Chris Nichols

­Chris Nichols is Sportsnet.ca's fantasy hockey writer.

@Nichols_NHLPool on Twitter for timely NHL & poolie info, along with occasionally snarky comments.

Live blogging nightly: line combos, defensive pairings, analysis, statistical trends and more from every game on the NHL docket. Refresh the 'Live NHL Recap' page while the games are on to get new info as it is added.

Send in a brief fantasy hockey question, including all relevant league info, and it may be included in a future Hockey Hearsay blog during the week. One per person, please. Send it via Twitter for a possible response in the blog, or send via email (include your first name and hometown to represent!) if you'd prefer. chris.nichols@sportsnet.rogers.com

Both situations continue to be fluid and stay tuned to my Twitter feed for anything fresh, but here's the latest fantasy take on both Peter Forsberg and Evgeny Nabokov.

Take this with a truckload of salt, but it really seems like we'll see Forsberg back in NHL action in February. Truly. Mock the injury history all you want, but we're talking about a guy who stands an excellent chance of being a point-per-game threat (and probably much better) in however many games he plays. Not only that, but he contributes in virtually every category across the board for standard league owners. Guys like this just aren't available for free on the fantasy waiver wire and he can be an actual difference-maker. Unlike a typical treat-of-the-week FA add that you'd have to watch judiciously and would yank from your line-up after a few weak results, Forsberg is virtually guaranteed to stick in your line-up for every game he plays. And if he plays, he'll deliver.

There are more details in the next section, but it really seems like he's way ahead of where he was health-wise when he last played in the NHL. Good stuff. The truly exciting part of all of this is that he's apparently considering playing all of next year too, which is going to raise some really interesting keeper scenarios for the Q&A this summer.

In terms of Nabokov, it's just a wait and see thing. With a short week thanks to the All-Star break, it seems worthwhile to keep him stashed on your bench for now regardless of your league's format and we'll see how this situation plays out. While I'm not particularly thrilled with his fantasy prospects on Long Island, the team is generally playing better than it did earlier in the season and starts are starts in some situations. It really just depends on how desperate your goaltending situation is right now. Clearly spot-starting him with the Red Wings would be a thousand times more desirable for any poolie (hence my snarky tweet over the weekend when the Isles claimed him), but for now we're just going to have to wait and see what happens.

The main thing to consider with Nabokov, in my mind, relates to his potential keeper league value moving into next season. I'd much rather have him playing the rest of this season - even with the Isles - than sitting and collecting dust and rust. So hopefully one side will blink and either Nabby will report or the Isles will set him free (If he doesn't love you, set him free. Isn't that how the saying goes?) and we can all get on with our lives.

The Denver Post writes his still-long locks dripping with perspiration, Peter Forsberg seemed mostly pleased with his showing at his first full practice with the Avs Sunday.

"That was a tough practice, but it was great to be out there, great to skate with the guys again," Forsberg said. "I have to admit, after skating with juniors back home, this was a little quicker. I struggled a little the first couple of drills, but I'm just excited to be out there and see how it goes. Hopefully, the guys can get a win here (tonight) and maybe have a little easier practice on Tuesday."

Avalanche coach Joe Sacco seemed more impressed than Forsberg with the former superstar's performance.

"I thought he played well and worked hard, considering the terms of the practice; it was a hard practice," Sacco said. "It looked like he had energy, and he looked well. He did a good job today."

The Post points out that Forsberg, 37, does not enjoy talking in too detailed a manner about his often-problematic right foot, so he mostly brushed off questions about how it felt, saying it was "OK today" and has "been worse."

But he did emphasize how there is little comparison between how he feels now and the last time he attempted to play, with the Avs in 2008. Sources close to Forsberg said his foot is "95 percent,"whereas three years ago it was "about 75 percent." If all goes as hoped, they said, Forsberg could return to game action after the all-star break early next month.

"I feel much better now than I did before, yes. That's a true statement," he said. "Before, my points were OK but my groins were always hurting because I wasn't in the right (skating) position. And I can't say I played well then, either. Most of the goals, you could barely see me in the highlights. Maybe in the extended version of the highlights I got in there, but I have to be better than I was back then to be able to come back this time."

The article notes that Forsberg has yet to sign a contract with the Avs, but with a payroll among the five lowest in the NHL, there is plenty of room to afford him. In 2008, he signed a prorated, one-year, $5 million deal with the Avalanche.

While it may be tempting, Forsberg is not getting ahead of himself.

"I'm going to try not to think too much before getting on the ice a few times at least," he said. "It's going to take a few practices for me to get into the tempo and everything."

Sacco said Forsberg was into the tempo better than expected for his first practice.

"Yes. I just thought he looked good out there," Sacco said.

The Post's Adrian Dater, who is North America's leading Forsbergologist, also had this quick update from today's practice, on both the Forsberg and Peter Mueller fronts:

How did Peter Forsberg look at the morning skate, you ask? Fine. Just fine. Foppa is taking a break from the media today, however, so we’ll have to wait until after tomorrow’s planned practice how he’s feeling out there. But he looked good out there I thought again, zig-zagging around the ice and making some nice passes, etc.

For the record, he will not play tonight and has yet to sign a contract.

I saw Peter Mueller walking around after practice. Still nothing really new to say on him though. Avs just issue a “there’s no further update” proclamation every time I ask about him, and he has still yet to skate with the team since September. For the record, Mueller’s hair is really long again. He seemed in a good mood, but is strictly forbidden from talking to us ink-stained wretches while he’s injured.

The Penguins have confirmed that, as first reported in Sunday's Post-Gazette, center Sidney Crosby will not participate in the NHL All-Star Game next Sunday in Raleigh because of the concussion that has prevented him from playing since Jan. 5.

The team also announced that Crosby will not travel to North Carolina for the event.

"Sidney is making progress in his recovery, but still is not completely symptom-free," general manager Ray Shero said in a prepared statement. "The Penguins organization has decided that he will not attend the NHL All-Star Weekend and instead will continue to relax and recuperate in the hopes of returning to our lineup soon."

The Post-Gazette notes that Crosby will miss his ninth consecutive game when the New York Islanders visit Consol Energy Center Tuesday night, and there is no target date for his return.

Evgeni Malkin, who has missed the past two games because of a knee injury and is not participating in today's practice, appears to be a distant longshot to go to the All-Star Game, but has not officially pulled out of it yet.

The Washington Post reports that both Alexander Semin and Matt Bradley, who have missed the last seven and 13 games with a lower body injury and broken finger, respectively, are taking part in the Capitals' morning skate at KCI but coach Bruce Boudreau said he doesn't anticipate them returning to the lineup until after the NHL's all star break.

Boudreau said the same of Tom Poti, who skated before the rest of the group, and Michal Neuvirth.

"The all star break, after that is still a week away. They might make a lot of improvement by then," Boudreau said. "I'm thinking sometime after [the all star break], whether it's right after that or a week after that they'll be back."

The Post also notes that the Capitals are playing much better and in a different place than the last time they saw the New York Rangers on Dec. 12, when they lost 7-0 in what was the ugliest point of Washington's eight-game losing streak. The Caps host the Rangers tonight.

"Low point of my life," Coach Bruce Boudreau said when asked if the loss to the Rangers was the low point of the streak. "It was not fun. I watched it again, actually for the first 18 minutes we played Ok. Once they started going in we weren't very mentally tough that game and obviously it cost us."

The Arizona Republic writes that amid the aftermath of a trade in which personal belongings are hastily packed and equipment is shipped to a new home, Lee Stempniak answered a phone call from a colleague and, more importantly, a friend.

It was three days before Thanksgiving in 2008, and Stempniak had just been dealt from the St. Louis Blues to the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The call was from Keith Tkachuk, a teammate from the Blues.

He told Stempniak to go to Toronto and show St. Louis what it would be missing. The message registered with Stempniak.

"That's something that's stuck with me," he said. "You can't take it personally; things like that happen. You certainly want to go out and prove that you're maybe a better player than they thought."

The Republic notes that Stempniak was motivated but in the end, the experiment in Toronto didn't pan out. At the trade deadline last season, he was shipped to the Coyotes. It's almost 11 months since that acquisition, and Stempniak and the Coyotes still have a beautiful relationship.

"You want to be in the situation where your teammates can count on you and coaches expect a lot from you," Stempniak said. "I think I put the most pressure on myself to be successful, so it's something I really enjoy and look forward to meeting the challenge."

Stempniak scored 14 goals in 18 regular-season games with the Coyotes last season. He became the poster boy for capitalizing on second - or rather - third chances.

"I wasn't a different player overnight," Stempniak said. "I wasn't a different player March 2 to March 3. I think it was a little bit of a different opportunity, play a different role and I was fortunate to find success early on."

That success earned him a two-year contract extension and while that's sometimes a recipe for waning production, Stempniak's contributions on the ice haven't wavered. He leads the team with 14 goals and has scored five goals in his past five games.

"When he gets opportunities, he looks like a guy who knows how to score," coach Dave Tippett said. "Sometimes those go in; sometimes they don't. Right now, he's feeling good about himself."

While we await word on Marc Savard's examination by docs today, the Boston Globe reports the following practice combos:

Milan Lucic - David Krejci - Nathan Horton/ Brad Marchand - Patrice Bergeron - Mark Recchi/ Blake Wheeler - Tyler Seguin - Michael Ryder/ Daniel Paille - Gregory Campbell - Shawn Thornton

"We played extremely hard (Saturday),'' Flames coach Brent Sutter offered The Calgary Herald as praise of him team. "Our effort was very good. You know, I can accept mistakes. Mistakes happen. Everybody makes 'em. They do. I do. You do. But outside of the Minnesota game" - a deplorable 6-0 no-show thrashing from the Wild last Wednesday - "our compete level has been a lot better lately.''

"You can live with mistakes when they're honest ones, not lazy ones.''

Michigan Live indicates that Detroit Red Wings goaltender Jimmy Howard said he was not fazed by the team’s unsuccessful attempt to acquire Evgeni Nabokov. Howard doesn’t view it as a message sent to him. And, being in the final year of his contract, he doesn’t need any extra motivation.

“It didn’t bother me one bit,’’ Howard said after Saturday’s 4-1 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks. “If I had to have someone here push me then I got serious problems. I know where I want to be, I know where I want to go as a player. It’s up to me to do that.’’

GM Ken Holland said he is not specifically seeking a goalie. But if somebody he likes is available at a reasonable price by the Feb. 28 trade deadline or through waivers, he might make a move.

Chris Osgood is expected back by mid-March, but there is no guarantee he will return or that he will be 100 percent following surgery for a sports hernia on Jan. 11.

“It’s part of the game,’’ Howard said. “Whatever Kenny and management feel is best for the team I’m sure the dressing room would have welcomed (a new goalie) with open arms. You could use anyone to help you win.’’

Michigan Live relays that in the meantime, Howard is trying to return to the form that made him a Calder Trophy finalist as NHL rookie of the year last season. He is tied for third in the league in wins (23-8-4), but his goal-against average (2.86) and save percentage (.904) are well off of last season’s level (2.26, .924).

“You got to keep a positive mind frame,’’ Howard said. “You can’t get negative, because things just snowball. Got to continue to push and work hard and things will eventually turn your way.’’

Fire & Ice believes that apparently not only can an old dog learn new tricks, he can also teach a few.

While Devils coach Jacques Lemaire was in his odd, unsatisfied mood following the team’s 5-2 win Sunday, many of his players were praising him for their turnaround—not only for changing things they did under John MacLean, but also changing his own philosophies from last season as far as getting the defencemen more involved in coming up ice and pinching in the offensive zone.

“He’s changed,” left wing Brian Rolston said of Lemaire. “It’s a different game now and I think that he changed a couple of things or more specific for him – it was always that you’ve got to be good in your defensive zone, but our support coming out of our end and having possession coming out of our end is definitely something that I think you have to give him most of the credit (for).”

Lemaire took over a team that seemed to have lost its direction under John MacLean, but didn’t simply come back and try to implement the same system that Devils played under him last season. He seemed to learn that they needed to be more aggressive and get their defencemen involved to create and sustain offensive pressure in today’s game. And simply getting the puck out of the defensive zone wasn’t enough because too often, it came right back in.

“Jacques implemented different things,” Patrik Elias said. “We’re doing it in the practices. He really preaches it. Don’t get rid of it. Don’t get rid of it. Try to move every time with the puck. Make a play. Make little plays, little passes. In the offensive zone, when you have a chance, D pinch in. The forwards have to back them up. That way it’s obvious. You don’t look like you’re not working. It looks like you work harder. In the games before that, we worked way harder than we’re working right now because we were just not in sync and not on the puck all the time. We didn’t put the puck in the right positions. And then we were always a step behind. We would never know most of the time what we want to do. Now, the guys are on top of things and it’s nice.”

The article notes that of course, now that the Devils have won four in a row and are 6-0-1 in their last seven, it’s natural to wonder what might have been if they played this way in the first half. It seems certain that they wouldn’t be 20 points behind Atlanta for eighth place in the East (with three games in hand).

“What would have happened?” Ilya Kovalchuk asked. “We would be in the playoffs and we would have played just like we did last year. But it’s everybody’s fault. You can’t point at one guy and say it’s his fault. We’re the players and we play on the ice. You never know what could have happened if things happened differently.”

“We didn’t play that way, so we don’t think about it,” Elias said. “We couldn’t play that way. We weren’t allowed to play that way.”

Weren’t allowed, Fire & Ice ponders? It’s not like the defencemen were allowed to be as aggressive last season under Lemaire last season.

We didn’t play that way,” Elias said. “The D didn’t’ pinch in, didn’t join the rush, didn’t control the puck. Every one of us, we’re controlling the puck a lot more. We’re encouraged to do that. We’re encouraged to move our legs. It’s a lot of little things that come together and we’ve been doing them and that’s the main reason lately we’ve been trying.

“And every one of us has been doing it. I think Kovy has been in the last couple of games probably playing the best defensively I’ve seen him play ever. He’s not going to do it every time, every night, but he’s getting there. He’s making the plays.”

Sergei Bobrovsky is back, according to Philly.com.

After a six-week stretch in which he won just four of 11 starts, the 22-year-old rookie goalie notched his fifth straight win Sunday as the Flyers defeated the Chicago Blackhawks, 4-1, at the United Center.

"He played very well - and not only the point-blank shots," defenceman Chris Pronger said. "He was getting back there pretty quick, and I think he's starting to pick up that part of the game and setting it up there for us defencemen. He's interacting with us. He's starting to feel more comfortable, and that's only going to improve his game."

Chicago's only goal came on a penalty shot by Marian Hossa with 13 minutes, 11 seconds left in the third period. The penalty shot was awarded when defenceman Braydon Coburn covered the puck with his glove in the crease. It was Chicago's first penalty-shot goal at home since 1987, and it prevented the Flyers from notching their first shutout of the season.

"I was disappointed, but there was so much time left, and I just had to get it out of my head and keep playing," Bobrovsky said through a Russian translator.

Oddly, the article notes, it was the second time this season - and the second time in franchise history - that the only goal scored against the Flyers was on a penalty shot. It also happened to "Bob" in a 6-1 win over the Islanders on Oct. 30.

In his last five starts, Bobrovsky has a 1.80 goals-against average and a .941 save percentage. Overall, he has a 20-6-3 record.

On Sunday, he outplayed Corey Crawford, the outstanding Chicago rookie, who took a 2.08 GAA into the game.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch points out that the year is more than three weeks old and the team has managed to beat only one opponent, defeating the Los Angeles Kings twice. The Blues are 2-6-2 overall this month, and if you want to get truly morbid they are 13-16-5 since starting the season 9-1-2. That's below .500 no matter how you slice regulation ties.

As the Blues await their date in Denver, they do so having lost five in succession to Colorado. The competition hasn't been close, with the Avs outscoring the Blues 27-11 in those games, including a 6-3 pasting on Nov. 15.

But if you look hard enough, you can find some sunshine. The Blues don't have a lot going right now, but they do have Patrik Berglund, T.J. Oshie and Vladimir Sobotka going for them, which is nice.

"I think the first game back for 'Osh,' we started to play better and better as the game went on and (against Detroit) we had a great game," Berglund, 22, said. "We're supporting each other well, we're finding each other and getting traffic to the net. We're creating some scoring chances and hopefully we can continue to do that."

The Post-Dispatch says that Berglund and Oshie always have connected, personally. They lived together for a while after both made the roster in 2008. They remain best friends and cubicle neighbors in the dressing room. Where the Blues are concerned, it was a natural fit to ease Oshie back into the saddle alongside Berglund.

The 24-year-old Oshie didn't need orientation. When he made his first start in 32 games last week, he impacted the game immediately and was named the No. 1 star at night's end.

"Being as good a friends as we are, I think that carries over into the games," Oshie said. "He's not scared to tell me something and I'm not scared to tell him something, even if it's something the other one doesn't want to hear.

"And at certain times, we know how to communicate with each other when we're not playing well, whether we're sitting in the locker room or sitting on the bench. I think that's huge to build chemistry on a line, and 'Sobie' is fitting right in. So, we're having fun out there, we're playing hard, we just need to start getting some W's. "

Bob from Japan: "Chris, Great work, love the Hearsay's, and I feel all the wiser reading your work. I've been following you for few years, asked a couple questions previously, but this is my first question this season.

I'm currently bouncing back between first and second in my 8 team daily points only league. If my goalie situation was better, would be 1st w/out question. Through trades I was able to land Thomas and Pavelec so I'm starting to reap their benefits. However, I wanted to know if you think it would be wise to drop Kiprusoff for another forward or goalie. Or, should I just bench Kiprusoff until the Flames start to pick it up.

We only play 100 games for goalies and I already used 56.Skating stats are: 2 pts for goals, 1 for assits, .5 for PPG/PPA, .5/PIMS Goalie stats are: 6 pts for win, -2 for loss, 10 for shutou, .1/save.

My lineup: C-Stamkos, Lecav, Brad Richards LW-Ovechkin, Bobby Ryan, Kostitsyn, Sharp RW- Havlat, Doan, Hejduk, Ryder, IR Semin D-Byfuglien, Liles, Fowler, Phaneuf, MacDonald G-Kiprusoff, Thomas, Pavelec Notable pickups: Rask, Backstrom (Min), Langenbrunner, Bergeron, Krejci.

Please keep up the informative work! Thanks."

Chris: Thanks, as usual, for reading Bob. With Bergeron being so hot, I'd consider adding him as your fourth centre over Ryder on the wing right away.

Tough to say in net. I firmly believe Kipper will rebound. That said, you'd be fine with Thomas and Rask (for free, ensuring every BOS start the rest of the way) along with Pavelec. You could also just use Thomas and Pavelec since you have 56 starts left, thereby freeing up an extra spot to generate offensive stats. Then when Semin comes back after the All-Star break you wouldn't have to drop Bergeron or anyone else.

I'd say try to deal Kipper, but I'm guessing his market value isn't hot right now. He's way too good to drop in virtually any circumstance, but in eight-team leagues there will be really good players on waivers when they struggle. Backstrom is apparently one in your league.

You'll really have to look closely at the standings and see if those extra offensive stats each night would make up for dropping him outright, assuming you can't make a deal by the time the All-Star break is over. It's a gamble, to be sure, but one that could actually be in your team's best interests.

And again, I'll clarify that I absolutely think Kipper is going to come back and perform like normal. But you've got to do what you've got to do.

John from Washington, DC: Hi Chris, Your advice keeps me constantly at the top of my league, though I've never won...I'm in 1st place now and have a trade proposal on the table that I'm contemplating, but would like your advice.

I'm in a head to head league that has 5 keepers per year(one goalie), the format is g, a, +/-, ppg, ppa, pim, hits, fow, shp, gwg, sog, blk. Its my Perry/Lucic/Enstrom for his Ovechkin/Hemsky/Shattenkirk. I'll lose some pims, ppg's but gain hits, sogs and hopefully assists when Hemsky comes back. Plus keeping Ov, what do you think?

The rest of my skaters Carter Fisher Plekanec Boyle Brassard Clowe Semin Kovalchuk Nash Brouwer Lidstrom Goligoski Seidenberg Kaberle Lydman

Thanks!"

Chris: It's a rich price to pay Josh, but I would say take that deal immediately. The only thing that matters here is that you have a chance to get Ovechkin in any keeper format; let alone a shallow one where you can only protect five guys. Easy yes for me, despite the talent you're giving up.

Yes, it's a little daunting giving up a lot when you're in first and want that win. But if you're planning on sticking in this league for awhile then an annual base of Ovechkin, Semin, Kovalchuk Nash and a goalie is ridiculous. Perry in particular is a very valuable commodity in standard leagues, but Ovechkin is Ovechkin.

Mark in Philly: "Hi Chris, thinking about a stretch-drive move in my H2H keeper league and need your input. 12-team league, keep 8 each year, scoring cats: G,A,+/-,PIM,PPP, SHP,FW;GP,W,GAA,SV%,SHO. Sitting in 3rd place right now, comfortably in the 6-team playoff field, prepping for run at 3rd straight title. Traded for C.Giroux 2 months ago, was planning on him being a keeper at RW over Briere. But recently got an offer of St.Louis for Giroux. Thoughts on pulling the trigger? And thoughts on my keeper situation next summer? My team: C: Malkin, M.Richards, Santorelli LW: Ovechkin, T.Ruutu, Kulemin RW: Briere, C.Giroux, Clarkson D: Keith, Pronger, Boyle, Yandle, Wisniewski G: Lundqvist, Vokoun, Bobrovsky, Crawford IR: Streit, Markov Prospects: Seguin, Subban, Crawford Thanks for your input thru the years. Your daily blog is a must read for poolies -- the best, Jerry, the best!"

Chris: I'm a sucker for a Seinfeld reference. Thanks Mark. Either way, I think your team is fine here. Giroux has really followed up last year's success and will be an excellent keeper option. St. Louis likely has higher upside for the rest of this second half and given that St. Louis will be guaranteed a prominent role in TB (Giroux still has more depth to fight through), he's likely your man as you go for championship No. 3.

That said, if the deal doesn't work out you're still in excellent shape. I'd actually be tempted to deal Vokoun for an extra offensive option in this H2H format, since your other three are solid and will still make up more than enough starts to compete weekly.

And what is it with you having Streit and Markov on every team? ;-P