NHL News: Pro Sports Daily

Blackhawks eagerly anticipating return of Marian Hossa

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November 20

Chicago Tribune

"With Marian Hossa's debut with the Blackhawks looming, coach Joel Quenneville is formulating plans on how to utilize the high-scoring winger. Hossa participated in the Hawks' morning skate before Thursday night's game against the Flames and is on track to play during the Hawks' six-game trip, most likely Wednesday against the Sharks in San Jose. "There are going to be a lot of options for a coach to have," Quenneville said. "He's going to get a lot of ice time. We're looking forward to him being useful in a lot of ways.""

Savard's return cautiously delayed

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November 20

Boston Herald

"Bruins center Marc Savard will soon sign a lengthy and lucrative contract extension that will keep him in Boston well into the next decade, according to a team source, but the club isn't quite ready to let him return from his broken foot just yet. The 32-year-old center, whose offensive skills were sorely missed over the past few weeks, is close to a new deal. With a few final issues to be ironed out, the extension could be announced within days. Although the team earlier dangled a three-year deal paying $6.5 million per year, Savard apparently will choose a longer term at less average money - seven years worth $39 million ($5.7 million per) according to a report from Canada's RDS. Savard ..."

Stars need to take the high road in a physical game

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November 20

Dallas Morning News

"Maybe there's a reason the Stars have been one of the least penalized teams in the NHL this season. Because when they tried to dial up the toughness Thursday night against Columbus, the result wasn't pretty. Dallas had its first three fights at American Airlines Center this season, but allowed three power-play goals en route to a 4-1 loss. James Neal received a five-minute major for boarding in the second period and the accompanying game misconduct. The play will be reviewed for a possible suspension, as well."

Canes get younger; Staal on injured list

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November 20

Raleigh News & Observer

"The Hurricanes now have four players on their roster who began the season with the Albany River Rats of the AHL. Center Brandon Sutter and defenseman Bryan Rodney were the first to arrive. Injuries to goaltender Michael Leighton and forward Scott Walker now will have goalie Justin Peters and forward Pat Dwyer on the roster tonight for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Dwyer was called up Thursday from the Rats, and center Eric Staal placed on injured reserve. "We've had some things to maneuver," Canes coach Paul Maurice said. "But we've had some success bringing in some kids to play. Bryan Rodney has come in and played very, very well. Paddy Dwyer can skate and he's playing very well in the ..."

Oilers disabled list gets longer

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November 20

Edmonton Sun

"The best the Edmonton Oilers could ice yesterday was a skeleton crew of 13 skaters as their injury situation goes from bad to worse to ridiculous. Just one day after they were starting to get some bodies back and posted a crucial win over Colorado, they were rocked again by news of Mike Comrie's mononucleosis, Ethan Moreau's potential concussion, Shawn Horcoff's recurring shoulder trouble and various other afflictions to Liam Reddox, Sam Gagner, Lubomir Visnovsky and ... well, let head coach Pat Quinn tell it. His post-practice media availability sounded like a cross between M*A*S*H and Abbott and Costello. "We were going to have a video session before practice, but it turned out we didn't ..."

Price's plugging is paying off

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November 20

Montreal Gazette

"Canadiens head coach Jacques Martin had a simple explanation when asked why goaltender Carey Price has turned his season around in the past five games. "I have to say he's been working a lot harder lately," said Martin, who confirmed Price will start his fourth consecutive game Friday night when the Canadiens play Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals (7 p.m., TSN, RDS, CJAD Radio-800). Martin said Price's competitive spirit came to the fore when Jaroslav Halak went on a four-game winning streak at the end of October. "I think when Jaroslav had a good stretch for us, it was a good message for Carey that he had to improve his work ethic," Martin said. "We've tried to get a better ..."

Wilson's hit on Oiler is headed for debate

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November 20

Denver Post

"When Avalanche defenseman Ryan Wilson drilled Edmonton Oilers captain Ethan Moreau with a big hit to the head Wednesday, it touched off approximately the 10,000th debate on the "head shots" topic this NHL season. The issue continues to dominate much of the chatter regarding any proposed rules changes, with league general managers saying they may propose new guidelines to be voted upon at the next board of governors meeting. Proponents of stiffer penalties and/or new guidelines for hits to the head point to the kind that Wilson laid on Moreau, saying they represent a heightened danger level given the acknowledged bigger, faster players of today. Others, such as former player, GM and current ..."

Gonchar could return tonight, but Pens lose McKee

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November 19

Pittsburgh Tribune Review

"In yet another eventful day on the Penguins' injury front, there was good and bad news. The bad news is that another defenseman, Jay McKee, will be out of action for a while. McKee has sustained a finger infection and will miss between two and four weeks. Defensemen Sergei Gonchar, Brooks Orpik, Kris Letang and Alex Goligoski were already nursing injuries when the McKee news broke. The Penguins, though, haven't yet recalled another defenseman from Wilkes-Barre. There is a chance that either Gonchar or Orpik will play tonight in Ottawa. Gonchar has been out with a broken wrist, and Orpik has been bothered by a lower-body injury, believed to be his hip. Gonchar appears the best bet to play ..."

Hits keep coming for Habs

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November 19

Montreal Gazette

"The Canadiens are reviewing their protective equipment in the wake of a series of crippling injuries. Head coach Jacques Martin said yesterday that right-wing Brian Gionta, one of the team's prized free-agent additions, will be out indefinitely with a broken foot bone. Martin noted that exterior protection is available to go over skates and the team might require players to wear it. In recent years, several players have tried the custom-made shells, but have abandoned them because they feel uncomfortable or, in the words of one player, because "they look dorky." But Martin said the team will explore every option to prevent injuries. He noted that defenceman Hal Gill is also out with a ..."

Senators' Kovalev en route to Russia after death in family

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November 19

Ottawa Citizen

"Ottawa Senators winger Alexei Kovalev was en route to Russian Thursday afternoon and would miss at least Thursday night's game against the Pittsburgh Penguins, according to a report. TSN said on its Web site Thursday that Kovalev was headed overseas after his mother-in-law died."

Savard contract talks remain on course

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November 19

Boston Globe

"An Internet report this afternoon had No. 1 Bruins center Marc Savard poised to extend his deal for another seven seasons, beginning in 2010-'11, worth a total possibly as high as $39 million (about a $5.6 million cap hit). According to a source familiar with the ongoing contract talks, the signing is not imminent and the total payout is not likely to be as high as reported today. Savard, who will turn 33 years old next July, is closing in on a seven-year pact worth closer to $32 million (cap hit: approximately $4.7 million)."

Kings' Smyth could miss a month

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November 19

NHL.com

"Ryan Smyth, a major contributor to the Los Angeles Kings' surprising success in the first six weeks of this season, is expected to be out of action for approximately one month. Smyth, who left after the second period of Monday's game at Florida, visited a team doctor Wednesday morning. Coach Terry Murray and general manager Dean Lombardi would not disclose the nature of Smyth's "upper-body injury.""

Talbot's return boosts Penguins

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November 19

Pittsburgh Tribune Review

"Forward Max Talbot lost an edge on two occasions during practice Wednesday at Mellon Arena, prompting his teammates to laugh hysterically each time he fell. The life of the party is back for the Stanley Cup champions, and he won't be sitting in the press box any longer. Talbot, one of the heroes of the Stanley Cup Finals, is completely healed from summer shoulder surgery and will make his debut tonight when the Penguins play in Ottawa. "It just feels great to be back in the room," Talbot said. "I want to do everything I can to help out. My shoulder is ready." Talbot had shoulder surgery to repair a torn labrum on July 7. At the time, he was told game action was out of the question for ..."

Sidney Crosby carries the Olympic torch

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November 19

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

"To the cheers of crowds along Brunswick Street in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Penguins center and captain Sidney Crosby carried the Olympic torch for about 300 meters tonight, part of a relay across Canada that eventually will include 12,000 runners before it reaches Vancouver, site of the 2010 Winter Games. Halifax is across a harbor from Crosby's hometown of Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia. "It was really nice," Crosby said of the experience. "It was a lot of people. We get spoiled by the support people show here, but the torch was something pretty special." Wearing an Olympics-issue warmup suit that was white with a green and blue Vancouver Olympics logo on one side, a white tuque and big red ..."

Miller loses league leads

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November 19

Buffalo News

"Even though he gave up a season-high five goals, there's not much blame that can be passed goaltender Ryan Miller's way in the wake of the Buffalo Sabres' 6-2 loss Wednesday to Florida in HSBC Arena. Tip-ins, tap-ins and odd-man rushes were the order of the night for the Panthers to post their season-high output in regulation. Miller's main area of frustration centered around the go-ahead goal by Stephen Weiss that snapped a 1-1 tie 81 seconds into the second period and put the visitors up for good. Michael Frolik skipped past Steve Montador to get into the slot and unleashed a hard snap shot that Miller stopped but was unable to corral with his glove. As the puck landed near his feet, ..."

Sutter big fan of smart Shanny

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November 19

Calgary Herald

"Brent Sutter played against Brendan Shanahan. And he played with him. And, last season with the New Jersey Devils, Sutter got to coach Shanahan. Now, they're members of the same club again -- the exclusive retired-player club. Shanahan, 40, announced Tuesday that he was leaving the National Hockey League after 21 seasons. "You know, I really enjoyed coaching Shanny," said Sutter, currently bench boss of the Calgary Flames. "Very intelligent player. Knew the game very well. A really good leader. Intelligent in the sense that he could pick things up in games and he knew how to translate it from player to player inside of a dressing room. Very well-spoken guy." Shanahan sounds like a coach. ..."