If you were given the responsibility of putting together the greatest NHL hockey team of all time what would the roster look like? The players would be their fresh, young selves, at the peak of their careers, and for those that are now dead and gone…well, they’d be alive again.
Think about it. In the meantime here’s our list:

1. Wayne Gretzky
2. Mario Lemieux
3. Bobby Orr
4. Maurice Richard
5. Gordie Howe
6. Dominik Hasek
7. Doug Harvey
8. Guy Lafleur
9. Scott Stevens
10. Mark Messier
11. Patrick Roy
12. Bobby Hull

This is turning into the Year of the Goalie. Thirteen of them had save percentages of .920 or better heading into Sunday’s action. And you won’t find names like Roberto Luongo, Martin Brodeur and Dominik Hasek anywhere near that list.

Here’s who you will find in the Top 5:

Pascal Leclaire (.953): Five shutouts in nine games suggest the Columbus prospect has finally arrived.

Dan Ellis (.952): Nashville honked one by letting Tomas Vokoun go to Florida, but Ellis saved the day (for now) with four straight wins, including two shutouts.

Tim Thomas (.946): Taking full advantage of Manny Fernandez’ knee injury. Getting the job done for the Bruins this season.

Martin Biron (.940): Cast aside in Buffalo, but leading the Flyers’ surge back to respectability.

Henrik Lundqvist (.939): Don’t blame him for the ’ slow start. Three shutouts this season and only one shootout goal allowed in six attempts.

What the heck’s going on here? Philadelphia, Carolina and Columbus are all kicking ass in the NHL. Anaheim, New Jersey and the Rangers are all sucking wind. What’s a hockey bettor to do?

Get used to it. This is life under the salary cap. NFL bettors know all about parity, how some teams can go from the penthouse to the outhouse and back again. The dynasties of old are no more, and non-traditional hockey markets like the Carolinas are winning Stanley Cups.

This may or may not be “wrong,” depending on your hockey worldview. But here’s what I don’t like about the league, and it’s the same problem with the NBA: that ugly corporate smell. It’s in their insipid marketing, their continuous expansion that robs the game of its quality level, and their unending grab of taxpayer money to finance new arenas. The ugly ownership mess surrounding the Predators speaks volumes. But it’s always been this way, hasn’t it?

And while we’re talking about what’s wrong with the NHL, how about a little something about what’s right- depending on whether you enjoy brutishness or not.  For you then, rafish hockey fan, some fist’a'cuffs on video.

I’m a fantasy sports nut. If they had Fantasy Icelandic Rules Crokinole, I’d be in. But I gladly settle at this time of year for NFL, NBA and NHL.

The idea of fantasy hockey may be a struggle if you’re not familiar with the self-styled Coolest Game on Earth. It’s not the highest scoring game out there, but hockey is still awash in numbers. Goals, assists, plus-minus and penalty minutes are the basic stats for forwards and defensemen, while goaltenders rack up wins, goals-against average, save percentage and shutouts. Other stats like power-play goals and game-winning goals can be added to the mix, usually at the discretion of whoever is starting up the fantasy league in question.

A typical team consists of two centers, two left-wingers, two right-wingers, four defensemen, two goalies and four bench players. Leagues of a dozen or so teams will hold a draft, just like any other fantasy sport. Then it’s Game On.