From Fluto Shinzawa: “The Bruins have signed Joe Colborne and Jordan Caron, their most recent first-round picks, to three-year, entry-level contracts. Also in the mix are Michael Hutchinson and Steve Kampfer. Colborne, Kampfer, and Max Sauve (already under contract) will join Providence on amateur tryout contracts.”

Colborne is the key here and his presense in my books makes David Krejci expendable. He is a big, highly-skilled and underrated forward who is 80-20 ready to make an NHL team in the fall. Unfortunately, if something doesn’t give up the middle, he won’t make this one. but if Krejci is moved, the B’s would be strong rolling with Savard, Bergeron and Colborne as their 1-2-3. Colborne is ranked 7th on my fantasy prospects report and should be owned in all keeper leagues that have any kind of depth.

Kirill Petrov’s agent tells Russian Hockey Prospects that he has been invited to the Isles camp this year and he will report to North America. On a young, up and coming team Petrov could very well win a spot. I would say he is a Calder candidate, but he is quite fragile and I wonder if he will be able to play even 70 games. If you like risks, here’s a good one.

Carcillo in our forum dug up this gem. Jiri Hudler has left his Dynamo team. Gleen from it what you will!

Erik Karlsson – back to back three-point gems. Man, this guy’s going to be a stu-u-u-u-d. That’s with extra u’s.

It sounds as though Brandon Yip will be back in the Colorado lineup by the weekend. His role will be reduced with the arrival of Peter Mueller, but he has been successful in the NHL so far.

Josh Harding aggravated his hip injury and has been shut down for the season. Terrible luck for the goaltender who, if healthy, would have been traded by the deadline I’m sure.

The Avs have signed Mark Olver to an ELC. Olver is ranked 240 on my prospects list but shoots upwards. The 22-year-old had 49 points in 40 games for Northern Michigan.

The Habs have signed big defenseman Brendon Nash as a free agent out of the NCAA. You probably won’t see the big points out of him, although modest PIMs are a possibility if he makes it to the show.

The Stars have signed diminutive free agent forward Sean Backman to a one-year contract. The odds are against the 5-7 23-year-old, as he was knocked around a bit at the college level and you can only imagine what the NHL would do to him.

Alex Steen now has 42 points in his last 43 games thanks to three more points last night. I still talk to some non-believers, but I for one think he tops 65 next year.

Scott Parse, who has been a healthy scratch a lot since the team acquired Fredrik Modin, is heating up again. He had a nice little run earlier this year and is another example of a player who is producing with minimal ice time. He has three goals in his last two games – and that’s with about 17 minutes of ice time combined.

With two more last night, Johan Franzen has had four multiple point games in his last 13 – but the rest of his games were goose eggs. He’s not getting just one point, it’s lots or zip. Found that interesting.

With two goals last night, Tom Gilbert has nine points in his last 10 games. I’m smacking my head on my desk as I type this. As are many Gilbert owners. Only another 35 points or so and he catches Doughty!

Jonathan Bernier picked up a shutout last night in spelling Jonathan Quick. Quick certainly needed the break because his game was really slipping. Perhaps Bernier will stick around for a couple more games to help the Kings out of their funk.

Baseball season is just a week away – pick up the DobberBaseball Fantasy Guide today!

DobberHockey and PickupHockey.com are joining forces to bring you another FREE pool. The playoffs are fast approaching and I anticipate 3000-4000 people and 6000+ entries. Prizes are to be determined – if your company wants to help and/or needs some plugs, contact Angus here. Some early details – three entries per email address, points only, box pool system, 20 forwards, 7 defensemen, 4 goalies. More deets to come.

Mathieu Perreault – another goal despite minimal ice time. He’s hungry and he strikes me as a player who is out to prove everyone wrong – i.e. the boneheads who think he’ll be a future third liner. Nope. Top sixer. Maybe next year – but definitely within three.

Kovalev! First point in 13 games. Thanks for coming out.

More to come in the morning. Also – I can still take some mailbag questions over at THN.

Ho-hum, another unbelievable pass by Henrik Sedin:

Ryan Kesler was kicked out of the game for this. Could be boarding, but it looks like Morris turned at the last second. Your thoughts? Looks worse in slow motion, like most hits do.