Every week there are minor moves and stories around the National Hockey League that tend to fall through the cracks. Consider this our weekly roundup of those stories from the previous week, all wrapped up in one neat little package.During the 2006-07 season, Nashville forward Steve Sullivan suffered a back injury that knocked him out of the lineup for the remainder of the season. As a result of the injury, he missed the entire 2007-08 season and the first three months (and counting) of this season.
Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal points out that the 34-year old Sullivan is "skating hard" by himself in Nashville and may in fact make it back to the Predators lineup this season, Assuming he makes it back to the lineup -- and, let's be honest, that's quite an assumption at this point -- how much of an impact can we expect? Prior to his injury during the '06 season, he had played a full 82-game season one time (2002-03, which Chicago) and was a solid bet for 60-70 games per year.
Having said that, when he's on the ice, the 5-foot-8 forward is as steady as they come, good for 25 goals and 60 points. Can he step in and contribute anything close to that after not playing for nearly two seasons, at the age of 34, and with a bad back? Who knows, but it might be interesting to see what he could provide to the Predators.
Edit: The Nashville Tennessean reports Sullivan skated with the Predators in a full practice on Tuesday.
