- Erik Erlendsson of the Tampa Tribune: Lightning’s Radko Gudas will have arthroscopic surgery on his right knee and will be out indefinitely. He suffered the injury after crashing awkwardly into the boards on December 29th against the Maple Leafs. He practiced last Thursday, but hasn’t skated since.
- Michael Russo of the Star Tribune: Wild defenseman Keith Ballard is still experiencing concussion symptoms. He’s done nothing but talking walks since his injury. He has admitted that he’s not sure if he’ll ever play again.
“I’m not ready to decide that stuff, but knowing what we know about concussions, I have to think about the long-term,” Ballard said. “I’ve had three in 14 months, five in five years, not to mention all the times you get hit and say, ‘I’ve got my bell rung,’ and you’re dizzy for a period. That happens probably a lot more than people know. I have to think about the long-term effects, but again, I’m not ready to make that decision yet. But answering it honestly, yeah, I’m going to think about it.”
Ballard said he has good days and bad ones, but he’s “better than I was the last couple weeks.”
- Sam Carchidi: Flyers Claude Giroux is listed as day-to-day and may play tonight.
- Gary Lawless: Jets defenseman Zach Bogosian is getting close to returning to the lineup.
- Alex Prewitt: Capitals defenseman Matt Niskanen is day-to-day with a lower body injury.
- Wayne Scanlan: Senators Marc Methot traveled with the team, but won’t play tonight.
- Dave Molinari: Penguins coach Mike Johnston said a couple days ago that Paul Martin could return on Wednesday, but with him missing practice yesterday, his chances of returning are lessened.
- Chris Kuc: Blackhawks Trevor van Riemsdyk is ahead of schedule in his knee rehab.