from Dan Rosen of NHL.com,

We're not sure yet of the extent of Jonathan Toews' injury, but we do know that Matt Duchene is out for four weeks with a knee injury. The Chicago Blackhawks and Colorado Avalanche will likely play against each other in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Can Colorado beat Chicago in a seven-game series without Duchene, even if Toews is out and Patrick Kane is just coming back from his injury?

"It'd be a reach. It'd be a big reach. Matt Duchene is one of the more dominant, young offensive players in the League. What he's done this year has been remarkable. What the entire group in Colorado has done this year has been amazing. From Joe Sakic to Patrick Roy to Semyon Varlamov, they just deserve so much credit. Erik Johnson is one of the most improved players in the League. They have the no-name defense that plays with so much character and grit. I've got a lot of respect for what they've done there, but I think it would be a reach for them to beat the defending Stanley Cup champions without Matt Duchene."

There are a number of opinions as to why the Toronto Maple Leafs are in a freefall with eight straight regulation losses. What is your opinion on the collapsing Leafs?

"I think they have to have a long internal look at just how good their team is or isn't. There are some clear deficiencies on the back end. There is a lack of depth down the middle. Obviously the injury to David Bolland set them back and he's not 100 percent, but they've got some issues down the middle and on defense. And when you have those issues, that's a hard way to win in this League. If you look at the best teams in this League, they are very deep down the middle and very good on defense."

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