Interesting moves in Calgary – they have plucked Brenden Mikkelson off of waivers from Anaheim and assigned TJ Brodie to the AHL.

The Tennessean is reporting that Pekka Rinne will start tonight and Martin Erat will return to the lineup.

The Oilers have finally juggled their lines – but kudos to them for keeping their lines together as long as they did. I’m a big fan of giving it time. But yeah, time for a change. The biggest loser in the new line combo switch is Taylor Hall. However, from a development standpoint knocking him to the third line is for the best. At least for now. Lines are: Horcoff with Hemsky and Paajarvi; Gagner with Eberle and Penner; Brule with Hall and Cogliano.

Martin Hanzal is out 10 days with a lower-body injury. This is a real shame (but not a great surprise, as he is fragile). Now in his fourth year, he is being leaned on the most out of all Phoenix forwards in terms of ice time. I really saw a big year from him. Missing four or five games and then finding his timing again, that really hurts. Andrew Ebbett has been recalled and is worth keeping an eye on if you’re desperate for depth up the middle.

Mark Letestu’s two points give him seven in seven games. He is the topic of my THN column today. Essentially I say that he’ll get 10 or 12 points in the next 15 games (making him a good depth pickup), but when Jordan Staal returns he’ll be a 35-point guy. I do see a little Patrick Sharp in him – NOT in playing style, but in his ability to escape the checking-line center pigeonhole and force his way onto a scoring line. So I wouldn’t completely write him off.

Alex Goligoski has a point in each of the seven games so far. Five of his seven points are on the power play.

Since his healthy scratch, Mike Comrie has three points in three games. That never fails to motivate him, going back to his Phoenix days.

With Gabby and Drury out, Christensen is useless in Fantasy Leagues. Not even 10 minutes of ice time. Meanwhile, Derek Stepan topped 20 minutes, as did Dubinsky. Stepan led all forwards in PP time and Del Zotto led all Ranger defensemen. Youth is served!

Steve Downie, six points in five games now. Add 13 PIM and plus-3 and you have yourself a multi-cat stud.

Meanwhile, Simon Gagne is pointless and minus-7 in five games.

Teddy Purcell is getting it done, under the radar – he has four assists in five games so far.

I wonder if Stamkos could get Gagne going, and St. Louis can get Lecavalier going? Food for thought, Mr. Boucher.

In Vladimir Sobotka’s season debut, he played just seven minutes.

The Blues aren’t picking up in the scoring department yet, although Oshie and Colaiacovo have been okay. Alex Steen saw his ice time dip to a season-low 17:44.

Seriously, why does Puck Daddy cover the Battle of the Blades?

Nashville has recalled Nick Spaling. He’ll play a defensive role I’m sure. Marcel Goc is out 2-4 weeks with a seperated shoulder (shown in yesterday’s ramblings – hit from Backstrom).

New lines at practice yesterday for New Jersey: Josefson with Kovalchuk and Elias; Zajac with Zach and Zubrus; Arnott with Pelley and Langenbrunner. This is Josefson’s chance to make his mark.

Ondrej Pavelec will return to practice today according to Chris Vivlamore.

Michael Grabner played 15:36 last night which is a positive sign. But he saw zero PP time, which is a negative one.

This year’s Matt Moulson? PA Parenteau. I said it in the Guide (Angus did too) and it’s looking good so far – he has five points in six games. Incidentally, Moulson does too.

Six games in and Nino Niederreiter has just one point. His minus-1 is okay, so perhaps he’ll stay beyond nine games – but I’m only 50/50 on the notion. I think he’d be best served with another year in junior.

Milan Hejduk tallied his second and third points of the season. I didn’t see the game (I was flipping between the Leafs and the Pens games) but Adrian Dater tweeted that he wasn’t playing very well. It sounds like you can chalk up his points to linemates. I think he’s lost a step and the ol’ career is winding down.

Vinny Prospal had knee surgery – I refuse to say whether or not it was successful, I’ll let you make an educated guess – and he will be out until early December.

Rene Bourque is back practicing and should be back in Calgary’s lineup soon.

Shane Doan has been suspended for three games for his hit on Dan Sexton.

It’s amazing that the more dangerous hit – the one from Backstrom on Goc – has yet to be announced that it is being reviewed. What gives? If not a suspension, should it at least be reviewed? Backstrom is a Top 5 scorer in the NHL…maybe the league hopes it will go away?

Cam Fowler has a broken nose, but he should be good to go still Wednesday.

Marc Savard is making progress, and is now cleared for skating. He is ramping up his workouts. Still at least three weeks away though.

The Marian Hossa show – this guy is really putting on a clinic this year, finally fully healthy. People wonder why I took so long to take him out of my Top 15 in my rankings, and I admit I took a good year longer than I should have – but this is why (now if Vinnie Lecavalier can get back to his old self, my justification of the rankings would be complete):