Sportsnet's Sean (Big Dude) McCormick answers your questions.
Lawrence Walker asks: You have probably answered this question before but as a first-time fan to your website could you inform me as to why icing is never called when the player is close to the centre line and shoots the puck in? At times he is clearly shooting it in from the wrong side of centre. I have one more question and that concerns the clocks on the TV screens. They are so far out that I don't know why you bother showing them. Can't the official clock be shown as the ones on the screen are sometimes more than four seconds out?
The Dude says: Is your name REALLY Lawrence Walker? I couldn't agree with you more, Larry. It's a time-honoured grey area that needs to be addressed. Is it hurting anyone? Probably not. But a rule is a rule and it needs to be enforced by the officials -- the same officials that allowed Chris Chelios to crosscheck his opponent seven (that's right, SEVEN) times on one play Wednesday night, yet only assessed one two-minute minor for cross checking, so don't hold your breath. As for the clocks, four seconds is roughly the same amount of time it took you to shotgun your last third-period Heineken? You're out to lunch, dude.
Kirk Grady asks: Why isn't there a post-season physical on Blue Jays players so that the arm problems on Ryan and Janssen could be detected earlier and dealt with during the off-season? There are a good five months off to recoup.
The Dude says: Major league teams DO perform post-season physicals on their players. The problem many pitchers face in spring training, however, is getting their arms back into shape for the rigours associated with throwing 95 mph fastballs. It doesn't matter if you've taken one week or one month off, there is a risk of injury every spring. Torn labrums have felled many a talented pitcher, but we are told that Janssen's tear was minor, for what it's worth.
Dock Currie asks: So now Sean Avery is hucking water bottles at children. I know it's a game and all but is there any chance we can get around to giving the death penalty? I could do without him, personally, and you can take Simon, Brashear and Tootoo as well. No suspensions; just call a spade a spade and tell these guys they don't have a home in the NHL anymore.
The Dude says: The death penalty? By that I assume you mean peeling back their eyelids and forcing him to watch a 60-minute hockey game involving the Vancouver Canucks? Great idea! But the NHLPA would never go for it.