Washington prospect goalie Michal Neuvirth was the AHL's Calder Cup MVP. Man, the Neuvirth vs. Varlamov battle has been everything we hoped it would be a couple of years ago. Varlamov still has the edge as the next starter, but – don't count out Neuvirth.

I put the Cup-related ramblings in its own article, found here .

The Pronger for Johnson and 5th overall rumor has been bunked by both parties. Not that that means a whole lot, but just an FYI.

Derian Hatcher had surgery two weeks ago to fully replace his knee. His NHL career is done, if you weren't certain of that before.

I'll never forget the email that I got a couple of years ago, in which the writer angrily demanded that I dig up and include in the Fantasy Guide information on which players were expecting babies and when, as well as which ones were getting married the following summer, etc. He said it impacted their mental state and thus their season performance. Now that, my friends, is hardcore. It's not like there's a database on that stuff. Anyway, on that note, Vinny Prospal and his wife had their third child Thursday. Vinny's three kids: Vanessa, Vaclav and Veronika.

Hershey Bears won the AHL's Calder Cup. Career minor leaguers Alexandre Giroux, Corey Locke, Jason Krog and Keith Aucoin were the top four scorers. The only promising prospects in the Top 10 were Chris Bourque (WAS), Michael Grabner (VAN) and Brad Marchand (BOS).

Unbelievable – Tony Hrkac, at 43 and hasn't played in over three years, managed 14 points in 19 playoff games for Houston. Call him up!

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Boston's Vladimir Sobotka had 13 points in 14 AHL playoff games. If he can ever get on another NHL team that is not so deep, he'd be a great 70-point guy.