- Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Post-Dispatch: The Blue Jackets haven’t received any trade action on Nikita Filatov. It would be hard for a team to trade for a player who’s already bolted to the KHL after 1+ seasons in the NHL, and has complained about the AHL and his playing time on numerous occasions, all before the age of 20. Sounds like a headache to me. And you’ll also have to offer top notch prospects or high draft picks since Filatov was high pick 2 years ago.
- Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal: Matheson wonders if the Stars would trade struggling Dman Matt Niskanen, I doubt it. He would bet $20 that Ray Whitney will end up in Pittsburgh.
- Adrian Dater of the Denver Post: Milan Hedjuk will have an arthroscopic procedure done on his right knee, and will be out of the lineup for 2 to 4 weeks. He had surgery done on the same knee 3 years ago, but this procedure is minor.
- Don Brennan of the Ottawa Sun: Good news is finding it’s way to Ottawa lately. Daniel Alfredsson returned on Saturday, Filip Kuba should return today, Milan Michalek is close and Jason Spezza could be back within a week. A Saturday return against the Bruins is a possibility.
- Kevin McGran of the Toronto Star: The Maple Leafs defensive aspect of their game should improve this week as Mike Komisarek should return this week, and the same can be said for Wayne Primeau.