It's a little early to get a good read on a player's performance since most teams have only played 2-3 games, but I'll see what insight I can muster forth from my alcohol-induced hallucinations. Them things sure seem real.

Alright, first off, a public service announcement for you, our highly-valued readers, whose safety we make priority one.

Do not, under any circumstances, inhale shampoo through your nose while showering. The burning sensations to the upper nasal passages and cranial cavity are a gruesome hell-spawn of the devil himself. Believe you me, I know it all too well.

So please, I beg of you. Read the instructions on your shampoo bottle before use. Is that too much to ask? Wet hair. Lather. Rinse thoroughly. Repeat. That is all. Do not inhale. The time has come to end the suffering. Thank You.

With that said, back to the task at hand. Although the season is just under way, there have been some important happenings that could affect you and your team.

Injury Update

Injuries are always a main concern, especially when big name players go down for an extended period of time.

• Pierre Turgeon, STL - Turgeon is expected to miss six weeks after fracturing his right forearm in a weekend game against Dallas. He had surgery Sunday to repair some damage.

• Rob Niedermayer, FLO - Niedermayer will be out up to a month due to the effects of a concussion he suffered as a result of an Eric Lindros hit. A CAT scan showed there was no permanent physical damage, but Niedermayer has experienced memory loss, headaches and dizzy spells.

  A tape of the Lindros hit, or cheap shot as many call it, has been sent to the league. No action has been taken yet.

• Jeff Brown, CAR - Brown missed most of last year because of back surgery, and it seems the back problems have returned. He has already missed two games with back spasms, and is out indefinitely. 

• Ray Ferraro, LOS -  Center Ray Ferraro will be out of the lineup after suffering a sprained knee Sunday night. No time table has been set for his return.

• Dainius Zubrus, PHI - New Legion of Doomer, Dainius Zubrus, is experiencing severe swelling of his right hand after being slashed Sunday night during the Phoenix game. Test on the hand were run early this week and haven't come back, but he isn't expected to be out long. Zubrus had a goal and two assist in three contests this season.

• Bill Ranford, WAS - Ranford injured his groin last Wednesday and will be out for a few more days. However, Olaf Kolzig has played well in his absence and may not give up the starting gig so easily.

• Derek King, TOR - Will be out for about a week with a sprained right ankle.

• Sandis Ozolinsh, COL - Has missed two games with a separated shoulder but is due to return any day now.

Contract Updates

• Sergei Gonchar, WAS - Washington is already off to a great start, and will get even better as Sergei Gonchar has signed a one year, $1.15 million deal. Gonchar had 13 goals and 30 points in 58 games last year.

• Alexei Zhitnik, BUF - Agreed to a one-year contract worth $1.5 million and should be in action thursday night. Had seven goals and 28 assists last year with Buffalo.

• Jeff Friesen, SAN - Re-signed with the Sharks Tuesday and will play in Ottawa Thursday. Friesen was second on the team with 28 goals and second in assists with 32 last season.

• Derian Hatcher, DAL - Contract talks between Hatcher and Dallas have fallen apart. Dallas just withdrew their latest $4.8 million/2 year deal and no new talks are scheduled.

• Daniel Alfredsson, OTT - Alfredsson may meet with Ottawa management this weekend in Los Angeles to discuss getting a contract hammered out.

• Peter Nedved, PIT - Rumor has it Nedved will decide within the next two weeks to accept or decline the Penguins' offer of about $15 million over 5 years. I expect Nedved will take the money and be back on the ice soon.

Situations

• Andrei Kovalenko, EDM - Un-inspired play and a failure to grasp the whole "team" concept of hockey has resulted in his demotion to 5th line action. It doesn't get much lower than that.

• Jocelyn Thibault, MON - Andy Moog has been the main man in Montreal so far this season. Thibault will get starts, but how many?

• Sergei Berezin, TOR - Is unhappy about being moved to left wing, and has played poorly as a result. An injury to RW Derek King will have him back at his natural position, but if he keeps sulking he may not see much ice time.

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