MID-AFTERNOON MUSINGS

• Hometown Breakdown note: Former Chicago Blackhawks assistant coach Bruce Cassidy is reportedly going to be the bench boss of the Kingston Frontenacs. Because really, going from the 'Hawks to an OHL team that has one first-place finish in its 34-year history is kind of a lateral move.
• Random observation: Apparently anyone with the last name "Cassidy" gets the nickname "Butch," which is great unless that person is an LPGA player.
• Yes, it's understandable some of the Blue Jays would be miffed about GM J.P. Ricciardi calling them out publicly, but he didn't voice anything that legions of Jays fans weren't saying already. Besides, it's probably just tuccus-covering from J.P., who's in his sixth season and still hasn't delivered a playoff team, and it wasn't all that different from what Vernon Wells said about a month ago.
• Girlfriendly-Friendly Sports Movies. You're welcome.
• Looks like the Ottawa Senators have ruled out any move to sign Mike Peca. The Ottawa Sun reports that Sens GM John Muckler believes "fans had better get used to the fact that under the CBA there are going to moves where the club doesn't get players of equal value in return." Hey, what happened to all that talk about how the 'new NHL' was supposed to help teams like Ottawa compete?
• Can you imagine how Martin Havlat reacted when he was told he was traded to Chicago. Did he ask his agent, "I hope you mean the Chicago Wolves, right?" This is how far the Blackhawks have fallen: a few years ago, the AHL Wolves put up billboards throughout the Greater Chicagoland Area that said WE PLAY HOCKEY THE OLD-FASHIONED WAY: WE WIN.

Again, enjoy the All-Star Game tonight. Seriously, this would be a bit of a coup for the Surging Tide That Is The Kingston Frontenacs to land a coach with NHL experience, especially with that new arena on the way. The Frontenacs in the Mem Cup? Stranger things have happened.