In a conversation with Ken Hitchcock the other night we got to talking about the power play in the new NHL. He said to me, "Look at the potent power plays in the league this year, and they are all playing with a single point man in the middle and two guys on the circles and two guys down low."

Since he pointed this out to me, I have noticed almost every team now is doing this. The old two guys at the points is no more. I asked Hitch if the bigger offensive zones play into this and he said they did. The power plays now are all about getting the puck down low and having three options for the passer.

We also talked about Scotty Bowman's new theory that I heard during an interview on XM. Scotty feels that the positions should be renamed for the new NHL. Center, Left Wing, Right Win, Defenseman, and "Roamer." This is a very astute observation by one of the most brilliant hockey minds alive. (a coach who never “played” the game by the way) The top teams are attacking with four players. The extra player being a speedy defenseman who's job it is to always join the rush and try and get back in the play. This is why the Sabres always look like they have an extra player on the ice.

Speaking of the Sabres, and looking over the all-star ballot, one name is missing based on the season he is having to date. Thomas Vanek. Thomas is 13th in scoring with 22 points, 5th in goals with 11, 7th in Power Play Goals with 5, and second in plus/minus with a +16. In fact Lidstrom (+17) and Vanek are the only two players in the NHL with a plus/minus rating above +12. And perhaps more than all that is what he means to this team. It is because of Vanek's play that the whole Tim Connelly situation isn't more of an issue.

Also, I continue to hear a rumblings out of Boston that Chiarelli is burning the midnight oil trying to get a puck moving d. And the Calgary/ Philly talk is still on going according to a source. Calgary really likes Gagne.

I will also be in the Chat room for a Fiday Q & A session today at 4pm ET.

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