June 03, 2011
Jeff Angus
2011-06-03
If you downloaded the Fantasy Prospects Report Wednesday, you may want to do it again as I made some additions. Ryan Johansen and Brayden McNabb, which had disappeared into cut/paste purgatory, are back in. I also added profiles for Andy Miele, Taylor Doherty, Matt Frattin, Aaron Palushaj and two other players who I won't name because they make decent dark horses and I don't want to give the names up to the non-paying public!
Dan Hamhuis is day-to-day. I’d guess a groin/hernia related issue from the way he skated off the ice, but the Canucks won’t say much. If he is out for Game 2, I’d expect Keith Ballard to draw in. Not a bad seventh defenseman to call upon.
Boston needs to give Tyler Seguin more ice time. I’d be all for a Seguin-Recchi switch – Recchi looks sluggish and every bit his age right now. Seguin is quick and skilled, but he can’t do much in five or six minutes of ice time.
I bet there are a ton of teams kicking themselves for passing on Dennis Seidenberg – twice. The Panthers signed him on the cheap last summer after he lingered in the open market for a few months. The Bruins nabbed him at the deadline for a pick.
Seidenberg is big and mobile. He has a great shot, and he hits hard. I’d wager he’s one of the strongest guys in the league, as well. With Chara’s virus/recovery, he’s been leaned on extremely heavily this spring, leading the entire NHL in time on ice.
I can tell that the Luongo/Thomas matchup is going to be a real treat to watch. Aside from the fact that they are two of the three best goalies on the planet right now (Pekka Rinne says hello), they are about as opposite as you can get stylistically.
Luongo is robotic/methodical/technical, and he plays deep in his crease.
Thomas is instinctive/acrobatic/aggressive and challenges the shooter every chance he gets.
Rumor in Vancouver is that Milan Lucic is playing with a busted toe. Would explain his labored skating stride (he never was a Marian Gaborik-like skater to begin with).
Props to Anthony Lancione for the heads up – the Lewiston Maineiacs have been dissolved and their players will be made available to other QMJHL teams via a dispersal draft. The Maineiacs have fallen far after representing the Q in the Memorial Cup only four years ago.
Lancionie's fantasy-related view:
First & largest glaring pending development that comes to mind, is “Who will retain the junior rights to NY Islanders top prospect Kiril Kabanov?!”
He is still only 18 years old (19 next month), and unless he impresses the hell out of Jack Capuano’s staff this summer @ Islanders’ rookie camp & again at pro camp in the fall, he’s likely destined for one more season in junior.
I suppose whoever claims him will build around him and make a run if they have enough pieces to do so. Otherwise he may be pawned off for a decent return. Not a Brayden Schenn or Cody Eakin return, but perhaps a package similar to the one received in the Justin Shugg trade to Mississauga or last year’s deal bringing Kassian to Windsor from Peterborough.
Brad Richards won't be offered a contract from Dallas. Not really a huge surprise. I'd say his odds of ending up in New York/Toronto/elsewhere are 80/19/1, accordingly.
Do the Lightning make a run at Richards? On the surface, another center makes little sense. However, would give them unbelievable options up front. They are clearing about $9 million in cap space with Gagne/Brewer coming off the books.
I think the priority in TB is getting a puck moving, mobile defenseman, though.
Sidney Crosby is back on track and is slated to return to off-ice workouts within the next three weeks.
Hockey players rule. Steven Stamkos with a nose that Rod Brind'Amour would be proud of.
Amazing Gilbert Brule story involving Bono from U2.
The best read in hockey – Elliotte Friedman's 30 Thoughts.
If this doesn't give you goosebumps, I'd like to check your pulse. CBC steps their pregame montages up for the Cup Final in a big way.