Today is a sad day at NHL Hot Stove as we close up shop.

I would like to thank every one who has ever contributed, commented and read our site. It was a fantastic ride which unfortunately we can no longer keep up.

Myself and David Strehle are taking on bigger roles at RLDHockey.net while Dustin Leed and The Hockey Guys has been generous enough to give a home to our other excellent contributors. Please be kind enough to give both sites a read.

By Alexander Monaghan
President

Two days ago, ESPN’s Alvin Chang released his ‘Biggest draft busts since 1990′. To no one’s surprise, the Ottawa Senators have a notorious draft selection by the name of Alexandre Daigle featured within it’s contents. Surprisingly, he’s only listed at number three while blue-line stalwart Chris Phillips is currently listed at number five.

Chang developed this list using a metric called Goals Versus Threshold (GVT). Developed by Tom Awad of Hockey Prospectus, GVT is an objective player evaluation method that combines all of a player’s statistics and calculates his contribution in 4 categories: offensive, defensive, goaltending and shootout. Awad’s metric determined that Daigle, and to a lesser degree Phillips, turned out to be busts based on a combination of their statistics and subsequent performance on the ice. What it tells us is that the Sens are simply not afraid to take risks throughout the entirety of their regime. Those risks made this organization make the playoffs for 11 consecutive seasons and 12 out of their last 13 before missing last year’s postseason.

A similar type of decision making has been used over the last year as GM Bryan Murray tries to not only restock his cupboards but do so with high-end players.

In June, Murray took highly-skilled forward Mika Zibanejad with his first pick, taking a forward who was a relative unknown two months before the draft. The center burst his way into the top-10 mix after making Djurgardens IF Stockholm of the SEL before turning 18. With only nine points in his professional career, the Sens rolled the dice and took what they believed to be the player with the highest ceiling. Zibanejad would play nine games with the Sens before returning to the SEL for more seasoning.

The Sens then took Plymouth Whalers right wing Stefan Noesen, who enjoyed a breakout sophomore season in the OHL. However, coming into last season, the Plano, TX was a relative unknown, scoring three goals and eight points through 33 games on a stacked Whalers team. His pedigree was not as high as others still on the board like Brandon Saad, Ty Rattie or Zack Phillips but Murray felt Noesen would be a player at the next level. According to Hockey’s Future, Murray went so far as to compare Noesen to reigning MVP Corey Perry.

Three picks later, Murray took another gamble in selecting former OHL Rookie of the Year Matt Puempel. The Essex, Ont., native was not only a risky pick, he defines risk. After breaking out during his rookie year, Puempel regressed due to injury and inconsistency, only posting five more points in four less games — hardly meeting expectations of the Peterborough Petes. Instead of letting the left wing fall further down the ladder, Murray took the gamble by trading two second round picks — 35th overall (Tomas Jurco) and 48th overall (Xavier Ouellet) — for the 18-year-old.

The first round yielded a forward at each position. The center that projects to be a franchise player in Zibanejad. A right wing that could hurt you physically and in the box score. The wild card sniper who could turn out the best of the three. Zibanejad signed almost immediately while Noesen and Puempel inked entry-level deals this afternoon according to Chris Johnston of The Canadian Press, via Twitter.

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Filatov would once again prove to be a bust in North America, becoming a healthy scratch on many occasions before leaving for Russia. During this stint he only mustered an assist over nine games but Murray did not think the risk was a poor decision. Instead, he explained that the winger needed to get stronger in order to compete in North America and that his demotion was just a hitch in his development. The Senators still believe that he will return to the NHL and be a player; the onus is now on Filatov to prove he wants to play in America opposed to his birthplace.

Letting Filatov leave was a luxury that the team can afford due to their influx of homegrown talent in the NHL and in the minors.

In fact, while much of the focus remained on Filatov and his travels around the globe, the organization went out and acquired another fallen talent in center Kyle Turris. Turris was the 3rd overall pick back in 2007 and also made his way onto Chang’s bust list. However, the Sens were banking on the New Westminster, British Columbia native to thrive under a less taxing coach as he finally gets his chance in an offensive system. Unsurprisingly, Turris has done just that with three assists in his first four games.

More importantly, he has filled the hole vacated by Zibanejad after his nine-game stint passed. The hole that was covered up with a piece of scotch tape when the team tried out centers Peter Regin and Stefan Da Costa and even winger Nick Foligno. In trading for a legitimate pivot, and one with talent oozing out of his pores, they reinforce one of their most consistent strengths in the center position.

Ringo Calamity / Flickr

Former 2nd overall pick Jason Spezza has been the team’s top line center since 2002-2003. The slick, playmaking pivot from Mississauga, Ontario is one of the brightest stars in team history after eclipsing the 85-point barrier three times in his career. He, along with team captain Daniel Alfredsson, have led the Senators by example while showing young players how they can adapt to the big leagues.

That quality has been important during this season — one that was defined as a rebuilding year. Not including Spezza and Alfredsson, 10 of the Sens draftees are regulars in the lineup from All-Star defender Erik Karlsson to fourth line grinders Kaspars Daugavins and Erik Condra. Five other homegrown players have been in the lineup as well.

Instead of actually rebuilding, however, the Sens have stayed in the big picture, sitting in the 9th seed with one more game played than 8th seed Winnipeg. If they continue their feisty play, they could just wind up in the playoff picture and gain some extra revenue in what was supposed to be a lost season. Nevertheless, their identity, or proclivity, in making risky moves has helped them earn everything they now possess.

Since the beginning of the franchise, they have not been afraid to make big moves and a big splash. Because of that they have busts like Daigle (who was projected to be the lovechild of Gordie Howe, Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux). Similarly, they have 12 homegrown players on their roster because of their drafting strategy in addition to several others who can step right into the lineup when healthy.

We could be seeing yet another incarnation of a Senators dynasty within the upcoming years. We may see a team that blows away its predecessors due to Murray and company staying true to the organization’s history and finding the best talent they possibly could.

By David Strehle
NHL Hot Stove Managing Editor

The old saying “You can never go home again” may just apply to Philadelphia Flyers’ forwards Jaromir Jagr and Max Talbot as the team heads to Pittsburgh to take on the Penguins tonight at CONSOL Energy Center.

Both Jagr and Talbot have experienced the biggest successes in their respective NHL careers in the ‘Burgh, each having been a part of a Stanley Cup championship Pens squad. The pair were key pieces in all three Penguins’ Cup victories over two different generations — – Jagr in both 1991 and 1992, and Talbot in 2009 — but both will likely feel the unbridled wrath of the Pittsburgh faithful, beginning when they come out to take part in the pre-game skate.

Al Bello / Getty Images

Jagr had actually been courted by GM Ray Shero and the Pens early in the summer, and a possible return to the scene of his greatest triumphs seemed all but a foregone conclusion for the future first ballot Hall-of-Famer, who had spent the past three seasons playing in Russia’s Kontinental Hockey League.

After both Jagr and Talbot signed with the Flyers as unrestricted free agents on July 1st, outraged Penguins’ fans voiced their obvious displeasure all across every social media platform available over what they felt were acts of traitors.

“When I was making the decision, I never thought that Pittsburgh fans would want me back,” Jagr said in a September conference call with the media. ”Every time I played there, they were booing me every time I touched the puck. I didn’t think it would be such a big deal that I didn’t sign with Pittsburgh.”

The connection to the Penguins is not nearly as fresh for Jagr as it is for Talbot, who played in Pittsburgh through last season. Jagr last played for the Pens more than a decade ago, with the 2000-01 campaign being his last with the organization. His status as the second best player ever to don the Black-and-Gold is still intact, as he is still the runner-up in every significant offensive category to the undisputed greatest Penguin of them all, Mario Lemieux.

As stated above in his own words, Jagr has heard the boos before, when he returned to the Civic / Mellon Arena as a member of the Washington Capitals and New York Rangers. He is expecting much of the same in his first visit to the CONSOL Energy Center, especially wearing the colors of one of Pittsburgh’s most hated rivals.

In fact, it’s likely going to sound a lot like when playing the Chexx dome hockey arcade game, when your opponent hits the ‘boo’ button. It’s pretty much the same noise as anytime a Canadiens’ player falls to the ice at Bell Centre, or each time a visiting captain touches the puck at MTS Centre in Winnipeg. Just imagine that sound magnified 18,600 times, each and every time Jagr or Talbot touch the puck. That’s probably a pretty fair assessment of how tonight will be in Pittsburgh.

Jagr has been an important cog in the Philadelphia offensive machine this season, anchoring the right side of a line with Claude Giroux and Scott Hartnell. With 11 goals and 30 points in 31 games, the 39-year-old Jagr is still averaging nearly a point per game. He may have lost some of his explosiveness, but he is always a threat to score when on the ice.

At the tail end of Jagr’s September conference call, he tried to soften the blow for those hockey diehards who live on the western side of Pennsylvania.

”I had a chance to do what I thought was best for me. If I hurt anybody, I apologize, because I didn’t want to, but on the other side, I just don’t understand why people can be that mad about my decision.”

It’s a fairly safe assumption to say that Pens’ fans will attempt to make Jagr see their reasoning, and in an extremely vocal manner, tonight in Pittsburgh.

Even though he didn’t play nearly the all-encompassing role with the team as Jagr had during his time there, the very fact that Talbot inked a pact with the Penguins’ cross-state rivals still wreaked of treachery in Steel Town.

Photo credit: Paul Bereswill / Getty Images

The agitator had shifted momentum in meetings with Philadelphia in Pittsburgh’s favor through the years, none as evident as his fight with Dan Carcillo during Game 6 of the 2009 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. On the ensuing faceoff after Danny Briere scored to give the Orange-and-Black a commanding 3-0 lead and a Game 7 began to appear on the horizon, Talbot challenged Carcillo to a fight. “Mad Max” was beaten badly, but gave the half-delirious Philly fans the now infamous ”Shhhh” with index finger raised to his lips on the way to the penalty box. Ex-Flyer Ruslan Fedetenko scored just 14 seconds later, and the ice tilted in Pittsburgh’s favor the rest of the way en route to a 5-3, series clinching victory.

The Pens went on to win the Stanley Cup less than two months later.

That’s the type of player Talbot has been, one who will do anything to help his team win, and that endeared him all the more to Penguins’ fans.

Talbot has brought some of the grit and veteran presence that was lost in making the forwards corp a much younger group. He adds some of what had been missing since winger Ian Laperriere was lost with a skull fracture and severe concussion.

He has also thrown in some unexpected offense, having already surpassed his entire 2010-11 goal total – nine this year in 35 games, eight in 82 contests last year. On a club that came into the season with many question marks as to where the goals would come from after trading away Jeff Carter and Mike Richards, the importance of this kind of production cannot be stressed enough. 

Even though he had left, nothing could prepare supporters of the Pens for what Talbot said shortly after becoming a Flyer.

“It’s nice to be on the right side this time,” Talbot said via Flyers On The Fly on the club’s official site, regarding the ongoing bitter rivalry in the affectionately monikered ”Keystone Klash”. That’s right, apparently he now bleeds Orange-and-Black, also.

And don’t think for a second that the CONSOL Energy crowd will forget that, either.

Some have said the reason Pittsburgh is spelled with an “h” at the end is because it stands for ”home”. For Jagr and Talbot, two players who called Pittsburgh their home for so long, we shall see if that, indeed, holds true tonight.

If you have any comments or questions, you can email the author at dstrehle@nhlhotstove.com.  You can also follow him on Twitter – @David_Strehle

By Alexander Monaghan
President

By Bridget Samuels from College Park, MD (IMG_8730.jpg) [CC-BY-2.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)

After yet another injury-plagued season, in which Gaborik only scored 22 goals in 62 games, the Slovakian winger is back on track and helping the New York Rangers to what could be their best season since the 1993-1994 season — otherwise known as the only Stanley Cup the team has won since World War II ended. In fact, Gaborik has already matched last seasons’s goal totals with 22 through his first 34 games.

More importantly, he has stayed on the ice. And with the acquisition of Brad Richards and the ever-improving play of captain Ryan Callahan, Gaborik can settle into a groove without the pressure of carrying his squad. At 29, Gaborik is arguably the third-most important player on the team after the aforementioned Callahan and Richards. One would argue being a piece in the puzzle opposed to the centerpiece has worked out quite well for Gaborik and the Rangers.

Four of Gaborik’s 22 goals have been game winners but many more of his goals have been momentum swings in the team’s favor. Currently on a five-game scoring streak where he potted seven goals over those contests, Gaborik scored both goals to put the Rangers in a 2-2 deadlock against the Coyotes on the 17th. He then followed those two goals with two goals and an assist to give the Rangers a 4-1 victory over the rival New Jersey Devils. His goal against another rival, the New York Islanders, put his team up 2-1 in their eventual 4-2 win. He followed up that performance by scoring the game winner against the Philadelphia Flyers the following night then finished off the Islanders again this past Monday with an empty net goal.

For the sake of brevity, we will cap the descriptions of his goals at five but it should put in perspective just how important Gabby’s tallies have been. Not only have they been critical to the team’s success, they have swung the momentum during numerous games. Perhaps even more important has been his consistency throughout the season as his longest pointless drought is three games; his longest goal drought is four games. Comparing that to last season’s injury riddled performance is comparing apples and oranges since he capped off the 2010-2011 regular season on a nine-game drought which extended into the Game 4 of the playoffs.

His success once again goes hand-in-hand with his health which makes sense for any injury-prone skater. The last two seasons where he played at least 76 games, he scored 40 goals. Keeping the right winger on the ice has certainly been a top priority of coach John Tortorella and company which explains why he is the only forward to receive a maintenance day this week.

But fear not, Ranger fans, as the team will attempt to keep Gaborik on the ice for all 82 games for the first time in his career. Tortorella is currently starting him in the offensive zone 58.3 percent of the time which is second to only his pivot Derek Stepan. That strategy has limited him lugging the puck up ice and therefore kept his legs fresher. Keeping those legs fresh coupled with an excellent medical staff and reduced minutes should be a recipe for success.

Is the Rocket Richard Trophy in his sights? Will he score 50 goals for the first time in his career? As usual, it all depends on whether he can stay healthy or not.

By David Strehle
NHL Hot Stove Managing Editor

Last night’s 5-1 debacle in Tampa Bay, in which the Philadelphia Flyers outshot the Lightning, 32-16, raised numerous questions to explore regarding the recent play of the orange-and-black.

Sure, there are a number of injuries, but just about every team is going through the same situation as Philly. After watching the Pittsburgh Penguins constant rotation of players between Wilkes Barre-Scranton and the ‘Burgh over the past two seasons, injuries cannot be used as an excuse.

After playing perhaps their most complete game of the season in a 5-1 win over the Washington Capitals at Verizon Center on December 13, the Flyers barely held on for a 4-3 victory in Montreal two nights later. Things have gone downhill ever since.

Following a seven-game winning streak that pushed them to the apex of the Eastern Conference standings, the team has now dropped four of its last five contests (1-3-1). In the process, the New York Rangers have passed them for first place in the Atlantic Division, and with a win last night, those pesky Pittsburgh Penguins have tied them with 46 points. Philadelphia still maintains fourth place for the moment as a result of playing one fewer game than the Pens, but that could become a moot point when they face off against each another tomorrow night at the CONSOL Energy Center in Pittsburgh.

Along with a drop in the general level of team defense, the top-ranked Flyers’ offense has been almost non-existent in the last five outings. Philly has been collectively outscored, 18-9, during that stretch.

Bryzgalov Blows His Cool

The case of Ilya Bryzgalov’s first-year in Philadelphia has been a rather odd one, marred by wild streaks of inconsistency. After starting out the year with three straight wins – which included a shutout, something the Flyers failed to get from any netminders all of last season — the Russian goaltender dropped his next five decisions (0-4-1).

An unfettered Stamkos backhands the puck past Bryzgalov to give Tampa a 2-1 lead in the second period last night. (Photo credit: Chris O'Meara / Associated Press)

Bryzgalov then went on an 11-1-1 stretch and appeared to be coming out of the woods, but has proceeded to go 0-3-1 in his last four.

Last night’s performance against the Lightning may have been his worst outside of the ridiculous 9-8 horror show against the Winnipeg Jets in late-October. While the team exhibited several breakdowns in defensive zone coverages, Bryzgalov seemed out of position on many of the goals. He appeared to misplay angles, and Tampa shooters were able to hit their marks. This was particularly evident on Vincent Lecavalier’s snipe in the last minute of regulation in the third period, when the Bolts’ captain flipped a quick shot from the right circle that Bryzgalov appeared to be cheating too far the the near post. Lecavalier’s shot sailed over Bryzgalov’s stick side and hit the far corner.

The 31-year-old native of Togliatti, Russia has gone on record earlier in the year as saying he plays much better when “he’s more involved in the game”, or in other words, when he faces more shots on goal. Having yielded just 16 to the Lightning, Bryzgalov appeared to almost be hindered by rust, unprepared to aggressively take on the opposition’s shooter.

“I’m very comfortable,” Bryzgalov said of facing more shots after a 25-save December 8 home win over the Penguins. “Because during the game, you’re moving and facing the shots…your body is in action and your blood is pumping. Your body, you just know, you want the shots, you want to battle. Instead of when you’re just frozen. You can feel you’re toes and you’re like ‘oh my God.’ It’s a big difference. Sometimes you see the goalie, like, it’s tough to play for the goalies who don’t face lots of shots. It’s really tough. I know the difference (having played in Phoenix).”

After last night’s game at St. Pete Times Forum , Bryzgalov was noticeably irked, especially when asked what he thought of his play. His sarcastic “OUTSTANDING…”, then dropping an “F-bomb” on live cable television said more than enough about where his head is right now.

He’s frustrated, and it may be that he cannot get comfortable with seeing a paltry number of shots each night. Some goalies are like that, handling a 40-shot night much better than somewhere in the mid-teens. Martin Brodeur thrived in a situation where he saw few shots each night when he had the likes of Scott Niedermayer, Scott Stevens, and Ken Daneyko patrolling the New Jersey Devils blueline. The number of shutouts he recorded where he was called on to make less than 20 saves were numerous.

Another aspect that may be distracting the franchise goaltender is all of the camera time on HBO’s “24/7″ documentary lead-up to the Winter Classic on January 2. Bryzgalov has been called the “star” of the show so far, contemplating subjects as far-reaching as tigers and the meaning of life, all caught on camera for all to see. Maybe it will be a blessing when all of the hoopla surrounding the Classic ends early next week, and the team can just go back to concentrating on hockey, and Bryzgalov to doing what he does best, which is stopping the puck.

When all seems lost, the best course of action is to just go back to basics, and that point may be here for Bryzgalov.

JVR Playing Through Pain

Along with Claude Giroux, James van Riemsdyk was supposed to take his game to the next level and help offset some of the offense lost with the departures of scoring leaders Richards and Jeff Carter. With his play down the stretch last season and through the playoffs, the hope did not seem too far-fetched.

While JvR has shown signs of that player from time-to-time this year, he has struggled mightily as of late. With just one goal in his last six contests and three points in the last 11 (1 G, 2A), the second-overall pick in the 2007 draft has nine goals and 19 points in 30 games — a pace for 23 goals and 48 points, which would still be career highs.

But after missing four games at the beginning of the month with an abdominal injury, there could be reason to be concerned about the 22-year-old winger.

Remember the case of Mikael Renberg, the third member of the “Legion of Doom Line”, along with Eric Lindros and John LeClair. Renberg burst onto the scene in 1993-94, scoring 38 goals and 82 points as a 21-year-old rookie, then followed that up with a 26-goal, 57-point sophomore year in just 47 games during a lockout-shortened 1994-95 campaign.

He endured an abdominal injury in his third season, and was never the same player again. No longer did Renberg cut to the net with reckless abandon, and he ended up being dealt after a couple more mediocre years.

This is not to say that van Riemsdyk will end up the same way, but more to point out that the Flyers would be wise to handle JvR with ultra-cautious care. Players with the combination of size and speed that he possesses do not come along every year, and it would be a shame to see van Riemsdyk follow the same course that Renberg tread.

(More after the page break)

Schenn Also Struggling

One of the biggest acquisitions in a summer of change for Paul Holmgren’s squad was snagging highly-regarded forward prospect Brayden Schenn, along with Wayne Simmonds, from the Los Angeles Kings in the Mike Richards trade.

After beginning the season in the AHL due in part to a shoulder injury suffered in preseason, as well as a clause in his contract where his salary was better able to fit into Philadelphia’s constrained cap situation, Schenn tore it up in Adirondack to the tune of 12 points (6 G, 6 A) in just seven games before being recalled to the big club in late-October.

His time in Philly ever since has been tenuous, at best. Schenn played in only four games before breaking his foot after blocking a shot in Montreal on October 26, causing him to miss the next 11 games. He was assigned to the Phantoms on November 22 for a rehab stint, then returned to the Flyers at the start of December. He saw action in just two more games before suffering a mild concussion, playing in his last game on December 3, and missing the next nine contests before returning last night.

Schenn has failed to produce a single point thus far, and has been on the minus side of the ledger in five of the seven games in which he has been healthy enough to appear. His -8 rating is second only to fellow rookie Harry Zolnierczyk’s -9.

The fifth overall selection in the 2009 entry draft has to not only attempt to create some offense soon, but also must try to do something he may not have any control over, and that is to remain healthy.

It would seem Schenn will not get any kind of positive momentum going with the constant movement in and out of the lineup, especially with nagging injuries tempering his effectiveness. His confidence has more then likely taken a hit since the good feeling of the summer and early stages of training camp as a result.

Let’s hope as the calendar turns to 2012 next week, it brings a healthier and more productive year for the 20-year-old that holds the key to how the Richards deal will ultimately be judged. While the now does not hold nearly as much as the future does where Schenn is concerned, his fragility may raise some concerns in the Flyers’ camp.

Where’s Danny?

Well, he did show up on the scoresheet with a game-high seven shots on goal, but Danny Briere was held without a point once again last night. It was the fourth time in his last five games the 34-year-old went without recording a point, and has registered just five in his last nine outings (3 G, 2 A).

Like the rest of his teammates, Briere has been banged up from time-to-time, missing three combined games with an upper body injury and a bruised hand. As the club’s highest-paid player at $6.5 million annually, the Flyers obviously need more from the Gatineau, Quebec-native than what they have been receiving.

After playing to mixed reviews in his first three campaigns following his signing as a free agent in 2007, things seemed to come together for Briere after being moved from the wing back to center. Playing between Scott Hartnell and Ville Leino, the line became the club’s most consistent offensive producers.

It was during Philadelphia’s improbable run to the 2010 Stanley Cup Finals, in which he set a team record with 30 points (12 G, 18 A), that Briere really seemed to come into his own with the Flyers. He had been that player before in Buffalo, but it took him until that moment in time in Philly to justify the giant contract, which still has three seasons remaining after this year.

Last year’s totals of 34 goals and 68 points were a continuation of the output he put forth in the 2010 postseason, even if he did take the occasional bad stick infraction at the worst possible time of a game.

He has improved that part of his game of late, but once again has fallen on hard times offensively this year. With 10 goals and 15 assists in 32 games, Briere is on pace for 24 goals and 61 points — which would be his lowest totals since the inconsistent regular season of 2009-10.

Consistency has been lacking this season. Briere has eight different multiple point games, but has failed to string together any more than three consecutive contests with at least one point, which has occurred just once so far (early-December). He has failed to put up a point in 17 of the 32 contests in which he has played.

Which leads into the next point…

Struggling to Score Goals, the Flyers Are Becoming a One-Line Team

In addition to those slumping players referred to above, there are others that have played well without seeing the desired results:

• Jakub Voracek – After scoring goals in two of his first three games with the Flyers, it appeared the 22-year-old winger was just what the doctor ordered for a club that might have some difficulties putting the biscuit in the basket. But even though the seventh-overall pick in the 2007 entry draft has been creative with the puck and set up glorious scoring chances, he has managed to score just three more times himself over the last 32 contests. His 21 points rank Voracek sixth in team scoring, but more is expected of him, especially in the goal-scoring department.
• Matt Read – The preseason Calder Trophy prediction of TSN’s Bob McKenzie, Read has been excellent during his rookie campaign. His 11 goals tie him with Jaromir Jagr for third on the team, and he has scored at very opportune times, with the Flyers in need of a goal. But the 25-year-old former captain at Bemidji State has seen a drop off in production, as well. Read hasn’t scored a goal in the last nine games, totalling just three assists during that span. The good news is he is still getting numerous quality scoring chances, as was the case when he was robbed on a couple of great opportunities last night by Mathieu Garon.

Another rookie that has been out of the lineup, and the recent five-game skid has coincided with his absence, is Sean Couturier. The 19-year-old centerman started off the year at a much better scoring clip than expected. He is not only one of the more responsible players in his own end, Couturier had also been very creative in the offensive end of the rink. Even though he went through a 15-game drought with having failed to pick up a point and recorded just one assist in the last 17 contests before being struck in the head with a Kimmo Timonen slap shot, he had been promoted to the top line when Giroux suffered his concussion.

Couturier’s loss has been one of the biggest in a long line of injuries sustained by key Philadelphia skaters, and the 1-3-1 mark since he left the lineup may not be much of a coincidence.

With so many players failing to contribute, Philadelphia has become a one-line team, allowing opponents to key even more than usual on the line of Hartnell, Giroux, and Jagr.

Take all of the above factors and mesh them together, and it adds up to a bad stretch. Every team is subject to these skids, going through rough patches during a long regular season. As long as many of the issues resolve, Philadelphia should be just fine. Imagine how everyone would have felt knowing in advance the Flyers would be 21-10-4 after a summer overhaul. You would have to say people would have been elated.

And finally, some good news…

Giroux’s Was An Epic Return From Concussion

There are numerous ’return games’ referred to throughout the NHL, and most of them revolve around two players from the Western side of Pennsylvania.

The mere mention of a player having a great game when coming back from an injury conjures up all kinds of images of Mario Lemieux doing something once thought to be impossible. Most of Super Mario’s exploits are amazing, but his performances after returning from long layoffs — back injury, Hodgkins Disease, even retirement – are the stuff of legend.

This season, Lemieux’s Penguins’ protege, Sidney Crosby, pulled off something similar. After missing over 10 months with a concussion, ‘Sid the Kid’ made a triumphant return to the Pittsburgh lineup against the New York Islanders on November 21st. Scoring two goals and adding two assists, Crosby carried the Pens on his back to a 5-0 victory over the Isles.

The heroics of Crosby’s comeback in late-November have since been overshadowed by his recurrence of concussion-like symptoms that have again placed him on the shelf, and his future is in doubt.

A team from the other side of the ‘Keystone State’ had a strikingly similar occurence last Wednesday night in Dallas. That’s when the Flyers decided to bring their leading scorer, Giroux, back after sitting out the previous four games with a concussion suffered in a freak accident when clipped by Simmonds’ knee during a 5-2 win at the Wells Fargo Center on December 10.

Though not injured as seriously as either Crosby or Lemieux and not out of the lineup for nearly as long, the diminutive Giroux still gave fans in Philadelphia quite a thrill in his first game back.

The rest of the field used Giroux’s absence to tie him for the NHL’s scoring lead — Toronto’s Phil Kessel, Vancouver’s Henrik Sedin, and Pittsburgh’s Evgeni Malkin had all tied Giroux for the top spot with 39 points as of the time of his return.

After watching Michael Ryder give the Stars a 1-0 lead in the game’s first minute, the rest of the night belonged to Giroux and the Flyers. The 23-year-old wizard scored the next goal, then proceeded to assist on three others as Philadelphia skated to a 4-1 victory.

The game further cemented Giroux’s status as one of the game’s rising young superstars, as well as pointing out the fact that he is just as important an offensive cog to the Flyers attack as any other player is to their respective team in the League today.

On a night where Giroux turned Dallas into ‘Big G’ for just a few short hours, his four-point night in a comeback game will be a part of Flyers’ lore for years to come.

If you have any comments or questions, you can email the author at dstrehle@nhlhotstove.com.  You can also follow him on Twitter – @David_Strehle

By Bridget Samuels

When the NHL roster freeze is removed, it will effectively turn the heat up from its current simmer on this year’s hot stove. In fact, Greg Wyshynski and Jeff Marek chose to make it their topic of the day for their fantastic #MvsW podcast, asking “who is the first name player to be traded?”

Taking a few seasons worth of trade deadlines and hockey trades into consideration, the NHL rarely has a ‘name’ player traded. However, one name whose name simply won’t go away is Washington Capitals enigmatic winger Alexander Semin. Semin, or ‘Sasha’ as he’s affectionately referred to, is in his seventh season in the League and with the Caps but could be the poster boy for a change in scenery.

Whether that change comes via a new team or a plane ride to Eurasia to tour the KHL is another story altogether.

After this season, Semin likely enters the free agent waters for the first time in his career. The 27-year-old has signed two consecutive one-year deals to remain in Washington, earning a raise in his most recent pact of 700K. However, there is no way he could argue his current performance deserves a raise. Furthermore, it would be hard to argue he has earned the $6.7 million the Caps are contractually obligated to fork over to him.

Following last night, 4-2 drubbing at the hands of the Buffalo Sabres, Semin has now scored seven goals and 15 points through 31 games. His 19 projected goals would be the lowest since his rookie campaign. Likewise, his 22 assists and 41 points would also be career lows outside of his inaugural season.

Just by watching him, you know the kind of talent he brings to the table. But gauging his trade value based on real-life value and what other GMs would be willing to sacrifice is another story.

A few weeks ago, Bruce Garrioch of The Ottawa Sun decided to give his take on Sasha. Unlike his usual hyperbole in which Garrioch usually draws two big names out of a hat and guarantees some sort of guaranteed deal (g5), the columnist chose to give a relatively straight forward answer on the subject. From The Ottawa Sun:

Since a coaching change hasn’t brought the desired results, Capitals GM George McPhee has been working the phones trying to shake up his struggling club. While the Caps would love to move Alexander Semin, there is no market for a struggling, underachieving winger making too much money these days.

With all 30 teams trying to make the playoffs and only 3-5 legitimately out of the race, it is somewhat troubling to think no one would take the risk. Semin has roughly $3.7 million remaining on his cap hit for the season with 15 teams able to foot that bill without an exchange of money. Ruling out noncontenders like the Anaheim Ducks and Carolina Hurricanes while also removing small-budget teams like the Nashville Predators and Dallas Stars, we are now left with about 7-9 contenders who could use a bit more skill up front.

In years past, GM George McPhee would like scoff at trading away his former scorer. Yet, right now, there probably is no better option in shaking up his club’s current configuration. They could opt for a nice package of a prospect and a draft pick or try to help this year’s incarnation which has struggled to keep the puck out of the net in addition to icing a mediocre power play and penalty kill. Moreover, McPhee could just move Semin because it is good asset management turning around an expiring asset for a non-expiring package.

The salary cap will continue to stifle big-name, blockbuster trades but Semin may still be on the move. As we near the halfway point of the season, don’t be surprised if his name is thrown around in a few conversations.

By Bill Whitehead

This is partially about the Florida Panthers’ horrible showing in Boston last Thursday. That game was ridiculous. Fittingly, I’d like to start out with someone equally ridiculous — a reference to The Simpsons ride at Universal Studios. While standing in line, the soon-to-be-riding patron watches a video of villainous Sideshow Bob, who is brandishing a gun and says to Homer that he’s offering up “a dish best served cold.” Homer responds: “Is it ice cream?”

Of course not. It’s revenge, which is exactly what the Boston Bruins had in mind last Thursday in its 8-0 pounding of the Panthers, who were rendered hapless after playing without seven forwards. That’s right, seven — in itself ridiculous. It was basically the San Antonio Panthers that coach Kevin Dineen was working with at TD Garden. But Florida being shorthanded didn’t keep the Bruins from serving. There was a heaping helping of Brad Marchand. A daunting dollop of Tuukka Rask. Even a smidge of ex-Panther Gregory Campbell was thrown in. It made for an easy night of headlines. How about “Beatdown in Beantown”? “Boston Sixty-Three Party” in honor of Marchand’s hat trick? Or “The Nightmare Before Christmas”? I didn’t see any of those, but they were there for the taking.

But here’s the reality: That game is behind Florida now and, standings wise, was little different than the club’s 2-1 loss to Phoenix earlier in the week. Boston had revenge on its mind and got it, but as thrilled as Bruins fans were after the game, they were just as upset 15 days earlier when Jose Theodore blanked them and Tomas Kopecky and Kris Versteeg broke their hearts. One win, one loss. The only oddity is goal differential, which is an insignificant, overrated stat anyway. Tampa Bay was within one goal of facing Vancouver in the Stanley Cup Finals last year, but the Lightning managed just a meager plus-7 in goal differential during the season.

The first-place Panthers (18-11-7) can’t be caught looking past Toronto tonight and worried about revenge of its own against Friday’s opponent, the New York Rangers, who beat Florida soundly in Madison Square Garden two weeks ago. Florida has defeated both Toronto and Montreal, Saturday’s foe, in separate Canadian road swings. The Maple Leafs (18-13-4) have won two straight, just extended coach Ron Wilson’s contract at Christmas and have Phil Kessel, second in scoring (41 points) and tied for second in goals (20). Goaltending has always been an issue, though. James Reimer and Ben Scrivens have put up better save percentages and GAAs, but Jonas Gustavsson has more starts and half the team’s wins.

A late Christmas gift for Florida would be getting healthy and playing the style of hockey that’s put the Panthers atop the Southeast Division. Stephen Weiss and Mikael Samuelsson are likely the closest to return, and the hope is that Jack Skille, Marco Sturm, Scottie Upshall and red-hot Shawn Bergenheim suit up soon, maybe when Florida hits the road after New Year’s.

Florida has put itself in a good position and created a nice cushion — one it’s needed lately in a three-game losing streak. It’s earned points when that didn’t look likely, such as at Ottawa last week and against Carolina, but now that lead is down to six over second-place Winnipeg. The Jets, however, have nearly played half of its home schedule, and third-place Washington can’t seem to gain any footing in the standings.

Revenge can be set aside for now, and that nasty game in Beantown perhaps could be used motivation in this week’s three-game homestand in front of full houses. Time for these Florida Panthers to start grabbing points however they may come and padding that cushion again.

By Bill Whitehead
NHLHS Florida Panthers Credentialed Correspondent
Twitter: @BillWhiteheadFL
Email: BillWhiteheadFL@hotmail.com

By Bill Whitehead

I couldn’t cover the Florida Panthers’ Sunday matinee contest against Carolina, but it didn’t really matter. I saw the same game when Calgary visited BankAtlantic Center two nights earlier. Though the Cats put together a better overall effort against the Flames, the game played out the same way. Florida led early, lost the lead, watched a key player get injured, rallied late and won in extra time — all while getting strong goaltending from Jose Theodore.

With Calgary rookie Leland Irving in goal making his NHL debut Friday, Florida did whatever it wanted to offensively — everything except score enough goals to win in regulation. Sean Bergenheim, who suffered a groin injury Sunday, scored the second of his two goals much like the first one, cleaning up a loose puck in front of Irving. In fairness, Irving was impressive, turning aside 39 of 41 shots, including four with the game on the line in overtime. That is until unlikely hero Dmitry Kulikov bailed out Florida near the end of the shootout, then Stephen Weiss sealed it. The result was two more points.

The big difference between the two games was in the intensity and attack zone time for the Panthers against Carolina. After the first 10 minutes or so Sunday, Carolina proceeded to dominate puck possession time by not allowing Florida to chip off the boards and start breakouts, and the Canes’ forecheck was thwarting the Cats, who looked like they were on a penalty kill and simply iced the puck often. The most telling sign was shots in the second period, with Carolina winning that battle 16-4.

Once the game became more wide open in the third, Florida had better opportunities, including a power play that led to Jason Garrison’s 10th goal, tops among NHL defensemen, and Kris Versteeg’s near game-winner in the closing seconds that rang off the post. The pace continued in Florida’s favor in overtime. Shawn Matthias nearly won it on a breakaway attempt but was stuffed by Cam Ward, while Versteeg, whose giveaway led to Carolina’s go-ahead goal, redeemed himself with the winner by sending a shot into an open net after Brian Campbell broke down Carolina’s defense in front of Ward. Again, the result was two more points.

“Probably my biggest challenge as a coach so far is to find that formula that gives us a lot of energy,” said Florida coach Kevin Dineen. “But I’ve got a bunch of guys who are finding ways. Sometimes it’s not a thing of beauty, but we’re finding a way to get our two points.”

Dineen even jokingly referred to Versteeg’s regulation play against Carolina as “stinky,” though he was a “difference-maker” at the end. And there was some stinky play Friday night, too, in that Florida couldn’t run a rookie goalie playing his first minutes in the league right out of BAC. In fact, the Panthers haven’t played exceptional, out-of-this-world hockey in their last nine home games, but have turned in an impressive 7-0-2 record.

Cats fans aren’t like Bill Murray in Groundhog Day, but the last nine home games they’ve watched have generally been the same — good not spectacular overall play, grinding not flashy offense, in-your-face checking, steady defensively in front of sturdy Theodore, in-it-to-win-it at the end. These home games since beating Pittsburgh 4-2 on Nov. 19 have pretty much all been the same.

Usually ending with the same two points earned, too.

By Bill Whitehead
NHLHS Florida Panthers Credentialed Correspondent
Twitter: @BillWhiteheadFL
Email: BillWhiteheadFL@hotmail.com

By David Strehle
NHL Hot Stove Managing Editor

As camera crews for Home Box Office’s ”24/7″ series have made their way through the Philadelphia Flyers’ locker room for the past month in anticipation of the NHL Winter Classic, there is an expectation of something special. It’s a showcase for not only the League, but also the Flyers, their opponents on January 2nd, the New York Rangers, and the respective players and coaching staffs.

