Two good points in the comments section below (I love our readers – LOVE them!). Stoa was recalled over Hensick because of re-entry waivers. Sometimes I can’t see the forest through all the trees. Also, another great discovery – Stephen Weiss is FIFTH in scoring over the past month. I’m proud to say that I drafted him in the Experts League and dropped him about six weeks ago. Did I say “proud”? I meant “horribly embarrassed”.

Peter Mueller is down to eight minutes of ice time again…meanwhile Petr Prucha has five points in his last 29 games and still sees 15 minutes.

Matt Stajan has 17 points in his last 16 games.

I’m concerned that Brooks Laich will suffer – and has been suffering – from the return of Mike Knuble, Alex Ovechkin and the emergence of Mat Perreault. He is pointless in four and has just seven in his last 16. Before that he had 18 in 17. Hopefully you sold high.

Don’t look now, but the Leafs are two points out of ninth. What the?

37 points would put Detroit in sixth in the East, but they sit ninth in the West…interesting stuff. Tough Conference and they are in trouble. Especially considering VAN and CBJ are also out of the playoffs and deserve to be in.

The Isles are rolling three scoring lines now – Tavares, with Moulson and Comeau now; Bailey with Neilsen and Okposo; Schremp with Hunter and Joensuu. That could mean points ahead for Comeau.

Meanwhile, Schremp has points in three of the last four games that he dressed for. I don’t know why they don’t try him on the wing with JT – I think they would like that result.

I have a feeling about Vladimir Sobotka – I think that in 2010-11 you’ll see him break out and get 65 points. He just plugs away with sporadic 10-minute ice time and when needed he pops up and chips in a point. Another NHL team would do well to inquire about him. In keeper leagues, he’d be a good stash-away now, the wait won’t be long…

I’m still watching the ice time Giroux gets vs. JVR under the new coach. Giroux was at 19 minutes last night vs. JVR at 14. I’m concerned that Laviolette is putting the reins on JVR for the time being. In a week or so, when Gagne returns, I will be concerned about Giroux as well. JVR has just one point in his last 11 games.

Nik Bergfors is still going nutty – 20 in his last 24 games. He’s second among rookies now.

Vladimir Zharkov is still hanging in there. He has four points in his last six. The Devils have brought him along beautifully and I think in two or three years you’re going to see him as a steady 65-point second liner with upside.

Zharkov has been playing with Elias and Rolston, while Bergfors has joined Parise and Zajac. That’s bad news for Langenbrunner owners, who see their guy with Pandolfo and Niedermayer.
Brian Rolston has 12 points in his last 11 contests.

There was a Kovalev sighting last night. He was seen in Ottawa, actually scoring goals – nearly doubling his season total in a single game.

Jason Spezza – 18 points. Dany Heatley – 21 goals. Can Heatley score more goals than Spezza gets points? That would be funny…

In the last three games, Erik Karlsson has seen over 19 minutes each. That’s the first time that’s happened in a three-game span for him. He has a point and is plus-1, so he’s doing well with it. Perhaps he’s ready to take on more of a load – watch for it.

Jiri Tlusty played 12 minutes on the third line last night.

For some reason the Avs have called up Ryan Stoa. He was one of my Calder favorites back in August before a brutal camp left us with a lot of question marks regarding his skating. In the AHL, he has nine points in 25 games and is a brutal minus-10. I guess the Avs just want to give him a taste rather than give Hensick (six points in seven AHL games) his one millionth chance. Stoa is ranked 64th on my prospects list, but at one time was as high as the Top 15. Milan Hejduk has a knee injury, which led to the call up.

For some reason, the Flyers have signed John Grahame to a contract. Obviously cap restraints. The only impact that has in your fantasy league is that it increases the odds that they will not trade for a goaltender while Emery is hurt, thus Boucher will continue to start.

Nathan Gerbe played well for his first two games of this current call-up, but missed yesterday with a groin injury. Injuries are a concern for such a small player, but this one is a strange one – Gerbe is built like a brick shithouse, so to suffer an injury like this is unexpected.

And the band plays on for the Philadelphia Flyers. A truly great team that’s only question mark is between the pipes, yet they’re playing like the Maple Leafs October 2009 edition. A 2-10-0 record in their last 12. Boucher has lost three of his last four starts. The wins will start soon, but until they do keep Boucher on the bench. He’ll pile up the L’s before he starts piling up the W’s. The team plays a pile of games – five in eight days – starting Monday, and I don’t see a slump ending during such a glut of action. Perhaps after Christmas…

More to come this morning…