Saturday NHL Morning Papers (Western Conference)

(hat tip to the boys of Illegal Curve. Thanks to their amazing class and their blessing to take over this feature here at NHL Hot Stove. We hope you enjoy the latest daily series.)

Central

• The Blackhawks believe this upcoming road trip will test their mettle.  Fifteen days in a row on the road, including a game in San Jose directly followed by a game in Carolina.  ”You don’t face that type of traveling, or that type of game at all,” coach Joel Quenneville said. “That’s the thing that really jumped out.”
• Coach Ken Hitchcock no longer speaks to youngsters Derick Brassard and Jacub Voracek on a daily basis, that responsibility now rests on assistant coach Gary Agnew.  ”We are trying to fast-track both of them without overwhelming them,” Hitchcock said. “Sometimes, dealing with an assistant coach can feel less intimidating.”  Maybe they just got Hitchocked..
• Chris McCosky of The Detroit News thinks the Blackhawks now play more of Detroit’s puck possesion style than they do.  In other news, when the team receives a powerplay opportunity, it’s Miller time.
• Patric Hornqvist and Dan Ellis lead the Predators to a 1-0 victory last night over the Calgary Flames.  “They’ve given me lots of chances here,” Hornqvist said. “You have to take the opportunities that they give you.”  The young Swede potted six game winning goals to go along with his optimistic attitude.
• No player on the Blues projects to score 30 goals.  In fact, three out of the last five seasons the team did not carry a 30 goal scorer.  This year Andy McDonald projects for 28 goals, leading the team.

Northwest

• With their 1-0 loss at the hands of the Predators, the Flames immediately need help on the offensive side of the puck.  “We had enough chances to put the puck in,’’ sighed Olli Jokinen. The team simply contains a committee of grinders who aside from Jarome Iginla lack that game-breaking difference.
• Adrian Dater of The Denver Post describes the record-breaking season of Martin Brodeur, whom he refers to as ageless.
• Despite riding the shuttle between Springfield and Edmonton consistently this season, Devan Dubnyk relishes the opportunity to play in the NHL.  ”I’d be lying if I didn’t say all that travel wasn’t tough physically. It usually takes a day or two after to recover. But I’m willing to do anything they want me to do to be here,” said the 23-year-old Oilers goaltender.
• Agent Allan Walsh seems determined to get client Petr Sykora back on the ice.  The lauded agent villified the Wild over Twitter, stating coach Todd Richards is “treating Sykora with less respect than a rookie.”  Michael Russo of The Star Tribune covers the full story.
• Thanks to “a magic physiotherapist” Pavol Demitra should return to the lineup tonight.

Pacific

• Curtis Zupke of the OC Register reports Saku Koivu will miss two-to-six weeks with a sprained knee.  This injury comes on the heels of the one to Teemu Selanne only two days ago.
• Every night the defensive pairings change in Dallas.  Despite the young talent the team holds on the blue line, they still cannot seem to find the right mix of players, doling out different minutes on any given night.  ”Sometimes that’s just special teams and how a game flows,” said assistant coach Charlie Huddy.
• In light of Bobby Ryan delivering a questionable hit on Oscar Moeller, coach Andy Murray does not think Ryan should be suspended.  ”The only rule change that you would make in that is taking out the instigator rule and let the players police it,” Murray said.  The Los Angeles head coach maintains a very old fashioned view on our recent head shot crisis.
• The Coyotes need more offensive production from captain Shane Doan.  Not sure how head coach Dave Tippett expects to get that out of him, as he lines up with Daniel Winnik and Vernon Fiddler.  ”We need more from everybody,” Tippett said. ” . . . It’s easy to say you need more from him, but then you go next guy down the seat, you need more from him and him and him . . . never enough.”
• The shuttle between the San Jose Sharks and Worchester Sharks lasts a combined eight and a half hours.  Still, young players do not mind the opportunity as it means playing for one of the best teams in hockey.  ”When you get sent down, you can’t take it as a negative,” defenseman Derek Joslin said.

Alexander Monaghan
NHLHS Founder
amonaghan@nhlhotstove.com
Twitter: @NHLHotStove