• This seems like as good a time as any to caption this photo. Keep it classy, friends.
• One team source on Tim Thomas: "[Expletive] selfish [expletive].'' One assumes the expletives aren't "totally un-" and "team player", respectively. [Boston.com]
• If you want to read every criticism of Tim Thomas, Justin Bourne's rounded them all up. [Backhand Shelf]
• And if you only want to read one more, read the one with the photoshops. [Days of Y'Orr]
• The Toronto Maple Leafs have signed John-Michael Liles to a 4-year contract extension worth $15.5 million. Good deal for Toronto. Liles takes a slightly lower cap hit so that he's easier to move in a package for Jeff Carter in exchange for a longer term. Here's Mirtle on the deal. [The Globe & Mail]
• Antero Nittymaki is on waivers. [@TSNBobMcKenzie]
• Wondering whether Scott Gomez scored last night? Check out "Did Gomez Score?" [DidGomezScore]
• Mark Spector, on the Canucks' reputation for diving and chirping (and biting, apparently, although let's not mistake one bite for full-blown vampirism): "'I think it needs to (change),' Henrik said, for the first time in our recollection, anyhow. 'I think we've grown as a team, and it needs to change. If I would be a referee, and I would see guys do that kind of stuff.'" [Sportsnet]
• "The fine line between hazing and just wearing women's underwear for fun is the subject of contention in Howell, Mich., where Howell High School boys hockey coach Randy Montrose and his staff have been dismissed by the school district." If that's not an intriguing lede, I don't know what is. [Off the Bench]
• Scott Burnside and Craig Custance talk playoff bubble teams. [ESPN]
• Semyon Varlamov, on losing the Colorado Avalache's starting gig: I just have to keep working. I know it's going to be tough, but I just have to be ready — always." [PHT]
• Nicklas Lidstrom won't play Wednesday night, but he'll still be on television. [Winging it in Motown]
• The Stars have activated Jamie Benn from the injured reserve and sent Matt Fraser, Tomas Vincour and Philip Larsen down to the Texas Stars. Although is it really a demotion to go from the municipal to the state level? [Defending Big D]
• Chicago Blackhawks' GM Stan Bowman has been named to the USA hockey advisory committee. [Chicago Tribune]
• Because Canada isn't the only place where hockey matters like freaking crazy, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin will be meeting with NHL officials to discuss getting NHLers for the Sochi Olympics. [Voice of Russia]
• In honour of Rick Rypien, the Canucks for Kids Fund helps launch Mindcheck.ca. [Canucks]
• Hockey Day in Minnesota has raised more than $134,000 for the Jack Jablonski trust fund. [Crookson Times]
• And finally, let Sergei Bobrovsky dance your hump day ennui away: