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Nordiques Nation was founded in Aug. 2010 on the suggestion of two Quebec City radio hosts. A new arena was reportedly in the works to bring an NHL team back to the city; it was time to mobilize and bring international attention to the fans’ rabid enthusiasm for another franchise.

Their first trip was Nassau Coliseum in Dec. 2010: 1,100 members invaded the home of the New York Islanders for a game against the Atlanta Thrashers — one team with a cloudy future and another team that relocated the following year. Later in the season, they attended a New Jersey Devils home game against the Boston Bruins: 1,600 fans on 32 buses.

In between, they made an appearance at a Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Montreal Canadiens game on Hockey Day in Canada 2011, but with little national attention. On Saturday, Hockey Day in Canada 2012, they’re invading Scotiabank Place as the Ottawa Senators host the Edmonton Oilers; and they’re already getting attention.

From the Ottawa Sun:

Twenty-two busloads — plus others making the five-hour trek by car — will fill the 300 level in their Nordiques’ colours just to make sure the whole country knows how much Quebec City wants the league to make a return.

“We have a lot of fun with this,” said Eric Grenier, an organizer from Nordiques Nation. “The principal goal (is to show people they want the NHL back.”

The greatest thing about these protests — besides seeing the gorgeous blue hues of the Nords jerseys dotting a crowd again — is that they’re not really protests at all.

They’re more like demonstrations of rabid fandom — a traveling pep rally. For that Islanders game, they’d count down 10 seconds in French until the 15 minute mark of each period, to commemorate the team’s relocation 15 years earlier.

And who can forget their Times Square pep rally?

Conditions have certainly changed for Quebec fans in the last year. Winnipeg was handed the Thrashers; the Coyotes are still in limbo; and Quebec City has become the most likely location for relocation.

Today’s demonstration on Hockey Day In Canada will only further nudge that momentum, as will trips to Boston and Detroit later this season.

As the final buzzer sounded and he raised his eyes to the roof of the Scotiabank Place Saturday night, the members of Leafs Nation were likely all thinking the same thought.

He’s back!!!!!

Goaltender James Reimer followed up his first victory since Christmas against Pittsburgh Wednesday with a sparkling 49 save performance in a 5-0 win over the Ottawa Senators.
The effort was the sophomore goaltender’s second straight shutout performance and appears to have reestablished him as the Leafs number one goaltender for the time being.
With the exception of the last 10 minutes of the third period in Pittsburgh last Tuesday, Toronto has emerged from the All-Star break as if shot out of a cannon, earning five of a possible six points and climbing to within one point of their provincial rivals with three games in hand.

The addition of defenseman John-Michael Liles has improved the effectiveness of the Leafs power play, which scored two goals last night and veteran Colby Armstrong has brought some much-needed sandpaper and savvy up front, but the apparent return of Reimer to his pre-injury form could have the most impact for the Leafs playoff aspirations.

It is only two games and future starts will prove whether this is just a momentary blip, but if the club can continue to emulate the success achieved during the second half of last season with Reimer as the mainstay in net, it could open up a few more avenues of improvement for GM Brian Burke.

The talk regarding negotiations with the agent for center Mikhail Grabovski has been foremost in the news recently, but there has been nary a mention of any contract talks regarding Jonas Gustavsson, who is scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent on July 1.
While the question of whether Reimer can perform at a high level consistently is still up in the air, the Leafs would not dare to entertain the possibility of shopping “The Monster”, but if he gets the majority of the starts over the next few weeks and plays well, do not be surprised if Gustavsson’s name starts popping up in trade rumors.

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The Columbus Blue Jackets are now at the epicenter of the NHL rumor mill as news this weekend about forwards Rick Nash and Jeff Carter makes the chances of one or both being traded not out of the realm of possibility.

Sportsnet’s John Shannon reported on Saturday that those close to the Jackets star winger indicated that he would be open to the possibility of being traded and would waive his no trade clause, but that he was not demanding to be moved.

HNIC’s Eric Francis reported information conveyed by Carter’s agent, Rick Curran, that his client does not have a no-trade clause on his contract:

As cited by capgeek.com — the best source for player contract information — Carter’s original 11-year, $ 58-million contract with Philadelphia had a no trade clause from 2012 to 2015 (and a limited one thereafter). However, the no-trade clause was to have kicked in on his 27th birthday, which was Jan. 1. Because he was traded by the Flyers before his birthday, the no-trade clause doesn’t “travel,” and he’s free to be traded by the Blue Jackets at any time if they so desire.

The revelation regarding Nash is rather interesting in the wake of the rumor reported last week by AM640’s Bill Watters. A major move for a player like Nash is not something that can be put together in a few days, but Toronto would appear to be well-positioned if Columbus decides to shop him.

