The Fantasy Guide can be picked up online in pdf form for the small price of $9.99. And unlike newsstand magazines – besides being way better – this one will be updated up to October. And that includes the projections. In fact, it was just updated yesterday.

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Unsigned Canucks defenseman is rumored to be considering the KHL. But the team remains ‘confident in a deal’. His agent has also been fielding calls from the Swiss League. I have Tanev down for 19 points and 95 blocked shots in the coming season in the Fantasy Guide.

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Damien Brunner is rumored, according to mlive, to be asking for a multi-year deal worth $3.5 million. So not Ville Leino money. First team that offers three years, $9 million, gets him. Mark it!

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Drew Doughty has seen his points-per-game average drop from 0.72 to 0.53 to 0.47 to 0.46. Naturally, he faces the toughest competition (only Robyn Regehr saw tougher last season). But he is getting reasonable offensive zone starts. So why the decline? Simple. See this:

LA Kings Goals for

2009-10 – 241 – 2.94/game

2010-11 – 219 – 2.67/game

2011-12 – 194 – 2.37/game

2012-13 – 133 – 2.77/game

The entire team hasn’t been scoring. Fewer goals to assist on. And sure, the Kings spiked back up a little this past season, but that means another 20 or so goals in a shortened season. If the Kings do 2.77 per game next season, I guarantee you that Doughty will be in on more of them. However, I have the Kings slipping back a little in terms of offense and so the 40- or 50-point seasons will continue. You won’t see him back over 60 under the current coach. I have Doughty for 48 points in the coming campaign.

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Awesome, fantastic…amazing ramblings yesterday over at DobberProspects. Hopefully you check in there daily, especially if you’re in keeper leagues. Yesterday, Brenden posted a one-million word (rough estimate) rambling about the Ivan Hlinka tournament and the Junior Evaluation Camps. He touches on names like Ekblad, Teravainen, Määttä, Collberg and many more…

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Here is my offseason report on the New York Rangers and the Ottawa Senators.

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This headline for Detroit beat writer Ansar Khan’s piece says it all: “Red Wings unlikely to make any trades before camp, prepared to go into season with what they have“. The Wings will need to trim one or two players from the roster…but I suspect that both Darren Helm and Mikael Samuelsson will be put on the IR. Other options suggested include waiving Patrick Eaves and sending him down, or temporarily sending down Nyquist or DeKeyser until a spot opens. Those are the only two players on the team who can go to the AHL without clearing waivers.

As for Nyquist, the article quotes GM Ken Holland: “We’re close on a one-year, talking two years.”

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Here is an interesting piece on the training efforts of some of the Lightning prospects. Of note – Nikita Kucherov, Alex Killorn and Mark Barberio.

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I’m not getting why some experts are picking the Sharks to go to the Cup Final in 2013-14. They finished 22nd in goals scored last year with a pro-rated 212. And where would that number be if you exclude the first six games when the team went nutty (and Marleau scored nine goals). I have San Jose flat for next season – 212 goals exactly. Which actually drops them to 27th in the league. I’m not seeing it. What I see are aging stars who are slowing, plus Logan Couture – and while Couture probably hasn’t peaked at 65 points…he’s probably not going to reach 80. So don’t look to him for a sudden surge. And Joe Pavelski isn’t used in an ideal offensive role, so don’t look to him for a surge either.

The Sharks should really consider Damien Brunner. There’s a nice fit right there.

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Look for teams to suddenly line up to offer Jose Theodore a contract after he makes this nice save here on, uh, Rafael Nadal – especially when he does the deed without spilling a drop of beer: