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The Nashville Tennessean reports it’s one down and two to go for the Nashville Predators.

The Predators signed goaltender Pekka Rinne to a seven-year, $49 million contract on Thursday. It's the largest contract in franchise history.

The deal could have major implications for the Predators as they try to re-sign their other two prime free agents, defensemen Ryan Suter and Shea Weber. Suter will be an unrestricted free agent this summer, and Weber restricted.

“Today’s signing is further evidence of our ownership’s commitment to keeping our core intact,” Predators General Manager David Poile said. “This is the first step of a process designed to retain our key players and leaders. Pekka has grown with our franchise, just recently established our franchise record for career shutouts and is now recognized as one of the game’s elite players. We’re thrilled to know that he will be backstopping our franchise for several years to come.”

Last season, Rinne was a Vezina Trophy finalist with a 2.12 goals against average and .930 save percentage. So far this season, Rinne has a 2.50 goals against average and .922 save percentage. He was set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer.

Matt Cooke didn't expect everyone to believe he could change, according to The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Heck, there might have been times when he wasn't entirely convinced that he could. After all, Cooke is 33 years old, and it was easy to suspect that he had too much of a track record of dangerous hits, had been head-hunting for too long, to make an epic adjustment to how he does his job.

And, perhaps, the skeptics will turn out to be correct. Hey, when a guy has played 818 games at this level, a 13-game snapshot isn't much of a sampling.

But as the Penguins prepare to face San Jose tonight at the HP Pavilion, Cooke has put up a few numbers that are difficult to ignore and harder to misinterpret. He enters the game as the Penguins' No. 5 scorer, with four goals and four assists in 13 games. And he has spent all of four minutes in the penalty box, which ties him for 12th on the team.

Bottom line: A guy who entered 2011-12 averaging 3.28 penalty minutes for every point he earned has twice as many points as penalty minutes this young season.

That doesn't mean the change is guaranteed to be permanent, which Cooke knows better than anyone. It does suggest that not only is he serious about trying to alter his style, but also has been pretty successful at it.

"So far, so good," Cooke said. "I've been able to avoid the dangerous plays, and that's what I set out to do when I started the season."

Assistant coach Tony Granato suggested there is a downside, perhaps temporary, to the change Cooke has made.

The article points out that after registering 192 hits -- two fewer than team leader Brooks Orpik -- in 67 games last season, Cooke has 16 in 2011-12, dropping his per-game average from 2.86 to 1.23.

"He still has to have that physical element, finishing checks, figuring out [how] he can do it in a way that's going to help us," Granato said. "I think he's in that process right now, because he certainly hasn't put himself in a position where he has been over-physical.

"That's on the cautious side, obviously, [because of] what's happened in the past. He's done a good job of adjusting that way. Now, it's finding a happy medium, where he can still be physical, still have that part of his game."

The improved offensive contributions might be part of the reason Cooke seems so happy these days, but the fundamental change he's trying to make is his style is a factor, too.

"I think I enjoy the game a little bit more now," he said. "I don't feel the same pressures now that I did in the past to play a certain way, and that's a good thing."

He knows the issue is not fully settled. That he's not far enough from his past to be sure he has escaped it.

"I was always optimistic about the way it would go, but there was no real proof [before the regular season]," he said. "Like I said back then, I'm not naive to think that just because I'm saying it, it's going to be that way. I have to go out and prove it over a period of time. Things aren't over and done with yet."

The Calgary Herald believes that of all the issues beginning to trouble the Flames, it’s the top unit’s flatlining that is most cause for alarm.

When asked, winger Alex Tanguay politely declined to get into a specifics — and he’s the only member of the No. 1 threesome who’s actually generated anything. With a team-leading nine points in 10 games, he preferred the comfort of speaking in general terms.

“I’ll let you guys do your job — it’s easy to point fingers at this and that,” Tanguay said, actually managing a grin. “It’s a team game. Not everyone is going to play good every night. We’ve got to get better. It falls on all of us individuals to be better.”

Flames captain Jarome Iginla has collected four points — placing him 224th in NHL scoring — while Brendan Morrison has nothing but zeros to show for six games this season.

“When we don’t produce and the team wins games, it’s kind of masked,” Morrison said. “But when you lose games and you don’t score, it comes to the forefront. It happened again (Tuesday). You can sit here and say, ‘I hit the cross-bar early in the game. If I scored, it might have been different.’ It’s all hypothetical. It doesn’t matter. I mean, you need results.

“So far they haven’t been there.”

The Herald points out that Iginla missed all of the pre-season with a back injury, and Morrison missed the first four regular-season games recuperating from knee surgery. Do the line just need time to get comfortable?

“No, I don’t want to use any excuses,” said Morrison. “That’s the reality of the situation, but I’m not going to sit here and say that’s the reason why we’re not producing. We have to find a way to be better.”

At any rate, the veterans have been unable to stay together throughout games. (When Tanguay ruined Roberto Luongo’s shutout with a last-minute goal the other night, he’d been working alongside Morrison and fourth-line winger Tom Kostopoulos.)

Part of that is coach Brent Sutter’s recent off-kilter alignment — seven defenders, 11 forwards — and part of that, no doubt, is the skipper’s dissatisfaction with the three.

“We got into the grinder again halfway through the game,” Morrison said of the line juggling, “but I thought, early on, our line was going pretty well. In the first period, we actually had some offensive-zone time, we controlled the puck a little bit. Even in the second, we had a good chance. But we’re not scoring — that’s what matters.”

The Winnipeg Free Press writes there is no truth to the rumour that the moment the Winnipeg Jets touched down on Long Island Wednesday they were immediately outfitted with bubble-wrap suits and confined to their quarters.

Might not be a bad idea, however.

The Jets headed north from Florida to New York to continue on their longest road trip of the season minus defenceman Tobias Enstrom and with veteran Mark Stuart now also on the mend.

Couple that with Derek Meech and Ron Hainsey still in the infirmary and the Jets' defensive corps is seriously depleted. To remedy the situation late Wednesday, the Jets recalled blue-liners Brett Festerling and Mark Flood from the AHL's St. John's IceCaps.

"The thing you can't do is make a lot of noise about it," said Noel Wednesday afternoon in New York. "It is what it is. It happens to everybody. You deal with it and you move forward.

"It's a situation where you hope your whole team rallies. That's what you have to do. The way the media is, you make a lot about it. That's the story to write about and I understand that. But we don't internally. I don't talk about it much, we just play forward."

Noel has been in constant contact with IceCaps head coach Keith McCambridge with Flood, Festerling or Zach Redmond considered the top candidates for recall. Power-play specialist Paul Postma may be tied for the IceCaps lead in scoring, but is apparently struggling in his own end.

"I speak to Keith almost every couple of days," said Noel earlier Wednesday. "He said he's got some stallions down there in the corral and if we need to get some things going he's ready to open the door and let them loose."

There was some positive news from sick bay: goaltender Chris Mason is recovering from a groin pull and should be good to go by the weekend. Ondrej Pavelec will start against the Isles with Peter Mannino in reserve.

The Vancouver Province believes this one added up to an easy call: Cory Schneider will face the Minnesota Wild on Thursday.

Not only did Schneider backstop a 3-2 overtime victory over the Wild on Oct. 22 at Rogers Arena, the backup has often played like a starter against the Northwest Division rivals. Last season, Schneider was 2-1-0 with a 1.80 goals-against average and .929 saves percentage and won twice here including a shutout. By comparison, Roberto Luongo has been pulled in four or his last five starts at the Excel Energy Center and is 3-9-2 with a 3.58 GAA and .873 saves percentage in that arena.

"It's based on the fact that I think it's the right time to put him in," said Vancouver Canucks coach Alain Vigneault. "Some goalies seem to have a little bit more mojo against certain teams and Cory has played well against them and we feel good putting him in. We've got four games in six nights and we're going to use both goalies.

"Minnesota is playing real hard and real sound with good checking which forces the other team into mistakes."

For Schneider, the challenge will be to beat a Wild club that continues to play well defensively and is opportunistic offensively. On Tuesday, the Wild scored late in regulation at Detroit before Devin Setoguchi netted the overtime winner in a 2-1 decision over the Red Wings. That came after a 1-0 win over the Wings. Setoguchi also opened scoring last month at Rogers Arena by finding the short side on a backhander off a give-and-go with Dany Heatley. Schneider is more than aware what the damage the duo can do.

"I don't think you look at them as the Wild of the past," said Schneider, who will duel against the red-hot Josh Harding, who backstopped the wins over the Wings. "They've got Setoguchi and Heatley and [Mikko] Koivu has turned into a star in this league. And just when you think Heatley is going to shoot it, he makes that clever little pass and Setoguchi has good hands and a good release. You've got to be aware of them all the time and on the road we've got to get off to a strong start."

Nick Foligno, 24, to The Ottawa Sun about being counted on to be a big contributor with Daniel Alfredsson sidelined indefinitely with a concussion.

“I think they know what to expect of me. I know it’s been a tough couple of years for everybody in the organization with regards to some things that have happened. Now, it’s almost a clean slate,” said Foligno.

“I’m looking forward to showing them the player that I can be and will be. It starts with the start that I’ve had (six points in 13 games) and I need to continue it. But I feel like I’m a guy that can help the team in an offensive category as well as being really reliable defensively.”

The New York Post notes that Sean Avery returned from exile for his first practice back with the Rangers yesterday, but like the fans calling for his return, the gritty forward will be a spectator for tonight’s game against the Ducks at the Garden.

Citing the team’s stellar play in Monday’s 5-2 win over San Jose and Avery’s limited practice time, having cleared re-entry waivers on Tuesday, coach John Tortorella said he will use the same lineup from Monday against the Ducks, who have one point in their past three games.

As much as Avery wants to play, he couldn’t argue with the logic.

“I spoke to the coaches and I didn’t skate because of re-entry waivers for a couple days. You know what, really the guys played pretty good last game and had a big win, so I wouldn’t change the lineup,” Avery said. “We’re all here because we want to play for the Rangers. I love this team. I want to win. I want to play as hard as I possibly can and just try and contribute whenever I’m asked to. That’s what it comes down to.”

Avery said the AHL experience helped him regain confidence.

“I’ve had a lot of things happen to me over my career and I never rule anything out,” Avery said. “I’m not looking back and gauging my surprise level. I’m just here. Decisions that are out of your control are always out of your control. All you have to do is try and work hard and stay positive. I’ve learned that as time goes on usually if that’s the case, good things are going to happen.”

Goaltender Henrik Lundqvist told The Post Avery’s presence made things seem “normal,” which is how Tortorella described the roster move, even if it isn’t to anyone outside the locker room. As for the fans who pleaded for Avery’s return, future cries for his playing time will remain unheeded.

“I know there’s people, as far as fans and media, they have their favorite players and they have players they want to grind on, but it doesn’t matter either way to me,” Tortorella said. “I’m not going to change my decision-making. It can’t happen that way. We cannot run a business that way. This is the same situation as any other player being brought up and we want to conduct it that way. I think that’s what’s fair to Sean. We’re going to run it just like we always do as far as guys coming to our team.”

Whenever, or if ever, Avery is inserted into the lineup, Lundqvist thinks he can still make a difference.

“Sean brings something not a lot of players have in the league with that edge to his game,” Lundqvist said. “Why is he still around? I think it is, No. 1 , because he’s a good hockey player and that’s why he’s here.”

The Orange County Register explains how Teemu Selanne followed his own advice and now he is asking his Ducks teammates to join him.

