Sean Avery will not be back in Dallas and to be frank I do not think we will see him play this season. The Stars have announced that Avery and the team have reached an agreement that he will not rejoin the team and will continue counseling, and the Stars will pay him as his contract stipulates. It sounds as if the team will seek a trade. Avery will need to convince his future team that he has things under control before he returns – I think he'll get another chance, but just not this year. My opinion – he should have called a meeting with his teammates and won their acceptance. Buy a few rounds of beer and a nice dinner, explain how he is seeing a counsellor and working on his problem and ask for their support. Then the team should have welcomed him back. But what do I know… headhunters, stickswingers and neck-breakers get the help and forgiveness they need, but loud-mouth yappers? Nope. That breaks the precious (read: ridiculous) "Code" so they get no help, leeway or forgiveness.

Nicklas Backstrom, WAS, left last night's contest with a migraine. I don't see it taking him out of next game, but I had heard he gets these from time to time, but that they last just a couple of days. More will be known later.

Carey Price not only has the flu, but also a lower body injury. He will be out for the next few days – do not start him this week.

PIM sleeper Derek Dorsett is targetting Wednesday for a return to action.

Here is a great article on Janne Pesonen , which sums up my feelings on the matter nicely.

Kris Letang played under 14 minutes, whereas Goligoski played 20:28. It was a season low for Letang, whereas Goligoski has three points in two games. Could the Pens be changing favorites? I don't see Letang on the PP at all when Whitney returns, but long-term he will be a part of the top PP when Gonchar leaves.

David Krejci managed another three points in just 14:34 of ice time.

Patrice Bergeron was out because of the flu, so Martins Karsums was in. He was minus-1 in 8:52 of ice time.

Phil Kessel is on a 15-game point streak (22 points). Kudos to the Bruins for bringing these prospects along perfectly. The Blue Jackets would be wise to take a look at how they did it. Kessel and Krejci are stars now.

Petr Vrana did indeed sneak through waivers and is now in the AHL, still with New Jersey.

Paul Szczechura played a career high 17:41 last night, but was pointless and a minus-1. I think the Lightning are starting to like this late bloomer.

The Sens recalled Brian Lee and Ilya Zubov yesterday. Lee played over 20 minutes and manned the second PP but was pointless. Zubov played just under nine minutes, but managed an assist.

Last night, Doughty and Harrold manned the top PP for the Kings and Harrold got in nearly 20 minutes of ice time. Kyle Quincey, one of our guests on next week's Dobber Nation radio show, was on the second unit. We'll definitely be asking him what he expects his role to be when Jack Johnson returns.

Joakim Lindstrom played a season high 15:43 last night, lining up with Mikkel Boedker and tallying another two points. You have the Dobber go-ahead – scoop this guy up now on a short-term basis and keep watching.

D-man James Wisniewski will return to the Blackhawks this week, fresh off a hat trick (and an assist) on Saturday in the AHL for Rockford. It will be interesting to see where he fits in on the PP.

Petri Kontiola has 16 points in his last 12 AHL games. He needs an injury to strike the Blackhawks before he gets a shot. If he doesn't get a shot this season, he'll be gone to Finland IMO.

Nashville prospect Mike Santorelli has an impressive 23 points in his last 12 AHL contests, continuing his strong play that started in Nashville's training camp.