Morning Hits: Staal, Beauchemin, Komarov and Bartkowski’s Hit on Gionta
  • Dan Rosen: Hurricanes coach Bill Peters said the Jordan Staal is real close to returning. He could return on December 29th against the Canadiens.
  • Eric Stephens: Ducks Francois Beauchemin will be out tonight. Targeting their first game after the break.
  • Jonas Siegel of TSN: Maple Leafs Leo Komarov has missed the past 11 games with a concussion. He has been skating, but hasn’t practiced with the team yet. Source saying a likely timeline for his return would January.
  • Elliott Pap: Canucks Zack Kassian had the pins removed from his pinky finger on the weekend, and is likely out another week.
  • Chuck Gormley: The Capitals recall Andre Burakovsky and Aaron Volpatti. Alex Prewitt: Volpatti had been in the AHL on a conditioning loan, will be put on the IR.
  • Sabres PR: The Sabres put Torrey Mitchell and Tyson Strachan on the IR.
  • Joe Haggerty: Bruins Matt Bartkowski won’t face any supplementary discipline for his hit on Sabres Brian Gionta.