After the Ducks scored just one goal in a dreary loss to Columbus two games ago, Selanne said "we don't need those nights that we're just waiting for somebody else to do the job."

The winger then did his best to try to snap his team out of a slump by scoring two goals and assisting on two others Tuesday night against Washington, but saw his efforts wasted in a 5-4 overtime loss to the Capitals.

Now in a skid where the Ducks have lost six of seven games, Selanne vented afterward outside the Ducks dressing room at the Verizon Center as he threw a water bottle at a wall in a rare public display of frustration.

A day later, Selanne was certainly much calmer but called on his teammates to raise their game as he did to snap the team out of its offensive funk.

"You need everybody," Selanne said. "There's no room for passengers right now. Especially when the team is struggling. Everybody has to play their best and the effort has to be there every night. If not, it's bad news."

Ducks coach Randy Carlyle was asked if other players need to follow Selanne's lead at this point.

"The thing is it's one thing to make the statement and it's another thing to live it," Carlyle said. "Teemu lives it. And that's what important. That's what you like your leaders to do ... live it every day and every game.

"Some games he's not going to have it. But it's not because of lack of effort. It might be frustration. He comes to play every night."

Bobby Ryan told the OCR his teammate has every right to question those around him and that he was fine with the winger's "passengers" reference.

"Guys that are supposed to be offensive weapons for the team probably need to follow suit," Ryan said. "He had a good night last night. The puck followed him around and rightfully so. To see his 3-0 lead that he had a big hand in building diminish, he's justified to speak out. That's for sure.

"A guy like that talks, guys listen and he doesn't talk a lot so it's nice when he does. ... A lot of guys need to step up and take charge and do what we're paid to do or expected to do. The pressure's that come with all the stuff that we get, we need to live up to."

The Boston Globe indicates that Nathan Horton has two goals, three assists, and six very costly penalty minutes (of a total 26 PIMs) to his name this season.

For Bruins coach Claude Julien, those uncharacteristic numbers are not altogether surprising because of how Horton’s 2010-11 season ended - on the bad end of an Aaron Rome hit.

Following yesterday’s practice at TD Garden, Horton and Julien emphasized that the No. 1 right wing, who sustained a concussion after being leveled by Rome during Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final last spring, is symptom-free.

Physically, Horton is fine, having been cleared by the medical staff for full game participation.

But Horton’s game - his touch, timing, and rhythm - continues to misfire. Horton is thinking instead of reading and reacting. Because of that slight hesitation, he has whiffed on scoring chances.

“I’m still trying to get my game back,’’ Horton said. “I don’t feel 100 percent out there. I’m not myself. I’m just trying to get that back. Last game, I thought we played better. Hopefully we can get it back.’’

That Horton’s game has yet to return reminds Julien of the cases of Patrice Bergeron and Marc Savard. On Oct. 27, 2007, Bergeron suffered a career-threatening concussion when he was belted into the Garden boards by Philadelphia defenseman Randy Jones. The next time Bergeron dressed was the following season. That year, Bergeron barely resembled the No. 2 center he had been prior to his injury.

A similar fate befell Savard after his concussion on March 7, 2010, courtesy of Pittsburgh’s Matt Cooke. Savard wasn’t himself when he returned in the second round of the playoffs. He wasn’t right the following season, either. Now, Savard’s career is almost certainly over.

Bergeron, though, “came back the next year with lots of energy,’’ recalled Julien. “Everything was good. He just worked his way through it and found his game. I think that’s what Horts is doing right now. To me, Horts is starting to find his game. I noticed [Tuesday] night, he was a much better player.’’

Given his 11 games so far, it may take Horton more reps to feel at home again.

“I’ve never had a concussion or anything like that,’’ Horton said. “I didn’t know what to expect coming in. Obviously it has [affected me].

“I’m just going to keep working through it. I know I’ve got to be better and I can be better. It’s just a matter of time. I want to be better. It’s got to come sooner or later.’’

