August 27, 2008

Those of you with a lot of Avs holding their breath can rest easy now. Joe Sakic will be back for one more year. Essentially, that means that the likes of Stastny, Smyth, Hejduk and Liles will see the offense expected of them. Without Sakic, it may have meant a 5% drop (or more). The news does hurt Ty Arnason and T.J. Hensick though. Arnason may have reached 55 points with no Sakic. With him, 40 will be a fight. Hensick would have had 40-50 points himself, but with Sakic now back, a spot on the roster is not even guaranteed. I do think he'll make the team though, but again 40 points would be a stretch.

Brendan Morrison told the Orange County Register that his knee feels "really good" and that he will be ready for training camp. He is doing light workouts on the ice. He is a former iron man, so I wouldn't question his recovery. He should bounce back and be a serviceable second-line guy.

The Preds have signed Nick Spaling to a three-year, entry-level contract. Spaling is ranked 245 on my Fantasy Prospects List, but is a player on the rise and one to watch for sure. He is lower because he is several years away, but he goes up a little with this news.

Vitaly Vishnevski, recently waived by the Devils and expected to go to Russia, has indeed signed with Lokomotiv Yaroslavl of the KHL.
 

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