New Jersey made their cuts this afternoon: Fedor Fedorov, Vladimir Zharkov, Matt Halischuk, Chad Wiseman, Pascal Rheaume, Rod Pelley, Scott Clemmensen, Matt Corrente, Nicklas Bergfors among others. Also –  Eckford, Fraser, Burton, Spiller, Ruggeri, Magnan, Leach, Smith, Frazee, Murphy, Swift, Steve Gionta, and Caruso. This means that Petr Vrana made the team.
 

In the game today, Teddy Purcell with play on a line with Kopitar and Brown. The Kings have tried Moulson there, and Moller – now it's Purcell's turn. 

I can't dig up the nature of either injury – and the extent will be announced later – but Atlanta's Jason Williams did not play last night, and Bryan Little left the game.

With two points last night, Andy McDonald finished the preseason with 13 points – tops in the NHL. As mentioned in the ramblings a few days ago, he played hurt through much of last season and it wouldn't surprise me if he bounces back nicely this year.

Alex Goligoski was a healthy scratch yesterday. Ditto for Bill Thomas. With Goligoski, I would bump him down my list now. It looks like Therrien will ease him into the lineup, which means early on he may be scratched frequently.

Atlanta sent Ondrej Pavelec to Chicago of the AHL, but he refuses to report. He feels that he has not been treated fairly (starting just one preseason game and thrown in cold for the third period of another one two weeks later). He is demanding a trade or he could bolt to the KHL. Needless to say, he is extremely unhappy and the risk is there that he will never play in the NHL. I think he will, so this might be the time to pick him up in keeper leagues and get him cheap from a panicking owner.

The Thrashers were very impressed with Arturs Kulda in camp. He was sent down, but bears watching for next year. Long-term, you could see this guy getting 40 points and 100 penalty minutes.

The Flames cut Mikael Backlund, who will play the year in Sweden. Next year, he should be a Calder candidate.

Carolina signed Zach Boychuk to a three-year entry level deal. He is a few years away, but has great upside.

The Blackhawks have cut Igor Makarov, among others. Makarov was very impressive in both camps this year. Unfortunately, he will be playing this season in the KHL, which always carries the risk of convincing him to stay. I think he'll be back though, and should make the 'Hawks next year. He ranks 40th on my prospects list.

The Avs cut Chris Stewart, who had a strong camp again. He's getting close. He ranks 116 on my Fantasy Prospects List.

The Preds cut Cal O'Reilly, who missed much of camp with an injury so never really had a chance to impress. He'll be an early recall.

Ottawa's Mike Fisher missed yesterday's contest with a groin injury and is not expected to play today either.

Petr Sykora is also a member of the groin injury club, missing yesterday's game.

The Canucks have waived Jeff Cowan.

Petr Vrana, ranked 111 on my prospects list, has a shot at making the Devils. He needs to clear waivers to be cut. The 23-year-old has some upside and if he makes the team he will move up on my list when I update it Oct. 10.

For Nikita Filatov to make the Blue Jackets, he needs to beat out Derek Dorsett, Alexandre Picard, Craig MacDonald and Derek MacKenzie. I think MacDonald is his biggest threat, given his suitability for the fourth line. Filatov is third best prospect to own in keeper leagues, according to my prospects list.

Brad Larsen had sports hernia surgery and will be out for six weeks. Larsen was recently acquired by the Ducks in the Schneider deal.

Montreal has cut Max Pacioretty. He has had an excellent camp and will be the first call up. Expect a season similar to Sergei Kostitsyn's last year, where he does well in the AHL and then plays the second half in Montreal.

The Ducks claimed defenseman Nathan McIver off of waivers. That indicates to me that they have no immediate plans to recall Brian Salcido.

Last night I had my fifth of five drafts – three keeper leagues, two one-year leagues. Last night's was the keeper league that got me into fantasy hockey in the first place. It was our 19th draft. I won last year, and I managed to secure the second overall pick by trading Paul Stastny and the 21st pick for J.P. Dumont and the 2nd pick. I needed the depth because I lost Sergei Gonchar (whom I had a acquired two months ago for the ninth overall pick), Ryan Whitney, and Jaromir Jagr. In this particular league we do not count roster positions, it has a seperate playoff challenge (using same rosters) and it is strictly points – we can keep everyone and the draft is three rounds. Anyway, I grabbed Filatov (I now own him in all three keeper leagues) second, and the fifth pick I traded for Miroslav Satan. I didn't pick again until 30th when I chose Nigel Dawes. I traded Rostislav Olesz for the 39th pick so I could grab Kris Letang. Although I am a fan of Olesz's upside, he was not on a playoff team and since I finished third in the playoffs I thought I would bolster that part of my roster. With the final pick of the draft – 42nd – I selected Luca Caputi. I now own Malkin, Gonchar, Whitney, Letang, Satan and Caputi on the Pens. If they go to the Final again, I should be good for another Top 3 spot in the playoffs. In the regular season I should also compete for first again. I'm thinking of making a section in DobberHockey where I detail my thoughts and moves in my various leagues. If you have any interest in seeing that, let me know in the feedback section of the forum.

CUTS
Anaheim – Brett Festerling
Atlanta – Jamie Rivers, Ondrej Pavelec, Arturs Kulda, Grant Stevenson
Calgary – Mikael Backlund, John Armstrong, Matt Keetley
Chicago – Igor Makarov, Jesse Boulerice, Tim Brent
Colorado – Chris Stewart
Columbus – Tommy Sestito, Adam Pineault, Clay Wilson, Grant Clitsome
Dallas – Nolan Baumgartner
Nashville – Triston Grant, Alexander Sulzer, Cal O'Reilly
San Jose – Logan Couture, Derek Joslin