Stars Notes: Sharp, Lineup Changes, Goaltending
The Dallas Stars have been without Patrick Sharp for almost three weeks now after the veteran forward experienced concussion-like symptoms. The problems arose after Sharp took a devastating hit from Brayden McNabb of the Los Angeles Kings on October 20th, and initially there was no timetable for his return. Sharp skated with the team today, and according to head coach Lindy Ruff (via Mark Stepneski) doesn’t sound too far away:
It’s a step in the right direction and some light at the end of the tunnel for him. He’s feeling better. Hopefully we can get him two or three practices and he can be ready possibly for Sunday.
Sharp, one of the most consistent goal scoring wingers in the league over the past decade had a successful first season with the Stars last year after being traded there last summer. He provided another 20-goal season and recorded 55 points mostly skating alongside Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn. His return to the lineup would help deepen a Stars forward group that is really struggling to score goals. With Jason Spezza, Cody Eakin, Jiri Hudler and Ales Hemsky all missing time for various injuries this season, Sharp would be a sight for sore eyes for Ruff and the Dallas coaching staff.
- Following three straight losses, the Stars will make some lineup changes for tonight. Justin Dowling and Jamie Oleksiak will both get back into the lineup, while Patrik Nemeth and Esa Lindell will visit the press box. Oleksiak is set to skate on the third pairing with Jordie Benn, while Dowling will center the fourth line between Gemel Smith and Adam Cracknell. Both newcomers have played just two games for the Stars this season.
- Kari Lehtonen will be in net tonight against the Calgary Flames for his third start in a row despite being pulled in his last game. The 32-year old netminder was relieved after giving up four goals on eleven shots against the Jets on Tuesday. Antti Niemi didn’t fare much better though, as he gave up four goals as well on twenty shots. The Stars are now 4-6-3 and off to a terrible start in many facets of the game.
Central Notes: Wild Roster Woes, Bourque, Eakin, Sharp
The Minnesota Wild are finding themselves in a bit of a cap crunch due to a rash of recent injuries, writes Michael Russo of the Star-Tribune. The team is currently without forwards Zac Dalpe and Zach Parise as well as defenseman Marco Scandella, who are all week-to-week. Additionally, wingers Erik Haula (injured, out 7-10 days) and Chris Stewart (sick) were also unable to skate on Monday. As a result of the injuries, the team had just 14 skaters at practice.
The team currently has just shy of $1.5MM in cap space according to Cap Friendly but that’s only enough cap space for two recalls. The team could put Scandella on LTIR but that would make it that he’d have to be out for at least 24 days (retroactive to October 27th when he was injured) and if he’s not expected to be out that long, that’s far from an ideal scenario for the Wild. The team could also put Victor Bartley on LTIR but his cap hit doesn’t count in full already as he is currently on season-opening injured reserve (his cap hit only counts for the percentage of time he was on an NHL roster last year) so that wouldn’t free up much more space for Minnesota to work with. Dalpe underwent arthroscopic knee surgery on Monday so he too is a potential LTIR candidate.
Suffice it to say, it’s going to be a busy time for GM Chuck Fletcher as he navigates the cap in order to give the Wild a full roster (or as close to one as possible) in advance of their next game on Tuesday against Buffalo.
Other news from the Central:
- The Avalanche have assigned left winger Gabriel Bourque to San Antonio of the AHL, the team announced (Twitter link). Bourque has played in five games with Colorado so far this season after earning a contract off a PTO, being held pointless while logging 10:46 per game. The 26 year old cleared waivers just prior to the start of the year and since less than 30 days had passed since then, he was able to be sent down now without going back on waivers. The team does not plan to call anyone up to take Bourque’s spot on the roster, adds Mike Chambers of the Denver Post.
- Dallas center Cody Eakin has done some light skating and head coach Lindy Ruff told reporters including Mark Stepneski of Stars Inside Edge (Twitter link) that he is about 2-3 weeks away from returning. Still with the Stars, Patrick Sharp (concussion-like symptoms) worked out on Sunday. Both of those should come as positive signs considering it was announced earlier today that Ales Hemsky is out for the next 5-6 months after undergoing hip surgery.