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Bruins/Pens game has been postponed.

 

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Any last minute lineup decisions for this weekend? Ask in the comments – I’ll be around for the next few hours to answer them.

 

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Dobber's 2013 Interactive Playoff Draft List is available for purchase

The details:

 

For the eighth year in a row, Dobber has you covered – all the player injury notes, their anticipated rate of production – all sortable by team, by name or by points. Use Dobber’s own draft list, or create your own with his formulas. It’s simple – select the team coming out of each bracket and work your way to the Final. Once done, sort it however you like, print it and you’re all set. Take a look at several scenarios, run it as often as you like!

Not only that…

 

Ultimate Fantasy Pack Special – Until May 15, if you add this product to your shopping cart, along with the Keeper League Fantasy Pack, use coupon code: ULTIMATE and receive $3.00 off!

 

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Brent Burns is thriving as a right winger – this really should be getting more attention around the league (although don’t forget, Burns was originally drafted by Minnesota as a forward). Since moving up front, Burns has 17 points in 19 games, and the Sharks have collected points in 13 of those games.

 

Why is Burns excelling as a winger?

 

Burns' quick adaptation isn't surprising. He played forward with the Brampton Battalion during his junior hockey career in the Ontario Hockey League and was good enough to earn an invitation to play with Team Canada at the 2004 World Junior Hockey championships.

In hindsight, it isn't shocking that McLellan pulled the trigger on the move since he initially helped to convert Burns into a defenseman when he was coaching in the Minnesota Wild's farm system eight years ago.

 

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More craziness in Boston – the Penguins are on lockdown in their hotel room, and the game may not go on tonight. The bombing suspects have been ID’d and one is still on the loose.

 

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John Tavares put on a show in his hometown last night – three points, and a dominant two-way performance against the Leafs. He's in the Hart running as well (Crosby, Toews, and Tavares would be my three right now).

 

Joffrey Lupul scored a goal in his return to the lineup, which is great to see. His first goal since returning from a concussion.

 

Jake Gardiner had two helpers (with a minus-2 rating, but the Leafs had a ton of players in the red) in about 20 minutes of ice time. Randy Carlyle's handling of Gardiner this season has been very bizarre.

 

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Nick Bjugstad has looked pretty good so far through six games, but he still has yet to find the score sheet.

 

Derick Brassard has been phenomenal for the Rangers since coming over – I hope for his sake he can stay healthy, as he is looking like a legitimate top six forward over the past few weeks. Looks a lot more confident with the puck on his stick.

 

Brassard scored twice last night and has five points in his last four games.

 

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Mats Zuccarrello has three goals in his last three games after scoring a pair last night.

 

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Cha-ching – that is the sound going off in Blake Wheeler’s agent’s head right now. Wheeler had a monster game last night and is up for a new contract as an RFA this summer.

 

Andrew Ladd has eight points in his last three games (and 10 in his last four, and 12 in his last six), and deserves some MVP/Hart attention. He’s been the  backbone of any success the Jets have had in 2013, and his development from a depth scorer to a top line star and captain has been impressive.

 

Zach Bogosian now has three consecutive multi-point games for the Jets.

 

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Alex Galchenyuk has goals in three straight for the Habs – really starting to find some swagger on the ice.

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The Canucks looked like a tired team last night, and they hung Cory Schneider out to dry in Dallas. The Stars were faster to loose pucks, and they turned that into offense.

 

Jamie Benn had two points and also had one of his best efforts in a while – he didn’t show any signs of a sore wrist on his goal – a zinger to the top corner.

 

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A goalies duel with Phoenix and St. Louis last night – both Chad Johnson and Brian Elliott were very, very good. Johnson has quietly had a really good season and could have an opportunity to replace Mike Smith next season (if Smith does leave as a UFA).

 

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Today's team for analysis – the Carolina Hurricanes:

 

 

Sleeper for 2013-14:

 

Whoever the 'Canes draft in the 1^st round

 

Carolina should grab a top three or five pick at this June's draft, and they are a team that could insert a young guy into the lineup next season (especially if it ends up being Seth Jones). The team needs help everywhere, but especially on defense. And they have showed in the past that they aren't against playing teenagers (Staal, Sutter, Skinner, and so on) at the NHL level.

 

Deep sleeper (long term look):

 

Danny Biega – defenseman

 

Biega has a lot of defensemen to climb over on the depth chart before he makes the NHL, so don't expect production from him for a few years. He's slightly undersized but incredibly talented with the puck. Biega had 35 points last year for Harvard, but that number dropped to 11 this year (the Crimson lost a few players off of their team due to a cheating scandal at the school).

 

Ryan Murphy is a better prospect, but it wouldn't surprise me to see the 'Canes move Jamie McBain to open up a roster spot for one of their young guys. Expect Biega to spend at least a year (and probably two) in the AHL with Charlotte before making the jump, though.

 

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In case you missed it, a link to Elliotte Friedman's latest 30 Thoughts.

 

On the subject of the Oilers and a bold move. Who should they trade? Eberle in my opinion. Who will they trade? Yakupov. Taylor Hall is the best bet to become a future superstar, and Nugent-Hopkins isn't far behind (although his game has regressed a bit in year two – shoulder still a problem?).

