It is professional hockey. The best players in the world. That means that arenas should be sold out. Well not in Florida. Most nights the empty seats far outweigh the ones with fans in them. Brad Burud expresses his frustration why year after year the Florida Panthers continue to struggle with attendance.

Trade or not. Artemi Panarin and Sergei Bobrovsky has put the Columbus Blue Jackets and General Manager Jarmo Kekalainen in a difficult position. Do you keep them for a playoff run or gather assets for the future and still take a playoff run?? Time for a decision. Brad Burud from Inside Edge Hockey News gives his two-cents on this dilemma…Can the Columbus Blue Jackets ever catch a break?

Slashing has always been part of the game, but as the speed of the game has picked up and physical play has diminished the dreaded slash has become more prevalent. Slashing has become the new checking in the NHL. Teams are targeting other teams superstars and giving them a good slash to the wrist and hand. The goal, to take the superstar off the puck. The result, often a broken hand or wrist. With superstars being such a big part of a teams success the chances of losing them because of a targeted slash can determine if a team makes or misses the playoffs. How do you stop the slashes??? Well I have one solution...

The Winter Classic is set to play on New Years Day. A great tribute to how hockey began, outside, but...why in the world do we have to watch the same teams each year. This years matchup is the Chicago Blackhawks versus the Boston Bruins at historic Notre Dame Stadium. Sounds epic right, not so much, the problem is this is the 4th time for the Blackhawks and 3rd time for the Bruins in the Winter Classic. Yes I know they are big television markets but seriously NHL give us some variety and give us some change. I have a plan to make the Winter Classic an amazing showcase of the entire NHL, and an amazing New Years television production.

Vegas Golden Knights tough guy Ryan Reaves got his revenge on Washington Capitals enforcer Tom Wilson. It came with a vicious blind sided hit. Was it revenge for beating them in the 2018 Stanley Cup Finals or was it revenge for all of the dirty hits and players he has injured over the past few years. I am guessing the latter of the two. Wilson has a reputation of being a predator. Well on this night of revenge, he became the victim. It delighted many, now I don't want any player hurt, but I think we all chuckled when the controversial player got a bit of his own medicine.

When Pittsburgh Penguins superstar Evgeni Malkin drove his shoulder in to the head of Washington Capitals forward TJ Oshie the hockey world went crazy. Half of the people were screaming for a suspension and half thought the match penalty was outrageous. It was an interesting play and call. Brad Burud breaks down the hit and discusses his opinion on what the penalties or suspensions should have been.

I am all for having fun when you play hockey. That is why we play the game..but what the Carolina Hurricanes have been doing after wins at home has me shaking my head. What is happening to this league. This is the most childish celebrations I have ever seen. Just when you thought that was the extent of the celebration. Dougie Hamilton took it to a new level by "flossing".... What is next from the Carolina Hurricanes?

Well the Elias Pettersson hit from Florida Panthers defenseman Michael Matheson was one thing, but death threats is way out of line. The suspension was handed down from the NHL and it was two games. Was it a little much, yes maybe, but then in the week following Matheson has now received death threats from Vancouver fans. That is not hockey, and those fans should be embarrassed of their behavior.

Well the wildly overpaid goon for the Washington Capitals is back at it again, but this time the National Hockey League makes him pay for it. In the Capitals final preseason game, forward Tom Wilson landed a vicious head shot on St. Louis Blues forward Oskar Sundqvist. The was needless and extremely dangerous. This time the NHL got the suspension right.

The Vegas Golden Knights continue to shock the hockey world, and fans are lining up in groves. Are they true Golden Knight fans or is the expansion franchise building the largest band wagon fans in the sports world. I guess we will see when time get difficult in Vegas.