from Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal,

- San Jose Sharks defenceman Douglas Murray is strong enough to clean and jerk a Zamboni, and his pilot light is always lit, but his lack of speed seems to be catching up to him in today’s game. Hal Gill is no gazelle in Nashville but he’s a B-plus player when it comes to ice savvy. He gets by on his positioning. Murray? He’s having trouble.

- Columbus Blue Jackets forward RJ Umberger has just two points in 12 games, including a goal he scored against the Oilers on Sunday. Would the Pittsburgh Penguins be interested in the hometown Umberger, who went to Ohio State and was an assistant coach there during the lockout? They need a top-nine forward, although Umberger’s salary ($4.5-million cap hit for four more years) is a huge gulp for any team.

- The Minnesota Wild are finding out what the San Jose figured out. You can’t change a leopard’s spots. Winger Devin Setoguchi has lots of talent but doesn’t bring it every night, which is why he’s prime trade bait probably for a defenceman. But his $3.25 million salary this year and next isn’t that appetizing for other teams. The Wild got Setoguchi, who had no goals in 10 games before scoring the overtime winner against Nashville on Saturday, and hot prospect Charlie Coyle from the Sharks for Brent Burns. They like Coyle, two years out of prep school, a whole lot better than Setoguchi right now.

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