Big Changes Ahead – July 4, 2009
Dobber Sports
2009-07-04
Angus here. Ask me any fantasy hockey questions tonight!!! Check it out here.
FORUM back up You may have had a preview of what is in store last night – the new look of our forum and how fast the forum will be working. It temporarily shifted to VBulletin. We flipped it back to the regular look and speed for now. The entire site will be faster – the changeover is scheduled for July 8.
Here's an interesting one. The Blues signed goalie Hannu Toivonen to a two-way contract. I thought he was done with the NHL, but that's not the interesting part. It's interesting that he signed a two-way deal given that he is up against Mason, Conklin and Bishop. As it stands now, he's fourth in the pecking order in my books.
Anaheim has signed once promising rearguard Steve McCarthy. He spent last season in the KHL – he'll compete with Brian Salcido for the final spot on the blue line, and my money is on Salcido.
Yanick Lehoux has signed to play in Sweden next campaign.
The Pens have signed depth rearguard Nate Guenin to a contract.
Curtis Brown has signed to play in the Swiss League next season.
Some Russian news: Montreal's Maxim Trunev will not attend development camp. He is ranked 140 on my prospects list. Recently drafted Alexander Avtsyn, however, will attend camp. My preliminary prospects list shows me that he will deput on the chart next week in the Top 85. Avtsyn is a high-end talent and a hidden gem. I need to see more on him before I can get into specifics, so I'll be paying attention to his performance at this camp. I'm cautiously optimistic about him though.
What great management – those worried about the Pens big, long-term contracts for Malkin, Crosby, Fleury, Staal and Whitney can rest easy – Whitney was dealt away, and Fedotenko, Guerin and Adams each took pay cuts. Sykora will be taking a pay cut as well if he wants to return there.
Happy 4th of July to my American friends…