PRESSURE BUILDING
NHL arenas are crawling with a different type of scouts these days, eying prospects for the Vancouver Olympics. And despite denials, from some, pressure is building.
"Whether it's the Swedes, the Canadians or the Americans, you see them in the hallways," Blue Jackets coach (and Canadian assistant coach) Ken Hitchcock said yesterday.
NEW LEASE
Former Leafs defenceman Anton Stralman already has a career-high four goals and is spending time anchoring the Jackets' power play. Hitchcock believes getting out of Toronto was all Stralman needed.
"With any young player, when you are in a city that hockey is really important, mistakes get magnified," Hitchock said.
