NHL Morning Papers (Saturday Edition): Brian Burke comments on Leafs TV controversy, the apparent rift between Mike Richards and the Philadelphia media and when will Phil Kessel return?

• “Overall, we are very deep on our roster. We got all four lines that can score. We play defense. We never had all that,” said Ilya Kovalchuk about what he calls the best Thrashers team he has been on.  (Writer’s note:  I agree with most of what Kovalchuk said, but they don’t play much defense.)
• In injury news, Kari Lehtonen has stopped skating for the Thrashers, as he has had a setback in his rehab.
• Bruins coach Claude Julien knows Michael Ryder as well as anyone, and he says that the winger is at his best when he moves his feet.
• Meanwhile, Julien doesn’t want his group taking the Senators lightly tonight.
• Few goalies in the NHL are playing at the same level as Ryan Miller is right now.
• The Flames players and coaches do not seem concerned about any retribution tactics from the Oilers tonight for the Sheldon Souray injury.
• Steve Rosenbloom thinks the Blackhawks should demonstrate team toughness instead of trying to make up for a big hit to Jonathan Toews.
• If you are wondering, Cristobal Huet will start in net tonight for the Hawks.
• Meanwhile, both Jonathan Toews and Brent Seabrook are questionable for tonight’s game.
• The Avalanche proved a resilient bunch last night at home versus Carolina, writes Adrian Dater.
• Celebration for the Avs win aside, Darcy Tucker was seriously injured last night, after taking a hit from behind from Tuomo Ruutu.
• Samuel Pahlsson makes his return to the Honda Center for the first time since being traded to Chicago late last season.
• It sounds like lineup changes are on the way courtesy of frustrated head coach Ken Hitchcock.
• Loui Eriksson and James Neal seem to be developing very good chemistry, even though both players are wings.
• The Red Wings need to play a sixty minute game, according to coach Mike Babcock.
• The Oilers have recalled defenseman Theo Peckham from the AHL.
• The Flames are legitimately concerned about the presence on Dustin Penner tonight.
• The Panthers don’t score much, so it is important for them to get the lead.
• Florida only scored twice last night, which means Sidney Crosby single-handedly outscored the team with two goals and one shootout marker.
• In contract news, the Kings re-signed both Jonathan Quick and Davis Drewiske to three-year contract extensions.
• Jonathan Quick admits it is nice to have a little bit of extra security.
• “Nine games into the season, we’ve got to figure out by now how to be ready when the game starts,” said Wild netminder Niklas Backstrom after another poor start and eventual loss for his team.
• Last night former teammates Greg Zanon and Chris Mason got to face-off against one another to determine who is more bald.
• The Habs have yet to name a starting netminder for tonight’s contest against the Rangers.
• The Colin Wilson-Patric Hornqvist-Dave Scatchard line is an interesting trio for the Predators.
• The Devils will attempt to set a franchise record tonight against the Penguins as the team goes for its fifth straight road victory to open a season.
• Apparently Patrik Elias’s groin is feeling good and the Czech winger will return to practice soon.
• “But people forget, he’s still young. You have to be really careful handling these guys that you can’t get too down on them, either,” said John Tortorella about Dan Girardi.
• Maybe a homecoming to Montreal is exactly what Chris Higgins needs to get out of his slump?
• “Higgy just needs to continue just to play the right way on the other parts of his game and he’ll get his ice time,” said coach John Tortorella about Higgins.
• Cory Clouston is hoping that Alex Picard and Matt Carkner forget about their awful performances on Thursday night.
• Do the Flyers party too much? If so, has that caused a rift between Mike Richards and the Philadelphia media?
• Staying in Philadelphia, there are some new lines in store for the Flyers.
• Meantime, coach John Stevens is calling on Simon Gagne to improve his play.
• In Phoenix, the speed of Matthew Lombardi and Scottie Upshall complement each other quite well.
• Staying in Phoenix, the team’s special teams play is making progress, writes Jim Gintonio.
• The Penguins don’t light it up when Brent Johnson is in net, but they did just enough to get by last night.
• With Johnson in net last night, expect Marc-Andre Fleury back in between the pipes tonight,
• It has been six years, but is still significant when Dany Heatley returns to Atlanta.
• In  St. Louis, the Blues are not going to rush back Eric Brewer or Barret Jackman from injury.
• The Miller brothers get to face-off tonight when Tampa faces Buffalo.
• Brian Burke was very honest and fortright when he was asked by Vancouver media about the Leafs TV incident that caused so much controversy.
• There is no need to rush back Phil Kessel, explains Damien Cox.
• Apparently Luke Schenn wasn’t in the doghouse like some had indicated.
• Keith Aucoin and Alex Giroux are trying to stick in the NHL with the Capitals.
• Prime Minister Stephen Harper wants more Canadian NHL teams.
• Also, here is Eric Duhatschek’s weekly notebook.