Henrik Zetterberg (C, DET) – Call it the ultimate piece of coal to end up in the Detroit Red Wings’ stocking, but when Henrik Zetterberg went down with a separated shoulder on December 17 during a 3-0 shutout win over the Tampa Bay Lightning, he joined six other top shelf Wings on the DL including Niklas Kronwall and Johan Franzen. His loss has been felt as Detroit has barely stayed afloat going 3-3-1 since Zetterberg went down. Owners can rest easy as he’s slated to return the week of January 4.
Vaclav Prospal (LW, NYR) – Scoring may be scarce for the New York Rangers this season, but Vaclav Prospal has teamed with fellow free agent signing Marion Gaborik to give the Blue Shirts a potent first line/power-play unit. But after a Saturday night 3-2 overtime loss to the hated Islanders, Prospal had to get arthroscopic knee surgery that Monday morning. Currently leading the Rangers with 24 assists, Prospal and his offensive prowess will be sorely missed during the 10 days to 3 weeks that he’ll be out of the lineup.
Joffrey Lupul (LW, ANH) – Not unlike Dave Bolland of the Chicago Blackhawks, Joffrey Lupul had to go under the knife for back surgery. In his case, the cause was a herniated disc and with the procedure placing him on the IR since December 11, Lupul won’t be back until early to mid-February, which means he’ll make his return right after the Winter Olympics break.
Mikhail Grabovski (C, TOR) – Just as the Toronto Maple Leafs appeared to be pulling it together enough to merit serious playoff consideration, the East German-born pivot took a first-period hit from Nigel Dawes during a January 2 matchup against the Calgary Flames. Grabovski ended up with a broken wrist and will be out of the lineup between five and six weeks. It ends up being quite the blow given his status as the team’s fifth leading scorer. The Calgary game also ended up costing the Leafs fellow center Wayne Primeau, who went down in the third period with a knee injury that will keep him out from two to four weeks.
Chuck Kobasew (LW, MIN) – The Minnesota Wild’s scoring attack took a hit with second line winger Chuck Kobasew getting felled by an injured knee. Best case scenario is Kobasew strapping on the skates in four-to-six weeks if he doesn’t need surgery. Worse case scenario means season-ending surgery and the hopes that the recently-returned Petr Sykora can pick up the offensive slack.
Montreal Canadiens center Tomas Plekanec (14), of the Czech Republic, fires the puck past Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Kurtis Foster (6) and goaltender Mike Smith (not shown) to score the game-winning goal in overtime during an NHL hockey game Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2009, in Tampa, Fla. The Canadiens won the game 2-1. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
WAIVER WIRE FLYERS
Kurtis Foster (D, TB) – Paired with rookie phenom Victor Hedman, Kurtis Foster kicked off the season by going pointless in his first ten games. More recently, Foster has tallied 15 points in his last 20 games, earning himself time on the first power-play unit alongside Steve Stamkos, Ryan Malone, Martin St. Louis and Vincent Lecavalier.
Ian White (D, TOR) – Recently entrenched by Coach Ron Wilson as one of the Maple Leafs’ top four D-men alongside Tomas Kaberle, Francois Beauchemin and Mike Komisarek, the unheralded Ian White has rewarded Wilson’s confidence in him. Along with putting up 4 points in the past 6 games, White has 8 goals, 21 points and a +9 rating for the season.
Ryan Shannon (LW, OTT) – Call him the Eastern Conference version of the Anaheim Ducks’ Dan Sexton. Like his rookie peer, Ryan Shannon responded well to extra playing time freed up by injuries to star players (in this case, Jason Spezza and Daniel Alfredsson). Skating alongside Mike Fisher and Alex Kovalev, the Connecticut native has put up seven points, (4 goals/3 assists) in his last five games to go along with a shootout winner since he was placed in Alfredsson’s empty slot.
Alexander Steen (LW, STL) – Showing some of the offensive flash that occasionally popped up during his time with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Alexander Steen is lighting the lamp despite skating on the third line. He’s put up 10 points in the past eight games, (half of them goals), and earned a role on the top power-play unit. With interim coach Davis Payne leaning on players with a hot hand, Steen makes for an ideal pickup
Steve Ott (RW, DAL) – Better known for his fists than his scoring touch, Steve Ott is far from a total goon and is more in the class of a Sean Avery—a PIM-heavy scrapper with good hands and an eye for the net. Hoping to pick up on last year’s 19 goal/46 point/135 PIM output in 64 games, Ott has played 35 games and come up with 7 goals, 13 points and 60 PIMS. But with 4 points in the past game, (undoubtedly spurred by playing alongside noted scoring/playmaking linemates Mike Ribeiro and James Neal), expect Ott to pad those stats, at least for the immediate future.