The Raleigh News & Observer reports that the Carolina Hurricanes will be without forward Jussi Jokinen for at least three to four weeks, general manager Jim Rutherford said Wednesday.

Jokinen, the team's second-leading scorer, suffered an injury to his left leg early in the third period of Tuesday night 4-2 win against the Tampa Bay Lightning at the RBC Center. During a faceoff in the Carolina zone, Lightning forward Ryan Shannon was knocked off-balance and tumbled into the back of Jokinen's legs, causing Jokinen to fall awkwardly and twist the left leg.

"It didn't look good and it isn't good," Rutherford said of the injury.

The Canes will recall forward Drayson Bowman today from the Charlotte Checkers of the American Hockey League. Bowman has five goals and two assists in 10 games this season for the Checkers with a plus-5 rating.

Jokinen, one of the Canes' more versatile players, has three goals and six assists this season and has been centering a line with wingers Jeff Skinner and Tuomo Ruutu. Jokinen assisted on Skinner's second goal against the Lightning that gave the Canes a 3-1 lead in the second period.

"Jussi is the real key piece to that" line, coach Paul Maurice said after the game. "His intelligence defensively kind of allows you to move your lines around a little bit. If they get out against the other team's best, you don't worry about it too much."

Maurice said either Skinner or Ruutu might be used at center in Jokinen's absence. Skinner, who has a team-high six goals and 12 points, was drafted in 2010 as a center but has been used mostly at left wing. Ruutu prefers to play center.

"I know Jeff would love to go back into the middle," Maurice said. "We'll take a look."

The Chicago Tribune says you can take Brian Campbell out of Chicago, but you can't take Chicago out of him.

After being traded to the Panthers in a June deal that boiled down to a financial decision, the former Blackhawks defenseman is using his blazing speed to start offensive rushes in South Florida these days. Campbell said Wednesday he misses playing with the teammates with whom he captured a Stanley Cup in 2010 and the city he came to love during his three seasons there. So much so that the Strathroy, Ontario, native calls Chicago his offseason home.

"I love Chicago," Campbell, 32, said. "I can't say anything bad about the whole situation. I'm really enjoying playing hockey and coming to the rink every day. On that end, it has been fun. But obviously you're going to miss some of the guys. We had some good times over the years."

In particular, Campbell misses skating alongside former defensive partner Niklas Hjalmarsson, a young player whom the veteran helped mentor while they were teammates.

"I really like Niklas — he's a great kid," Campbell said. "I miss playing with the guy. When you play with a defense partner for a couple of years you kind of know how each other is going to play. For myself, I've had to transform and play with Jason (Garrison). We're getting to where hopefully Niklas and I were. For me and (Hjalmarsson), we had a good relationship that way and enjoyed being around each other."

Said Hjalmarsson, 24, who now is paired with Brent Seabrook: "Coming up a couple of years ago, I was paired up with 'Soupy' and he took care of me and helped me with a lot of stuff, explaining to me how to play in different situations. He's a really good player, too, so it made it way easier for me to come in the league."

The deal that sent Campbell to the Panthers freed more than $7 million per season from the Hawks' salary cap. It also gave the puck-moving blueliner a chance to flourish in a system that best utilizes his offensive skills. Through 11 games with the Panthers, Campbell has recorded 11 assists and is fourth in the NHL with an average of 26 minutes, 59 seconds of ice time per game.

"I play a lot of minutes and in all situations," Campbell said. "It's good for me to play in a role I feel like I can handle and provide for this team. I can just go out there and play hockey and have a lot of fun and help produce some wins."

The Miami Herald recalls how On Oct. 25, 2008, Jason Garrison made his NHL debut with the Panthers in St. Louis. He wouldn’t become a full-time NHL player for another year, but the now-27 year old Garrison had fulfilled a dream many said he wouldn’t.

