from Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal,

- The Pittsburgh Penguins are actively looking for a top six winger (I’m sure they’ve inquired about David Perron) with Pascal Dupuis (blood clot) out six months, Chris Kunitz (busted foot) out several weeks and young Beau Bennett hurt again. They have third-liner Nick Spaling on the No. 1 line with Sidney Crosby now, and Jayson Megna and Blake Comeau as Evgeni Malkin’s second-line wingers. Wonder if general manager Jim Rutherford has called the unemployed Ray Whitney in Scottsdale, Ariz., to see how he’s doing? Rutherford had Whitney on the 2006 Cup team in Carolina.

- I suspect Nashville Predators GM David Poile has confided in Craig MacTavish that he has a surplus of NHL centres after Mike Ribeiro and Mike Fisher in the 1-2 holes and faceoff expert Paul Gaustad at No. 4. The 30-somethings Olli Jokinen, Derek Roy and Matt Cullen have spent time on the wing there. And let’s cease and desist from any talk of the Oilers or anybody being interested in Vinny Lecavalier. The wheels have fallen off in Philly. He’s being scratched. Lack of foot speed.

- Most intriguing player at Canada’s world junior camp: small Victoria Royals defenceman Joe Hicketts, who dazzled at the Detroit Red Wings’ prospect camp and got signed as a free-agent. Oil Kings coach Hamilton is a big fan. “He was our captain on Team Pacific. Very, very high hockey IQ. Plays big, not afraid of confrontation. You’d never know he’s five-foot-eight. He’s a brick,” said Hamilton, who coached him. “Had a rough year last season, tore his bicep and had surgery. That’s probably why he didn’t get drafted.”

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