NHL Morning Papers (Friday Edition): Burke deal is done, Jokinen out two weeks and Walz returns to Minnesota

Here are the morning papers for Friday the 28th of November:

• It’s early in the season, so Ryan Getzlaf isn’t too concerned about how good the Sharks are just yet, writes Chris Foster.
• Did you Thrashers coach John Anderson is a successful restaurant owner in Toronto?
• Since Andrew Ference got injured in Boston, Matt Hunwick has filled in admirably, explains Kevin Paul Dupont.  The Bruins aren’t going to take the Islanders lightly this afternoon.
• The Sabres are going to try and start a winning streak today when they face the streaking Penguins, writes John Vogl.
• Mike Cammallerie scored a hat trick in his team’s big win at Vancouver on Thursday night.  Jarome Iginla wasn’t bad either.  In other news, the Flames are happy ex-teammate David Hale finally scored a goal.
• The Hurricanes need to get off to better starts and that’s what coach Peter Laviolette has been trying to get into his team’s head.
• It looks like Joel Quenneville has been the perfect hire in Chicago, opines Chris Kuc.
• After all the questions about the Avalanche goaltending, Peter Budaj has played tremendously as of late and is beginning to gain confidence.  Both Adam Foote and J.M. Liles will be out of the Avalanche line-up tonight versus Colorado.
• Kris Russell is back with the Blue Jackets with a fresh outlook, writes Aaron Portzline.  Derek Dorsett (finger) is going to miss 3-5 weeks.  Here are the Blue Jackets’ projected lines for tonight’s game.
• The Stars are going to try and build on their victory in Minnesota when they face-off against the Sharks tonight.
• Dave Dye of the Detroit News wonders if the Red Wings, with such a poor economy and much uncertainty, will be able to re-sign their top guns this off-season.  If you didn’t know, Johan Franzen is a sniper.
• Oilers GM Steve Tambellini knows his team is struggling, but he believes the skill set is there to turn it around.  Meanwhile, Oilers center Kyle Brodziak knows why he has been a healthy scratch.
• Panthers forward Nathan Horton is out of the Panthers line-up with a deep cut in his leg.  In roster news, the Panthers traded Wade Belak to Nashville for Nick Tarnasky.
• Wes Walz returns to Minnesota today for the first time since he retired from the Wild last season, writes Michael Russo.
• The Habs certainly miss the presence of Mike Komisarek on their blue line, writes Bob Duff.  The Canadiens get to face an old goaltending friend today when they take on Washington.
• The Predators traded for enforcer Wade Belak on Thursday.  In other Predators news, both Patric Hornqvist and Ryan Jones are going to remain in the AHL over the weekend.
• The Islanders are going to try to make up for their blown lead against the Penguins with a solid game against the conference-leading Bruins this afternoon.
• The Zherdev-Dubinsky-Naslund line is making its case to be the Rangers’ number one line, writes Katie Strang.  Remember Petr Prucha? He may play today for the Rangers.
• The Senators finally recorded their first shootout victory last night in an important win over the Maple Leafs.  Luke Richardson’s NHL career has come to a close, but he’s looking forward to the challenges ahead of him.
• Daniel Briere wants to get on the ice and play some hockey but he probably won’t play until Tuesday.  The Flyers will try and make it two in a row today versus Carolina.
• The Coyotes are going to be without Olli Jokinen for two weeks with a shoulder injury.
• Michel Therrien changes his lines every thirty seconds but there is one line he doesn’t touch, writes Dave Molinari.  In roster news, the Pens have recalled Janne Pesonen.  Sidney Crosby and LeBron James are superstars in their respective sports but the similarities just about end after that.
• Some of the Sharks aren’t happy that they are playing on Thanksgiving.
• Andy Murray has challenged David Perron to elevate his game.
• Lightning goaltender Mike Smith doesn’t understand why his team can’t win a shootut.
• Brian Burke has accepted the job of Leafs GM.  Damien Cox says Brian Burke’s only option is to tear the Leafs down and then bring them back up.  On the ice, the Leafs played in Ottawa on Thursday and left the Canadian capital with one point due mainly to the play of Vesa Toskala.
• The Canucks had their chances last night but just couldn’t bury them on Miikka Kiprusoff.  The Canucks need to get better on special teams, writes Iain MacIntyre.
• Rookie Karl Alzner is trying to keep it simple in his first few games with the Capitals.  It’s been a great year for Bruce Boudreau.

For Illegal Curve, I’m Richard Pollock.