It's odd that Marty Turco's future is the hot button topic in many circles today because TapeLeg and I were discussing the subject on his (yet to be released) Podcast Saturday. This is actually a dumb idea that came to me last week, I've just been a busy beaver who somehow lucked into good timing.

As we all know, it's been a rough couple years for Turco. At one point it seemed like the playoffs would be the only thing that would bedevil the puck moving, flamboyant goalie but nowadays it's unclear if he'll even remain the starter in Dallas. These struggles lead to questions from bloggers and MSM'ers alike.

The DMN's Mike Heika wrote a story that indicated some of the young goalies the Stars may eventually target (his piece is far more credible than the just-for-fun trade concept you'll see in this post) and Defending Big D also discussed the Turco question a bit as well.

In Anaheim, a great playoff run and superior play this season allowed Jonas Hiller to usurp former Stanley Cup and Conn Smythe winning goaltender J.S. Giguere for the Ducks' starting job. Amid trades, injuries and soon-to-be-retirements, the Ducks seem eager to completely hand the keys to younger players such as Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry and Bobby Ryan.

Giguere's poor play and expensive contract mean that it's only a matter of time before the Ducks grow desperate to deal him. Turco's inconsistent, sometimes hare-brained antics and expiring contract explain why people are wondering about his future.

It may not be the most glamorous plan, but let's see why (and how) a deal could make sense - for both teams - after the jump.

JUMP!

Through no fault of his own - aside from his faulty knee and being lucky enough to sign the first of what ultimately turned out to be a cavalcade of reckless lifetime contracts* - Rick Dipietro has been the punchline goalie du jour for quite some time.

This eager criticism always struck me as a bit uneven. Yes, it's the New York Islanders; the team that once gave Alex Yashin Haiti's GDP to sulk and get his forearm severed by a skate. I know that.

Yet this is the post-Milbury Islanders and let's face it, Garth Snow (for all the jokes his goalie-turned-GM reign provided) actually was ahead of the curve. It's convenient that Dipietro ended up hurting his knee, but is it possible that the move was a sign of genius instead of a target for mockery. All because of his knee.

So, OK, people can point to the results and say it was a dumb move. At least now they can.

But let's not forget that Dustin Penner went from the Ultimate Bust to one of the only positive things to happen in a dreadful 09-10 Edmonton Oilers season. He - like Rick - only make in the $4 million-ish neighborhood.

Sure, in the short-term, the move could be quite awkward but no one is mistaking a scrappy but limited New York Islanders team for a contender.

Let's just say, if the Islanders get another good pick, Ricky D gets close to 100% and Snow adds a handful of Chicago Blackhawk cap casualties ... there'd be at least one person who wouldn't be blindsided.

* - Perhaps the world will never learn from the error that was Bret Hart's WWF "lifetime" contract ...

In Russo's Rants last night, Boogaard claims that Vigneault told the Canucks to fight (from what Hordichuk told Boogaard). As if the Canucks don't need more controversy these days.

Avalanche blogger Anyone But Detroit writes a post on the history of the Czech Repulic winning gold in the 1998 Olympics, and they did this 5 years after splitting from Slovakia

Mile High Mayhem compares the Flames and the Wings to see who is the Avs' biggest rival these days?

Low on Oils writes that Khabibulin is headed for back surgery and will be out for the remainder of the season. Lowetide has your thoughts on that and concludes that the Oilers are melting.

In the faux auction at SBN, Matchsticks and Gasoline weigh in with their thoughts about the Flames going for Kovalchuk

Ok, this is not really NW Division, but I figured it deserved some love: Five for Smiting sells the Ottawa Senators like Vince Schlomi slaps a....oh let's keep this pg...just go read it, it's gold.

And from last nights Flames v. Pens game, Sidney Crosby scores his 30th of the season and gets a marriage proposal:

Welcome to the West Coast Sid, just be thankful it's not the one beside her holding the sign.

It's odd that the Pittsburgh Penguins are playing the Minnesota Wild tonight, because it seems like both teams could really help each other out (and I thought of this silly idea without knowing they're squaring off tonight).

