Tuesday Morning NHL Papers (Western Conference): Brett Hull would have chosen Blues hat, Edmonton’s almost-Senators play at Ottawa tonight and Jed Ortmeyer’s battle to play in the NHL with a blood disorder

Central Division

•  “I’m looking to improve on a lot of things I did (Monday night), but it was a good first game back,” said Jonathan Toews after scoring a goal in his return to the Hawks lineup.  If Dustin Byfuglien is playing the point on the power play, he needs to be practicing his defensive game too.
• Here is the story of Columbus prospect Nick Holden and his time in the AHL.  On Wednesday, Ken Hitchcock will be the 16th coach in NHL history to coach 1000 games.
• “He’s played real well for us in the past. I think he’s at a point his confidence isn’t as good as it has been. So he’s got to do his part and we’re going to try to help him out,” said Wings coach Mike Babcock about Ville Leino.  Brett Lebda didn’t skate yesterday because of the flu.
• The Tennessean keeps tabs on some former Predators players and how they are doing.
• “To be honest, if we were like football or baseball and had to pick (one specific) team (to go into the Hall of Fame as a member of), obviously I would have picked the St. Louis Blues,” said Brett Hull.  Speaking of Hall of Famers, there was a great showing for Blues President John Davidson.  Meantime, the Blues face the Canucks for the first time since last season’s first round playoff loss.

Northwest Division

• Flames winger Curtis Glencross has been suspended for three games by the NHL.  Fredrik Sjostrom took a puck off the hand and may miss the Flames’ next contest.
• “I still can’t really believe I’m here,” said impressive Avalance rookie Ryan O’Reilly.
• The Oilers have placed enforcer Steve MacIntyre on waivers.  The Oilers play in Ottawa tonight, a place they haven’t won in seven years.  Mike Comrie will have a sort of homecoming tonight in the Nation’s Capital.  Will tonight’s game be weird for Dustin Penner, Ladislav Smid and Andrew Cogliano?
• Petr Sykora has a concussion in Minnesota and word is his teammates Pierre-Marc Bouchard (concussion) is far from a return.
• Roberto Luongo will not return to start for the Canucks tonight against the Blues.  Basically all the Blues players are struggling and the Canucks are hoping they play a part in that continuing tonight.

Pacific Division

• J.S. Giguere seems poised to return to the Ducks lineup on the team’s upcoming four-game road trip.
• In Dallas, James Neal is expected to return to practice on Tuesday after being out for six days with a groin injury.  Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News gives you his personal opinion on Brett Hull.
• Helene Elliot of the L.A. Times provides an inside look at Luc Robitaille’s induction in the Hockey Hall of Fame from Toronto.  “His physical attributes didn’t stand out, but he could ring it up,” said Jim Fox about Robitaille.
• The injuries to the Coyotes defense has left the team very thin on the back-end.
• David Pollak of the San Jose Mercury News has a fascinating story about Jed Ortmeyer’s blood disorder and what it takes for him to play in the NHL.  In less serious news, Devin Setoguchi and Ryan Vesce are expected to return to the Sharks lineup tonight.