- Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal: Oilers winger Ales Hemsky will be a UFA at the end of the season, but is struggling offensively (3 goals and 8 assists). It may be time for a change of scenery for Hemsky. Teams will be calling. The Red Wings, Predators, Penguins and Rangers could be interested. Teams will be calling the Ducks about Teemu Selanne, but Matheson could only see Selanne agreeing to play in Winnipeg if the Jets are in the hunt. Matheson wonders if the Oilers would go to Ryan Smyth to see if he’d want to play for a contender this year? “Absolutely, and, if the Oilers frame it right, they can assure No. 94, who should probably have his number retired here one day, that they’ll re-sign him after July 1 so he’ll have the best of both worlds.”
- Ansar Khan via twitter: Khan thinks the Red Wings will make a move by the deadline, and a scoring winger is at the top of their list.
- Maple Leafs coach Ron Wilson via twitter: “This Xmas could be better if Santa stuffs a certain piece of paper in my stocking.
#whatcouldthatbe”.
- Stu Cowan in the Ottawa Citizen: Cowan thinks the Canadiens should hire Guy Carbonneau as the teams next head coach.
“I got fired by Bob (Gainey), and Pierre Gauthier was there, so I don’t know what Geoff would do,” Carbonneau said. “I loved what I did when I was in Montreal, I enjoyed everything that was around it, even if it was hard . . . I think there’s nothing that’s ever easy. But I definitely want to go back behind a (NHL) bench, and I think Montreal is a great place for that.”
- David Pollak of the San Jose Mercury News: Sharks forward Martin Havlat had surgery and “can’t do much for the next two or three weeks.” Goalie Antero Niittymaki is back from his 3 game conditioning stint.
- Dallas Stars via twitter: Stars defenseman Sheldon Souray left last night’s game with a lower body injury.
- Jonas Siegel via twitter: Maple Leafs defenseman John-Michael Liles missed last night’s game with a neck injury, but will be ready to return on Tuesday.