Gonchar, Schnieder and other stuff

All right, it's our first blog of the new hockey season, officially, so let's get down to business.

Pens Gonchar out 4-6 months - hard to imagine the machine that is the Penguins offense not reeling from this development that Gonchar will be gone from 4-6 months because of shoulder surgery. Already without their best 2nd option in Ryan Whitney until mid-November, the Pens best answers to replace the stats are Kris Letang and rookie Goligoski. This isn't good news, and right now the Pens PP may be housed by Letang and 4 forwards as you may see Peter Sykora playing the point on the PP.

Schneider to Thrashers - wholly salary dump Batman. The Ducks basically had to give Schneider away for a mid-level prospect in Painchaud and of almost no fantasy interest in Larsen of Klee. Ilya Kovulchuk should benefit, as should the Thrashers anemic PP. But that said, Schneider is 39 years old, and is not likely to complete an entire season. He's even less likely now that he is the Thrashers best offensive defenceman. He'll see more icetime though and more PP time for sure.

Tim Stapleton of Leafs sent down - sometimes the Euro-gamble pays off and sometimes it doesn't. Early on, it looks like the Leafs bringing back Tim Stapleton from Europe this year is not going to pay the big dividends some thought it might. Stapleton may be back later in the season, or the club may be looking to get him some North American playing time. Whatever the reason, it's too early to send a "big part of your offense" down, so let the Leafs' fans take a flyer on this guy and choose a more stable option.

More to follow tomorrow.