The 18^th annual Fantasy Guide is available for immediate download in the shop. Lots and lots of camp cuts, claims and news this weekend, and all of it is in the Guide. Stay on top of things! Pick it up here. Between Friday, Saturday and Sunday I made 21 updates. Not a typo. A couple of times I uploaded the update…and then saw that another bomb had dropped, which required an immediate update again.

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So with this on my mind, it was easy to come up with a topic. Which transactions made the biggest impact? Well, let me ask myself: Which transactions had me spending the most time thinking hard, researching, and adjusting? And why? Voila – I have my topic. Here we go…

10. Logan Stankoven, Dallas Stars – He was among the final cuts on Sunday.

What does this mean? Stankoven wasn't expected to make the club. I had him at 20% in the Fantasy Guide, and the only reason I gave him that much was because he's such an elite talent. He's exactly the type to force his way onto the roster. Sure enough, he really dazzled in leading the Stars in preseason scoring with five points in six games. But Dallas already had their NHL roster filled, and it was already pre-determined. I feel like he needed 15 points in those six games in order to stick. He'll be back, and I feel sorry for whichever forward gets injured and Stankoven comes up and fills in. Because Stankoven won't be giving that job back.

9. Nicolas Aube-Kubel/Joe Snively, Washington Capitals – Placed on waivers.

What does this mean? Looks like Matthew Phillips and Ivan Miroshnichenko have made the team. And Connor McMichael, for that matter. All three have very good upside. If the Caps roll with 14 forwards, it will mean one will sit in the press box. I'm sure that person will rotate based on merit. But I'm pulling for Dobber Darling Phillips, as he is running out of NHL runway. I'd love to see him latch on.

8. Oskar Lindblom/Jacob Peterson, San Jose Sharks – Placed on waivers.

What does this mean? I had Lindblom on the team as the 13^th forward and Ryan Carpenter as a 14^th forward. I had Peterson at 60% to make the team, and Thomas Bordeleau as more of a midseason callup. These three players were waived, thereby opening up the spot for Bordeleau to crack the roster out of training camp. They wouldn't have done this unless they can give him top-nine minutes, so not only did I up his projection in terms of projected games – but I also increased his projected scoring rate. He'll still be under a point for ever two games, though. This also opens up more ice time and opportunity for Filip Zadina, who would have been in tough to get some had those players all made it.

7. Shane Wright, Seattle Kraken – Among the final cuts.

What does this mean? Whether or not Tye Kartye made the team, I figured, was a matter of politics. Because that often seems to be the case. Wright is the crown jewel of the organization (other than Matty Beniers, that is). They wouldn't dare send him down for a second year in a row, would they? Apparently so! Wright, who is still only 19, received a special exemption to play in the AHL over his OHL team (Windsor). This move means that Kartye makes the squad. This, despite the fact that Wright had two points to Kartye's one in their four preseason games. So now the question is – can Kartye work his way into the regular lineup? Because with everyone healthy, the four lines look pretty set. He'll play if they roll 13 forwards. Kartye is the type of player who could eventually work his way up the lineup through sheer determination.

6. Brandt Clarke, Los Angeles Kings – Among the final cuts.

What does this mean? Last year I heard it from all sides how wrong I was to say that Clarke wouldn't make the team. This year, I felt he was much closer and make the decision a lot tougher. However, Jordan Spence is very deserving a roster spot and he's a year older. Nonetheless, I wavered on this one and basically had, in the end, both of them playing for half a season, likely with a few up-and-down recalls. That could still be the case, but to me this is a nod to Spence. I bumped him up to playing a full campaign. I still give Clarke a shade under a half-season, as injuries do happen and I'm sure we'll see him relatively soon.

5. Sam Lafferty, Toronto Maple Leafs – He was traded to Vancouver.

What does this mean? Yes, this is a minor deal for a fifth-round pick. A bottom-sixer moved to another team. But it opens up a spot for Fraser Minten to make the team. The prevailing theory is that Minten will play his nine games and then get sent back to junior. I think he's too good for that – and he'll show them that he deserves to stay. At any rate, Minten was added to my Guide, and I went out on a limb and projected him to stay for the full year.

4. Grigori Denisenko/Zac Dalpe, Florida Panthers – Placed on waivers.

What does this mean? That Mackie Samoskevich made the team. I didn't expect that, heading into camp, but with his play throughout the preseason I figured they'd find a way. Waiving Denisenko, losing him to Vegas (who waived him again on Sunday), was a big statement that this team really felt that Samoskevich will make an impact in their top nine. There's a very good chance that Mackie sticks for the duration and becomes an NHL regular. And a fantasy must-own.

3. Jonatan Berggren, Detroit Red Wings – He was among the final cuts on Sunday.

What does this mean? This one shocked everybody, even having me do a double-take. But I looked into it and posted my thoughts in a Tweet:

Looking into this, I believe he was sent down so the Wings could keep three goalies. Once Tampa resolves their goalie issues, I'm sure DET will try to sneak Alex Lyon onto waivers and then recall Berggren. Could be anywhere from 1-20 days from now, but he'll be back very soon https://t.co/bZMQLhp9At

— Dobber (@DobberHockey) October 9, 2023

I wrote out this theory in the Guide (Detroit section), to help assuage any panic. He may miss as many as six or seven games, or as few as zero. But Berggren will be back soon. By the way, Detroit's final cuts – Berggren, Nate Danielson and Simon Edvinsson – combined for 11 points in 15 preseason games.

2. Wade Allison, Philadelphia Flyers – Among the final cuts.

What does this mean? Bobby Brink has had an amazing camp, and Tyson Foerster has been pretty good as well (better as the preseason went on). Foerster apparently had a roster spot already penciled in by Coach John Tortorella, and Allison had the inside track as well. But Brink played so well that eventually the decision was made to cut Allison. Both Brink and Foerster have very good upsides and their fantasy values have just spiked.

1. Jiri Kulich/Lukas Rousek, Buffalo Sabres – Among the final cuts.

What does this mean? Zach Benson! How did he slip to 13^th overall again? Benson led the Sabres in preseason scoring with seven points in six games. And now the team is making room for him. While things will get interesting with Jack Quinn returns in three months or so, I have a feeling Benson will leave zero doubt that he is here to stay.

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Honorable mention goes to Olen Zellweger, who was among the final cuts for the Anaheim Ducks. Jackson Lacombe and Ivan Mintyukov have likely made the team, though that part is not yet official. All three are of fantasy interest, but Mintyukov has the highest upside of them all and is one to watch.

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Quick observation I had while researching for the above top 10: JJ Peterka led the Sabres in SOG with 13 in just four games. This guy is hungry to build on what he started last year.

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For those stragglers in later drafts – good luck! And thanks for supporting all the sites that make up Dobber Sports.

And if you still want to get into a league, check out Dobbernomics (and/or search for the app in the app store and download it). It's free to play, and you compete against either the world, or your friends. Or both.

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See you next Monday.