Perhaps Buffalo Sabres coach Lindy Ruff should put Carolina Hurricanes bench boss Paul Maurice on his speed dial. Maurice went into last season as the media's overwhelming choice, from a prediction standpoint, to be the first coach fired in the NHL.

	CHIRPIN'
	"Geez, I don't think that much has changed since last year. We'll see. A lot of people picked the Mets to win it all this year, too." -- Bruins' defenseman Sean O'Donnell, when told his team had been picked by a national publication to finish 21st out of 30
	THE NUMBER
	0 Power-play goals the Stanley Cup finalist-Hurricanes scored in nine tries, including two two-man advantages, against the Rangers on opening night. New York was only slightly better (1 for 9).
	WHO'S HOT
	The Bruins were concerned about replacing Bill Guerin's production, and for good reason. His 41 goals last season were roughly one sixth of the team's total offense (236 goals). The surprise of camp has been left wing Ivan Huml. The 21-year-old native of the Czech Republic, who has clicked with Slovakian native Jozef Stumpel, scored a team-high five goals in seven preseason games.
	WHO'S NOT
	We know the preseason is just the preseason, but Montreal goalie Jose Theodore has us a little worried. Last year's Vezina Trophy winner wrapped up training camp with a 3.35 goals-against average. Granted he had a 3-1 record, but the Canadiens are a team with very little wiggle room.
	THIS WEEK'S SIGN ...
	... the Earth is off its axis: Carolina center Ron Francis, who was the Lady Byng winner last season for gentlemanly play, was called for unsportsmanlike conduct in the season opener against the Rangers.

Things were shaky in December until a come-from-behind victory in Florida saved Maurice's job. The club then went on to make it to the Stanley Cup final. Maurice, who now has a contract extension, has been replaced by Ruff, who despite his impressive credentials, is widely believed to be the first coach who will be axed. Ruff's fate rests heavily on what the new owners, once they're in place, will decide.

In a bizarre twist, some fans at the HSBC Arena, prior to a preseason game, were holding up signs that read, "Nolan is No. 1" and "Nolan for President." However, they were not -- as some thought -- in support of former coach Ted Nolan. They were there to be captured on film by a crew shooting a new Jim Carrey movie, titled, "Bruce Almighty," in which Carrey's character is named Bruce Nolan. Maybe they should give Ruff a small part, similar to Cam Neely's cameo in another Carrey movie, "Dumb and Dumber."

Pass the 'C' please
Being the captain of the Atlanta Thrashers hasn't been a stable existence. Perhaps because of that connotation, the franchise, heading into its fourth season, won't go with a single leader. Instead, they'll rotate four players -- Jeff Odgers, Slava Kozlov, Uwe Krupp and Shawn McEachern. The club's first captain, Kelly Buchberger, was dealt to the Kings in March of 2000. Steve Staios made it through a season, then signed with Edmonton as a free agent after one year. Ray Ferraro was their third captain, and he was dealt to the Blues last March at the deadline.

Hello, Ray, I have this problem ...
Ottawa defenseman Chris Phillips, who showed signs last spring of becoming the player the Senators hoped for when they drafted him No. 1 overall in 1996, will have a new challenge this season. Because of the team's glut of blueliners who play the left side, Phillips has been moved to the right to make room for 20-year-old Anton Volchenkov, who had an excellent camp. Phillips, a left-shooting defenseman, will now have to get used to the off-side, which isn't all that easy. Ray Bourque is the ultimate left-shooting defenseman who played the right side, and Phillips said he might study some videos of Bourque to see how it's done. Why not take it a step further and consult Bourque himself? Bourque has always been generous with his advice, mentoring many a young player.

Stashed away for a rainy day
Anybody out there remember Dmitri Kvartalnov? The forward played a total of 112 games with the Bruins, scoring 30 goals in his rookie season in 1992-93. He was the first player from the former Soviet Union ever drafted and dressed by the Bruins. He never lived up to the promise of that first season, largely because opponents figured out he was toast if you hit him. After the 1993-94 season, he left to play overseas, but the Bruins still left him on their reserve list should he decide to return. So every year when the protected lists come out for the waiver draft, the club leaves him exposed. Now 36, it seems unlikely any other team would take a chance on him, but the Bruins have decided not to take a chance. When Bobby Orr retired, the Blackhawks retained him on their reserve list for longer than a decade ... just in case.

The depth chart