Milan Mikhalek hit on Keith Ballard

Check out this hit by the Senators Milan Mikhalek on former Gopher and current Vancouver Canucks forward Keith Ballard, the hit caused an injury to Ballard's leg and he will probably be out of action for 2-4 weeks. From looking at the video it would appear to be a slew foot. What do you think?

Maybe it's him? (Kessel)

Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images North America

This seems to be a reoccurring theme wherever the young Kessel goes. Seems like Phil Kessel is in the proverbial dog house in Toronto now, oh that can't be. To Bruins fans Kessel is the gift that keeps giving for the Bruins. The Leafs traded two number one draft choices away to get Phil Kessel and the Bruins are set to get another great player of Tyler Seguin's quality in this years draft because the Leafs are at the bottom of the league again.

Toronto Sun ---- Much to the displeasure of Phil Kessel, Maple Leafs’ coach Ron Wilson has finally broken up his second and third lines.

With the season down to 30 games, a huge chasm in the standings between Toronto and the playoff pack and Kessel goal-less in his past 10 starts, Wilson is splitting up the right winger from centre Tyler Bozak, at least for the start of Mondays’ game against the Atlanta Thrashers. Kessel appeared with centre Darryl Boyce and regular left winger Joey Crabb at Sunday’s practice, while Bozak is now between Colby Armstrong and Kris Versteeg.

After practice at the MasterCard Centre. Kessel took the unusual step of sitting in full equipment waiting for reporters at his stall to talk about his woes. Separation from his good pal Bozak is clearly gnawing at him.

“Maybe it’s just not working out here I guess, I can’t get anything going,” Kessel said. “Maybe it’s time for a change or something. I’m not sure if that (putting him with Boyce) is it. Who knows? I’m trying.”

When asked if he and Wilson have discussed the skid off the ice, Kessel replied “me and Ron don’t really talk...that’s all I have to say about that.”

Wilson replied that Kessel is not one to share many thoughts on scoring.

“He doesn’t want to talk about it or even work on it in practice, it’s kind of a touch thing,” Wilson said. “He comes and goes with cold streak and hot streaks. Just be patient and change up the line. This is a different look, it makes you think a little bit.

“At the end of the day, he’s getting the chances (averaging more than four shots per game) and he has to figure a way to put he puck in the net. But a scoring chance that fails, should not shut you down the next five or six minutes.”

Does Wheeler have a chance at making the B's?

If you read what Blake has to say it appears he thinks so. The article is right he will be one of the bigger Bruins up front if he makes the team. If he makes the team.

Looking forward, Blake Wheeler has shot
By Stephen Harris
WILMINGTON - Take a look at the list of Bruins [team stats] forwards returning from last year, and it seems obvious there will be several incumbents who are not with the team when the season starts.

That logjam of talent up front - at least 16 players with worthy claims for NHL jobs - certainly doesn’t bode well for the chances of any rookie to stick around.

Yet if you drop by Ristuccia Arena the next few days, check out a kid who probably has as good a shot as any, a youngster who, at 6-foot-5 and 215 pounds, will be hard to miss - ex-Minnesota Gophers power forward Blake Wheeler.

Based on the pedigree of NHL draft selection, the 22-year-old Wheeler is the thoroughbred of the B’s freshman class, having been picked fifth overall by the Phoenix Coyotes in 2004 as a Minnesota high school player.

Four years later, Wheeler declined a contract offer from the Coyotes, became a free agent and signed with the Bruins in July, reportedly getting a two-year deal for $875,000 per season.

“It was the opportunity to be an unrestricted free agent at age 21 and choose where you have a chance to play, what team and what city,” said Wheeler’s agent, Matt Keator, who acknowledged his client would have made slightly more money with the Coyotes.

“But it’s not about money in your first contract,” he said. “It’s more about opportunity and having the chance to choose where you play.”

Wheeler looks at the B’s and liked the fact that, under general manager Peter Chiarelli and coach Claude Julien, many young players have been given prominent roles.

Wheeler will try hard over the coming days and weeks to prove to the brass he’s ready for such a role. This is a very interesting prospect, who skates well for his size, has good finishing skill and shows some willingness to toss his weight around. The Bruins are not real big up front, and Wheeler’s extra-large body would come in handy.

“That’s a big thing I always try to bring to the table, that I’m always working hard and always trying to compete,” Wheeler said. “Using my size the best way is something that hasn’t always been a natural thing for me.