June 20, 2011
Dobber Sports
2011-06-20
Fantasy Prospects Report – buy it here.
The Habs have re-signed Max Pacioretty for two years, per TSN.
Penguins’ goaltender John Curry has signed to play in Germany next season. His NHL odds were getting pretty slim, so this was the right move. He gave it the proper amount of time, I think. Last year was the year he needed to seize the attention of NHL teams, and he didn’t.
Update: Lidstrom will return for next season, per the Detroit Red Wings. He signed with the Panthers. Kidding (about the Panthers’ part)
The Oilers have signed former Columbus draft pick Lennart Petrell, a big two-way forward who was playing in the Finnish league. Not fantasy relevant, although he may have an outside shot at a checking job. The Oil just want to see him in camp and in the AHL, and go from there.
Edmonton also signed undrafted winger Antti Tyrvainen, who is an Esa Tikkanen without the skill. Only 22, and signed for two years, he'll apprentice in the AHL this season. Potentially another Daniel Carcillo in another year.
One thought that Adrian Dater had on Joakim Lindstrom – his teammate in Sweden was Adam Larsson. Did the Avs just tip us off as to who they are picking? For more of my thoughts on Lindstrom (good ones), check out yesterday's ramblings.
EXCLUSIVE: On Tuesday and Wednesday, at 1pm ET (11am MT), Matthew Bugg will be here via Live Chat for one hour each day to respond to your questions about the draft. This is a keeper league owner's dream – get the scoop from one of the better draft analysts out there, directly from the source.
So Nashville picked up the player Juuso Puustinen, who I thought Calgary would have been a great fit for back in the winter…until I was corrected by someone that he was actually a UFA. Calgary didn't sign him, and now Nashville has. This is exactly what the Preds need – a forward who can get 45 or 50 points. Because they only have 36 of those types of forwards right now, and getting a 37th was imperitive.
If Puustinen were to ask me for advice, I would say – "the only team you shouldn't sign with is Nashville. They have too many of you already". But he didn't ask me. The Preds are hoping his time in North America turns out better than Linus Klasen's.
Here is a trade that could be nothing, but could turn out to be something. And whenever I say this, keep in mind that it's "probably nothing" – but what I provide for you is an alternative projection, or another way of thinking in terms of possibilities. Anyway, the Maxim Noreau for David McIntyre trade between the Wild and Devils. Here is my breakdown:
Maxim Noreau in New Jersey – In Minnesota he had a shot at making the team, where he would have been behind Burns, Zidlicky and fighting with Barker, Spurgeon and Scandella in terms of power-play time. In New Jersey, with Greene gone and with them probably letting Salmela go…he's behind only Matt Taormina and competing with several other prospects of which he is the favorite. In my estimation, he just went from 10 points in 35 or 45 games… to 30 points in 70 games, with upside. Noreau is a 'buy' if you need depth on defense.
David McIntyre in Minnesota – He went from being kind of buried in a defensive system to kind of being buried in a defensive system. A former favorite of mine, it's good to see him get a fresh start in a new organization, but his best shot is as a fourth-line center this year.
Nicklas Lidstrom and Ken Holland have scheduled a conference call for 11am this morning. Hoping that it's to announce a contract.
A great update on several Carolina prospects can be found here.
I hope to have the Fantasy Prospects Report final release later today…
"The biggest celebration in Boston history":
Brad Marchand with some rap: