SHORT TAKES
Cheap shots
Calgary Flames captain Jarome Iginla, 35, is slowing down. He has two goals in the past 22 games. Former teammate Rhett Warrener talked honestly about Iginla on Sportsnet FAN960 in Calgary, saying, "He's not Dany Heatley-slow, but he's getting there. I don't know if he's slowed down and his compete-level has followed, but you don't see that compete and fire in his eye now."
Warrener took a few more out-of-the-blue potshots at the Wild's Heatley (regarding his fitness) and Edmonton's Ryan Smyth ("slowly turning into a joke there") during his assessment of Iginla.
Both Heatley and Smyth declined to respond to Warrener's swipes.
Todd Richards in troubleWith Scott Howson fired in Columbus and Jarmo Kekalainen in as the first European GM in NHL history, former Wild coach Todd Richards is now the definition of a lame-duck coach. There is zero doubt President John Davidson will allow Kekalinen to bring in his own coach after the season.
Kekalinen, who worked with Davidson in St. Louis, is considered a top talent evaluator, and this is a critical draft for the Blue Jackets. They have three first-round picks.
Davidson wants to change Columbus' culture. "I want guys to understand that this is not a status quo organization," he said. "That's not just a message to the players, but everybody. We're in the business of winning."
