...too every poolies' surprise (not), Pavol Demitra and Marion Gaborik are injured. Like we couldn't see that coming. Demitra is out with a rib injury and Gaborik and his nasty groin are on the sideline as well. This is very problematic for the Wild, who are already rumored to be shopping Gaborik after he reportedly turned down a contract extension in the $7M-$8M per year range. Problem for all involved is Gaborik's health is always a question mark. Vancouver is rumored to be very interested in acquiring Gaborik; he and Demitra are best friends. The players rumored headed back to Minnesota are Mason Raymond, Corey Schneider and a first round draft pick. The Flames are also rumored to be interested in Gaborik; dangling Dustin Boyd, Leland Irving and a first rounder. For now, Gaborik looks to e at least a few weeks away, and Demitra is supposed to be back before then. As a poolie, you should be trying to move these guys for more dependable options.
In Chicago, Denis Savard got axed 4 games into the season with Joel Quenville taking over. You can anticipate that the Blackhawks should rebound and begin playign better for a few weeks with a new bench boss, but the team needs to do something about the goaltending situation which is rumored to be causing a rift in the dressing room. New and very young captain, Jonathan Toews is struggling early to find his offensive game as well. The Flyers are said to be interested in looking at Khabibulin as their tandem of Biron and Nittymaki have been under-whelming to date, but there would need to be some salary cap management on the part of both teams to make a trade work.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Thursday, October 09, 2008
Day one - of a long season
Despite the boring NHL games in Europe last weekend, the league's regular season kick-offs tonight and I wanted to catch you up on the latest...
Sergei Zubov - is gone from 4-6 weeks with surgery on his hip. Expect him back late October early November. Not deadly for the Stars as they existed without him for sometime last year, but their PP will not be nearly as potent without him manning the point. On the flip side, Niskanen, Boucher and Robidas will all see more minutes as a result.
Nik Khabibulin - after being placed on waivers last week and no takers, it looks like the Blackhawks will try and move the former #1 within a week. Likely destinations are the LA Kings and also now entering the talks are the Ottawa Senators, who might take a flyer on the Bulin Wall if the Hawks take Martin Gerber back as part of the deal. The Sens would likely also need to jettison someone else to make the deal work under the salary cap as well (i.e., Donovan). Watch the Sens close out of the gate, if Gerber struggles, the talks will heat immediately. For the Kings, it's all about making sure they are at the league minimum as well as storing a potential trade asset at the deadline as well as not wrecking Bernier's psyche by having their young stud goalie see 40 shots per game.
In Vancouver, the Canucks added some needed grit in the addition of Shane O'Brien and the versatile Michel Ouellet from the Lightening for Lukas Krajicek and mid-level prospect Juraj Simek. O'Brien's offense is under-rated, but he'll be counted on to add some toughness for the Canucks defence. Krajicek has some puck-moving ability and Lightening brass are stock-piling slick puck-moving defencemen in attempts to get as many rearguards as they can that may get the puck up to their very talented forwards.
In Montreal, Chris Higgins has had a sore groin for almost the entire camp, and remains on shelf for the start of the season. This is not good news for the Habs. Higgins needs to be healthy for them to win, and this smell like it could turn into an issue that may linger for the entire season. Higgins owners be warned.
Sergei Zubov - is gone from 4-6 weeks with surgery on his hip. Expect him back late October early November. Not deadly for the Stars as they existed without him for sometime last year, but their PP will not be nearly as potent without him manning the point. On the flip side, Niskanen, Boucher and Robidas will all see more minutes as a result.
Nik Khabibulin - after being placed on waivers last week and no takers, it looks like the Blackhawks will try and move the former #1 within a week. Likely destinations are the LA Kings and also now entering the talks are the Ottawa Senators, who might take a flyer on the Bulin Wall if the Hawks take Martin Gerber back as part of the deal. The Sens would likely also need to jettison someone else to make the deal work under the salary cap as well (i.e., Donovan). Watch the Sens close out of the gate, if Gerber struggles, the talks will heat immediately. For the Kings, it's all about making sure they are at the league minimum as well as storing a potential trade asset at the deadline as well as not wrecking Bernier's psyche by having their young stud goalie see 40 shots per game.
In Vancouver, the Canucks added some needed grit in the addition of Shane O'Brien and the versatile Michel Ouellet from the Lightening for Lukas Krajicek and mid-level prospect Juraj Simek. O'Brien's offense is under-rated, but he'll be counted on to add some toughness for the Canucks defence. Krajicek has some puck-moving ability and Lightening brass are stock-piling slick puck-moving defencemen in attempts to get as many rearguards as they can that may get the puck up to their very talented forwards.
In Montreal, Chris Higgins has had a sore groin for almost the entire camp, and remains on shelf for the start of the season. This is not good news for the Habs. Higgins needs to be healthy for them to win, and this smell like it could turn into an issue that may linger for the entire season. Higgins owners be warned.
Thursday, October 02, 2008
Blues, Canucks, Oilers and Red Wings
St. Louis - just so were clear, a 20 year old kid went golfing and says he tore not only his ACL, but MCL as well, while getting his foot caught between the barking brake and the golf cart floor of his golf cart...uh-huh. Wow, and our dogs ate our homework too! Erik Johnson is the kid, and right now the Blues have got to be cringing at the fact that Steve Wagner and Eric Brewer are now their best options as an offensive defencemnn. For Johnson owners, it's a full 12 months (and likely more like 18) from surgery, rehab to skating before we think begins to be close to 100%. Basically a lost year. Again - wow! I thought kids were smarter than this?
Vancouver - someone is going to have to convince me that naming Luongo the captain isn't a blatant attempt to kiss-up to the Canucks net-minder. There is a reason that goalies don't wear letters, and haven't since before we were born. On the fantasy side though, who cares! If it motivates the hardest working guy on the team to work that much harder (usually meaning even better fantasy value), give him the alphabet - we don't care. Still with the Canucks, it looks like Demitra is going to be centering the 2nd unit, between Taylor Pyatt and either Mason Raymond or Kyle Wellwood. Wellwood has shown offensive touches, particularly on the PP, while Raymond's speed is always appreciated by his coaches.
Edmonton - as it looks now, Dustin Penner is and will skate on a line with Moreau and Pisani, while Erik Cole moves to Penner's spot on the #1 line. Good news for Cole, bad news for Penner fantasy-wise
Detroit - Chelios is gone for at least 4-6 weeks with a broken foot. His fantasy value is low, but this makes room for Lebda, Kronwall and others for more playing time early.
Vancouver - someone is going to have to convince me that naming Luongo the captain isn't a blatant attempt to kiss-up to the Canucks net-minder. There is a reason that goalies don't wear letters, and haven't since before we were born. On the fantasy side though, who cares! If it motivates the hardest working guy on the team to work that much harder (usually meaning even better fantasy value), give him the alphabet - we don't care. Still with the Canucks, it looks like Demitra is going to be centering the 2nd unit, between Taylor Pyatt and either Mason Raymond or Kyle Wellwood. Wellwood has shown offensive touches, particularly on the PP, while Raymond's speed is always appreciated by his coaches.
Edmonton - as it looks now, Dustin Penner is and will skate on a line with Moreau and Pisani, while Erik Cole moves to Penner's spot on the #1 line. Good news for Cole, bad news for Penner fantasy-wise
Detroit - Chelios is gone for at least 4-6 weeks with a broken foot. His fantasy value is low, but this makes room for Lebda, Kronwall and others for more playing time early.
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