Fantasy Guide, updated through yesterday, found here.

As promised below – here is the Puck Daddy article on – you guessed it – Nikita Filatov.

Chris Johnston and Darren Dreger are both Tweeting that Gagne is done for camp. Again – shocking. As good as he is, does Canada really want a guy on the team who will either be too hurt to play at least a couple of the games – or even worse, will play through his injury anyway? Say “no” to Band-Aid Boys fellas. You can find someone almost as skilled without the risk I’m sure.

More Twitter gold – the Lightning have signed Martins Karsums to a one-year deal. He’ll get a shot at a top six spot and if he has a weak year (say 35 points or less) I can see him going back to Europe next summer. A decent or strong season will make him a future fantasy asset.

Well… they’re certainly no Pascal Dupuis or Tyler Kennedy… but I guess Rick Nash and Jarome Iginla will do as Sidney Crosby’s linemates. Man, he’ll be disappointed when he goes back to Pittsburgh and looks to his right and left.

Chris Johnston is reporting that Simon Gagne is out of practice today (Team Canada) with a groin strain. Shocking.

I am looking forward to an article today on Puck Daddy about a certain Russian youngster brought to you by their Russian columnist. Highlights, according to his Tweets, include gaining 17 pounds of pure muscle and considering the KHL if he’s on the farm or on the bench… as soon as the interview is posted, I will link to it here and we’ll all enjoy it together.

Dobber Nation – slight delay, will be out tomorrow – guests include Carolina scout Ron Ferguson, our own Stuart McDonald and introducing a great new feature on keeper leagues. You’ll love it! Again – that’s tomorrow, a day later than the usual time of the 25th

The latest rumors have defenseman Dennis Seidenberg in talks with the Rangers and Panthers, as well as Mathieu Schneider in talks with the Canucks. The Rangers have four proven defensemen and then Matt Gilroy, Bobby Sanguinetti, Michael Del Zotto and a bunch of journeymen or fringe NHLers. The Panthers would also make sense as they have four proven rearguards plus Ville Koistinen, Keaton Ellerby and a bunch of journeymen or fringe NHLers.

As for Vancouver, they always seem to be short a couple of d-men due to injuries. They have five surefire NHLers plus Rome, Nycholat, McIver, Baumgartner and Funk. Adding Schneider would be wise and even the guy just turned 57 or thereabouts, he can still run a power play and would be an asset with Bieksa. Don’t count on a full season from him, but 35 points is still fair.

Jim Balsillie has set a deadline of Sept. 14 for his purchase to get approved and immediately move the team to Hamilton. Full story here. He really should have just bought the team, kept it in Phoenix for a year with his mouth shut, then moved them quickly and quietly next summer. He should have done that with Nashville, too. How can I be smarter than a billionaire? Because most billionaires are moderately smart but abundantly lucky. I’m the reverse of that ;)