Markov to have season ending knee surgery … Sens working a big deal? Lupul to return Sunday? Sturm and Chiarelli have a plan
  • Sean Gordon of the Globe and Mail: Andrei Markov will face season ending knee surgery, a complete rebuild of his ACL. It is the same ACL that had surgery on 7 months ago. Surgery is scheduled for Wednesday. Markov will be a UFA after this season. He’ll be placed on LTIR, so the Canadiens will have some extra cap room to bring in another defenseman if they choose.

  • Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun: Ottawa Senators GM Bryan Murray is trying to trade Brian Lee, but he may also be working on a larger deal that could shake up the Sens. Teams are interested in some of their younger players, and 2 or 3 teams have shown interest in Brian Lee. The Vancouver Canucks could be one teams the Sens are talking to as GM Mike Gillis could be looking to make a deal as well. Don Brennan of the Ottawa Sun: Even though Lee has cleared waivers, he remains with the team. They taped a ‘C’ on his sweater at practice yesterday, and he was skating with Peter Regin and Jason Spezza. Alfredsson was given a ‘maintenance day’.

  • Rich Thompson of the Boston Herald:

    According to Sturm, Chiarelli mapped out a plan that would serve both their interests. Sturm agreed to waive the no trade clause for a say on where he might end up. The Kings were obviously on Sturm’s short list, and he refused to divulge other interested parties.

    “A couple of days ago Peter explained to me the situation and asked me if I would move my no-trade clause,” Sturm said. “I thought about it overnight and told him OK and he told me the teams who were interested.

    I told him I would waive my no trade and now I have to wait. The teams he told me are very good teams and a few of them I think would be a good fit.

  • James Mirtle of the Globe and Mail: There have been more GMs and Scouts at Maple Leafs games recently. Dion Phaneuf could return on the Leafs western road trip begin on the 14th, so a they may move a defenseman for a forward.
  • James Mirtle via twitter: One GM “The teams that need something are the ones that aren’t winning all the time so you’re talking to teams like the Leafs.”
  • Rich Chere of the Star-Ledger: John MacLean’s time behind the NJ Devils bench may be limited. “Among the rumors swirling as the Devils prepared to face the Philadelphia Flyers this afternoon at the Wells Fargo Center was the return of Jacques Lemaire out of retirement or another stint for general manager Lou Lamoriello.” Ken Hitchcock and Bob Hartely have also been rumored. Martin Brodeur could skate today.
  • Shelly Anderson of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Penguins forward Max Talbot had to be helped off the ice at practice after blocking a shot in the foot. There is a chance he’ll play tonight. Evgeni Malkin is day-to-day after suffering an unspecified injury on Thursday, he missed practice yesterday. The Penguins might call someone up for insurance.