Hockey Hearsay

Hockey Hearsay runs weekdays, 12 months a year; mixing NHL stories, quotes and fantasy takes.

The Buffalo News reports that the Buffalo Sabres got savaged in the North American media and on the Internet on Sunday for not responding to Milan Lucic's bulldozing of Ryan Miller on Saturday night in Boston. They apparently heard about it in strong terms as well from coach Lindy Ruff and General Manager Darcy Regier during a meeting Sunday in the Bell Centre.

And things took on a much more ominous tone later in the evening, when Regier told The Buffalo News that Miller has a concussion and will be out an undetermined period.

Regier is adamant Lucic should be suspended for the hit. Lucic will have a hearing today at 1 p.m. to discuss the first-period play in which Miller was knocked to the ice and his helmet was knocked off.

"If this hit and other types of hits like this are not suspended, we are opening up the possibility of losing goaltenders to injury. And not just injury, but concussion," Regier said. "... When I look at the position of goaltending, in a lot of ways it's not unlike quarterback in football. I feel very strongly the protection has to be provided and players committing these types of action should be punished."

The News points out that any concussion is serious, given the increased emphasis on their diagnosis and treatment by the NFL and NHL. But Miller's is of particular concern because it's his second in eight months, as he missed time in March when struck in the head by a shot from New Jersey's Brian Rolston.

A 31-year-old goaltender with two concussions in a short period of time is suddenly quite a bit more of a risk, and Miller's health and dependability have never been so uncertain during his NHL career.

Jhonas Enroth will thus start tonight's game against the Montreal Canadiens and assume the No. 1 role for the foreseeable future. Drew MacIntyre was called up from Rochester on Sunday night and will be the backup.

After the collision with Lucic, Miller continued to play and, in fact, played the entire second period of the eventual 6-2 loss.

"What happened was that he gradually got worse until he was removed from the game and diagnosed by the Boston doctors," Regier said. "I'm not in position to disagree with the doctors or the league protocol. He's better today but still, hopefully it is not severe and hopefully it is not long-term.

"I'm not an expert in this but I know this is not an exact science trying to predict a time frame on concussions."

The Washington Post believes that Saturday’s 3-2 shootout loss to the New Jersey Devils was not a particularly good night for Alex Ovechkin. The captain finished with a minus-1 rating, just two shots on goal (he had eight more shots blocked and one that missed the net) and his irritation was evident in the 11 hits he was credited with at the end of 20:14 of ice time.

“He’s frustrated,” Coach Bruce Boudreau said. “You can see the frustration on his face. He wants to score so badly. He’s scored seven on the road and none at home. I’m sure he’d prefer to score a few at home in front of the 18,000 people who come and adore him every night. It’s not for lack of trying.

“So, what do you do?” Boudreau asked rhetorically. “You usually take your frustration out on something, and he hits.”

Ovechkin’s frustration with his own game is rising, and it’s apparent not only in his on-ice performance. He has seven goals, seven assists and is a minus-1 through 15 games this season. Much like in 2010-11, when he recorded career lows in points and goals, Ovechkin doesn’t appear to have the same spark as a scoring threat off the rush that he did earlier in his career as opposing defenses anticipate his actions.

Several of Ovechkin’s goals this year have come with him close in and around the net, where he’s able to receive the puck or pounce on rebounds, rather than the highlight-reel dazzlers with spin-o-rama moves that were customary in previous years. They all count the same, but it’s hard not to wonder if there’s a bit of a transition going on as Ovechkin and the Capitals’ coaching staff try to find more efficient ways for the left wing to produce offensively.

As far as Ovechkin’s assessment of his performance Saturday night, there was no hiding his dissatisfaction.

“I have chances to score,” Ovechkin said. “My job to score goals, not make the hits. The second period I have probably like three chances to score, but I didn’t do the right thing.”

The Winnipeg Free Press writes that despite having moved to Winnipeg and taken on a new name and colours, the Atlanta Thrashers still, unfortunately, exist.

But a renewed campaign to permanently extinguish them is upon us.

Management and some players in the Winnipeg Jets dressing room have seen enough of the Thrashers' way of doing things and are now intent on eliminating any remaining DNA. Management doesn't like the approach the group takes, as evidenced by recent comments from coach Claude Noel.

