Happy Monday y'all!

Training camp and preseason games have started and it is GLORIOUS! With the opening of camps, we get a glimpse of what coaches want to test to start the year and see if they have a match. For more insight on line combinations, be sure to check out our Lining Up article that comes over every Tuesday.

Connor Hellebuyck made his trade request official by not showing up to training camp. In response, the Winnipeg Jets put their foot down and suspended the goaltender. This situation does not look like it's going to resolve itself in Winnipeg and I am not drafted the American goalie until we find out who he is suiting up for next. However, I do like Stuart Skinner, especially if you are going the zero goalie route. Winnipeg has a team to stay competitive and Skinner has stretches every year that make him look like an elite netminder. Whoever the Jets receive in return for Hellebuyck, it is not going to be a goalie of his caliber that will command 60 starts. This will be a split crease and that is why I like Skinner late in drafts.

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All offseason we were wondering what the LA Kings lines would look like without Anze Kopitar and no real replacement down the middle. The Kings had Adrian Kempe down the middle for one of the days with Artemi Panarin and Alex Laferriere on his wings while on the first day of camp Kempe was on the wing with Panarin and Quinton Byfield down the middle. In fantasy land, we would love to have Kempe stay on the wing so he doesn't have that extra defensive responsibility. However, it is nice to see with the two different looks, the coaching staff is keeping the Swede and the Russian together. And to cap it off, the duo are working together, along with Byfield, Mats Zuccarello, and Brandt Clarke on the top powerplay unit. We love to see this for Clarke and this gives some good value to Zuccarello to start the season, but look to sell high if he starts off hot as he will likely be replaced by Kevin Fiala once he returns from injury.

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Cutter Gauthier finally signed his extension and will be in Anaheim for another six years. With the amount of money invested into him and Leo Carlsson, the Ducks will need some prospects on entry level contracts to make the team and contribute in some capacity. One player that has already been making waves is 2026 first round selection Nikita Klepov. The winger was committed to play for Michigan State in the Fall, but the opportunity is there for him to make the team out of training camp. He was given a grab opportunity during Sunday's preseason game as he lined up with Carlsson and Gauthier, recording an assist in 14+ minutes of ice time. He'll have to earn powerplay time, but if he can stick on the team's top line, there is tons of sleeper value in redraft leagues.

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The St. Louis Blues are an organization that made a number of moves during the offseason and while their top line looks to remain in tact, newcomers Mason McTavish and Connor McMichael are starting on the second line with Pavel Buchnevich. McTavish was also seen practicing with the ones on the powerplay; after a frustrating season in Anaheim last year, the former third overall pick will look to prove himself and is a great buy low candidate.

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The San Jose Sharks paid Mason Marchment during free agency and it looks like they are going to make him earn that money as he started training camp on the team's top line with Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith. The winger holds extra value in banger leagues and if you can draft a player that skates with some of the league's best talent later in the draft, he is a skater to invest yourself in.

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Mike Babcock has started his tenure with the Edmonton Oilers with a bang. He is lining up the two big boys, Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, together. However, the coach has put Vasily Podkolzin with the two superstars. Podkolzin is a must own in banger leagues no matter what line he is on, but if he holds with these two, he should be rostered no matter the settings. Only 25 years old, the Russian set career highs last season and has settled into the North American game.

Another Oiler to keep an eye on is Issac Howard. Acquired last summer from Tampa Bay, Howard played mostly in the AHL, but has skated with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Zach Hyman during camp. We know it can be tough to trust a young player under Babcock, so the former Hobey Baker winner might be on a short leash, but keep him on your watch list for the start of the season.

If you have any final draft questions, reach out on Twitter @LAM1926. Have a great week!