Predators take a risk So much for the day of giving goaltenders big money being behind us.

The Nashville Predators signed Niklas Backstrom's old Karpat Oulu goalie partner, Pekka Rinne, to a monster seven-year, $49 million extension Thursday -- hours before he shut out Phoenix.

The deal takes Rinne to age 36, and it's a risk in a league where goaltending is at a surplus. Also, with the small-market Predators looking to re-sign defensemen Shea Weber and Ryan Suter, one has to wonder if they'll now lose one.

Hitchcock in the wings? With the Columbus Blue Jackets off to a 2-10-1 start (5-22-8 dating to Feb. 25, including 11 straight road losses heading into Saturday), coach Scott Arniel and possibly GM Scott Howson could be on their last legs. With no games until Thursday, this could be an ideal time to make a change.

Don't be surprised if former coach Ken Hitchcock resurfaces. He's still an adviser in the organization and is making $1.33 million.

That's why he's the coach Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau looked like a genius last week when he benched Alex Ovechkin in the final minute down by a goal against Anaheim. Nicklas Backstrom tied the score, and then Ovechkin set up Backstrom in overtime.

Ovechkin was clearly unhappy on the bench.

"It's just a little bit frustrating because I'm a leader on the team and I want to be on that kind of responsibility, but Bruce put Brooks [Laich's] line and it worked."

Boudreau said: "I thought other guys were better than him. ... You go with your gut feeling, thinking that line is going pretty good, and I got lucky."