This Week in THN: Jan. 25, 2010

Mike Richards is sure to have a leadership role on Team Canada.

In the Jan. 25 issue of The Hockey News:

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•    After a phenomenal start to the season, Philadelphia’s Mike Richards hit a skid after his a controversial hit on David Booth. The cover story features a rejuvenated Richards who’s on his way up after getting the call to represent Canada on the world stage at the 2010 Olympics.

•    You thought the Leafs were bad. Brian Costello brings you the story of the worst team in the history of organized hockey: The Plattsburg Pioneers.

•    Jason Kay takes a look at how competing in the Olympics could be effecting your favorite team’s playoff chances.

•    In the Slot with Ken Campbell explores the shrinking hockey world and gives his opinion as to why the Czechs and Slovaks are no longer competitive in international play.

•    Inside the NHL explores what could happen to standout Montreal Canadien Tomas Plekanec as he approaches UFA eligibility. Also: which players got snubbed from an Olympic appearance, the best and worst of the hockey world in Plus/Minus and five RFAs who could take one-year deals in search of bigger UFA bucks in 2011.

•    Ryan Kennedy showcases Team USA emerging as a powerhouse at the 2010 World Junior Championships.

•    In Overtime, Eric Duhatschek explains why all but three Flames getting snubbed from the Olympics may just work to their advantage.

•    NHL Team Reports take a look at the most valuable and most disappointing players at the NHL’s mid-point.

•    Get the latest depth charts, including who’s injured, who’s on the first power play unit and who’s next in line for a call-up.

•    In Crowd Shots, we spend Two Minutes in the Box with Jason Spezza, show you our best Letters to the Editor and Proteau answers your questions in Ask Adam.

•    In Prospects Unlimited we feature the best up and comers from the American League, Europe, U.S. College and Major Junior.

•    Inside the Numbers breaks down the first 41 games of the season in the high and low first-half report.

•    Last Minute of Play features Ryan Kennedy’s Jersey Hound, which showcases Austria’s world juniors jersey, as well as Larry Humber’s crossword puzzle and Charlie Teljeur’s hockeysockpuppettheatre cartoon.

Pick up a copy at your local newsstand, buy it digitally, or subscribe at thehockeynews.com today!