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All his teammates want for Christmas is more Nicklas Lidstrom, according to The Detroit Free Press.

At nearly the midway point of the NHL season, Lidstrom -- 41 years and eight months old -- is playing as well as ever, his name as usual bandied about for the Norris trophy, an award with which he's become synonymous (his closest competitors for the Norris, Nashville's Shea Weber and Boston's Zdeno Chara, are ages 26 and 34, respectively).

He is tied for third among defensemen with seven goals, is fourth with a plus-16 rating and tied for eighth with 22 points.

Lidstrom has been the Wings' steadiest and best skater so far this season, which isn't a surprise even to those who should be challenging for that mantle.

"Nick is outstanding," Pavel Datsyuk said. "We really lucky we have him. I see him every year; he just same level. You know what you get from him -- he never up and down, just same."

The number Lidstrom likes is his plus-minus rating. He finished on the minus side last year for the first time in his 19 seasons, so to see it back where it should be is satisfying even for a guy with nothing to prove.

"That's something I wasn't happy with last year, so it's something I wanted to improve on and I've been able to do that so far," Lidstrom said. "I'm happy with that."

The Free Press points out that last season's minus-2 didn't deter voters from picking him in the 2011 Norris race, and Lidstrom walked away from the awards show last June cradling his seventh trophy, one shy of Bobby Orr's record. It was recognition of Lidstrom's genius: of how he uses his stick to make opposing superstars run out of room; of how he reads plays three moves in advance.

Players call Lidstrom "the Perfect Human" because he's as polite and humble as they come.

Sometimes, Henrik Zetterberg said, the moniker gets shortened to "Mr. Perfect," and at this time of year, "St. Nicklas" often comes into play.

For Mike Babcock, Lidstrom serves as a sounding board as well as a go-to guy.

"He does the right thing all the time," Babcock said. "That makes it way easier to be a good coach, because there is communication and support there, that he knows what it takes to win and then he helps you with that process.

"He's playing as good as I've ever seen him. He's been great because he embraces doing the simple thing over and over again, and obviously he's been touched by a wand by God -- I mean, he's incredible."

Lidstrom said he won't make a decision on his future until the season is over, but there are reasons to be encouraged he'll stick around for a 21st season. He's never suffered serious, lingering injuries, the kind that take a toll on the body; he'll be on a competitive team, and the NHL realignment will reduce the wear and tear of travel.

In the meantime, his teammates are taking what they can.

"With his age, you need to try to lots of learn from him, because you never know, next year, he maybe not with us, he maybe retired," Datsyuk said. "But with how he play and shape he is in, he can play another two years, easily."

So the Wings wish.

The Washington Post describes how as the Capitals step on the ice in Buffalo on Monday evening they will do so with a much too familiar vacancy on their defense. The game against the Sabres will be the 20th consecutive and 26th of the season without Mike Green in the lineup.

Over the past two seasons, Green’s absence from the lineup has become a new normal for Washington and a trying time for the two-time Norris Trophy finalist. Dating from Feb. 8 of last season, Green has missed 52 of the past 62 regular season contests because of injury.

It’s unclear when Green, who was not made available to comment for this story, will return from his latest setback, a strained right groin muscle that he suffered in mid-November. When Green’s recovery plateaued two weeks ago, the Capitals decided to take an experimental route with his rehabilitation, according to several people familiar with the situation who requested anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the defenseman’s recovery.

Green received Accelerated Recovery Performance (ARP) treatment, which involves electrical stimulation, in Minnesota, according to those people. It’s unclear whether Green, who skated for five days prior to the NHL’s holiday break, has benefited from the program. Boston goaltender Tim Thomas is one player who has publicly acknowledged his use of the system and thanked its developers when he accepted the Vezina Trophy in 2011.

But while Green’s teammates, coaches and agent, as well as Capitals’ officials await his return, all say the groin injury will not pose a significant threat to the defenseman’s career. But there’s no denying that the steady string of ailments have had an impact on it.

“The last two years, he’s had a lot of things go wrong — the concussions, now the groin and the foot,” said Nicklas Backstrom, one of Green’s close friends on the team. “I think he’s trying to be as positive as he can and get back as soon as possible, but it’s tough for him. You can see he’s frustrated. I feel bad for him and I want to see him play hockey again. That’s all he wants to do.”

