Phoenix Coyotes General Manager Don Maloney announced today that the Coyotes have recalled center Alexander Nikulin from their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the San Antonio Rampage. Nikulin, 23, has recorded 5-9-14 and 12 penalty minutes (PIM) in 37 games with San Antonio this season since being acquired from Ottawa in exchange for defenseman Drew Fata on Nov. 3, 2008. Prior to the trade, Nikulin scored two goals in five games with the Binghamton Senators of the AHL. Last season, the native of Moscow, Russia recorded 14-36-50 and 34 PIM in 71 games for Binghamton. He also appeared in two NHL games with Ottawa. Prior to his AHL career, Nikulin spent three seasons in the Russian Super League, collecting 18-26-44 and 30 PIM in 100 games. He also represented Russia at the 2005 World Junior Championships and won a silver medal. The 6-foot-1, 203-pound Nikulin was originally drafted by Ottawa in the fourth round (122nd overall) of the 2004 Entry Draft.

Peter Forsberg has ruled out a return to the NHL this season, and he may not play at all this year. Forsberg told reporters in Sweden that if he's all to play at all it'll be for his hometown club Modo in the Swedish league. "There won't be any NHL this season, that's totally clear," Forsberg said. "If I can play it will be in the [Swedish] Elite Series and Modo."

The tension and frustration surrounding the Canucks came to a head during practice on Thursday as a fight broke out between players. The altercation reportedly involved defenseman Willie Mitchell and winger Mason Raymond. Mitchell ran at Raymond during a drill and when Raymond came back at Mitchell in the corner, Mitchell punched Raymond in the head and cross-checked him on the shoulder. The fracas drew several players and coaches, and tough defenseman Shane O'Brien skated to Raymond's defense and challenged Mitchell to fight before tempers calmed.

The Tampa Bay Lightning have recalled goaltender Riku Helenius from the Norfolk Admirals of the American Hockey League on an emergency basis, Executive Vice President and General Manager Brian Lawton announced. The Lightning also reassigned goaltender Karri Ramo to Norfolk. Helenius, 6 foot 3 and 206 pounds, has played in one game with the Admirals this season in a relief role and made 10 saves on 11 shots in 20 minutes of play. Currently in his first professional season, he has played in 11 ECHL games with Augusta and Mississippi, posting a 4-5-2 record with a 3.80 goals-against average and an .896 save percentage. A 20-year-old native of Palkane, Finland, Helenius made his North American debut last season with Seattle of the Western Hockey League. He played in 41 games with the Thundebirds, posting a 22-12-6 record with a 2.42 goals-against average and three shutouts. He was tied for seventh in the WHL for save percentage with .915 and was ninth in goals-against average. Helenius was drafted by the Lightning in the first round, 15th overall, at the 2006 NHL Entry Draft. He was rated as the top Finnish goaltender in the 2006 draft by NHL Central Scouting and was ranked as the top European goaltender by the Hockey News. Ramo did not appear in a game after being recalled on January 26. He has played in three games with Tampa Bay this season, posting a 1-1-0 record.

The Toronto Maple Leafs announced Wednesday that goaltender Justin Pogge has been assigned to the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League (AHL). He was recalled to the Maple Leafs on January 26. In 32 AHL games this season, he has a record of 15-13-4 with a 2.58 goals against average and a .901 save percentage.

Bruins' ownership is attempting to work out a contract extension with GM Peter Chiarelli. "He's my GM right now, and hopefully, we can work something out . . . I'd like to see him here long term," said owner Jeremy Jacobs on Tuesday night. "I'm working on it, but we're not there yet," said Charlie Jacobs, the owner's son and the club's executive vice president. "We'd like to have something done before he enters the final year of his contract." That means a new deal would likely be finalized within the next five months. "I'm happy that ownership thinks highly of the group," said Chiarelli.

A report says the Red Wings have agreed to a contract extension with Henrik Zetterberg that could pay him more than $7M a year for 10 years, as reported by the Associated Press on Tuesday. A story on The Ann Arbor News?s Web site says the team plans a news conference Wednesday afternoon in Detroit.

The Anaheim Ducks announced today that the National Hockey League (NHL) club has recalled left wing Drew Miller and defenseman Brendan Mikkelson from the Iowa Chops, Anaheim?s primary development affiliate in the American Hockey League (AHL). Miller, 24 (2/17/84), has scored 0-2=2 points with a +1 rating and seven penalty minutes (PIM) in eight games with the Ducks this season. Originally recalled from Iowa on Jan. 3, Miller collected 17-11=28 points and six PIM in 36 games with the Chops. At the time of his recall, he led the team in goals and points, and ranked tied for first in power play goals (6). Selected in the sixth round (186th overall) of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft, Miller appeared in 26 games with the Ducks last season, scoring 2-3=5 points with six PIM. He made his regular season NHL debut on Oct. 6, 2007 at Pittsburgh and scored his first career NHL goal in a 3-1 Anaheim victory on Oct. 17 vs. Nashville. Miller spent the rest of 2007-08 with Anaheim?s AHL affiliate in Portland, collecting 16-20=36 points with 12 PIM in 31 games. The 6-2, 185-pound winger also scored 1-7=8 points with 12 PIM in 16 Calder Cup Playoff games, helping the Pirates to an AHL Eastern Conference Finals appearance. Mikkelson, 21 (6/22/87), is scoreless with eight PIM in 11 games with Anaheim this season. He made his NHL debut on Jan. 2 vs. Philadelphia, recording one shot in 13:39 time on ice (TOI). Mikkelson began the regular season in Iowa, earning 1-6=7 points with 10 PIM in 23 games. Selected in the second round (31st overall) of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft, Mikkelson played his first professional season with Anaheim?s AHL affiliate in Portland last year, collecting 6-10=16 points in 66 regular season games. The 6-3, 210-pound blue-liner helped the Pirates to a 2008 AHL Eastern Conference Finals appearance, earning 2-6=8 points in 14 Calder Cup Playoff games.

Brian Burke, president/GM of the Toronto Maple Leafs, announced Monday that the club has recalled goaltender Justin Pogge and forward Nikolai Kulemin from the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League (AHL). Kulemin has played in 41 games for the Leafs this season collecting 14 points on seven goals and seven assists with eight penalty minutes. He has also played in five games with the Marlies. Pogge recorded the 6-2 road win versus Atlanta on December 22 in his NHL debut. In 32 AHL games this season, he has a record of 15-13-4 with a 2.58 goals against average and a .901 save percentage.

Red Wings' GM Ken Holland will reportedly appeal the suspensions that Nicklas Lidstrom and Pavel Datsyuk received for skipping All-Star weekend. The league's general managers made the decision to punish those who pull out of the weekend after several players skipped the Atlanta festivities a year ago.