Hello everyone, and welcome back in! I hope that everyone is enjoying hockey being back on their TVs, as a month ago I would have given anything to watch a Seattle versus St. Louis game…which thinking on it, the Blues might be that fun team that somehow you blink and have given up a 5-3 lead?

Either way, we have some signings to start the season, let's talk about them

Louis Crevier (25 yrs old/D) signs a 4-Year contract with Buffalo at a $4M annual cap hit ($16M Total)

UFA in 2031 (Age 30)

This is a very underrated signing for a player who Jarmo Kekäläinen received back from the Chicago Blackhawks in the Bowen Byram trade. That's the same GM who also acquired Artemi Panarin from the 'Hawks years ago for those keeping score at home. The Lufthansa Heist of trades that I think the CPU in NHL 2017 would have declined at the time.

Regardless, I really Louis Crevier as a player, and where his game really shines is on the penalty kill. He is very good in that regard and has shown early this season some bright spots on offense as well. He had a goal taken back on a slapshot from the point that tipped off Tage Thompson's stick who was soon after credited with the goal, but the fact that he's shooting the puck is encouraging.

While Crevier may do everything you'd want him to do if you're a Buffalo fan, fantasy might tell a different tale. Last season, he reached the 25-point mark which might as well be 1984 Paul Coffey for 24-year-old defensemen playing 17 minutes a night for the Blackhawks. I can see a path to where Buffalo doesn't deploy him often enough of power play or at even strength for him to be able to produce sufficient offensive numbers, which can diminish fantasy value.

Waivers in salary leagues are littered with defensemen right around the $4M AAV mark where Crevier will sit next season and if his offense is lackluster then he is less of a fantasy asset in larger leagues. Still, the age is young enough to where if you want to keep him for the time being and see where his career progresses that's certainly an option. I would only lean this direction if you have at least $2M in cap space in the event that you need to try and acquire more scoring on your club which would come at a higher cost.

Buffalo played this nicely. They have five of their six top defensemen locked up for the next three seasons, along with good young talent on the roster and that doesn't include the recent top ten picks in recent drafts. They'll also have money coming off their books next season from the Jeff Skinner buyout, all encouraging signs if you're a Buffalo fan.

Tristan Luneau (22 yrs old/D) signs a 6-Year Contract with Anaheim at a $7.2MAAV ($43.2M Total)

UFA 2033 (Age 29)

Usually, I have a take on a contract extension, sign-and-trade, or even a buyout. I'd even go as far to say that if I didn't feel strongly on a signing that I could give a strong five minutes on what it means for the signing club.

Here, I am at a loss.

Luneau signed a deal that when I saw the notification the only thing I could think of was that Alexander Nikishin is now never ever going to sign and also, who exactly are we talking about?

There is risk in any contract extension, some with more than others. I will say that for fantasy, Luneau is hardly rostered on Yahoo, and he hasn't exactly been a priority keeper in salary/dynasty formats on Fantrax carrying less than 50% roster percentages.

If there's a positive here it's that so far in the young season he has played 25 minutes a night on a Ducks team that I'm sure like you, I've been surprisingly impressed with. He is going to have to continue logging heavy minutes on a thin Ducks blueline which is good news for his fantasy value.

For continued fantasy news and notes, follow me on Twitter @ndySanz.