Larry Brooks of the NY Post: Rangers center Brandon Dubinsky is getting closer to returning from a broken right hand. Tortorella thinks he might return in a week or so.
Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun: Pascal Leclaire could return to the Sens crease in about 10 days. Leclaire has been out since Nov. 23rd after having his cheekbone broken by a puck while sitting on the bench.
Puck Prospectus from ESPN: They are speculating that Canucks and Leafs could work out a deal with Shane O’Brien heading to the Leafs. We noted here a few days ago that O’Brien is being shopped, but I don’t see the Leafs trading for his $1.6 million salary. Yes he’s the type of player Burke likes but I don’t see where he’d fit in the Leafs D plans, unless you can unload either Jeff Finger or Garnett Exelby. The Leafs are close to the cap limit.
Canadian Press in the Globe and Mail: Talk is heating up again of the NHL adding to the number of Canadian teams. It would be a smart move for the NHL to bring one or two of the struggling American teams up to Canada, but that would mean the Gary was wrong about something. Can Bettman admit he was wrong about hockey in non traditional markets? I’m not so sure of that.