You see, even though Evgeni Malkin is on pace to put up good-for-almost-any-other-player numbers, people are freaking out over his underwhelming goal scoring totals. No doubt, these aren't problems that are coming out of thin air, but I find it humorous how selective these stats can be when a player puts up decent assist stats.

Anyway, Ron Cook went as far as to compare Malkin to a dying alive Jagr and openly wondered what the ESL scoring machine would do once Sergei Gonchar departed for Russia or bigger money.

Meanwhile, in Minnesota, Petr Sykora is pouting about a lack of ice time and being an occasional healthy scratch.

Now, I know that Sykora didn't necessarily leave Pittsburgh on great terms but let's not forget that Mark Recchi once left Pittsburgh after badmouthing Sidney Crosby only to return to Sid's line the next season. So what if the Wild - a team that clearly doesn't want to "deal" with Sykora - were to simply trade Sykora back to Pittsburgh for a late round draft pick (or a Penguins prospect of middling impact?).

Think about it: the Wild wouldn't have to deal with Allan Walsh's emo tweets and Malkin would get his old running mate back. Everyone wins or at least people lose less.

Keep in mind that I don't have any inside information ... at all. But it is kind of interesting to ponder, right?

Right?

Maybe?

Yes, I know as a Blues fan I'm biased, but if I didn't say that this article on Cam Janssen from the St. Louis Globe Democrat is a must read, I wouldn't be a hockey fan. This is the best piece of hockey writing I've read in a loooong time.

Matthew Dirt at Second City Hockey is taking a look at the Blackhawks' forwards, and how they're shaping up midseason.  Chances are, they're doing pretty well.

The always excellent Paint it Blackhawks looks at ten questions they had for the team during September, and what the answers are.  Jim also takes a look at the mid-season report card for the team.

Aaron Portzline takes a look at the Blue Jackets' mid-season report card. Here's a hint: the Blackhawks are the validictorian. The BJs are kind of that kid who sits in the last row at graduation picking their nose - other than Nash.  He's ok.  But hey - they had a good game yesterday, so the problems are done!  Uhh, what?

Continuing the trend of mid-season grades, Babcock's Death Stare breaks it down player by player.  It's pretty darn honest, and I would be remiss if I didn't say that seeing Kirk Maltby get an F doesn't warm the cockels of my cold, cold heart.  Draper and his A- better watch out - I sense relationship issues on the horizon.

In the 10+ years I've lived in the DFW metroplex, I've been in an odd position hockey-wise. I came in as a Pittsburgh Penguins fan largely because of a childhood affliation and an admiration for their typically offensive minded play. Needless to say, the Dallas Stars' often trap-happy style of play never did much to tempt me to jump ship.

That being said, the team certainly has its admirable qualities and - if nothing else - I've become a proponent for Mike Modano's legacy as one of the best American hockey players ever. Really, Mike Mo is the red-white-and-blue's answer to Steve Yzerman. Despite being offensively gifted, Modano eventually listened to Ken Hitchcock and became a suitable two-way player. He stuck with the same team for ages and won a Cup. In a more hockey-mad market, he'd receive more than his fair share of Stevie Y comparisons.

Anyway, this is a long winded way of saying that, in the grand scheme of things, I'm a fan of Modano ... but that doesn't change the fact that Brian Burke made the right choice in leaving him off of Team USA's roster. Allow me to attempt to systematically deconstruct why Modano is better off spending February boinking Willa Ford* than representing his country in Vancouver.

* - Just in case you start to feel sorry for Mike Modano, remember that he's lived just about the most spectacularly awesome life possible.

1. Being old doesn't automatically make you a great leader (and leadership is somewhere between being a myth and overrated, anyway)

As I grow older and more cynical, I cannot help but feel like "veteran leadership" is just another lazy crutch for lazy sports journalists. Some say that Bill Guerin's tomfoolery loosened up the Pittsburgh Penguins locker room and helped them win a Cup, but I point to Guerin's superior right handed shot and solid grit as bigger assets than his salt and pepper beard. Sure, the last Detroit Red Wings Cup-winning team was full of veterans, but they won because they're ridiculously skilled. Not because of "experience."

