"Corny as it is and clichéd as it is, I enjoy playing hockey, and they always say you never know when your last shift is going to be," Ortmeyer said. "I wanted to go out on my terms and not be forced out by some medical issues."

Lamest bachelor party ever.

It's hard not to read articles when you see Steve Yzerman makes a comment on the Olympics, or (Wings/Team Canada coach) Mike Babcock. You want to read them. You're curious. When we play (Detroit), it's another added incentive. You try not to think about it, but you want to leave a good impression.

"Poor Pat." Give me a freakin' break.

I would agree to get kicked in the face once a month if I could get back on the ice in the National Hockey League.

Canucks Sports & Entertainment announced today that President and CEO, Chris Zimmerman has made the decision to step down from his position for family reasons. Zimmerman has spent the past three seasons providing the overall strategic direction for the company. General Manager and Alternate Governor, Mike Gillis, has been named President of Canucks Sports & Entertainment.

"I have made the very difficult decision to resign my position with Canucks Sports & Entertainment and re-locate my family back to the eastern United States," said Zimmerman. "These past three years have been a tremendous personal and professional experience for me and I have loved working and living in the greatest hockey city in the world. I would like to thank the Aquilini family for their commitment to this city and this team, the incredible staff at Canucks Sports & Entertainment, our loyal business partners and the most passionate fans in the NHL for their support during my time here in Vancouver."

The Minnesota Wild are building a list of candidates to replace fired general manager Doug Risebrough.

Sources tell TSN the Wild have contacted the Toronto Maple Leafs seeking permission to speak with Dave Nonis, the Leafs' senior vice president of hockey operations.

Toronto has flatly declined.

Join Hockey Wilderness in a trip around the NHL Blogosphere, covering the week that was in the NHL.

"When you think back at the history of this club, I remember in the Stanley Cup finals in 1995-96, Florida was absolutely bizonkers, if there is such a word, over the Panthers. And I think for a team that fans see to be increasingly competitive, that excitement and that feeling will be back."