The old joke, "I went to a fight and a hockey game broke out!" isn't going over as well anymore. In fact, a young hockey fan might not even get it. Maple Leafs general manager Brian Burke certainly isn't laughing. The former head disciplinarian for the NHL is upset that fighting is down and suspensions are up. He thinks self-policing is the way to go. Agree?

• t0astr0ven: "Keep fighting in hockey just the way it is. It's the last sport where the players stick up for each other. Football, basketball, baseball, and just about every other sport - players only look for penalties. If they don't get it, they (players, teammates, coaches) whine at the press conference and the media blows it up."
• InniAudi: "More fights in hockey = More fights in the stands and around the stadium after the game. Why do we need to promote fighting in any sport?"
• fredBBigg: "How many fights was Gretzky in? Any? Why was that? Was it because he had goons protecting him? No. It was because every guy in the league knew he was their meal ticket and left him alone. That proves that violence isn't necessary, that players can restrain themselves, hockey can be a game of skill, and people will come to watch skilled players."
• bigblue212542: "He's not trying to promote fighting as much as he seems concerned that there is no accountability for cheap shots anymore. Fighting might not be ideal for the future of hockey, but it kept goons from potentially knocking stars out for a period of time - or at least having to answer for it when they did."

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It's just like the census, only this one is fun and doesn't come in the mail. And nobody from FOX News or MSNBC will yell at you about it. It's time for ESPN The Magazine's Ultimate Standings, in which SportsNation grades organizations on everything from ticket prices and stadium experience to the talent on the field, court or rink. Which team will end up on top this year? It depends on what you say.

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• Vote: Pick the Hart, Vezina, Norris, Calder and Jack Adams winners.
• Vote: Pick the division, conference and Stanley Cup winners.
• Your Power Rankings: Do the Penguins open the season No. 1?

Believe it or not, the start of the NHL regular season is just about a week away. No, seriously, we're not kidding. We know the leaves haven't turned and summer doesn't actually end until today, but what the heck, it's been, what, at least three or four weeks since the Penguins won the Stanley Cup, right?

Then again, maybe that short offseason helps keep the NHL fresh in SportsNation's mind. A year ago, voters correctly predicted the Red Wings to win the Western Conference and made the Penguins their second choice, behind the Red Wings, to win it all.

Blackhawks star Patrick Kane and ESPN.com writer Scott Burnside stopped by chat Monday to help SportsNation get its ice legs before jetting off to Europe (Burnside to Stockholm for the Red Wings and Blues and Kane to Helsinki for the Blackhawks and Panthers).

Jason (Ellicott City, MD)

You are only rated an 86 in NHL. What is up with that?

Patrick Kane

I think an 86 is pretty good to be honest with you. I think the highest are Crosby and 94 and Ovechkin at 92. I thought I'd be better than Teows, but I am still on the cover. I got him by that. Full transcript

AJ (Champaign, Ill.)

How do the Blackhawks avoid a lull in their performance after they return from Finland?

Scott Burnside

AJ; Good question. The European experiment has been decidedly mixed in terms of how it affects teams. All four coaches who went last year got fired although the Pens did end up winning a Cup. I think the 'Hawks' youth and the nice steady hand of head coach Joel Quenneville will keep them from going off the rails when they get back from Finland. Full transcript

Earlier this week, Tony Kornheiser joked on "PTI" that Sidney Crosby ought to pull up to Alex Ovechkin's house and honk away until his rival came out to admire the Stanley Cup. The only problem is Ovechkin could now answer the door with his arms full of Hart Trophies.

A week after the Penguins stunned the Red Wings in Detroit, NHL luminaries gathered in Las Vegas (Las Vegas?) to hand out the season's other hardware. Winners included Columbus goalie Steve Mason as top rookie, Boston's Zdeno Chara as biggest human on skates (and best defenseman) and fellow Beantown resident Tim Thomas as top goalie.

They also included Ovechkin, who became the first player since Dominik Hasek more than a decade ago to win the Hart Trophy in back-to-back years as the league's MVP. And in SportsNation's eyes, winning the top individual honor twice by the age of 23 is more impressive than captaining the Stanley Cup champions at 21.

• Then again, SportsNation would have handed the Hart to Evgeni Malkin.