- Michael Russo of the Star Tribune: The Wild have dropped out of the top 8 in the West after losing 14 of 16.
“We’ll keep looking to upgrade the talent. We’ll move whatever we have to move if it makes sense. Not everybody’s untouchable. And certainly we have a lot of prospects we’re not going to move, but there’s assets we have that we can move to make our team better if we can find the right fit.”
They’ve been hit with injuries to their top 6. They would like to improve their top 6, but they aren’t the only ones. The Ducks have dangled Bobby Ryan. The Sabres have Drew Stafford, Derek Roy and Brad Boyes. The Rangers have Wojtek Wolski and Erik Christensen. The Blue Jackets have Vaclav Prospal. The Oilers have Ales Hemsky. The Hurricanes have Tuomo Ruutu.
- Ken Wiebe of the Winnipeg Sun: The Jets could be looking to move some of their future UFAs, which includes: Chris Mason, Jim Slater, Tanner Glass, Kyle Wellwood, Johnny Oduya, Randy Jones, Mark Flood and Derek Meech. Though some of their UFAs could receive contract extensions or possibly brought back in the summer.
- Darren Dreger via twitter: A list of possible candidates for the Canadiens GM position if they decide to replace Pierre Gauthier: “J.Martin (owed $3mil), J.Brisebois, Risebrough, Ferguson, Loiselle, McGuire, Bergevin.”
- Josh Rimer via twitter: Rimer is hearing that Taylor Hall could be out for the year. Ryan Rishaug via twitter: Rumors at this point are untrue, at this point that hasn’t been decided. Taylor Hall via twitter: “The reports that I’m out for the season aren’t true. I am going to be back as soon as possible. “
- Jerry DiPaola of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: Penguins defenseman Kris Letang could return to the lineup for the 1st time in 2 months tonight. “It’s coach’s decision,” Letang said of his return. “I know I am ready to go. I have been resting. I have been doing some treatment. I am comfortable. Otherwise I wouldn’t be on the ice.”
- Michael Russo of the Star-Tribune: Wild center Mikko Koivu still hopes he’ll be able to participate in the All-Star game, and the NHL has agreed to hold off on naming a replacement.
- Vicki Hall via twitter: Flames forward Curtis Glencross is week-to-week with a knee injury.
- David Pollak via twitter: Sharks forward Ryane Clowe has facial fractures, but is not feeling any concussion-like symptoms.
- Katie Carrera of the Washington Post: There isn’t much optimism from Capitals when it comes to defenseman Tom Poti being able to return to the NHL. “Tom’s been working at it and improving but I don’t know if he’ll ever get to the point where he can play again,” McPhee told reporters Tuesday. “As I said in the summer, we weren’t counting on it.”
- Dustin Leed via twitter: Sergei Bobrovsky will start in net tonight for the Flyers against the Islanders.
- Sean Fitz-Gerald via twitter: Jonas Gustavsson will start in net for the Maple Leafs against the Wild.