My Midseason Guide was released January 6 and then an addendum was added Friday the 13th, get it here. If you want to see how great the guide is, you can pick up last year's edition for free here.

Breaking News: Jamie Benn underwent an emergency appendectomy. He is out for 10-14 days. I just quickly benched him one minute before the deadline (unfortunately I’m stuck playing Berglund now though). This came across at about 9pm last night. That’s what I get for catching up on three days of news on my newsfeed…but stopping at around 8pm!

The word on Mikko Koivu is 4-6 weeks.

Tom Gulitti is reporting that Henrique is probably out for next game and that Zubrus is now centering the big line.

Why on earth should Steve Tambellini be fired? Other than the goaltending situation, there is not one thing that he has done (or not done) that I wouldn't do. And I'm brilliant. And why in the hell should he tackle the goaltending situation? To squeak into the playoffs and lose in the first round? This team is being built to become a long-term winner. The Sharks didn't build this 10-year success (or however long it's been now) without first being one of the worst franchises in the league for what seemed like forever. Chicago and Pittsburgh – they were horrible for a very long time. Even Detroit, if you go back over 20 years, had nearly a decade of crap. But once the winning starts, I assure you, it will continue for years. Probably not as long as Detroit – because that organization has been utterly perfect. But certainly 10 years. Anyway, stay the course Oilers fans. I love watching this team – my favorite games to watch. And the winning will start next year. And that's when you worry about the goaltending. As I'm sure Tambellini will.

Islanders fans – same with you guys. One more year, hang in there. How long can you get the top pick in the draft before you stop sucking and starting winning? Not long now.

So I'm writing my THN column yesterday while watching the Pens and the Lightning. It's 2-0 after two and I shut it off and go do other things for an hour or two. I come back to check the final score – 6-3 and Malkin had four points in the third period! Did I mention that I put money on Malkin to win the scoring title? I don't think coming back and checking on the results of the one period that you missed could ever feel so good.

From the pages of "Dump Him" – Mike Green. If he gets five more points this season I'll call this site "GreenerHockey". I'll be surprised if he plays again this campaign. I'm not ruling out the playoffs, however. But the Caps would be wise to just heal this thing properly, do whatever it takes – and then do it again. You've got three months until the second season, so take advantage.

Craig Smith missed Saturday's game with the flu. His four games prior to that, in order, saw ice time of 13:26, 11:28, 10:36 and 9:39. So when a 'scratch' followed that run, I figured the run was over for this year. Still a great player with a bright future, but the slowdown is official. But this news that he was sick, and perhaps played through the illness in the game prior, lends some hope. I'll be watching the ice time next game, assuming he returns.

Adam Henrique is another rookie who missed the last game. So Saturday – Hopkins, Henrique and Smith all missed time. Throw Matt Read in there and we'd have all the favorites. Henrique missed with a strained groin. Day-to-day, so it may be a couple more games before we see him back in the lineup. Last game he played 21:12, which was his third highest of the year.

Buffalo rookie Brayden McNabb suffered a concussion Friday that caused him to miss Saturday's contest. I don't know how many more injuries to Buffalo's blue line it will take to get them to give their playoff leading scorer more than 11 minutes of hockey, but apparently "three" isn't enough. With Sekera, Ehrhoff and McNabb all out, Gragnani still only saw 10:39.

I'm not a person who buys in 100% with the "tools" that NHL scouts use as Gospel. Skating, smarts, stickhandling, shooting – but there are also intangibles. These intangibles are the reason Jason Allison got 95 points in a season. Or why Luc Robitaille had a Hall-of-Fame career. There is a reason why a prospect puts up big points at every level, despite missing a tool or even two. Or being such a bad player in one area that it makes scouts and fans wince. There is a reason. And if the results are there, that needs to be factored in. Gragnani – give him four games, 20 minutes a game and ALL the PP ice time and I guarantee you that he'll get three points and be a plus player. If not – if the 'results' are not there – then demote him. But pile on the responsibility and see what happens. If you give him 10 minutes, then you are wasting his time, your time and everyone else's time. Too many good players do not get a fair shot because they "lack mobility" or they "can't skate" or what-have-you. Am I the only one to see Moneyball?

By the way, if you haven't seen Moneyball. Do so. Tonight. If you read my ramblings, then I already know you'll love Moneyball. And scouts and members of the 'old boy's club' who poo-poo the theory completely can go hang out with the other dinosaurs at the museum.

Mikko Koivu left Saturday's contest with an apparent shoulder injury and Matt Cullen took his spot on the top line. Cullen scored and saw nearly 24 minutes of ice time. A season high. Makes a great pick-up during Koivu's absence.

Alex Steen could be back from his concussion in a week.

Here are the league leaders in Even-Strength Points, who have four PP points or less:

Player   Team     ES P

Brad Marchand BOS        28

Nick Foligno        OTT        27

Alexandre Burrows         VAN       25

Pascal Dupuis     PIT          24

Bobby Ryan        ANA       23

Tuomo Ruutu    CAR        22

Saku Koivu          ANA       21

Matt Cullen        MIN       21

Chris Kelly           BOS        20

Petr Sykora         NJD        20

Alexander Steen              STL         20

Artem Anisimov               NYR        19

Jordin Tootoo    NSH       19

Zack Smith          OTT        18

Brandon Dubinsky           NYR        18

Todd Bertuzzi    DET        18

Teddy Purcell     TBL         18

Troy Brouwer    WSH      18

Tim Connolly      TOR        18

Sergei Kostitsyn                NSH       18

Michael Grabner              NYI         17

Danny Cleary     DET        17

Lee Stempniak  CGY        17

Tyler Kennedy   PIT          17

Luke Adam         BUF        17

Kyle Okposo       NYI         17

Andrew Ladd     WPG      17

Ryan McDonagh               NYR        16

Patrik Berglund STL         16

Chris Stewart     STL         16

Gabriel Landeskog           COL        16

Andrej Meszaros             PHI         15

Andrei Kostitsyn               MTL       15

Ryan Jones         EDM      15

Daymond Langkow         PHX        15

Patric Hornqvist                NSH       15

Jordan Staal        PIT          15

Steve Ott             DAL        15

Oliver Ekman-Larsson    PHX        15

Zach Bogosian   WPG      15

Your classic 'buy low' and 'sell high' from Ryan Ma in our Expert's League. He gave up Taylor Hall, Joffrey Lupul and Nicklas Lidstrom to Marty Kwiaton. Lidstrom is almost certain to slow down, as he did last year… and Lupul is, to me, a high risk for injury. He's dodged the bullet so far, but just playing the odds here. Hall may have some short-term struggles while his linemates heal up. Meanwhile, Ma acquires Joe Pavelski – he of the team that has played the fewest games in the league…. Plus Martin St. Louis – almost unanimous among experts for a strong second half… and Zach Bogosian. On the surface, it's an even swap. And if things continue as they are, perhaps Marty takes this one (don't want to slag on ya buddy, so I'll leave some room for giving you the benefit of the doubt). But I think Ma is playing the odds and expectations properly. In the end, a lot will hinge on Lupul's health, and would you put money on that?

Jeff Skinner played 17:23 in his return to action, but was pointless with one shot.

Tomas Vokoun has won three in a row and has stopped 101 of 105 shots in that span. That's what the Caps signed up for when they signed him. Welcome back!

The Pacioretty-Desharnais-Cole line combined for nine points Sunday. Pac seems to be heating up, that's points in two straight and six in five games.

Bobby Ryan has 11 points in his last 10 games.

Monday Studs and Duds here. Sunday’s was here.

Lecavalier punching Malkin: