There were intermittent problems with links on the home page. That problem has been fixed.

*

In the least shocking news of the day, Rick DiPietro will be bought out by the Islanders. The guy gets a hefty $1.5 million per year until 2029 and he can do whatever he wants, so feel sorry for him – just not too much. Look at the bright side, Rick. People pay $5 at the convenience store for a scratch ticket that they can only pray will give them $1.5 million per year for 15 years. You get that, and you get to continue to play pro hockey if you choose.

And yes, on a ‘backup goalie’ contract for one year, I don’t see why most teams wouldn’t be interested in signing DiPietro. Low risk, low cost.

* 

Last call for what the Dobber Sports community has called ‘the Cambodia fund’. A thread that started up in the forum about getting a couple of t-shirts has exploded into over $1000 in donations to help families in Cambodia get their medicine. You can read all about here.

***

What a great weekend. Not just for weather and family/friends, but the action in the hockey world was exciting. Seth Jones sliding to fourth? Teams stuck with their game plan and I admire that. Colorado made the right move drafting Nathan MacKinnon, though Jones wouldn’t have been considered a ‘wrong’ move. Florida taking Barkov was the shocker. He was fourth on a lot of lists, but I didn’t see him second on any. Obviously he was second on one list!

I think Florida needed Jones. Barkov will be a great player, but I think they’ll kick themselves letting Jones by. I can understand Tampa taking Drouin. They were probably caught off guard that Jones was still there…but kudos to them for sticking with their pre-draft game plan and giving TB a replacement for Martin St. Louis in three years.

And then we got to Nashville, a team that was looking at Barkov. But then Jones was served up to them and they had to go with him – even though a skilled defenseman is the last thing they need both now and down the road. But man, does this give them options. How great a forward could a Ryan Ellis trade get them?

*

Seth Jones being NHL-ready and all… hell, he’s “star” ready… well, that has to push TJ Brennan’s hopes right out the window.

I have to see what Nashville does. I mean, Ryan Ellis and Jonathan Blum have high upside, but we’re still waiting on them. TJ Brennan deserves a fair shake. Mattias Ekholm is ready to make the jump. And Victor Bartley has proven he belongs. With Jones that’s nine defensemen.

That being said, I have no interest in drafting Jones in the first round now. Any team but the offense-stifling Nashville. If, for some crazy reason, he slips to the second round, then I’d use a pick there. But no interest in using a first rounder now.

*

If you didn’t catch it from the trade breakdown, I really like Frolik in Winnipeg. One major risk though – will the rust of one horrible season and two ‘all-defense’ seasons do him in? The guy had back-to-back 21-goal seasons as a rookie and sophomore and looked well on his way to becoming a first-line 30-goal guy. What would you consider a player who had 42 goals in his first two seasons at the age of 20 and 21? Then he had a horrible year and was traded to Chicago. Over the last two seasons he has totaled 20 minutes in power play time. That’s total. Not per season – both seasons.

In Winnipeg that has to change. The PP time will be there. The linemates will be there. So will Frolik, 25, take 50 shots in 10 games and score one goal? That’s where my worry comes in. The rust. Can a player go three years without flourishing in that kind of role and then find the magic again? He can if he’s a star. Is Frolik a star? We’ll find out by November. But I think a couple of early bounces will make the difference here. He’ll get the opportunity, but he needs the early bounces to build on his confidence. All in all, his odds of doing well this year and beyond are no worse than any blue-chip prospect.

*

Bryan Bickell staying in Chicago is a good thing – except when it comes to hype. Had he signed elsewhere, I’m almost certain I could have parlayed him into something better on the trade market. His remaining in Chicago puts a damper on that – even though his opportunity to get the most points is there. He’s comfortable there and he’s just now finally secured a top-six job. So, in summary, this news will help your fantasy team’s production but not your trade talks.

*

The qualifying offers are trickling in and here are some of the notable names who were not qualified and are now unrestricted free agents:

Benoit Pouliot, Tampa Bay; Matt D’Agostini, New Jersey; Louie Caporusso, Ottawa; Jeremy Smith, Nashville;

The Smith thing is a shock to me, as he’s ready for backup duty and he is coming off of one ‘so-so’ year that came on the heels of two really great ones. I’m interested in seeing if another team gives him a shot. Not many backup jobs out there though.

What this does say to me, loud and clear, is that the Preds feel that Magnus Hellberg is very close. At this point, Hellberg is their No.2 guy, but they will probably sign a veteran for one year before handing it over to him.

*

Speaking of goaltenders, Tim Thomas‘ agent tweeted yesterday that the goaltender has asked him to explore his options for next season. If I’m the Florida Panthers, I’m all over this – get Thomas for two years, and have Markstrom apprentice behind one of the best. To me, that’s the best fit. Other good fits include, ironically, the New York Islanders. Also the Oilers and Flyers.

*

In a minor-league deal meant to shore up the offense of their AHL team, the Flyers traded Danny Syvret for Kris Newbury.

*

Today is the day that Glendale votes on the deal to keep the Coyotes there. Notice I’ve pretty much kept mum on this over the past year, taking a “let me know when it’s over” stance. Well, today it’s over. There’s no more room for delay, the NHL schedule has to get done.

*

Dallas drafted the dark horse of the draft – Valeri Nichushkin. And now I’m a little clearer as to why they pushed so hard to acquire and sign Sergei Gonchar. Something to think about. But in fantasy hockey, the risk on this player is significantly smaller now.

Get the lowdown on Nichushkin and all of the prospects worth owning in fantasy hockey – in my Fantasy Prospects Report.

*

Jones says all the right things here in this interview, but I swear I see the disappointment in his eyes:

*

Subban, Subban and Subban: