January 8, 2009

 

Correction on the below – Rick Nash is walking WITHOUT a limp. I read the quoted blog too quickly methinks. Thanks to Scribe for the correction in the best damn fantasy hockey forum out there.

 

Jordan Staal has signed a four-year, $16 million contract to stay in Pittsburgh. Staal owners rejoice! This should stop any further trade rumors.

 

Mikael Backlund, the 14th ranked fantasy prospect on my list, will remain in North America and play in the WHL. He should be a Calgary rookie next season and is a Calder candidate for that year.

 

Phoenix has assigned Kevin Porter to the AHL.

 

Kristian Huselius may come back on Saturday from his apparently minor concussion.

 

Rick Nash will miss both games this weekend. he is walking with a limp, but the team will not disclose the problem. This according to Puck-rakers blog.

 

Hilarious comments on the Ruutu bite – see the clip below. MacT is funny as hell!

 

marcus here: Sundin made his debut but it was the 3rd line that everyone was talking about after the game. Bernier-Kesler-Burrows combined for 8 points. Keep a close eye on this line in the next week as they may go on another run as they did in the first 20 games of the season.

Luongo has started to practice once again but with the strong play of Labarbera he will not be forced to rush back.

Lundqvist has allowed 18 goals in 4 games if you exclude his shutout on Monday. In his first 30 games of the season he only allowed more than 3 goals 4 times.

As a Lundqvist owner I can't wait for this rough patch to end and in the meantime I will only play him in favorable matchups until he turns things around.

Dobber: Ottawa owner Eugene Melnyk has given both Murray and Hartsburg his vote of confidence. That means they'll be fired by the end of the weekend. That would mean the team will start scoring again soon.

 

Spezza is already turning the corner with 10 points in his last eight games.

 

Mats Sundin made his debut on a line with Raymond and Wellwood. He played the PP with the Sedins and Ohlund. His presence opened things up for their third line, allowing Kesler, Bernier and Burrows to tally three points each.

 

Gilbert Brule got a shot on the top line with Horcoff and Penner. Oops. He was a minus-2 and was pretty much off the line by the 12th shift. Won't be seeing a chance like that for a while.

 

Derek Roy has seven points in his last three games.

 

David Booth has nine in his last six.

 

Think Versteeg is slowing down? Not while he plays with Havlat. Versteeg has seven in his last five while Havlat has six in his last three.

 

Nigel Dawes is still rolling with nine in his last nine.

 

Viktor Kozlov has 24 points in his last 26 games – he's playing with Ovy and if healthy could easily clear 65 and flirt with 70.

 

The Midseason Guide will be out tomorrow – make sure you pick it up. For 10 bucks, you can't go wrong – what else ar