Is it just my imagination, or has the NHL actually been MORE interesting this year with NO games being played? I'm just sayin'...

First, I want extend my condolences to the Sutter family on the loss of Louis John Sutter this Thursday past. Walter Gretzky gets all the press for having sired (arguably) the "greatest" player ever to play in the NHL, but Louis Sutter's impact on the NHL will be seen for years to come.

Together with his wife Grace (herself quite a force to be reckoned with), Mr. Sutter raised seven sons on the family farm in Viking, Alberta, Canada. They instilled in their children a tough, cut-the-crap, and "get out there, work hard, and give nothing less than your best" set of values. Six of their seven sons went on to long and successful careers in the NHL. Though all have now retired from play, all six brothers are still involved in the NHL as coaches or scouts. The Sutter family's imprint on the game will continue to be seen, not only from the front office, but through the next generation of Sutters currently making their way through the ranks of Junior and Minor League hockey.

The NHL, and indeed all of North American hockey, owes a great debt of gratitude to Louis and Grace Sutter.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

As the silliness that is the NHL Lockout of 2004-2005 trundles toward its sixth month, we're hearing more threats that NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman is about to cancel the season, AND THIS TIME HE REALLY MEANS IT!

Yawn!

Show of hands here: Is there anyone out there who seriously thought there would be any semblance of a 2004-2005 NHL season while Dave Andreychuk was hoisting the Stanley Cup in Tampa Bay last spring (well, nearly summer)?

OK, now how many of you thought this season was toast, oh, about 18-24 months ago when the serious saber-rattling began and the owners started talking about war chests and shutting down the league for a season or two (or three)? Yeah...And they called us the cynics.

Just cancel the damn season already (and give the season ticket holders their deposits back)!