Hockeyhockeyhockeyhockeyhockeyhockey with one baseball

While I was writing the NFL picks, all of this stuff happened, and I can’t let it slide.

Steve Konowalchuk of the Colorado Avalanche retired. I loved this guy. He suffers from a disease which can lead to an irregular heartbeat, and that’s forced his hand to end his playing days. Before Alex Ovechkin came along, Konowalchuk was the only reason to watch a Washington Capitals game, and not because he’d score goals the way Ovechkin does, but because he was a coach’s dream. Hard-working, good face off guy, good penalty killer. One of those guys your team just doesn’t go very far without. The Avalanche acquired Konowalchuk early in the 2003-04 season and he was a key cog in their run to the second round of the playoffs. He played just 21 games last season because of injury, and his absence was a big part of the Avs poor regular season. We’ll miss you Steve.

David Schoenfield’s column at ESPN.com today offered a pretty spectacular prediction, which I’m hoping to see: Johan Santana vs. Roger Clemens in game seven of the World Series.

Yesterday, the Montreal Canadiens claimed Patrick Traverse off waivers from San Jose. Terrible news. The last time Traverse (who will henceforth be known as “Reverse”) was with the Canadiens, he cleared waivers and was sent to the minors (along with Karl Dykhuis) where he was probably the worst defenseman us Hamilton Bulldogs fans have ever seen (other than the departed Ron Hainsey). Now, in a completely inexplicable move, he’s back because Canadiens’ brass just didn’t think rookie J-P Cote could cut the mustard for an extended run with the big club to start the year. It’s a shame, too. Cote is a fine defenseman, one of the best Hamilton’s ever had. He had a couple of brief call-ups last season and played very well. At one point, he was even on the first penalty killing unit. So while I’m glad the Dogs will have Cote again this year, it’s really heartbreaking that his demotion comes at the hands of yet another Reverse disaster waiting to happen. Worse still, when the Habs smarten up, they’ll be forced to send Reverse back to the minors, which means another stint in Hamilton (if he clears waivers). Ugh.

In a move we’ve expected for some time now, the Carolina Hurricanes have traded their first-round pick from the 2005 draft, defenseman Jack Johnson. Johnson was the third overall selection in 2005, and is regarded as NHL ready, but has twice turned down contract offers from the Hurricanes to continue his college career. In need of warm bodies on the back end, the Canes dealt Johnson’s rights and defenseman Oleg Tverdovsky to Los Angeles for defenseman Tim Gleason and forward Eric Belanger. Belanger will slide nicely into the centre spot on the Canes’ third line while Gleason will move into the top four on the blue line. It’s a good deal for Carolina, but we’ll only see how it all goes down after we’ve seen what Johnson can do in the NHL. Eric Belanger’s departure opens space at centre for two rookies to make the Kings’ lineup -- Patrick O’Sullivan and Anze Kopitar. Johnson will skate with the Michigan Wolverines again this season.