The MLB trade deadline was yesterday, and we saw a massive deal where a top-three player in the league was dealt alongside an all-star on an expiring contract in exchange for a large future package. Generally in all sports you lose the trade if you give up the best player, and it doesn't seem to be much different in this case either.

The best way I have seen it put into hockey terms is something along the lines of Auston Matthews and Michael Bunting for Kent Johnson, Yegor Chinakov, Adam Boqvist, Emil Bemstrom, Denton Mateychuk, and Gus Nyqvist. It's a decent package, but it's nowhere near the high-end quality you need to land a top-three player in the game on his own, let alone an all-star player on top of that.

What it does show me though is that GMs of professional sports and fantasy sports will time and time again over-value youth and potential, especially when pressed into an imaginary deadline where they feel a player should be moved, but really they didn't have to be.

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Speaking of market inefficiencies, in one of my (cap) leagues I own Alex Killorn, along with a plethora of other talented LWs, and am looking to move one. I have looked into the market for most of them, and there is absolutely no market for the two-time cup champion. For a 32-year-old who is coming off of a 60-point season, I kind of get it. However, with Ondrej Palat off to New Jersey, Anthony Cirelli on the shelf for a number of months (and usually used in more defensive situations anyways) it looks as though Killorn should have an automatic spot on the top power play unit all season. That would be the top unit that boasts Steven Stamkos, Braden Point, Nikita Kucherov, and Victor Hedman. Though the majority of the pucks won't be going through Killorn, he should easily top his career high of 14 power play points that he set just last year.

With another year in the top-six at even strength, and at least 15 points with the man-advantage on top of that, he should walk to 60-points again with his eyes closed. Add in two-shots per game, and at least one hit per game, it surprises me how much fantasy GMs really dislike anyone past the age of 30. If you're at all near contention, these players are cheap to acquire and make a huge difference in competing.

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With the rumour circulating that Nazem Kadri to the Isles is done, but they are trying to move out money first, it brought my train of thought back to the Bruins and what their plan is with both David Krejci and Patrice Bergeron. The rumours are circulating there as well that both already have verbal agreements with the team that just haven't had the official paperwork signed; and they don't seem to be in a rush. The Bruins are already looking at a full roster, and are right up against the cap. Adding in two more former all-stars shouldn't be cheap or easy, but it may end up being both for the Bruins. There are whispers that both deals are going to be on the cheaper end. What ties everything together though is the fact that the Bruins are going to be starting the season without both Brad Marchand, Matt Gryzlyk, and Charlie McAvoy. Smarter minds than me probably know the exact cap implications and how to manage this around the LTIR, but my overall theory is that we don't see either signed until a day or two into the season (after spending training camp on a professional tryout), and then they get small base salaries with bonus laden deals to manage the LTIR in the short term, keep the option open to get out of LTIR and start accruing cap space by mid-season, and then have some flexibility at the trade deadline.

All that to say, Boston should be able to add both centres without subtracting anything substantial from the roster unless they want to at mid-season. Once both McAvoy and Gryz are back, Mike Rielly and his $3 million cap hit would be expendable anyways (though he should run the power play to start the year).

In the end, the Bruins are fairly set with their top-six, having David Pastrnak, Taylor Hall, Jake Debrusk, and Pavel Zacha to add to the two centres. When Marchand returns though, someone is going to be dropped down the lineup (or traded). I might check the market on my Bruins wingers at the end of October, just in case.

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The 2022-23 Fantasy Hockey Guide is nearing completion and is set to be released in just two more days. A lot of work goes into this from Dobber himself, to the development team, to the editing team, and of course our writing team. Head on over to the store to pre-order a copy if you haven’t already.

I work on the one-way contracts and the remaining intriguing free agents that could offer some dark-horse potential should they be signed to a (one-way) contract. Last year the breakouts for Mason Marchment and Michael Bunting were featured there, and there's a decent track record for a few breakouts every year with the one-year contracts. It's a great place to lool that a lot of your league-mates are likely over-looking. I won't give you my favourite name on the list in this year's guide here, but one of my favourites is Rudolfs Balcers. I do think he is in line for a solid season this year taking over for Marchment on Florida's third line. He puts up over one hit per game, along with some decent underlying numbers and has done so in limited minute and with limited help from his linemates. He has paced for over 30 points in each of the three campaigns in which he has played over 20 games, and is only half a year away from his breakout threshold. Topping 50-points is very plausible for the 25-year-old.

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While we're discussing the fantasy guide, the Draft List with all of the player projections is already available for download:

I've taken a skim through the top few names and some players relevant to my own teams thus far, but will be diving in farther tomorrow. In the meantime, one of the players I did look at was Clayton Keller after his breakout year and then ending the season with a broken leg. Interestingly, my initial projections matched Dobber's exactly for Keller, with us both having him penciled in for 77 points. The Coyotes only had four players last season that even scored half of that number, and one of them (Phil Kessel) doesn't look like he will be back.

The team will again be relying on Keller, Nick Schmaltz, and Shayne Gostisbehere to carry the offence, along with a healthy Lawson Crouse and Jakob Chychrun. New additions Zack Kassian, Nick Bjugstad, and Troy Stecher are unlikely to move the needle offensively, but some of the youth might be able to step up if they are given enough leash offensively. Former first-round pick Barrett Hayton, along with prospects Jack McBain and Nathan Smith from the college route, offer the best bets for upside in the desert to rack up points as a centre alongside Keller. Keep an eye on training camp lines there. Hayton has had his shot over the last few years and hasn't capitalized though, so there's a decent chance that the 23-year-old Nathan Smith gets first crack.

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Find me on Twitter @alexdmaclean if you have any fantasy hockey questions or comments. See you next Wednesday!