One dimensional enforcer Brian McGrattan is a relic who won’t fix the flickering Flames. (Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

By Allan Muir

At some point, hopefully soon, a good friend of Jay Feaster will pull him aside, show him a calendar and make sure that Calgary’s GM has a firm grasp on the year in which he’s living and working.

Feaster’s dogged determination to wear Jarome Iginla and Miikka Kiprusoff down to the wire for a team that has no real chance at the playoffs is enough to make you wonder.

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Michael Ryder had eight goals and 14 points for the Stars this season. (Icon SMI)

By Allan Muir

Tuesday was homecoming day in the NHL.

Hours after Philadelphia re-acquired long-time Flyer Simon Gagne from the  Kings, the Montreal Canadiens repatriated winger Michael Ryder from Dallas in exchange for Erik Cole. The Stars also sent a 2013 third rounder to the Canadiens.

On the surface, this looks like a big win for the Habs.

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Tim Thomas will likely never play for the Islanders, but acquiring his contract makes sense. (Winslow Townson/AP)

By Allan Muir

Tim Thomas, the man who was an island unto himself in Boston’s locker room, is now an Islander.

At least as far as the salary cap bean-counters are concerned.

The trade, first reported by blogger Eklund and confirmed by Arthur Staples of Newsday, has the Bruins receiving a conditional second round pick in 2014 or 2015 for the netminder who chose a life of seclusion in Colorado over playing out the final season of his four-year, $20 million contract with Boston.

The condition, though, is that Thomas play at least one game for the Isles. Since that’s unlikely to happen, the deal is all about swapping cap dollars rather than tangible assets.

Giving away the world-class goaltender who led the team to the Stanley Cup just two years ago isn’t as crazy as it might seem.

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