Taking a break from the circus-like speculation of Toronto’s next hire, an interesting rumor is coming out of San Jose regarding their next potential head coach: Mike Ricci.

Since retiring a couple of years ago, the long-haired, hockey-faced player has worked in the Sharks front office. And despite being only 36, he is one of the few ex-players in the league that is immediately identified with the Sharks.

Says Inside Bay Area.com:

Admit it, you like it. If you’re a Sharks fan, you love it, because every Sharks fan loves Mike Ricci, right? Maybe you see it like me, that if there’s any way Ricci could impart the way he approached and played the game to this school of Sharks — and I believe he could — it would be a ticket to the title.

Just as important, hiring Ricci immediately gives the Sharks a much-needed identity … and a striking one at that. Honestly, have they ever had a head coach they could really call theirs? The franchise has been around long enough now to have some heritage, and Ricci is a pillar in it..

Ricci is truly one of the ummm… most hockey-faced players to ever play the game… let’s balance this out with a sweet picture of Alessandra shall we?

In hockey there are mistakes, then there are MISTAKES.

Check out this video of an amazing shot taken by Swiss forward Philippe Furrer as they battled Team Russia in the World Hockey Championships yesterday. He beats the goalie low with a rocket of a shot… uhmmm… only problem? It’s his own goalie.

Furrer was attempting to clear the puck around the boards while killing a penalty, but his slapshot from the left circle after Andres Ambuhl won a faceoff went straight into the net. By the start of the second period, the goal was on YouTube.

Furrer later said, “I don’t see what the big deal is - I shoot on him all the time during practice and nobody makes a big deal about it. WTF?”

The NHL currently has a pretty low Swiss player content. Coincidence?

It was announced early yesterday the NHL veteran Scott Mellanby was just hired by the Vancouver Canucks as a consultant to new GM Mike Gillis. Good for him.

“We are pleased that Scott has agreed to join our Hockey Operations department, his experiences in our league over two decades as a player will be a great asset to me and our entire department,” said [Canucks GM] Gillis in a statement.

“Scott displayed strong leadership skills and character throughout his NHL career; these are the same qualities we are looking for as we build our team.”

Couldn’t have happened to a better guy. He expressed an interest in working the front office side of things when he retired and it’s nice to see him follow that path. It seems like only yesterday that he was lacing up the saktes to play for the Canucks…. huh? What’s that? Oh, he never played for Vancouver? What’s that? He was the long-time face of the Atlanta Thrashers franchise? That’s interesting… I don’t suppose the Thrashers need any consulting happening in their front office… do they? Ya. Didn’t think so… aaaaall under control there…

Just as the Flyers began their third round matchup, Philadelphia management was all set to resign late-season acquisition Vinny Prospal. After showing what he was capable of in the first round series against the Washingto Capitals, GM Paul Holmgren went on record saying:

“I’ll say it,” Holmgren said at the time. “We are interested in signing Vinny.”

So now, as the Flyers hang by a thread, trailing the Penguins 3-0 in the series, Prospal only has 5 assists and is a minus - 6 in his last 9 games. What’s Holmgren saying now?

“… “

Right.

Says the Courier Post:

Unless he turns things around quickly, Prospal’s chances of returning to the Flyers next season will be remote.

“Vinny’s a great passer with great vision with the puck, but if he gets standing still and not moving his feet, he seems to get checked too easily,” Flyers coach John Stevens said. “I thought that was the case (in Game 1).

“When he’s moving his feet, when he’s jumping off the walls and getting to the goal, more things happen for him. I thought he got a little bit away from that Friday.”

Vinny, Vinny, Vinny… As any Leaf’ll tell you: First you sign the contract, then you slack off. (It might be too late but try to get one of those “no trade thingies” in there too.)

Are we shitting on the Leafs too much lately? Hmmmm, maybe… Still, I’m standing here with my rifle next to this barrel and they keep putting the damn fish in it – shit happens, is all I’m saying…

As the World Championship of Hockey nears its final rounds in Quebec City and Halifax, there is an unexpected player who’s name is passing everyone’s lips: Robert Esche.

The netminder for Team USA was last seen in the NHL playing for the Philadelphia Flyers a few years ago and the Coyotes a bit before that. In the last few games he’s been turning in performances that have people around the league talking NHL comeback.

Says the Edmonton Journal:

But the fact is the 30-year-old Utica, N.Y., native has been drawing the attention of media, fans, his coaches and a few National Hockey League general managers who have seen his solid play at the Halifax Metro Centre. He sports a 1.79 goals-against average and .942 save percentage in three appearances.

Esche has been playing in Russia this past season for Medvedev’s SKA St. Petersburg team for $1.8 million U.S. per season. In fact, he moved his whole family there, including his wife who now homeschools their kids.

Ya… how much would he welcome a North American contract?

To come out of obscurity and put on a performance like that sure has a “Dooon’t forget about meeeeeee!” feel to it. He’s got the skills, and there’s definitely some teams out there that can use a boost in goal tending… Let’s see what happens.