Versteeg is expected to skate on the top line with Bryan Bickell and Jonathan Toews. The Blackhawks are currently down two forwards: Andrew Shaw is injured and Brandon Bollig was suspended two games for his hit on Wild defenseman Keith Ballard in Game 4. Versteeg started the playoffs on the top line with Toews and looked good at the start. He struggled the rest of the way, however, and has been scratched several times, once for illness.

Andrew Shaw will drop to the third line, with Versteeg moving up to the top-line to play with Jonathan Toews and Brandon Saad. Versteeg has just one goal and one assist in his last eight games, a promotion should help spark some offence out of the former Panther.

Versteeg didn't play the third period on Friday night, after he collided with teammate Bryan Bickell at the end of the second. Versteeg was down for a few moments before going off under his own power. The Blackhawks right wing, who practiced with the team on Saturday, said it was more precautionary that he didn't return in the Blackhawks' 4-2 victory over Anaheim.

The coffee is hot, be careful! Did Kris Versteeg hit the lottery or what? Going back to Chicago is a blessing although I just hope he leaves his injury problems behind. He first game back with the Blackhawks looked more like a Panthers game than a Hawks game. Carey Price has lost 5 of last 6 and has some hard luck in some of those. Perhaps a good "buy low" op has arisen. Does Evgeni Nabokov and Nikolai Khabibulin going down with groin injuries last night tell you something? Duchene went down with an oblique injury. Everyone hopes it won't be serious, me included, but it just sounds serious. This year's boy wonder, Ben Bishop, left the game last night with an UBI (upper-body injury). Tough night to be a goaltender in the NHL. JVR scored his 8th and 9th last night. The Leafs need more of that.  It just can't be all Kessel, all the time. Kudos to Rangers G Cam Talbot for notching his first NHL shutout as he blanked the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre. No easy feat! Every single Ranger player had a SOG except for D Marc Staal. Where in the world is David Desharnais? Max Pacioretty needs you! Martin Brodeur has turned back the clock winning 4 in a row and 6 of his last 7. I'd never thought I would ever say this, but the Penguins offense stinks of late. If you haven't noticed but the Philadelphia Flyers and New Jersey Devils are slowly but surely moving up the Conference rankings. Is it me or do the Islanders have the Red Wings' number? Pavel Datysuk jersey is the third best selling NHL jersey. I think that's what I've heard.  He is really amazing.  You too Zetterberg. Steen ain't losing any steam it seems. Do you know who led the Red Wing defensemen in shots on goal in that Islander game? Quincey and Lashoff with 1 each. Brock Nelson had 7 SOG last night. Who?  Put this kid on your watch list.  His name sounds like a tough hockey player.  Semin is the perfect example of those players who play hard only for the money. Got his contract after last year's tremendous season, and now only has like 9 points at the quarter mark.  That's a total of 36 for the year.  Bleeeech! The Nashville Predators scored a week's worth of goals against the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday. 7 goals!  A miracle in the music city. I'm beginning to like Brandon Pirri more and more. 9 points in 15 games this year for the rookie. I love how David Backes gives you a little bit of everything every night. Shane Doan gets overlooked in almost all fantasy leagues but he is quietly having...

Versteeg played for Chicago for three seasons from 2007-10. He scored 44 goals and 101 points in 170 games with the Blackhawks. Versteeg missed much of the lockout shortened season, he was held to four points (2G / 2A) in 10 games. This season he has two goals and seven points in 18 games. Versteeg has been a 20-goal scorer three times, so he adds extra firepower to an already strong Blackhawks lineup.

VERSTEEG GOES BACK The Florida Panthers are starting to clean house as they sent RW Kris Versteeg and LW Philippe Lefebvre to the Chicago Blackhawks and received two young prospects in return in D Dylan Olsen and RW Jimmy Hayes.  Both Olsen and Hayes are close to being NHL-ready which suits the Florida Panthers GM Dale Tallon's style.  Versteeg goes back to Chicago where he started his NHL career and had some decent seasons there.  Versteeg is the kind of veteran that will provide depth to the defending Stanley Cup Champion's squad, although he does seem to be more injury prone the last few years....Lefebvre has yet to see any NHL action but has had some success in the QMJHL with the Drummondville Voltigeurs. Jimmy Hayes was drafted in the 2nd round of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft by the Toronto Maple Leafs and has seen limited action with the Blackhawks. Perhaps he will get a better shot at sticking in the NHL with the Panthers....Dylan Olsen is a hulking defenseman drafted 28 overall in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft by Chicago.  The Cats are now sporting some big defensemen with Erik Gudbranson and Dmitri Kulikov already playing in the NHL. The Panthers will be tough to play against once Olsen joins the ranks. Versteeg offers depth and some scoring his recent bout with injuries makes him suspect. Watch to see where he lines up and gauge the risk.  The other players in the are not fantasy relevant at this point in time and may be a year or two or more away from making any type of impact at the NHL level.

Versteeg was a healthy scratch on Saturday, but he draw back into the lineup tonight. He will play on a line with Marcel Goc and Tomas Kopecky. Versteeg has two goals, three assists and a minus-7 rating in 13 games.

UPDATE:  Toronto traded away Center Joe Colborne to the Calgary Flames for a 4th round draft pick instead of risking losing him on the waiver wire. Colborne was a 1st round draft pick in 2008 by the Boston Bruins but now joins his third team in hopes of sticking with the big club.  He will have every chance with the Flames as they are clearly in the rebuilding mode.  Might be worth a shot but don't expect a lot of production just yet. PRESEASON FANTASY BITS: The Florida Panthers recently signed forward Brad Boyes and defenseman Tom Gilbert to one-year contracts. With the addition of goaltender Tim Thomas, and the return of Kris Versteeg, the Panthers have become a little tougher to play against....Versteeg missed a big chunk of last season with an injury, but he has looked good so far in preseason.  He scored two goals and had an assist last night against Tampa Bay. Versteeg had good chemistry with Tomas Fleischmann a couple of years ago, maybe they can rekindle that this season. He may be worth a late round pick... Steve Stamkos and Martin St. Louis scored tor Tampa and they are both first round picks. Don't be shy about St. Louis' age, he did lead the NHL in scoring last season which means, he still got it!... James Reimer is showing that he wants to maintain the starting job in goal for Toronto, as he allowed only one goal against Detroit, and he had 24 saves. Jonathan Bernier has played well in camp also, so this is going to be a tough decision for Coach Randy Carlyle to make.  Expect them to split a lot of games, which means their fantasy value takes a hit... Young defenseman Nick Leddy had a big night for Chicago, scoring 2 goals and adding an assist in the Blackhawks 4-3 OT victory. The 22 year old has a lot of offensive potential and could score 40 points this season.  Draft him accordingly.. Forward Marcus Johansson scored a goal for the Capitals, and we a very high on this kid. Expect him to break out this season....Veteran defenseman Dan Boyle had two power play goals in San Jose's 6-5 win over Anaheim. Boyle may fall in your draft because he had a mediocre year last season, but we think he can still bring it, especially on the power play... The Ducks were badly oushot by the Sharks by 39-18, and they have not had a good preseason. Jonas Hiller got lit up in goal for Anaheim, although he did make 33 saves.  We expect him to get the majority of starts this year over Viktor Fasth... Great news for Colorado fans and fantasy players who own ...

Versteeg has had a hard time staying healthy lately. He has missed a total of 49 games in the last two seasons. That being said, when he is in the lineup he is productive. He is a high-risk, high-reward fantasy selection and is probably best served to start the season on the waiver-wire.

The Panthers had one of the most disappointing of seasons last year, finishing last in the NHL East, winning only 15 games, and having the largest goal differential in the league with 59 more goals allowed than scored. This is after they had finished 2nd in the East the year before and lost to the Devils in a tough seven game series in the first round of the playoffs. In their defense, they were beset by many injuries, having 28 players go down at some point in time last year.  To make matters worse for the upcoming season, one of their best players, Stephen Weiss, left as a free agent and signed with the Detroit Red Wings.  This was unfortunate because two years ago, Weiss, Tomas Fleischmann and Kris Versteeg started the year as one of the top lines in the NHL.  Those days are gone now as General Manager Dale Tallon has indicated that after last year's disaster he intends to go with youth this season. Goalies In goal, having not re-signed Jose Theodore, it seems the Panthers will roll with Jacob Markstrom. The young Swede has good size at 6'6" and he is very mobile.  He struggled last year, as all of the Panther goalies did, but he is their future.  Florida should be better this year, and Markstrom may not be a bad second goalie choice, especially if you can get him late. Defense On defense, Brian Campbell is still the master of the blue line, especially on the power play. At 34 he is beginning to slow down, and he does not get that many goals anymore, but he still knows how to set them up.  If you are looking to the future, Dmitri Kulikov is your man.  The 22 year-old Russian has huge upside, and he could challenge Campbell for the lead in scoring among the d-men in Florida.  Ed Jovanovski is winding down his career at age 37, and he is a long ways from the 51 points he scored in 2007-2008. Erik Gudbrannson has struggled mightily to adjust to the NHL, and he only scored 4 points in 32 games last year.  He has great size at 6'6" and good mobility, but it looks like it will take him some time to get it.  Young prospect Alex Petrovic has a bright future, but the 20 year old still has a lot to learn about the NHL game. Forwards What does this means? Forward Tomas Fleischmann is arguably the Panthers best player, and he still has Kris Versteeg to play alongside with on the top line.   Fleischmann scored 61 points with 27 goals in 2011-2012.  But with Weiss gone there is an opening on the top line.  Without a doubt the best player to fill that opening is ...