- Elliott Pap of the Vancouver Sun: “Daniel obviously has a concussion and we’re following the protocol with it,” Vigneault said. “I’m not going to address this every day. He has a concussion and when we get something more to say, we’ll say it.”
- Katie Carrera of the Washington Post: Capitals Nicklas Backstrom was cleared for contact over the weekend, and skated with teammates for a 45 minute session yesterday.
“I’m not a hundred percent yet, but I’m getting there. It takes a little time,” said Backstrom, who has been on the ice 13 of the past 14 days. “It felt good. But I think it’s going to be even better.”
- Elliotte Friedman of CBC: There has been a lot of talk on Alexander Radulov’s future in Nashville or the KHL. Another possibility could be the Predators trading him for an asset(s) and giving him the opportunity to pick a longer-term destination. The Oilers and Ryan Smyth’s side continue to talk contract extension, and both sides are denying that the Oilers only want to do a 1 year deal.
- Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal: (mailbag) Reader asks about the Oilers trading for either Jonathan Bernier or Cory Schneider. A month ago Mathson would have agreed that the Oilers may need a number 1 goalie, but Devan Dubnyk is 15-8-2 since New Years. Bigger question is what to do with Nikolai Khabibulin and his $3.75 million? Dubnyk is a RFA, coming off a $800,000 year.
- Ottawa Citizen: Senators goalie Ben Bishop will be out 2 weeks with a lower body injury.
- Ansar Khan of MLive: College defenseman Dan DeKeyser, who was targeted by pretty much every team, has decided to return to school for his junior year.
- David Pollak via twitter: Sharks Logan Couture left last night’s game after being hit with a Thornton shot in the upper-body as a precaution. He said he was fine.
- Andy Strickland via twitter: Strickland doens’t expect Andy McDonald to play tonight. Matt D’Agostini will be evaluated this morning.
- Tom Gulitti via twitter: Martin Brodeur will start in net for the Devils against the Blackhawks.