Happy Thanksgiving!

Fire and Ice is reporting that Lou’s solution to the Devil’s cap/roster situation: go with NINE forwards and six defensemen. Nobody gets called up. Now that, my friends, is cap circumvention. I can’t believe the PA would allow that to happen – if all teams cut rosters down to 17, that would put 150 players out of jobs.

Sam Carchidi (Philly.com) says that Chris Pronger “should” make his season debut tonight.

The Ducks have addressed their injuries to Lydman and Sutton by signing Andreas Lilja to a contract. It is safe to assume that Luca Sbisa will be sent back down for more seasoning.

Mike Ribeiro was arrested for public intoxication. From the looks of things, he was the calm one in the party of four, and that it was the women (including his wife) who got into the physical altercations. Anyway, look for the media to blow this out of proportion, possibly causing a distraction that may negatively impact his numbers for the next month or so.

Rene Bourque left last night’s contest with a concussion. There have been a lot of these lately and the NHL’s crackdown on hits to the head has done nothing to slow it. What the players need are the specialized helmets that are hitting the market – Peter Mueller was having one specially made when he decided to play in a game before it was ready – and he got his last concussion. Anyway, if it’s just a matter of putting on these helmets to reduce concussions even by 10 percent, then lets get on this.  If not for a player’s healthy, then at least think of my fantasy teams!

Incidentally, I own Mueller, Savard and Bourque in one of my leagues. (not to mention Stajan and Jordan Staal – so we already know how that one’s shaping up)

Alexander Radulov, who has 23 points in just 12 KHL games, scored a goal just six seconds after the puck dropped to kick off a game. I think that the more he dominates that league, the less likely we’ll see him come back and play for $800,000 – not when the KHL would back up the Brinks truck to his front door to get him to stay.

Tyler Seguin scored the first NHL goal of his career Sunday. He played 12:49, which is a little low considering Savard is out of the lineup.

Speaking of Boston, look for an interesting summer next year. The team already has $50 million tied up with about eight players to sign or replace. It will take about $4 million to hang onto Wheeler and Marchand, leaving $6 million for six players. I think you’ll see two rookie forwards and a rookie defenseman get brought in just for their low entry-level dollars alone. I’m betting Joe Colborne is one of them.

So the leading scorer of the Calgary Flames is.. Brendan Morrison? So far the Iginla/Jokinen/Tanguay strategy is failing.

There is a situation developing in Boston – the next big thing, the phenom, Tuukka Rask was lit up in Game 1 giving up four goals. Then Tim Thomas comes in and gets a shutout in Game 2. Stop the presses – this could (and will) go back and forth until February – thus hurting the fantasy team that owns either of them

Early games today, don’t forget to set your rosters by 1pm ET

New line combos for the Penguins: Crosby with Kunitz (always) and Comrie; Letestu with Malkin and Tangradi. Keep an eye on Letestu, as he has potential. Then again, I have potential if you put me on Malkin’s line.
Paul Martin faces his former team the Devils today.

The Dispatch is reporting that the Brassard, Filatov and Voracek line will remain intact, despite minimal production at even strength. I think this line could potentially be awesome for three or four years, and be one of the lines you refer back to a decade from now.

So far it’s looking like Niemi is the better goaltender in San Jose. Antero Niittymaki let in a couple of soft ones in Game 2, whereas Niemi won his start and stopped 30 of 32 shots.

Ondrej Pavelec was released from hospital Sunday. I would be surprised to see him start within the next two weeks, but that’s just my thoughts on the matter.

Cam Janssen will be out for the next two weeks with a concussion. Add him to the list…

Brandon Pirri has been sent back down to Rockford.

Matt Stajan is still wearing a no-contact jersey, but he is now practicing with the rest of the team, according to the Calgary Herald. I get the impression that he will be back within a week.

PL Leblond was suspended for one game for his instigator on Marcus Johansson. The Devils also practiced without Roston (back) and Volchenkov (broken nose). I’m still waiting to see what Lou does about this, in terms of cap space.

Other notes – you can buy the Fantasy Guide and/or Draft List HERE; My Fantasy Prospects Rankings will be up later today.