Game On!

1) Although the NHL Players' Association fired its boss, Ted Saskin, the union still has to do business with the league. Gary Bettman tells us that one of the triumvirate ???  at least temporarily ???  running the Association is none other than onetime enforcer, Stu Grimson. Grimson ???s partner is Ian Penny.

2) Since the Bryan Murray-John Muckler falling out was at least partly due to Muckler's preference for Wade Redden over Zdeno Chara, the plot thickens in Ottawa. Now that Muckler has been effectively backstabbed, Murray is expected to jettison Redden. One g.m. who prefers Western Canadians ???  like Redden ???  is Kevin Lowe. Actually, Wade would look good in an Edmonton jersey.

3) Brian Burke is displaying the utmost class with his patient handling of Scott Niedermayer. The Champs' g.m. refuses to push his starry defenseman into a comeback decision, although it would greatly benefit Burke if he got word well before Free Agency Day.

4) Now that Brett Hull has bade NBC good-bye after a one-year stint, he'll have an expanded role with the Stars' front office. Hull's duties have yet to be defined. Last year he was assistant to Stars' prexy Jim Lites. We'd like to know what really was behind Brett's split with NBC. Another good question: Will NBC bring Don Cherry back for more than a mere cameo appearance next season? It sure wouldn't hurt!

5) Every year at this time, we hear talk that Bryan McCabe might be traded. This time, it could be that the Leafs DO want to deal the overpaid defenseman. The trick here is that McCabe has a no-trade clause and might be asked to waive it. But Bryan and his wife have just bought a new house in Toronto and appear unlikely to want to leave dear old, Hogtown.