Sheet Player News (Dec. 10)

The Florida Panthers welcomed forward Mikael Samuelsson into their fold on Thursday night against the Boston Bruins, his first appearance in a Panthers uniform since the trade that sent him to Vancouver for David Booth. The Box 9 forward did not register a point, but that likely wasn't the reason why he was held out of the line-up on Friday night against the Sabres. Since Samuelsson just came off the IR with soreness and extra complications from off-season surgery, it was more likely that the team didn't want to push him too hard, playing both games on back-to-back nights. I would expect Samuelsson to dress when the team plays next, Sunday in the Big Apple.

The Tampa Bay Lightning agreed to loan Box 24 winger Brett Connolly to the Canadian National Junior team this week to allow him to play in the 2012 World Juniors, which goes in Calgary and Edmonton over the holidays.  Connolly has been a regular for the Lightning this season, but his minutes have been limited from time to time and the World Juniors is one of the top end tournaments for young players to develop, so if he can get a lead spot among the top six in this tourney, then he should be able to excel with the club, making him a better player for the Lightning down the stretch.