This article is part of our The Daily Puck series.
February 16 Daily Puck
by John Toperzer, RotoWire Writer
Around the Rink
Foppa's gone. Who's next to make free agency headlines, Sheldon Souray?
Dustin Byfuglien signed a five-year, $26 million extension. Sure hope he lays off China Buffet and Pizza Hut's all-you-can-eat lunch specials.
The Sens did well to get a second-round pick for Chris Kelly from Boston, but Kelly gives the Bruins a third-line center and NHL draft picks are usually shots in the dark after the first five picks anyhow.
The Heritage Classic featuring Montreal and Calgary is just four days away. NHL Ice guru Dan Craig rooting for a "thaw" to minus-6 range. It hasn't been 50 degrees in Pittsburgh, as it was for the Winter Classic, since New Year's Day - though it's supposed to hit 60 degrees Friday.
Wonder if this is the year Ottawa lets go of Jason Spezza at the deadline? Ten straight home losses.
I'm sick of hearing about the Islanders-Penguins slugfest last Friday.
Dallas continues its slide from first place in the Pacific Division to watching the playoffs on TV. Will the Stars move Brad Richards? Does his current injury lessen his trade value?
Teem Selanne is one of only 10 NHLers (among top 50 scorers) to average better than a point per game, with 53 (17, 36) in 48 games. He's 40 years old!!!
The best trade I could muster for Evgeni Malkin in the Industry Experts League was Logan Couture, Ales Hemsky and Cam Fowler.
February 16 Daily Puck
by John Toperzer, RotoWire Writer
Around the Rink
Foppa's gone. Who's next to make free agency headlines, Sheldon Souray?
Dustin Byfuglien signed a five-year, $26 million extension. Sure hope he lays off China Buffet and Pizza Hut's all-you-can-eat lunch specials.
The Sens did well to get a second-round pick for Chris Kelly from Boston, but Kelly gives the Bruins a third-line center and NHL draft picks are usually shots in the dark after the first five picks anyhow.
The Heritage Classic featuring Montreal and Calgary is just four days away. NHL Ice guru Dan Craig rooting for a "thaw" to minus-6 range. It hasn't been 50 degrees in Pittsburgh, as it was for the Winter Classic, since New Year's Day - though it's supposed to hit 60 degrees Friday.
Wonder if this is the year Ottawa lets go of Jason Spezza at the deadline? Ten straight home losses.
I'm sick of hearing about the Islanders-Penguins slugfest last Friday.
Dallas continues its slide from first place in the Pacific Division to watching the playoffs on TV. Will the Stars move Brad Richards? Does his current injury lessen his trade value?
Teem Selanne is one of only 10 NHLers (among top 50 scorers) to average better than a point per game, with 53 (17, 36) in 48 games. He's 40 years old!!!
The best trade I could muster for Evgeni Malkin in the Industry Experts League was Logan Couture, Ales Hemsky and Cam Fowler. We keep three skaters and a goalie from year to year.
I don't know why I find myself rooting for Buffalo, but I do. They're really coming together after a rough start.
Who's Hot
Vincent Lecavalier - Don't look now, but Vinny's got five goals during a four-game scoring streak.
Martin Erat - Since coming back from injury in mid-January, Erat has four goals and 11 points in 14 games, making him a usable waiver pickup possibility.
Ales Hemsky - Hemsky has six points (1, 5) in six games. It will be interesting to see where one of the top trade
deadline target ends up - something that could boost his fantasy value.
Who's Not
Paul Stastny - He has one assist and a minus-7 rating in seven February contests, all losses. Colorado needs him to pick up the pace if it intends to make the playoffs.
Sergei Gonchar -Suffered a lower-body injury Tuesday. Gonchar fantasy owners have to hope for a trade that revitalizes the 36-year-old slumping blueliner.
Recommended Pickup
Jiri Hudler - Hudler has 10 points (2, 8) in his last 10 games and seems to be improving as the Wings' team health improves.
Probable Starting Goalies
Toronto (Jean-Sebastien Giguere) at Buffalo (Ryan Miller), 7:00 p.m.
Carolina (Cam Ward) at New Jersey (Johan Hedberg), 7:00 p.m.
Los Angeles (Jonathan Quick) at Columbus (Mathieu Garon), 7:00 p.m.
Philadelphia (Sergei Bobrovsky) at Florida (Tomas Vokoun), 7:30 p.m.