"We have to raise our standard of existence. We have a low standard of ourselves. That's what we are right now," said Noel. "That's part of trying to change your identity."

GM Kevin Chelveldayoff is undoubtedly unhappy with his team's performance. Sunday's news that he'd recalled veteran winger Jason Jaffray from the St. John's IceCaps was telling in the fact it was not done in response to an injury.

Jaffray has been summoned to bolster the Jets and to see if he can't be an improvement over any of the players Noel has been using to date.

"It definitely makes guys check themselves at the door," veteran goalie Chris Mason told The Free Press. "Maybe if they hadn't already understood that it's not acceptable to play the way we're playing, (Cheveldayoff) is sending a message -- that if you're not going to do what's required, then you're not going to be in the lineup, that they'll bring up other guys to do it. I, personally, think it's a good wakeup call for our team."

Jaffray won't solve all the Jets offensive problems but he will give the club another forward who holds himself to a high standard game in and game out.

"If the guys get the message, you'll feel a little threatened and not as comfortable as you did before. And it makes you kind of double-check yourself and maybe reassess things you need to get better at. You're never guaranteed to be here. It's definitely a wakeup call," said Mason. "It's indicative of our inconsistency. You're not going to win in this league with a bunch of superstars every night if you don't work hard."

There's a reason old-timers will tell you every player should spend some time on the farm and it's because it teaches them to never take their spot in the NHL for granted. Jaffray has had to claw for the 36 games he's spent in the NHL over a 10-year career that saw him start in the ECHL. Jaffray won't take a shift, a practice or workout off. He can't if he wants to stick around and put NHL dollars in the bank.

"It teaches you lessons in humility. Personally, I spent a lot of time in the minors and it really helped me kind of grow as a person, understand the hard work it takes to earn your place or chance," said Mason. "You appreciate when you get here how much of a privilege it is and how awesome it is to play in the NHL. I think personally, with the odd exception, it's a benefit to a player."

Humility isn't a strong suit in the Jets dressing room. Entitlement, however, is. That has to change.

The Calgary Sun notes that you won’t find Miikka Kiprusoff on the NHL’s top-10 list for goals-against average.

Nor is the Calgary Flames netminder in such select company for save percentage or shutouts. He is among the leaders in wins but part of a big logjam of those with seven.

It doesn’t matter to the Flames. Not the way Kiprusoff has been a difference maker this season.

“In our minds, he’s the best goalie in the league — that’s how we feel about him,” said Flames centre Olli Jokinen after the club’s Saturday night 4-3 win over the Colorado Avalanche in Denver.

Unlike most every other goalie in the league, Kiprusoff is again shining bright despite his team’s offensive woes. Only three teams have scored fewer goals on average than the Flames, who have a 7-8-1 record going into Tuesday’s home-ice clash with the Ottawa Senators.

For his part, Kiprusoff has been named a star in four of the team’s victories. Inexplicably, he wasn’t in the latest against the Avalanche despite his brilliant 36-save outing during which he withstood a constant barrage of action in the second half of the game and was relied upon heavily until the final buzzer.

Kiprusoff was under the gun when this season started. Having turned 35 late last month and with a contract which concludes after the 2013-14 season, questions abounded if the workhorse netminder could maintain the high standard of play he’s shown ever since arriving in the Stampede City in mid-November eight years ago.

“He’s been as good as his Vezina year, for sure,” Flames captain Jarome Iginla told The Sun. “I think the rest has been important for him — he seems to like it. Henrik Karlsson’s gone in and played really well, our goaltending has been outstanding, and Miikka seems fresh when he’s playing.”

There must be something to that theory, since Kiprusoff isn’t in the top-10 for minutes played so far this season, which is not the norm.

For his part, Kiprusoff — who is the franchise’s all-time winningest netminder — doesn’t like talking about his play. Sure, he knows he’s been strong, but with his team on the outside of a playoff spot, the Finnish netminder doesn’t see anything to boast about.

“I feel all right, but if you look at the team, we can’t be that happy where we’re at in the standings,” Kiprusoff said. “I have to do my job, and we have to keep getting better.”

