- Eric Stephens of the OC Register: Talk about what Teemu Selanne will do has already surfaced as the Ducks have struggled with a 10-21-6 record.
“I’ve read some stories in the papers too about what the situation could be,” said Selanne, who took the day off for maintenance. ”To be honest, I haven’t really thought about that too much. I still believe that we can make the playoffs. I don’t want to think about that thing before we’re out.
“So right now, I just think I’m going to be here. That’s the only goal I have right now. Right now, I can’t see that happening. The focus is still do the job here now and see how it goes. A lot of work to do. It’s a big challenge right now.”
Ducks GM Bob Murray may look to see what he can get for the few tradable assets he has. Bobby Ryan has already been on the trade block and Ryan Getzlaf’s name has crept into the rumor mill lately. GM Murray has already said that Selanne is retiring a Duck.
- Bucky Gleason of the Buffalo News: It’s sounding like the Sabres could be shopping some players in effort to turn their season around. Coach Lindy Ruff’s job is safe. The Sabres sit in 11th spot, but they don’t need to blow up their roster. Derek Roy, Drew Stafford, Paul Gaustad and Ryan Miller haven’t lived up to expectations or their contracts.
- TSN: Canadiens P.K. Subban and Tomas Plekanec dropped the gloves at yesterday’s practice. No big bombs were landed and both players resumed practicing afterwards. “It’s nothing personal between me and P.K., it’s about the team and to realize we have to start playing as a team,” said Plekanec. “Those things happen.
- Jim Matheson via twitter: Ryan Nugent-Hopkins left last night’s game. There is no news on the severity of the shoulder injury. He’ll be out today against the Sabres. Mark Spector via twitter: The Oilers have recalled center Josh Green and Dman Colten Teubert to replace RNH and Tom Gilbert (see video below).
- Tim Panaccio of CSN Philly: Flyers winger Jaromir Jagr took himself out of yesterday’s Winter Classic after he was speared in the calf. “It was swelling and getting worse and worse in my leg,” Jagr said. “I just couldn’t skate hard and I didn’t want to just be to be there. I knew at that point I couldn’t help my teammates.”
- Craig Custance of ESPN: Custance list 10 candidates for next year’s Winter Classic and beyond: 1. Detroit 2. Washington 3. New York 4. Minnesota 5. Toronto 6. Chicago 7. Colorado 8 Columbus 9. Green Bay 10. Las Vegas
- Jim Jamieson of the Vancouver Province: Canucks forward David Booth hopes to return to the lineup by Jan. 9th against the Panthers. Booth has skated for 3 straight days, but only for 15 minutes. Booth has been out with a sprained knee ligament since Dec. 6th. Defenseman Aaron Rome also skated but is still a ways from returning.
- Blackshawks Dan Carcillo’s hit on Oilers Tom Gilbert. This will definitely be looked by the league, and a suspension is likely. What do you think?