Minnesota (Jose Theodore) at Chicago (Corey Crawford), 8:00 p.m.
Pittsburgh (Marc-Andre Fleury) at Colorado (Craig Anderson), 9:00 p.m.
Dallas (Kari Lehtonen) at Calgary (Miikka Kiprusoff), 9:30 p.m.
Washington (Semyon Varlamov) at Anaheim (Jonas Hiller), 10:00 p.m.
Injury Roll Call
Toronto
Jonas Gustavsson - Out, placed on IR and out indefinitely after undergoing heart procedure/surgery.
Buffalo
Steve Montador - Questionable, missed Tuesday and isn't expected back Wednesday with concussion.
Carolina
Jussi Jokinen - Questionable, hasn't returned from lower body and likely will miss Wednesday.
New Jersey
Martin Brodeur - Out, skated Tuesday and hopes to do so again Wednesday.
Zach Parise - Out, still hopes to return in 2010-11, next follow-up with doctor will come on March 2.
Anton Volchenkov - Out, serving third game of three-game suspension.
Los Angeles
No recently reported news
Columbus
Rostislav Klesla - Out, about a week away from returning, skated Monday and Tuesday.
Steve Mason - Questionable, battling an illness and may be a game-time decision.
Ethan Moreau - Questionable, expected to be activated from rib injury for Wednesday's game.
Derek Dorsett - Out, will miss Wednesday and perhaps more with a concussion.
Philadelphia
Jody Shelley - Questionable, unlikely to play after missing practice this week with flu.
Ian Laperriere - Out, having trouble with indoor vision and remains indefinitely sidelined.
Florida
Dmitry Kulikov - Out, will miss at least another week with ankle injury.
Jacob Markstrom - Out, fortunately has a knee sprain that will not need surgical attention.
Minnesota
Marek Zidlicky - Out, targeted return date is Sunday from shoulder injury.
Tyler Cuma - Out, expected to miss six months after tearing ACL.
Guillaume Latendresse - Out, hoping for March return, will see hip specialist Feb. 21 for next step.
Chicago
Patrick Kane - Questionable, missed last two games and could be game-timer Wednesday.
Pittsburgh
Dustin Jeffrey - Out, on IR with lower body injury, eligible to come back Sunday.
Arron Asham - Out, continues to miss with unspecified upper body injury.
Chris Kunitz - Out, missing time with an undisclosed injury.
Eric Tangradi - Out, still feeling concussed after Trevor Gillies' attack last Friday.
Sidney Crosby - Out, no recent news on his recovery from concussion.
Colorado
Matt Duchene - Questionable, dealing with hand injury, check updates.
Adam Foote - Out, will miss another week with leg injury.
Kyle Cumiskey - Out, diagnosed with whiplash and is out indefinitely.
TJ Galiardi - Out, forearm surgery will keep him out 6-8 weeks.
Dallas
Niklas Grossman - Out, doubtful for the next two games with hip flexor injury.
Toby Petersen - Probable, returned to action Tuesday from leg without an apparent setbacks.
Brad Richards - Out, upper body injury will keep him out at least until Saturday.
Raymond Sawada - Questionable, placed on IR retroactively and is eligible to come off when healthy.
Jamie Benn - Out, team is targeting Feb. 22 for a return from injury.
Calgary
Tim Jackman - Questionable, left Monday's game and is considered day-to-day.
Olli Jokinen - Questionable, missed the third period Monday and is day-to-day.
Alex Tanguay - Probable, returned from neck to action Monday in Colorado and scored a goal.
Washington
Eric Fehr - Out, skating and cleared for contact, inching closer but no timetable.
Mike Green - Questionable, suffering from inner ear trauma and probably won't play.
Tom Poti - Out, hasn't played since Jan. 12 due to groin injury.
Anaheim
No recently reported news.
Transactions
Martin Brodeur - Placed on IR retroactively to Feb. 6.
Nick Leddy - Recalled by Chicago from AHL.
Brett Carson - Recalled by Carolina from AHL Charlotte.
John Moore - Assigned to AHL Springfield by Columbus.
Francis Wathier - Recalled by Dallas from AHL Texas.
Toby Petersen - Assigned to AHL Texas by Dallas.
Brendon Nash - Recalled by Montreal from AHL Hamilton.
Paul Postma - Recalled by Atlanta from AHL Chicago.
Erik Condra - Recalled by Ottawa from AHL Binghamton.
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