Sheet Player News (Dec. 17)

It was a parade to the AHL from the NHL on Friday, as most of the players you see on this post were all demoted, sort of making the sheet pool look a bit silly. The Anaheim Ducks sent Box 8 forward Brandon McMillan back down to the AHL for some more minutes, as he was sent down there earlier this season to do so, just because he wasn't giving enough to the big club this season. He just needs a really good stint with the big club to stay up for the rest of the season.

Along the same lines as Linus Omark before him, there just hasn't been enough from Box 7 forward Magnus Paajarvi that the Oilers could hang their hat on and keep the young Swede around. Paajarvi was becoming a regular healthy scratch or finding more bottom six minutes than anything else, which was certainly hurting his development with a good Oilers club. I would imagine the club would want to see more of the veterans handle the bottom six role with more responsible play then a kid like Paajarvi, so he should be able to get some top six minutes in the AHL.

The New Jersey Devils made a late scratch on Friday night, as Box 27 defenseman Henrik Tallinder couldn't go for the team, due to some back spasms. The team was expecting to see Tallinder in the line-up on Friday, but it turned out that the spasms were too much and he just couldn't go for the night. He'll be on the list as out day-to-day for the time being. In 30 games this season, Tallinder has only picked up 3 assists, so he isn't a great pool pick to be concerned about.

It was a short-lived visit to the big show for Box 30 defenseman Calvin de Haan, who was called up by the Islanders to make his NHL debut, but was immediately sent back to the AHL. With some current injury problems that the Islanders are having with their blueline, I wouldn't be surprised if we were to see de Haan back in the fold before too long. Mark Eaton is set to return from a knee injury, likely taking the place of Steve Staios, who is now out with a concussion. The young defenseman's time will come, I'm sure, he'll just have to be patient.

The New York Rangers also had a quick call up this week, as Tim Erixon was called back up to the team to be a healthy scratch as the team's seventh defenseman. It was hard to tell whether or not there was some concern for another defenseman going into their game on Thursday night against the Blues or the team just may have needed an extra little bit of security for healthy bodies, just in case. Nevertheless, Erixon was called up this week, didn't play and was immediately sent back down. Not much for news here, really.

Finally, the Winnipeg Jets are starting to get healthy again, which is coming at a good time, they are on an upswing in the Eastern Conference standings.  Making way for some healthy bodies on Friday was Box 25 forward Carl Klingberg, who was sent back down to the AHL after playing in six games for the Jets over the last couple of weeks, but he wasn't able to make any sort of offensive impact, not registering a point in the call-up.  I would be surprised if he was called up again, barring injury, of course.