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The Vancouver Province says Mason Raymond will make his long-awaited return tonight. He is not 100 per cent. He never will be.

“This is something I will have to continue to work at for the rest of my life,” Raymond admitted. “Things have changed back there. They never will be the same.”

It means daily maintenance for his back. This is not necessarily unusual.

Cody Hodgson has talked about having similar issues resulting from his back injury. The same for Daniel Sedin, who had back surgery.

But for Raymond, it remains a harsh reality and a lasting memory of the tissue damage and fractured vertebrae he suffered when Johnny Boychuk hit and guided him into the boards during the Stanley Cup final. It’s a reality that still stops Raymond cold, leaving him visibly shaken, even though he is “very comfortable” that he’s ready to play again.

After having his hockey life flash before his eyes, Raymond is set to return on a line with Cody Hodgson and Jannik Hansen.

Raymond still doesn’t know what to expect. He is still unsure about what he can he give this team. It’s understandable. There is a lot of unknown for a player who has been away from the game for five months.

“It’s a little bit like starting from scratch,” Raymond said. “I just went from Game 6 of the Stanley Cup playoffs to Game 25 of the regular season. I haven’t had a preseason. It’s going to be different.

“Once I get into a game, I think I’ll feel more comfortable. Is it going to take some time to get into game shape and game mode? Yeah. But I’m very pleased with the process.”

Although his back may never be the same, Raymond said he will not be playing with fear of contact. Good thing, because he, along with several of the forwards, will be in a dogfight for playing time.

“I wanted to make sure I was at a point when I come back that there isn’t going to be an issue,” Raymond said. “I’m not going to re-injure something unless it’s dramatic, like any other guy in this room.

“Nothing at this point is going to make it worse.”

The Orange County Register points out that the struggling Ducks beat Montreal on Wednesday … then dumped Randy Carlyle.

The most successful coach in franchise history was fired only minutes after his team finally won, ending a seven-game losing streak.

In Carlyle's place, the Ducks hired Bruce Boudreau, who was just fired himself on Monday by Washington.

Boudreau won the 2007-08 Jack Adams award as the NHL's coach of the year and led the Capitals to the 2009-10 Presidents' Trophy. His teams in Washington were 201-88-40 and won Southeast Division titles in all four seasons he finished there.

“This was an extremely difficult decision,” Ducks general manager Bob Murray said in a statement. “Randy is a terrific head coach, and did a tremendous job for us for six-plus seasons. We thank him greatly for his hard work and dedication to our franchise, not the least of which was a Stanley Cup championship.

Along with Carlyle, assistant coaches Dave Farrish and Mike Foligno also were fired, as was video coordinator Joe Trotta.

Carlyle, 55, was 273-182-61 in 516 career games with the Ducks, compiling the most victories and highest winning percentage in club history. He led the team to the franchise's only Stanley Cup in 2007. But in the four seasons since claiming the title, the Ducks won only one playoff series for Carlyle.

Then, after opening this season with a 4-1 record, the team tailed off badly. The Ducks' 4-1 victory Wednesday ended a seven-game winless streak. They had won only twice in their previous 18 games.

Though successful, Carlyle was not the most popular coach among his players. He was known for his no-nonsense, old-school style, which didn't always mesh with the team's younger players.

“At this time, we simply felt a new voice was needed,” Murray's statement continued. “Bruce is a proven winner with a great track record, and we are optimistic we can turn this season around under his leadership.”

Brad Lauer, an assistant at Syracuse (AHL) was hired to be one of Boudreau's assistants with the Ducks. Another assistant coach will be added.

Boudreau will be formally introduced as the Ducks' eighth coach at a news conference today.

The Toronto Star reports that Leafs general manager Brian Burke was quick — thanks to Twitter — to try and nip in the bud any speculation about fired Anaheim Ducks coach Randy Carlyle coming to Toronto.

Bruce Boudreau, who just relieved of his job as head coach of the Washington Capitals earlier this week, will replace Carlyle.

Carlyle had been hired in Anaheim by Burke when Burke was GM there and has long been thought to be a possible replacement for Leaf coach Ron Wilson, who is in the last year of his contract.

“Sorry to hear about Randy Carlyle,” Burke wrote on his Twitter feed. “But our coach isn’t going anywhere.”

Prior to Carlyle’s firing, Burke has only said he’ll discuss an extension for Wilson at the “appropriate” time.

The Washington Post points out that of the players on Washington’s roster, only three – Mike Green, Brooks Laich and Jeff Schultz – remain from the group that won a Calder Cup with Bruce Boudreau in Hershey. They played for Boudreau before he became Washington’s head coach on Thanksgiving Day 2007 and flourished under his tenure with the Capitals.

