Saturday Slap Shots

In honor of Toronto Maple Leaf's coach Ron Wilson, once again it is time to put the puck on the 'Net.

• Awesome article at the Globe and Mail about Nazem Kadri and why it is so important the he fulfills his destiny as the new face of hockey in Canada.
  
  
• It is still early, but a few players need to step up their games quickly if they want to remain on Olympic radars. From a Canadian stand point Roberto Luongo, Vincent Lecavalier, Ryan Getzlaf, Brent Burns, and Eric Staal all need to pick it up.
  
  
• Look for lots of new hockey book reviews coming this week, including The Pursuit of Hockeyness and Puck Funnies by The Hockey News and Canada's Olympic Hockey History by Andrew Podnieks.
  
  
• My favorite part of Hockey Night in Canada's intermission features is the Satellite Hot Stove, especially when Al Strachan is not there. Interesting news - expect the NHLPA to oust Buzz Hargrove, and that is great news for hockey. Ian Penny will be retained at this point, but a list of former NHLers are being asked if they will head an interim committe until a new director can be found. Eliotte Friedman suggests Joe Sakic has already turned down the job, with other possible names including Brendan Shanahan and Trevor Linden.