be a good addition if it happened, but unfortunately Garrioch is the source. He has the worst track records for trades, so I'm not holding my breath.

- The IIHF and the NHL still haven't hammered out agreement with Russia on handling incoming players. The Senators were somewhat lucky to land a deal for rookie C Aleksei Kaigorodov to play for Ottawa with his Russian team. He's said to have loads of potential, so we'll see what happens, but GM Muckler is lucky with all the hoopla regarding Evgeni Malkin playing for Pittsburgh. It isn't going to get any easier until a deal is reach with Russia, and Muckler was playing with fire when counting on Kaigordov to play.

- Speaking of Malkin, he might have talent, but he's a selfish, arrogant prick. Contrast that to fellow countryman Alexander Ovechkin, who has a passion for the game, plays hard but isn't a jerk about it. I remember a game he crashed into G Ray Emery by mistake, and after the whistle he came over and gave him a tap on the pads with his stick and patted his shoulder as a gesture to say "sorry". But at the same time, when there's a rivalry he's all fire. His battles with Sydney Crosby the few times they played were fun.

- I read Nicklas Lidstrom is getting the C for Detroit. Unfortunately for anyone who accepts it, they'll never be able to fill the shoes left by retired Steve Yzerman. With Brendan Shanahan also gone, it just seems that the players fans identify Detroit with have all disappeared. Sort of like if Sundin left Toronto, Brodeur left New Jersey or if Alfredsson left Ottawa. You can't picture them wearing another jersey. In addition to counting on flaky Dominik Hasek in net, I can't picture Detroit being the dominating team they have been in the last few years this time around.