Report: Forsberg off to Nashville

The Nashville Predators apparently have taken a huge step in its quest for a Stanley Cup.

According to reports, Peter Forsberg has been acquired by the Predators from the Philadelphia Flyers for Scottie Upshall, junior defenseman Ryan Parent, a first-round and third-round pick.

If it's a done deal, the Predators are getting a player that is widely considered the best in the world. Playing on the international stage at the Olympics for his native Sweden bears that out.

Playing on the smaller NHL surfaces, there's little question he's gifted, but there are a couple of things to keep in mind. Forsberg has never scored more than 30 goals. He's reached 100 points only twice in his career -- by comparison, Alexander Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby will have done that in each of their first two years in the league.

Forsberg also is 33 years old, but he's an "old 33." Concussions, groin, foot and ankle injuries have taken a lot away from his game. Add that he's an unrestricted free agent come July 1, and this turns into a big gamble in Music City.

Back in the day

Stumbled across this ... have a peek: Chicago Blackhawks footage from 1929, the year Chicago Stadium opened.

Not to drink the Kool-Aid, but ...

How about those Blackhawks!

I am a realist -- the Chicago Blackhawks are not making the playoffs this season -- but given what they've done in their last two games, they could make things interesting and play spoiler over the final couple months of the regular season.

In two nights, Chicago has beaten the top two teams in the Northwest Division. Martin Havlat scored twice in the final 3 minutes of regulation and added a shootout goal in a 3-2 win over Calgary on Tuesday.

They followed that with a 3-0 win over the Canucks on Wednesday, the Blackhawks' first win in Vancouver since October 2001 to snap an eight-game losing streak there. Havlat had a goal and assist, and Patrick Lalime -- out all season following back surgery and coming off a four-win season with St. Louis in 2005-06 -- made 34 saves for his first shutout in nearly three years.

Chicago continues its season-high seven-game road trip Friday at Edmonton before facing Columbus and Pittsburgh. The Blackhawks return to the United Center next Friday versus the Canucks ... and yes, I'll be there.

Maybe it's time to buy that Tony Esposito jersey after all.

Rangers acquire noted pain in the ass Avery

The New York Rangers just got a lot mouthier.

Looking to jumpstart their way back into the postseason mix, the Blueshirts acquired left wing and agitator Sean Avery from Los Angeles for forward Jason Ward. The teams also swapped some prospects.

What the Rangers get -- besides someone banging Elisha Cuthbert -- is the league's most penalized player since the start of last season, and arguably their biggest pain on the ice since Esa Tikkanen and Ulf Samuelsson were skating on 8th Avenue.

How much of a pain can the 5-foot-9 Avery be? Think of the little dog nipping at your heels while thinking its a Doberman.

Last preseason, Avery said a hit by then-Phoenix defenseman Denis Gauthier on then-Kings center Jeremy Roenick "was typical of most French guys in our league with a visor on, running around and playing tough and not back anything up."

In an October game, he was accused by Edmonton tough guy Georges Laraque of using a racial slur. Laraque now is with Phoenix.

Avery also was the first NHL player last season to be fined $1,000 for diving -- and hammered the league for it.

"How can a guy sitting in an office in New York determine if you dived or not by watching a tape?" Avery said. "They don't know if you had a bad ankle or torn bursa sac or something. I can't even tell you what play they are talking about. They don't have to tell you a play, just what game they are looking at.

Last week, New York's Brendan Shanahan was vocal about leading scorer Jaromir Jagr being mugged by opponents. While Avery doesn't fit the mold of goons of yesteryear -- he does have some scoring touch -- he may just be the kind of player Shanahan, a former teammate of Avery's in Detroit, wants on the ice.

Avery is slated to make in his Rangers debut Tuesday against New Jersey.

Hockey Night in suburban Chicago

Now, comes the homestretch.

With February here, teams now can concentrate on jockeying for position to get into the playoffs.

Heading into play Thursday night, here are some storylines to consider over the final two months of the season:

BEST IN THE WEST: Anaheim got off to an incredible start, but has since been taken over by upstart Nashville. The teams play Saturday night in Tennessee, and meet for the final time in the regular season on March 4 in Southern California.

NORTH BY NORTHWEST: Still shaping up as the best race in the NHL with all five teams separated by only eight points. Calgary shored up its offense this week by reacquiring playmaking center Craig Conroy from Los Angeles while All-Star Roberto Luongo continues to show why he's a legitimate Vezina Trophy candidate.

UP FOR GRABS: Just 14 points separate 11 teams -- that's right, 11 -- in the Eastern Conference. Boston is 14th with 48 points, but just 10 points behind Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay and Carolina, which are tied for sixth With a few wins, the Penguins, Lightning and Hurricanes can solidify their postseason hopes -- they're only four points behind Montreal and Ottawa, which are tied for fourth.


THE GOOD ...

SUPER ROOKIE, AWFUL TEAM: Flyers rookie defenseman Alexandre Picard sets a record with five assists ... but Philadelphia's franchise-record home losing streak reaches 12 with a 6-5 overtime loss to New Jersey.


ROBYN WHO?: On Friday, Calgary's Robyn Regehr stole the show from Jarome Iginla. Regehr recorded the second three-point game of his seven-year career in the Flames' 6-2 rout of Columbus. Iginla also had three points in his first game after missing 11 with a knee injury.

WELCOME BACK: Atlanta recalled forward Darren Haydar from Chicago of the AHL on Friday. Haydar leads the American League with 89 points and set a record earlier this season by recording a point in 39 consecutive games. It's Haydar's second call-up since he last played an NHL game with Nashville in 2002-03.


THE BAD ...

LAFLEUR IN TROUBLE: The 22-year-old son of Hall of Famer Guy Lafleur was charged Thursday in Canada with the armed sexual assault of a minor. Mark Lafleur, who is afflicted with Tourette's syndrome and a drug addiction according to the family's lawyer, has a bail hearing scheduled for Monday. Guy Lafleur had six straight 50-goal seasons with Montreal from 1974-1980.


SHOOTING BLANKS: Defending Stanley Cup champion Carolina outshoots Tampa Bay by a 31-20 margin Thursday, and loses 4-0.


STRAIT JACKETS: Columbus gives up three first-period goals -- including a first-period empty-netter when goalie Ty Conklin is taken out by his own defenseman -- in a 6-2 loss to Calgary on Friday,



AND THE QUOTABLE ...

"No, probably not, I wouldn't be very good at it." -- Former NHL star Alexander Mogilny on whether he had any aspirations to break into a management position with a team.