Hockey Rambling

Columbus forward Andrew Murray will miss about four weeks with a shoulder injury, according to the Dispatch. This is of fantasy interest only because it pretty much ensures that for four weeks Nikita Filatov will probably not be scratched. He'll still get eight minutes of ice time, but he won't be scratched. Probably.   From [...]

Column 500 is up - Top 10 scoring race disappointments.   Saturday's THN column was on my Top 10 scoring race surprises. Today the column will feature the Top 10 scoring race disappointments. Today's column will also be my 500th Fantasy Pool Look for The Hockey News. It all started right there for me.   [...]

Dobber Nation - postponed until Thursday. I could post the interviews piecewise, but would rather have it put all together in one nice show. It was the perfect storm of technical difficulties (Andrew's computer crashed), sickness (producer is sick) and timing (I'm moving). By the time it all comes back together it will be Thursday. [...]

Whoops - Ryan Vesce is out as well, according to the Mercury. Couture and McGinn are in.   In my ramblings a few months ago, after Bobby Ryan's performance in the playoffs, I said: "Bobby Ryan isn't quite ready to be that star just yet. Flashes of brilliance, but occasional cold spells. No longer think [...]

Flyers lines for tonight: Richards centering Asham and Hartnell, Carter centering JVR and Briere, and Giroux centering Gagne and Laperriere.   Ken Hitchcock does some serious line changing for the game tonight. Chimera with Umberger and Nash, Huselius with Vermette and Voracek, and Torres with Pahlsson and Dorsett. The fourth line is Murray with Brassard [...]

The Kings have extended Jon Quick for three years. Bernier may be in a platoon situation next year (best case for him), but Quick is the man for the Kings for at least three years.   Some goalie stuff today. Craig Anderson IS starting tonight. There was speculation that Budaj was going to play, but [...]

Check out Dobber's latest Puck Daddy article here!   Justin Williams is doubtful for tonight after sustaining a lower-body injury at the end of the morning skate today. Although Gaborik is still healthy, the equilibrium is returning to the band-aid boy universe.   Some good news with the Rick DiPietro situation. There is no timetable [...]

Sergei Kostitsyn - AWOL. He bolted from Hamilton and the rumor is that he is on a plane to Russia. Full story here. If he's gone - then I have to think he's gone for good.   The Pens have confirmed - the wrist is broken and Gonchar is out 4-6 weeks. That's 28 to [...]

If you are a "tweener", then the last team you want to go to is Boston. A tweener is a young player who has not established himself yet in terms of a second-line producer or a third-line checker. Anyway, Boston has about eight or nine "top six" forwards, so for a tweener like Danny Paille [...]

The word on Lucic is - 4-6 weeks after he underwent finger surgery today.   The Kings will scratch Alex Frolov tonight. More on the story HERE. Frolov will be a UFA this summer. He's already cancelling his earlier order of that second boat.   Jason Arnott - out one to two weeks. Will Cal [...]