September 12, 2010
Dobber Sports
2010-09-12
DobberHockey member MikeyDangles has put together an extremely comprehensive spreadsheet for statistical reference. More information here.
Fantasy Guide is updated through today now, including Potulny, Dawes, Modin, Halpern adds, plus a new column to help you with my thought process. Buy it here. Also, we flipped back to the “old” downloads section for now as we re-organize the “new” one by year. You’ll love it when it’s ready, shouldn’t be long.
Deadline to get yourself into the Entry League draw is today at 6pm. Details of the Three-Tiered Invitational are in the forum in the free contests section. To enter the draw you must buy a Fantasy Guide and then email me at dobber@ dobberhockey.com and subject line: “enter me in the pool”
An update on Alex Grant – he has been released from hospital with a broken wrist and whiplash. Tests detected no other damage, according to the Gazette. So Grant’s camp is over, but he was a couple of years off anyway. It’s good to hear that he’ll be fine.
Another player with a big game yesterday was Brett Sonne in St. Louis, scoring a pair of goals. After a 100-point WHL season, Sonne’s rookie-pro start left something to be desired as he managed just 24 points and was a minus-15 in 77 games. He’s a longer term prospect, but look for him to make big AHL strides this year.
Detroit prospect Brendan Smith was plus-4 in yesterday’s 6-1 win over Dallas. Smith will get a long look in camp, though he’ll have to climb over a few bodies to get onto the roster this year. He’ll show enough during cups of coffee this season to secure a spot in 2011.
The Lightning were impressed by their top pick Brett Connolly yesterday in the TC Tourney. He scored both TB goals in the 4-2 loss to the Blues and had five shots. He has an outside shot at a roster spot in the fall, and long term is a dark horse prospect because he missed most of last season with a hip injury.
The Fantasy Guide will be updated later this morning. With camp underway – the prospects one, anyway – the updates on the guide now increase in frequency. Those who missed the announcement – the new shopping cart is up and rolling.
I was going through and updated the Fantasy Guide yesterday and I couldn’t find Miss-the-Net Modin in my template. I had removed him. I assure you – I only remove a player from my predictions template if I am absolutely certain, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that the player is done in the NHL for good. I still have Robert Lang in there – Dean McAmmond, Petteri Nokelainen, Petr Sykora and even Mathieu Schneider – but yet I saw fit to remove the Band-Aid Boy Modin. Even if he hasn’t lost an edge – and he had some solid games down the stretch for LA – Atlanta can’t possibly think he’ll play enough games to warrant that money! Maybe I’m just bitter that I have to re-insert him into my template…
The Brayden Schenn knee injury may be a minor one, but if he misses even two weeks that could be enough to hinder his chances of making the team this year. It’s hard to make a team based on just the final week of training camp.
Toronto prospect Gregg McKegg had two points in last night’s rookie tourny matchup in London and he was the first star. I had singled McKegg out as one of the bigger steals of the draft in terms of picks after the first round. He is two or three years away, depending on development and where the Leafs are at next fall.
In the Rangers development camp, some great chemistry was reported by the newyorkrangers.com site. Derek Stepan with evgeny Grachev and Ryan Bourque played very well together, “dominated” the game. They had eight points on the afternoon (against Columbus) and Grachev potted the game winner. None of the three will make the Rangers out of camp, due to their depth. But Stepan and Grachev should be locks a year from now.
Ryan Johansen had two assists for Columbus in the loss. He has a chance to make the team this year, but it’s a long shot. He’s one to watch for next year.
Wild prospect Casey Wellman was the second star of the Min-Car game yesterday. He had an assist in the 2-1 win. He should make the team and is a dark horse for decent secondary production.
Pens rearguard Alex Grant was carried off on a stretcher Saturday after taking a hit from behind. The extend of the injuries are not yet known, but he was being examined for possible neck, back and wrist injuries.