Fantasy Guide and Preseason Draft List are now both updated through to today. I also changed the bottom of the draft list to get some PIM guys on there rather than 18-point players. Thought that would be more useful.

Francois Bouchard was among Washington’s cuts this afternoon.

Riley Holzapfel and Spencer Machacek were among Atlanta’s cuts today.

Alexander Avtsin and Louis Leblanc were among today’s cuts in Montreal. Avtsin will play in the AHL this season.

Oscar Moller and Johan Fransson were among the cuts by the Kings today. Ditto for Alec Martinez.

Shocking news – Kari Lehtonen was not in practice this morning with “tenderness”. What the hell is that? He left practice, but was very very kind about it?

Jim Rutherford says that Drayson Bowman has had a better camp so far than Boychuk.

Brett MacLean and Brandon Gormley were among today’s cuts in Phoenix.

The Rangers have cut Evgeni Grachev and Mats Zuccarello-Aasen. And of course, Wade Redden.

Dallas has cut Scott Glennie. St. Louis has cut Brett Sonne. Among others.

T.J. Hensick, Robbie Earl and Petr Kalus were among those placed on waivers today.

I finished tomorrow’s THN article (on Tyler Ennis) and I’ve been working on the Fantasy Guide updates. Wow – some huge changes, just from the many minor cuts across the league. Not to mention injuries. Lots of line combo juggling, domino-effect production adjustments and so much more – what store bought magazine do you have that can tell you about Sergei Samsonov’s neck injury helping Jeff Skinner make the ‘Canes and Patrick O’Sullivan moving up to the first line? Samsonov is a bit player in fantasy circles, but his absense from the lineup has massive repercussions. And if you’re the only one in your league with my fantasy guide, then you’re the only one in your league who will know about this. And that’s just one example. Multiply that by 30.

In my latest Hockey News article, I go over several of my hunches -where I’ve put my money where my mouth is.

I had my third of four major drafts yesterday, so Angus was kind enough to fill in for me. Both Friday and Sunday I drafted Derek Stepan with the hope that he makes the Rangers and continues to play on the top line. The longer he sticks and the longer he plays with Gaborik, the more consideration has to be given to my prediction for him this year.

The Fantasy Guide is updated through Thursday, but will be updated again for tonight. You can expect updates to continue for another two weeks yet.

Notable cuts from the weekend:
ANA – Veilleux, Bobkov, Pielmeier
ATL – Aliu
BOS – Sauve, Alexandrov
CAR – Rodney, Jared Staal, Samson, Nash, Matsumoto, Terry, Osala
CHI – Lalonde, Didomenico, Tarnasky, Vishnevskiy, Pirri
COL – Gaunce, Bacashihua
CBJ – Ratchuk
DAL – Cheechoo, Bachman, Sceviour, Sawada, Roman
NSH – Beck, Josi, Santorelli, Blum,
PHI – Riopel, Legein, Maroon
SJ – Sateri, Stalock, Zalewski
STL – Allen, Della Rovere, McRae
TB – Wright, Wishart, Tokarski, Szczechura, Persson, Mihalik, Jones, Janus, Fadden
TOR – Primeau, Scrivens, Rynnas, Mikus, Holzer, Aulie, Mueller, Irwin, D’Amigo
WAS – Holtby

The Leafs are still hanging in there with Nazem Kadri, but I will be removing my prediction for him in the Fantasy Guide. No full season for him this year. Caputi, on the other hand, is earning a spot. Ditto for Hanson. Both making strong cases. I expected more out of Brady Irwin.

With all the Neuvirth vs. Varlamov discussion, we can’t forget that Holtby has great potential. As I said on Twitter the other day, I can see this shaping up to be like San Jose a decade ago. They brought along Nabokov, Toskala and Kipper pretty much all at once…and over the course of several years chose their champion and traded away the others. That will happen here – and you can flip a coin as to which one they will go with. While Neuvirth is probably the most talented, the job currently belongs to Varlamov and the talent gap isn’t wide enough to pass that title to Neuvirth. It will come down to injuries. If Varlamov gets hurt for two weeks, then Neuvirth steals the job from him. If Neuvirth gets hurt, Varlamov will steal it back. But when both are healthy, I don’t think there will be any ‘stealing’ – after all, the Caps will win games. So even if a goalie slumps…he’s getting the W so they’ll keep playing him.

So that’s it for Jonathan Cheechoo.

The Matsumoto and Nash cuts indicate that the team really likes Zach Dalpe and he could very well stick. It’s not over yet though, but he has a bright future.

Some of the TB cuts are shocking. I thought Persson was ahead of Harju…but apparently not. Harju is still with the big club. And the fact that they cut Szcesazadrfwera, a member of last year’s team, indicates that Marc Pouliot has won a job.

It is looking as though the Rangers will have Stepan, Anisimov, Christensen, White as their four centers, with Boyle as an extra forward/ press box guy. Dubinsky will be a winger. I think he’s safe to draft and assume he’ll get LW eligibility in your league. Tim Kennedy should also wind up a winger.

This is going in the update – Nikolai Khabibulin played yesterday. It looks like he’ll hold off jail time long enough to get into some games.  Trust him now? Uh, no. But sometimes in leagues you are desperate. Perhaps you took Michael Leighton as your goalie and Carey Price is your other one. And the wire has been picked clean. In that circumstance, Khabibulin should be claimed. You never know, right?

The Horcoff – Eberle – Hall line was a great success. Just over two periods in the line scored four times. I acquired Horcoff in three of my four leagues – either drafting him (one year), or for a rock-bottom price (keeper). Only an injury will stop him from getting to 65.

Linus Omark had three points last night, showing that he’s not to be forgotten in Edmonton.

The Oilers hammered Vancouver, and Mikael Samuelsson was a minus-5.

The Islanders have convinced several players to come to camp on a tryout – including Manny Legace, Dean McAmmond, Anders Eriksson and Krys Kolanos. Interesting… and it wouldn’t shock me to see McAmmond win a job, and Legace/Kolanos earn two-way contracts/AHL jobs.

I’m not having any luck in the DobberHockey Experts League. Besides Savard’s concussion news coming out, my top defenseman is Mark Streit. Oops. Oh well, at least I’m set in net with Pekka Rinne and Michael Leighton. What? Oh…

That’s alright, watch me work some waiver wire magic. And I was smart enough to cover myself off at the draft, too. Savard was a late pick, Horcoff was drafted for my bench and will replace him nicely, and Antti Niemi is possibly the best No.3 goalie in the Experts League. It softens the blow(s)

Carolina, according to Chip Alexander of the News-Observer, is experimenting with Jussi Jokinen as a centerman on the third line. If this works – and the only way it doesn’t is if the first line doesn’t click and they need to move Jussi back up there – then you need roll your expectations for Jussi down from 65 to as low as 50.

That top line, by the way, is Staal with O’Sullivan and Cole.

Jiri Tlusty is expected to be allowed to take contract tomorrow.

My buddies at Puck Daddy used my shirt design for their picture when posting their article listing their 10 best fantasy hockey team names. You can read the article here. And hell, you can buy the shirt here. And there are lots of other funny ones too. Worth a look.

I wonder if Brett Sterling had an orgasm Saturday when he looked to his right and saw Sidney Crosby… and then beyond Crosby he saw Evgeni Malkin? I’m certain some of his fantasy owners did.

Zip your mouth, Avery (not throat slash):

And put me down for not wanting him to zip his mouth. Ever.

Jakub Voracek’s first career fight? And last?