One important factor in the possibility of making the move for either Nash or Carter is the potential cost of signing Grabovski to a contract extension before the trade deadline. HNIC’s Glenn Healy indicated that based on his performance, the Leafs center was a comparable to Montreal forward Tomas Plekanec, who was signed for a long term deal at $ 5 million per season.

It is unlikely that Toronto would choose to pay Grabovski that amount. Unless he is willing to take a more cap friendly deal to stay with the Leafs as Liles did, you can expect Burke to step up his efforts to acquire a top six forward and then move Grabovski in exchange for prospects and/or draft picks.

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Don’t expect the Leafs to acquire Carolina forward Tuomo Ruutu before February 27th, unless the price comes down drastically. Canes GM Jim Rutherford is trying to get the pending UFA signed to an extension, as he did with veteran blueliner Tim Gleason last week, but if he is unable to, the asking price for the 28 year old forward is said to be a first round pick. While being an effective two way forward who does not shy away from the rough going, Ruutu is likely a rent-a-player anywhere he goes and giving up a top pick for 20 to 30 games is not a move that Burke will make.

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GATINEAU, QUE. — The dust has settled and the 2012 NHL All-Star Fantasy Draft is complete. No big snubs or dramatic teammate double-crosses. No trade between the two sides, the Sedins stick together and Logan Couture goes home with a new car.

But we did get lots of booing of Joffrey Lupul and his Toronto Maple Leafs teammates from the Ottawa crowd, so that was fun.

Here’s the final breakdown of the 38 selections, including the group of rookies placed on each squad.

Team Zdeno Chara (alternate captain Joffrey Lupul)

1. Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit Red Wings (No. 1 overall)
2. Tim Thomas, Boston Bruins
3. Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh Penguins
4. Marian Hossa, Chicago Blackhawks
5. Kimmo Timonen, Philadelphia Flyers
6. Corey Perry, Anaheim Ducks
7. Carey Price, Montreal Canadiens
8. Phil Kessel, Toronto Maple Leafs
9. Ryan Suter, Nashville Predators
10. Jimmy Howard, Detroit Red Wings
11. Brian Campbell, Florida Panthers
12. Patrick Kane, Chicago Blackhawks
13. Dion Phaneuf, Toronto Maple Leafs
14. Jarome Iginla, Calgary Flames
15. Dennis Wideman, Washington Capitals
16. Marian Gaborik, New York Rangers
17. Jordan Eberle, Edmonton Oilers
18. Tyler Seguin, Boston Bruins
19. Jamie Benn, Dallas Stars

Rookies: Colin Greening, Gabriel Landeskog, Ryan Johansen, Cody Hodgson, Luke Adam, Raphael Diaz

Team Daniel Alfredsson (alternate captain Henrik Lundqvist)

1. Erik Karlsson, Ottawa Senators
2. Jason Spezza, Ottawa Senators
3. Jonathan Quick, Los Angeles Kings
4. Claude Giroux, Philadelphia Flyers
5. Kris Letang, Pittsburgh Penguins
6. Steven Stamkos, Tampa Bay Lightning
7. Brian Elliott, St. Louis Blues
8. Shea Weber, Nashville Predators
9. Daniel Sedin, Vancouver Canucks
10. Dan Girardi, New York Rangers
11. Keith Yandle, Phoenix Coyotes
12. Milan Michalek, Ottawa Senators
13. Henrik Sedin, Vancouver Canucks
14. James Neal, Pittsburgh Penguins
15. Alex Edler, Vancouver Canucks
16. John Tavares, New York Islanders
17. Scott Hartnell, Philadelphia Flyers
18. Jason Pominville, Buffalo Sabres
19. Logan Couture, San Jose Sharks (final selection)

Rookies: Sean Couturier, Carl Hagelin, Nick Johnson, Matt Read, Craig Smith, Justin Faulk

So how do these rosters stack up as we look ahead to some of the more anticipated Skills Competition events on Saturday night?

Hardest Shot – Team Alfie has to have the slight edge this year with two of the top three finishers in last year’s competition on their side in Steven Stamkos and Shea Weber. Of course, both lost to Chara’s record-breaking 105.9 mph attempt. Dustin Byfuglien’s absence, as the only other All-Star in 2011 to break 100 mph will be sorely missed, so we’ll just have to settled for a three-way dance.

Advantage: Team Chara

Accuracy Shootout – Steven Stamkos, Scott Hartnell and Milan Michalek are the top three All-Stars in the shooting percentage category and Daniel Sedin, last year’s champion, give Team Alfie the edge here. While it’s a bit different trying to hit four round targets in each corner of a goal, it has to be some sort of advantage, yeah?

