My weekly rant blog seems to bring out the best (worst?) in you puckheads. This week, we even got a ranting poem. Nice!

permster:
Roses are Red
Violets are Blue
I am a Flames fan
And I don't know what to do
One week they dominate
The next week they [expletive]
I find myself sitting around
Thinking what the ...
The three Flames defensemen
Who didn't make Canada's team
Need to look in the mirror
And start playing with a bit of steam
I am writing this in a poem
Because I am depressed
Us blue-collar Albertans
Expect them to play at their best

My take: This is as good as it gets. Great job, permster. And this was written before the 9-1 drubbing in San Jose! This team was rolling a few weeks ago; then, suddenly, it fell into this slump. The problem has been scoring goals. When the team scored four goals Sunday in the loss at Anaheim, it was the first time the Flames scored that many goals in 12 games. Overall, they're ranked 24th in the NHL in offense and 28th on the power play.

You are right to point out the big three on defense. More was expected from Jay Bouwmeester given the contract he received this past summer, more than the two goals and 16 assists he has through 50 games. Dion Phaneuf hasn't been much better (19 points) and Robyn Regehr, though not counted on for offense, has struggled overall.

Up front, Jarome Iginla has been hot and cold, and Olli Jokinen mostly cold. Then, there's a player like David Moss. It was hoped his breakthrough, 20-goal season in 2008-09 would propel him to better things this season, but he has only seven goals. Hey, the talent is here, as shown for most of the season when the Flames were rolling. They'll rebound. But if I were GM Darryl Sutter, I would give the Carolina Hurricanes a call about rental player Ray Whitney, a dependable winger with point-a-game talent who can also spark a power play.

Ludlumtc: Pierre, I was there Saturday in Dallas. How in the heck was that a goal? From every replay I have seen, there is no way that was a goal. The head linesman waved it wasn't a goal initially. The puck appeared like it didn't cross the line entirely. How much longer is the NHL going to continue to not get it right?

My take: I exchanged text messages with both Red Wings coach Mike Babcock and GM Ken Holland on Saturday evening, and they were obviously hot under the collar. Their main frustration is how it got called a goal despite inconclusive video and the fact the referee right beside the net waved it off. They can't believe the referee who was 30 feet away called it a goal and the on-ice call stood.

To be clear, the video guys in Toronto can only overrule the call on the ice if there's conclusive video, and there wasn't, either way. So the guys in Toronto can't be blamed. The mistake, in my mind, was made in making the on-ice call a goal, although NHL Director of Hockey Operations Colin Campbell disagreed with me when we spoke Monday.

"The back ref and the linesman, who probably had the best view of all, made the call," Campbell told me. "The ref near the net didn't have a clear view of it at the end, so that's why he didn't have it as a goal. That linesman had a view of it all the way. And from our end in Toronto, we just didn't have a conclusive picture of the puck crossing the line, therefore, the call on the ice stands as it is. When the officials on the ice make a decision about a goal, we in Toronto have to have conclusive evidence to the contrary if we overturn it."

The bottom line? With the technology we have, you wouldn't think there would be any controversy at all. I suspect the Red Wings will make sure this is on the agenda for the March GMs meeting, although Campbell usually has this on the agenda every year as a general update.

jacketsbearsbucks: What happened to the Jackets? They started off the season right where they left off. Then ... something happened. I really like the Hitch, but something happened to get in their heads, and I can't help but wonder that it's the coaching. This team should have loads of young talent for years to come. And letting Filatov get away ... grrr! Is it true the Hitch can't coach young talent?

My take: No, it is not true. I'm pretty sure there were young players on the team last season when the Jackets surprised everyone in hockey and clinched their first playoff berth in franchise history. The man didn't get stupid overnight. First of all, I think this team overachieved last season, making this season's expectations a dangerous target.

