The Fantasy Guide can be picked up online in pdf form for $9.99 – it comes with an updated spreadsheet, free. Updates are all free, download as often as you’d like. Updated as of today.

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The Devils signed center Adam Henrique to a six-year deal worth $24 million. Well-deserved, after his incredible season that saw him rack up an eye-popping 16 points in 42 games. And no, his fancy stats weren’t that great either. The Devils hedged their bets in case he breaks out and gets 70 points. Little do they know that I’ll bet he never reaches that mark, and probably not even 65. The dollars were reasonable, so of course I’m talking about the term. I mean…it’s not like they’d be stuck trying to find a replacement if they only signed him to two years and then he walked Seriously, didn’t they just see that a Grabovski-type could be had for $3 million? That’s who will be available every summer. For that price. And we wonder why there are lockouts.

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Steve Eminger has signed to play in the KHL. He was living year to year, just barely getting NHL contracts. And I guess he was sick of the uncertainty (and low ice time).

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My Hockey News article yesterday tackles the Penguins and Sharks, offseason fantasy look…

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Blockbuster trade yesterday in one of my keeper leagues. Since I’m low on rambling fodder, I’ll go over it with you. If you don’t like it, feel free to skip down to the youtube clip.

It’s my original keeper league – 24 years and running strong (13 teams). Points only, rosters of 20 skaters and positions do not matter. Count the Top 12 at the end of the year, playoffs count as a separate contest and there are three rounds of drafts each year.

Here was my dilemma. I had five draft picks and three of them were very good ones. I had nobody I could drop. My team, in order of how I value the players in this format (remember – positions don’t matter so d-men are a liability, if anything…and playoffs count so strong playoff teams are worth a little more):

Picks: 5th overall (would maybe be Nichushkin, but likely Monahan), 9th overall (a Pageau or Domi-type), 14th overall…and then later picks around 25 and 35 (draft goes to 39). A young team about finished with a rebuild.

I need to clear some room and because we do not count the Bottom 8 players, I can definitely package some 2-for-1s or 3-for-2s whereby I could give up two “8.0” players to get an “8.2” if you know what I mean. Just a small upgrade for a couple of roster spots, but overpay. It was looking like I would maybe clear three spots that way and would have to “pass” on the two later picks. And I hate passing. A pick is an asset, no matter how bad. In 24 years in that league and 12 years running my own league, I’ve passed maybe three picks out of…we’re talking 150 picks or thereabouts.

I emailed my league and told them I was shopping Staal, Gallagher, Elias, Grabovski, Berglund and my picks. Staal because his name still carries inflated fantasy value. Gallagher because he just came off a huge year and is on a high – but I don’t see the upside. Kind of like a Henrique. So I wanted to move him. Berglund I was just getting sick of waiting. Grabovski – I mentioned in an earlier ramblings that I would try to move him in one of the two leagues I own him in, taking advantage of the hype. Elias, well, it’s a game of hot potato with him. Maybe he gets 65 points for another five years. Maybe he doesn’t do it again. I’d rather it be someone else’s problem.

I received some tire-kicking, but then I got the bombshell offer – a shot at Nathan MacKinnon. He wanted a lot. But he wasn’t touching my core. So I said yes rather quickly.

You see, I am cognizant of how hard Stamkos is to acquire in fantasy leagues. And Tavares. It’s almost impossible to get them. And not just now, but pretty much the minute they were picked. MacKinnon will be the same way. Probably Drouin, too. So to add a guy like that when I already have Malkin is huge. And I can pay with multiple assets and it won’t hurt one bit. Here is the deal:

Staal, Elias, Berglund, Gallagher, 5th overall, 9th overall, 14th overall

For

1st overall, Tanner Pearson, Nikita Kucherov, Josh Bailey and Mike Sgarbossa

Now I can use those two late picks which, in this league, will still be good ones – Zuccarello, Voynov, Chiasson or Pirri no doubt. Just like that, my team is ready for the draft. I paid out the ass to upgrade one roster spot (tremendous upgrade though) and use all my assets. My team will look like this:

Where “Best of” would be the best of Pearson, Bailey or Kucherov (I don’t think Sgarbossa is in the mix). Whoever I decide come draft day in October. Leaning towards Pearson since I already have three LA guys and having a strong LA vs. PIT situation (for the playoffs component) is appealing. Still not ready for a regular season win this year unless three or four of those young guys break out, but more than enough tradable – coveted – assets to go for it if I’m in the mix.

And by the way – I’m not 100% on MacKinnon. I’m about 80%. And have little problem interchanging him with Drouin.

Hope you enjoyed the insight. If you have any questions on my thinking in some areas, fire away and I’ll address for tomorrow’s ramblings (hell, it will help give me something to write about).

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In celebration of my acquisition – Nathan MacKinnon highlights: