Just in case 7 months without NHL hockey has made you forget some of the unique idioms and phrases used to describe the game and it's players, I'm offering up a cheat sheet of sorts to help you re-adjust to life with the NHL:

"gritty two-way forward": great skater with stone hands. Unlikely to participate in a shootout until the 9th round.

"defensive defenseman": his abilities necessitate the team rule that he's not allowed to cross centre ice into the opposition zone

"prospect": not sure what we've got here, either a future 2nd liner or a Spengler Cup regular for Team Canada. Just in case, we've let go half of the scouting staff in preparation for the fallout.

"players' coach": first round's on him boys

"bag skate": either a) coach forcing players to skate full speed, back and forth until there's vomit covering the entire neutral zone or b) a horrific hazing ritual that I don't wish to describe here

"deceptive speed": he's slow.

"power forward": just as likely to score as he is to maim and injure someone, sometimes doing both on the same shift.

"franchise goalie": everyone's favourite player on the team, acknowedged as the only reason they made the playoffs - who within two years (or two games) will become known as that horrible SOB who couldn't stop a beach ball tossed at him by your grandmother

"youth movement": the team sucks - younger fans have moved on to watching Basketball or Arena Football.

"veteran leadership": a guy possessing this has most of his own teeth and can still form complete sentences on most occasions. Remembers to wear a clean shirt in front of the cameras when being interviewed.

"bulletin board material": usually comes from Maxim magazine or the European equivalent.

"he can dangle": another one of those references you probably shouldn't use in front of female company.

Feel free to add your own or dispute my offerings.