Red Wings Captain Almost Ready To Join Stanley Cup Mission

Steve Yzerman, who has missed the first three games of the Western Conference finals against the Chicago Blackhawks with a knee injury, could return to the Detroit Red Wings’ lineup tonight.

“I’m pretty close,” Yzerman said after Wednesday’s practice. “It’s something I’ve got to decide on tomorrow.”

Yzerman, the Red Wings’ captain and one of their all-time scoring leaders, underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee after it buckled in the final game of the preceding round against San Jose.

The Red Wings lead Chicago 3-0 in the best-of-seven series and Yzerman would like to be there to help them advance to the Stanley Cup finals for the first time since 1966. He also wants to be careful.

“If the series was 2-1, there would be a need to get back quicker,” he said. “When you’re up 3-0 in a series, there’s less pressure.”

The Florida Panthers have called a news conference for today, reportedly to fire coach Roger Neilson. Miami’s WTVJTV reported that Neilson was told of the firing Tuesday.

John McMullen, the owner of the New Jersey Devils, rejected an offer by financier Robert Brennan to buy the NHL team and keep it in East Rutherford.

Brennan said he offered to buy the team, which has been exploring a possible move to Nashville, Tenn., at “fair market value,” an acknowledgment the cost might increase if the Devils win the Stanley Cup.

The Spokane Chiefs have called a press conference for this afternoon, presumably to announce that the opening event in the new Veterans Arena will involve the San Jose Sharks in an NHL preseason game.

Neither Chiefs owner Bobby Brett nor general manager Tim Speltz were available to confirm the announcement.