Monday digest

- Ottawa native Steve Yzerman has decided to call it quits at the age of 41. A centreman for the Detroit Red Wings for his entire career, three-time Cup champ, an icon within the Motor City community (he was immortalized in a Kid Rock tune - now that's crossover appeal), and a class guy all around, Yzerman never really got the credit he deserved in the 80s due to the overpowering presence of Gretzky and Lemieux. However, in the 90s, he led his team to the winningest record of the decade and helped create "Hockeytown" in Detroit.

It's going to be weird not seeing #19 out there when the Red Wings are playing.

- Anaheim has accquired former Oil D-man Chris Pronger. It's clear the Ducks want to win, now, and one could say that their future in that market depends on it. Edmonton GM Kevin Lowe did well with this trade. I think it's a win-win for both teams, under the circumstances.

- Free agent C Doug Weight, a Hurricane for all of five months and a Cup champ at that, signed with the team that traded him away in January, St. Louis, over the weekend. Good for new Blues executive John Davidson, but this is cynical. It takes away from the integrity of the game and is further proof that at a time when the NHL needs to market itself as fan-friendly, the average NHL player has nearly nothing in common with the schlups like me who are paying their salaries.

- Congratulations to the Toronto Blue Jays who are in the midst of their most exciting season since the '94 strike. Five members of the roster (Halladay, Wells, Ryan, Glaus and Rios) have been named to the AL All-Star Team. Torontonians, you should really get behind this team because you are missing out on some quality entertainment if you aren't.