Today, in hockey history (thanks to Dean Youngblood in the forum)

One week from today I will be flying into Vancouver to meet with Jeff Angus and my graphics designer Glen Hoos, catching the Canucks and the Ducks, as well as other colleagues. One week from tomorrow – don’t forget – is the DobberHockey event at the River Rock Casino at 6:30pm. Details still to come, but don’t forget to carve out that timeslot and come and meet myself, Angus, Hoos, Marcus “Crazynuck” Schalle and DobberHockey writer Ray Irwin. Let’s talk some fantasy hockey. It will be in the lounge/pub. Among the stuff we’ll be giving away – how about a hockey stick autographed by the Vancouver Canucks? Be there Vancouverites!

Last week, Brent Lemon did a column on Martin Brodeur, using some of the work found in the book "HockeyNomics" by Darcy Norman. The column created quite a buzz and there was a lot of interest in this book. The good people at OverTime Books are giving away one of these books per day until Friday. A great Christmas gift for the fantasy nerd in your life (or for yourself, if you’re the fantasy nerd!). The first person who can create a thread in the forum in The Lounge called "Wednesday's Answer" and can tell me, using the Frozen Pool “Last 3 Games” instant line-combo tool, what have been the four Pittsburgh line combinations lately, will get a copy free. If you have won something from me this year, you are ineligible – sorry!

Buffalo hockey writer Jim Kelley passed away yesterday of cancer. I had no idea he was even sick, he was still writing up until last week. I had wondered why I had not heard him on the FAN as Bob McCown’s sidekick in awhile. Terrible news. He was a smart, insightful hockey man.

Dan Cleary is on pace for 63 points. I’ve been saying for several years that I think he can be a 65-70 point player if he played a full season. But he doesn’t. He never does. So pick him up and enjoy the short-term success, and hope for extended health. If he does manage to play 80 games, then yes – he’ll get 60 points.

It wasn’t the clean win that we’d like to see, but Corey Crawford still picked up the W. He’s won five in a row, but allowing five goals on 26 shots is probably enough to see Marty Turco back in there. I wouldn’t be shocked if Turco got hit with a loss against Vancouver Friday and then Crawford came back in Sunday for another win. At that point, the duties will start to shift towards the rookie as he does his best Jimmy Howard impression.

Jeremy Morin picked up his first NHL point, an assist. He was also a plus-2. Rockford is a horrible team and I don’t think it’s doing Morin, Brandon Pirri or Kyle Beach any good.

I thought he was done and done, but Tomas Kopecky’s four point effort last night gives him six in five games and plus-5 in that span. Last night was the result of added PP time thanks to Hossa being on the shelf.

Vladimir Sobotka had a bit of a breakout in a losing effort – three points and plus-3. Not worth grabbing yet, but if the ice time remains there next game and he produces, then absolutely pick him up for the short term.

With four points against Chicago, David Backes has 12 points in his last 10 contests.

Jamie Langenbrunner returned to practice and skated on a line with Ilya Kovalchuk and Travis Zajac. Just a word of warning to Vasyunov owners.

Atlanta has activated Patrice Cormier from IR and assigned him to Chicago of the AHL. We’ll seem him in a few weeks I’m sure, unless the team continues to be white hot, in which case they won’t want to mess with the chemistry.

Michael Leighton was assigned to Adirondack of the AHL for conditioning (six days).

Who steals from a widow at a funeral? I mean…I don’t know what to say about that… Did the same idiot punch the bride at a wedding? I’ve just…never fathomed anything so digusting. It’s just not human. I’m getting myself riled up just typing this so I’ll stop.

Ethan Moreau will probably be back in the lineup. He is not fantasy relevant, but his presense in the lineup is, as he is yet another hurdle for Nikita Filatov to leap over to get things rolling on his young career.

Kristian Huselius was finally back on the ice, but Tom Reed of the Dispatch reports that he has no strength in his leg. I’m guessing he is still a good three weeks away.

Nothing pulls a goalie out of his doldrums like a shutout, eh Pekka Rinne? Rinne owners rejoice – I think this means a run of W’s and low GAA

Simon Gagne returns from his neck injury and notches a goal and an assist – including the OT winner. They represent his first points of the season, as he was pointless in six games before the injury. His return did NOT impact Teddy Purcell’s PP time or ice time.

Clarke MacArthur has just one point in his last five games and is a minus-6 in his last seven games. His numbers are falling back into line, although I still think he’ll get to 60 points this season (and 21-23 goals).

Kris Versteeg has 12 points in his last 13 contests. Maybe he will be a 60-point player on his new team after all…

The Sens have waived defenseman Brian Lee, which in Lee’s case I think is the beginning of the end. If you were holding onto Lee in your keeper hoping for some sort of spark, I don’t think it will come. He’s just not NHL-caliber.

Nathan Gerbe practiced on the top line with Derek Roy and Thomas Vanek yesterday. I don’t expect it to pan out, as I’ve always said that the puck won’t start going in for Gerbe (the way we expect it to) for another two years. But you never know – certainly there couldn’t be a better opportunity than this one.

Just a reminder – if you bought the Keeper League or Ultimate Fantasy Pack from me, you are unable to see it in your downloads. We are looking into it. Hopefully won’t be much longer.

Drew Stafford will be back in the lineup Friday. He practiced with Luke Adam (who bears watching) and Jason Pominville.

The Isles have signed their former prospect Jeremy Colliton to a two-way deal. After playing in the Swedish League last  year, he has been playing in Bridgeport and obviously has been doing enough to be considered a future call-up. But he is a depth player at best.

Alexei Ponikarovsky is targeting next week for a return to the lineup.

Despite three points (all assists) in three games, Patric Hornqvist has seen his ice time cut. He was down to 13 minutes last night. A healthy scratch would probably do him good – he’s the type who would respond. He’s a goal scorer and he’s not scoring right now.

Oops…