Secondly, and I hate to single out one player in a team sport, but goalie Steve Mason is redefining "sophomore slump." His .889 save percentage is 46th out of 47 NHL goalies and his 3.33 goals-against average is 45th. Listen, I love the kid and he's only 21, but he's clearly the biggest reason for the problems this season. You can't win a game without goaltending. And backup Mathieu Garon is just that, a backup. I think Mason will be fine next season and have the kind of bounce-back campaign Carey Price is having this season in Montreal. Until there's any sign of a turnaround in net, it doesn't matter what the coach does. You can't win in this league without a puck stopper.

Wingsfan4013: OK Pierre, I'm gonna be bouncing all over the place today.

My take: I already dealt with No. 1 above and I missed Sunday's Wings-Hawks game (was too busy watching my Cowboys get their butts handed to them by the Vikings), so I can't comment on No. 3. But let's delve into your second point.

As for Howard and the Vezina, there's no chance. Here's why:

GMs vote for the Vezina. Traditionally, aside from the odd Jim Carey hiccup, the GMs are very conservative with this vote. They largely stick with a senior guy who has done it year after year. That's why Patrick Roy, Dominik Hasek and Martin Brodeur have combined for 13 of the past 20 Vezina Trophies. That, and the fact they're the best three goalies of the modern era. But the point is, even in years where Brodeur might have had inferior numbers to a Roberto Luongo, the GMs almost always vote on seniority. In their eyes, you have to really lose the belt before they award a new heavyweight champion. The tie goes to the reigning champ. Last season was interesting because the long-term injuries to Brodeur and Luongo opened up the race and Tim Thomas deservedly won.

What will truly be interesting this season is if the GMs decide Ryan Miller deserves to take the belt away from Brodeur. Miller is my Vezina front-runner right now, but will the GMs see it the same way? We'll see in June. As for Howard, let's focus on the Calder race, where he's got a shot.

RonjoninMelbourne: Have a vent about Chicago. Obviously they are really good, and will lose many players due to cap issues next year. Why wouldn't they trade some of their soon-to-be pricey assets (Sharp, etc.) for a whole lot of relatively spaced-out draft picks in future years? Yes, they want to win the Cup now, but letting their "other" talent walk for nothing (via UFA) would be a huge mistake. Instead of loading up for this year, Chicago could make a dynasty ... any team with Keith, Seabrook, Kane, Toews and Hossa has the potential to be a Cup contender especially when supplemented with the young talent from additional draft picks. This team could be very good for a very long time.

My take: Ron from Melbourne, I don't blame the Hawks one bit if they decide to wait until the summer to address their cap issues. Because in this CBA, as I wrote in a column last week, your window to win it all may not be that long. The system doesn't allow teams to horde too much talent. So when you have a situation like Chicago this season, where the CBA clock hasn't struck midnight yet, you go for it and live for today because you don't know when you'll be able to assemble this much talent under one roof again. That's why I applauded Penguins GM Ray Shero for acquiring rental player Marian Hossa in March 2008, even if Pittsburgh didn't win the Cup with him. You go for it when your window is there and worry about the future later.

Dutchmoe48: There are more than two teams in N.Y., ESPN. Not so much the Islanders, but everything is about the Rangers with you guys. Is Sheldon Souray a good fit with the Rangers? What about the Sabres? Hello, they are in first place in their division. Lindy Ruff has done a remarkable job in changing the team's makeup. From offensive juggernauts to defensive masters after being purged by free agency. Souray would fit in nicely with the Sabres as a power-play Q.B. More defensemen need to get involved with the offensive rush and Souray does this well. Anyway, I'm not trying to be a homer but check out the other end of the state once in awhile; you might like what you see.

