The Fantasy Guide – my eighth – was released yesterday. I just uploaded today’s updates – two new players added, a couple of typos fixed – and a coupon added for DobberFootball.

The Draft List is now fixed, and all columns complete (except notes, but those trickle in as time goes by). Re-download!

Fantasy Hockey Geek update – they will have their customizable premium list (just $7 more with my guide, or if you already bought the guide use a coupon that is upcoming that can be found in the guide Monday) updated hopefully by Monday, perhaps as early as Saturday. They were waiting on me. And now my part is done.

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I give my thoughts on my Nathan MacKinnon Guide projection here, if you want to take a look.

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I don’t know if you caught this Canadian Press story, but it centers around a survey that reports that 90 percent of Canadian families choose not to have their kids play hockey. And then they surveyed 875 non-hockey-playing families to better understand why they don’t play the game. But I don’t think the researchers are looking at this properly. Dig deeper into the types of hockey – so 90% of families don’t put their kids in organized hockey. What percentage of boys versus girls? What about ball hockey in the driveway? Backyard rinks? I guess the survey covers what Bauer needs it to cover – who’s playing ice hockey and buying products that they sell. But the love and passion for the game is hardly slowing. That being said, if you want kids to join organized hockey then yes – find a way to make equipment cheap at the grassroots level (and then jack up the prices when they’re teenagers and already hooked).

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No shocker here – the Red Wings will retire Nicklas Lidstrom‘s No.5 jersey. Ceremony will take place on March 6.

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The Blues have extended the contract of Jay Bouwmeester – $27 million over five years ($5.4 million). Bouwmeester actually did well once he joined St. Louis, tallying a point every two games. He saw 1.5 fewer minutes per game there too, versus what he was seeing in Calgary. I have him for 31 points in the coming season, per my Fantasy Guide.

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If you’re 6-7 and a defenseman, you’re probably guaranteed a contract these days. The Rangers signed undrafted OHL rearguard Troy Donnay. He had eight points and 48 PIM in 68 games, but hey – he’s 6-7.

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How many points will Jordan Eberle get next year? I said 75. This Oilers’ blog writer says 60-65, basing it on Eberle’s inflated numbers stemming from an insane shooting percentage in 2011-12. That is definitely a reason for regression. But reasons for increase are several, and all intangible. Coaching. Maturity. And the improved lineup around him. These are intangibles that no advanced stats can capture. Shooting percentage can tell you a good story and give you odds – all things being equal – on someone improving or regressing. But all is not equal here. He had 76 points and then 63 points (pro-rated). Now he is entering his magical fourth year.

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Tickets for a Florida Panthers game – $7? Wow! Nice piece here by THW

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Check out what Nik Zherdev has been up to lately (car crashes, hotel fights, parking tickets…okay, I made up one of those)

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I updated the player rankings (and d-man rankings) yesterday and I always have the most fun with the August edition. That’s where I wipe the slate clean and go over every player, one by one, for the Guide. It’s my ‘audit’, so to speak.

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Old school – Willi Plett vs….. Ray Bourque?