Frozen Ponderings

Blues defenseman Chris Pronger has been skating with full pads and could return as early as this weekend. "This weekend, boy, I don't think so," said GM Larry Pleau. "But he is day to day. ... we know he'll be ready for the playoffs and hope it'll be earlier. But there's no set date. It could happen anytime." With Detroit's win over the Blues Wednesday night, the Red Wings won the season series (3-0-2), marking the first time in Blues history they went a whole season without a win over the Red Wings. How important is goalie Byron Dafoe to the Bruins? His record is 18-12-7. Without him, the Bruins are 10 games under .500. If Carolina doesn't make the playoffs, overplaying goalie Arturs Irbe could be to blame. Wednesday night's 7-0 drubbing at the hands of the Capitals marked start No. 70 for Irbe, who leads the league in that category. Irbe lost his past two starts, allowing seven goals on just 37 shots. Whether or not it's because his knee bothers him, Patrick Roy hasn't exactly been all-world of late. In his last 10 starts, he is 6-4 with a 2.59 GAA and .896 save percentage. Comparing that to his overall numbers (38-13-6, 2.22 GAA, .912 save pct.), it's clear he's slumping a bit. In the midst of the playoff chases, what's been lost is the tight scoring race between Joe Sakic and Jaromir Jagr. Entering Thursday's games, Sakic (46-63-109) had a one-point edge over Jagr (44-64-108). Both players have six games remaining. For Sakic, this has been his most productive season since amassing 120 points (51-69-120) in 1995-96. Jagr had 127 (44-83-127) points two seasons ago. His current total is the third highest of his career.

Johan Hedberg's nickname in the minors was "Yo-yo". Based on his life the last few weeks, he must feel like one.

One day, he's mired in the IHL, buried on the San Jose depth chart -- rolling down the professional ball of string. Then, boom! He gets yanked up before hitting the floor and is traded to Pittsburgh, where he immediately starts his first NHL game.

In a span of four days in mid-March, Hedberg went from Manitoba to South Florida where he made 41 saves in a Penguins win over the Panthers on March 16.

"I was hoping for a situation like this to happen, but as time went by, I didn't know that something would happen," said Hedberg, who is playing in the NHL for the first time since arriving from Sweden in 1997. "I had the dream (of playing in the NHL) and was told if I had a good season in the minors, I would get noticed."

His numbers for the Manitoba Moose were solid, if unspectacular -- 23-13-6, 2.56 GAA and .912 save percentage. But what looked like a throw-in with the Bobby Dollas-for-Jeff Norton trade, has turned into a stop-gap in net for Pittsburgh with Garth Snow hurt (groin) and Jean-Sebastien Aubin struggling.

Since coming to Pittsburgh in the March 12 deal with San Jose, Hedberg is 4-1-1 with a 2.47 GAA and .908 save percentage. Snow (14-13-4, 2.93 GAA, .902 save percentage) is close to returning from his groin injury. He may even be ready to play now, however, he's not being rushed back because of Hedberg, who is expected to play Thursday night against Chicago.

As for the playoffs, the assumption was that Snow would play some games during the final week, and coach Ivan Hlinka would go with the hot hand. While the Penguins probably would prefer the veteran Snow, their recent change to the more conservative left-wing lock and Heberg's steady play may make the 27-year old rookie the Penguins' No. 1 choice in the playoffs.

From the plains of Manitoba to making saves for Mario Lemieux. Talk about movin' on up like George and Weezie.

"I've been dreaming my whole career for this," Hedberg said. "If the playoff situation happens, it would be such a great opportunity.

"But right now, every game is like a playoff game."

Off the ice, Hedberg has gone from sitting next to other journeyman minor leaguers to sitting in a room full of international stars, one of whom owns the team.

"It's a special feeling to come into dressing and see these guys -- I try and fit in somehow," Hedberg said.

It seems like Hedberg already has figured that out: Stop the puck and win hockey games.

Mailbag
During the season, a question or two from ESPN.com users will be answered in every edition of In the Corners. If you want to get a question answered, click here and ask away.

Question from Gene L'Herault from La Mirada, Calif.: Do you think the Kings will try and keep Felix Potvin next year?

Response: Well, the Kings own his rights since Potvin is a restricted free agent. Of course, the Kings could release Potvin. But based on how he's played for the Kings (9-4-4, 2.19 GAA, .906 save percentage), GM Dave Taylor will try and re-sign him but at less than his current $2.7 million price tag. If Potvin is comfortable with the Kings, it would be in his best interest to take a deal with L.A. -- even at a reduced rate.

Stephane Fiset and Jamie Storr come into play as well. Fiset is under contract for next season, and Storr, 25, will be a restricted free agent. The Kings won't keep all three. Storr probably has the most trade value, but he's also the youngest and cheapest of the three. Fiset might be difficult to trade because of his age (30) and his contract, so Taylor has an interesting decision to make.

Brian A. Shactman covers the NHL for ESPN.com. He can be reached at brian.shactman@espn.com.