Buy the Draft List here. Update: Based on feedback, I have made changes to the draft list so that it now allows you to choose any team in the second round and re-seed the tree however you like. Since I was already in there anyway, I re-ran “my” personal picks and also added in Scott Parse and adjusted Williams and Clowe. This thing just keeps getting better!

My article in The Hockey News – more help for your playoff draft!

Not only does it look promising for Justin Williams, but Scott Parse could make a surprise return for the first round for the Kings.

For those hardcore poolies who look at all factors – Dustin Brown and his wife had a baby yesterday.

It’s looking more and more as though Dan Ellis will start Game 1. I don’t believe that will be the ongoing case, but for the first game I think it will happen.

Ryane Clowe is back in practice. No word if he has the green light for the first game, but it sounds like it.

I like Nashville. I find myself cheering for them – again- to get into the second round. But suddenly I realize – if the Preds go deep, the copycat NHL coaches/GMs could try to emulate them. Which would drag us back to the days of a bunch of 55-point players and zero 80-point players. That notion scares me, as a poolie.

Hungry for more playoff hockey pools? Want to hone your skills? Some members of the community are running some free ones that can be found in this section of the forum, including this annual one by “hockey is life”.

Here is an interesting take on why the Flyers will use both Bobrovsky and Boucher in the postseason – and why Leighton probably won't get into a game. I am of the opinion that Leighton has a pretty good shot at taking over this thing by Game 4. Because Bobrovsky has been blowing it lately and Boucher…well, he and Leighton went through this last year.

Candidates for the Devil's coaching job? Ken Hitchcock and Kirk Muller. I don't think they'll go down the unproven former beloved player route again.

My annual FREE Playoff Box Pool is now open – pick players from the box right HERE. Prizes include a customized jersey from Cool Hockey, a free DobberHockey Ultimate Fantasy Pack, and an Armchair Pools subscription. Can you take me down? Naw, you can’t. Don’t even step into the ring with me.

📢 advertisement:

Pittsburgh prospect Tom Kuhnhackl was the OHL's player of the week last week for scoring four goals and five points in three playoff games for Windsor. He is ranked 87 on my Fantasy Prospects List, which I updated yesterday.

I'm not sure the point of this, other than perhaps some experience, but the Red Wings recalled 15 players from Grand Rapids to serve as "Black Aces". Of note – Thomas McCollum, Brendan Smith, Joakim Andersson, Cory Emmerton, Ilari Filppula, Jan Mursak and Tomas Tatar. Of those, I can only see Mursak, Tatar or Emmerton getting into a game.

He's getting closer, but it's not guaranteed that Justin Williams plays Thursday. I think he will, though.

The Preds have signed Ben Ryan, 22, to an ELC. Ryan is a two-way center who is ranked 334 on my prospect rankings.

Martin Erat will play in Game 1.

Cheap new tool that is available for the iphone. The Hockey Draft Buddy will track picked players, filter and/or sort in many different ways – the perfect help for you at the draft table. Just 99 cents – does money even break down into such small increments anymore? Anyway, pick it up, or read up on it – HERE.

If a composite stick increases the velocity and release of your shot by 10% is that worth it when it snaps at inopportune times and costs you a goal for or against? Think about it – what is 10% (assuming it is 10%, which is very generous of me) going to do? For an average player, another three goals? For a star player another six goals? How many "goals" would he have scored had that stick not snapped after crossing the blue line? How many goals against would be stopped had that stick of yours not broke earlier in the shift, leaving you skating around stickless and looking like a clown? It doesn't make sense, but that's why they make money with their athleticism and I make mine with my brain.

Ode to the Composite Stick. My thoughts exactly (thanks to Puck Daddy for the clip):