• Players please stop tweeting that Gary will be making his salary during a lockout, while your beloved leader Donald is a saint because he won’t be. It has ZERO barring on the negotiations, so don’t be petty. When you sign a contract and then under perform for the next two years, do you give your money back. Didn’t think so. It has nothing to do with the real issues.
   
• Unless you are going to clearly define what is HRR (hockey related revenues) please don’t constantly bring it up. The formula, which seemingly seems to change weekly, is more difficult to comprehend than a one-year old trying to tell you what they want. It can’t always be a bottle and/or a new diaper, which is why once kids and parents start speaking the same language the outbursts seem to diminish, at least until they are teenagers. Although, if Don and Gary gave each other a bottle of scotch we might see some progress. Some of the best negotiations in fantasy pools have occurred over a beer, or ten.
   
• Can we all please stop mentioning that contract length is a real contentious issue. Of course the NHLPA says they don’t want to limit the length of contracts, and I’m sure they don’t but will they die on a hill/issue that only impacts 3% of the union? They could easily settle for seven years. And then maybe have a clause that allows teams to sign players who are potential UFAs, and who they drafted originally, for a max of eight years. This isn’t a major concession for the players. They might claim it is, but in reality it isn’t.

RANDOM THOUGHTS

• What was the rush to name Gabriel Landeskog the captain in Colorado? He has one-year of NHL experience. Being captain has as much off-ice responsibilities as on-ice, and I’d argue the off-ice ones take more effort. If the season were to start on time, Landeskog couldn’t even organize a team night out at the bar, because he isn’t old enough to get in. Steve Yzerman played three years before being captain, while Sidney Crosby and Jonathon Toews wore an "A" before being named captain. The Avs just put a lot of unnecessary pressure on Landeskog.
   
• I wonder what the Panthers will give up to get Luongo? They shouldn’t have to give up much, because the Canucks don’t want the distraction, and few teams will take Luongo’s contract. They shouldn’t give up more than one good young player, and a mid-range salary player.
   
• The Oilers need to start transitioning their leaders, and I’ll be shocked if Ralph Krueger doesn’t give an "A" to Taylor Hall or Jordan Eberle. Krueger has stated the kids are the future, so I’d expect him to follow through on that and give one them a letter. Hall is more emotional while Eberle is more cerebral. They’d be good leaders, but in different ways. Krueger should give name one of them an alternate captain before the season starts, hopefully before November.
   
• I’d have no problem if they gave Ladislav Smid a letter either. He’s becoming more like Jason Smith all the time. Competes hard, blocks shots, but he skates better and moves the puck more efficiently. His work ethic and desire needs to be matched by more of his elder teammates.
   
I’m happy for Jason Strudwick on landing his own radio show, weeknights from 9 p.m. to 12 a.m on the TEAM 1260. He’s passionate about hockey, but if you really want to get him going talk about the Tour de France. I think he loves the long races because it reminds him off all the bag skates he had to endure when he was a healthy scratch. Good luck Struds, I know you’ll do well.