1. Carlo Colaiacovo got his first point Sunday since being traded to the St. Louis Blues last week by Toronto, an assist on former Erie Otters teammate Brad Boyes' power-play goal in a 4-2 win over Atlanta. It's worth the cost of the NHL Center Ice package to have heard those three words again: "Colaiacovo to Boyes."

2. Someone please tell Vs. and the NHL Network it's not necessary for Braydon Coburn to come back any longer. We get it.

3. If I'm starting a team in the NHL and get my choice of any player from any team's roster to build around, it's Evgeni Malkin. Unreal growth in his short pro career and still immense potential for more.

4. The only Erie Otter with significant time in the NHL still playing without interruption for the team that drafted him is defenseman Chris Campoli, who went to the New York Islanders in the seventh round of the 2004 draft.

5. Vote for your favorite players for the NHL All-Star Game. Montreal does not require your help. One blog suggests a boycott.

6. Russia's first-year Kontinental Hockey League (hope you can read Russian) is taking a page from the NHL public relations manual and playing an outdoor all-star game Jan. 11 -- in Moscow's Red Square.