Thank God for the NHL Insider

Hey Peeps and anyone else checking in. A special "Hey" goes out to Hazel Mae if she is checking in today.

Ladies and Gents, meet Canada's Sports Leader's NHL INSIDER - Hazel would need no introduction as they are former colleagues - this guy is THE MAN. This guy is as connected and TSN's Pierre McGuire, he always seems to be breaking big stories hours before anyone else (probably due in large part to the wealth of contacts he has inside a number of NHL organizations). TSN paid big bucks to lure Dreger away from Rogers Sportsnet and here is why - from the desk of Darren Dreger on Wednesday afternoon :

Dave Nonis leaves Toronto with options.

Nonis spent much of Tuesday and part of Wednesday afternoon in discussions with the Toronto Maple Leafs about their management restructuring with further talks over the next few days expected.

Sources tell TSN Nonis hasn't been offered the position of general manager and the belief is Toronto's interest in bringing him on board seems to be directed more towards helping interim GM Cliff Fletcher with the day-to-day business of managing the Maple Leafs, with growing speculation suggesting Fletcher will hold the post through next season.

The two sides have agreed to take a couple of days before reconvening for another round of discussions.

In the meantime, the St Louis Blues remain keenly interested in Nonis, along with former Dallas Stars general manager Doug Armstrong. Either man would be considered a good fit in the Blues management group and would provide a suitable replacement for Larry Pleau for when the longtime Blues GM slips into retirement.

The third option Nonis may consider is doing nothing at all.

Nonis remains under contract with the Vancouver Canucks and will be paid through next season which offers the 41 year old some flexibility to ensure his next move will provide both the security and opportunity he's looking for.

YOU SEE? On one hand, Nonis might sign with the Leafs as Asst GM; but then again, he may not.

BECAUSE

Dallas and St. Louis are interested in Nonis too.

BUT

They are also interested in Doug Armstrong.

SO

Nonis may just decide to do nothing.

So in less that 250 the NHL Insider - has every angle covered, making sure that his "sources" end up being right about where Nonis winds up - Toronto, another team, or nowhere. Of course stupid bloggers who speculate (May 8) about Nonis being an Asst. GM (defacto GM was the scenario envisioned on this page) are talking crap because they don't have "sources" like the Insider...with bloggers, its purely speculation/opinion/wish. But with Darren, it's all about the sources man. Never mind that they always work in the "Because/But/So" angle.

What a donk.

Speaking of donks - the only guy who trumps Dreger in the Donk category today is HERE. So much for providing the rest of the story...what a waste of space and a cheap marketing ploy to sell papers in Boston.

Because I don't want Darren's mug being the lasting image from this page going into the weekend - I'm going to ask Tilt to resurrect Friday's Fox. Friday three play later.

That's it for today gang - thanks for taking the time to check in.

Hazel, here's hoping things are groovy in your world.

I'm Out!