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Timofei Shishkanov was traded to the St Louis Blues by the Predators for Mike Sillinger, only a day or two after claiming Simon Gamache back off waivers from St Louis. Gamache has been reassigned to Milwaukee, while Shishkanov will likely get a shot in St Louis. Sillinger will help the Predators go deep into the playoffs if all goes as expected.

Shish had often expressed concern that his numbers and play weren't good enough for the Predators brass to see him in their long term plans, so in many respects this move is not shocking. Timofei was often mentioned in post game interviews by Coach Noel, though most media outlets chose not to use that material. A talented young man, with size and speed, he never seemed to quite recover from the injury that he suffered early in his career in Milwaukee. He never quite had the drive and the nose for the net he had his rookie season. Perhaps new surroundings and a fresh start will revitalize him to be the player I have always felt he could be.

Gamache is another story. Having started as a man on fire in St Louis, he allegedly found himself in Coach Mike Kinchen's doghouse. Knowing Simon, and his fiery disposition and drive to win, I can imagine that St Louis and the glumness that has surrounded that franchise this season were not a good fit. His return to Milwaukee is likely insurance from the Predators point of view. When he was reassigned, I fully expected another move to be made, but wasn't sure. I didn't want to post something that might be proven to be untrue this early in the blog's life and belittle my credibility. Guess I should have, it would have helped build it in retrospect.

Now comes the interesting part, who plays where. Scottie Upshall has played lights out, and has helped revitalize Darren Haydar's game. However, Gamache and Haydar had a magic on the ice together that nobody in Milwaukee is likely to forget any time soon. Do you go with a line of Upshall-Kris Beech-Darren Haydar, or put Gamache in Upshall's place. Or, do you go with Gamache-Greg Classen-Haydar, and then Upshall-Beech-Libor Pivko for two very deadly lines?

Reminder, the B2 Network is broadcasting both the Skills Competition tuesday and the AHL ALL Star Game Wednesday for free on the AHL website. Remember to watch it and support both Pekka Rinne and Libor Pivko as they make their All Star Debuts.

Hockey can be a tough sport. A game where frozen pieces of rubber fly around at speeds approaching and even exceeding 100 mph. It’s where bodies fly around a sheet of ice with the distinct intent to smash you into small pieces if you are too close to said piece of rubber. And it is the one sport where fighting is an accepted part of the game. Yet, in many ways, the business of professional hockey is an even tougher game than the sport that people watch and play. Players come and go, and compete for position and promotion while trying to make a coherent team that believes in teamwork and tries for a common goal: win. Or is that get to the NHL? Or both? Against this backdrop, making lasting friendships would seem unlikely. Yet, two young men from Canada have formed a great bond that helps them both on and off of the ice. “I think it’s real hard,” says center Greg Classen, “you have a few close friends you keep in touch with. It’s impossible to keep in touch with everyone; it’s the same as leaving your home town. I’m twenty-eight now, so all my high school friends have moved on, they are either married or got jobs.”

Adds winger Darren Haydar, “Especially within hockey, you’re only with a team for so long and for us, either fortunately or unfortunately, we’ve been back with the same team for what is my fourth year now. You take that for what it is, but fortunately for us, we’ve been together for most of that time.”

The two young men have played a lot of games together in Milwaukee over the past four years, Classen 179 (221 over all in Milwaukee) and Haydar 256. Yet they knew each other even before that, having played against one another in college in the Hockey East conference. “Played against him at school, so I knew of him,” remembers Haydar, “we played against each other for two years there, and then Greg decided to take a step. I followed behind, and I met him in Milwaukee.”

Classen corrects his friend, “I think we met at the summer camp the first time, Nashville Summer Condition Camp was the first time we actually met. We became friends almost right away. It was pretty easy for us; we kind of knew each from having played against each other so we had something in common.”

Haydar agrees, “It was kind of easy for us, there were a number of Hockey East guys in the system: (Mark) Mowers was here, Jayme Filipowicz was here from the University of New Hampshire with me, and them knowing Greg, I just got fed right into the process. It definitely made it easier when you know the situation and I knew the guys here, and then to become friends with Greg as well. When you are comfortable with your surroundings, it makes things so much easier.”

The two young men are in many ways mirror images of each other: Classen the taller blonde center who early on established himself for his defensive play and two way ability and the shorter dark haired Haydar who is best known for his hockey sense and nose for the net. Haydar is on pace this season to meet or beat his rookie season numbers that are his career best. He was surprised to hear that, “On pace for that? I don’t feel like it. I am streaky and it feels like I haven’t scored in a month,” Haydar ponders with his trade mark lop-sided grin, “ I’ve gotten assists, I’ve been involved in the play, but it’s nice to get a goal every once in a while.”

This is the first season the two have seen much ice time on the same line. “Its fun,” says Haydar, “we’re doing well right now. We’re not always out there together because of different things: power plays, penalty kills, and the way that Claude (Noel) changes the lines to affect the game. But when we’re out there, we’ve been able to connect, it’s been fun.”

In part two, we'll get to see what life is like off the ice for these two young men, Hockey's Equivalent of Felix and Oscar.

Libor Pivko and Pekka Rinne got a surprise during the Admiral's practice today, they were named to the AHL Planet USA All-Star team. "It's exciting to get the call from the American Hockey League," said Head Coach Claude Noel, "both guys deserve it. Pekka Rinne's had a great first half of the season, as has Libor Pivko and they've been rewarded. It's good for our team."

Noel continued, "We had what we call bios, where we talk about biographies in the room, and we had a couple of announcements to make, and one of them was that they had been chosen to the AHL All-Star Game and that was the first time they'd heard of it. Normally I tell guys before hand, but I thought I'd surprise them in front of the group so I think they were kind of stunnded." Chuckling, Noel continued, "I don't think they were expecting it, but it's a good surprise."

"It was a big surprise, I didn't know that I was going to be named to All Star Team," said Pivko, "I've had a good year so far because I play with good players like Darren Haydar and Greg Classen in front of me on the line." Pivko commented on the All Star Game, "This game is for the fans, a lot of skills and goals, not much defense." He was very excited to get a chance to show of his skills on a national stage, "I'm very excited. I think it's going to be fun."

Said Rinne of his naming, "It's a huge honor, this is my first season here. I'm very excited. It's going to be fun." In regards to his learning of his selection, "It's my first season here, and I've played in many games, and I've played pretty well. But this was a big surprise to me. I was pretty confused, like I can't believe this. And Libor Pivko is going with me." The smiles said it all.

Hello everyone, and Happy New Year!

First off, I'd like to apologize for my lack of posting. With the Holidays, and the nice chest cold I got for them (the gift that keeps on giving) I didn't really get much of a chance to write. Also was very busy taking care of my mother (for those who don't know, she has dimentia and they now say Alzheimers).

However, I am working on two long articles for this week. Expect to see some good stuff soon.


Also, Shea Webber made his NHL debut last night vs the Red Wings. Good Luck, Shea!