Colorado Avalanche: News From Around the NHL October 22nd, 2014

Kings GM Dean Lombardi had a few ideas after Slava Voynov's arrest:

"We have a bigger responsibility now," Lombardi said. "Just like we expect them to train, and we provide access to training physically, we provide meals so they eat properly, well, you know what? We've got a responsibility here now to train them in other areas, and I don't just mean having a guy come in and give a speech once a year. This is as much our organization's responsibility as anything. We have an obligation here, too. We have to do a better job in some of these areas."

Lombardi supports the NHL's decision to act aggressively before any charges, acknowledging the effect of the NFL's disastrous handling of the Ray Rice case and others.

Never too early to fire up the old trade mill, where Nail Yakupov is creating a market for himself.

The outside interest doesn't matter much if the Oilers aren't willing to deal, but the Oilers might have to consider changing things up and getting older instead of continually going younger. Yakupov still has some cache due to his first overall pedigree and his offensive talent despite tepid numbers in his young career.

The numbers haven't quite been there yet, though. Yakupov had a solid rookie campaign, but his numbers dipped in an injury-shortened 2013-14 season. The speedy Russian has three points through six games this year.

Ducks G Frederik Andersen's path to the NHL was a rather circuitous one.

Andersen's journey came with little blueprint. He didn't have many Danish hockey players to look up to besides Simon Nielsen, a veteran goalie on Denmark's national team and brother of New York Islanders center Frans Nielsen. Based on Andersen's play with the national team, the Carolina Hurricanes drafted him in the fourth round (No. 187) at the 2010 NHL Draft, but Andersen went unsigned.

"Me and my agent talked about it, and we thought maybe there were better chances out there," Andersen said. "There were better chances of making it on a good team. Looking back, I think I made the right decision."

The Avs aren't the only team doing some front office shuffling as the Toronto Maple Leafs named Mark Hunter as their new Director of Player Personnel.

David Nonis, Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs, announced Tuesday that Mark Hunter, a veteran forward of 12 seasons in the National Hockey League, has been named the club’s Director of Player Personnel. The Petrolia, Ontario native played in 628 career NHL regular season games and 79 more in the postseason from 1981 to 1993.

“I am very excited about joining the Toronto Maple Leafs organization,” said Hunter. “I am grateful for the opportunity that has been given to me by Brendan Shanahan, David Nonis and the entire management team. I would like to thank the London Knights organization for 12 great years. I am looking forward to the start of a new chapter in Toronto.”

A bit of a sad report as Blue Jackets forward Nathan Horton's career might be in jeopardy.

Columbus Blue Jackets right wing Nathan Horton has been diagnosed with degeneration of the entire lumbar region of his spine and his career could be in jeopardy, The Columbus Dispatch reported Tuesday.

Horton has yet to play a game this season and was limited to 35 games in 2013-14. Horton did not play for the Blue Jackets in their Eastern Conference First Round series against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Reporter Aaron Portzline cited sources who said surgery has not been scheduled or ruled out but is viewed as a last resort.