Things have gotten quite interesting for the NHL over the past several weeks.
Enforcers are in the All-Star Game. Top prospects are revolting. Coaches are getting injured in practice. Cats and dogs living together. Mass Hysteria.
What to make of all this? Here's my view:
1. THE ALL-STAR GAME IS ON ITS DEATH BED, AND WE'RE KILLING IT
The John Scott voting campaign may have started off as a joke, but it wound up humiliating an actual person and serves as yet another reminder that we don't take this game the least bit seriously. The only reason I'm happy Scott's playing is because of the way he was treated over this past week.
2. JONATHAN DROUIN GOT A RAW DEAL, BUT HIS RESPONSE WAS UNACCEPTABLE
Until recently, I sympathized for this kid. He had shown promise when given a chance to play with skill players (which didn't happen often enough) and I felt the Lightning should've given him a longer leash. That said, his refusal to play in the AHL showed a great deal of immaturity, even if it was his agent's advice. He's the client, he calls the shots. He could've told Allan Walsh that he respectfully wants to go a different route, but he went along with the scheme. One day, Drouin will look back at his actions and wish he'd been smarter than this.
3. VINCENT LECAVALIER HAS BEEN A QUALITY ADD FOR THE KINGS
I liked this trade from the get-go. The Kings risked very little for a potentially solid reward and have gotten exactly that. Lecavalier might've just been lacking motivation playing in Philadelphia, and being given the opportunity to compete for a Stanley Cup in L.A. has woken him up.
4. RYAN JOHANSEN AND SETH JONES ARE THRIVING WITH THEIR NEW TEAMS
This deal made a ton of sense for both sides, and the results have shown. Johansen has six points in seven games for Nashville, while Jones has five in seven for Columbus. Johansen has the approval of his coach to play the type of game he likes and Jones has the responsibility and increased role that he could never get with the Predators.
5. WHAT'S NEXT FOR STEVEN STAMKOS, ERIC STAAL AND THEIR RESPECTIVE CLUBS
This is a much easier deal for Carolina than it is for Tampa Bay, not that either team is in an enviable position here. The Hurricanes are in the midst of a rebuild and are starting to accumulate solid depth down the middle with Victor Rask and Elias Lindholm. There's more on the way, too. If Staal doesn't want to come back, they can trade him at the deadline (and probably should). However, if you're the Lightning and you think you're ready to compete for the Cup again, this becomes a tricky situation.
For me, there's just no way you can let someone like Stamkos walk without recouping assets in exchange. It's not like he's a good second line scorer; this is a franchise player. So, I think if you're GM Steve Yzerman, as crazy as it sounds, you have to trade this guy before it's too late, even if it means putting a dent in your championship aspirations for this season. And besides, it's not like the Bolts are lacking in offensive firepower without Stamkos. They still have Nikita Kucherov, Ondrej Palat and Tyler Johnson, as well as an emerging Vladislav Namestnikov and Alex Killorn.
Follow Daniel Friedman on Twitter @bardownhowitzer