from Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet,

- Last year, Patrick Kane missed the final 21 games of the regular season, returning for Game 1 of the playoffs.

No one’s doubting his injury, but it was a marvelous manipulation of the salary cap for post-season purposes. There is no limit after Game 82. Chicago could play Kane, newly acquired Antoine Vermette and everyone else without hassle — although opponents weren’t thrilled with the loophole. Now, we’re going to see who copies it in 2016.

Number one on the list is Los Angeles, which won’t have Marian Gaborik for awhile. The Kings were already looking at defencemen, but the winger’s injury adds the possibility of a forward, too. No surprise if they do it, because, as an opposing exec says, “When Dean (Lombardi) has the opening, he goes for it.” (No one quoted in the blog is an anonymous source.) The Rangers would be another, if Rick Nash needs more time.

- Not so much for St. Louis’s Doug Armstrong.

“Are you asking me if I’m going to circumvent the salary cap?” the Blues GM said with a laugh when we spoke Monday. Uh, probably. “We’ve been in (Long-Term Injury) all year. We’re not in the position to add salary (unless money goes out). We don’t have the cap space. Alex Steen and Steve Ott are coming back before the playoffs and we’re a better team when they play. We’re not holding them out. Steen is a great player. If he wants to play and he’s ready to play, he will.”

Jaden Schwartz is back, and they are so much of a better team when he’s healthy. Alex Pietrangelo will see doctors about his return later this week. Steen probably has as good a chance at the Selke as he’s ever had.

St. Louis is fourth overall, but, as usual, the Central is murder with Chicago at number two and Dallas between them. What does Armstrong like most about his team? “With all the injuries, we haven’t spit the bit.”

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