After a lot of NHL action this weekend, I figured now would be a good time to share some general thoughts on what is going on around the NHL:
• Something has to give in Columbus. With the worst record in the league, the Columbus Blue Jackets lost to the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday night by a score of 9-2 in what was a terrible defensive display by the Blue Jackets. If I had to guess, I would say both general manager Scott Howson and team head coach Scott Arniel get the axe.

• Speaking of the Philadelphia Flyers, they have certainly been involved in some high-scoring games, eh? Obviously, the team put up a nine-spot in Saturday night’s 9-2 win over the Blue Jackets but back on October 27th, they lost 9-8 at home to the Winnipeg Jets. I wonder what Wednesday night’s game against the talent-laden Tampa Bay Lightning will bring.

• What in the heck has happened to Blue Jackets’ netminder Steve Mason? Since winning the Calder Trophy as the league’s rookie of the year in 2009, his game has seemingly left him. Do the Blue Jackets need to look for a new starting goaltender?

• Did the New York Islanders forget about goaltender Al Montoya? Montoya has played just four games this season and has put up respectable numbers (2-2-0, 2.02 GAA, .930 save percentage). With Rick DiPietro starting to get back into the flow of things, one has to wonder if the organization will make some kind of move.

• The Boston Bruins need to figure out a way to beat a team besides the Toronto Maple Leafs. In two games against the Leafs this season, the Bruins have scored 13 goals in 6-2 and 7-0 wins. If the Bruins can play this way against other teams in the league, there is no reason why they cannot get out of their Cup hangover.

• Is New Jersey Devils’ goaltender Martin Brodeur done after this season? This is something that many in the league and in Devils' circles are wondering as Brodeur looks a bit slow and his body is not the same as it used to be.

• Many people throughout the NHL and even in Vancouver believe that goaltender Cory Schneider is ready to be a starting goaltender. Would the Canucks' trade Roberto Luongo if a deal was too good to pass up? While it would have seemed unthinkable last season, something tells me that would not be the case this year or in the future.

• Come April, will both the Toronto Maple Leafs and Edmonton Oilers have enough points to make the playoffs? After a strong month of October that saw both clubs at the top of the NHL standings, one has to wonder if the two Canadian teams can be consistent enough to make the playoffs this year.

• Is there a goaltending controversy brewing in Minnesota? For the past few seasons, netminder Niklas Backstrom has been the undisputed starter. However, back-up netminder Josh Harding has started the team’s last five games and has put up stellar numbers in doing so (4-0-1, 1.18 GAA, .965 save percentage, and 1 shutout).

What do you folks think about all of this?

Patrick Hoffman is a veteran hockey writer/blogger based in Fairfield, Connecticut. On top of his work for Kukla’s Korner, Patrick covers the NHL for the Red Light District Hockey Blog, TheGoodPoint.com Hockey section and NHL Home Ice. Prior to writing for the above-mentioned outlets, Hoffman’s musings have been published on TheHockeyNews.com, The Fourth Period, Spector’s Hockey, Hokeja Vestnesis, Blueshirt Bulletin, SNYRangersBlog.com, and a slew of others.
For comments and hip checks, feel free to contact Patrick at patrickhoffman3530@gmail.com or on Twitter at @pathoffman35.

Photo of Brodeur by del Tufo.