Sometimes the dog wags the tail. Sometimes the tail wags the dog. What's that mean? Well, it's a metaphoric way of saying an internal miscommunication led to the inadvertent release of our upcoming McFarlane's Sports Picks: NHL Series 4 lineup to a couple of media outlets several weeks too soon.

What does that mean for you, the hockey fan? It means bonus, you're about to find out the official lineup earlier than expected. Cool, huh?

Here it is, the new NHL 4 nine-player roster:

• JAROME IGINLA, Calgary Flames right wing, No. 12
  
• MIKE RICHTER, New York Rangers goaltender, No. 35
  
• JOCELYN THIBAULT, Chicago Blackhawks goaltender, No. 41
  
• TOMMY SALO, Edmonton Oilers goaltender, No. 35
  
• BRENDAN SHANAHAN, Detroit Red Wings left wing, No. 14
  
• RON FRANCIS, Carolina Hurricanes center, No. 10
  
• JEREMY ROENICK, Philadelphia Flyers center, No. 97
  
• RYAN SMYTH, Edmonton Oilers left wing, No. 94
  
• ILYA KOVALCHUK, Atlanta Thrashers right wing, No. 17