A guarantee – Jakub Voracek will break the 80-point mark at some point over the next three seasons.

If I were a Wings fan, I’d be a bit concerned about the lack of mobility on the back end (especially with Kronwall still banged up). The Blues, Blue Jackets, Blackhawks, and especially the Predators are all very quick teams up front.

Detroit’s offense will be much improved with a healthy Franzen and a returning Hudler. However, they’ll need Jimmy Howard to show that last season wasn’t a fluke. I have never been a Howard fan but he proved me wrong last season. I still think he spits out way too many rebounds, though.

Pick up DobberHockey's 2010-11 Pool Guide.

I have been up in Castlegar (a small town in the interior of BC about four hours from Vancouver) over the past five days running the training at a hockey school. Castlegar is the home of Shawn Horcoff and Travis Green.  It has been extremely hot here. Yesterday it was 34 degrees outside (about 100 degrees Fahrenheit). I am back to Vancouver tonight, and should have an article up this weekend.

A name who hasn't been on my radar for quite some time – Angelo Esposito.  He has torn his ACL twice and most (including myself) had written him off as a legitimate prospect. However, it sounds like he is looking very good during some informal skates going on with Atlanta.

The Ilya Kovalchuk circus continues… Puck Daddy's Dmitri Chesnokov is reporting that Kovalchuk may consider some offers from the KHL if he is unable to get something done soon. I still think the KHL threat is nothing more than leverage… but my confidence in Kovalchuk sticking in the NHL has dropped from 99% to 90%.

Jordan Staal has been unable to skate without pain this off-season. Staal had a tendon in his foot cut during Pittsburgh's second round series against Montreal. He returned to play but underwent surgery after the season ended.

It sounds like Staal should be ready to go when the season starts, but he may miss some of camp. Don't be surprised to see him get off to a slow start, as he hasn't been able to properly prepare this summer.

The Thrashers and Niclas Bergfors are still very far apart in terms of numbers on a new contract. Atlanta is already a team that will probably struggle to score goals, and without Bergfors they'd be even worse off.

I really like Bergfors from a fantasy standpoint, as I see him fitting in really well with Atlanta. He is quick and he has a nose for the net, and with the big bodies that the Thrashers added this summer, he'll be seeing a lot of open ice. He's very streaky, but the majority of young offensive players are.

The Thrashers are reportedly toying with the idea of moving Byfuglien back to defense. Huge fantasy ramifications.

If he gets defensive eligibility, he could be one of the most valuable defensemen to own in most league formats. He will undoubtedly move up to forward on the power play, and could be a 20 goal, 45-50 point defenseman with decent PIM totals.

Byfuglien is a natural defenseman who prefers to play on the back end. He was moved up front because he was so effective against teams like Vancouver with his size and net presence.

Paul Kariya to Anaheim is gaining steam. Kariya hasn't decided if he wants to play yet, but if he does, the Ducks are probably who is he going to suit up for. Kariya-Koivu-Selanne sure would have been a good line 12 years ago…

DobberHockey guest columnist Mike Colligan has a good piece on Marek Svatos and Pittsburgh. I think Svatos would be a great fit for Crosby – he's fast, skilled, and he has a great shot. He is extremely injury prone but he could score 30 if he finds a home in Pittsburgh.

Eric Tangradi, Chris Kunitz, and Malkin/Staal (whichever one moves to left wing) should make up three of the spots in Pittsburgh's top six. Svatos would slide in very nicely with Crosby and Kunitz on the top unit.

Working on my next top 10 list – the Top 10 Defensive Keeper Prospects. Five locks – Ekman-Larsson, McBain, Subban, Carlson, and Pietrangelo. 25 games played limit (no Karlsson, for one). Any guesses as to who makes up the rest of the list?

I have Boston at the top of my preseason Eastern Conference standings. I like their mix at all three positions, and I don't really like any of the other teams in their division all that much.

In the West, I have Colorado out of the playoffs. I like Detroit, Vancouver, San Jose, Chicago, St. Louis, and Los Angeles. Also in the mix is Nashville, Calgary, Columbus, and Phoenix. Edmonton will be better but I don't see them getting the goaltending required to make the playoffs.