Among all of this year’s All-Star Game goalies, what an interesting coincidence that it was Montreal’s Carey Price which successfully completed the back-to-the-shooter trick during last Saturday’s NHL Skills Competition.

It was a great save by Price, embarrassing Philadelphia Flyers rookie Sean Couturier as he watched the shooter’s reflection in the Plexiglas, then kicked out his leg to make the stop. But was Price also sending a subtle message to management about leaving Montreal?

And with All-Star Weekend being held in Kanata, Ont., – the closest geographical rival to the Habs – it only added to the speculation by the media.

Problems with the Canadiens franchise date back to the mid-1990s, when Hall of Fame goalie Patrick Roy demanded a trade, quickly moving to Colorado where he quickly backstopped the Avalanche to a Stanley Cup victory. And with the recent trade to Calgary of Michael Cammalleri following his public comments, when will ownership sack the team’s on-ice management?

NHL in Vegas

The National Hockey League announced the return of its annual postseason Awards Show to Las Vegas.

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman announced the signing of a three-year partnership with the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority, The 2012 NHL Awards program is scheduled for the Encore Theater in the Wynn Las Vegas Hotel and Casino Resort on June 20.

"Las Vegas is excited to welcome the NHL Awards back to the destination," said Rossi Ralenkotter, president/CEO of the LVCVA. "We have enjoyed a great partnership, and we look forward to providing another great experience for the League, the players and, of course, the fans."

Marilyn Spiegel, President of Wynn Las Vegas and Encore Theater, also expressed her excitement.

"We are pleased to be the host resort for the 2012 NHL Awards at Wynn Las Vegas and look forward to partnering with the League and the LVCVA to bring one of hockey’s most exciting nights to Las Vegas," Spiegel said. "We look forward to welcoming the NHL’s biggest names to Wynn Las Vegas and celebrating the best in professional hockey."

Bettman, as part of this extended partnership, said the league will stage a variety of new events around the city in a build-up to the event.

Phoenix: Bettman indicated three groups are now in the running to take the Coyotes over from the league, with all three desiring to keep the team in Glendale. However, media reports state this is just a smoke-screen for the league’s behind-the-screens, desired relocation to the suburbs of Toronto – specifically, Markham, Ont. – following a new labor agreement.

Glendale city officials indicated that they are unwilling to again subsidize the Coyotes franchise. The city has given them $25 million in taypayer funds each of the past two seasons to keep the team in town.

It is believed only six franchises (Toronto, Montreal, Boston, N.Y. Rangers, Chicago and Detroit) are making money, making up for losses in 10 U.S. markets, with the remaining teams breaking even.

New Jersey: Bettman finally admitted the NHL is giving the Devils money to stay afloat through advances on its share of league revenue, such as television money. But he denied the league is subsidizing the Devils with any formal loans. Well, what’s the difference.

Thanks to league rules, the bankers who hold the Devils’ loan cannot foreclose until after the Stanley Cup playoffs are over, but so far new majority owner Jeffrey Vanderbeek has not been able to find any saviors.

And with two other teams (Rangers, Islanders) already in the metropolitan area, maybe New Jersey will be the franchise moving to Toronto.

St. Louis: Current Blues minority owner Tom Stillman is spearheading a group that has entered into an agreement to purchase the team. Bettman said all indications are that the process is moving along in a positive manner, so approval by the NHL Board of Governors is expected this summer.

Crosby update

You’re telling me Pittsburgh medical experts missed a pair of fractured vertebrae in the neck of superstar Sidney Crosby? And the Penguins lead doctor, apparently, is also a spine specialist, too. Unbelievable!

A medical team in L.A. discovered the injury to disks C1 (which connects to the skull) and C2, which heavily contributed to Crosby’s concussion issues.

Fortunately, the Pens can still place Evgeni Malkin on the ice – my choice for league MVP (Hart Trophy) over Phil Kessel of Toronto.

Note to Flyers captain Chris Pronger: Get a second (or third) opinion before calling it a career.

Best Bets

The team on the rise (yet will probably still miss the playoffs) is the Anaheim Ducks. Also in the West, Colorado and Dallas, which are both outside of the Top 8, could easily surpass No. 8 Minnesota for the final playoff berth. They could also catch the L.A. Kings, but to move higher to overtake either Chicago or Nashville would be difficult since both are 10 full points behind in the standings.

The rugged race in the Central could find the non-division winners meeting each other in the first round of the playoffs.

In the East, the same situation could occur, If the N.Y. Rangers stay on top, you could see a Philadelphia-Pittsburgh first-round series. Whoa!

Meanwhile, one of the three Eastern teams tied for seventh place – Florida, New Jersey and Toronto – will miss the playoffs.