Morning Hits: Phaneuf, Redden, Smithson, Grigorenko, Rielly, Lundqvist, Sent to that AHL and Satan
  • Hope Smoke: Bob McKenzie: “Whatever you think of Dion the bottom line is he plays between 26-30 a night and does everything the Coach asks of him” … “I think he ends up getting about $7 million a year
  • Ian Mendes: Wade Redden was on TSN Radio today and it sounded like he may retire.
  • David Alter: The Maple Leafs put Jerred Smithson on waivers.
  • John Vogl: Sabres Mikhail Grigorenko posted on facebook that he’ll be going to the World Junior Championships.
  • Sean Fitz-Gerald of the National Post: Maple Leafs Morgan Rielly still could be loaned to Canada for the World Juniors.

    “It’s unlikely, but it’s not impossible,” Leafs general manager Dave Nonis said Wednesday. “In the event that he’s not playing regularly, or there’s a change in our roster … I wouldn’t say that he’s off the table. But I wouldn’t say it’s likely.”

  • Renaud Lavoie: Henrik Lundqvist’s salary breakdown: 14-15 $11 million , 15-16 $10 million, 16-17 $9.5 million, 17-18 $9 million, 18-19 $7.5 million, 19-20 $7 million, 20-21 $5.5 million.
  • John Vogl: The Sabres have sent Brayden McNabb to the AHL.
  • Joe Yerdon: The Blackhawks have sent Brandon Pirri to the AHL.
  • Dmitry Chesnokov: Miro Satan signed with Slovan of the KHL and it will likely be his last year in hockey.
  • Ansar Khan: Jonas Gustavsson will start in net tomorrow for the Red Wings.
  • Rob Mixer: Curtis McElhinney will start on Friday for the Blue Jackets.