Fantasy defensemen rankings are updated… 

Fantasy Player Rankings are finally updated for Apri. Hey – it was my birthday yesterday – 33. So this past weekend there were celebrations to be had, hangovers to recover from, and of course April Fool's Day jokes to be played. I just plain forgot…

Alexei Kaigorodov has just 17 points in 32 games for Metallurg of the Russian league. To give you a frame of reference with this, his teammates Nikolai Kulemin and Jan Marek have 39 in 54 and 47 in 47 respectively. Kulemin could be in a Leaf uniform next season, while the Kings will try to bring Marek over. Kaigorodov belongs to Phoenix.

Incidentally, Aleksey Morozov still leads the RSL with 83 points in 53 games and is an unrestricted free agent. 

Patrice Bergeron has just four points in his last nine contests. 

Another college player has been signed as a UFA. Trevor Smith signed with the Islanders. He bears watching for the next three years as he has 35-35 potential. He was signed out of New Hampshire.

Jere Lehtinen missed yesterday's contest with a lower body injury and will be re-evaluated today. 

Hannu Toivonen has been recalled and is expected to play the next two games for Boston. Tim Thomas will play in the finale. 

Wade Redden is pointless in five games. Ditto for Owen Nolan. 

Nik Lidstrom expects to be back in the lineup tonight. Henrik Zetterberg also expects to return this week and get a couple of games in before the playoffs.

Lubomir Visnovsky is out for the season with a broken foot. Rob Blake will also miss tonight's game with a sore neck. This is Johnson's team from here on in!

Martin Erat skated yesterday. He hopes to rejoin the team in time for the playoffs, but he may miss a game or two.

Ryan Whitney was held out of yesterday's practice at Southpointe because of a sore groin and is officially listed as day-to-day. His status for tonight likely will be determined at the game-day skate.

Ryan Parent could make his NHL debut tonight for the Flyers against the Leafs. He was acquired in the Forsberg deal.