“It just goes to show you that if you want something bad enough,’’ the undrafted Garrison said, “you can go get it.’’

And if there are hockey players out there today who have heard they can’t make it to the show one day because they are too small, too skinny, just not good enough, well, they can look at Garrison and know it can be done.

“I keep my head down and try to earn the respect of my teammates by doing that and working hard,’’ said Garrison, who today has more goals than any other defenseman in the NHL.

“I have found that working hard is probably the best way for me to go about my game. That hasn’t changed over the years. I’m definitely humble for the position I’m in. When you work hard to get here, and it’s not quite handed to you, you respect every little chance you get more. I think that’s what’s going on. I’m happy to be part of this team.’’

Garrison has shown that dreams still come true in the NHL, although it didn’t come from chance. Garrison is a meticulous worker who uses previous snubs as motivational fuel both on the ice and in the weight room.

“People don’t see how he’s always here, always preparing. He still has a lot to learn. And he has a lot of upside,’’ said Campbell, Garrison’s defensive partner. “He’s easy to play with. That’s the best compliment you can give another defenseman.

“I like what I see from him.’’

The article notes that what has set Garrison apart this season isn’t his defensive play - which has been strong - but a booming slap shot. Garrison’s five goals are highest among NHL defensemen, and he goes into Thursday’s game against Chicago riding a three-game goal streak. Garrison’s five goals this season match his career-high set last season through 73 games. Garrison scored just four goals in his first two seasons in college — and five in his last one.

“He has the big driver,’’ coach Kevin Dineen said of Garrison’s slap shot. Each goal has come from an average of 50 feet out and all were set up by Campbell.

“It seems his teammates realize he’s cracking the thing pretty good right now, and they’re putting it in his wheelhouse. He’s doing what he does best. That’s hitting the puck hard."

The Washington Post reveals coach Bruce Boudreau said today that both Mike Green (twisted right ankle) and Troy Brouwer (right shoulder) will travel with the Capitals on their two-game, back-to-back road trip this weekend but it’s still uncertain how much game time either will see.

Boudreau said it’s unlikely that Green, who has already missed three consecutive games, will play Friday against the Hurricanes. The defenseman has skated lightly each of the past three days but has been unable to fully take part in the past nine practices

“I’d like to see them have more than one [practice],” Boudreau said when asked how much work Brouwer and Green would need before being reinserted into the lineup. “It’s pretty difficult in this league to just step off the injury block. Even though both the guys are in tremendous shape, it’s quite a difference from working out in the gym to working out on the ice.”

While Boudreau all but ruled out Green against Carolina, he wouldn’t say the same for Brouwer. The winger missed a second consecutive practice Thursday after being shoved into the boards by Anaheim’s Toni Lydman but it’s possible he could be ready to face the Hurricanes.

Brouwer, who was at the practice facility Thursday, was not made available to reporters.

“He’s only had two days off it’s not like having nine or 10 days off,” Boudreau said. “So we’ll see how he goes in the morning skate.

Frank, from London, Ontario: "Hey Chris,

I have RW Simmonds but looks like he is not producing and on the 3rd Line and I don’t think any PP time (Thanks for your Nightly re-caps)

Non-Keeper, Head to head League, with the Following Stats: Points (P), (+/-), (PIM), (PPP), (SHP), (GWG), (SOG), Faceoffs Won, Hits

I'm thinking of dropping him for one of the following: Vrbata, (hot the last few games), Neil (PM's), Hejduk, Setoguchi , Alfredsson (still on IR?) Maxim Lapierre A.Burish, Purcell.

Who would be your top 2 choices? Or should I just be patient? Thanks!!"

Chris: On the whole, I'd say drop Simmonds (who was top six but is losing out now) for the safer Hejduk. Always top six. Pretty decent production. Still has the ability to get really hot. If you really need the extra PIM, then go with Neil. He's been getting PP time too.

Email: chris.nichols@sportsnet.rogers.com

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