Chris Nichols

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

Twitter: @Nichols_NHLPool/ Email: chris.nichols@sportsnet.rogers.com

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NHL Free Agents: Western Conference

NHL Free Agents: Eastern Conference

Hall of Famer Peter Stastny was on KMOX radio in St. Louis last night. He spent years with the Quebec Nordiques before they became the Colorado Avalanche and also played for the St. Louis Blues. Both franchises were involved in that gargantuan trade last week of Chris Stewart, Kevin Shattenkirk and a second round pick from Colorado to St. Louis in exchange for Erik Johnson, a first round pick and Jay McClement.

Peter, of course, is the father of Avs' star Paul Stastny. Here are Peter's comments on the trade in that KMOX interview, courtesy of The Denver Post:

“This young team was ready to challenge, almost, for a Stanley Cup this season. They were so good. All they needed was some more chemistry, and some synergies. Instead, they destroyed the team. I mean, that was a one-way deal. Mr. Armstrong will look like a genius. I don’t know what they were thinking in the Colorado organization. I should not have said this, but I’m so, so mad what they’ve done to this team. They’ve moved the team about two to three years back again.”

Stars GM Joe Nieuwendyk told The Dallas Morning News this morning he does not expect that Brad Richards will play in a game before Monday's trade deadline.

Richard is suffering from concussion-like symptoms after getting hit in the jaw Feb. 13, and has not skated since. There are only two games before the trade deadline, and one is tomorrow at Detroit, so the statement makes a lot of sense.

``He hasn't even practiced, so we're not just going to throw him in a game,'' Nieuwendyk said. ``He has to feel good enough to work out, and then he has to feel good enough to practice, and then he has to feel good enough to get on the ice and play in a game. Those are a lot of steps, and we're not going to rush them. We want Brad to be healthy, and our first concern is him being healthy.''

Richards can become an unrestricted free agent in the summer, so the Stars do have to consider whether they should try to keep him and sign him or whether they should trade him and at least not lose him for nothing. The NHL does allow you to trade an injured player. One of the best examples was Colorado trading for Jose Theodore back in 2006 when he had an injured Achilles tendon. He played only five regular season games for the Avs and then led them to a first round upset over the Stars. So, there still is the possibility a team might have interest in Richards and might make an offer to Nieuwendyk, but the GM said he is not shopping Richards around.

``It's the same answer it has been. Our first priority is to re-sign Brad Richards to a long-term contract. That is what we would like to do,'' Nieuwendyk said. ``However, we have to be open to any possibility and we have to be open to situation that could improve our team.''

The Morning News observes that there are a lot of rumors out there and Nieuwendyk would not talk about any of them, but gets the feeling it would take a huge offer for Richards to be traded. The Stars believe they can win with this lineup and they believe they can eventually re-sign Richards if they get a new owner.

``This has been difficult, but it is what it is and we have to fight through it,'' Nieuwendyk said of a 2-10-1 slump. ``We're getting some people healthy, and I think you can see the difference that makes. Not only will a player like Jamie Benn or Adam Burish help immediately, they will probably help players like Brenden Morrow or Mike Ribeiro , or Steve Ott or Stephane Robidas or Loui Eriksson get better. You can see that players like that have been pushing very hard, and if we can get back to a little more balance, that's going to help everyone.''

Nieuwendyk said he has the ability to add another player at the trade deadline, but it would have to be the right player.

The Stars already have added Jamie Langenbrunner , Jason Williams and Alex Goligoski in the last month, so they have a lot of new bodies they are trying to adapt. That said, Nieuwendyk continues to say that they are doing their work, they are making phone calls and they are open to anything that they can afford that can make them a better team.

The Ottawa Citizen reports that the 10-minute pre-practice discussion between Ottawa Senators defenceman Chris Phillips and general manager Bryan Murray was the most intriguing development at Scotiabank Place Wednesday morning, but Phillips insists there’s nothing new in advance of Monday’s trade deadline.

Phillips says he wants to stay in Ottawa to be part of the club’s rebuilding plan, but he’s also hoping to secure a contract extension in advance of the trade deadline. If he doesn’t receive any guarantees about his future before then, he will have to decide whether to waive his no trade clause.

