To honor the the amazing experience of playing the greatest team on Earth, the Washington Capitals, the Phoenix Coyotes are commemorating the date by giving away diamonds.

Solid article on Matt Hendrick's journey.

Which coach is the easiest to play for? Bruce Boudreau, Washington Capitals, 21%

Which team is overrated? Washington Capitals, 35%

Something good: For goalies only: Which player is the most difficult to stop? Alex Ovechkin, Capitals, 27%

Click through, you won't be disappointed.

One theory is that this is his form of protest for the lack of discipline towards Steckel or Hedman. As stated in the article, this certainly won't bode well towards shaking the whiner label.

Dwayne Roloson to Tampa for Ty Wishart

Solidifies Tampa Bay's goaltending with a Ellis Roloson 1-2 punch I assume. I wonder what will become of Mike Smith.

Here are some of the more notable ones for Caps fans:

• Bruce Boudreau yells to the point where his face is flush.

• You find yourself thinking, "Damn, that Brooks Laich(notes) is handsome."

• Someone drops an F-Bomb in Russian. (How many people actually know what that is?)

• Mike Green(notes) is seen wearing sunglasses. (Bonus Drink: He's actually outdoors.)

• Ovechkin is referred to as "brash," "flashy," or "a rock star."

• There is an artistic slow-motion shot of a pedestrian hockey play that makes it a billion times cooler than it is (i.e. a goalie making a routine save; a faceoff).

• Someone drops an F-Bomb in Swedish.

• Someone bitches about "having all these cameras around here" as a distraction. (Bonus Drink: This person isn't a member of the Washington Capitals.)

• Alex Semin's bongos fight is referenced.

• You see Ovechkin's car and/or Ovechkin speeding in it.

A goalie himself, Villacis couldn't contain his excitement at being so close to the crease of New Jersey star goalie Martin Brodeur and dragged Martell and Sericolo by their hands to get a closer look.

"We told him that's where Marty Brodeur stands for two periods, so he asked if he could go over and touch it," Martell told NHL.com. "We said sure and we walked him over and he touched both posts and he gave the posts a little hug and he said, 'Good luck Marty.'

"I didn't have the heart to tell him Marty was hurt and wouldn't be playing for two weeks, but he also said his second favorite player is the back-up goalie (Johan Hedberg), so it worked out and the goalie got a shutout."

In fact, Hedberg recorded a 5-0 shutout against the high-flying Capitals.

I guess we just need this kid on our side.

Guess there's really no discrimination here, except Semin's not even on there.

On Friday, January 28, 2011, a fantasy draft event will be held in Raleigh with all 54 NHL players (42 All-Stars and 12 rookies) during which the captains will draft the remaining members of their respective teams.

Teams will participate in six different skills, including NHL Fastest Skater, NHL Breakaway Challenge, Accuracy Shooting, Skills Challenge Relay, NHL Hardest shot and the NHL Elimination Shoot Out.

Should definitely be a fun all-star game this year.

On a loan, apparently can be recalled at any time or claimed, along with his $5.4 mil cap hit, by another team.

Apparently a 1 year, $1.1 million dollar contract.

Update: The contract is now official.

some slack.....

Defenseman Marc Staal signed a new, five-year deal with the New York Rangers, the team announced Wednesday, assuring he will be in training camp when it opens Friday.

The deal is worth $19.875 million, a source with knowledge of the deal told ESPN The Magazine's E.J. Hradek, with a breakdown of: $3.1 million this season; $3.675 million in 2011-12; $3.775 million in 2012-13; $3.875 million in 2013-14; and $5.45 million in the final year.

The annual salary cap hit will be $3.975 million, and the contract does not contain a no-trade or no-move clause.