This article is part of our The Daily Puck series.
Around the Rink
At this point, you've already heard about the Hockey Hall of Fame inductions that happened recently. You've presumably been inundated with stories about the inducted players. Well, for at least a few paragraphs more, please, at the very least, tolerate one more story related to the 2015 HHOF class.
As a Wings fan, it was a big year, what with Nicklas Lidstrom and Sergei Fedorov both getting inducted. On Tuesday night, the Red Wings even had a night to honor Fedorov, which is cool. However, it also got me wondering if this is the extent of the honoring Fedorov will get from the Wings. Namely, will we ever see the number 91 up in the rafters?
When Lidstrom retired, the Red Wings couldn't get his jersey up there fast enough. He's an all-time great, the best defenseman of his generation, and a beloved local figure. The same was true when the Captain, Steve Yzerman, hung up the skates. Fedorov, though, is a more complicated figure. Partially, that's because he wasn't a career Red Wing. Still, it's where he played the bulk of his career, and where he had his greatest success. He won a Hart and two Selkes. He was a part of three Cup winning teams. Fedorov scored his 400th career goal with Detroit, and, considering he finished his NHL career with 483 goals, clearly Detroit is where he became a Hall of Fame player.
Normally 400 goals and a few major awards while playing a key role in three championship teams would likely get you a retired number. Then, you factor in things like the lengthy holdout at the start of the 97-98 NHL season that was only settled when the Wings matched the Carolina Hurricanes offer sheet. And, of course, he left. He took a deal with the Anaheim Ducks after the 02-03 season, and that made him, for at least a little while, persona non grata with Detroit fans.
Time can heal wounds, though. Personally, I don't care that Fedorov left, although I also don't really care too much about retired numbers, to be fair. However, if it is supposed to be about honoring a team's legendary players, Detroit has to, eventually, put the number 91 up there. Now, if they lose their minds and retire Chris Osgood's number, then we'll have to talk…
Projected Goalie Starters (all times Eastern)
Canadiens (Mike Condon*) at Penguins (Marc-Andre Fleury), 7:30 PM
Oilers (Cam Talbot) at Ducks (Frederik Andersen), 10:00 PM
For updates on the projected goalies later in the day, check out our Projected Goalies Grid.
Injury News For Teams Playing Wednesday
Canadiens
Michael Bournival, C (concussion) – On injured reserve
Zack Kassian, RW (suspension) – Suspended indefinitely
Carey Price, G (lower-body) – Will not play this week
Penguins
Pascal Dupuis, RW (undisclosed) – Expected to play Wednesday
Bryan Rust, RW (arm) – Out a couple of weeks
Oilers
Rob Klinkhammer, LW (lower-body) – On injured reserve
Lauri Korpikoski, LW (head) – On injured reserve
Connor McDavid, C (shoulder) – Out months
Justin Schultz, D (back) – Out 2-4 weeks
Ducks
Simon Despres, D (upper-body) – On injured reserve
Kenton Helgesen, LW (foot) – On injured reserve
Rickard Rakell, C (upper-body) – Day-to-day, did not play Monday
Jiri Sekac, RW (lower-body) – On injured reserve
Nate Thompson, C (shoulder) – On injured reserve
Hot
Daniel Sedin, LW, VAN – The Sedins are getting up there in years, but they both still relied upon to carry the Canucks' offense, and they still seem up to it. It is rare that one of them has a good day while the other doesn't, and they both did well Tuesday against Columbus. However, it's Daniel who had the better game, notching a goal and three assists. That adds to the goal and the assist he had in his prior three games, which isn't much, but when you add four points onto that, and add four points to the 11 he had entering this game, there is clearly still life left in Daniel.
Jared Spurgeon, D, MIN – Spurgeon had two helpers Tuesday, which gives him a three game point streak. For a defenseman, that's worth noting, especially when they are likely available in your league. He has nine points through 14 games, which is solid, and he has put up point totals of 25 and 26 in his last two seasons, even though he hasn't played more than 67 games in a season. Somebody has to take some of the pressure off Ryan Suter eventually, right?
Cold
Drew Stafford, RW, WPG – The Jets got off to a good start offensively, and Stafford was a part of that, but he's cooled off recently. He has been held without a point in eight straight games and, after going minus-2 Tuesday, he is a minus-10 in those games. The move to Winnipeg seemed to help Stafford after struggling during the end of his Buffalo run, but he's as cold as he's ever been right now.
Marian Gaborik, RW, LAK – Gaborik has been ice cold all season, and it shows no signs of stopping. He has one assist in his last 10 games, and no points in his last six games. Gaborik is 33 now, but it seems unlikely his time as a relevant player is completely over. Eventually, pucks will find the back of the net, but right now things are bleak for him.
Recommended Pickup
David Desharnais, C, MTL – Desharnais is not a big name, but he has been a solid contributor to the Canadiens for years. In his three full, non-lockout seasons, he has at least 14 goals, and at least 48 points. Both of those low end marks were last year, but he was also a plus-22 last year with 11 power-play points and four game-winning goals. This year, he's on an even better pace than usual, as he has five goals and 14 points through 16 games, and he's already a plus-8. It would not be unreasonable for a player at this point Desharnais' career to have his best season, and he's on that way thus far.