But even if you can convince me that leadership DOES matter, I'm not convinced that Modano is the right fit for the American locker room.

The first sign is how things ended in the last Olympics. Modano was so ineffective that he was benched in the final period of the last game and responded by criticizing USA hockey and the coaching staff. Let's also remember that Modano is one of the rare NHL captains to be stripped of the "C", a gesture that says everything (although Willa had plenty to say about it too).

2. He's lost his scoring touch

Still, all that leadership talk would be easy to ignore if Modano was still a prolific point producer but that phase of his career is clearly over.

As much as Stars fans and media representatives would like to think he still has it, Modano's post-Turin peak was a mediocre 57 points.

3. Want the "little things"? Look elsewhere

This isn't saying that points are all that matters. Simply study the career of Manny Malhotra and you'll realize that there are many ways to skin that hockey cat. But aside from still-impressive skating ability, you're hard pressed to find an area in which Modano gives his team a great advantage.

He's the definition of average in the faceoff circle (50.6 percent), he's registered a paltry 10 hits this season and registered under four minutes of PK time this season.

***

Let's face it, it's clear that Modano is still in the NHL because of his name and all of the things he's done for the Dallas Stars. That's great. But Modano is one of those classic David Robinson type athletes. He looks the same as he gets older so it makes people think that he's still an effective player. Modano urged Team USA to inject some new blood and they certainly did by getting rid of players like him.

Again, this isn't meant to beat up on the no-doubt Hall of Fame center. Hell, the guy even understands the move. This is merely a statement of approval for a wise move by Brian Burke.

Now if Burke could just get past the media's goofy love affair with Chris Drury ...

This is your first 2010 NW Division links on CLS. Late as usual, but my excuse was watching Avatar last night...and wow, what a movie.

The Canucks Hockey Blog looks Shane O'Brien, who after getting some press box time this year, improved his game, but does this now make him perfect to trade away?

An Oilers Refinery asks Where are the Oilers? And the comment about his post just says it all.

And if this is any indication as to how much hope the Wild fans have in making the post season, Wild Nation looks at the off season already, here's Part I and Part II

Jibblescribbits decides that upon further review: Darcy Tucker still sucks

And after posting my mid-season review of the Canucks, Burrows acted on my suggestion of a short handed goal right away, like in the next game against the 7-4 romp against CBJ

I know that this is a complete and total cop-out, but Tuesday is the first day of school and I'm all a-wiggin (darn children coming back - bah!), so I've only got one link for you, but it's one you absolutely have to read - so good, it was cross-posted at Second City Hockey and St. Louis Game Time.  No, this isn't a sign of the apocolypse, but if you haven't seen this (and how in the heck Puck Daddy hasn't caught a hold of this one I'll have no clue), please, please - go read it.  I won't spoil it for you here, but it made me cry like Ed Belfour.

Whether or not it made me cry like him circa 1994 or 2010 when he realized he's the Blues goalie coach for the time being, well... that distinction is up to you.

Edit: Conference Standings have been added to the bottom of the post.

So, it's taken a while, but it's time to begin the EA NHL 10 Re-Draft simulation. After the jump, we'll reveal the division-by-division standings along with player and goalie stats leaders.

To show that life doesn't always imitate art, though, we'll start with the NHL 10 scoring leader through the fake month of October:

Whhhhhaaaaaaat?

Chris Higgins, scoring superstar, provided this fake stat-line:

GP: 14; Goals: 13(!); Assists: 7; Points: 20

So that's why he was coveted by such GMs as Glen Sather and ... Glen Sather this summer. Well.

(Click read more to see other October results)

I've thought about how I'd construct Team USA and Team Canada (the two national rosters with the most choices ... say what you want about Russia, the pickings get pretty slim for them once you get past the superstars) on and off since the summer. Since my opinion is that it's wrong to simply assemble All-Star teams, it's a little more difficult than to simply throw the best talent in 23 and call it a day.

You need guys who are willing to play the PK, players who can win face-offs/board battles and (in my opinion) players who have some familiarity with each other. On some level, I still don't know if this is a "perfect" list ... but here's what I would do with Team Canada:

(after the jump)