Western Conference News: Stars, Kings, Wild, Sharks and Canucks
LA Kings forward Marian Gaborik is getting close to returning
On the Dallas Stars …

Marc Antoine Godin: Stars head coach Ken Hitchcock on revealing injuries.

“I think we collectively hate playing the game. What I mean by that is we say upper body, then you go on the phone, and then you look up things or you go to the doctors, find out what part of the upper body … We try to make your work easier, quite frankly, and so we just don’t like going through the dance. It’s just easy to tell you what it is and let’s move forward. It’s just the whole game. It’s an injury and within two hours after we tell you i’s upper-body you know exactly what it is, so why not just tell you? And the players don’t go out and say: “he has a broken left pinkie and we’re going to go after that pinkie.” Nobody thinks like that. Our feeling is just, tell them what the injury is and move it forward and let’s stop the dance.”

On the Los Angeles Kings …

Jon Rosen of LA Kings Insider: Forward Marian Gaborik said he’s getting close to returning to the line up after skating with Jussi Jokinen and Jonny Brodzinski at practice.

“It was good to be on a line,” he said. “Had a good practice. Getting every rep, and so getting closer and closer.”

On if he could return tonight.

“Well that’s in discussion, I guess,” Gaborik said. “We’re just going day-by-day and we’ll go from there, but I’m really close, I would say.”

The Kings play on Friday in Arizona and then at home on Saturday.

On the Minnesota Wild …

Dane Mizutani: The Wild assign forwards Joel Eriksson Ek and Luke Kunin to the AHL.

On the San Jose Sharks …

Kevin Kurz: Defenseman Paul Martin suffered a setback and hasn’t skated in several days. He has offseason ankle surgery.

Kevin Kurz: Coach Pete DeBoer confirms that Martin had a setback, but said that it’s not his ankle. Martin won’t travel with the team on their two-game road trip.

On the Vancouver Canucks …

Iain MacIntyre: Both Chris Tanev and Troy Stecher practiced yesterday. They still need to get clearance to return to game action. Guessing that they will be good after one more full practice.

Rick Dhaliwal: Anton Rodin cleared waivers and signed with Davos in Switzerland.

Vancouver Canucks: Derek Dorsett returned to Vancouver, a statement from the Canucks yesterday:

“Derek Dorsett returned to Vancouver today for precautionary reasons to be evaluated by medical staff. His rehab following a cervical fusion procedure last year progressed well. Consistent with expectations, and resulted in his fitness to play.

Recently, symptoms of neck and back stiffness presented. Given the nature of the injury and surgery, it was determined the best course of action is for a specialist to review his status. Derek Will be assessed to determine cause and treatment of the symptoms before any further action is taken.”

Iain MacIntyre: “Derek Dorsett will travel to LA to consult with his back surgeon, Dr. Robert Watkins, after undergoing tests in Vancouver. GM Benning said Dorsett is experiencing stiffness but not a recurrence of the “stingers” and numbness that led to his spinal surgery.”