The Post recalls how in the 2008-09 and 2009-10 seasons, Green led all NHL defensemen in points. But in the two years since, he has been sidelined by injuries to his shoulder, knee and hip flexor, a pair of concussions, a twisted right ankle and now the groin strain. The limited playing time has kept Green, 26, from continuing his evolution as a player, whether that would have included becoming a consistent two-way presence or continuing to dominate with his offense.

“Mike’s missed more significant time than he would have liked recently, but it’s beyond his control — beyond anyone’s control,” said Craig Oster, Green’s agent. “He was very excited about starting the year and taking another step personally, and as a team. The part that is encouraging, in all of these unfortunate circumstances, is that none of the injuries have been of a real significant variety that should have any lasting impact on Mike’s ability to play in the long term.”

The Columbus Dispatch recalls that the first move Ken Hitchcock made when he took over as Blue Jackets coach during the 2006-07 season was to put cherry-picking winger Rick Nash on the penalty kill. If Nash seemed out of place at first, he quickly adjusted, and he has often credited that move with making him a better-rounded player.

Taking Nash off the penalty kill might not have been Scott Arniel’s first move when he took over in the summer of 2010, but the second-year NHL coach has stuck to his guns, even though Nash’s offensive production has dipped and the Jackets’ penalty kill has struggled for most of two seasons.

Arniel’s reasoning is that he must limit Nash’s ice time to keep him fresh throughout the season, and that playing Nash heavy minutes at even strength, as well as on the top power-play unit and on the penalty kill, is too much.

“You can’t do that over an extended period of time and expect, when it’s five-on-five or the power play, to have him fresh and ready to go,” Arniel said. “At some point, it becomes pacing yourself to make sure you can last throughout the game.

“I don’t want that. I want to make sure that when Rick’s playing, he’s playing at his utmost, at his level best.”

Nash has been on the ice for only 13 minutes, 33 seconds of short-handed play in 34 games this season. Last season, he played only 21:21 short-handed.

Limiting his penalty-kill time has kept Nash’s overall ice time at 20:02 per game, which is 28th highest in the NHL among forwards.

“I didn’t ask not to be on it,” Nash said. “Arnie explained it to me that he wants harder minutes in different areas.”

The Dispatch says it’s a slight distinction, but Nash might be considered more of a dangerous penalty killer than a polished one. His reach, and the threat that he’ll take an errant puck on a breakaway, can single-handedly affect the opposition’s play at the points.

In 2008-09, the only season the Blue Jackets made the playoffs, Nash tied for second in the NHL with five short-handed goals. In 2007-08, Nash tied for fifth with four shorties.

“Sometimes, when those (dangerous) guys come over the boards, it makes the other team’s power play a little bit leery,” Arniel acknowledged. “It gets them on their heels a little bit, knowing they can’t gamble as much.”

The Boston Herald posits that the Bruins are far, far better set up today to win the Stanley Cup than they were on this date a year ago.

Indeed, on the day after Christmas 2010, the inconsistent Bruins were worried more about making the playoffs than going all the way, as they sat in eighth place in the Eastern Conference standings.

A year later, it’s a safe bet the Bruins would be a consensus pick across the NHL as the team most likely to hoist the Cup in June. They are enjoying their brief holiday vacation before heading to Phoenix tomorrow, having gone 20-2-1 in their past 23 games.

“Oh yeah, absolutely I’d have to say the Bruins would be the pick,” said one pro scout on hand Friday at the Bruins’ 8-0 dismantling of the Florida Panthers. “They’re the best team I’ve seen.”

The Herald believes here are the top-10 reasons the Bruins of 2011-12 are so much better positioned to win a championship than the 2010-11 version:

1. Emergence of Tyler Seguin. At this point a year ago, after his first 31 NHL games, the youngster had modest numbers (five goals, five assists, 10 points) and a plus-1 rating. This season, he is at 14-17-31 with a plus-26. The Patrice Bergeron - Brad Marchand - Mark Recchi line was good, but Bergeron-Marchand-Seguin is great.

2. Impact of Rich Peverley and Chris Kelly. Few realized in February how dramatically the trade-deadline acquisitions of Peverley and Kelly would upgrade this team. The B’s have long flirted with the idea of having three legitimate scoring lines, but at least since 2003-04, that’s been a pipe dream. Now it’s legit. Opposing defenses just can’t match up against three lines capable of lighting up the scoreboard.

3. Improved power play. The power play was the Achilles’ heel of the Bruins all last season and in the playoffs, often looking ponderous and predictable. One year ago, the unit had a 17.3 percent success rate. Today it’s up to 19.4 and looking far faster and more creative, helped in part by having Peverley at the point.

4. Bad stretch done with early. All teams go through rough patches. The Bruins got theirs out of the way early, with that ugly 3-7-0 start. No one expects them to continue their current tear — 41 of a possible 46 points in 23 games — but this is a solid, confident team that knows how to win and should continue to do so.

5. Plenty of money to spend. The B’s salary cap was tight last season. To clear space for the too-brief return of Marc Savard, general manager Peter Chiarelli dealt Matt Hunwick and Marco Sturm. This season, there’s plenty of free cash (up to about $6.3 million, if necessary) to replace injured players or make deadline pickups — not that there are any obvious needs for this club.

6. More consistent top line. There still are games in which the Bruins obviously need more from their talented (but sometimes inconsistent) No. 1 line of David Krejci, Milan Lucic and Nathan Horton. But it seems as though those nights are fewer and further between than last season.

7. No elite East challenge. A year ago, few experts tabbed the Bruins as the team to beat in the East. Now, they could be a unanimous pick, with no team — not the Flyers, not the Penguins and not the Rangers — looking like a major threat. If the B’s had won a few more of those games early, they’d be far out in front in the conference.

8. Defense still superb. Last Dec. 26, the B’s had allowed just 69 goals in 33 games. This year: 33 games, 63 allowed, fewest in the league. Remarkably, the team has gotten better at keeping pucks out of its net.

9. And the offense is improved. The number of goals at this point a year ago: 93. This year: an NHL-leading 119. The B’s plus-56 goals for/against ratio is 23 better than the next-best team, Detroit.

10. Experience. Winning is habit-forming, and the Bruins have grown very accustomed to that good feeling. Realistically, there was no way anyone in the B’s locker room last December could expect a Stanley Cup. Now, the guys in there expect nothing less.

With nearly a point per game this season, The Chicago Tribune notes how Patrick Kane has been a large component of the Blackhawks' high-octane offense.

The winger hit the Hawks' Christmas break with 34 points to rank in the Top 20 in NHL scoring, including 25 assists (sixth). While those numbers are impressive, being 93rd with nine goals is eye-catching, even to Kane.

"It's definitely low to me," said Kane, who has two goals in his last 16 games. "You see some different numbers around the league and the guys on your team and it would be nice if it was a little higher.

"One of the fun parts about playing the game is scoring. Things probably will start turning around quickly. I feel pretty good on the ice and I'm getting some chances. Usually when you start getting chances the goals start going in."

Kane is fourth on the Hawks in goals behind Jonathan Toews (20), Patrick Sharp (18) and Marian Hossa (15). After scoring a career-high 30 in 2009-10 and finishing with 27 last season, Kane is on pace for a career-low 20. The 23-year-old said his shift to center, where the focus is often on passing to linemates, to start the season before moving back to the wing didn't figure into his goal output.

"I felt pretty good at center and I was even scoring," Kane said. "It's one of those things where you have to stick with it and try to keep shooting. I've been attempting more shots lately, just trying to get them to the net. Hopefully they'll find a way to the back (of it)."

The Denver Post points out that Avalanche center Ryan O'Reilly enters today as the NHL's takeaway leader with 51. That's three ahead of the Detroit Red Wings' Pavel Datsyuk​.

O'Reilly ranks 20th in the league in faceoff-winning percentage (.540, 347 won and 296 lost). Teammate Paul Stastny ranks 14th in the league in faceoff percentage (.555). As a team, the Avs rank fifth in the league in faceoff percentage (.520) after finishing 14th last season.

If the voting were conducted today, The Post continues, O'Reilly likely would get strong consideration for the Selke Trophy as the league's best defensive forward even though he is a minus-2.

"We play him in so many situations," coach Joe Sacco said. "He is often out there against a team's top line. He and his line have been consistently good for us all season, and Ryan has kind of led the way."

The Philadelphia Inquirer notes that the Flyers are on a brief holiday break, giving them time to spend with their families - and perhaps reflect a bit on their 11-plus weeks of solid, gritty hockey.

Aided by the rapid development of several rookies, the Flyers have overcome a slew of injuries and have put together a 21-9-4 record - and are one point behind the Eastern Conference-leading Boston Bruins.

The positives have outweighed the negatives. By far.

The problem is, one of the few negatives has been at the most important position - goaltender.

