An interesting player is sitting at the bottom of the plus/minus race with minus-13. Rod Brind'Amour. Carolina is having a weird season, but some of these weird numbers will straighten out.

Daniel Briere scored yesterday, but left with a lower body injury. It is unrelated to his abdominal surgery – or so he says.

Jiri Hudler is white hot with 12 points in his last 10 games. His three points last night – with Franzen back in the lineup – is a great signal. This could be his breakout year, which would mean 70 points or more. His upside is 90.

Dustin Boyd has played at least 15 minutes in 10 of his last 11 games and he has four points in his last five. He's probably looking at a 40-point year, but long term his upside is around 70. He saw extra ice last night with the absence of Cammalleri (illness).

Matt Stajan has an impressive 13 points in his last 10 contests. He does not have point per game potential, so this will not last. Still, his upside is in the low 60s and it wouldn't shock me to see him top 50 this year. 

My article today in The Hockey News touts the value of Kris Versteeg, among other observations.

Another win for Erik Ersberg. Expect him to get a fifth straight start. Seriously – jump on this guy if he is available in your league. While this hot streak won't continue forever, he'll remain the No.1 goalie.

Three more points for Devin Setoguchi last night. I keep waiting for him to slow down, as his career has been rife with hot and cold streaks… but he doesn't seem to want to do that. He was on the borderline of graduating from my Prospects List, but I left him on there for another month. As you can see, he shot way up the list, though.

My buddy emailed me the other day to ask why I didn't trash talk him or rub it in in any way for swiping a certain player off of him and giving him Gilbert Brule. The reason is guilt. This player I 'stole' had one point in eight games and as soon as I got him, he exploded. I rolled the dice that he would turn things around and salvage a 45-point year. I've now set my sights far higher. That player's name is Mikhail Grabovsky of Toronto.

I don't blame you for doubting me on d-man Mark Giordano. I had been doubting myself. But he's really turned it around lately and has quietly put up decent numbers: six points, 11 PIMs and plus-1 in his last 10 games. He has topped 20 minutes in ice time four times in the last six games.

I may have to apologize to another buddy in the aforementioned league. On the weekend I gave him Clowe and a second for Jordan Staal and a fourth. It's a keeper league, so I was just looking to the future for my rebuilding squad. Staal got three goals and an assist last night. It's not often someone is showered with such good luck in trading…so quickly.

Brent Johnson may have stolen the No.1 job in Washington for now, but unlike Ersberg it won't last the season. Theodore went through this last November when Budaj was red hot. Theodore eventually took it back. Johnson is 3-0-1, .951 and 1.72 GAA.

Jere Lehtinen played 20 minutes last night in his season debut. Brunnstrom paid the most, seeing just 7:26. It may be time to drop or bench Brunnstrom for now. Mark Parrish saw over 15 minutes.