NHL Morning Papers (Friday Edition): Hockey players certainly give back to their communities, Wild claim Gaborik isn’t sitting because of possible trade and when will Mats Sundin first suit up for Vancouver?

Here are the morning papers for Friday the 26th of December:

• Mike Knobler of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution has an interesting interview with Thrashers GM Don Waddell.
• Michael Ryder tells Fluto Shinzawa what led him to have such a great wrist shot.  With so much success this season, Stephen Harris of the Boston Herald examines what the Bruins’ cap situation could look like next season.
• If the Sabres are going to get going, they’ll need Jason Pominville to return to the form he displayed the last two seasons.
• The Flames provide readers with their opinions on the World Junior Hockey Championship.  The Flames players are certainly giving back to the community this holiday season.
• Here is the best and worst of the past year for the Carolina Hurricanes.
• In Chicago, James Wisniewski has started a fashion line that will send its profits to charity.
• If the Avalanche wants to make a run, now is the time, with so many home games upcoming on the schedule.  If Peter Forsberg returns to the Avalanche this season, the team will want him to be in the lineup more often.
• Mike Commodore is giving back to the community in Columbus.
• Nicklas Grossman reminds some of his former teammate Mattias Norstrom, writes Mike Heika.
• A couple of the Red Wings really enjoy the NHL’s two-day break for Christmas.
• The Zack Stortini-Kyle Brodziak-Jason Strudwick line is starting to develop some chemistry in Edmonton.  The Oilers, as a whole, want to start putting more offense on the board.  It looks like Liam Reddox has made himself comfortable in Edmonton.
• The Panthers have been better since the team was put on notice that no one was safe from being cut, writes George Richards.
• Apparently Marian Gaborik’s rest period coming up is not tied to any trade.
• The Habs are licking their chops to play the slumping Penguins tomorrow.
• The Predators need to get going offensively in the second half, so what better team to try to measure yourself against than the defending Cup champs?
• The Devils have a much improved intra-division record this season as compared to last.
• Arthur Staple of Newsday says the Rangers and Islanders have more in common this season than one might think.
• The Rangers are wasting an opportunity to infuse talent into the lineup or clear cap space by sitting Petr Prucha all the time.
• Bruce Garrioch says the Senators’ upcoming Western Canadian road trip could determine if some of the team’s players get traded.
• The Flyers are about to embark on a six-game road trip that will provide every player with a load of air miles.  Flyers prospect Claude Giroux was disappointed he didn’t make the team out of training camp, but he sure hasn’t moped down in the AHL.
• Jordan Staal came into this season without any expectations, he just wanted to focus on playing hockey.  Meanwhile, some of the Penguins really don’t like not skating for two days and then having to play tonight.
• Mike Smith has certainly proved himself worthy of number one NHL goaltender status this season, writes Brant James.
• Sitting at .500 so far this season, the Leafs have much to be thankful for, writes Paul Hunter.  Meantime, Lee Stempniak just can’t seem to breakout of his current slump.
• Ben Kuzma of the Vancouver Province examines every possible option regarding Mats Sundin’s first few games in the Canucks lineup.  The NHL schedule-maker hasn’t been the friendliest to Vancouver.
• Injuries may affect some teams, but if they are affecting the Capitals, it is sure hard to tell.

For Illegal Curve, I’m Richard Pollock.

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