Bartnick’s 17 thoughts on a lazy Sunday

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LOS ANGELES – I had 17 thoughts on a boring Sunday with no hockey.

  1. Pittsburgh Penguins Head Coach Mike Sullivan is the Coach of the Year. The fact the Penguins are in 2nd place in the Metropolitan Division after losing Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Brian Dumoulin for large chunks of the season is remarkable. He got his team to buy into defense and has a new hero every night. Although on most nights its Bryan Rust.
  2. Penguins Hall of Fame GM Jim Rutherford has made some miraculous trades over the years but he will not be able to replace Jake Guentzel at the deadline.
  3. With all due respect to Mike Sullivan, if the Columbus Blue Jackets make the playoffs, their Head Coach, John Tortorella, should be named Coach of the Year. Pittsburgh’s roster even at its most injury ravaged point is better than Columbus’ roster.
  4. The news of the Tampa Bay Lightning’s death was premature. They are clicking on all cylinders now and have had the kind of in season turmoil teams need come playoff time.
  5. The firing of Gerard Gallant was a Godsend for either Steve Yzerman of Detroit or Ron Francis of Seattle. Pete DeBoer is a fine coach but I’d rather have Gallant.
  6. Peter Laviolette is the scapegoat in Nashville. How does David Poile get a free pass? Most overrated GM in NHL since Craig Berube saved Doug Armstrong. Trading Weber for Subban, I can forgive. But trading Jones for Johansen? I will not. Sticking with Rinne and giving Bonino and Turris too much money, I will not. I could keep going.
  7. You have to DVR LA Kings games and watch them on >> speed because they are THAT slow.
  8. I would not want my team to trade for Tyler Toffoli. He’s part of the problem in LA. He is a floater.
  9. The SJ Sharks are the NHL biggest disappointment. I feel for Bob Boughner.
  10. Patrick Kane is the best American born hockey player ever.
  11. I have never got drunk on the Connor McDavid Kool Aid but this season McJesus has been sublime. He is the best player in the NHL.
  12. Nathan MacKinnon is a bigger, stronger and faster Sidney Crosby. He only lacks that Championship seasoning.
  13. David Backes could help a playoff contender, maybe Edmonton
  14. Ovechkin will catch Gretzky. Canada will hate it.
  15. I HATE lacrosse goals.
  16. The women’s 3 on 3 was great. Props to the NHL. It gives us a taste of women’s hockey but doesn’t jam it down our throats like the NBA does with the WNBA.
  17. If you don’t like NHL All –Star weekend don’t cover it. Stay home.