Wow, this is something – you know a team really likes you when… The Kings have signed Dustin Brown to a contract extension. Two years? Three? Nope. Six years. Terms were not disclosed. Thanks to Kukla's Korner for digging this gem up. 

I missed this in the ramblings this morning, but I have to give credit when it's due. I had been hard on Pascal Leclaire because his first three shutouts were gimmes. Last night he got another one though, and he stopped 36 shots in the process. Hitchcock will see to it that his numbers will be stellar for this season – assuming he stays healthy, which is a big if. 

As a result of his fight with Chara, Chicago's David Koci has been placed on IR. The team has recalled Dave Bolland, who has some offensive talent and bears watching…but he will likely be used sparingly on the fourth line.

Colorado's Jordan Leopold underwent wrist surgery today and will be out for two months. 

Kukla is reporting that Danny Markov has signed a two-year deal to play in the RSL. The deal has an out clause next summer to come back to the NHL. 

Boston line combos: Schaefer, Savard, Murray and Bergeron, Kobasew, Sturm.

Boston will make a decision on Milan Lucic today. If the rookie plays one more game it will count as the first year on his contract. Reports in the media earlier this week that a decision had been made – false.

Brandon Bochenski scored and had four shots on goal in his first game of his two-game conditioning stint in the AHL. He will be back with the B's after the weekend. If Lucic gets cut, look for Bochenski to finally get his shot. 

Fredrik Modin has started some light skating but is still at least a week away from returning to the lineup from his groin injury.

Jiri Novotny has six points in his last six contests and has seven points on the year – all while playing on the third line.

James Sheppard scored the first goal of his career last night. He still only played about 10 minutes though. It is possible that his offensive year-to-year numbers will improve as slowly as PM Bouchard's did…and Bouchard hasn't even reached his peak yet.

Brent Burns signed a four-year, $14.2 million contract extension with the Wild. Ahh the price of mediocrity. The tendency in the NHL these days is to pay for potential rather than history. I agree with that. But the money here is still too high. Burns left last night's contest vs Edmonton with a charley horse.

Not a direct fantasy impact, but may interest Carlo Colaiacovo owners – his twin brother Paulo has signed to play with Tillburg in the Netherlands.

Vadim Khomitski has left Dallas' farm team and headed back to Russia. He may give Dallas one more shot next year, but I forewarned you in the summer that this would happen if he didn't make the big club. 

The Penguins came out against Toronto with all their eggs in one basket. Malkin, Crosby and Recchi were a line and they piled up the minutes. Sykora played with Roberts and Christensen and that line was a combined minus-8, so in this man's opinion the decision to mix up the lines was a bad one. It seems as if the Penguins forwards are all overrated except for the big two. Ryan Malone is looking like a 20-point player. Sykora looks useless without Crosby on his line. Christensen… I can see why he was a healthy scratch on the weekend. The supporting cast had better start chipping in or it will be a long season for Pens owners.

Jiri Tlusty played his first NHL game for the Leafs last night and scored his first NHL goal – off his butt – and then scored his second NHL goal – a highlight reel type. He looks very promising for keeper league owners.

As mentioned yesterday, McCabe missed the contest with a groin injury.

Jose Theodore will get the start for the Avs tonight.

Milan Hejduk (back) could be back in the lineup tonight. He is skating again.

Jordan Leopold will miss the contest with a hand injury.

David Koci picked the wrong guy to scrap last night. I thought he was crazy for picking a fight with Wade Belak on the weekend – he lost, but held his own – however, this time he challenged Zdeno Chara. Needless to say, he left the game with a broken and bloody nose. Apparently, Belak broke it on Saturday and Chara dislodged it again.

Brent Sopel missed yesterday's game with a groin injury. Rene Bourque was a healthy scratch in favor of Yanic Perreault. Seeing as Perreault was a minus-3, I have a feeling that Bourque will play the next game while Perreault sits.

Sergei Samsonov – down to 11:34 of ice time. HIS time is running out for fantasy owners.

Peter Mueller played just under 10 minutes last night. Martin Hanzal played over 18. Hanzal played with Doan and Vrbata.

Sandis Ozolinsh has been released by the Worcester Sharks of the AHL. That's the end of that chapter.

Dominik Hasek is suffering from a "hip irritation" and will miss tonight's contest. Jimmy Howard was recalled and will back up Chris Osgood. In four games in Grand Rapids, Howard is 3-1 with a 3.00 goals against average and a .902 save percentages. 

Vancouver's Rick Rypien has a broken finger and is sidelined indefinitely.

Despite Souray and Pitkanen being hurt, Dick Tarnstrom was a healthy scratch last night. Tom Gilbert played 22 minutes (2:35 PP), Ladislav Smid played 23:43 (1:23 PP) and Denis Grebeshkov played 24:26 (4:59 PP). In the DobberHockey Experts League I dropped Nathan Paetsch last night in favor of Grebeshkov.

Horcoff picked up four points last night after being reunited with Ales Hemsky. Raffi Torres was the other winger.

Andrew Cogliano was a minus-2 and played just under nine minutes last night. He was benched for most of the third period and all of overtime.

Dan Ellis had an easy game in his first start of the year, stopping 20 shots for the shutout. If the Preds played this way in front of Mason, he would have had a shutout too. It's worrisome – for Mason owners – that the team picked up their game in front of Ellis, but not their No.1.

Martin Gelinas missed last night's contest with an eye injury.

Marek Zidlicky was a healthy scratch last night. He has been pointless in four games.

Tom Poti and Michal Nylander did not skate in practice yesterday. Poti has a 'nagging injury' and will be a game time decision. Nylander had minor 'aches and pains' but will be in the lineup for sure.

Saturday, DobberHockey's Eric Maltais will be on Sirius Satellite Radio to talk some fantasy hockey on their hardcore fantasy show, which runs from noon until 1pm EST.