 

Friedman on the same topic:

 

Yakupov: This is purely my opinion, but I think Edmonton would listen to a massive offer. It’s nothing against the player, it’s more about circumstance. To get quality, you have to give up quality. If MacTavish really wants to make a bold, aggressive move, this is the name on the roster that fits. But the trade would have to be spectacular.

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Carey Price sure picked a good time to have his game go in the crapper (not only are the Habs fighting for the division, but I just anointed him as the best goalie in the league). Friedman's thoughts:

 

Texted a goalie coach Monday night about Carey Price. Asked what he thought. He thought I was overreacting. “He will be fine,” was the reply. “I truly believe that.” Entering last Saturday’s game, Price had a .927 save percentage at even strength, which is good. (It’s down to .923 after two ugly performances.) But, both he and Pekka Rinne have allowed 25 power-play goals, second-most in the NHL. No full-time starter is lower than his .811 percentage when killing penalties.

I wouldn't be worried about Price (at all), but it is a huge annoyance for those who were relying on him to help with their fantasy league playoffs.

 

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Andrei Loktionov has been slumping recently, but at least he is self-aware about it.

Devils center Andrei Loktionov confirmed that he will be a healthy scratch for tonight's game against the Philadelphia Flyers at Wells Fargo Center.

It will be the first time Loktionov will be a healthy scratch since he was called up from Albany on Feb. 17 after he was acquired in a Feb. 6 trade with Los Angeles. He also missed two games with a left shoulder injury.

"It's coach's decision," Loktionov said. "We have to change something in the offensive zone because we didn't win the game. We have to do something because it's can't be 11 games in a row. If it works, it's nice. If not, we'll see."

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Boston prospect goaltender Magnus Svedberg was named as the AHL Goaltender of the Year for 2012-13. Rask has been great this year, and Khudobin has been a really solid backup, too. The Bruins are set for a while in goal.

 

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TJ Galiardi (five points in eight games) is making the most of his lineup promotion, writes NHL.com.

 

Galiardi dug his way out and kept climbing, all the way to the Sharks’ top line. He’ll play his 17th straight game Thursday night when the Sharks face the Minnesota Wild. And for the third straight game, Galiardi will be the left wing on a line with center Joe Thornton and right wing Brent Burns.

Right wing Brent Burns… something doesn't sound quite right.

 

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Dobber's latest for Puck Daddy.

 

A dud:

 

David Perron, St. Louis Blues (16-0-4-4, even, 16 PIM, 23 SOG) – After putting up 19 points in 23 games to start the season, Perron began to notice Ken Hitchcock’s icy glare every time he looked over his shoulder. He immediately fell in line and his numbers are now a better reflection of the Hitchcock system.

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Friend of the site Mike Colligan shares some interesting thoughts on what the Eric Hartzell signing means for Fleury and Vokoun in Pittsburgh.

 

If Fleury dominates this spring, the Penguins win a Stanley Cup, and then they decide to stick with Fleury for the foreseeable future, Hartzell moves on as an unrestricted free agent to the destination of his choice.

But, as we said in June, "if Shero and Botterill decide that the Penguins' Cup chances over the next two years are better off hitched to the back of Tomas Vokoun and [Hartzell or Zatkoff], they now have the option of trading Fleury."

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Enjoyed this read from Justin Bourne – the 10 best NHLers through the neutral zone. I'd like to toss a vote in for Dustin Byfuglien, who is quite the sight to behold on ice when moving at full speed through the neutral zone.

 

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What is up with Milan Lucic in Boston? Would the Bruins/Oilers entertain a Lucic for Eberle swap? Boston would probably have to add…. But just some food for thought.

 

A contrite Lucic talked about a confidence level that has sunk to levels he hasn’t experienced in years and the need to stop looking in any direction other than within for answers.

“You can’t just keep making excuses,” said Lucic, who has one goal in his past 11 games and just six on the season.

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Ryan Sproul (Detroit) was named as the OHL's top defenseman. I nabbed him in my keeper league (we can keep up to eight prospects on our "farm") a few weeks ago, and am very glad I did. He has tremendous upside, and will buck the trend of Detroit taking their time with young defensemen.

 

Smith and Kindl both saw at least 2-3 years of AHL action, I could see Sproul making the jump to the NHL after just one.

 

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A huge reason for James Reimer's success this season – his work ethic. There are equally talented goaltenders in the AHL, but Reimer busted his butt last summer (and the summer before) to lose some weight, get in more functional shape for the goaltending position, and to shore up his weaknesses.

 

I'm glad the Leafs took a risk on him, as he's making them look awfully smart. Having a goaltending tandem for only a few million bucks (relative terminology) frees up a ton of cap space to be spent elsewhere (ideally not on overpaid defensemen like JM Liles, but Dave Nonis will be able to free up some space this summer with the amnesty buyouts).

 

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Also, a rookie who has flown under the radar this season has been Ottawa's Mika Zibanejad. Skilled, gritty, and mature beyond his years. I am really excited about Ottawa's future up front, especially once Jason Spezza gets back. It may not sound impressive now, but a top six featuring Spezza, Turris, Michalek, Zibanejad, and Silfverberg (and of course another player) has a lot of talent, and more importantly, a lot of upside and room to grow.

 

Edit: I was forgetting Cory Conacher. Big fan of his game, and made an oversight. He’s a potential top six guy to build around as well.

 

 

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A very early look at NHL 14:

 

 

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