Perhaps no one so much as Green, who went from a run of the mill defenseman to a two-time Norris Trophy finalist that led all NHL blueliners in offensive statistics. He played 270 NHL games under Boudreau, recording 76 goals, 153 assists and was a plus-79. In 104 games prior to Boudreau’s arrival, playing under Glen Hanlon, Green recorded six goals, nine assists and was a minus-21.

But Green, 26, said Wednesday he had not spoken with Boudreau, who was fired and replaced by Dale Hunter on Monday.

“It’s a new chapter now, but obviously he was a great coach and unfortunately we weren’t responding here in the last couple months,” Green said. “I think it was a necessary thing. We’re definitely happy to have Dale here. He seems like an honest guy, a strict guy and that seems to be what we need maybe for guys to respond properly.”

The Post reports that Green is expected to miss a 10th consecutive game Thursday with a strained right groin muscle. The Capitals’ struggle to win consistently coincided with Green’s absences due to injury, first the twisted right ankle and now the groin problem – Washington is 4-10-1 without him in the lineup. To be certain, though, Washington’s maladies are not solely related to Green missing from the lineup.

There is no definitive time table for his return, and when Green does he will have a new head coach in Hunter, who has spent the earliest part of his tenure retooling Washington’s defensive system.

Players will be expected to keep up with opponents man-on-man and win each individual battle along with playing a 1-2-2 trap system to help prevent odd-man rushes while capitalizing off of turnovers the method creates.

System alterations or not, Green insisted he is not concerned about having a new coach might impact his own personal performance.

“No. Not at all. I play the game the way I play and within the system. That’s it,” Green said. “That’s the bottom line, it doesn’t change at all.”

The Buffalo News believes that Thomas Vanek has always had the physical abilities to be a great hockey player. The skills that convinced him to leave Austria for North America at age 14 have continued to blossom. They're on display nightly this season, with the Sabres' left winger prominent on nearly every Buffalo score sheet.

The goals and assists are easy to see, partly because there have been so many, but it's what people don't witness that has made Vanek into one of the NHL's premier players. There's no pouting on the bench anymore. His defeatist body language is a thing of the past. The swearing, stick slamming and weight-of-the-world grimaces are all but gone.

Call it maturity. Credit the transformation to becoming a family man. One thing to be certain of is the things people don't see have made Vanek into the gifted and consistent player they do.

"He's definitely matured," said Buffalo captain Jason Pominville, Vanek's right-wingman. "His demeanor and his attitude at the rink have been good. Other guys feed off that type of body language and energy."

"He's not as moody as he was in the beginning of the career," center Jochen Hecht said. "He's a more complete player. He knows what it takes to compete out there, and you could tell this year he was ready from the first game. He got his mind-set in the right place.

"Even last year at certain points in the season and in years before, when he missed a chance he came to the bench, got frustrated, slammed his stick and swore at himself. He got calmer in that. He got away from that, and I think that helps."

The News points out that four reasons for his transformation can be found at home: his wife, Ashley; 4-year-old son, Blake; and twins Luka and Kade, who turned 1 two weeks ago.

"The only thing that really changes when you have kids is you don't dwell on hockey as much at home as when I lived on my own," Vanek said. "You kind of leave it at the rink and try to be a good dad at home and a good husband. That's the biggest change is just leaving it here when you have a bad day, or when you have a good day leave it here. Just be a good family man."

"It definitely puts a different perspective on things," Hecht said of marriage and fatherhood. "There's more important stuff in life than just hockey. It's your job and you're competitive and you want to win and do everything to do that, but I think when you've got a happy family and you're healthy and have a healthy family at home, that can help you out and make you a lot more relaxed."

The Raleigh News & Observer reports the Carolina Hurricanes have added former NHL head coach John MacLean to Kirk Muller's coaching staff, general manager Jim Rutherford said today.

MacLean, 47, spent nine seasons as a coach in the New Jersey Devils organization, including seven years as an assistant coach. He as head coach of the Lowell Devils of the American Hockey League (AHL) in 2009-10, leading the Devils’ affiliate to its best-ever record and first-ever playoff berth. He was named head coach of the New Jersey Devils prior to the 2010-11 season, but was replaced 33 games into his first season as an NHL head coach.

"He fits the mold of the coaches we already have," Rutherford said. "In his playing career, he offered a lot of leadership and character. He has great coaching experience. He was a real good assistant coach for the Devils and then a head coach, and he knows Kirk."

Rutherford said MacLean would join assistant coaches Dave Lewis, Tom Barrasso and Rod Brind'Amour. In Muller's first game Tuesday against the Florida Panthers, Brind'Amour was behind the bench.

Rutherford said Brind'Amour, who had made a commitment to coach his son's junior hockey team this year, would become a fulltime assistant coach next season.

"Part of the process of the coaching change was the time commitment (Brind'Amour) would have," Rutherford said. "Kirk walked through it with him. Roddy was true to his word on his commitment and wanted to continue (coaching junior hockey), and he will come on fulltime next year. That opened the door to adding another coach."

The Chicago Tribune writes that physically, Bryan Bickell's game is where it needs to be. It's in his head where the Blackhawks winger has been fighting it.

"Mentally, I need to be better and then points will come," said Bickell, who is mired in a 13-game pointless skid. "For every game and every shift you have to be mentally ready to do better. The last couple of games, (the coaches are) liking the way the play is going."

Bickell has three goals and two assists in 24 games this season and is tied with a team-worst minus-8 plus-minus rating. The Bowmanville, Ontario, native realizes those numbers aren't exactly pretty and has been focusing on winning puck battles and being strong in the defensive zone.

"My personal stats are not where I want but we're here for two points for the team," said Bickell, who played a season-low 6 minutes, 41 seconds Tuesday night during the Hawks' 4-1 loss to the Coyotes. "It has been a slow year for me but I just need to keep doing what I've been doing."

In the past, Bickell has listened to motivational tapes to help him gain the mental edge needed to perform at a top level.

"Maybe I should hop back on that," Bickell said with a small smile. "It's just more me. The tapes are just there to help me steer. I know what I need to do every game to be successful."

The Miami Herald indicates Panthers goalie Jose Theodore has been terrific during the regular season and put many questions following a shaky training camp to rest after shutting out the Islanders 2-0 in the season opener.

“We’re well beyond how stinky he was in training camp,’’ coach Kevin Dineen said. “Part of the advantage he had was he was a veteran, and I was able to believe in him. Give him the benefit, believe in the rèsumè that he could go out and do it. Since the beginning of the year, [he has] given us a chance to win every night.’’

Since that night, Theodore has won 10 games, and a point in three of his losses. On Tuesday, he gave up one goal as the Panthers won their NHL-best-tying eighth road game.

Coming into the season, Florida’s goaltending was a question mark as starter Tomas Vokoun left and landed in Washington. Theodore was pegged as Vokoun’s replacement and has fared well. Theodore has stopped 92 percent of shots faced and is allowing an average of 2.29 goals per game.

Vokoun, whose Capitals trail the Southeast Division-leading Panthers by five points, trails Theodore in save percentage and goals-against average. Both have 10 wins this season.

“It is always good to start the season off on the right foot,’’ Theodore said. “The team is playing great, and I’m feeling good.’’

The Herald notes there’s little doubt Theodore enjoys being Florida’s top goalie after spending last season as the backup in Minnesota. Theodore was thankful for that opportunity after not being signed during the summer of 2010.

An injury led to the Wild signing Theodore on the eve of the 2010-11 season opening.

“Last year was still a good experience for me and my career,’’ said Theodore, who signed a two-year deal with the Panthers on July 1. “I had to find wins when I played, even though I didn’t play every game. Right off the bat when I came here, they told me they wanted me to be the guy. I knew it was a challenge, my job to lose. But you still have to prove yourself every night. It’s fun.’’

Unlike Minnesota, Theodore had time to come to South Florida and get settled. With some family already living in the Boca Raton area, Theodore knew a little about the region and wanted to be here. The Panthers are comfortable with the arrangement, as well.

“Jose has the ball and he keeps running with it,’’ Dineen said. “It’s a ground game right now, and he keeps going and going and going. He’s doing a great job.’’

The Philadelphia Inquirer notes that Brayden Schenn's season has been slowed by injuries. First, there was a shoulder problem in training camp, and then he broke his left foot Oct. 26 in Montreal.

"It's been a tough start," coach Peter Laviolette said after the Flyers went through a 11/2-hour practice Wednesday, preparing for Friday's game in Anaheim. "When you drew it up this summer, it didn't go like this."

Still, there is plenty of time for the highly touted 20-year-old, who will return to the lineup on Friday after a five-week absence, to make an impact this season.

"He's a good hockey player and talented guy, and I'm sure he wants to get in here and be a factor for our team," Laviolette said. "He'll get some chances now with guys out of the lineup, play in some situations, and get himself going."

Friday's game will be Schenn's first with the Flyers since he broke his foot, and he says he feels 100 percent.

