HOCKEY HEADLINES | Stamkos, Johansen, Injuries, World Juniors, more

By Dean Matheos, Staff Writer

Ryan Johansen (Photo by Getty Images)

► Stamkos, Johansen on the move?

• Steven Stamkos and Ryan Johansen have been linked to trade rumours over the last week. Stamkos has said that he wants to sign with the Lightning.
• The fact that he is an unrestricted free agent a the end of the year and that accidental liked tweet draws interest for a trade with the relationship between Stamkos and the Lightning potentially fading along with the trade speculation.
• Ryan Johansen rumors started when he got benched by Head coach John Tortorella. Since then, a number of teams have called seeing if he was available
• Columbus is exploring the market and are looking maybe for the best deal. They are in no rush to get rid of him so the asking price is still high.

► Crosby, Henrik Sedin day-to-day

• Both Sidney Crosby and Henrik Sedin are listed as day-to-day. Both are top line centres for their teams
• It is also a big loss for their respected teams as they are struggling at this point in the season.

► Leafs crease

• With injuries to both James Reimer and Garrett Sparks, the Maple Leafs needed goaltending help. They went out and signed Ray Emery to a PTO with their AHL affiliate, the Toronto Marlies.
• That meant that Jonathan Bernier will be the starter in the meantime with Antoine Bibeau backing him up.
• After being winless in his first 10 games, Bernier got his first win against the Los Angeles Kings by a score of 5-0.

► Up and down for McCarron

• A day after getting called up by the Habs, the 2013 first rounder made his NHL debut on Saturday night trying to bring some desperately needed offence to the team.
• It wasn’t one to remember as the Habs lost 6-2 over the Stars with McCarron being a minus-1 with four penalty minutes.
• On Monday night, McCarron was reduced to a fourth line role playing just 5:58. He was credited with two shots on goal and one takeaway.
• McCarron was returned to the St. John’s IceCaps by the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday morning to make room for Devante Smith-Pelly coming off the injured reserve list.

► World Juniors

• The Blues have not loaned Robby Fabbri to Canada for the upcoming World Junior Hockey Championship in Finland.
• After loaning Jake Virtanen the  Canucks will not loan forward Jared McCann mainly due to the injury to Henrik Sedin.
• The Czech Republic are waiting to see if the Bruins will loan them forward David Pastrnak who is currently on a conditioning stint recovering from an injury.
• Canada has made their final cuts which includes defensemen Noah Juulsen and Jeremy Lauzon and forwards Jayce Hawryluk and Nick Merkley.
• Returning players for Canada include forwards Jake Virtanen, Brayden Point and Lawson Crouse along with defenceman Joe Hicketts.

Tags: Columbus Blue Jackets, featured, Habs, Henrik Sedin, James Reimer, Jonathan Bernier, Mike McCarron, Montreal Canadiens, Pittsburgh Penguins, Ray Emery, Ryan Johansen, Sidney Crosby, Steven Stamkos, Tampa Bay Lightning, toronto maple leafs, Vancouver Canucks, World Junior Championships