"...that's where the league has to come in, and will come in, and is going to make sure that there's integrity to the process."

— Buffalo Sabres GM Darcy Regier

Matt at Sabre Rattling has more on this Richard Matvichuk business at Sabre Rattling, a good take on something that has started to really stick in the craw of a few NHL teams.

Sabres fans, in particular, are feeling the squeeze due to the fact injured centre Tim Connolly's salary is still in a gray area created by the league's new long-term injury exemption rules.

Can Buffalo, in fact, leave Connolly benched until the playoffs (as it appears Loophole Lou Lamoriello is doing with Matvichuk) and not suffer the wrath of the cap police? And if that's the case, what's to stop other teams such as the Toronto Maple Leafs (with Mike Peca) and Montreal Canadiens (with Cristobal Huet) from adding players at the deadline and bringing back their recuperated troops for the postseason?

These are all teams right up against the cap, and depending on what the answer is to their LTI queries, they may or may not be able to acquire salary on deadline day.

It's a good thing the league has waited until five days before it happens to make a decision. That is, if they decide to make one.