The Fantasy Guide can be picked up online (pdf) for $9.99 – it comes with an updated spreadsheet. Updates are all free, download as often as you’d like. Last update was Sept. 24 – Draft List, too.

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With Jonas Gustavsson injured – yet again – Petr Mrazek is the backup in Detroit for the time being. Howard has had six injuries between November of 2010 and March of 2012 (17 months). Each injury is minor, with the most serious one being a finger injury that cost him eight games. But he gets hurt often and if the next one is a long-term injury, then Mrazek will shine. Detroit is one of those teams that play a strong, sound system that makes goalies look good. If Mrazek gets an opportunity, he’ll make a splash. I think he makes a good No.4 goalie in many fantasy formats. Just a good asset to sit on your bench in the off chance that he gets that opportunity.

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Linus Omark already acknowledged that he could be playing this season in the AHL. And yet he still came over. I, and many others, were fairly certain that he would be traded. After all, why would he leave in the first place if not for dissatisfaction over being stuck in the AHL?

Well, obviously not. There is no trade market for him. Not if his salary is near the league minimum and he was put on waivers yesterday. So a team can have Omark for free. We’ll know at noon if anyone bites, but I suspect he gets through. Teams that could use him include, ironically, Calgary.

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Jonathan Blum is on waivers. Wow, did he ever fall from grace. From toast of the town… to this. I wonder about the Nashville development system. Ryan Ellis, Cody Franson, Jonathan Blum…I mean, Franson came around during his second year in Toronto, but in his first year Coach Ron Wilson didn’t think much of him at all (and neither did Leafs fans). So many elite d-man prospects…yet to fulfill potential. Any more of these guys (can they ruin Seth Jones?) and we’ll start to forget about their successes in Shea Weber and Ryan Suter.

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I only caught a part of the game last night, but Alain Vigneault is trying Chris Kreider in front of the net on the power play and he looked pretty good there. Great opportunity for him, no question.

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Other notable CUTS from yesterday:

Antti Raanta, Philip Danault, Drew LeBlanc (CHI)

Linus Omark (EDM)

Erik Haula, Zack Phillips, Jonathan Blum, Darcy Kuemper

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Jakub Voracek left last night’s game with an UBI, though not said to be serious.

A couple of Twitter sources commented that Scott Laughton spelled very well last night, while Michael Raffl was average at best. Apparently, a roster spot is at stake and it will be one or the other. I still give the edge to Raffl.

Claude Giroux had an assist in the 2-1 loss.

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I was looking at the Yahoo average draft spot last night. Can’t believe that, on average, Martin Brodeur is getting drafted before Cory Schneider. Really? Even if you could guarantee me Brodeur remains healthy throughout, I wouldn’t take him.

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Ottawa’s line combos from last night:

Frequency                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Strength        Line Combination

19.93%                                                                                                                                                                                                                           EV                      24 DA COSTA,STEPHANE – 14 GREENING,COLIN – 20 PETERSSON,ANDRE

18.58%                                                                                                                                                                                                                           EV                      59 DZIURZYNSKI,DAVE – 25 NEIL,CHRISTOPHER – 15 SMITH,ZACK

18.24%                                                                                                                                                                                                                           EV                      54

COWICK,COREY – 18 O’BRIEN,JIM – 55 ROBINSON,BUDDY

15.88%                                                                                                                                                                                                                           EV                      16 MACARTHUR,CLARKE – 61 STONE,MARK – 7 TURRIS,KYLE

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Viktor Stalberg left last night’s contest with a UBI. Could be his shoulder. But his ice time went to Hornqvist, who saw over 22 minutes (and nearly seven on the PP).

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Nathan MacKinnon, who has been resting his hip flexor (team is being cautious), will probably make his preseason debut Thursday. I gotta see this one. Patrick Roy will juggle the lines a lot for the first 10 games, but I still want to see how MacKinnon is used, and how that works with the other centermen.

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Two more assists for Mark Arcobello last night, and he’s seeing time with quality linemates thanks to the Gagner injury. He’s worth drafting late, because he’ll give you some good production until the team gets some bodies back.

It’s also looking as though Darnell Nurse will make this team. He’s certainly close, but the Oilers would have to cut a couple of players loose first (by trade, demotion or waivers) and I doubt they will do that.

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Watch Nurse carry this puck behind the net. Great play, very impressive. Oh, and Eberle scored:

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Nice looking Letang goal: