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Date: Team: Pos:

Barry Trotz - C - Predators

The Nashville Predators tabbed Phil Housley to replace fired associate coach Peter Horachek.

Housley, who coached the U.S. in the 2013 world juniors, will be an assistant on Barry Trotz's staff. It'll be interesting to see how Housley affects Nashville's long-dormant offense, particularly on the power play. Trotz very much prefers a defensive, two-way game, which seems to contradict Housley's playing style. Then again, Horachek was fired Monday after the Predators finished with the second-worst record in the Western Conference, which also included one the lowest goals-score totals in the league.

Source: NHL.com

May 21 - 4:44 PM

Ryan Johansen - C - Blue Jackets

Columbus Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen said he hopes Ryan Johansen takes his recent benching in stride but noted "I' don't really care' if Johansen was unhappy playing in the AHL.

Johansen was a healthy scratch for Springfield during Game 4 of the AHL playoffs and coach Brad Larsen said he didn't feel like Johansen's level of play was where it needed to be. "I think this is probably going to be a disappointment [to him], to say the least, maybe even a bit embarrassing," said Kekalainen, who also noted the fourth overall pick in 2010 will have to earn an NHL spot in training camp next fall. Johansen played in 40 NHL games this season, scoring five goals and 12 points.

Source: Columbus Dispatch

May 21 - 4:33 PM

Alexei Emelin - D - Canadiens

Alexei Emelin will be sidelined for the next six months after undergoing surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left knee Tuesday.

Emelin suffered the season-ending injury on April 6 but waited until just today to have it repaired. Given the timeline, it's likely Emelin won't be able to return to the lineup until at least the end of November and possibly early December. While the injury won't affect your fantasy draft, the Canadiens clearly missed his physical presence on the blue line.

Source: Renaud Lavoie on Twitter

May 21 - 4:19 PM

Kyle Clifford - W - Kings

Los Angeles Kings coach Darryl Sutter wouldn't confirm if Kyle Clifford will be in the lineup for Tuesday's Game 4.

We didn't expect Sutter to reveal anything about his lineup until he absolutely has to minutes before the puck drops. However, Clifford said Monday he was ready to return and both team's beat writers seem to believe he'll be in the lineup Tuesday night. Stay tuned.

Source: Helene Elliott on Twitter

May 21 - 4:16 PM

Magnus Nygren - D - Canadiens

Montreal Canadiens sign Magnus Nygren to two-year, entry-level contract.

Nygren spent the 2012-13 season with Farjestads BK Karlstad of the Swedish Elite League, racking up 13 goals and 32 points in 51 games. The 13 goals were a league high for defensemen and the 32 point put him fourth among blueliners. The Canadiens drafted Nygren in the fourth round in 2011.

Source: NHL.com

May 21 - 4:12 PM

Jason Demers - D - Sharks

San Jose Sharks coach Todd McLellan said he's weighing a lineup with Jason Demers inserted as a seventh defenseman for Tuesday's game 4.

Demers has been sidelined since he suffered a sprained left ankle on April 18. He said Monday he's available to return to the lineup, which puts the decision squarely on McLellan's shoulders. Demers did skate at forward at times Monday and could help McLellan balance out both sides of the Sharks' banged-up equation.

Source: Pierre LeBrun on Twitter

May 21 - 2:59 PM

Eric Gryba - D - Senators

Eric Gryba (upper body) didn't practice Tuesday and there's no timetable for his return.

Gryba hasn't been on the ice since colliding with Brooks Orpik in the second period of Game 1. He's expected to practice with the team Wednesday morning, but that doesn't mean he's ready to return to the lineup. We should know more after tomorrow's morning skate.

Source: Senators on Twitter

May 21 - 2:37 PM

Chris Neil - W - Senators

Chris Neil (undisclosed) practiced Tuesday and is cleared to play in Wednesday's Game 4.

Neil left Sunday's Game 3 during the second overtime session, but the Sens said Tuesday that Neil could've returned if the game had gone longer. We expect he'll be in the lineup again Wednesday night as the Senators try to even the series.

Source: Senators on Twitter

May 21 - 2:33 PM

Tim Kennedy - W - Sharks

Tim Kennedy is expected to return to the lineup in Tuesday's Game 4.

Kennedy sat out Game 3 as Martin Havlat returned to the lineup after an undisclosed injury. However, Havlat is out again Tuesday with a lower-body injury, which clears the way for Kennedy to return to the lineup.

Source: Kevin Kurz on Twitter

May 21 - 2:06 PM

Leo Komarov - W - Maple Leafs

Leo Komarov admitted Tuesday that he's talking with the Moscow Dynamo of the KHL but said he's waiting for an offer from the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Komarov is a restricted free agent and is free to head to Russia if he pleases. Whether he's seriously contemplating it or not, the fact is that this will likely drive the price up for whatever contract Toronto had in mind. Depending on what the KHL club is willing to offer, the cost might be too much for the Leafs to keep a player that's essentially a fourth liner.

Source: Dmitry Chesnokov on Twitter

May 21 - 1:49 PM

Chris Bruton - W - Islanders

New York Islanders sign Chris Bruton to one-year contract.

Bruton spent the last two seasons with the Peoria Rivermen of the AHL, scoring four goals and 10 points in 69 games in 2012-13.The Calgary, Alberta native also notched 134 penalty minutes and a plus-2 rating.

Source: NHL.com

May 21 - 1:36 PM

Brad Marchand - W - Bruins

Brad Marchand said the Boston Bruins need to make sure they don't let the New York Rangers back in the series.

The Bruins were up 3-1 on Toronto only to see the Maple Leafs rally and force Game 7. "We realize we let [Toronto] back in it. We didn't have that killer instinct. ... We want to step up and do the job," Marchand said at Tuesday's morning skate. The Bruins lead the Rangers 2-0 heading into Game 3 tonight.

Source: Katie Strang on Twitter

May 21 - 1:25 PM

Seth Jones - D - Player

The Colorado Avalanche's head scout says the No. 1 pick is "open" and talk of defenseman Seth Jones being locked into that spot is premature.

Unless the scout knows something we don't -- and there's surely a chance of that -- we'd be pretty surprised if Jones wasn't the pick. For one, the Avs have spent multiple first-round choices on elite forward talent over the past few years while largely neglecting their back end. Also, the story of Jones' possible return to Denver, where he learned to play hockey while his father, Popeye Jones, played for the Denver Nuggets of the NBA, is about as poetic as they come. This all sounds like standard pre-draft posturing at this point.

Source: Denver Post

May 21 - 1:13 PM

Niklas Lundstrom - G - Blues

St. Louis Blues sign Niklas Lundstrom to three-year, entry-level contract.

Lundstrom was the Blues' fifth-round draft pick in 2011. He spent last season with AIK of the Swedish Elite League, posting a 3-9-0 mark and a 3.10 GAA and .901 save percentage. Lundstrom also appeared in three games during Sweden's silver-medal campaign at the 2013 World Junior Championships.

Source: NHL.com

May 21 - 12:40 PM

Jaromir Jagr - W - Bruins

Jaromir Jagr didn't take part in Tuesday's optional skate but will play in Game 3 tonight.

Claude Julien wasn't the least bit concerned, saying Jagr knows his body and his conditioning. Plus, it's not like Jagr hasn't been putting in on-ice work on his own time. The 41-year-old winger apparently hit the ice in the hours after Tuesday's Game 2 win to work on his shot and his stickhandling.

Source: Steve Zipay on Twitter

May 21 - 12:29 PM