The Capitals have placed center Nicklas Backstrom on the long-term injured list, starting what could be a busy day at the NHL trade deadline. Backstrom has been out with a concussion since Jan. 3, when he was elbowed by Rene Bourque in a game against Calgary.

The Blue Jackets have activated goaltender Curtis Sanford off injured reserve and assigned goaltender Allen York to the Chicago Express, Columbus’ ECHL affiliate, club Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations and GM Scott Howson announced today. Sanford, 32, missed the last six games due to a lower body injury suffered against Dallas on February 8. He has gone 10-13-4 with a 2.52 goals-against average, .915 save percentage and one shutout in 29 games this season.

Red Wings star and leading scorer Pavel Datsyuk is expected to miss two weeks after having arthroscopic surgery Tuesday to remove fragments from his right knee, according to an ESPN.com report.

Sidney Crosby joined his Penguins teammates on the ice Friday for the first time in more than two months, but says he remains bothered by concussion-like symptoms. Crosby hasn't played since the symptoms returned following a Dec. 5 loss to Boston, and he still is not cleared for contact.

The Blue Jackets have activated defenseman Brett Lebda off injured reserve and placed goaltender Curtis Sanford on injured reserve, retroactive to February 9, club Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations and GM Scott Howson announced today. Sanford, who has missed the last three games due to an upper body injury suffered against Dallas on February 9, is listed as day-to-day.

The Hurricanes say they expect forward Tuomo Ruutu to miss three weeks with an unspecified upper body injury. The team on Wednesday called up forward Jerome Samson from its AHL affiliate in Charlotte on an emergency basis to replace Ruutu.

The Blue Jackets have activated center Mark Letestu off injured reserve, club Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations and GM Scott Howson announced today. Letestu missed the last 17 games due to a hand injury suffered at San Jose on January 5. Letestu has combined to record five goals and six assists for 11 points and two penalty minutes in 36 games with the Blue Jackets and Pittsburgh Penguins this season. He was acquired from Pittsburgh in exchange for a fourth round pick in the 2012 Entry Draft on November 8.

Henrik Sedin missed practice and underwent an X-ray and a CT scan Wednesday after injuring his right ankle in a win over Nashville on Tuesday night. A team official told ESPN.com's Pierre LeBrun that the team expects to know the results of the scan by Thursday morning.

Sabres coach Lindy Ruff clutched his right arm in pain and had to be helped off the ice after being upended by defenseman Jordan Leopold in practice on Monday. The Sabres had no immediate update on Ruff's status, except to say the coach would not be available to address reporters as he usually does after practice.

Sidney Crosby took another step in his attempt to return from his latest injury, skating Monday with teammates in Montreal. It's the first time Crosby has skated with teammates since concussion symptoms started following a game against the Bruins on Dec. 5. Last week, the Penguins announced that an independent doctor had found that Crosby suffered some soft-tissue damage in his neck area, which may have contributed to some of the concussion-like symptoms.