Daily Faceoff is a news site with no direct affiliation to the NHL, or NHLPA

Columbus Blue Jackets News

Gudbranson (face) will travel with the Panthers on their upcoming three-game road-trip.

Gudbranson has missed the last five games after undergoing surgery on a broken orbital bone. The Panthers could use Gudbranson on the road-trip because Dylan Olsen and Alex Petrovic will not be available. If he can't go tomorrow, Mike Mottau would enter the lineup for the first time since December 3.

Erik Gudbranson
Monahan is skating this morning for the first time since suffering a hairline fracture in his foot on November 21.

This is great news for the Flames, because the rookie has been one of their best offensive players this season. He has nine goals and 15 points in 24 games. His 15 points has him tied for second on the team in scoring and fifth amongst NHL rookies. He is likely still at least a week from returning to the Flames lineup.

Sean Monahan
Smith (shoulder) returns to the Red Wings lineup tonight.

Smith missed the last six games, in which the Red Wings went 0-5-1. Smith has had a slow start to the season with just one assist and a minus-7 rating in 11 games. He will dress as the Red Wings seventh defensman vs. the Predators tonight. He has no fantasy value until he starts putting numbers on the stat sheet.

Brendan Smith
Smith (shoulder) expects to play on Tuesday.

Smith has missed the last six games after suffering a shoulder injury on November 2. Once considered a top-prospect with loads of offensive upside, Smith had just eight assists in 34 games last season and has only recorded a single assist with a minus-7 rating in 11 games this year. The Red Wings may dress seventh defensemen tomorrow, so it is unknown where Smith will slot in.

Brendan Smith
Coyle (knee) is expected to return to the Wild lineup tonight vs. Calgary.

Coyle missed 11 games with a knee injury but returned on Friday, before re-aggravating it and missing Sunday's contest. He appears as if he will be back in the lineup tonight after participating in the morning skate on a line with Mikko Koivu and Zach Parise. Coyle had 14 points (8G / 6A) in 37 games last season, but if he can stick on the top-line - he should drastically improve on those numbers.

Charlie Coyle
Coyle (knee) will play tonight vs. Montreal.

Coyle had missed 11 games because of a sprained knee. Thursday, he centered a line with Zach Parise and had Justin Fontaine and Dany Heatley taking turns on the right side. Coyle also worked with the first power-play unit, joining Parise and Mikko Koivu with Ryan Suter and Jason Pominville at the points.

Charlie Coyle
Wild coach Mike Yeo said that Charlie Coyle (knee) skated today before the team’s practice, which is a promising sign.

Even more promising, Coyle was working on his shot in the shooting cage in the tunnel at Xcel Energy Center. Yet the most promising news is that Yeo plans to have Coyle participate in the team’s morning skate tomorrow.

Charlie Coyle
The Flames announce Sean Monahan will stay with team this season.

Last night was Monahan's ninth game, so the Flames had to decide whether to keep him and burn the first year of his entry level contract, or send him back to juniors. It is no surprise that he stays with the team after the rookie's hot-start. Monahan has six goals and three assists (nine points) in nine games. He is averaging 15:47 TOI, but has seen his ice-time rise to 21 and 19 minutes in the last two outings.

Sean Monahan