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review wryly suggests a fix may have been in Sunday night at Evgeni Malkin's flight team Lokomotiv benefit at Bossa Nova.

A framed Los Angeles Lakers jersey autographed by Kobe Bryant was one of more than 30 items up for bid, and Malkin eyed it as though it was an open top right corner of a goal cage.

"I (am buying) Kobe's jersey," Malkin said early during a four-hour event that was attended by about a dozen of his Penguins teammates. "He's my favorite basketball player."

Malkin, dressed casually in a dark slacks, a dress shirt and a gray cardigan sweater, appeared at ease while greeting guests, posing for pictures and carrying on conversations at the charity he helped organize with help from "some Russian people in Pittsburgh."

Sponsored by 25 regional business, including Bossa Nova owners Robin and Ann Fernandez, proceeds went to the Big Dream's Children Foundation (www.bigdreams.scf) that benefits children in need across the country. This benefit focused specifically on the children of the families that lost loved ones in the Sept. 7 private jet crash that killed 43 members of the Kontinental Hockey League's Lokomotiv squad.

There were only two survivors.

Malkin reiterated Sunday night that he knew "many guys" on the plane that crashed on takeoff from Tunoshna, Russia.

"I can't explain how I felt after," he said. "I feel a little better now, but I wanted to raise the money for the families.

"It's very important for me to help."

Malkin, a native of Magnitogorsk, Russia, is one of many Russian-born players to hold benefits for families of the victims since the crash. Included in that group is former Penguins teammate Sergei Gonchar and Detroit Red Wings star Pavel Datsyuk, each of whom donated autographed jerseys and sticks to Malkin's event.

Donations in the form of autographed jerseys and sticks also were made by Malkin's Penguins teammates. Team captain Sidney Crosby also assisted in a big way by calling fellow NHL players to help with the gathering of items for the silent auction.

"We are one big hockey family," Malkin said. "This was a tragedy in my country, and I feel fortunate that my teammates supported me."

The official web site for the Colorado Avalanche details how the club announced today that forward Milan Hejduk has been named team captain. The 35-year-old will wear the ‘C’ for the first time tomorrow night in Pittsburgh.

“Milan is a player who leads by example both on and off the ice,” said Avalanche Head Coach Joe Sacco. “He is a product of this organization and won a Stanley Cup with this franchise. He is well respected among his teammates and we feel he deserves this opportunity and responsibility.” Hejduk, who has served as one of the permanent assistant captains since 2008-09, will become only the third captain in Avalanche history, joining Joe Sakic and Adam Foote. Overall, Hejduk is just the 10th different captain in the franchise’s 32-year history in the National Hockey League. The Usti-nad Labem, Czech Republic native joins Peter Stastny as the only European-born captains in franchise history.

“I’m honored to be named Avalanche captain,” said Hejduk. “From my rookie season here in Colorado, I have always felt a great sense of pride wearing this sweater and being a part of this organization. I am looking forward to this added responsibility.”

Hejduk leads Colorado with seven goals and is tied for second on the club with 12 points in 17 games this season. Hejduk, who won a Stanley Cup with Colorado in 2001, ranks third in franchise history in games (927), is fourth in goals (364) and points (769), and fifth in assists (405). He is the franchise’s all-time leader in regular season overtime goals with nine and his 59 career game-winning tallies rank second behind only Sakic (86). Hejduk sits third in franchise history with 136 power play goals.

Phillynews.com describes how standing in front of his locker in the depths of the BankAtlantic Center, Ilya Bryzgalov stripped off his dripping pads and took a deep breath, preparing for the most stressful part of his game-day routine: speaking to the media.

Less than 3 weeks ago, Bryzgalov stood in front of the assembled and reported that his game was "lost in the woods."

Quietly, without much fanfare or chatter, Bryzgalov said simply, "We found out where the problem was and we fixed it. That was it."

Since those mind-numbing comments on Oct. 27 after a 9-8 loss to Winnipeg, Bryzgalov has done more than just "fix" whatever was ailing him. He has been near the top of every statistical category.

Bryzgalov has stopped 139 of 148 shots (.939 save percentage) and allowed just nine goals in five games, while reeling off a 4-0-1 record. It was fitting then that Bryzgalov dealt the upstart Panthers a 3-2 loss last night, Florida's first regulation loss since Oct. 27, with 31 saves.

Last night, Bryzgalov was not sensational. He didn't make any acrobatic, jaw-dropping saves that would have been hard for any goaltender to duplicate. He was just plain solid - and consistent.

"I think once he stopped talking to you [media] guys, he's been a lot better," Chris Pronger said. "You guys can figure that out on your own."

The article notes both Braydon Coburn and Pronger said the Flyers are still in an adjustment phase with Bryzgalov, coming off a run where seven goaltenders stopped pucks for the team over a period of two seasons.

"I think we're starting to get a little bit of chemistry with our goalie," Coburn said. "I expected it to happen, it's just time and experience with a guy, and it develops."

"He's got to adapt to us just like we've got to adapt to him," Pronger said. "He's a goalie that plays a certain way and we play a certain way. They need to mesh. And sometimes that takes time.

"There were an awful lot of bad bounces in the first month for him. That can be disheartening. At some point during the season, those bounces will go in their net and stay out of ours."

Those bounces and trends have already started to reverse. And since taking himself to the woodshed on Oct. 27, Bryzgalov - who has never been one to be uncomfortable in his own skin - has settled into his role.

"It's helped me moving forward," Bryzgalov said. "I've never run from responsibility. When I play bad, I tell you I played bad. When I play well, I tell you I played well. It's just the life. It is what it is."

The Blackhawks face the prospect of being without a key member of their defense for at least the beginning of their upcoming six-game road trip, according to The Chicago Tribune.

Defenseman Brent Seabrook was injured during the second period of the Hawks' 6-3 victory over the Oilers on Sunday. Seabrook carried the puck deep into the Oilers' zone before losing an edge and going skates-first into the end boards.

"We'll say day-to-day right now," Hawks coach Joel Quenneville said following the game of Seabrook's condition. "We'll know (Tuesday) morning."

The Hawks leave Monday for Vancouver, where they will start the trip with Wednesday's game against the Canucks.

"I thought we did a good job without him," Quenneville said. "But at the same time, it presents that challenge going forward."

Michigan Live recalls that Detroit Red Wings defenseman Ian White saved a goal by blocking a shot with his face Saturday. But he paid a price.

White will miss the upcoming four-game road trip with a fractured cheek bone. General manager Ken Holland said he will be out 1-2 weeks.

"He’ll be able to play with it, once it heals reasonably well," Holland said. "He’ll just need to wear some facial protection."

The Red Wings recalled defenseman Brendan Smith from the Grand Rapids Griffins. He will serve the fifth and final game of his NHL suspension Tuesday in St. Louis. The club will then decide whether to keep him for the rest of the trip or send him back.

White was hit in the face by a wrist shot from Jamie Benn with 11:06 remaining in a 5-2 victory against Dallas. The Stars would have tied the game at 3-3 if the puck hadn’t hit White, who also received stitches under his right eye.

White, a free-agent acquisition from San Jose, is off to a good start with three goals, four assists and a plus-8 rating in 15 games. He had been paired with Nicklas Lidstrom, so the Red Wings will need to juggle their pairings when Mike Commodore is inserted into the lineup Tuesday.

Forward Todd Bertuzzi was placed on short-term injured reserve (seven days) to make room for Smith. Bertuzzi has missed four games because of swelling in his ear and a sinus infection.

"Bert’s starting to feel better, but he hasn’t really (practiced) in a week," Holland said. "He went on the ice (Thursday) and didn’t feel good after skating for a day. We’re hoping he can skate (today), but it’ll take him a while (to be game ready)."

The New York Post indicates that there is no out-clause in Mats Zuccarello’s contract that would require the Rangers to allow the 24-year-old winger to leave for Europe if he is still a member of the AHL Whale by a certain date, the Norwegian’s representatives and general manager Glen Sather told The Post late last week.

And though Craig Oster, one of the winger’s agents at Newport Sports, told The Post the subject is likely to be raised with management within the next few weeks if Zuccarello remains in Hartford under his $67,500 AHL contract, Sather doesn’t seem to have much interest in obliging.

“Why would we agree to anything like that?” is how Sather phrased it in an email response to the Post’s inquiry whether the club would set the Hobbit free. “There’s no such agreement.”

