On the move? Blue Jackets blueliner Jack Johnson is close to returning from a shoulder injury. (Russell Lansford/Icon SMI)

By Allan Muir

A guide to this morning’s must-read hockey stories:

• Three members of Columbus’ front office took in last night’s Penguins-Bolts game, leading to speculation that Jack Johnson could be headed to Pittsburgh. The Pens are looking for a signed, veteran blueliner, and have some young D-men to deal, making them an ideal partner for the Jackets. Add in Johnson’s friendship with Sidney Crosby and this one makes a lot of sense. We’ll see…

• Whether they make a deal or not, Jarmo Kekalainen and the Jackets’ crew picked a good night to take in a game. Evgeni Malkin added another clip to his highlight reel as the Pens edged the Lightning in a thriller.

• Cory Schneider is having a new mask painted up to wear when the Vancouver Canucks wear their Millionaires tribute sweaters. And it is a beauty. And since we’re on the subject of masks, here’s the look that new Carolina starter Dan Ellis will be rocking.

• Speaking of Ellis, here’s another voice echoing my sentiment that the Hurricanes need help on the blueline more than another goalie in the wake of Cam Ward’s injury.

• Someone at Lucasfilm heard about Ilya Bryzgalov’s Star Wars mask…and made him change it.

• Tampa’s Mathieu Garon joined half the league’s goalies in sick bay after suffering an undisclosed injury. Sounds like coach Frantz Jean better keep his pads handy.

• Here’s the perspective from Buffalo on Patrick Kaleta’s five-game suspension. Shockingly, shockingly, I say, it is sympathetic to a player who says, “I have changed my game.” That’s probably true. Last year, Kaleta would have crosschecked Brad Richards in the head instead of the back.

• A survey suggests that Canadians favor adopting the larger European-sized ice surface. This idea isn’t going away any time soon.

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