An interesting read on Claude Lemieux's new role in the hockey world – he's been working with a few clients of Rich Winter, most notably Cody Hodgson.

I am cautiously optimistic regarding Hodgson this year. There have been many reports of an improved relationship with the team (whatever issues were there appear to be dead), he is working hard with the likes of Neal, Stamkos, and Skinner at the Roberts camp in Ontario, and this is the healthiest he's been in a few years.

Couple that with the fact that Kesler is banged up, and Sedin/Malhotra are both coming off of short summers. He could see some significant ice time early in the season if he has a strong training camp.

Puck Daddy breaks down the Langkow trade.

Fantastic analysis – opens up room for Brett MacLean, which I am most interested in from a fantasy hockey perspective.

I chatted with the fine folks over at Nucks Misconduct yesterday – everything fantasy/Vancouver related – Edler, Ballard, the Sedins, Kesler, Hodgson, Luongo, and more.

Will Alex Ovechkin score 50 goals in 2011-12? This site doesn't think so. Some compelling data to back up the opinion.

Will David Rundblad find a way to get some ice time, even though he is likely behind Karlsson and Gonchar on the power play depth chart? I think Gonchar plays better than he did last season (although he can't really get any worse so I'm not exactly going out on a limb), but Rundblad's numbers last season indicate he may indeed be something special.

Fire me an email if you have an interesting thought or point for me to discuss in my next 15 Points to Consider piece. (angus at dobberhockey.com)

Alex Edler is still recovering from broken fingers. I'd predict a slight decline across the board for many Vancouver players – playoff hockey has a way of doing that (just look at Datsyuk and Zetterberg in Detroit over the past few years).

Regardless of how well Ottawa's youngsters play, they need some bounce back seasons from a few key veterans.

"Sergei Gonchar, who averaged 45.6 points through the first 15 years of his career and was usually 50 points or better, produced just 27 points in 67 games in his first season as a Senator.

Milan Michalek, a 57-point winger for the San Jose Sharks two years ago, has fallen well short of that in near mirror-image performances in two Ottawa seasons: 33 points in 66 games last year, 34 points in 66 games the previous year. His goal production dropped from 22 in his first year here to 18 last year, while he worked his way back from offseason knee surgery. A gamer, Michalek should be better."

Steve Stamkos and James Neal with some standout moves at the BioSteel camp – I've enjoyed these videos.

Stempniak – more than a goal scorer: