Jaromir Jagr is out 7-10 days with a mild groin strain.

Still awaiting word on Mike Smith. Apparently, there is a chance he starts tonight. Nobody will have this news before Goalie Post, so you GP members will get that heads up as soon as the coach makes the call.

The Leafs have traded Luca Caputi to Anaheim for Nick Deschamps. Caputi is having an awful time in Toronto, and even if he was turning heads the Leafs don’t have room for him. Too many people ahead of him on the depth chart. But he is at the point in his career where he needs to get his NHL shot this season or next. After that, he’s a career minor-leaguer. So the Ducks have that kind of room for him to at least get a shot. Meanwhile, Deschamps is further away (two years younger) so the Leafs can afford to sit him in the minors for a couple of years and see what the situation is in 2014. I think the Ducks were doing the Leafs a favor with this deal, but I guess they owed them a favor since they stuck them with that horrible Lupul guy and that terrible Gardiner kid.

My Puck Daddy for this week – here.

Down Goes Brown – more brilliance. And the icing on the cake? His reference to “concussion-like symptoms” (see my rant below – complete coincidence). Only read this if you like laughing a lot.

Mike Green is a “go” for tonight. Also, Caron was sent back down again by Boston.

Brett MacLean was the AHL player of the month for December. I don’t get why he’s in the AHL. I understand that he lacks a tool or two, but the bottom line should be results – and he had two points in five games in which he averaged like seven minutes a game. He took his waiver and demotion hard, managing just one assist in six AHL games. But since then he has 23 points (14 goals) in 18 games. BOTTOM LINE: he scores goals. Lots of them. Whose daughter or wife did he sleep with to be getting the shaft like this? Anyway, he just turned 23 a couple of weeks ago. Still young, still not written off in my books.

Jason Pominville is “ill” and may not get into the next game. Kassian was in his spot in practice.

Regarding the rankings – I’m going to have them up on Thursday instead. Because I’ll be reviewing the 3YP stat for all players, and adjusting for the Midseason Guide, it’s best that I just wait.

Not only did the Oilers lose RNH, but they also lost Tom Gilbert thanks to a bad Dan Carcillo hit (suspension forthcoming).

Some Penguins updates: Dustin Jeffrey is expected to return to practice this week. Paul Martin did return to practice yesterday for the first time in two weeks. Pascal Dupuis and Arron Asham both missed practice – they were hurt on Saturday. No update, of course, on the two Pens that matter the most – Kris Letang and some guy named Sid.

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins left the second period with an upper-body injury. No word yet on the extent, but he was the runaway Calder favorite and Adam Henrique could chip away at that gap if he's out for any length of time. Hopkins played 3:44, indicating that he sustained the injury in the first and tried to play, sporadically, through it before giving up. I didn't see the game, but from what I can dig up that is the case.

Further to my ramble on Craig Smith yesterday – is Matt Read in the same boat? The two pleasant rookie surprises have a lot of talent and real special upside, but each of them seem to have hit a wall. A college wall? A nice project would be to take a look at college players over the last five years and their numbers in the first 40 games versus the next 40, upon making the jump.

Jaromir Jagr did not play after the first period, but the injury is undisclosed. Talbot slid into his spot on the Giroux line, as did Voracek. Schenn also saw more ice time overall. "Injured calf" is the word on Jags.

The Rangers bailed on Carl Hagelin and put Dubinsky on the Richards/Callahan line. I don't think Hagelin's great NHL start is line-driven, though. He's a hard worker who will produce – for a time – with or without stars. But getting back on that line would obviously be ideal.

The Oilers demoted Lennart Petrell and recalled Teemu Hartikainen. In the Midseason Guide – out in three days – we profile two prospects from each team who could most likely make an impact in the second half, and give you a short-term (this year) potential statline and long-term upside. Hartikainen is one of the two Oilers. He played 8:14 and was a minus-1 with two shots.

The Bruins have recalled Jordan Caron again. UPDATE – sent back down again.

Jeff Skinner returned to practice without contact. Again, I give my usual timeline at this point to 10 days to indefinite. Tends to be 10 days though, if the player's name isn't Sidney.

Alexander Semin, just two days after finding his form again, took practice off yesterday for "maintenance". He did not play the final 2:31 of the last game, for what it's worth. A "source" says that it is a cut on his right arm.

On the plus side, Mike Green is "pretty close".

Buffalo line combos in practice yesterday (he notes that Gerbe gets promoted after a strong game):

Hecht, with Vanek and Pominville; Roy, with Gerbe and Stafford; Adam, with Boyes and McCormick. Extras skating were Kassian, Myers and Ennis.

Russo speculates that Devin Setoguchi will be back possibly Wednesday. Yawn. What is he, a 40-point guy now?

I thought this was pretty funny – Puck Daddy's 12 things they'll miss about the Versus network…

The Blackhawks signed their first round picks from 2011 to ELCs – Mark McNeill and Phillip Danault. We won't see either of them next year.

Slava Voynov was "banged up" last game and did not skate. He missed Monday's game and is day-to-day. Alec Martinez got back into the lineup.

The term I hate the most – "Concussion-like Symptoms". If they are symptoms that are "concussion-like" then they are symptoms of a concussion! Quit catering to the NHL lingo/spin-doctors and call a spade a spade. They are making up this term, there is no such thing as a concussion-like symptom. It's either a symptom of a concussion, or it is not. Move over "successful surgery", we have a term that now pisses me off more.

That rant was brought to you by this Philip Larsen headline. He has symptoms of a concussion. Jordie Benn will make his NHL debut tonight. Sheldon Souray is on the IR.

Ryan Smyth's two points last night give him five points in five games.

Chicago prospect Jimmy Hayes scored his first NHL goal in his second NHL game. He's seen 16 minutes of ice time this year between the two contests. He's got the big size (6-6, 221) and maturity (22 years old) to stick next season, but as with all power forwards I would preach patience with his production.

Since getting his No.1 job back, Corey Crawford may have played his weakest game, allowing four goals on 30 shots and taking the loss. Two of the goals were while shorthanded. But still, the door may have opened up for Ray Emery to get another shot.

In WJC action Mikael Granlund had a goal and three assists to eliminate Slovakia. His brother Markus had three points for the Finns. As Angus said in his 15 points, Mikael will center the second line for the Wild next year.

At 5pm ET today, Sweden takes on Finland; At 8:30pm today Canada takes on Russia – winners obviously go for gold, that game is Thursday.

Look who seems to be in the zone now – Craig Anderson has allowed just four goals in three games. Mind you, the Sens have been stingy giving up shots, but still… Also, Anderson had his fourth assists last night. That's a nice bonus in some league formats (like one of mine).

The Jagr salute! Except it wasn't Jagr…nor a member of the Flyers…

Dissension in the ranks? PK Subban vs. Tomas Plekanec: