Are the Canadiens interested in Alex Frolov? Is Vesa Toskala's time as a Leaf winding down? Why hasn't an NHL team taken a chance on Michael Nylander?

CANOE.CA: Yvon Pedneault recently reported of speculation - fueled by Sergei Kostitsyn's departure and return to the Montreal Canadiens AHL farm team - the Canadiens might try to package the Kostitsyn brothers to the LA Kings for winger Alex Frolov. Pedneault claims Kings GM Dean Lombardi is shopping Frolov, and Habs forward Mike Cammalleri, who used to be Frolov's teammate, is apparently strongly recommending him to senior Habs management.

MONTREAL GAZETTE: Mike Boone suggests the Canadiens might be mishandling a valuable asset in Sergei Kostitsyn, suggesting Kostitsyn could become a star someday but it probably won't happen in Montreal. With the Habs showing signs of improvement this week it's unlikely he'll be called up anytime soon, and Boone also doubts Kostitsyn has much trade value, calling him "a malcontent with 17 career goals and a habit of going AWOL".

SPECTOR'S NOTE: The Brothers Kostitsyn aren't likely to attract much attention around the league at this point in the season, and I doubt very much the Kings would have interest in those two. They certainly aren't enough to pry Frolov out of Los Angeles. Lombardi might be willing to listen to offers - every GM does - but I think he'll hang onto Frolov until at least mid-season before making a decision on shopping him, and even then that'll depend on contract extension talks, Frolov's production by that point and the Kings placement in the standings.

THE GLOBE AND MAIL: James Mirtle reports Vesa Toskala might be running out of chances with the Toronto Maple Leafs, suggesting GM Brian Burke could consider other options, having learned his lesson from standing behind Dan Cloutier in his years as Canucks general manager. Mirtle writes that while the Leafs are publicly standing behind Toskala, privately Burke and head coach Ron Wilson have discussed the issue and if Toskala's performance continues to falter his days could be numbered.

SPECTOR'S NOTE: I agree. Burke earlier this week suggested he was considering his options regarding his goaltending, but while citing injuries to Toskala and Jonas Gustavsson as the reason I believe it's Toskala's performance that is the real driving factor.

MSG Network's Stan Fischler (via Twitter) finds it "hard to figure why nobody has latched onto the very-available, still-talented Michael Nylander.

SPECTOR'S NOTE: I've got 4.875 million (per season) reasons. His "no-movement" clause is another.