The folks who generate NHL trade rumors get full marks for volume.

But creativity is sadly lacking.

You hardly ever see a real trade rumor anymore.

A real rumor is one that names two teams and at least one guy from each team:

Sources say the Sidewinders could trade goaltender Gord Hudpucker to the Lawnmowers, for a package that includes forward Stumpy Brillo.

These days, most rumors are merely lists of players said to be available and teams believed to be interested.

And most such lists are entirely predictable, especially as the trade deadline approaches.

• Teams headed to the playoffs are "buyers."

• Teams likely to miss the playoffs are "sellers."

• The sellers could move any player headed for unrestricted free agency, anyone over 30 who's not scoring much, and anyone who makes too much money.

• From that list, take the biggest names and link them to the top five teams in the standings.

Stick to those rules, and you'll guess most of the daily rumors without looking them up.

Not much intrigue to it. This is the era of rumor-by-number.

With that said, here's the latest.

(Photo: Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

The NHL has shuffled the deck.

When you check the standings next season, you'll see four divisions instead of six, with teams divided into groups we've never seen before.

The idea is to reduce travel and time-zone hopping, and take better advantage of geographic rivalries.

But the 2013-14 divisional realignment represents a major makeover for the NHL.

The schedule changes, a "wild card" twist gets added to the playoff race, and there's a new method for seeding of the 16 playoff teams.

Read more...

See also:

• A History of NHL Divisions and Conferences: Alignment and realignment since 1917.

Photo: Drew Miller and the Red Wings head East next season, along with Sergei Bobrovsky and the Blue Jackets. (Kirk Irwin/Getty Images).

If you're new to hockey, you'll want to get acquainted with the giants of the game.

That search will inevitably lead you to Wayne Gretzky, Bobby Orr, and Mario Lemieux.

Are they the best players in hockey history?

That's a problematic question in a sport that dates back to the 1800s.

There aren't many left who saw the prime years of players like Maurice Richard and Gordie Howe, let alone a guy like Howie Morenz, who starred in the 1920s and 1930s.

But if you're looking for men who defined and dominated the NHL as we know it today, the Big Three stand head and shoulders above the rest.

• Video Profile: Bobby Orr
• Video Profile: Wayne Gretzky
• Video Profile: Mario Lemieux

See also:
Wayne Gretzky Bio, Career Stats, NHL Records, and More
Mario Lemieux Bio and Career Highlights
More Hockey History
More Hockey Videos from About.com

Photo: Bobby Orr as a Boston Bruins rookie in October of 1966 (Hulton Archive/Getty Images).

In hockey, as in any sport, a team can go on a winning streak or a losing streak.

Such streaks are self-evident, with no need for explanation or qualification.

In sports that accept a tie as a result, a team can also go "undefeated" or "winless" for a while.

Which brings us to the 1979-80 Philadelphia Flyers and the 2012-13 Chicago Blackhawks.

Back in '79-'80, the Flyers rang up an undefeated streak for the ages.

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