News of the day laddies and lassies ... Mike Knuble is expected to begin practicing on Wednesday and wants to play next week when the Flyers return home against Atlanta.

If that is indeed the case, then "The Big K" would actually be returning to the lineup a week ahead of schedule.

“It’s been two weeks and a couple days,” Knuble told me today. “They said four weeks after surgery so, it’s going to really be about 3 weeks. I am sure I’m going to get clearance to skate.

“If there was a playoff run or Stanley Cup Finals, I would get myself out there. There is always a chance it could get broken, but as long as you are out there with a full shield it’s not a big deal.”

Now if you are wondering about whether Knuble gets his old spot back on right wing with Simon Gagne and Jeff Carter, the answer appears to be "yes."

There is an axiom in sports that says an injured should never lose his job to another. Tell that to Wally Pipp and Lou Gehrig. But coach John Stevens seems to be leaning toward reuniting Gagne and Knuble.

Anyway, Knuble told me he wondered whether he would get his job back, especially since Upshall has played so well with Gagne and Carter.

“It’s always natural [to wonder],” Knuble said. “It’s Johnny call when the time comes. I’m happy to see those guys play well. Scottie came I and played extremely well. There weren’t a lot of guys who knew a lot about him.”

As for Stevens decision ...

“Gags and Mike have such good chemistry together,” Stevens said. “We have to look at it health wise. Try to come up with a combination that works. I am not sure that Jeff and Upshall will stay together and Gags and Knuble play somewhere else.”

**

Remember how the Flyers players gathered round and tried to convince Peter Forsberg to re-sign with the Flyers last month?

Well, two Flyers - Martin Biron and Denis Gauthier _ them have begun campaigning to get Buffalo's Danny Briere to sign in Flyerdom as a free agent this summer. Gauthier played junior at Drummondville in the QMJHL.

BTW: Biron is expected to re-sign with the Flyers in the weeks ahead. Discussions between the Flyers and Gilles Lupien, who represents Biron, are expected to begin later this week.

Anyway, I asked Biron whether he will pitch the Flyers to Briere.

“It's a fair question to ask," Biron replied. "I think they have their minds set on what they have to do in Buffalo. Danny was my roommate this year.

"When I left, I told him I would put in a good word for him. It’s the business part of hockey. I don’t know what Buffalo's intentions are with [Chris] Drury and Briere.

“It be hard to sign both of them. But they are two very big parts of that team. When they came into the lockerroom, the organization started going in the right direction. I don’t know what they are going to do. You can ask Denis Gauthier the same question. He played with Briere in juniors. And he is campaigning, too."

**

Finally, Biron gave major kudos to Garth for his reporting on the Sabres last season and now.

"Garth has really made an impact in Buffalo with that website," Biron said.

Yes, another shameless plug for Hockeybuzz, eh?

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