Zuccarello started this season with the Rangers before being assigned to the Whale after three games, in which he averaged 8:25 of ice time while operating on the club’s fourth line and second power-play unit.

Coach John Tortorella stated his concerns about the winger’s ability to check and master the game without the puck on the NHL’s smaller ice surface, and dropped Zuccarello from the power play during the Oct. 15 match on the Island. Zuccarello's presence then became superfluous on a club that uses its fourth line sparingly.

The Post recalls that two weeks ago, when the Rangers recalled Andre Deveaux from the Whale when Wojtek Wolski went down with a sports hernia for which he has since undergone surgery, Tortorella said the Blueshirts passed on Zuccarello despite a recommendation from the Connecticut staff because he could not fit the winger into a top-nine forward slot.

“Mats’ first desire is to play in the NHL with the Rangers, and he understands the situation,” Oster said. “But we did have discussions with Glen and Cam [then-assistant GM Cam Hope] when he signed about how at some point it wouldn’t make sense to have him playing in the AHL and that if that time came, the Rangers would consider other options.”

Sather and the staff, however, see Zuccarello -- who had eight points (3-5) in eight games with the Whale prior to yesterday’s match at St. John’s -- as a depth asset should a top-nine skill forward go down with an injury, or a promotion is otherwise required.

Laing: "Dear Chris,

I've been holding on to James Wisniewski and lately he has been killing me. While the PIMs, Hits and A's have been decent enough since his return, his +/- has been abysmal (-4 two weeks in a row now). I don't know what to expect from him going forward given the sad state of the Blue Jackets. I'm wondering if you would recommend dropping him for one of the following:

Kyle Quincy, Brian Campbell, Sergei Gonchar, Ian White, Dan Hamhuis, Alex Pietrangelo, Niklas Kronwall, Kimmo Timonen

Categories: G, A, +/-, PPP, Hits, PIMs, SHP, GWG, FW."

Chris: Laing, in general terms when it comes to Wisniewski owners I'd say that patience will be rewarded before long. I think both Columbus and Wisniewski will be able to turn things around.

Your particular league happens to be shallow enough where you have equal options in the long run and you don't necessarily have to be patient. Although there are several good choices, my first two off the board for you (if you don't want to wait) would be Campbell and Gonchar in that order.

Andrew: "Hey Chris, need some of your highly valued trade advice. Here are my league and team's details:

12 Team, One-Year, Rotisserie League (3C, 6W, 3D, 1UTIL, 3 Bench, 1IR) Scoring: POINTS ONLY

Roster: C - Roy, Lecavalier, Adam W - Ovechkin, Kovalchuk, Parise, Neal, Clowe, Fleischmann, Ladd, Ruutu, Dubinsk(C), R. Whitney D - Edler, Giordano, Potter IR - Enstrom

A guy in my league really wants OV so he can have the OV/cosby combo on his team. He offered to trade me Giroux, who I am really high on and Phaneuf. I was looking for a better 2nd player in the deal. Some candidates on his team would be Kreijci, Heatley, Hall, Byfuglien, Green, Hemsky. What do you think, can I trade away OV?"

Chris: I like Giroux a lot, but is he also eligible on the wing in your league? If he's just classified as a centre, where he's actually playing this season, then I'd say the deal is a definite no. It's just too easy to get a decent centre and while Giroux is certainly one of the better players in the league this year, I wouldn't sacrifice Ovechkin for a centre. Points-only makes it closer between Giroux and Ovechkin than were you to also be able to count Ovechkin's peripherals.

I don't necessarily see any of those others as an upgrade on Phaneuf either, the way he's playing this season. You don't get to count his peripheral stats, but he's still producing points and has a prime role on the Leafs.

I'll say again... I like Giroux a lot. I just think Ovechkin has more to give than we've seen results-wise and I don't see a big upgrade past your top six wingers. Phaneuf is much safer than Potter, so that's the only part that really tempts me. But with Enstrom already on your team and back in two or three weeks (hopefully), I just don't think I'd make the trade.

If Giroux is also eligible on the wing for you and if you could get a winger who could legitimately make your top six without question... then I'd consider it. I'm assuming you'll put Dubinsky at C if Adam goes cold.

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