Quick Strikes for Saturday, January 30

• Elliotte Friedman commented on the brewing situation between Lightning GM Steve Yzerman and his friend, St. Louis Blues GM Doug Armstrong. By brewing, I mean trade-talks brewing. [Today’s Slapshot]
• One aspect of experiencing the All Star festivities for Steven Stamkos is the fact he’s getting memorabilia and souvenirs. [Tampa Bay Times]
• Martin Brodeur gives Ben Bishop props and compliments on his performance. [Tampa Bay Times]
• Okay, so both Lightning All-Stars have been mentioned in Quick Strikes but how about some images of the two from Media Day? Got that for you right here… [Lightning Shout]
• There’s a series of blog posts going on over at Pensburgh asking teams of each division who the underrated player is from their roster. The Atlantic Division got highlighted here and our own GeoFitz4 chimed in with J.T. Brown for the Tampa Bay Lightning. [Pensburgh]
• Off the direct subject of hockey for a moment: Raw Charge writer Clark Brooks will be participating in a comedy tournament at Side Splitters Comedy Club in Tampa starting on February 21. While that’s a game night, it’s an away game night.[Facebook (event page)]
• Amalie Arena is going to be hosting a Tampa Bay Business Journal event tied to sports and their influence on local businesses. Representatives from the Lightning, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Rays and Storm will all be part of it. [Tampa Bay Lightning]
• Is the NHL All-Star game of importance to you? Do you care at all about what goes on with it? Yankee Canuck, who runs SB Nation’s Vancouver Canucks blog, confesses that he doesn’t even watch. [Nucks Misconduct]
• It’s obvious but put into words: The league’s executives who tried to force John Scott out of participation really tarnished the league they represent. [St. Louis Game Time]
• Speaking of Scott….
  

  John Scott says Pavelski and Burns told him, ‘Go to the net. Keep your stick on the ice. We’ll find you. We’ll get you a couple.’ #Sportsnet

  — Chris Nichols (@NicholsOnHockey) January 29, 2016

• Scott has become a hero of the All-Star weekend. [Habs Eyes on the Prize]
• It’s also worth pointing out that the universal stat that All-Stars always excel at: ofCorsi. [Gameday Depot]
• Regarding league standings, it’s rare to be able to note this but every Canadian NHL team is out of a playoff spot. [Pension Plan Puppets]
• While Michel Therrien was and is under scrutiny in Montreal with how the Canadiens have crumbled, blame for the bleu, blanc et rouge‘s failing can go higher: General Manager Marc Bergevin. [Habs Eyes on the Prize]
• Meanwhile, in Raleigh, Hurricanes GM Ron Francis has his share of complication as the 2016 NHL trade deadline approaches. [Canes and Coffee]
• How would former players fare in the modern overtime system of 3-on-3? That’s an interesting question and the question is posed specifically to the Buffalo Sabres here (with a poll). [Die by the Blade]
• Is “Spoon!” going to be replaced by “Surf!”? What about “Gnarly!”? The Tick goes surfing on Dustin Tokarski’s latest goalie mask. [In Goal Magazine]
• The NHL might not be participating in the 2018 Winter Olympics. [Sports Illustrated]
• ¡Vamos a felicitar a los campeones! Mexico is IIHF U20 World Champs!!!… Well, for Division III of it, anyway. [Color of Hockey]

Are you paying attention to the NHL’s All-Star weekend of events (media day, skills competition, game, etc)?