Rambling about some camp tryouts (Roy, Flash, Kostitsyn), Backstrom, Franzen, Read, goalie help for your team – and more…

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I've never received so much great content before. I could quite literally post five articles per day if you include the Ramblings. Hope you're enjoying!

In case you missed my announcement on Goalie Post giving you email notifications for free starting this season, it's here. Be sure to bookmark Goalie Post and set up your notification emails – and get a heads up on any last-minute goalie changes direct to your Smartphone or inbox.

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Well now the dominoes are really starting to fall. Some big names have given up waiting for a one-way contract because they know they're not going to get one without a tryout. So now they're accepting tryout offers. The latest is Derek Roy, who will be in Washington for training camp in hopes of landing a one-way deal. He hasn't been the same player since quad surgery several years ago, but he did show 50-point potential in the second half last year when he clicked with Nail Yakupov. I like this fit for him. A lot. Kudos to his agent for finding what is probably his best odds of getting a contract. He has to beat out Michael Latta and then he can slot in on the third line. In fact, if Evgeny Kuznetsov ever struggles, Roy would see time on a scoring line. This is my new favorite for tryout news. He may even be draftable if the draft was at the end of the month and he actually signs a contract by then.

Next on the list is Tomas Fleischmann, who will tryout with the Habs. In his case, he needs to beat out Devante Smith-Pelly for a third-line left wing spot. 'Flash' started showing signs of life in January with the Panthers, but when he was traded to the Ducks he saw little in the way of ice time. When he did play, he produced like a 40-point guy. There is some potential here, but not a great fit. I doubt DSP gets bumped here. Nor Jacob de la Rose. In the case of Fleischmann I would have preferred to see Carolina.

A couple of lesser players who accepted tryout offers – Daniel Paille and Jan Hejda (Chicago), Jack Skille (Colorado) and Patrick Kaleta (Buffalo).

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Older news, but I still want to weigh in – Sergei Kostitsyn on a tryout with the Flames. Kostitsyn was the more talented of the brothers and far more talented than what we saw in his earlier NHL days. He should have done a lot better than one 50-point season. That's a result of effort (lack thereof) and consistency. But nobody ever questioned the talent. He's still only 28 and coming of a 27-point season in the KHL in which he was sixth on the team in scoring, one point ahead of Alexander Burmistrov and three points behind former LA prospect Oscar Moller. He had 12 more points than teammate Kirill Petrov, who will probably be a depth player with the Islanders this year. For Sergei to make the Flames he would have to unseat Mason Raymond, which is certainly doable. Worth watching as an early waiver pickup, although admittedly a long shot.

An example of Kostitsyn's "effort" I alluded to earlier:

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Johan Franzen (concussion) has been cleared to play. He had a real tough time with this concussion, things were very bad for a while there. I'm glad to see he'll be back playing to start the year, but as a fantasy owner I have no interest. The risk level here is far too high and I think the reward is low. If he plays 80 games this year I'd be surprised if he got 55 points. It's a changing of the guard in Detroit. As the Abdelkaders, Tatars, Jurcos, Nyquists and Sheahans move in – the Franzens move out. I have Johan for 32 points in 54 games in the Guide.

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Barry Trotz told the Washington media that Nicklas Backstrom will miss all seven of the Capitals' preseason exhibition contests. Trotz told the Washington Post:

"Once he comes to the main group, I think he's a few weeks away. That won't be for a little while. I don't expect him to be playing in any of the exhibition games. I really don't."

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A good report here on Matt Read. The veteran winger, bothered by a high ankle sprain for parts of last season, scored a career-low eight goals in 2014-15 – 14 fewer than the previous season. Read is now healthy, and his quickness has returned. "I'm 100 percent. I can't wait for the season to start. Just put last year behind me and move forward,"

I have Read playing mostly on the third line this year and in the Guide I project 40 points in 77 games for a neat little bounce-back campaign.

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Today on Sportsnet I will post my Top 30 keeper league right wingers. In case you missed DobberHockey's contributions to Sportsnet last week, I'll list them here:

Top 30 Keeper Left Wingers

Fantasy Profile – Daniel and Henrik Sedin

How to Pull off the Perfect Draft

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Remember last year when Rob Vollman released a $4.99 Historical Points Projection piece? It takes each player and based on age and recent stats, he lists comparable players in history, adjusted for the era, and spits out a projection. Well he has this out again, this time teaming up with fellow stats guy Matt Cane – and I'm offering this to you FREE with the Fantasy Guide purchase. If you bought the Fantasy Guide, turn to page 151 to get the coupon code. Then come back to the shop and add to your cart, using the coupon code to get it for free.

If you do the Draft Kings deal and you use these coupon codes that are in the Guide, you get – Fantasy Guide, Draft List, Prospects Report, Midseason Guide, Playoff Draft List, Football Cheat Sheets and Historical Player Projections – all for just $10!?!?! And there is another coupon code in there for the Geek Draft Kit that gives you that awesome tool for just $8. (Draft Kings Deal here)

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Some old friends of ours here. A tough situation. Mike Keenan looks on as Wojtek Wolski takes a puck off the face. The shooter? Alexander Radulov.

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Also, favor to ask – will you go in my shop and leave a review for the Guide or package you bought? Thank you!