"It's good to get some practice in and get some chemistry with my linemates," Schenn said. "I'm looking forward to the weekend."

At Wednesday's practice, he centered Max Talbot and Jakub Voracek. Schenn will also get some power-play time, Laviolette said.

Schenn, who says the hardworking Talbot has been a mentor to him, played in three games in a three-day span recently with AHL Adirondack. In seven games with the Phantoms, he had six goals and six assists.

His performance in the last three games - he collected two goals and two assists - prompted his recall.

"He played better in the three games over the weekend," general manager Paul Holmgren said. "The more important thing for us is his foot held up. . . . I'm anxious to see him back in the lineup."

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review relays that the Penguins officially announced today that defenseman Simon Despres, the team's 2009 first round draft pick, will make his NHL debut tonight against the Capitals.

Despres, 20, has produced three goals and four assists in 22 games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton this season.

All three of his goals have been game-winners. A plus-3 this season, Despres is considered by some the Penguins' top prospect and projects as a top-four, two-way NHL defeseman.

Defenseman Robert Bortuzzo will likely skate with Despres tonight. The two have been defensive partners at times in Wilkes-Barre.

To make room for Despres, the Penguins sent defenseman Alexandre Picard — who did not have a strong game Tuesday against the Rangers — back to Wilkes-Barre.

Defensemen Kris Letang and Zbynek Michalek will not play tonight, as both need to be tested for possible concussions before returning to the lineup.

The St. Petersburg Times says signing D Victor Hedman on Wednesday to a five-year, $20 million contract extension was one thing.

But having two young cornerstone players in the fold — the team signed C Steven Stamkos to a five-year deal over the summer — is what really excited Lightning GM Steve Yzerman.

"It's great for our organization," Yzerman said. "It's important that there's stability in our organization and we've got our young players."

The contracts don't quite mesh. Stamkos' five-year, $37.5 million deal kicked in this season and runs through 2015-16. Hedman's extension begins next season and runs through 2016-17.

It pays $1.5 million next season; $3 million in 2013-14; $4 million in 2014-15; $6 million in 2015-16; and $4 million in 2016-17. He also got a $1.5 million signing bonus.

"It's tough after a tough loss to the Red Wings," Hedman said of enjoying his situation. "But I can't lie to you. I'm very, very happy to be staying in Tampa."

For Yzerman, the Lightning's long-term success might just be tied to Stamkos, 21, and Hedman, who turns 21 on Dec. 18.

Stamkos' 112 goals since 2009-10 are a league best. Hedman, at 6 feet 6, 229 pounds, is turning into a defensive force and entered Wednesday averaging 22:55 of ice time.

"There's been some games early here in the season when just his skating, his reach and his strength — I don't know about you — but I sat there and said, 'That's pretty impressive,' " Yzerman said.

The best part, he added about Hedman and Stamkos, "Their best years are ahead of them. As long as they continue with the work ethic that they have and the drive that they have, they're just going to get better and better. We have to continue to add good, young players."

Oracle of OV: "Chris, Am in a 9 keeper roto that plays 9F,1U,5D,2G,5Bench,1R with Standard Cats.

Roster.. Fs. Backstrom,both Staals,Toews,Giroux,Stewart,Ott,Ericksson,Pommy,Clowe,Ryder,Booth Ds..Kulikov, Green,Streit,Yandle, Suter,Larsson,White Gs Rinne,Hiller,Niemi IR Potter Am in 3rd place out of 10, but am 20 pts out of 1st and 10 out of 2nd. They may come back some but have to go get them as well. Green and J. Staal for Carter and Myers is the potential trade. Plan is to drop Potter, put Myers on IR and pick up Montoya. Keeps would then be: Rinne,Niemi,Yandle,Backstrom,Giroux,Toews,Carter....8th and 9th would be two of E.Staal,Stewart,Streit,Myers,Clowe and Hiller. Your wisdom, sir. Thanks."

Chris: I don't think it's a bad trade necessarily, but it's not one I'd make in your position. Carter's value will rise from its current state, without a doubt. Myers is fine.

But Green won't be injured forever. We hope. And the Caps and Ovechkin are going to come back with a vengeance, I believe. Green will key that drive from the back end.

And Jordan Staal is going to be in the mix in the top six on a regular basis, it sounds like. I'm not as concerned about a drop in production with Crosby and Malkin both healthy as I might have been in the past. Staal is just a different player. Even more mature. Composed. Lethal. His offensive game has really gone to a new level and it wasn't just a matter of better linemates sans Crosby.

Email: chris.nichols@sportsnet.rogers.com

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