September 24, 2014

– I’m thinking about something small like $20 on Taylor Hall for the Art Ross Trophy at 50/1. It would require Crosby and Malkin injuries, as well as a huge step forward by the entire Edmonton team. Plus a healthy Hall. But it’s only 20 bucks and it pays $1000.

Yes, I’m very high risk when it comes to fantasy hockey, but if it’s real gambling I’m quite conservative. That’s why I spread my ‘play money’ around on the over/under player season projections.

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Ryan Ellis is still pretty far apart in his contract talks. The Preds say that they’re not going to trade him, and have apparently put deals on the table both long term and short term. I’ll give it the weekend before I start tweaking his projection down in the Guide.

That article also reports that Cody Eakin and Brenden Dillon aren’t close with Dallas. But Eakin is one of those guys who is waiver fodder anyway. Dillon, however, is a pretty good own in leagues that count hits. He could flirt with 200 this year if he can get signed quickly.

The situation in Boston reminds me of the one in Toronto last year. You have two players Krug and Smith who will probably sign for fair dollars, but the team is against the cap. So they’ll sign for cheap unless the Bruins move a contract (either Boychuk or Marchand, I’m thinking).

Lebrun also thinks that Jaden Schwartz is probably going to get a contract done sooner rather than later. His agent, unlike Ryan Johansen‘s agent, is being reasonable.

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Darren Helm was enjoying a sweet job in the Datsyuk line, adding his speed as another weapon to defend against. But he broke his nose Monday from a high stick. It won’t cost him any games. But Datsyuk injured his shoulder and will miss what he figures to be a week. It would seem that the hockey gods are preventing the speedy checker Helm from playing with the all-world Datsyuk. When a coach experiments with something, I don’t like seeing anything rock the boat because it tends to not return to the way it was before.

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Sidney Crosby was back skating yesterday and was taking full contact.

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The Hockey Writers takes a look at the Enroth vs. Neuvirth goaltending battle in Buffalo. It’s essentially a battle to see if one of them can get 18 wins this year. THW says that there is no clear-cut favorite, but I tend to think that management would like to see Neuvirth seize the role. I also think he’s the better goaltender. But he’s also the bigger Band-Aid Boy, which makes this a pretty even match.

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Sportsnet’s John Shannon reported just before my posting these ramblings that Jordan Staal left the arena on crutches and had a cast on his lower leg – so ankle or foot. And obviously, it sounds long term. Carolina was the team with the slimmest depth chart in terms of established players. This opens the door for Jeff Skinner to move back to center and for Elias Lindholm to log more ice time. It could also see Chris Terry or Brock McGinn getting a look early on.

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JVR with a pair of mitts here, wow. Mason didn’t even move…