December 20 notes: Brown might need more time; roster freeze in effect

Good afternoon from chilly but partly cloudy Columbus, Insiders. The Kings took the Nationwide Arena ice shortly before 11:30 a.m. and aligned as such:

Gaborik-Kopitar-Lewis
King-Carter-Toffoli
Pearson-Dowd-Setoguchi
Andreoff-Shore-Nolan
Brown-Clifford

Forbort-Doughty
Muzzin-Martinez
Gravel-Greene
McNabb-Gilbert

-It looks like Dustin Brown (shoulder) is going to need an extra bit of time; both he and Kyle Clifford were the extras up front, while Brayden McNabb (IR / collarbone) and Tom Gilbert were the extras on the back end. In other words, expect Marian Gaborik to re-enter the lineup for Clifford, and Kevin Gravel to re-enter for Gilbert. Peter Budaj was the first goaltender off the ice and is expected to draw the start against the Blue Jackets after having stopped 68 of his last 69 shots faced.

-Darryl Sutter shared some interesting figures when asked what he’d like to see out of Gaborik tonight – a story will come after today’s Sutter quotes – but in speaking with the former Blue Jackets winger who was scratched on Sunday, Gaborik would like to see his “overall game” improve. Asked about the particulars that could be raised, he said, “pretty much a lot of aspects, so just come back and play my game where I can help my team to win – that’s skating, being good in the defensive zone, and then produce and winning battles, everything. So pretty much just play better overall.”

-Of note: With 246 goals, Anze Kopitar is one goal from surpassing Wayne Gretzky for sixth place on the club’s all-time goals list. With 699 career points, he’s one point shy of 700. Drew Doughty is also nearing a club milestone; with 249 career assists, he’s one assist from tying Mark Hardy for second place among defensemen on the franchise’s assist list.

-Via John Tortorella, Curtis McElhinney will start in net. While the Kings won’t draw Sergei Bobrovsky tonight, the Blue Jackets rank second in the league with a .928 save percentage, and McElhinney, who is 1-0-2 with a 2.03 goals-against average and .930 save percentage, has been solid when called upon. As for Columbus’ lines, expect to see rotations of Saad-Wennberg-Foligno, Jenner-Dubinsky-Atkinson, Calvert-Karlsson-Anderson and Hartnell-Sedlak-Gagner and defensive pairings of Werenski-Jones, Johnson-Savard and Murray-Nutivaara. Players comprising that fourth line have accounted for 47 points.

-The NHL’s roster freeze is in effect through the Christmas break, so players can’t be traded, waived or loaned. Per Article 16.5 (d) of the CBA: For all Players on an NHL Active Roster, Injured Reserve, or Players with Non-Roster and Injured Non-Roster status as of 11:59 p.m. local time on December 19, a roster freeze shall apply through 12:01 a.m. local time December 28, with respect to Waivers, Trades and Loans; provided, however, that Players may be Recalled to NHL Clubs during this period and, provided further, that if a Player is placed on Regular Waivers prior to the roster freeze period and is claimed during such roster freeze period, the roster freeze period shall not apply and the Player shall immediately report to the claiming Club. However, during the roster freeze period a Club can make any Player transactions necessary for the Club to come into compliance with Article 50 as a result of a Player being removed from the Bona-Fide Long-Term Injury/Illness Exception.

-Darryl Sutter quotes will follow. Enjoy your Tuesday, Insiders; let’s talk soon.