The Fantasy Guide – this glorious piece of literature can be picked up online in pdf form for the small price of $9.99. And unlike newsstand magazines – besides this one being way better – this one will be updated up to October. And that includes projections.

*

Wayne Gretzky was traded 25 years ago this week and there is no shortage of coverage. I really found Adam Proteau’s quick interview bytes from several of the key players interesting. But also I’ll be watching TSN’s features, running a different one each day. Yesterday was Gretzky’s “children” – the name coined for the sunbelt hockey players who joined either directly or indirectly because Gretzky played in Los Angeles.

*

Hey, guess what’s finally done? The Phoenix Coyotes have been sold. They’re staying. Five more years minimum. Phoenix Coyotes this year, Arizona Coyotes next year.

*

Kyle Clifford has signed a two-year deal with the Kings. Clifford has some offensive talent, but to this point he has found his niche as a gritty checker. That being said, his PIM have dropped each of the last two seasons and his production has risen. I have him for 19 points and 107 PIM but he could very well hit 30 points. But his main value is in his hits. He had 155 of them last season, good for ninth in the league. That’s just one behind teammate Dustin Brown. The Fantasy Guide has him penciled in for 185 in the coming year.

*

Phoenix prospect Viktor Tikhonov has signed to play two more years in the KHL, in case you had some weird hope that he would give the NHL another go.

*

If you’re interested in getting some more insight about prospect Kevin Connauton, take a look at Mark Stepneski’s rundown on the young Dallas defenseman.

*

I received a note from former DobberProspects writer Miika Arponen who tells me that a Finnish newspaper is reporting that Teemu Selanne is working out hard and that indications are that he intends to return for another season. Furthermore, the newspaper also speculates that Winnipeg is very much in the mix this time. And wouldn’t that be something?

*

Minor leaguer Jamie Tardiff, 28, has signed with the Sabres. He was a fourth-round pick in 2003 (Calgary), but only got into the NHL this past season for two games with Boston.

*

Shawn Burr – rest in peace. Burr was battling cancer, but died of a fall in his home. I would suspect that an episode stemming from the former led to the latter, but I’d just be speculating. Burr was by all accounts a good person and teammate. For the Kitchener Rangers (OHL) he had 127 points in 59 games in 1985 as a 19 year old. For Detroit he was a five-time 45-point player, with his best season coming in 1991-92 when he got 51 points, 118 PIM and was plus-26.

*

Shawn Burr hammers Roenick:

*

Burr hammers Jocelyn Lemieux:

*

Burr’s story, regarding his fight with blood cancer. This story will really make you think. Wow – bombshell: