Don't know if Hallsey caught this last week, but the Pens signed Dobber's next big thing Luca Caputi to a three-year entry level deal. A highly-skilled winger who does nothing but post big-time points… in an organization with Crosby, Malkin and Staal at center. He has already rocketed up to No.32 on my Fantasy Prospects Rankings… but he'll move up a little higher with the news.

The Isles signed Tomas Marcinko to a three-year entry level deal. Marcinko is a long ways off, so he currently sits 274 on my prospects list. This new pushes him a tad closer to the Top 200 mark. He has 80-point potential.

I rambled about this guy a couple of months ago: Paul Szczechura is a 22-year-old pivot who was never drafted. The Lightning's affiliate aquired him midseason and he proceeded to post 26 points in 24 games for them. This after tallying just five in 29 for Iowa prior to the acquisition. Anyway, TB signed him to a two-year contract. He is a forward with skill in the TB system – a rarity on this team. He will debut around the 170 mark in May's Fantasy Prospect Rankings.

Russian forward Dmitri Kugryshev, who is rated 10th among International skaters in Central Scouting's final rankings of 2008 draft-eligible prospects, suffered a broken collarbone during the recently-completed 2008 IIHF World Under-18 Championships in Kazan, Russia. Kugryshev appeared in only three of Russia's six contests, but impressed with two goals and three points. Between this news and the lack of a transfer agreement, could push him as far as the second round.

Evgeni Malkin is just 30.8% at the faceoff dot.

One thing I haven't heard talked about much in the forum since I came back is the secondary battle in the PIT/NYR series. I'm talking about Ruutu vs. Avery, the battle of the pests! I love those guys.
 

To celebrate RJ Umberger's goal yesterday, I thought I would remind him of two years ago. Here's the call by my favorite play by play guy Rick Jeanerette: