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I don't have any strong feelings about the All-Star game: It's an affair for kids and the corporate element of the NHL. A necessary evil, if you will. No one watches it, but people still seem to get really angry about the whole thing. Me?

I don't care who got picked.

I care even less who got snubbed.

I would, however, buy a Zemgus Girgenson All-Star jersey - if I could afford it.

But when it's all said and done, the only good thing about the All-Star break is I can guarantee that Coyotes will go unbeaten for roughly the next week.

Should we take stock even? I sort of did already at the real half-way point, but to recap:

16-25-5

Is further comment even necessary?

What is cool, however, if we are to glean some grace from the gloaming, so to speak, the Coyotes are only four points up on the Oilers for last in the West and six points out of last overall. (The Coyotes do have a reverse-game-in hand on the two teams, but who's counting?)

There's OEL, and Domi. Much to be happy about there.

NEWS:

In the news department, we have Gormley, Lee, Samuelsson and Lessio (who played amazing against the Hawks the other night) sent down to the AHL. I assume this is because they're eligible to get game action in the AHL rather than sit around for a week, and expect at least Gormley and Lessio to be recalled once play resumes in the NHL.

The Coyotes recalled goalie McKenna as well, but whether this is just to get Lee into AHL games (he hasn't played in a while) or what, who knows? Not me anyways.

I don't know if this qualifies as "news" but my good friend Mike Smith has now allowed five or more goals eight times this year. ____ 's Mom doesn't get scored on that often!! (put whoever's name you want in that blank there).

Zing!

That was a game the other night against the Hawks, huh? Who ever would have thought the Kyle Turris trade would have backfired yet again? Nothing says Cherry-on-the-Cake like going in to the All-Star break 14 games under .500 and having David Runblad, of all people, score a goal to make it 6-1.

I feel like Runblad scoring that goal just kind of encapsulates the season perfectly.


Ray Whitney

Ray Whitney retired, god bless his little heart. Not too many 'classic' Coyotes, but even though he played here for just two seasons, Whitney seems like one of the most beloved Coyotes of all time. I had to check to make sure it was only two seasons - I could have sworn it was at least three - but in 157 games, Whitney put up a respectable 41 goals and 93 assists. Pretty good for a guy older than Indiana Jones.

Originally drafted in the second round, this Rob Lowe look-alike broke into the NHL back in 1920s when Jarimir Jagr just 46. He scored 20 plus goals in ten seasons and finished with over 1000 points. Never respected as a big star, he always produced and I think that his underdog nature is why he's so fondly remembered by Coyotes fans even if he didn't play in Phoenix long.

Jimmy's Top Ten Albums of All-Time

For no reason at all, during the coming All-Star break I will be counting down my top ten hockey themed albums of all time.

10. The Smiths The Queen is Dead



What other record can make you think about the colonialism, being buried alive, being sad, being crushed by a double-decker bus, being sad, John Keates and of course, being sad, lonely and um, sad?

It's such a depressing record it makes this Coyotes season seem like a dream by comparison. Somehow though, it manages to be one of the most flawless sets of music ever recorded. There's also some jokes and a warped sense of humour hidden among the pathos - not to mention some of the best rock guitar work of all time - and not a single solo.

9. Warren Zevon Excitable Boy 1978



How bad-ass and cool do you have to be to appear on the cover of your record with a turtle-neck on? It's like the least rock and roll thing of all-time. On the other hand, he's as good a song writer as Dylan and this is his best record.

It's not on the record, but I'll leave you with another Zevon song, the only song I know about hockey fights. The best song about hockey by a mile.



Thanks for reading

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