July 21, 2014

Mike Salerno

2014-07-21

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Cody Franson has reportedly signed a deal for one year at $3.25 million, avoiding arbitration. Beatwriter James Mirtle says that Franson will likely be traded fairly soon now.

Vladimir Sobotka was given a one-year contract via arbitration. This will kick in when he returns to the NHL.

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All the websites are upgraded and running smoothly now. If you are seeing sites that look terrible – click ‘refresh’. The sites look same as always. And so ends a 10-month nightmare that started 20 hours before the puck dropped on the NHL season when all my sites crashed. I was told I needed to upgrade everything. Now I have upgraded everything. So easy to say “upgrade all your sites”. Not so easy to do. But it’s done! Now I get to do crazy things like, I don’t know…focus on fantasy hockey? Nuts! I’m wild!

Before we get to fantasy hockey, time to let you know that the Fantasy Football Guide is out Wednesday. It’s $7.99, but buy this before August 10 and get it for $5.99. Plus, if you share this Facebook link, you will get a coupon code to get this for $4.99.

Also, with all these upgrades, I am able to add some cool things and I have added software that allows for the tracking of an affiliate program. If you or someone you know runs a website or blog and you (or they) want to make some extra money – sell my guides and receive a generous cut. Email me for more details if interested.

In working on the fantasy hockey guide, I discovered – and Red Wings fans already knew this I’m sure, but I did not – that the entire team shoots left! Well, except Luke Glendening. I’ve never heard of that before. I mean…prospects Landon Ferraro and Teemu Pulkkinen shoot right. But other than those three, the entire group of forwards and defensemen shoot left. Between that and all the injuries last season, it makes it very difficult to work out potential line combinations. Who plays right wing? Center? Just so many ways of doing it. And this came at me right after I did Columbus and Dallas – two teams with all the line combinations lining up nice and neatly (a pleasure to analyze).

Colorado prospect (and native of my hometown of Stratford) Joey Hishon has signed his qualifying offer. It’s a two way deal and although I don’t think he makes the Avs out of camp, I do believe that if he can stay healthy he will finish the season as an NHL regular. I have him for 12 points in 44 games in the Guide.

Check out pics of the new arena plans for the Detroit Red Wings here.

The Ryan Johansen contract talks seem to have broken a stalemate. Portzline reports that talks are now moving forward, with Johansen caving on the demand for shorter term.

I didn’t know that Toby Petersen retired, but I guess so. He was named assistant coach for Springfield of the AHL.

On 17-year-old Kasperi Kapanen (read full article here):

"He's even better than I thought he would be," Penguins assistant general manager Bill Guerin said. "I was very happy with him…He definitely (has a chance to compete for a spot this year)"

Elliott Friedman is reporting that Antoine Roussel is asking for $2.35 million in arbitration and the team is looking for $1.15. As much as I think Roussel is just a tad high…I think Dallas is way out of line with their number. Granted, you have to come in low for arbitration, but you don’t have to embarrass yourselves with a number so ridiculous.

My projection for Roussel in the season ahead: 79-15-18-33, 192 PIM. I note in the Guide that I expect him to be counted on a little more for offense, thus the slight decline in PIM.

In the Fantasy Guide I also take on the advanced statistics portion – traditionally it had been Jeff Angus doing it. And my analysis of Roussel brought this quote from…myself:

” Roussel is even more valuable to this team than he is in fantasy hockey. Not only is he giving fantasy owners 30 points and 200-plus PIM, but he’s also driving possession despite the toughest situations on the team. With a team-low 41.3% offensive zone starts and against some tough competition, he was still nearly a plus player and still produced offense.”

Roussel highlights: