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

Another deal in the NHL not too long before publication today. This one sees the Ottawa Senators - in one of the classiest moves ever - trading Mike Fisher to the Nashville Predators in exchange for a 2011 first rounder and a conditional pick in 2012. Fisher, as you can't help but know, is married to country singing star Carrie Underwood. A trade to Nashville is just too cool.

Freeing up cap space and contributing to the rebuilding process is the bonus on the Ottawa side, which will - make no doubt - miss Fisher's presence on the ice.

The Preds' lines from last night's game, as noted in the Live NHL recap, were Steve Sullivan - David Legwand - Patric Hornqvist/ Sergei Kostitsyn - Marcel Goc - Martin Erat/ Matt Halischuk - Nick Spaling - J.P. Dumont/ Colin Wilson - Jerred Smithson - Joel Ward.

Fisher is now easily the best centre on the team, which should mean he'll have Hornqvist on his wing most of the time. The LW slot may be in flux until a good fit is found, but Fisher should see as much ice time as he can handle and he'll absolutely help the Preds. This should be an upgrade for Fisher's fantasy value. How quickly he'll mesh with his new linemates remains to be seen, but Fisher's a pretty adaptable player.

“We were seeking a top-six forward and Mike Fisher was the player we set our sights on,” GM David Poile said in the team's press release. “He plays playoff-style hockey all season long. He plays on the power play, kills penalties, is strong on draws and can match up against any opposing line.”

He added, “Mike’s playoff experience will be invaluable to our team and he immediately makes our team stronger and deeper,” Poile said.

The Toronto Star says that Clarke MacArthur has a new job. Actually, it’s an old job, one he had with the Medicine Hat Tigers in the Western Hockey League.

The job? Feed one-timers to new/old linemate Joffrey Lupul.

“He was the man back then in Medicine Hat, our top guy,” said MacArthur. “He’s got a great shot, and has a real knack for finding open ice and getting open for that big shot.

“We played the power play together a lot. My sole job was to load him up for one timer. It’s something we’re going to look for.”

Lupul had 41 goals and 78 points in 50 games in 2002-03, the only year he played with MacArthur. MacArthur had 23 goals and 50 assists in 70 games that year.

The Leafs will roll with Nikolai Kulemin - Mikhail Grabovski - Phil Kessel/ Clarke MacArthur - Tyler Bozak - Joffrey Lupul.

The Star article notes that moving MacArthur off Grabovski’s line was, in fact, part of the strategy once GM Brian Burke told Wilson he might be able to add Lupul.

“We started to see this deal coming down and was able to make some adjustments to our lines in anticipation of this happening,” said Wilson. “I think for the beginning you might as well play a guy who’s at least familiar with a guy.”

I retweeted this last night, but in case you're still not on Twitter (come on... if I'm on it, it's long overdue for you to get on it to get the timely updates) this is what Lupul tweeted last night right before I knocked off for the evening after the Anaheim/ Vancouver game:

Mcarthur txt me saying "I'm gonna feed u so many one-timers ur gonna need off-season shoulder surgery". Hillarious. I'm excited.

“It was getting into an outnumbered situation,’’ Bruins goaltender Tim Thomas, called to duty when Carey Price left his crease to join the jostling in one of numerous melees in last night's tilt, told The Boston Globe. “That’s what I was thinking when I was getting down there. He was more than willing to fight. I had this big old plan. I was going to grab his right, then I was going to throw lefts, because I know he’s bigger and taller than me and has the reach on me. I thought I could do a better job of throwing lefts than him. When we went to grab, he got a good hold of my right arm and I got nothing. So then I was like, ‘Now what do I do?’ He’s got a big right cocked and ready to come.’’

The Edmonton Journal has a good piece on Dustin Penner and Ales Hemsky today. Neither one of them has any interest in leaving Edmonton, although they both realize it's a possibility.

This odd couple is an interesting study because they were lumped together years ago by Oilers management. Seen as franchise foundation pieces, they are also $4-million cap hits whose contracts expire at the same time, after next season. For reasons of rebuild and contract, then they are lumped together by fans and media as tradable assets, or at the very least conversation starters for GM Steve Tambellini whenever he is on the phone with one of his NHL compatriots.

Coincidentally, Tambellini said Wednesday he isn't dying to deal anybody by the Feb. 28 trade deadline, but he will listen to every offer that makes sense within the framework of that rebuild. That said, if a rival GM pitches prospects and/or picks for Penner, 28, or Hemsky, 27, that should get Tambellini's attention.

So it's entirely possible that one of Penner or Hemsky will be traded before next season. It is just as likely that neither will go anywhere until the 2012 trade deadline, when both would be on the verge of becoming unrestricted free agents and would cost less to obtain. And yes, there is a third option, that both remain Oilers either by signing extensions or new deals after playing out their current pacts.

The Journal believes that for several reasons, including the fact we don't know what the Oilers are thinking, what is being offered by potential suitors or exactly what kind of cash it would take to re-sign either player long-term, the trade talk builds in intensity. The volume has grown to such a level that Hemsky admitted Wednesday he finally thinks a move is a real possibility in this, his eighth season as an Oiler. It would come at an inopportune time for either of them, given what they think of the rebuild.

"Obviously the culture has changed here," said Penner, in his fourth Oilers season. "We have a great group of young forwards, young players, and we are, I'd like to say, an up-and-coming team."

Hemsky approves of management's tactics and the results. "I think they did a lot and they are on right track. I'm really happy with what they did and everything that happens here and what is going on here. I have nothing bad to say about that."

Both fit inside the Oilers' top six forwards now and would again next season, even after the potential addition of another No. 1 draft pick. But neither will take their current roster status for granted given the team's long-term plans to build a contender.

Penner: "I understand they have decisions to make and my value might be higher than it has been in the past. Depending on what they can get in return or the conversations we have will (impact) on how they act, I guess."

And Hemsky: "It's a business. If they want to trade me or they want to make it better or something like that, they want to change something, they will do it. In the end, it's no hard feelings."

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette indicates that Penguins star centre Sidney Crosby today said he couldn't rule out being out for the rest of the season because of his concussion, but he hopes to return before that becomes the case.

"You know what? That could happen," Crosby said of missing the rest of the season. "But am I sitting here packing it in? No. I hope I'm back and, geez, I hope I play this year.

"But that's the thing with these things. You don't know. There's no time frame. I'm expecting to play this year. I'm sure there's a thousand different things being said out there, and [him being out for the season] is one of them, but I expect to be playing."

Crosby, who has been out since Jan. 6 and was the NHL's leading scorer at that time, just returned from a vacation in a warm location with his parents. He said the trip was on doctor's orders.

"It's not the easiest thing to come in every day hoping to do something," he said. "It's great that everyone asks how you're doing, but I think it's just a constant reminder that you're not playing, that you're injured. Sometimes it's just kind of good to get away from that a bit."

The article notes that Crosby said he continues to get better but is not recovered.

"It's just slow," he said. "That's the tough part. The progression is improving, but it's at a slower rate than I'd want it to be. But it's out of control.

"You just hope that [things will get back to normal] with time, and the quicker, the better. There's no timetable whatsoever. It's impossible to gauge or really put a number of days or a timetable on it."

Also in the Post-Gazette: Penguins All-Star centre Evegni Malkin underwent what coach Dan Bylsma termed "successful surgery" today.

The procedure, performed by team physicial Charles Burke, was to repair torn anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments in his right knee. He is expected to need six months' recovery time.

Malkin was injured Friday in a collision with Buffalo defenseman Tyler Myers.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that the Thrashers may be close to getting All-Star Tobias Enstrom back. The defenceman was a full participant in Wednesday’s practice. Although he did not take full shots, he was stickhandling and passing despite the broken finger on his right hand.

