[NHL] NHL GMs remain difficult to gauge: After letting some interesting players pass through waivers all year, the Rangers claimed Jake Leschyshyn and the Panthers claimed Casey Fitzgerald. Needs change throughout the season, and there are salary considerations with waivers, but why these guys? [TSN] E$PN+ graded all 32 teams at the midway point. The Isles got a B+, a little higher than I would have expected but not too much. Another midway point story: The Calgary Flames are still waiting for the turnover they stirred over the summer to fall into place. [Sportsnet] The Vancouver Canucks will try to re-sign KHL import Andrei Kuzmenko beyond his current one-year deal, but he is generating interest from teams looking to rent his services.