October 15, 2008
Dobber Sports
2008-10-14
What did I tell ya? What have I been saying for over a week now? If you didn't have faith in Dobber before, you do now – the Jackets have placed Boll on IR and have recalled Nikita Filatov. I predict that Filatov will play 10 minutes in his NHL debut and score one goal.
Tampa has signed UFA rearguard Marek Malik. He offers little fantasy value, but will hurt Niskala's ice time.
The Wild have placed Marek Zidlicky on the IR (ankle) and recalled Cal Clutterbuck.
Jason Arnott has a small fracture in his finger and he will miss at least three games as a result.
You just knew that yesterday's Radulov letter would get things kickstarted as far as news is concerned. The Tennessean is reporting that now that NHLPA head Paul Kelly announced that they have been advised by Radulov that he will abide by the final ruling of the arbitrator. Posturing. Lots of posturing. In the DobberHockey experts league I will hang onto Radulov for another week, and take it one week at a time.
Washington's Viktor Kozlov will be out for the next two weeks because of an injury to his left knee. In practice, Chris Clark is back on the big line.
Jack Johnson went under the knife yesterday. His torn labrum will keep him on the shelf until February.
In his season debut, Peter Harrold played 17:55, with one assist, two PIMs and a minus-1.
Could Michal Handzus be in for a rebound year? I had him pegged for a career season in 2007-08 and it turned out to be one of my weaker predictions of the year. However, he has two points in three games this season (the Kings were shut out in one of them) and he played just shy of six power-play minutes last night. He's getting the big pay check…so perhaps after missing most of 2006-07 last year was just a matter of lack of confidence and timing. In his day, he was a solid 55-point player with some upside and he is only 31. It bears watching.
Fabian Brunnstrom is expected to be in the lineup tonight for the Stars. Steve Ott and Philippe Boucher are questionable with undisclosed injuries that caused them to miss practice.
The Avs made Marek Svatos a healthy scratch. He is a skilled, but inconsistent player…and a headache to own in fantasy leagues.
With a combined three points and a minus-5, I think the Jackets expected more out of Huselius and Umberger. Meanwhile, Brassard and Voracek have five points and are plus-3 with far less ice time.
ME Vlasic led all Sharks in ice time at 24:34 last night, and he was a plus-4 to boot. He seems to be picking up a lot playing with Rob Blake.
Ladislav Smid and Zack Stortini will be healthy scratches tonight.
The Bruins have recalled Vladimir Sobotka and Matt Hunwick from Providence.
Jochen Hecht will be out at least two weeks with a broken finger.
Pierre-Marc Bouchard missed last night's contest with a sore back that has been bothering him since camp. This problem may linger all season, so be happy if he plays 75 games this year. He missed three preseason games with the same problem.
Owen Nolan left the game with a lower body injury.
Brent Burns played 29 minutes last night to lead the Wild, 8:29 on the PP. He has certainly arrived.
James Sheppard played nearly 20 minutes, which has got to be a career high. Don't expect a repeat of that, however, because he was a minus-2 in their 4-2 victory.
Tobias Enstrom is still logging 21 minutes for the Thrashers, but with just one point (and a minus-4) in three games, poolies are getting antsy. I say be patient and wait to see what the story is after five or six games.
Atlanta scratched Zach Bogosian and Brett Sterling.