My take: I haven't written a single story on the Rangers this season, but I've done several on the Sabres, including a big feature on Tyler Myers last month. So, you're barking up the wrong tree with me when it comes to the Sabres. The only reason I linked Souray to the Rangers in my weekend blog is because the Rangers are the team my NHL source said was interested in him. Now, move on and enjoy the Sabres' run this season. Could be a fun spring for your team.

deltronamation: LeBrunski, plain and simple, what is the media's problem with neglecting the Western Conference and its obvious dominance? My main point is that nobody thinks Marleau will win the Rocket Richard. The guy is on a torrid pace and is on EASILY the best line in hockey. Does he need to distance himself by 14 goals just to get some recognition? Not recognition for losing the captaincy and playing well either that's cheep. How about he is one of the BEST all around players in hockey right now NO QUESTIONS ASKED. Where would you rank him among forwards THIS YEAR for overall contribution to the game?

My take: I like my new Russian name, cool. There's no question the West will always get less coverage than the East; that's life, not just in sports, but in politics and news in general. It's called population base and media centers. You can't change geography, my friend. Having said that, I try very hard to balance my coverage. You may have noticed I had nine of the top 13 teams from the Western Conference in this week's Power Rankings. You may have also noticed I spent the second and third round of the playoffs last season in Detroit and Chicago. And you may have also noticed this story I wrote on Patrick Marleau last month.

fluxzito: A photo of Kyle Brodziak for the vent page today surely means you will finally talk about the Minnesota Wild, because you really never do ... We hear all about the Hurricanes, Ducks and Oilers for some reason, but nothing on the Wild front. What about the addition of Latendresse, anything to say about that? Will the Wild make any trades, possibly Sykora or Harding? And do you see them sneaking into that 8th spot in the West?

My take: Fluxzito, you are quite right, I haven't done enough on the Wild this season, other than a story on the day of the Guillaume Latendresse- Benoit Pouliot trade. Speaking of which, my good friend and colleague Scott Burnside must have heard your rant from miles away since a big chunk of his Monday column was devoted to analyzing how well that trade has worked out for both clubs. So there you go!

bigt151dw: I have been a die-hard new york islanders fan my entire life, and of course that will never change. I think Garth Snow finally has us headed in the right direction. The youth movement was a solid thing to go with, and i hope it stays that way. I felt a little uneasy though after espn insider said that the islanders are now involved in trade talks with kovalchuk. Now as much as i would love to have ilya on my team (how could any one not want any one of his caliber on your team), i believe garth snow would end up giving away so much of our youth that it some how would come back to bite us. I mean look at the trades former GM Mike Milbury did years ago (acquiring Yashin in exchange for Chara and eventually Spezza, giving away luongo, bertuzzi), i mean the list goes on and on. I think the islanders should just stay put and only shop Marty Biron because that is a very difficult situation for him. Thoughts?

My take: How about those Islanders, eh? Monday's big win over the Devils puts them only two points from fifth in the Eastern Conference. Someone pinch me, it's 1993 all over again! But regarding your Kovalchuk question, I e-mailed someone who would have a pretty big say in whether or not there would be trade talks between Atlanta and the Islanders, and his answer was, "No chance." This source has always done right by me, so I think you can take that to the bank. The big move for the Islanders is to try to turn Martin Biron into a forward, but the Isles may have to settle for a draft pick.

kevrich88: What is with the Marty Turco fire sale? In a recent article, you suggested the Stars should/will move Turco in exchange for youth. If the motive for doing this is because you and others feel he is slipping, I think you would be incorrect. It is the team in front of him, not the goalie, who is getting worse. Last season, Turco faced 1900-plus shots, 300 more than any other season. And with this season a little more than half way through, he is on pace to match that same number. Even with the sharp increase in shots, he still has a sub-3.00 GAA. The Stars should be using Turco as a rock to lean on as they try to rebuild the program. He still has 3-5 good years left.

My take: I don't think Turco's play is slipping. I'm a big fan of the goalie, and Marty and I regularly stay in contact with each other. I'm just reporting what I know, and the Stars have decided they are likely going to get younger in goal moving forward (whether that means Turco is dealt before March 3 or he simply walks away as an unrestricted free agent July 1). I wish nothing but the best for him and agree he has lots of hockey left in him.

