Sheet Player News (Dec. 16)

Box 9 forward for the Wild, Casey Wellman, was held out of Wednesday night's game against the Blackhawks due to a wrist injury, one that was bad enough that he could grip his hockey stick in the game.  Wellman, an injury call-up this season is likely only going to be day-to-day for right now.  In seven games with the Wild this season, Wellman has 2 goals and 2 assists, giving him a very reasonable scoring rate, when he is in the line-up.  If Wellman can return soon, the Wild would likely be much better off, as they are now the team that everyone in the West is gunning for.

The Islanders have not been in good shape all year long, which has meant a number of call ups from their AHL affiliate in Bridgeport and on Thursday, the next one to come up was Box 30 defenseman Calvin de Haan, who indeed made his NHL debut with the club on Thursday night against the Dallas Stars.  The 20-year old 1st round pick in 2009 is said to have plenty of upside offensively, which should make him into a good pick down the road.  In 22 AHL games this season, de Haan has 2 goals and 6 assists, so he could be considered a late bloomer, if he indeed blooms.

Another NHL evening, another concussion on the board. On Thursday, veteran forward Brian Rolston was diagnosed with a concussion in the game and he will likely be out indefinitely with the injury.  There isn't a great deal of details about the injury on Friday morning, but there really isn't much more that anyone needs to know, except the fact that he does have a concussion.  Protocol will keep Rolston out of the line-up for at least a week and there is a good chance that he will be out of the line-up for longer.

Reports in the game between the Lightning and the Flames said that Box 30 defenseman Matt Gilroy left the game with a lower-body injury and did not return.  I didn't see many more details on Friday morning, but this is just more of a heads up then anything else.  Gilroy has 8 assists in 29 games for the Lightning this season and should be considered a viable option in Box 30, but with his injury, it could change just about everything.  I don't think he was terribly popular, so I don't think there will be a rush of trades to get rid of him.