“I talked to Bryan (Murray) at the bench,” Phillips said. “We were just basically hanging out and we talked about a couple of things. He talked to my agent, but really, there’s nothing new that wasn’t different from before we talked.”

Phillips has heard his name in trade talks at various points throughout his career, but he says the biggest difference this time around is that he owns the clause, in control of dictating whether he stays or goes.

“Now, being more involved with having to make decisions that effect the outcome is the biggest difference,” he said. “Ultimately, I am (in control), when it comes right down to it, but it has been pretty open communication with Bryan. It’s not like we’re having a standoff and see who blinks first. We’re talking about it. Between us and them, it is a collective decision, but I guess I have the final say.”

The Citizen says that Phillips acknowledges it has been a difficult few weeks as he weighs all the possible end games.

“There are a lot of things involved. You go home and talk to your family about different options and scenarios.”

The defenceman also said that even if he doesn’t get a contract extension before Monday, it doesn’t necessarily mean he’s going to be traded.

“I don’t know what those options are going to be yet,” he said. “There are so many different scenarios, but that’s one of them, where I play out the rest of the year here with the contract that I have.”

The Vancouver Province says that Cody Hodgson couldn't get on the ice and Ryan Kesler couldn't get off of it.

If Tuesday's relatively meaningless regular-season game is any indication, you can stop any debate about who will be Vancouver's fourth-line centre in the playoffs. Because whoever it is won't be playing. At least not significantly and not with the game on the line.

In a 3-2 loss to an Eastern Conference opponent, Hodgson sat for the entire third period and so did Victor Oreskovich. Their linemate, Tanner Glass, did see the ice in the third period -for one shift.

Hodgson played just 4:39 and he spent 1:13 of it awkwardly trying to play net front on the Canucks' ill-fated second power-play unit.

"We were trying to win the game, and it doesn't matter to me how much ice time I'm playing," said Hodgson valiantly after the game, answering what had to be some difficult questions. "I'll do whatever I can whenever I'm called upon. That's the way it's going to be."

The Province suggests that he may not be called on much and it may not be the best thing right now for anyone -Hodgson or the Canucks. A week ago, the Canucks suggested they sent him back down to Manitoba to get minutes. Now, he's back and not playing.

On the other end of the spectrum, seeing Kesler's ice time -26:32 -was as odd and as jarring as those metal beams currently sprawling out of B.C. Place Stadium. Only Christian Ehrhoff played more. Again, Kesler was terrific even with his misleading minus 2. He went 25-4 in the faceoff circle, and had five shots on net. He showed up and was accounted for, which is more than you can say for Mason Raymond, whose scoring chances are beginning to disappear much like his goal scoring.

The disparity was most obvious on the power play, where the Canucks essentially went without a second unit Tuesday. Kesler and the Sedins played about 7: 50 on five power plays, while the second unit played roughly 1: 30.

It could be another tip to the way the Canucks plan to attack in the playoffs. And it's not necessarily a bad thing, especially if you want to win games, and the Canucks wanted to win Tuesday, even if the start didn't suggest it.

The Province believes it's hard to imagine Kesler lasting four playoff rounds if he's regularly playing more than 23 minutes. That happened twice last postseason and both games were decided in overtime.

But last year the ice time was more evenly spread out. In the deciding game to end the Canucks' season, Kyle Wellwood played more than Henrik Sedin and Kesler. We all know how that turned out.

"I want to make them regret trading Erik Johnson," Erik Johnson told The St. Louis Post-Dispatch of his former team. "There's no doubt about that, and I say that with the utmost respect in the world for them. I respect (general manager) Doug Armstrong, I respect (president) John Davidson ... everybody I met here in this city. At the end of the day, I want them to be kicking themselves for trading me. I definitely want (Armstrong) at the end of the day saying, ‘Why'd I trade Erik Johnson?'"

The Buffalo News writes that for three months, Terry Pegula was merely the mysterious guy attempting to purchase the Buffalo Sabres. Confidentiality agreements prohibited him from talking, so he was forced to remain in the background. With the sale finally complete Tuesday, he wanted everyone in Sabreland to know all about him.

