Rumors, moves, injuries and newsmakers...

Hawks and Kings to showcase young talent on Saturday; Stastny scores in his return, Sakic may be next; Kipper finally logs first shutout; Vokoun's struggles in Florida; is a goalie controversy looming in Pittsburgh? and more...

YOUNG GUNS 
When the Blackhawks face the Kings in Los Angeles on Saturday, the game will feature two of the youngest and most exciting lineups in the NHL. Chicago is led by their 19-year-old rookies Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews. Prior to the 2007-08 season, it was obvious both were extremely talented. However, no one figured the pair would make such an impact so early. They are joined by All-Star defenseman Duncan Keith, 24, and fellow blueliner Brent Seabrook, 22, to give the team an awesome nucleus that could be together for the next decade.

In Los Angeles, the team's top-five point producers are all 25 or under. Talented forwards Michael Cammalleri and Alexander Frolov, both 25, have the most experience, but 20-year-old Anze Kopitar--a first-time All-Star a couple of weeks ago--is the guy with superstar potential. He is joined by a pair of 23-year-old forwards in Patrick O'Sullivan and Dustin Brown that provides the team with some tremendous upside potential in the coming years.

The Kings could get even younger in the next few days if they decide to deal 38-year-old defenseman Rob Blake to a contender for prospects and draft picks.

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AVALANCHE 
Colorado forward Paul Stastny made his much anticipated return on Friday, suiting up for the Avalanche for the first time since undergoing an emergency appendectomy back on January 17. A groin injury suffered while trying to make his return to the lineup kept the 22-year-old sidelined for an extra couple of weeks. Facing Phoenix, Stastny looked like his old self right away, scoring Colorado's first goal in an eventual 3-2 shootout win over the Coyotes. He would later miss his one attempt in the shootout. In other Colorado injury news, captain Joe Sakic could be back on the ice as early as Sunday against the Oilers. The veteran forward has been on the shelf with a sports hernia since late November.

FLAMES 
It is kind of hard to believe, but Calgary netminder Miikka Kiprusoff finally picked up his first shutout of the 2007-08 season on Friday. The 1-0 victory over the reeling Red Wings came in the 31-year-old's 59th appearance of the season. In his Vezina Trophy-winning season in 2005-06, Kipper registered 10 shutouts. He made 38 saves against Detroit to pick up the victory.

FLYERS 
Philadelphia reportedly claimed forward Patrick Thoresen off of waivers from Edmonton on Friday. The 24-year-old has failed to tap his vast offensive potential over the past couple of seasons with the Oilers. Fortunately for him, he should get a chance to contribute in Philly with the Flyers missing many key forwards with injuries. Simon Gagne (concussion), Joffrey Lupul (ankle) are definitely out of action, while Steve Downie is listed as day-to-day with a concussion of his own. The Flyers are 0-8-1 over their past nine games. They face the Panthers on Saturday.

ISLANDERS 
New York has signed Trent Hunter to a five-year, $10 million contract extension. The rugged forward, who was fifth in the NHL in hits in 2006-07 with 246, has eight goals and 24 assists thus far in 2007-08.

MAPLE LEAFS 
Speculation is rampant in Toronto that Mats Sundin, and possibly Bryan McCabe, may be on the verge of being dealt. Both were excused from practice on Friday with the team offering the "flu" as the reason for their absence. Both would need to waive their no-trade clauses in order to be moved. Detroit, San Jose, Anaheim, Vancouver, Ottawa and Montreal are all believed to be in the running to acquire Sundin. The big Swede has 24 goals and 37 assists in 62 games for the Blue and White in 2007-08. McCabe has four goals and 10 assists in an injury-shortened season.

PANTHERS 
Florida goalie Tomas Vokoun has hit a rough patch recently, losing three consecutive games. The 31-year-old veteran has allowed 12 goals in total in the losses. Vokoun has been known to enjoy a heavy workload, but starting 55 of 60 games in 2007-08 may be taking its toll. Lightly used Craig Anderson is his backup.

PENGUINS  
A goaltender controversy may be brewing in Pittsburgh where Marc-Andre Fleury is soon expected back with the club after a successful conditioning stint in the AHL. The first-overall pick in the 2003 draft has gone 3-1-0 with a 1.51 GAA and .951 save percentage for the team's minor-league affiliate, Wilkes-Barre-Scranton. Fleury has not played in the NHL since sustaining a high ankle sprain back on December 6. In his absence, journeyman Ty Conklin has seized the starting job, going 16-4-3 with a 2.18 GAA and .932 save percentage. It's hard to imagine Penguins coach Michel Therrien not sticking with Conklin down the stretch.

PREDATORS 
Nashville's Jason Arnott continues his blistering play, scoring four goals and adding six assists over his past seven games. The 33-year-old has thrived on a line with J.P. Dumont and Alexander Radulov in 2007-08. Arnott now has 58 points (22-36-58) on the year, giving him a shot to eclipse his personal-best mark of 76 points (32-44-76), set during the 2005-06 season with Dallas. Coincidentally, Arnott will get a chance to battle his former teammates on Saturday when the Predators face the Stars.

STARS 
Dallas forward Jere Lehtinen may have missed 33 games with a sports hernia earlier this season, but he is making up for lost time now that he is back. On Friday, the three-time Selke Trophy winner scored twice against the Oilers to pace the Stars to a 5-2 win. Dallas is now 22-4-2 against Edmonton since relocating from Minnesota to the Lone Star State in 1993. Lehtinen has 29 points (10-19-29) in 32 games in 2007-08, putting him at just under a point per game pace. That's not bad considering he had only 43 points (26-17-43) in 73 games a year ago.

THRASHERS 
Thrashers coach/GM Don Waddell has told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that he is planning on offering Marian Hossa a contract extension one more time before he potentially deals him. If the veteran sniper is traded, one team that may have the inside track is Boston where Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli has told the Boston Herald that his club's efforts to land Hossa are somewhere, "between a long-shot and a good chance."