The Fantasy Guide and Draft List are updated up to Friday, October 7. Hope you enjoyed this year's (sixth) edition. I'm thrilled with the content – better than ever. Also happy with the projections – I took fewer risks, only necessary ones, and I think in the end reeling it back in benefits everyone.

Nikita Filatov a healthy scratch. And so it begins…

Four points in two games last week were enough to earn Tampa prospect Carter Ashton the AHL player-of-the-week honors. A solid outing this season should get him on the team next year.

Anaheim prospect Emerson Etem was WHL’s player of the week.

I would just be guessing here, based on this, but I am thinking we’ll see Dustin Jeffrey back in the PIT lineup by early next week.

Some Preds updates – Martin Erat was not in practice yesterday and is still day-to-day with a UBI (they won’t say “back”). And Mike Fisher has still not been cleared for contact.

The Blues plucked Taylor Chorney off of waivers. I’m not sure he’ll get the shot that he needs to succeed there, but for now this move keeps Ian Cole in the minors. This covers off Carlo Colaiacovo, who didn’t take long to get himself on the IR (concussion concerns).

Toronto prospect Greg McKegg was named the OHL player of the week on the strength of a six-assist game last week. He’ll get a long look next fall, but will likely be two years away.

The Preds have claimed Brian McGrattan off of waivers and placed Zach Stortini on them. I think the Preds won’t be going with a tough guy this season – or perhaps like they had with Wade Belak, in which they dress the enforcer for a game here or there when needed. The team is deep in skill and they’ll set their game around that.

Jochen Hecht has been cleared for contact, but the guy who has been playing in his place – Luke Adam – has been kicking too much ass to be taken out. So who goes? That’s the million dollar question, but if you own a bubble player on this team, be worried. Like I said – Adam is NHL ready and I didn’t understand the need to sign Ville Leino.

David Krejci suffered an undisclosed injury in practice and will not play tonight. He may not travel with the team this weekend, either.

Remarkably, the Hurricanes will probably continue to scratch McBain, Joslin and Murphy, going with Faulk. I really like Faulk and his future in fantasy hockey, but it’s really rough on a young player to start a career minus-6 in three games. And if plays and goes minus-2 again, it certainly won’t help.

Corey Crawford “should be alright” to get the start Thursday. Great news for Crawford owners as the last thing he needs is to open the door a tiny bit for Ray Emery kick through.

David Rundblad got into his first NHL game, played 21 minutes and was a minus-1. He saw time on the second PP unit (2:50) and had three shots on goal. I would say ‘very encouraging’ looking at the stats, but I didn’t see the game (early bed for me – was still kinda recovering).

Crosby owners – figure on four weeks. What a roller-coaster ride. It looked promising by the end of training camp, but we (I) should have known better. They are taking their time with it and making sure. So once he's cleared for contact (say another week) then it will be three weeks of taking contact. That would put him back in the NHL on November 11 against Dallas, which is another 12 games missed. That's 16 in all and a 66-game season. I had him at 65 at one point in my Fantasy Guide, but that training camp was so promising that I had bumped it up to 69. Should have left well enough alone.

What a great sign for Letang owners – six points in four games. My guarantee to you – if he can get 16 points in 16 Crosby-less games then he will get 54 points in 66 Crosby-full games to wind up with at least 70 points.

Pay no attention to Joe Vitale's two points last night. He is a 30-point NHL player at best. And Pascal Dupuis is a little over the top with his four points. Though Dupuis is worth a temporary own.

Things I missed during my time on the porcelain phone – the Panthers signed Jonathan Huberdeau to an ELC (no surprise there) and Mattias Ohlund will miss two months if he has surgery on both knees. The latter has no fantasy impact, but it would have residual impact in the added ice time that it frees up. For example, it got Bruno Gervais into the lineup and he proceeded to post two points in Monday's game. Gervais had no PP time so I wouldn't run out and grab him.

There is a new hockey magazine on newsstands now called "Puck Life". The Dobber Sports Network has a nice ad in there, but if you see it in stores, flip through it. I think you'll be impressed. Anyway, their website can be found here, if you want more info.

Hilarious Upper Deck sketch with Jake Allen and Jussi Rynnas on Mental Toughness (Goldman take note!):

I got my hands on Easton's latest stick – the Stealth RS. Oh man does that thing feel sweet in your hands. These things just keep getting better. Check this out – with Parise and Cammalleri: