opinion

Sportsnet and Labatt could have been steadfast in their support of Don Cherry and thought about the bottom line. But they didn’t and for that they should be applauded.

With the breadth of on-air talent at Hockey Night in Canada, there's the opportunity to fill the first-intermission time slot once occupied by Don Cherry and Coach's Corner with more insightful, informative coverage and analysis.

Electing Teemu Selanne to the Hall of Fame was a no-brainer. But Paul Kariya, Dave Andreychuk, and Mark Recchi all had to wait a few years. That's good news for other "really good" players.

The Golden Knights have the option of putting together a competitive NHL roster and stocking up picks and players for future use, and it's the best way for an expansion team to go.

Yes, cost is a significant factor in making hockey accessible to more people, but more focus is also needed on making it less competitive, and less strenuous at the grass-roots level.

He’s been a key driver of the Penguins’ success this decade. He’s an expert in cap management and player development. He’s just what Buffalo needs.

Alex Ovechkin just isn't the difference maker he once was, and continues to take on a diminished role. So another Capitals defeat can't be blamed solely on him.

Scoring went down this season when goalies were forced into their smaller pants and that presents the NHL with something of an existential crisis.

In every tangible way that can be measured in on-ice performance, Terry Pegula has been a disaster as an owner. His next hire is his most important to date.

It will be the stuff of nightmares if the Leafs surrender their playoff spot after seeming like a shoo-in mere days ago. But if that happens, 2016-17 will remain a resounding success for the franchise.

The Department of Player Safety blew it when it came to disciplining Brad Marchand. They could have sent a message to the repeat offender by suspending him for playoff games, but didn't.

They were pure gold to their teammates. They were pure hell to play against. They excelled at the game but played too close to the edge.

Here are a couple of ways the World Cup of Hockey could be changed to make it more of a legitimate event, like it's baseball counterpart.

It might not happen. The Bruins may even enjoy a deep playoff run. But sitting out the Big Dance is suddenly a possibility. Heads might roll if that happens yet again.

The Art Ross race could swing a few voters when it comes to the Hart. And while scoring matters, the definition of the Hart dictates that a player’s value to his team should be the deciding factor.

Either the Memorial Cup hosts or defending champs will be knocked out of the OHL playoffs in the first round when Windsor and London meet. There's a simple solution to this problem.

Aaron Ekblad, 21, has as many concussions as NHL seasons played. If the Panthers don’t shut him down for the year, they’re taking a massive and irresponsible risk.

Former Oiler Ryan Smyth is playing senior hockey in Alberta because he still loves the game. That his season was likely ended on a dirty hit by a minor-league goon is another blight on the game.

We’re all either guilty of hyping the trade deadline into something it’s not, or we’re guilty of buying into that hype. It needs to stop.

In a surprise move, the Canadiens replaced coach Michel Therrien with Claude Julien -- legitimately one of the best coaches in the game.