SamRum555: Do you think that the Leafs trade for Phil Kessel is going to be worth it in the long run? I mean right now they are bound to be a lottery draft team and they don't even have a pick! Do you think it would have been a better move to keep the draft picks and try and build through young prospects such as Taylor Hall, which the Boston Bruins could easily end up getting with that draft pick? Or maybe Kessel will be a great move in the long run?

My take: Sam, it's pretty simple for me. I do believe Kessel is worth one lottery pick, but not two. The onus is on the Leafs to be a better club next season, and believe me, GM Brian Burke is not done changing this lineup. But if the Leafs somehow stumble next season and Boston gets a pair of top-five picks, then the Bruins win the deal hands-down. We'll see in 18 months or so.

thebearneccesities: As a Canucks fan I have to be disappointed with our consistency. We have a world class goalie, the top scorer in the league (Hank Sedin), an emerging finisher in Burrows, and some solid D from guys like Erhoff and Big Stick Willie Mitchell. We are finally a strong offense yet it seems like we still lack something. Last year we were on the verge of taking a 3-1 lead against the Hawks but we gave up a tight game in Chicago and just imploded. This team is consistent in its lack of consistency and we never seem like a serious threat in the playoffs. Maybe I am just not taking into account our slow start but what can we do to finally take the next step and become a legitimate cup contender? We are on a bit of a hot streak but we were going into the playoffs last year too and we fizzled fast. I like to think that we are a strong team but are we among the best in the conference?

My take: I love the way the Canucks are playing this season and I think they are very much a legitimate Cup contender. Henrik Sedin has been out of this world, and if he played in New York, you'd be hearing much more about him. The Canucks still have cap room to make an impact acquisition at the trade deadline, and I wouldn't be surprised if GM Mike Gillis at the very least inquired to see what the price is for Ilya Kovalchuk. My only concern with the Canucks is something they have no control over -- the schedule. That monster road trip from Jan. 30 to March 10 will be the mother of all tests, even if it is broken in half by the Olympic break. If they can recover from that trip, they'll be a dangerous foe come springtime.

brinnjob: I'm a long time Devils fan, and Patrik Elias fan, and I was sitting right in that section that Elias got hit Saturday at the Pepsi Center. When it happened, I was ready to drop the gloves with Wilson myself. People around me were saying that he hit Elias into the corner of the bench and a million other cheap things. Pepsi Center didn't show any replays, and it happened so fast I had no idea. Later I saw it was a clean hit, an unfortunate one for Elias, but just a solid shoulder check on a skater with his head down.

My take: Brinnjob, very nice posting. And good on you for seeing the hit for what it was. Unfortunately, even clean hits can be damaging. I remember how sick I felt when Eric Lindros was drilled by Scott Stevens in Game 7 of the 2000 Eastern Conference finals. Lindros had just returned from another bout with concussion issues before the hit, so I was wondering if his career was done. But you couldn't fault Stevens; it was clean and thunderous hit. It's part of the game.

punwalla: My beef is with the media/fans in other markets. It is clear that Vancouver (I am a Canucks fan) and Burrows are not well-liked by many teams in the NHL nor by a lot of media, but the overall reaction to this incident has been disgusting. We have been called whiners/tattle-tales when we know that other fans would be irate if this had happened to their team. Moreover, the calls for us to shut up and stop whining purposely ignore the evidence in the case in order to satisfy some petty grudge against our team. Most importantly, these desultory insults undermine the legitimate concerns we, as hockey fans, have about the league and the game that we love so much.

My take: Which is why I stick with my take on it from last week. I believe both Burrows and Auger were guilty on some level, and it was not a black-and-white incident at all. There was a lot of gray in this thing, and no one should be fully siding with anyone.