National Hockey League's Top Observations of the Week

Each week we will identify the National Hockey League's top observations that regularly would not be seen with the standard untrained eye.

While the Alexander Ovechkin suspension, the upcoming All-Star game and fantasy draft and concussions continue to dominate headlines, here are some lesser spoken about hot-button items that should be on your radar.

Gary Bettman and Donald Fehr Are Talking

Gary Bettman and Donald Fehr have agreed on something.

Don’t laugh. That’s news!

It’s all about a settlement of their dispute over 2010-2011 Hockey Related Revenue (HRR) and the return of escrow monies.

That’s not as heartening as hammering out a new Collective Bargaining Agreement, but it demonstrates that they can agree. Once serious CBA talks begin after the All-Star game, we’ll have a better idea about the NHL-NHLPA-level of cooperation on serious issues.

Until then the HRR-escrow agreements should be appreciated at least as a positive start. However, no cartwheels of joy, please!

Minnesota Wild's GM Chuck Fletcher's Mindset

Chuck Fletcher knows better than anyone that the 82-game season is a marathon, not a sprint.

Fletcher’s Minnesota Wild once held first-place overall among the 30 teams. And Mike Yeo was being promoted as a potential Adams Award winner as coach of the year.

Forty-eight games into the season, Minnesota not only is in danger of missing the playoffs, but the Wild could sink right down to the bottom of the Northwest Division unless Mikko Koivu’s return saves them.

Pittsburgh Penguin Evgeni Malkin Carrying the Load

Evgeni Malkin not only is reinforcing his superstar credentials, but he’s carrying the Penguins franchise on his shoulders.

That Pittsburgh can maintain standing stability in the standings without Sidney Crosby is a testament to Malkin, Dan Bylsma’s coaching and a surprisingly solid lineup developed by Ray Shero.