Brad Larsen

Ducks forward Brad Larsen (sports hernia) is going to begin the season on injured reserve. Saves the team a roster decision. Nikita Filatov appears to be bound for Syracuse of the AHL, but Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch suspects it won't be for long. He is so talented that he will probably play his way up to the NHL very, very soon. Don't worry that Sidney Crosby may be off to a "slow start," because October has been the second most productive month during Crosby's short career. Don't think any Pens fans are worried about anything other than the team's defense at this point in time. Anything but expanasion for Damien Cox of the Toronto Star. The idea of moving teams to Europe intrigues me, the idea of adding more teams to the league does not. Cody Hodgson signed his first NHL contract but appears to be heading back to the OHL, writes Steve McAllister. Smart move by the Canucks. The team seems to have its first three lines set, so there was no reason to stall Hodgson's development by playing him on the fourth line. Fluto Shinzawa of the Boston Globe thinks Manny Fernandez is heading in the right direction for the Bruins. Just where he fits in, remains to be seen.

On the Beat