Tuesday

Hurricanes at Bruins

7 p.m., NESN

The Hurricanes recently sent former Bruins goalie John Grahame down to Albany of the AHL. The fact that John Grahame even had a job in the NHL to begin with goes to show that expansion has done to goaltending in the NHL what it’s done to quarterbacking in the NFL and pitching in MLB.

Wednesday

Bobcats at Celtics

7:30 p.m., CSN

Time for Doc to take off Big Baby’s training wheels.

Thursday

Canadiens at Bruins

7:30 p.m., NESN

Uh, the seventh time’s the charm, right?

Friday

Celtics at Nets

7:30 p.m., CSN

Admit it, if someone told you a year ago the Celts would be 12 1/2 games up on the Nets in the Atlantic Division in early January, 2008, you would have had them committed.

Saturday

Bruins at Flyers

1 p.m., NESN

In an unprecedented move, the NHL is allowing the Bruins to wear Kevlar vests for this game.

Celtics at Wizards

7:30 p.m., CSN

Not nearly as much fun without Gilbert Arenas around.

Red Sox Hot Stove

— The Red Sox were quiet over the holidays, but that doesn’t mean the Johan Santana trade wins aren’t still blowing. The Minneapolis Star Tribune reported Saturday that the Twins have tinkered their demands, such as backing off their insistence that the Yankees include pitching prospect Ian Kennedy in any trade for Santana. The newspaper also reported that the Mets have emerged as a player in the Santana sweepstakes. Talks with the Red Sox have quieted, but Boston reportedly still has two offers on the table — one consisting of Jon Lester, Coco Crisp, Jed Lowrie and Justin Masterson, the other including Jacoby Elssbury, Lowrie, Masterson and a fourth player. Baseball Prospectus reports that the latter offer “is the most likely to get Santana,” and adds that Santana will be looking for a seven-year, $140 million contract extension.

— While a deal for Santana is still up in the air, the Red Sox still have a few roster spots to fill, including backup catcher, bullpen help and possibly a backup outfielder. The Boston Globe reported Sunday that those holes should be addressed before pitchers and catchers report to spring training next month.

— Former slugger Jim Rice will learn Tuesday whether he’s finally a Hall-of-Famer when the the Baseball Writers’ Association of America announces the results of its annual balloting. Rice needs to be anmed on 75 percent of the ballots to gain induction. Last year, he garnered 63.5 percent. With no big names such as Tony Gwynn and Cal Ripken Jr. on this year’s ballot, this would seem to be Rice’s best chance for induction. Don’t be surprised if he and Yankee reliever Goose Gossage are this year’s inductees. Which means they’ll need extra security in Cooperstown for the induction ceremony.

Top 5

Top 5 trades in Celtics history

1. Ed Macauley and Cliff Hagan to the St. Louis Hawks for the drafts rights to Bill Russell

One list by ElevationMag.com has this ranked No. 11 all time in NBA history. No. 11?! Granted, Macauley and Hagan did help the Hawks beat the Celtics for the 1958 NBA championship (caveat: Russell was hobbled by injuries), but Bill Russell is the single greatest winner in the history of American sports, leading the Celts to 11 NBA titles in 13 years. No. 11?

2. Picks No. 1 (Joe Barry Carroll) and No. 15 (Ricky Brown) in the 1980 NBA draft to the Golden State Warriors for Robert Parish and the No. 3 pick (Kevin McHale)

Parish was considered a lazy malcontent at Golden State. Carroll redefined lazy malcontent in his 11-year NBA career. Parish and McHale teamed up with Larry Bird to form the greatest frontcourt of all time, won three championships and are now in the Basketball Hall of Fame. Carroll and Brown teamed up with the likes of Purvis Short and Larry Smith to lead the Warriors to exactly one playoff appearance.

3. Al Jefferson, Ryan Gomes, Gerald Green, Sebastian Telfair, Theo Ratliffe and Boston’s 2009 first round draft pick to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Kevin Garnett

All of the other trades on this list resulted in at least one championship, but whether Garnett ever leads the Celtics to their 17th banner is almost secondary. The 10-time All-Star has made the Boston Celtics relevant again and likely altered the future of the franchise more than Greg Oden, Kevin Durant, Al Jefferson or any future draft picks could have.

4. Rick Robey to the Phoenix Suns for Dennis Johnson

Robey was a back-up center and Larry Bird’s drinking buddy. Dennis Johnson was perceived as a cancer in Phoenix. Red Auerbach acquired him to shut down Celtics-killer Andrew Toney of the Philadelphia 76ers, which he did. He also contained Magic Johnson in the last three games of the 1984 NBA Finals to win the first of two titles with Boston. Robey had back problems and faded into oblivion in Phoenix. The fact that DJ is not in the Hall of Fame is a travesty. The fact that Rick Robey’s liver outlasted DJ’s heart is shocking.

5. Cedric Maxwell to the Los Angeles Clippers for Bill Walton

After helping lead the Celtics to titles in 1981 and 1984, Cornbread had worn out his welcome with Auerbach by 1985. Walton’s greatness had been diminished greatly by injuries and the Clippers were tired of seeing him more in street clothes than short shorts. Both teams unloaded their problems on each other. Maxwell played three more unremarkable seasons in LA and Houston. Walton miraculously played in 80 games during the 1985-86 season .The Big Red Head won the Sixth Man of the Year Award while helping the Celtics win banner No. 16 and, along with Larry Bird, made the Celtics into one of the sublime passing teams in NBA history. Then his feet remembered they were made of Rice Krispies and he spent the bulk of the rest of his career on an exercise bike.