Carolina GM Jim Rutherford expressed concerns whether defenseman Joni Pitkanen will be ready for the start of the season. After undergoing surgery on a broken heel bone in April, Pitkanen's timetable for his return to the ice is still unclear. He will have a CT test on Thursday, which should give the team a better idea of how he has progressed so far. Justin Faulk's fantasy value keeps rising... According to Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal, Ryan-Nugent Hopkins participated in an informal skate and showed no ill-effects from shoulder surgery. Monitor the the third-year center's progress during training camp, but he looks on schedule to start the season. Prime candidate for a rebound... Brian Gionta looks iffy for the start of training camp for Montreal, as he still recovering from left bicep injury. Regardless of his availability, the veteran does not figure to have much fantasy value, as 50-55 points is his ceiling for offensive production at this point of his career. ***ATTENTION FANTASY HOCKEY LEAGUE COMMISSIONERS*** If you are the commissioner of an upcoming fantasy hockey league and will be holding a draft soon, PrimePucks has some goodies for you to distribute to your league members.  Look even better to your league members by giving them free stuff.  Who doesn't like free stuff?  Contact cj@primepucks.com to find out more. Read all about Gabriel Landeskog, Nathan MacKinnon and Matt Duchene as we feature the Colorado Avalanche in the NHL IN 30. Check back again tomorrow when we feature ....

Carolina GM Jim Rutherford expressed concerns whether defenseman Joni Pitkanen will be ready for the start of the season. After undergoing surgery on a broken heel bone in April, Pitkanen's timetable for his return to the ice is still unclear. He will have a CT test on Thursday, which should give the team a better idea of how he has progressed so far. Justin Faulk's fantasy value keeps rising... According to Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal, Ryan-Nugent Hopkins participated in an informal skate and showed no ill-effects from shoulder surgery. Monitor the the third-year center's progress during training camp, but he looks on schedule to start the season. Prime candidate for a rebound... Brian Gionta looks iffy for the start of training camp for Montreal, as he still recovering from left bicep injury. Regardless of his availability, the veteran does not figure to have much fantasy value, as 50-55 points is his ceiling for offensive production at this point of his career. ***ATTENTION FANTASY HOCKEY LEAGUE COMMISSIONERS*** If you are the commissioner of an upcoming fantasy hockey league and will be holding a draft soon, PrimePucks has some goodies for you to distribute to your league members.  Look even better to your league members by giving them free stuff.  Who doesn't like free stuff?  Contact cj@primepucks.com to find out more. Read all about Gabriel Landeskog, Nathan MacKinnon and Matt Duchene as we feature the Colorado Avalanche in the NHL IN 30. Check back again tomorrow when we feature ....

Carolina GM Jim Rutherford expressed concerns whether defenseman Joni Pitkanen will be ready for the start of the season. After undergoing surgery on a broken heel bone in April, Pitkanen's timetable for his return to the ice is still unclear. He will have a CT test on Thursday, which should give the team a better idea of how he has progressed so far. Justin Faulk's fantasy value keeps rising... According to Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal, Ryan-Nugent Hopkins participated in an informal skate and showed no ill-effects from shoulder surgery. Monitor the the third-year center's progress during training camp, but he looks on schedule to start the season. Prime candidate for a rebound... Brian Gionta looks iffy for the start of training camp for Montreal, as he still recovering from left bicep injury. Regardless of his availability, the veteran does not figure to have much fantasy value, as 50-55 points is his ceiling for offensive production at this point of his career. ***ATTENTION FANTASY HOCKEY LEAGUE COMMISSIONERS*** If you are the commissioner of an upcoming fantasy hockey league and will be holding a draft soon, PrimePucks has some goodies for you to distribute to your league members.  Look even better to your league members by giving them free stuff.  Who doesn't like free stuff?  Contact cj@primepucks.com to find out more. And don't forget to check back later today for our latest installment of the NHL IN 30. Who will follow Calgary, Buffalo and Florida? You may have to search"high" and low for the answer.

Carolina GM Jim Rutherford expressed concerns whether defenseman Joni Pitkanen will be ready for the start of the season. After undergoing surgery on a broken heel bone in April, Pitkanen's timetable for his return to the ice is still unclear. He will have a CT test on Thursday, which should give the team a better idea of how he has progressed so far. Justin Faulk's fantasy value keeps rising... According to Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal, Ryan-Nugent Hopkins participated in an informal skate and showed no ill-effects from shoulder surgery. Monitor the the third-year center's progress during training camp, but he looks on schedule to start the season. Prime candidate for a rebound... Brian Gionta looks iffy for the start of training camp for Montreal, as he still recovering from left bicep injury. Regardless of his availability, the veteran does not figure to have much fantasy value, as 50-55 points is his ceiling for offensive production at this point of his career.

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins will fly to Cleveland Sunday to have his shoulder examined.

RNH missed the Oilers last two games with strep throat, but he is ready to return tonight. After scoring 52 points in 62 games last season RNH has struggled this year only recording 11 points in his first 27 games.

It doesn't look like RNH will make the road-trip with the Oilers, he is suffering from strep throat.

Monitor Nugent-Hopkins status prior to tomorrow's game.

Nugent-Hopkins missed yesterday's contest because of a sore shoulder, but is fine and will play this weekend.

Nugent-Hopkins won't be out long, this is just precautionary. Edmonto expected to have him back on Saturday vs. the Red Wings.