Advantage: Team Alfredsson

Fastest Skater – We’ll have a new champion this year with Michael Grabner’s absence, and Stamkos is the only All-Star back from last year who posted a sub-15 second time. Gritty veteran Martin St. Louis is also missing, so young legs will likely once again dominate in this category as both teams are flush with that kind of talent.

Advantage: Even

Fastest Goalie – Alfredsson and Chara still have to choose which All-Stars will perform in what events, but if we had our way, we’d like to see Tim Thomas defend his honor — no, not from this past week’s events — after his stumble while racing Cam Ward a year ago.

Advantage: N/A

Trick Shot Competition – No Alex Ovechkin means someone else is going to have to break out the fishing hat and Canadian flags this year. Between Stamkos, Claude Giroux, John Tavares, the Sedins, you might as well call them the “All-Hands Team”. Chara’s squad, with the likes of Eberle, Seguin and Malkin, should give them a good push, but this one is a landslide.

(Ed. Note: How could we forget Pavel “Dangle Dangle” Datysuk?)

Advantage: Team Alfredsson

Who do you like for each of the top Skills events on Saturday?

Follow Sean Leahy on Twitter at @Sean_Leahy

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The Senators’ Colin Greening knocks the puck off Joe Thornton’s stick during Thursday night’s game. Thornton managed just one shot all night while Greening scored twice.

The sight of Joe Thornton speeding out of the HP Pavillion minutes after San Jose’s 4-1 loss to the Ottawa Senators on Thursday night was all you needed to know.

Thornton must have set the record for postgame shower in the wake of the loss.

It looked as if he was out of the building even before the media was allowed into the Sharks’ dressing room.

Deeply embarrassed, he was, and deservedly.

The odds were against the Ottawa Senators going into the game. They had just made a five-hour cross-country flight on Wednesday and were about the play their third game in four nights against a team that’s not exactly a pushover.

The Sharks came out quickly and got the first goal just 3: 10 into the game, but after that it was all Ottawa in a thorough 4-1 victory.

Thornton, Don Cherry’s favourite NHL player, had one shot and was invisible. No wonder he fled.

The victory was Ottawa’s first in San Jose since Oct. 18, 2003. They are now 13-2-2 since mid-December and 8-1-1 in their past 10.

The Senators also did it with only 10 forwards.

They lost Kaspars Daugavins in the first period with an injury to his left leg after he blocked a shot while killing a penalty.

“Kaspars is hurting, but he’s from Latvia, he’ll probably be all right,” coach Paul MacLean said. “Tough guy.”

Then Zack Smith left in the second after he took a unpenalized shot to the head from San Jose’s Brad Winchester. Both Smith and Daugavins practised with the team on Friday.

Colin Greening had two goals, his 10th and 11th, Kyle Turris had a goal and an assist, and Erik Karlsson had his seventh goal. Jason Spezza had two assists.

Turris has been particularly hot. In the 16 games he has played for Ottawa since arriving from Phoenix, he has had four goals and nine assists.

Winchester got San Jose’s only goal.

Craig Anderson, making a case for another player of the week award, faced 37 shots, while Antti Niemi was tested 21 times.

“They came out hard, but we knew they would,” Anderson said. “We knew we would have to weather the storm a little. But we stuck with the game plan. For us, if we could get past that first 10 minutes without being down two goals, we’re OK.

“We know we can score, we know we can play. Right now, we’re just starting real slow. But we found a way to win, and that’s all that matters.

“I think, for us, we’re one of those teams, if we can just hang around long enough and play well enough to be within a goal, we always have a chance.”

The Sharks might have lost the game in the first period. Despite outshooting the Senators, they came out of the period tied 1-1.

“They came out real hard and dominated us for the first six minutes, and (Anderson) does a great job and does what he has been doing for us,” Spezza said.

“Then we find a way to score some goals, then we lock it down and play a real good third period.”

Karlsson and Greening made it 3-1 in the second, and Greening got his second in the third to make it 4-1.

“This shows that we’re a very good road team,” Greening said. “You’ve got to be able to get points on the road, especially when we’re coming to the West Coast. We have a three-hour time change. This is really a tough place to play.”

Greening’s first goal, at 14: 50 of the second, was fitting fitting retribution for a cheap shot by former 67 Jamie McGinn, who was off for kneeing Spezza.

“He said he was just trying to slow me down, but I thought it was dirty,” Spezza said.

It was the second time in the past five games an opposing player had gone after one of Spezza’s knees. Ruslan Fedotenko caught Spezza’s left knee with his right knee. He similarly tried to explain it away as an accident. He said it was Spezza’s fault because he moved at the last second.

But Spezza wasn’t buying that explanation, either.