Saturday, January 31, 2009

Three Bytes on Saturday

The Blue Jackets have sure made the news bytes a lot lately, eh? On Friday night, they decided to scratch Christian Backman again. The Box 12 defenseman has been a healthy scratch on a number of occasions this season and may continue to be through the back half of the year. As an expensive scratch, I am beginning to wonder if he has value during the trade deadline festivities.

Horrible news in Phoenix, as Box 4 forward, Steve Reinprecht, will now be out of the Coyotes' line-up for upwards of 8 weeks, because of a shoulder injury suffered earlier in the week. Reinprecht, lost among some of the younger players in the Draft, only has 28 points in 46 games for the Coyotes, which would justify his lack of Draft position. His veteran leadership will be missed down the stretch, as the Coyotes are in the midst of the playoff race in the West. Getting called up in his place is Andrei Nikulin, who was acquired from Ottawa, earlier in the year.

It looks like musical chairs has started up again in Pittsburgh, as the defenders are taking turns again in the press box. On Friday night, it was Hal Gill and Alex Goligoski who were scratched, Gill being the new face in the press box this week. Gill, a Box 28 defenseman, has been a healthy scratch a few times for the Penguins, but over the holidays, he managed to get into the line-up more often than not.

Click here to see an updated injury page.

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