“There were not high hard slappers but he’s getting darn close,” coach Craig Ramsay said. “I don’t know exactly, but he’s getting close. Today was a test to be involved in it.”

Enstrom has missed the past six games.

The AJC also notes that the pace of the Thrashers has been improving lately. One of the beneficiaries of the return to the up-tempo pace has been Zach Bogosian, according to Ramsay. The defenceman was the subject of trade rumours Tuesday. Reports even said his relationship with associate coach John Torchetti was strained.

Bogosian said Wednesday he did not know where such reports came from.

Ramsay did acknowledge “misunderstandings” between player and coach but said any issues have been resolved.

“When Zach goes, he’s effective,” Ramsay said. “He can be a problem for the opposition. Does that lead to some errors? Yes it does. It will. The coaches’ job, sometimes, is to just suck it up and shut up. It’s difficult because sometimes I like talking too much. Sometimes you have to say ‘It’s OK. Just go.’ Yes then gently a day later you will go over it. … I don’t think that John is mean to him. I don’t think he’s overly vocal to him. I think John is just trying to do what’s best for Zach and for everyone. I trust John to pass on the appropriate information in the appropriate way. I think misunderstandings occurred. They have been dealt with and I see nothing but good things.

“Zach didn’t quite understand all of the coaching things that were going on. It wasn’t just Zach but it suddenly came up. Zach wants to be a good player. I think Zach has stepped up. All I think about is the last two games and I think he’s been pretty good. He’s been effective. In Toronto, I think especially so. He skated up for pucks. He skated back for pucks. He shot from the point. He made a great pass on one goal. I see nothing but good things for Zach.”

He continued.

“My thoughts are pretty simple,” Ramsay said. “The last game was Toronto and Zach was busier than he’s been, probably all year. He skated with the puck. He took some shots. He got a couple of points. He was as effective as he’s been all season. I like that. There were times in the Carolina game when he looked like a difference maker. He showed the speed. He wanted the puck. We heard him yell for it. My focus is pretty short anyway, but the last two games I’ve been very pleased with Zach. I think he understands, I hope he understands, I believe he understands that we are only here to make him better. That’s our only thought. We don’t show him mistakes because we want him to be a bad player. We want him to understand how small the differences can be that will prevent those errors and will allow him to have some fun.

“Today in our last [practice] drill, it’s a continuous scoring drill, I said beforehand that I want the guy that hits the line to go and shoot. He grabbed the puck and I said to the defence if [the forwards] are not passing it to you, carry it all the way up yourself. He did. He carried it all the way up. He took a slapper. It was hard at the goalie and he skated by and said ‘Like that?’ I like that. I like that a lot.”

The Buffalo News observes that the Sabres suddenly have a nice little race going.

No, not their playoff chase, though that has finally moved into a place worthy of discussion. Instead, the Sabres are experiencing a goal-scoring race. Normally the exclusive domain of Thomas Vanek, who has led the team in goals each of the previous four seasons, the team leader board now has two names.

Vanek is on top with 21 goals after scoring twice Tuesday in Tampa Bay. Drew Stafford is right behind at 20, courtesy of his third hat trick of the season during the 7-4 victory over the Lightning.

If they continue to push each other, they could push the Sabres into the playoffs. Buffalo is just four points behind eighth-place Carolina with two games (and four possible points) in hand heading into tonight's game against at Florida.

"Obviously, I'm paid to contribute offensively, so anytime I can help the team win it's a good feeling," said Vanek, who is pleased to see another player pouring pucks into the net. "Sure it's good. It's a team sport. Some nights, one guy can make the difference, but over the season we're going to need scoring from more than one, and Drew's done a great job."

Over the last eight weeks, no one in Blue and Gold has done a better job than Stafford and Vanek. Stafford has 16 goals in his past 20 games, while Vanek has eight goals and 22 points in his past 15.

The News points out that the Sabres were 25th in the NHL at 2.46 goals per game Dec. 19. They have 13 goals in the past two outings, which has helped them vault to 10th in the league at 2.85 goals per game.

"I like the fact that we have more players that are getting on the offensive side of it," coach Lindy Ruff said. "Slowly, our offensive game has come along. Early in the season when we talked about missed opportunities, those types of opportunities are going in, which is at an important time for us. To have a guy like Staff heating up, we said when we got him back it should give us an offensive boost, and he has."

Stafford has reached the 20-goal mark in just 34 games. He's missed 18 with injuries. He's on pace for 38 goals if he can stay healthy during the final 30 games. Vanek is on pace for 33.

"I'm not looking ahead or trying to keep track of different stats," Stafford said. "I'm just trying to keep it going, trying to stay consistent with the production side of things and just making sure I'm trying to do all the things I'm supposed to do as far as getting pucks to the net, winning battles. All the points and goals will take care of themselves."

Vanek's logic for the pair's scoring surge is so simple it's mind-boggling.

"Sometimes it just goes in," he said. "Really, that's the only thing."

The Chicago Tribune notes that Jack Skille was preparing to put on his uniform to hit the ice for warmups prior the Blackhawks' game against the Oilers on Wednesday night when he was summoned into an office at Rexall Place.

The winger was told he had been traded to the Florida Panthers along with two minor-leaguers in exchange for forward Michael Frolik and goaltending prospect Alexander Salak. Skille then went into the Hawks dressing room to say his goodbyes to his former teammates.

"It was sad," Skille said. "It's a great, great, tight-knit group of guys in Chicago."

Following the Hawks' 4-1 victory, the team reacted to the trade.

"It's definitely sad to see Jack go," said winger Patrick Kane, who had two goals in the win. "He was really good in the locker room, a lot of guys liked him here. He was someone I got pretty close to over the past couple of months. Hopefully, it's better for the team and works out."

Added defenseman Duncan Keith: "That's hockey for you. "It's always sad to see a teammate go. I've known Jack for a long time. He's been with the organiation for a while. He's a good guy, a good teammate and I wish him nothing but the best in Florida."

The Tribune points out that goaltender Corey Crawford not only played with Skille on the Hawks, but the pair were teammates with the team's minor-league affiliate in Rockford for a number of seasons.

"I played with him for a while in the minors and here this year," Crawford said. "He's a good guy and it's always tough to see those guys leave."

Skille, who was the Hawks' top pick (seventh overall) in the 2005 entry draft, never lived up to the expectations of such a high selection. He played primarily on the fourth line this season, a role with which he learned to live.

"That was my role in Chicago," Skille said. "I don't personally feel like I'm a fourth-line guy but ... I had to be a team player and make sure I played that role to a T. I think part of me sitting out of the lineup sometimes is because I was struggling at that role and wasn't able to play consistent. Right now, it's a matter of seeing what the Panthers see in me and what role they want me to play and hopefully I can fit in well."

The Miami Herald relays that the Florida Panthers sent streaky winger Michael Frolk to Chicago on Wednesday, getting RW Jack Skille, RW Hugh Jessiman and C David Pacan back.

Florida also threw in goalie Alexander Salak (loaned to Sweden).

''We need more physical players up front,'' assistant GM Mike Santos said. ''Skille is hard to play against.''

Frolik hasn't scored a goal since December but was a 20-plus goal scorer in each of his first two seasons with the Panthers.

Skille is expected to be in the lineup Thursday against the Sabres.

''This is a character guy Dale [Tallon] knows very well,'' Santos said.

When asked if this was the start of the Panthers fire sale, Santos laughed.

''We just got three guys for two,'' he said. ''I would say we're buying.''

At least partly lost in the shuffle of this Florida/ Chicago trade is the guy who may just be the one everyone remembers from this deal several years down the road: Alexander Salak.

The 24-year old, IMO, has a legit shot to become the starter for the Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks at some point. He was stuck in a Florida system loaded with goaltending, which is one reason why he's in the Swedish Elite League this year... where's he's absolutely tearing it up.

In deeper keeper leagues with farm systems, like mine, his value just increased by quite a bit. The funny thing is that he was dropped from one owner's farm team in mid-November and I had the No. 2 claim. Unfortunately, the guy with the No. 1 pick did his homework and decided to use it on Salak.

Oh well. At least I have the No. 1 pick now. Someone drop somebody good, ok?

"It's absolutely unacceptable to compete like we did," Wings coach Mike Babcock told The Detroit Free Press after the Wings fell behind, 2-0, in the first period, 4-0, in the second. They lost to Nashville 4-1. Wednesday night. "You're not going to be successful in anything, any walk of life, working (like that). Beyond ridiculous!

"Obviously, we've got tons of work to do. I thought we were coming out of what we're in, but obviously we're not. So, we'll have to get to work in practice tomorrow."

Babcock hinted that today's practice could be a tough one.

"We're not going to work in games? You can bet we'll work in practice," Babcock said. "We're going to get some work ethic back, because there's no way we're going to have 22,000 people watching us play like that. That's absolutely unacceptable."

Fire & Ice reports today that while Martin Brodeur is recovering from a sprained right knee (still DTD), Johan Hedberg will be Jacques Lemaire’s man in net.

Lemaire said this morning that he has no plans right now to start Mike McKenna, who was called up Tuesday from Albany. So, Hedberg will start tonight in Toronto and, barring something unforeseen, Friday night against San Jose as well.

“I’m going to go with Heddy,” Lemaire said. “Hopefully, he’ll be good every game, but I won’t start to switch. It’s hard to get a goalie that will get in a run. If he does, I won’t change. I won’t try to get two (going) either. I’m just going to ride him and see how he’s going to do.”

Philly.com writes that exactly one year ago, Andreas Nodl was toiling in anonymity with the AHL's Adirondack Phantoms in the small town of Glens Falls, N.Y. Nodl had made his mark under John Stevens, appearing in 43 games with the former Flyers head coach.

Under Peter Laviolette, Nodl, 23, had lasted just five games, averaging less than 8 minutes per game in ice time, before being sent back to Adirondack. He was unsure what Laviolette had in store for him.

"It was pretty tough," Nodl recalled. "You're not that familiar with the guys. You're up and down a lot. You're not as comfortable around the locker room, you're nervous."

Today, Nodl is firmly entrenched on what many call the Flyers' top line, parked next to captain Mike Richards on the right wing. Despite missing four games as a healthy scratch - and two games with an injury since - Nodl has earned his way onto Laviolette's lineup card the hard way.

"I feel good out there," Nodl said. "I'm comfortable. I know exactly what my role is - to bring energy, get in on the forecheck, be solid defensively and hopefully start scoring more goals again.

"It's nice knowing that you actually belong on this team. Being up and down over the last couple years, it means a lot to have finally made that step."

The article points out that Nodl started the season on fire, collecting 10 points in his first 14 games, including six goals. Posting a double-digit goal total - after netting just one in his first 50 NHL games - seemed like a formality. Nodl is still hanging on with nine goals. He has just eight points in the last 27 games.

For most players, that would catch the eye of the coach. While Laviolette has noticed, Nodl has kept his same spot in the lineup because that's not his only role. He plays with Richards to help shut down the NHL's top lines on a nightly basis.

And it hasn't affected Richards' point totals, as he is on pace to near a career high.

"[Nodl] hasn't gotten the production that he's looking for, or that we're looking for, because we know he's a skilled guy and can put the puck in the net," Laviolette said. "But his work ethic and his play in hard areas has been very good. Some guys, when they stop scoring, they stop going in those hard areas and stop working hard. He just needs to keep working."