- Barry Trotz joined the parade of people pumping for University of Alberta men’s hockey coaching great Clare Drake in the Hockey Hall of Fame builder’s category. “It’s a shame Clarke’s not in,” said Trotz, who was let go as the head coach of the Nashville Predators at season’s end and a former university coach himself. “He’s had more impact than anybody at improving the coaching in Canada. All those coaching programs he ran. I remember when I used to coach (University) Manitoba against Clare’s Alberta, we’d be scared to death of their penalty-kill. His guys went at people.” All teams now mirror Drake’s philosophy of years ago at pressuring the powerplay guys.
- If you’re Los Angeles Kings GM Dean Lombardi, do you consider using one of those get-out-of-jail buyouts that don’t count against the cap on Mike Richards, who’s looked better the last two playoff games but had a miserable regular season? Has the speed of the game ramped up too much for Richards or is this a write-off season? He’s only 29. He’ll have $26 million over six years left on his contract after the playoffs. I guess if Tampa can buy out one-time face-of-the-franchise Vincent Lecavalier, the Kings might have to consider it for Richards.
- I can’t imagine a tougher, more blue-collar NHLer than Anaheim Ducks defenceman Stephane Robidas, who got dumped on by the hockey gods, breaking the same leg twice. One of hockey’s great guys says he’ll be back playing, although it’ll be in the fall after Stars forward Ryan Garbutt accidentally slid into Robidas recently during playoff action. The last time I saw Robidas, in early April when the Ducks were in Edmonton, he was telling funny stories about ex-Stars teammate Sergei Zubov and how he loved his ciggies. “You’d see the rooming list on the road and beside Zubie’s name would be “smoking floor,” said Robidas. You’d be hard-pressed to find any NHLers who smoke now. Guy Lafleur loved his darts with the Habs, though. And I remember Al Iafrate regularly working on the curve of his hockey sticks with a blow-torch, outside the visiting team dressing room, lighting two ciggies at once, with the flame-thrower.
- Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Ben Bishop, who is having surgery to repair damaged ligaments in his right wrist, originally hurt it in warm-up at Rexall Place Jan. 5. He played a couple of minutes and left in favour of backup Anders Lindback after a Jordan Eberle goal. Bishop needed a cast on the wrist for games after that but kept dropping his stick.
- Here’s one for you: Defenceman David Rundblad has been traded three times, the first two for Vladimir Tarasenko and for Kyle Turris. Last time I looked, he was in the same league but not in their league, if you get the drift. The Blues drafted Rundblad in the first round in 2009 and traded him to Ottawa for the 16th pick in 2010 to grab Tarasenko — two spots after they got Jaden Schwartz. Awfully good work, I’d say. The Ottawa Senators dealt Rundblad to the Phoenix Coyotes for Turris when he had his ice-time squabble there. Rundblad was moved to the Blackhawks for a second-round draft pick in March (somehow after 55 NHL games, he’s still fetching lots). Tarasenko looks like a 30-goal scorer in waiting.
- When the Chicago Blackhawks recalled a whack of Rockford farmhands to be black aces for the playoffs, there was no sign of ex-Oilers defenceman Theo Peckham on the list. Three defencemen — Adam Clendening, Brian Connelly and Mathieu Brisebois — were summoned but no Teddy Peckman, as Don Cherry called him. Peckham played 45 games for the AHL club this season.
