- Kate Hairopoulos of the Dallas Morning News: Chuck Greenberg is interested in buying the Dallas Stars, and he would have 30 days to submit an offer. Tom Gaglardi has already submitted a bid of $267 million to buy the team. Greenberg has been studying the team for months, and has already been approved by the NHL as a bidder for the team. Greenberg was a part owner of the Texas Rangers along with Nolan Ryan, but he sold his share and stepped down as CEO in March due to the differences he had with Ryan.
- Pat Hickey of the Montreal Gazette: Canadiens forward Max Pacioretty, who was turn-buckled by Chara last year, has been cleared for full contact but said there are some steps remaining before he considers himself recovered. He had a severe concussion and a cracked vertebra. “Obviously, there still is an injury there and I’ll have to deal with it probably for the rest of my life, but it’s been a lot better than I thought it would be.”
- Matthew Sekeres of the Globe and Mail: The next two weeks will determine who’ll play on the 2nd line while Ryan Kesler and Mason Raymond are recovering. Cody Hodgson has been given the first opportunity. Mikael Samuelsson will be a top 6 forward according to coach Vigneault. If healthy, Marco Sturm could be on the 2nd line. Chris Higgins could also get a shot. Jannik Hansen, PTO Owen Nolan and point-a-game AHLer Andrew Ebbett could be possibilities.
- Cam Cole of the Vancouver Sun: Canucks goalie Cory Schneider will again be the backup for Roberto Luongo if the Canucks don’t get what they want for him.
“I signed a two-year contract, so I’m bound to my contract, and I’m going to fulfil it, and show up and work hard, and do what I agreed to do,” he said Monday.
“You can’t sign a two-year deal assuming you’re going to be moved or want to get out of it in the middle of it. I was coming off my rookie deal where I had almost no game experience, so a two-year contract sounded like some good security and a good chance to establish myself in this league, so I don’t regret the decision and I’d do it again. It’s just how it’s played out.”
Cole thinks the Oilers could be a team that would be interested in Schneider.
- Eric Stephens of the OC Register: Ducks defenseman Kurtis Foster will be out 2-4 weeks as he needs surgery to remove a small metal wire from his thigh. The wire was inserted into his thigh to hold a rod that was part of the surgery in March 2008 to repair his broken femur. He’ll miss the first couple weeks of the regular season.
- Craig Custance of ESPN: The longer the Doughty contract situation drags on, the more of a problem it becomes for the Kings. Lombardi completely shot down the trade route for Doughty on Sunday. There is some concern how the process is impacting Doughty’s psyche. In August Logan Couture talked about the Doughty talks, “It’s been tough on him, he’s getting frustrated,” Couture said. “It’s definitely been tough on him to be waiting so long.” Ducks goalie Jonas Hiller could see some playing time as early as today, doctor’s still don’t know what caused his vertigo bouts last year. Nikita Filatov will see some exhibition time on the top line with Jason Spezza.
- Drew Doughty practicing ….