Rambling about prospects going back into the draft; Releasing the Prospects Report and more…

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Released at approximately *updated* 4pm EST Wednesday – the 10^th annual DobberHockey Fantasy Prospects Report (buy it here). Yes, it’s already been 10 years since I first decided to launch this. I needed a good document that breaks down all the prospects from a fantasy hockey standpoint. I thought it would be very helpful to me and others like me. How many others were like me? I had no idea. But ten years ago I decided that I would put in the hours, along with my prospects writer (long-time readers might remember my former prospects writer Matt Bugg) and make the document available for sale. I’d even package it up with my Fantasy Guide, which had already been successful the previous year. Well, the response for this was overwhelming. It turns out that there are thousands like me. Thousands of keeper leagues and all of them had owners that were hungry for my perspective on each and every fantasy-worthy prospect. And the rest is history…

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As I was doing the FPR write-up, going over the college signees for a few ‘bonus’ profiles to add at the last minute, I noticed that St. Cloud State University had a pretty good year. I don’t think anyone on the team was drafted, but NHL teams sure scooped a bunch of them up in a hurry when their season ended. Kalle Kossila signed with Anaheim after picking up 54 points in 41 games to lead the team. Patrick Russell signed with the Oilers, defenseman Ethan Prow signed with Pittsburgh and goalie Charlie Lindgren signed with the Habs. Wow – from zero players belonging to NHL teams to four with NHL contracts in the span of a month.

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Expect a decision on the NHL’s participation in the 2018 Olympics to be made later this year. It’s looking doubtful though. There is a new IOC president who is apparently against giving professional athletes the same subsidies as they had in the past – such as the costs of travel, accommodations and part of insurance. I know the majority of you love the Olympic hockey even at the cost of pausing your fantasy leagues for a couple of weeks. Myself, I hate putting my league on pause for anything, even if I do enjoy the hockey. So my feelings are mixed.

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Mark Arcobello has done my favorite things for this type of player – he signed to play in the Swiss League. No more bouncing back and forth from the AHL to the NHL and paying high taxes. Off to live the good life!

Start at 2:20 to see his first 20 AHL goals this year (and ignore the horrible music):

Yep. It’s the offseason. So you’re getting Mark Arcobello highlights. You’re gonna watch it and you’re gonna like it.

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June 1^st is the deadline for signing the 2014 North American draft picks. The Sharks were unable to come to terms with Dylan Sadowy and it’s interesting to see that the Red Wings paid a third rounder for him. Interesting because that’s the round he was drafted in. Usually when I see a deal like this, especially when the team’s back is against the wall, the acquiring team pays below market value.  It tells me that Detroit really values him. They quickly signed him to his ELC on the weekend. Some buzz around the Internet is that some teams would have considered drafting him in the first round if he went back into the draft. So kudos to the Wings for getting value.

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Here is a list of prospects who were drafted in 2014 who need to sign today by noon or they re-enter the draft:

Conner Bleackley – drafted by Colorado, traded to Arizona in the Mikkel Boedker deal. Don’t worry about this one, Bleackley has been horrible. Arizona acquired him so they could get the compensatory second-round draft pick.

Warren Foegele – Because he left the NCAA, Carolina may have another year to sign him. I’m guessing that’s the case because he’s too good to let go.

Alexander Peters – Dallas. A big player who plays tough. But still, the Stars were hoping for more than 16 points in 63 OHL games since drafting him.

Keegan Iverson – NYR. Move along, nothing to see here.

Nick Magyar – COL. Declining production year after year in the OHL. You almost never see that from a drafted player. I thought I was reading his stats page the wrong direction at first.

Josh Wesley – CAR. A defensive defenseman who is worth signing. Plus he’s Glen’s son, and I’m sure Carolina owes ol’ Glen a favor or two.

Nelson Nogier – WPG.

JJ Piccinich – TOR. He had 66 points in 66 games for the mighty London Knights and then posted three points in four games during the Memorial Cup.

Ryan Mantha – NYR. No relation to Anthony, but he is related to an NHL’s Mantha: he’s Moe’s nephew.

Julien Pelletier – CBJ. With 27 goals in 60 games he’s worth at least considering. Maybe the Jackets are turned off by his minus-22 rating.

Alexis Pepin – COL. He’s 6-, 218 pounds and tallied 47 points in 62 QMJHL games

Brent Moran – DAL. A 6-4 goalie, but he’s coming off a terrible year. Dallas clearly rolled the dice on him, drafting him for his height, but he hasn’t come around in two years since.

Alec Dillon – LAK. A 6-5 goalie. Teams are doing this a lot lately. If the kid is 18 and he’s already 6-4 or taller, then it doesn’t matter if he’s 3-25-4 with a 0.750 SV%. They’ll still draft you and hope that you get better over the next couple of years. If not, then they won’t sign you. Fifth round or later you should watch for this.

Aaron Haydon – DAL. At this point on the list we’re in the sixth round of the 2014 draft.

Aaron Irving – NSH

Reid Duke – MIN. This one is a done deal. Minnesota has no plans to sign him, per Mike Russo. I doubt he gets re-drafted.

Cristiano DiGiacinto – TBL

Chandler Yakimowicz – STL

Jaden Lindo – PIT

Keven Bouchard – EDM

Kyle Jenkins – CAR

Patrick Sanvido – DAL

Olivier Leblanc – CBJ

Jacob Middleton – LAK

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How are you doing in your playoff pools? My rundown:

Dobbernomics – I’m in the Top 35. But the Top 10 is out of range I think…

The DHP (my 15-year league) – I have a decent team and everything is going my way in terms of the right teams winning. But my guys aren’t doing what they should. Crosby should have another 10 points, for example. If my players were doing what they should, I’d be right on top. Instead, I’ll be fourth or possibly third.

The MHP (my 27-year league) – I’m winning by one point. I have Malkin and Hornqvist. He has Thornton, Pavelski, Burns and Letang. So I’m toast. I won it last year, and usually the 117 points that I have this year is enough to win a playoff pool. But no such luck…

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