MacKenzie took four shots on goal in the Panthers' 2-1 shootout loss to the Blues Sunday. MacKenzie also picked up two penalty minutes while posting a minus-1.With just one point in his last 22 games, MacKenzie doesn't provide much value to fantasy owners. He owns the best faceoff percentage of the Panthers' starting centers at 53.6 percent, but faceoffs alone won't be enough to roster MacKenzie.

MacKenzie won just two of his 16 faceoffs and finished with a minus-3 rating in Tuesday's loss to the Jets. If MacKenzie isn't winning faceoffs or providing hits, he doesn't offer much value otherwise. The fourth-liner has just seven points and a minus-9 rating over 41 games this season.

MacKenzie picked up his third goal of the season -- Florida's lone regulation tally -- and scored one of the team's six shootout goals in Tuesday's 2-1 win over the Capitals. A nice offensive performance for a guy who's usually known for his toughness. McKenzie also delivered another five hits, giving him 93 to go with his five points in 29 games on the year.

MacKenzie (illness) looks ready to play Wednesday against the Hurricanes, George Richards of the Miami Herald reports. Scottie Upshall (lower body), Jimmy Hayes and Colby Robak are expected to serve as the scratches for the Panthers on Wednesday, ushering MacKenzie into the lineup after he missed Tuesday's practice with the flu. The fourth-liner has four points and a minus-7 rating through 19 games.

MacKenzie sat out Tuesday's practice due to a bout with the flu, George Richards of the Miami Herald reports. MacKenzie showed up for Tuesday's practice, but he was sent home due to the illness. His status for the Panthers' next game Wednesday will be determined sometime on game day.

MacKenzie has scored only one goal in the month of November giving him a total of four points (2G,2A) this season. MacKenzie was never brought in to produce points, but rather center a hard working 4th line. He has had some success in the face-off circle this year, winning 51.5%. He has a minus-7 rating while averaging 13:39 minutes of ice time per game. MacKenzie is heavily relied upon on the first penalty kill unit so you may get lucky and have him chip in a couple special teams points, but other than that he is not a great fantasy option in any format.

MacKenzie scored a power-play goal in the Panthers' 5-1 defeat to the Devils on Saturday. The center tipped a pass from Scottie Upshall past goalie Cory Schneider for the score, but it was largely inconsequential with the Devils having already raced out to a 5-0 lead. MacKenzie has come away with a point in both of the Panthers' games, but his career-best of 23 points for a full season suggests that level of production will taper off for the fourth-liner.

The Florida Panthers have signed Derek MacKenzie to a three-year/$3.9 million contract. The former Columbus Blue Jacket was solid the last few seasons and the Panthers will get themselves a nice bottom-six forward whose fantasy value is limited at best.

Derek MacKenzie said that contract talks with Columbus have been slow thus far. "The Blue Jackets gave me my first real opportunity, and I'd love to stay," MacKenzie added. "We definitely have the makeup to win the Stanley Cup. ... I'd rather it not get to (the start of free agency without a contract). But I don't fear it, either; there might be an opportunity there for me. Until then, my objective is to get something done with Columbus." The Jackets are interested in bringing the potential unrestricted free agent back. He recorded 18 points and a team-leading 241 hits in 71 games this past campaign.

Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen thinks highly of Derek MacKenzie, who is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent this summer. "He's played great for us," Kekalainen said. "He's a character guy. I have a tremendous amount of respect for what he's done. Not the biggest guy, but plays like a 6-4 guy. But everything has to make sense (in the negotiations). We'll take all those things in consideration." MacKenzie's expiring contract came with a $1 million annual cap hit. He had 18 points and 47 penalty minutes in 71 games this season.