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Pick up the 2013-14 Fantasy Guide here. 

Support the website and win your pool. I'd call that a win-win.

 

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From NHL.com – a look at the top Buffalo prospects (and there are many of them).

 

 

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Claude Giroux is out for five or six weeks after injuring his finger golfing. The story we were told – Giroux’s club broke in his hand during a swing and cut his finger.

 

I wouldn’t be surprised if this happened from him slamming the club after an ill-timed shot, but that would just be speculation… (I have never heard of a golf club that explodes/shatters high up near the hands/fingers during a swing…).

 

Either way, still lots of time for him to recover before the puck drops, but does this have any impact on his season? You can still skate and stuff, but I don’t see him shooting or handling the puck much coming off of finger surgery.

 

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Will Rundblad and Yandle play together on the top PP for the Coyotes this season?

 

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From Anatoliy Metter of the Hockey Writers – an extensive look at 2013-14 fantasy sleepers for each position.

 

I can’t say I disagree with any of his picks –  a wide range of players who should have strong campaigns.

 

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Who gets the chance to play with Richards and Nash on the top line in New York this season? Alain Vigneault is going to feed that line a heavy dose of offensive minutes. The top contenders in my eyes are Chris Kreider and Carl Hagelin.

 

Hagelin reminds me of Jannik Hansen – a speedy, gritty, two-way player who thrived under Vigneault in Vancouver.

 

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Some questions regarding the Ottawa Senators:

 

Does Mika Zibanejad stay at center?

 

If so, what line does he play on?

 

Who plays with Spezza and Ryan?

 

My thoughts:

 

Yes, and I think the Senators will have two second/thirds lines of relatively equal skill/ability. Turris has developed into a solid checking center, and he will handle tougher defensive assignments than Zibanejad.

 

As for the final question – Michalek may be the favourite, but I wouldn't be surprised to see Cory Conacher get a look there. Ryan is moving back to the right side, and Michalek can play on either wing. Perhaps the Senators put Michalek with Turris and Condra to create a really strong two-way unit?

 

That would still leave solid wingers like Pageau and Greening to play with Zibanejad as well.

 

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There are still some really good UFAs available on the open market.

 

Brad Boyes, Vinny Prospal, Damien Brunner, Brenden Morrow, Mason Raymond, Peter Mueller, Mikhail Grabovski, Dan Cleary… and of course Teemu Selanne.

 

 

I'm surprised a team hasn't offered Brunner a nice deal yet – he's young and showed he can hack it in the NHL last year (although he did hit a wall as the season went on).

 

Boyes is another name that surprises me. I guess he wants more term/money than teams are willing to offer? That makes sense after he played only one season on Long Island. And while teams may be scared off of the fact he benefitted from playing with Tavares and Moulson, look at how well Parenteau has done in Colorado (although that is more of a reflection of Parenteau as a player than anything else).

 

The full list of UFAs still on the market.

 

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Does Scott Laughton make the Flyers this year? Do they move him from his natural position of center to the wing, or does he go back to the OHL?

The Flyers already have one too many centers (hence Schenn likely moving to the left side with Lecavalier and Simmonds on line two), and Couturier/Hall are going to anchor the bottom two forward lines.

 

Laughton has good keeper value, especially in multi-category leagues. And a lot of the time young centers spend the first little bit of their NHL careers on the wing, as there are typically less defensive responsibilities there.

 

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The New Jersey Devils have new owners. And the price point is a very friendly one for a team with a mountain of debt.

 

Harris' purchase price pays off the team's lenders, who are owed $170 million. Only a few months ago, several sizable lenders sold their stakes for roughly 70 cents on the dollar.

Current owner Jeffrey Vanderbeek, who is selling because he can no longer afford to keep the money-losing club, even gets saved. He will collect roughly $80 million covering much of his personal investment, a source said. He will no longer be involved in the team he has run since 2004.

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Fantasy trading advice – and a lot more – in the 2013-14 DobberHockey Guide:

 

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Seven year extension for Gabriel Landeskog – something tells me he will be worth every penny.

 

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Talking training and nutrition with sports strength coach Dave Orton.

 

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Click here for more information on my online coaching (taking on a limited number of clients for the fall).

 

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Have a great weekend!

 

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A random assortment of hockey clips for your viewing pleasure:

 

 

 

Don’t forget about this guy…

 

 

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