from Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet,

- The Predators didn’t put P.K. Subban on injured reserve and hope to have him back Thursday against Los Angeles. That’s great news considering there was a rumour going around that he had a herniated disc.

- The Holiday Trade Freeze is now in effect, and lasts until next Wednesday. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a trade market as paralyzed as this one. With so little cap room, so many teams chasing the playoffs and the expansion draft looming, the market is squeezed tighter than a theatre showing Rogue One.

“It’s so quiet out there,” was the common refrain. We can only hope—for excitement’s sake—they are lying through their teeth, but it doesn’t seem like it.

- Calgary’s come a long way back to jump into the playoff picture. Chad Johnson saved the season until the rest of the horses thundered along with him. Then Glen Gulutzan rewarded his group with two days off after a 6–2 win over Winnipeg on Dec. 10. Next game: a 6–3 loss to Tampa. Don’t think the Flames will be getting any more two-day breaks without it being mandatory.

- One Western GM on Columbus coach John Tortorella abolishing morning skates: “We’d love to do it, too, but then we’d never practice.” A widely held opinion out of the Eastern Time Zone.

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