(Photo credit: Len Redkoles / NHLI via Getty Images)

Amid all of the ballyhoo, defenseman Matt Carle tries not to act any differently with all of the extra attention.

“It’s a little different having those guys around as much as they are,” the 27-year-old rear guard said after Saturday’s loss to the Boston Bruins. ”But you just try to go about your business and do things as you would normally. Just act like they’re not there, just kind of a fly on the wall.”

While Carle’s philosophy as HBO is filming seems to be just to blend in, his play in recent weeks has forced everyone to take notice.

This is the second straight year that the team has had to endure a prolonged Chris Pronger  absence, and it has perhaps been the most trying on Carle, Pronger’s usual partner.

Carle, a user of the social media platform Twitter, sent out his feelings after it was announced that the Flyers’ captain would miss the rest of the season.

“Tough news about Prongs yesterday…really just hoping the big guy is able to get healthy, not just for hockey, but everyday life #beast“

The loss of Pronger for the remainder of the regular season and playoffs, along with the injuries to Erik Gustafsson and Andreas Lilja, has understandably affected the way head coach Peter Laviolette has been utilizing his defensive pairings.

Subtracting the club’s top defender and leader in ice time, alone, will do that. With the three blueliners out of the lineup, Laviolette’s top four defensemen — Carle, Kimmo Timonen, Braydon Coburn, and Andrej Meszaros — have seen a noticeable increase in their amount of ice time.

Through the first 19 games of the 2011-12 campaign, Carle’s TOI hovered in the range of 20 minutes per game. Included in that time frame were five different contests in which he stayed below the 20-minute mark. Maybe not so coincidentally, the 19th game of the season was in Winnipeg, which just so happened to be Pronger’s last appearance for the year.

Since Pronger’s departure, Carle has been averaging closer to 25 minutes a night, topped off by a season-high 27:44 December 7th in a 5-4 overtime victory in Buffalo.

(Photo credit: UPI / Matthew Healey)

In the 2010 Classic, Philadelphia traveled to Fenway Park in Boston. Carle played 21:49 and finished the afternoon with a -1 rating, and the Flyers dropped a 2-1 overtime decision. Carle said his team, which was wildly inconsistent during the first Classic experience, will have a better idea of how to handle things this year. And maybe even savor it some more.

Though he tries to act as though nothing is different with the added exposure, Carle does like the idea of the documentary-type format. He believes it’s an important medium for hockey fans to identify with their heroes, and maybe even further appreciate their daily grind.

“I think it’s (“24/7″) something that needs to be done every year, whether there’s a Winter Classic or not,” Carle said. “It’s a great opportunity for fans to get an inside look at what our daily lives are like, trying to get to know some personalities and players a little bit more.”

If you have any comments or questions, you can email the author at dstrehle@nhlhotstove.com.  You can also follow him on Twitter – @David_Strehle

By David Strehle
NHL Hot Stove Managing Editor

The devastating news was reported early Thursday evening by Sportsnet’s Nick Kypreos via Twitter, and confirmed by the team later during the first period of last night’s Philadelphia Flyers contest in Montreal — the club’s top defenseman and team captain, Chris Pronger, will miss the remainder of the regular season and playoffs due to severe post-concussion symptoms.

(Photo credit: Paul Bereswill / Getty Images)

It’s just another hard dose of adversity for the Eastern Conference-leaders, especially for their beleaguered blueline.

Already missing Erik Gustafsson (wrist surgery) and Andreas Lilja (high ankle sprain) for several weeks, Peter Laviolette has had to juggle defensive pairings for some time. The big four of Matt Carle (Pronger’s usual defensive partner), Kimmo Timonen, Braydon Coburn, and Andrej Meszaros have been eating up a ton of minutes, with AHL call ups Marc-Andre Bourdon and Kevin Marshall also seeing time.

Philadelphia’s injury predicament is becoming more worrisome with each passing game, and concussions are at the top of the list. In addition to Pronger, Claude Giroux, the NHL’s leading scorer, and youngster Brayden Schenn, acquired from Los Angeles in the Mike Richards deal, remain out indefinitely with head injuries.

While only time will tell how these players fare in hopes of a return, the question for now becomes what will Paul Holmgren do now that Pronger is officially done until at least next fall, if he is able to return at all.

The Flyers are buying their GM some extra time because they simply refuse to lose. Even with all of their injury woes, the team defeated the Montreal Canadiens, 4-3 at Bell Centre last night, running their current winning streak to seven games. This is a huge development, because there is no reason for Holmgren to get sucked into making any type of a panic move.

There’s no doubt that the excellent results in recent games are helping in the club’s decision-making process as to exactly what to do with their next move. With both Gustafsson and Lilja set to return sometime early in the New Year, and Matt Walker another option as a healthy body, Philadelphia could make do with their current roster.

Burning The Candle At Both Ends

The exhorbitant amount of ice time being logged by the big four has to eventually become a concern for team management.

• Timonen played a game-high 26:36 last night, with 8:03 of that time on ice in shorthanded situations. The other three ranged from 22:53 (Meszaros) to 24:21 (Coburn). Conversely, Bourdon was on for 10:48, and Marshall just 4:42.
• Tuesday night in Washington, Carle logged a game-high 25:27, while the three played between 21:39 (Meszaros), and 23:14 (Coburn). Carle’s TOI in the first period alone that night was 10:13, or better than half the frame. Lucky for the Flyers that they had a big lead and were able to give Bourdon (16:29) and Marshall (10:17) more minutes when the outcome was no longer in doubt, allowing the fab four to rest down the stretch.
• Carle also played 26:27 last Thursday at home against Pittsburgh, and 27:44 the previous night in Buffalo. Coburn also churned out a gruelling 25:48 against the Sabres that night.
• Coburn logged 28:03 against the New York Rangers at MSG in late-November. Timonen saw 24:28, and Carle had the least amount of TOI at 22:14.

That’s a ton of ice time for all four, especially Timonen, who is constantly banged up. The physical pounding is definitely taking a toll, and Philly will need the soon to be 37-year-old Finn to be fresh when the postseason commences if they want to have any kind of shot at a deep run.

Looking at the numbers Laviolette seems to be, for the most part, rotating the member of the group that will log the most ice time, thereby avoiding a complete burn out of any one defenseman.

So far, it’s working pretty well, but the long-term affects could prove costly down the road.

(Photo credit: Photo by Jim McIsaac / Getty Images North America)

Other Possibilities At Home

Gustafsson’s return should help to lighten the load somewhat, and will signal Marshall’s departure to Adirondack. Bourdon has been solid since his recall from the Phantoms, but his ice time ranges anywhere from 10-16 minutes, dependant upon how close of a contest the Flyers find themselves. Lilja was just starting to become more reliable when he was hurt, so Bourdon may stick around a bit when both Gustafsson and Lilja are back. Just in case.

Walker remains an enigma in Philadelphia. Having to bring him back through re-entry waivers and taking the risk of another club claiming him and leaving the Flyers footing $875,000 (pro-rated) of his contract, it’s strange that he hasn’t dressed for a game since clearing.

Oskars Bartulis played well when he got into the lineup last season before a shoulder injury, and looked to be in the team’s plan for this year. But after being sent to Adirondack before the end of training camp, the 24-year-old native of Latvia would have to clear re-entry waivers. With the probability of another club claiming him, Bartulis will almost certainly be relegated to the Phantoms all year long.

Who Will Holmgren Consider in Trade?

If Holmgren decides to go the trade route, let the Shea Weber-to-the-Flyers rumors begin. Having won an unprecedented $7.5 million arbitration award this past summer and set to become a restricted free agent at season’s end, Nashville may not be able to afford their captain and he may end up on the trading block.

He’s one of the most complete defenders in the entire League, and would most certainly attract interest from Philadelphia – especially with the uncertainty of Pronger’s situation. He’s a right-handed shot, something (other than Walker) the Flyers’ defense does not possess at this time. Weber also plays a physical game, and brings a booming, heavy shot that would aid the power play.

In other words, he could be the perfect fit.

While fitting his contract within the club’s salary cap limit this season may be within the realm of possibility (depending on who goes the other way), his asking price moving forward will likely be the killing point for the Flyers. With what will end up being Nashville’s asking price — young players off the current roster as a starter, no doubt — and the likelihood that he could end up being a rental player, Weber isn’t a probable candidate. But you can still prepare yourself for the barrage of never-ending rumors sure to be attached to this storyline.

(Photo credit: Frederick Breedon / Getty Images North America)

Another Predator’s blueliner could be a possibility. Ryan Suter stands to become an unrestricted free agent next summer, and if GM David Poile decides to make sure Weber stays, he likely will not have enough money left to sign Suter.

That’s not to say that the Preds are at the cap ceiling, because they’re not even close. At $48.6 million — or just above the mandatory $48.3 million cap floor – Nashville owns the lowest payroll in the NHL. Their restrictions are related to the club’s budget, and Suter is in the last year of a $3.5 million deal.  He will be expecting a hefty raise and with the recent contract inked to keep goaltender Pekka Rinne from testing free agency (his current $3.4 million deal becomes a $7 million salary next year), Suter will probably be dealt prior to the trade deadline.

Stop Gaps

Both Weber and Suter are more on the high-end of the line of defenders, and another of Holmgren’s options would be to get a stop gap guy — likely a veteran presence, a la Sean O’Donnell last season — to be able to log a decent amount of ice time.

Teams that are falling well below the eighth spot in each conference may well be looking to deal a blueliner at some point. Depending on how Ottawa fares over the next two months, Sergei Gonchar (signed through next year at $5.5 million annually) may be available. Many remember how effective he was playing with a group of offensive players in Pittsburgh — especially on the power play – but he also has a tremendous amount of downside. He will turn 38 years old by the time the playoffs begin, has a gigantic contract, and has missed a significant amount of games over the last four years due to his body breaking down. Holmgren would be wise to stay away from Gonchar.

The same rings true for Tampa Bay (Brett Clark — $1.5 million, UFA after this year), Carolina (Jaroslav Spacek — $3.833 million, UFA after this year), Calgary (Scott Hannan — $1 million, UFA after this year), and Anaheim (Toni Lydman — signed through next year at $3 million annually). All may be looking to make changes in the next couple of months, and Holmgren could end up finding a trade partner.

Of this group, only Hannan should be a consideration. He is strictly a defensive defenseman, but he blocks a lot of shots and would help in shutdown situations.

Built More For the Longer Haul

The Flyers would be wise to proceed as if they know Pronger will not return at all, and pick up a defender who will not only be around the rest of this season and next, but for the next several years, as well — especially considering Carle is scheduled to become an UFA next summer, with Timonen’s contract expiring the following year.

Some players of interest that may become available if their respective teams fall out of the playoff hunt:

• Marc-Andre Bergeron (TB — signed through next year at $1 million annually) is a smaller option but is decent in the defensive end, and has a heavy point shot that would help take away the sting of Pronger’s absence on the power play.
• Travis Hamonic (NYI — signed through next year to entry level deal at $875,000 annually) is just 21 years old and plays a robust style of game. He plays the PP, hits, and gets involved physically. He racked up over 100 PIMs as a rookie last year and after a slow start this season, has been playing better of late. With his age and potential, Hamonic probably won’t be available, but this is the Islanders we’re taling about. Anything is possible.
• Milan Jurcina (NYI — $1.6 million, UFA after this year) is an interesting case. Though he didn’t find a home in Boston or Washington and is on a sometimes very bad New York club, the 28-year-old could be attractive to Holmgren. He has great size (6′ 4″, 253 pounds) and tools to excel in the League. His motivation is often in question, but much the same was said about another native of Slovakia currently on the Flyers’ roster — Meszaros — and he’s working out pretty well right now.

Bergeron and Jurcina would come much cheaper than the Weber and Suter options. Hamonic would, also, but would cost Holmgren at least a young roster player.

There is no reason to say anything will actually happen in the trade arena in Philadelphia, at least not for the time being. The team continues to win, so there is nothing even close to an air of panic within the Flyers’ organization.

Over the next couple of seasons, there is the possibility that a Brandon Manning or Colin Suellentrop or another prosepect in the system will be ready to make the big club.

It never hurts to plan ahead. So maybe the best course of action at the moment would be to not count on Pronger coming back at all, and maybe make a couple of deals for the future, as long as the young assets and current team chemistry are not compromised.

If Pronger does eventually come back next season, it would just be icing on the cake.

If you have any comments or questions, you can email the author at dstrehle@nhlhotstove.com.  You can also follow him on Twitter – @David_Strehle