Fantasy Prospects Report – buy it here.

As part of this summer’s launch of the Dobber Sports Network, I have launched a Facebook page, where I’ll interact with you and where I’ll post announcements. It is also a great spot for you to interact with the other members of the network – Hockey Pool Geek, Frozen Pool, Goalie Post, DobberBaseball and two more upcoming members (to be announced soon). I invite/ask/beg you to “like” the group.

Thoughts on Manitoba vs. Winnipeg in terms of team names – I think it will be called “Manitoba” because the prevalent thinking is that it makes more business sense to name it after the province and thereby involve more people. But I’ll tell ya, if Toronto gets a second team, plunks it in Pickering (bear with me) and calls it the Ontario Blanks instead of the Pickering Blanks, my attachment will be negatively impacted. I want to see my city name there and I can’t help but root my city on.

I don't mind an ex-coach or ex-GM being offered a job in the same capacity. Sometimes even a second time. But not all coaches and not all GM's. Just the good ones. I don't believe Marc Crawford can coach in the new NHL, for example. I also think Ken Hitchcock's style no longer works. The bar should be high, because there are thousands of truly great candidates out there for those jobs. Well, not so much for coaching, but absolutely for managing. And I think Winnipeg giving a new GM an offer – Kevin Cheveldayoff – is fantastic. He is an assistant GM for Chicago, and was a wonderful GM for the AHL's Chicago Wolves.

Interesting stuff from Sabres Edge – six times this postseason, Boston has allowed a goal within 43 seconds of the start of a period. Speaks to Tim Thomas' readiness when he's cold. Once he warms up a bit, he's unbeatable.

Some thoughts based on Twitter requests:

Game 3 could go either way. I really think 50/50 on this one. But if the Canucks win, then they take the series in five games. If the Bruins win, I think they'll win Game 4 and tie it up.

Yesterday, I posted my own thoughts/odds of where Brad Richards signs. He wants to play for a contender, or so he says. But didn't Ilya Kovalchuk say the same thing last year? Bottom line was, four teams could have signed Kovalchuk last year. Atlanta – and he burned that bridge, the Kings – and they couldn't afford to go high enough, the Isles and the Devils. If he wanted to go to a "contender" between those two teams then he chose the wrong team. I said that last year and I'll say it again now that it's more obvious. Bottom line: Kovalchuk went to the only team that could afford him. With Richards, there are several more players in the mix. But let's face it – every team that is in the mix according to my chart yesterday is not a "contender". Every one of them could be a contender in three years. So if he says he wants to play for a contender, it's lip service. Because "contender" today would mean Vancouver, Pittsburgh, Detroit, San Jose, Boston, Philadelphia, Washington and Tampa Bay. And he won't sign with any of those teams.

If I were to slot some quick projections to the nearest five points, here are the 21 best UFA defensemen in terms of points or potential points. Some comments – Pitkanen is the best wild card, as he could really flourish with certain teams. Kaberle is a former multi-55 player, but it's been years since he's reached those heights. I think Bergeron has played himself out of the league – two straight seasons of signing extremely late (this one later than last one) and then ho-hum numbers. Babchuk could be KHL, but if not he is another wild card for 40 or even 50.

Potential contract buyouts – if your player is signed for the next year or two and he is making between $1 million and $3 million per season, then he is a buyout candidate. Teams don't buy a player out if it results in a heavy cap hit for years to come, so they only do it if the cap hit is relatively low and the term remaining is at just a year or two. The buyout window is later this month (the first window).

WHL's leading goal-scorer (and second in points) Tyler Johnson is following a similar path as Colin Long, Simon Gamache, David Desharnais – small, undrafted (or in Long's case drafted late), with little chance of making the NHL. Some persevere, such as Desharnais. But it takes years.

The DobberHockey Playoff Pool – my team is 198 out of 1205 with 16 players still standing. Team WC17 is RUNNING away with it – a 15 point lead (365) with 15 still active. Still with a shot – "Hejduk wheres", "shamrock" and "GIBBY" have 20 or 21 players each and are only about 30 points back so perhaps they can close the gap!! Winner gets a jersey from Cool Hockey. And by the way, if you need a jersey, buy through me. Your support helps keep these prizes coming. It's also probably the cheapest price you can buy a jersey for.

Burrows game winner:

Has Chara ever lost a fight? Curious…this is closest I could find.