ry of Smith's workload early in the season and tries to spot in LaBarbera more after the backup went the distance in 13 games in 2011-12.Follow Corey Masisak on Twitter: @cmasisak22For all 30 in 30 stories go to NHL.com/30in30stories and for the full 30 in 30 schedule visit NHL.com/30in30.
Edmonton Oilers forward Nail Yakupov had a simple message Friday: "Nobody worry about my leg."Reports surfaced this week that Yakupov's right leg had become infected after he fell off a treadmill while training.Though he did stumble, the No. 1 pick in the 2012 NHL Draft said he was fine."Somebody said it was an infection, but it's nothing,Milan Lucic Jersey," Yakupov said on the Oilers' website. "It looks worse than it is, but I can skate, I can work out, I can sleep. … I'm good now. I'm practicing."Yakupov, some teammates and other NHL players were taking part in Perry Pearn's 3-on-3 Camp in North Edmonton. The Edmonton Journal said Yakupov stayed off the ice the previous two days."They skate well and are tough to play against, but we're not working at 100 percent -- we don't want to kill somebody," Yakupov said. "Everyone has been playing good games."The 18-year-old is scheduled to participate in the National Hockey League Players' Association Rookie Showcase next week in Toronto.
The Phoenix Coyotes have picked in the top five of the NHL Draft twice in the past nine years, but Blake Wheeler and Kyle Turris aren't at the top of any fan favorite lists in the desert -- both orchestrated an exit from the franchise's control.Missing on two premium picks like that can devastate an organization, but the Coyotes have reached the playoffs for three straight seasons and still boast an interesting collection of prospects. Young, homegrown players Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Keith Yandle, Martin Hanzal and, going way back in the draft, Shane Doan, have been part of the core group while general manager Don Maloney has filled in the parts around them.Here's a look at the top prospects in the Phoenix organization:Note: NHL.com's cutoff for prospect status is 20 League games, so that is why David Rundblad is not on this list (he'd be No. 2). Despite missing time due to injury over the last two seasons, Gormley has tallied 80 points a combined 82 games over that span. (Aaron Bell/ CHL Images)1. Brandon Gormley,Milan Lucic Authentic Jersey, D: Gormley was the 13th pick in the 2010 draft, and while he's retained his elite prospect status, his two seasons since being selected have been stunted by injuries. He missed time in 2010-11 with a knee injury and a chunk of last season because of a foot problem.When healthy, Gormley has been one of the top players at his position in junior hockey. He has played a total of 82 regular-season games at that level in the past seasons combined, and he's racked up 23 goals and 80 points.Shawinigan traded for Gormley in a blockbuster Quebec Major Junior Hockey League trade. The foot injury limited him to only seven playoff games during the Cataractes' run to a Memorial Cup title, but he had five goals and seven points.The Coyotes have enough NHL-caliber bodies on the blue line to let Gormley start the season in the American Hockey League (he played four games for San Antonio in 2010-11), but there could be an opportunity for him to make an impact at the NHL level at some point in this coming season.2. Connor Murphy, D: Murphy was Phoenix's first-round choice (No. 20) in the 2011 NHL Draft. After two years with the U.S. National Team Development Program in Ann Arbor,sidney crosby youth jersey, Mich., Murphy joined the Ontario Hockey League's Sarnia Sting last season.He's also dealt with a myriad of injuries the past three seasons, including a knee injury that delayed the start of his first OHL season. Murphy ended up with eight goals and 26 points in 35 games.A native of the Columbus suburb of Dublin, Ohio, he helped the United States to a gold medal in the 2011 U-18 world championships and could represent his country in the 2013 IIHF World Junior Championship after taking part in the national team's evaluation camp earlier this month."He's looked strong," Maloney told NHL.com. "He