Badgers in the NHL update

Kyle Turris Traded To Ottawa

The Phoenix Coyotes have freed Kyle Turris from the black hole in the desert. If you haven't been following the Turris situation, it's been an absolute mess.

Turris, who ended his contract hold out on November 22nd by signing a two year contract worth $2.8 million was traded to the Senators on Saturday morning for David Rundblad and a second round pick.

Most speculated that the Turris holdout had more to do with wanting a trade than a boost in salary. Turris recorded just 25 points in 65 games last season, but was playing just 11 minutes a night. In fact, Turris was averaging the least amount of minutes for any forward on the roster not named Paul Bissonnette.

In Ottawa Turris should see a dramatic increase in playing time. Turris is expected to immediately be a top six player in the Senators lineup and we should see a huge jump in his production.

Davis Drewiske With Two Goals In Last Two Games

After nearly a two year goal drought, Davis Drewiske now has recorded goals in back to back games for the Los Angeles Kings. Playing in only his 5th and 6th games of the season, the former Badger captain recorded goals against Columbus and Detroit in consecutive games.

Drewiske has been a healthy scratch for the majority of the season, but played in three games for the Kings last week. All three games were played after L.A. fired head coach Terry Murray.

Brian Elliott Continues To Shine In St. Louis

The former Hobey Baker finalist has been a brick wall in net for the St. Louis Blues this season. Elliott currently leads the NHL in goals against average (1.43), save percentage (.948), and shutouts (4).

The Newmarket, Ontario native is having the best season of his professional career and seems like he's in the zone he was in when he led the Badgers to the 2006 national championship. Elliott is 13-2 on the season and has allowed more than two goals in a game only once.

Stepan And McDonagh To Be Featured on HBO

If you have HBO, the 24/7 series should be must watch television for you on Wednesday nights. The hour long program follows around the New York Rangers and the Philadelphia Flyers who will be meeting in the leagues annual outdoor game, the winter classic.

Stepan and McDonagh will presumably get some face time during the four week series. Stepan got some one-on-one camera time in last week's season premier and as one of the teams brightest young stars, should be prominently featured during the last three episodes.

McDonagh is turning into one of the leagues best shut down defenseman and has chipped in 14 points in 30 games for the blue-shirts. McDonagh is second on the Rangers in TOI (time on ice), averaging over 25 minutes a game. After a slow start, Stepan is fourth on the Rangers in points with 21 in 30 games.

Rene Bourque Faces Possible Suspension

It looks like former Badger Rene Bourque may be sitting out a few games in the near future. Bourque illegally checked Chicago defenseman Brent Seabrook into the boards from behind and has a meeting sometime today with the NHL.

Judging by the leagues stance this season on illegal hits, I would expect director of player discipline Brendan Shannahan to hit Bourque with a couple game suspension.

Adam Burish Close To Return

Adam Burish has missed the past fourteen games with a broken hand and will miss game number fifteen tonight despite being cleared by the training staff. ESPN Dallas is reporting that Burish is healthy enough to play but the coaching staff feels he needs a few more practices under his belt to shake off the rust.

Burish is expected to make his return to the NHL on Wednesday against Philadelphia. Former Badger Jake Dowell is penciled in on the fourth line tonight for the Stars.

Speaking of Dowell, the former Wisconsin national champion dropped the gloves in game last week against the Rangers. I wouldn't be surprised if that made it on this weeks addition of "24/7".

Gardiner Catches Flack For Liking Justin Beiber

One of the funnier stories of the week involves former Badger blue-liner Jake Gardiner admitting that he likes Justin Beiber. Gardiner tweeted on Thursday, "Any guy who says they don't like Justin Bieber is either lying or not man enough to admit they do."

The news sent laughs throughout twitterverse and even the Leafs locker room. The story became big enough over the weekend that it even inspired a segment on TSN from Bryan Mudryk with interviews with a few players about Gardiner's new found love for the pop star. However by far the best part was head coach Ron Wilson talking about the hip hop artist Drake.

Geoffrion Back In the NHL

After missing a few weeks with an upper body injury, and a subsequent conditioning stint with Milwaukee in the AHL, Blake Geoffrion has been recalled by the Nashville Predators.

The former Badger captain has had a rocky second season in the NHL recording just two points through 19 games. However, Geoffrion has played a strong two way game and is learning to play in the bottom six in the NHL.

Heatley Taking Big Role With Wild

Due to a rash of injuries for the Minnesota Wild, Dany Heatley has found himself with a lot of pressure to carry the offensive load. Heatley has recorded points in 8 of his last 9 games and will be asked to step up tonight as Mikko Koivu will be out once again.

Heatley, who was traded in the offseason to Minnesota from San Jose is second on the Wild in scoring behind Koivu with 22 points in 33 games. Heatley will play wing on a line tonight with Pierre Marc Bouchard and Matt Cullen.

McBain Finally Finding His Groove?

After recording just 5 points in his first 19 games, former Badger defenseman Jamie McBain had notched 8 points in his last nine games and looks like he's starting to heat up for the Carolina Hurricanes.

McBain is a top four blue-liner for the Hurricanes and has been playing recently with Tim Gleason. Two of McBain's three goals this season have come on the power play.

Skille Out Indefinitely With Shoulder Injury

It sounds like Florida Panthers winger Jack Skille is out for the foreseeable future with a dislocated shoulder. Panthers head coach said that it's a big loss since Skille has picked up his game recently. The 24 year old Skille had recorded 6 points for Florida before the injury.

Craig Smith Continues Hot Rookie Season

Smith, who bolted Wisconsin this summer after just his second season as a Badger continues to justify his decision. The rookie continues to prove his critics wrong and he leads the Nashville Predators in points with 24 in 32 games. The Madison native has 7 points in his past 8 games.

Smith has lost some ground however in the rookie scoring race to Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. Last year's number one overall pick, RNH leads all rookies in scoring with 33 points in 32 games.

Piskula Back In The NHL

Former Badger blue-liner Joe Piskula was called up a few weeks ago by the Calgary Flames. It's the second stint in the NHL for the Antigo, Wisconsin native. Piskula played five games with the L.A. Kings when he was signed out of Wisconsin after his junior year in 2007. Piskula has played five games for the Flames so far but has yet to record a point.

**=No longer on roster

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