Ilya Bryzgalov hasn't played up to expectations. His 14-7-3 record is misleading, based more on the offensive support he has received than his strong play.

With star defenseman Chris Pronger sidelined for the rest of the season because of severe post-concussion syndrome, The Inquirer believes Bryzgalov needs to step up his game if the Flyers are going to be a serious Stanley Cup challenger.

Bryzgalov, 31, has had some very good stretches, but he has been much too inconsistent for someone of his pedigree.

Overall, he has a 2.92 goals-against average (34th in the NHL) and .895 save percentage (41st). He has struggled at home, where he is 6-5-1 with a 3.45 goals-against average and .882 save percentage. In games against the East's top two teams, the Boston Bruins and New York Rangers, he is 1-2 with a 4.14 GAA and .851 save percentage.

The Flyers did not give him a nine-year, $51-million contract because they expected those numbers.

Bryzgalov is coming off Friday's 4-2 loss against the Rangers at Madison Square Garden. Two of the goals he allowed were on deflections and another was on a breakaway.

"I don't know what to do, guys," Bryzgalov said after the game. "Maybe we should play tighter defense and box out the guys."

He called the deflected goals "bad luck, bad karma" and said he would push forward. He is one of the Flyers' hardest workers in practice.

"I don't know what to do but continue to work. I hope someday it's going to change," said Bryzgalov, who has been noticeably sharper against Western Conference teams, perhaps because he is familiar with their tendencies. "A new year is coming. Maybe in the new year everything is going to be different."

The Arizona Republic illustrates how one second he's behind the net, the next he's along the boards. Then, before you know it, he's in the circle making a backhand pass that leads to a goal.

There are reasons why Ray Whitney is known as "The Wizard."

As he approaches his 40th birthday, Whitney has not lost his skill or passion for the game.

A former Stanley Cup champion with the Carolina Hurricanes, he is one of the key cogs for the Coyotes, helping them stay in the playoff hunt in the Western Conference.

"He's been solid," coach Dave Tippett said.

"He's such a good pro; his conditioning is top-notch. He thinks the game very well, very dedicated -- sometimes that's what pushes some players out of the game, because they don't have the dedication toward doing what you have to do to prepare to do things right. He prepares every day."

Whitney goes into every game determined to make an impact, and he seems to bring out the best in his teammates -- a vital gauge in evaluating a player's worth.

He does it with the enthusiasm and drive of a player half his age, and he has not shown any indications of slowing down.

He leads the team with a plus-10 in assists (20) and points (32), and he is second in goals (12) behind the 16 of Radim Vrbata.

"The conditioning won't be a problem with him," Tippett said.

"It's just you have to have that will to compete, a will to prepare to compete, but ever year I'm sure he steps back, and if he still has that desire, he can play a long time.

"Age is just a number when you do the right things to prepare and get yourself ready to compete at this level. When you have the mind and skills that Whits has, you can have an impact, and that's what he's doing."

Grapes from the sunny Okanagan: "Merry Christmas & Happy New Year Chris,

My first year in a keeper league. Points only. 12 teams. 4C,4RW,4LW,8D,2G,6Bench. Keep 8. Unlimited trades. No waivers.

I have been hanging around the middle of the pack all year. When do you make a decision to build for next ? Do I identify my 8 keepers and work trades for better draft picks ? I don't like to surrender this year. However being realistic I doubt I can reach the top 4 $$$ spots.

H.Sedin, Anisimov, Grabovski, Johansson, D.Sedin, Burrows, Kennedy, Cleary, Carter, Perry, Kopecky, Alfredsson, Edler, Aucoin, Bieksa, Goligoski, Quincey, Lydman, Visnovsky, Ericsson, Miller, Luongo, Giordano, Paajarvi, Sullivan, Bertuzzi, S.Mason, Nabokov

cheers."

Chris: Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you as well, thanks.

You really have to examine the standings closely and see what would have to happen for you to climb into a money position before time runs out on the season. Having both Sedins is incredible. Visnovsky is healthy now. Alfredsson is coming on. Miller won't be as bad as he was in the first half. Perry should improve as well.

If you still think it's unlikely you'll get back into the race, then it's time to start examining keeper options and strengthening those final few spots. You have a core of talent that should let you compete for the top spot each and every season, frankly. Sometimes it just won't happen, but on the whole you have a really good base.

Email: chris.nichols@sportsnet.rogers.com

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