He's the guy who parked on overpasses in Pittsburgh so he could hear bits and pieces of Sabres games as they faded in and out on his radio. He's the fan stuck in Texas who had a buddy in Olean put a phone to the television so he could listen to a playoff game. He's the die-hard who whisked his new wife to Montreal for their honeymoon so they could catch a postseason contest.

He's the man with an unwavering plan to bring a family atmosphere, unbridled hope and a gleaming silver chalice to Buffalo.

"Starting today," Pegula said, "the Buffalo Sabres' reason for existence will be to win a Stanley Cup."

The introduction of the Sabres' new owner was an unquestioned success in HSBC Arena. He laughed, cried and proved himself to be a Buffalo guy, albeit one with deep pockets.

"I can tell you one thing: I'm a fan," the 59-year-old said. "You won't find a bigger fan than me because I just bought a hockey team. That's a pretty big commitment as a fan. There's only 29 other fans in the country that can pull that off."

The News astutely points out that none of the previous three fans/owners of the Sabres was able to win a championship, but Pegula repeatedly said that is his only goal. Prior owners, notably outgoing boss B. Thomas Golisano, looked at the bottom line harder than the win column. Pegula, who became a billionaire with a Pennsylvania oil and natural gas exploration business, promised to spend whatever it takes to bring titles to Buffalo.

"If I want to make some money, I'll go drill a gas well. I don't need to make it in the hockey business," Pegula said. "Starting today, there will be no financial mandates on the Buffalo Sabres' hockey department. ... I'm going to make decisions based on winning the Stanley Cup and what is right for the fan base and the team.

"We will aspire to be the best in the league at finding, developing and keeping our players in their new Buffalo Sabre family."

The News also notes that Pegula made it clear two people are staying: coach Lindy Ruff and General Manager Darcy Regier. They have been with the team since 1997.

"Darcy will run a hockey department that I have previously said will have no financial mandates. We're cutting the chains off, and he's free to run with whatever he wants to do," Pegula said before turning his attention to Ruff, whose contract expires at the end of the season. "Lindy and I have talked, and pardon my French, but Lindy ain't goin' nowhere."

Said Regier: "It's a big opportunity. It's an opportunity, and I think it's one that we have to responsibly seize on."

The Chicago Tribune relays that in his role as Blackhawks captain, it often falls to Jonathan Toews to demand more from teammates when things aren't going well. Before he does so, the NHL's youngest captain first makes sure his own game is in order.

"There's not much to be said if you're not playing well yourself," said Toews, who is playing exceptionally well with three goals and 14 assists in the last 11 games for a Hawks team that has captured points in six of its last seven games.

"First and foremost, it's probably the No. 1 thing you're trying to worry about and after that you always have to be saying the right things at the right moment."

Toews' third season wearing the ''C'' on his sweater hasn't gone as smoothly as last season when the team soared to win the Stanley Cup.

"It's always more challenging when you go through some tough moments and you're losing games and you're competing for a playoff spot," Toews, 22, said. "You can make all the excuses in the world and say what's different about this team and last year's team.

"(But) we're not talking about last year. There are no easy games for us (this season), especially at this time of the year. Sometimes maybe we expect that. It's tougher as a leader especially when you're trying to spark the rest of the guys … and things aren't going your way. It definitely has been more challenging this year."

The Tribune reiterates that Toews displayed some of the fire the Hawks needed after some lackadaisical play during the first period of Monday's 5-3 victory over the Blues. The captain lit into the team at the intermission and it came out like it was shot out of a cannon to score four second-period goals.

"He's a guy who leads by example on the ice in practices and in games," said assistant coach Mike Haviland, who is running the team while Joel Quenneville recovers from a bleeding ulcer. "Guys follow right behind him. He has had to a do a lot more talking and maybe to put his arm around guys, to push guys a little bit more (and) to stand up. I don't know that he like to do it all the time but certainly I've seen that with him on the bench this year and in the locker room. It's just showing you that he's one of the best leaders in the whole game."

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette points out that there aren't many goal-scorers in the Penguins' lineup these days -- their top three in the Capitals game have combined for 33, one more than Sidney Crosby managed in 41 games before being sidelined by a concussion -- and the Penguins will be counting on newcomer James Neal to bolster that glaring weakness.

