September 15, 2008

Preseason Draft List is updated to today. 

Matt Bugg appeared on The NHL Arena Program podcast. You can listen to the excellent interview- and the after-show discussion- here 

New Jersey signed Rod Pelley to a two-year contract. No fantasy value here.

In the big Traverse City prospects tournament, Jakub Voracek had a pair of assists and played a strong game, and according to the Dispatch Maxim Mayorov had a "decent night". Fabian Brunnstrom had three assists in Dallas' 5-4 victory over Columbus.

Incidentally, representing Columbus in that tournament is tough guy Devin Didiomete, who is from my hometown of Stratford is actually the son of my high school Phys. Ed. teacher. Anyway, apparently the Flames did not sign him and he went back into the draft and was not drafted. Columbus invited him on a tryout (or they signed him, I am unable to dig up which). Just an FYI for those of you who were interested in him based on his profile in the Fantasy Prospects Report.

Another minor prospect who moved teams is Luciano Aquino, who was on the Islanders but is now with TB in this tournament. Just an FYI on a long shot prospect.

In the Kitchener rookie camps, Shawn Matthias was one of the goal scorers in Florida's 4-2 loss to the Sens. Matthias will make the Cats this year and is ranked 15th on my fantasy prospects list. He could be their second-line center.

Pittsburgh goalie prospect John Curry continues to beat the odds. He beat out two scholarship goalies in college as a walk on to be the No.1 there, but was still never drafted. He then beat out David Brown, who was drafted by the Pens, to be the No.1 goalie in Wilkes-Barre last season and put up nice numbers. The Gazette is reporting that he stopped 19 of 21 shots in a 5-2 win in Kitchener. It's guys like this, ones who contstantly overacheive, that you need to keep an eye on. Nothing stops them from getting to the NHL. I saw similar over-acheivement in players like Dave Bolland and Dave Krejci – and look at them now.

Pens prospect Luca Caputi sat out on the weekend because of a bruised hip. He is a long shot to make the team this year, but a solid season in junior could make him a candidate a year from now.

Tarik El-Bashir in the Post says that the line of Oskar Osala, Mathieu Perreault and Francois Bouchard was dominant in rookie camp so far. They are ranked 272, 95, and 34 respectively on my prospects list.
El-Bashir also thinks Semen Varlamov has the inside track on the No.3 goalie spot in the organization.

Just a reminder Fantasy Guide buyers – the updates from August 1 to today that are highlighted will have the highlights removed and it will be at regular font by this evening, so re-download your copy today if you want to see the changes highlighted. After today, I will start highlighti