Big D's crooner

	Celena Rae has the vocal ability to be one of the NHL's all-time greats. AP
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The Stars are still struggling to find their best game, but there is good news in Dallas: they may finally have identified a top-notch anthem singer.

After whipping their fans for years with a steady stream of vocal butchers (and worst of all, a sax player who treats the anthems as if they were mating calls), they've found a winner in Celena Rae. The former American Idol contestant delivers clean, powerful versions of both anthems that put her just a level below the class of today's field, Boston's Rene Rancourt.

Here's hoping the Stars have her signed to a longer deal than defenseman Martin Skoula, whose on-ice misadventures make him Dallas' version of William Hung. (The best anthem singer of all time? Montreal's late, great Roger Doucet, of course.)

Sad finish for Girard

It looks as though the inspirational comeback attempt of Boston defenseman Jonathan Girard won't have a happy ending after all.

The 25-year-old barely survived a single-car crash in 2003 and has spent the past two years rehabbing his badly mangled body. His return in training camp provided an emotional boost for the club, but a lack of stamina and recurring pain led to a demotion to Providence.

Girard managed just one game in the AHL before seeking additional medical advice. His retirement announcement is expected next week. Here's hoping he finds something in the next chapter in his life that brings him as much joy as the game did.

Next Russian Hall of Famers?

Now that the Hall of Fame has honored Russian legend Valeri Kharlamov, it shouldn't be long before 1972 Summit Series teammates Vladimir Yakushev, Boris Mikhailov and Alexander Maltsev join him.

And while we're talking legends of the Soviet bloc, how about giving Czech goalie Vladimir Dzurilla a second look?

It's Hilbert, not Dilbert

Chicago's acquisition of holdout forward Andy Hilbert isn't likely to solve this team's problems (not as long as the miserly Bill Wirtz still has the reins), but the soft-handed center might turn out to be a nice little steal for the Hawks.

With Tuomo Ruutu on the sidelines for 3-12 weeks (seriously, that's what they said) with back problems, Hilbert may be able to pick up some of the slack. He was the seventh-leading scorer in the AHL last season, but questions regarding his work ethic and attitude -- and a two-month holdout -- should temper expectations.

Still, he cost the Hawks just a fifth rounder in this summer's draft -- which is considered to be on par with the dreadful 2002 crop -- so he's a low-risk pick-up.

Just jamming ...

Is it too late to alter last week's Top Shelf list of this season's most dangerous fighters? After watching Minnesota's Derek Boogaard send Anaheim's Trevor Gillies to Sleepytown with one fearsome upper cut, he has quickly become one to watch for fans of the Ice Capades. ... What's more shocking about Philadelphia D Joni Pitkanen: the 11 points he has scored over the last five games or the fact that he leads the league with a plus-16 rating? I'll go with C -- all of the above. ...

Calgary defenseman Jordan Leopold is earning raves for his defensive play while averaging a team-leading 23 minutes per game. Still, the goose eggs in the goals, assists and points column after 17 games -- nearly a quarter of the season -- have to be troubling. He posted 33 points in 2003-04 (tops among Calgary's blueliners) and is expected on to contribute at least 40 this season. With the return last week of partner Robyn Regehr -- now recovered from a knee injury -- and a move back to his normal right side, Leopold is out of excuses. It's time to start producing. ...

The most underrated player in the Western Conference? Try Scott Walker. Since losing the gritty, skilled winger to a hernia, the Predators are 2-5, and obviously suffering from the lack of his physical presence. He'll be out up to 10 weeks, which should prompt GM David Poile to start working the phones.