Sergei Bobrovsky is getting the start for the Flyers tonight. Wow!

 

Attention: the Shop “buy” buttons are now fixed, as are any download issues you may have had over the last several hours. Fixed! Guide is updated as of Tuesday night (Draft List too!). Final update will be tomorrow to cover you off for any drafts on the weekend.

 

Dobber and I disagree over players on a somewhat regular basis, but one we are in complete agreement on this season is Pekka Rinne. We both feel he is poised for a monster season. The Predators always find a way to win more games than they should.

 

The NHL season is almost upon us… make sure to set your lineups!

 

Alex Pietrangelo made the Blues out of camp, but he didn’t blow anyone away with his play. He will battle with Tyson Strachan for the sixth defenseman spot.

 

GM Doug Armstrong mentions Pietrangelo’s offense as the main reason why he will stick around, so expect him to see some PP time right away.

 

The 2010-11 Pool Guide is updated with all of the latest moves. Grabner to NYI? Got it. The fact that our guide is updated through the summer and into the fall is the single most important feature. The magazines were written in July and can’t be updated.

 

The fantasy ramifications of many roster cuts, late summer trades, signings, and so on are potentially significant, and you are doing yourself a disservice if you don’t have the latest and greatest out there!

 

Shane Doan shares my opinion on Keith Yandle. High praise in this interview. He is obviously biased as a teammate, but his words are very strong.

 

On Yandle:

 

“75% of the time he is the best player on the ice… for either team.” Compares him to Duncan Keith as well. The thing with Yandle that separates him from other young offensive defenseman is two things – his ability to play defense (good and improving), and his desire to play with an edge.

 

The Oilers have loaned Sheldon Souray to the Hershey Bears. Hershey is one of a few AHL teams that operate more like a "mini NHL" team – some others are Manitoba and Chicago (Wolves). These teams are willing to pay some money to have legitimate talent.

 

Souray on the PP with the likes of Mathieu Perreault, Francois Bouchard, Andrew Gordon, and so on? Scary to think about. The Bears have won two consecutive Calder Cup titles (thanks in large part to Michal Neuvirth), and they are looking like a contender to win a third in 2010-11.

 

Joe Thornton likes to play with a right handed shot. Heatley and Marleau both shoot left. Cheechoo was a righty, as is Devin Setoguchi.

 

Look for Setoguchi to play a lot with Thornton this season – don't be surprised if he has a huge offensive breakout (35-40). Thornton is one of the two or three best playmakers in the league.

 

Sportsnet's Roger Millions is reporting that the Flames and Mark Giordano are close to agreeing to a long-term extension. Assuming the term is reasonable, this is a good move for the Flames. Giordano is a strong top-four defenseman who is just scratching the surface of his offensive upside.

 

Atlanta has signed Alexander Burmistrov to an entry-level contract. He is expected to start the season with the team. They will have to make a decision after the ninth game, as he will burn a contract year off if he plays 10 or more. The alternative is to send him back to Barrie (OHL).

 

Like Ovechkin, Burmistrov plays a very North American game. I am not stereotyping Russian players (well maybe I am, but I am not meaning to). Both are unafraid to mix it up, play in traffic, take and receive hits, and consistently engage physically.

 

Burmistrov (and 99% of the league) lacks Ovechkin’s physical tools (230 pound torpedo on ice), but he has many of the same character traits that have made Ovechkin such an effective player. I’d consider that high praise.

 

Like many young centers, he needs to work on his faceoff ability.

 

DobberHockey member Natgeo passed on a very cool book my way – "He Shoots, He Skewers." The illustrations are very unique and it is a funny read. Here is some more information on the author Randy Duncan, as well. The book can be picked up on the publisher's site (Summit Studios) here, as well as on Amazon.

 

I don't plug a lot of products on the ramblings, but I think this book would make a great gift for yourself or a fellow hockey fan. It's an amusing read, and like I said, I haven't seen illustrations like it before. Here is a sample featuring Gordie Howe.

 

Manitoba's potential top line: Billy Sweatt, Cody Hodgson, and Jordan Schroeder. The Moose are going to be stacked this season. Hodgson is technically still with the Canucks but he will get sent down before Saturday – his bonus cushion provides some cap relief for now (one of many CBA technicalities).

 

Expect him to be recalled if he has a strong 15-20 game debut with the Moose.

 

The Canucks will officially sign Peter Schaefer today after the NHL has approved their salary cap status.

 

Puck Daddy chats with Mason Raymond. Solid interview. The best part:

 

"Finally, your adult beverage of choice, sir.

[Laughs] If I understand this correctly, you mean an alcoholic beverage?

 

Indeed.

I’m a farmer boy. Just a good cold beer. Nothing specific."