October 01, 2010

 

Dobber: Fantasy Guide is now updated as of tonight. Draft List will be late tonight, or else tomorrow morning.

 

Kyle Beach and Igor Makarov were among today’s Chicago cuts.

 

Happy October everybody!

 

With Okposo out, the guy in NYI I am keeping an eye on is Blake Comeau. He's big and pretty fundamentally solid with and without the puck. I think he'll stick on the top unit with Moulson and JT.

 

Any Florida fans on the site? How has Grabner looked at camp/during the preseason?

 

Terry Murray loves Kyle Clifford. So does Ryan Van Horne, who dedicated an entire column to Clifford earlier this year.

 

Bryan Bickell is NOT a long-term fit on the top line. Brouwer may play with Sharp and Hossa. Stalberg has been a huge flop so far and is in a battle to even make the team. Keep an eye on who ends up playing with Kane and Toews on opening night. I have a hunch they will rotate wingers all season long.

 

Thomas Vanek left the game last night against Montreal with an injury and didn't return.

 

I caught some of the game at work – Gerbe looked good. Tyler Myers looks even better than he did last season… I pegged him for a bit of a drop off (I really dislike Buffalo's defense), but I may be rethinking that one.

 

Jonas Hiller better get the SPF 90 ready – his neck will be seeing a lot of red this season. Anaheim is in tough.

 

Kari Lehtonen has looked very good during the pre-season so far. The only question with him is health… he is one of the most naturally talented goalies in the league.

 

Do I share Dobber's projections for Edmonton's rookies? Nope. I don't see any of the three clearing 70 points. I have MPS at 49, Eberle at 47, and Hall at 58.

 

Boedker getting cut doesn't surprise me. Dave Tippett favours veterans, and the Coyotes are pretty deep on the wing (at least in terms of players similar to Boedker). I wouldn't get rid of him just yet, but if you are trying to win within the next year or two, dangling him for some veteran talent makes sense (although his value right after being sent down is probably pretty low).

 

In a keeper league… Brayden Schenn or Jeff Skinner? I think you know my answer here… Skinner.

 

Projections for Tyler Bozak, Matt Duchene, and Derrick Brassard. Bozak 20 goals, 57 points. Duchene 34 goals, 70 points. Brassard 21 goals 58 points.

 

Will John Carlson get enough ice time to be relevant in most hockey pools? Yes.

 

The battle for the final center ice position in Phoenix looks to be coming down to two Kyle's – Wellwood, and Turris. I am a big Wellwood fan and think he can fit a need on a team like Phoenix. He'll produce sporadically and he can play 12-15 minutes per game of sound hockey. He's great on the draw as well.