By Ray Calder
Publisher/Editor HockeyObserver.com
Goaltenders:Atlanta's Kari Lehtonen is day to day with illness and a mild back strain . He missed Sunday's win over Carolina. He should return to the crease this week though as #3 man Ondrej Pavelec was returned to the AHL Monday afternoon ...New Jersey's Martin Brodeur had surgery on his torn bicep muscle and the very best that could be expected for a return would be late January . Kevin Weekes takes over as the starter with Scott Clemmensen backing him up ...San Jose's Evgeni Nabokov suffered a knee injury at the end of the shootout against the Blues . The team is saying it's not a serious injury but did recall Thomas Greiss from the AHL to back up Brian Boucher who started both games this past weekend ..Manny Legace returned Saturday in the loss at Los Angeles after missing time with a hip injury
Forwards:
Buffalo's Drew Stafford is not hurt but appears to be buried in Lindy Ruff's doghouse and will be a healthy scratch in the short term - look for other options until Stafford starts to show signs of producing something offensively ...Boston's Chuck Kobasew returned to the lineup Saturday night from his broken ankle . Watch to see how he produces as he's not a guaranteed start for the B's each game ..Colorado's Joe Sakic has a back injury that has him day to day. Only 2 games this week for the Av's so weigh your other options ...Dallas Jere Lehtinen could be back as soon as Tuesday night...Philadelphia's Daniel Briere is feeling better and returned Saturday night scoring his 4th goal while playing 18 minutes ...Nashville's Martin Erat is day to day with an upper body injury . He missed Saturday night's game, but is expected to be ready to go Tuesday ...New Jersey's Brian Gionta has an upper body injury suffered Saturday night and is day to day. It's either a shoulder or a head and I would leave him reserved this week if you have any other options. Also in Jersey Brian Rolston is to begin practicing today or tomorrow and should be back by the end of the week barring a setback ...San Jose's Jonathan Cheechoo was injured Thursday night and missed Saturday's game with what is being termed an upper body injury ...St Louis Paul Kariya , who has been nursing a foot injury, is expected to return to the Blues lineup Wednesday evening according to Saturday's broadcast ..There is an outside chance that Pavol Demitra (fractured rib) could be back practicing with the Canucks this week and will almost certainly beat the out 4 weeks original timetable for the injury . I'd keep him out of your lineup right now but in a weeks time he may be healthy enough to help roto teams .Forward Janik Hansen is getting close to returning from his groin injury but with the Canucks playing only 2 games this coming week I'd leave him on your bench and go with another option .
Defensemen: Calgary's Dion Phaneuf was hit in the eye with an errant stick Sunday against Chicago and is day to day . He showed up for practice Monday with the eye swollen shut according to the Calgary Sun . I would suspect that he's not going to play Tuesday and I'm sure the team will list him as day to day . After Tuesday's game the Flames only play one more game for the week . I'd make the conservative play and bench him unless I had no other options ... Dallas got Sergei Zubov back Friday and he has stepped back into big minutes - he should be active for you ...Edmonton's Denis Grebeshkov returned to the lineup Sunday evening after missing the past week with a concussion . Get him back in your lineups if you need him ...New Jersey's Paul Martin has an upper body injury and is day to day . Leave him on your bench until you see he has returned and played normal minutes on the Devils blueline ....Pittsburgh's Ryan Whitney is already back doing some on ice workouts and figures to be well ahead of schedule (Christmas 08 at the earliest). He may be back the last week of this month or the first week of December barring any setbacks ...Toronto's Mike Van Ryn suffered a broken bone in his hand, a broken nose, a concussion and a cut on his face when he was checked from behind by Tom Kostopoulos of the Canadiens Saturday night . He is expected to miss up to a month according to the National Post .As I suggested to several emailers , if Anton Stralman is available in your leagues he would be the pickup . He has the most upside out of all the possible replacements and is a good puck moving guy capable of filling Van Ryn's role .