He had 21 goals in 59 games with the Stars before being traded and has averaged one every three games during his two-plus seasons in the NHL. Not Brett Hull numbers, perhaps, but enough to have a positive impact on his new club.

"He could have been the difference [Monday] night in a game in which we think we did a lot of good things, but we didn't get a puck across the goal line," Penguins coach Dan Bylsma said. "He's a guy who would fit right into the way we played that game and be able to add, I think."

Bylsma described Neal, who is 6 feet 2, 208 pounds as essentially a larger, more offensively polished, version of Chris Kunitz, who has been the Penguins' first-line left winger for most of the past two years.

"He's not a lot different that Chris Kunitz," Bylsma said. "Maybe more of a goal-scorer, a heavier shot than Chris Kunitz, a bigger guy than Chris Kunitz and maybe more of an offensive-zone presence. He can be a real force down low."

So can Jordan Staal, The Post-Gazette notes, who Bylsma plans to deploy between Neal and Tyler Kennedy.

"I could see [Neal and Staal] being a real formidable pair in the offensive zone," Bylsma said. "Two guys that are real tough to handle, and Tyler Kennedy going along with them, with his speed and work ethic and tenacity and his shot ... I'd like to see that line do some damage [tonight]."

That's hardly out of the question if Neal develops the kind of chemistry Matt Cooke has with Staal and Kennedy.

The Tampa Tribune indicates that Dwayne Roloson was brought in to be a No. 1 goaltender for the Tampa Bay Lightning and has been handed that job since he arrived here following a New Year's Day trade. Roloson's numbers of late, however, suggest that he possibly might be overworked since arriving, starting 16 of 19 games. While in his first 11 starts, Roloson introduced himself to the Lightning fan base with a 8-3 record recording four shutouts, his past five starts – all on the heels of back-to-back shutouts – the 41-year-old has lost three in regulation while allowing no fewer than three goals and twice giving up at least six.

Overall in those five games, Roloson has a 1-3-1 record with a 4.51 goals against average and a .854 save percentage. It's those kind of numbers the Lightning were hoping to erase when acquiring Roloson from the New York Islanders to shore up the goaltending.

Roloson, however, said he's not frustrated with his recent play and there is only one number he concerns himself with and that's what shows up in the team's win column.

"I don't really pay attention to numbers, it's about getting wins and that's all that matters. Obviously I'm not getting the wins and that matters to me,'' Roloson said. "I don't think you can get frustrated because then it affects your game. I think you have to focus on the things that you need to do to help your team win. If you worry about the little things then the big things will take care of themselves.''

Lightning head coach Guy Boucher told The Tribune he tries to keep an eye on Roloson's workload, but admits that can be a task because the 41-year-old goaltender rarely takes a morning skate off nor skips a workout in the gym.

"It's hard because every time I turn around, he's working out at something,'' Boucher joked. "The past few games, obviously haven't been his top game, not bad, just . . . he's made a difference in many games, he just hasn't made the difference in the last games. He's been OK, just hasn't made a difference.

But Boucher finds himself in a bit of a quandary and following practice wasn't sure who he was going to call on to play in net tonight. On one hand, getting Roloson back to the level he showed in his first eight starts is a priority. On the other hand, Ellis has played well in his past three starts posting a 2-0-1 record with a 1.84 goals against average while stopping 82-of-88 shots (.932 save percentage).

"I've just tried to work hard in practice, try to improve myself there, so whenever I do get the chance, go out there and help my squad,'' said Ellis, who has started just four times since Roloson's arrival. "I just try to stop every shot in practice, and that's how you are going to get your competitiveness up. . . . you just want to keep your enthusiasm and energy up in practice, battle and create more of a competitive situation so when you do get into games, you are ready and on task.''

The Washington Post revisits the fact that in the summer leading up to the 2010-11 season and throughout the first 61 games this year, there were rumours that the Capitals would pursue a veteran goaltender to perhaps supplant one of Washington's 22-year-old options in net, Michal Neuvirth and Semyon Varlamov.

General Manager George McPhee has routinely denied that the team would seek to acquire a goaltender, most recently stating: "No. We're sticking with these goaltenders. They're playing well and we like them a lot. They've been good for us this year. We're pleased with what they've been doing. We're confident in the goaltenders. We're not making any changes there."

After Neuvirth recorded his third shutout of the season on Monday night with 39 saves against the Penguins, coach Bruce Boudreau reiterated his support of the duo in an effort to quash the rumors once more.

"He was pretty good," Boudreau said. "He was on top of his game. With Varly allowing one goal [Sunday against Buffalo], I hope that puts to rest that we're going after a goalie."

Speaking of the Caps...

The Washington Post also says that every time the Capitals have struggled for prolonged periods this season, the topic of discussion has inevitably turned to coach Bruce Boudreau. Is his system working? Is he a bad motivator? Has he lost the team?

Brooks Laich, as he always does when needed, came to the defence of his coach. This was from The Sports Junkies during his regular radio spot this morning:

"Bruce is the head of the ship, there's no question about it," Laich said. "People -- I always defend him -- the criticism that people give him is totally unjust. He's the most prepared, most caring coach in the world, coaching the Washington Capitals right now. He is tremendous. He makes the game so easy for us to play, and people keep comparing this year's team to last year's team. They have to let that go. This isn't last year's team.

"Our focus shouldn't be on avenging last year's team's loss. Some of the players have moved in and out; we don't have the same team as we did last year. We have to focus on winning this year, with this year's team. And I think the comparisons to last year's team and the scoring [313] goals, whatever it was... that's not gonna happen every year.

"Rightfully or wrongfully, this all falls on Bruce, [people say] he's not motivating the guys, well we're professionals, paid a lot of money to play hockey. If you can't motivate yourself, you're in the wrong business. You don't need somebody telling you , 'Oh, you need to be up for this game.' We're professionals that love to do what we do. There's no problem with motivation.

"None of our struggles at all should ever fall on Bruce."

Jen in SoCal: "Hey Chris, back for more advice as we head down the stretch.

14 team H2H 1 year league, daily unlimited moves, no trades, playoffs run the final 3 weeks of the NHL regular season. Points for G, A, +/-, PiM, PPG, PPP, GWG and W, GAA, SV%, SHO. Daily roster = 2LW, 2C, 2RW, 4D, 2G, 1U plus can have 6B and 2IR. Must drop an active player to activate ZIdlicky from IR or can just drop him instead.

LW - Clowe, Neal, Pacioretty C - Sharp (also LW), Ryan (also LW), Skinner (also RW), Morrison RW - Recchi, Kessel, Stafford, Kovalchuk (also LW) D - Byfuglien (also RW), Yandle, Weber, Bergeron, Salo G - Bryzgalov, Rinne, Pavelec IR - ZIdlicky, Streit

I see my potential droppables (and possible FA replacements) as Pacioretty, Morrison (Oshie/Ott), Recchi/Stafford (Hudler/Erat/Parenteau), Salo/Zidlicky (Hamonic) and Pavelec (Emery). What are your thoughts? Many thanks."

Chris: Hey Jen, always nice to hear from you. Since you don't want too many D, I could see dropping Salo to move Zidlicky in. Hamonic is soooo tempting though. His PIM contributions along with the latest points have been awesome. Depending on your schedule lays out, I'd be at least partly interested in seeing you use Hamonic over someone like Pacioretty.

If you don't want so many D, I think it's either a choice of going for PIM with Hamonic and hoping the points continue to flow for awhile... or choosing the safer points option with Zidlicky. Whatever your line-up needs. If you don't want both D, I'd drop Pacioretty to put Oshie in since that line has been so hot. Morrison has been producing well, but I also wouldn't have an issue with you dropping him to open up a slot for nightly streaming of players. You have a decent crop of FAs, so it'd be better to gamble on one nightly there than to have Morrison in there for three games a week. Odds are higher you'll come away with more points.

For what it's worth... I think dropping Pavelec, a heavy starter who admittedly has had a few struggles with the team, for Emery - who may or may not get starts with Hiller hopefully closer to coming back... would likely be a mistake.