D-Liver Us!: Top Two Penguin Defenders Out Until '09
ESPN is reporting that Sergei Gonchar has elected to have surgery on his injured shoulder (the one he injured on the first shift of the first preseason game of the year) which would put him out for 4-6 months.
Gonchar is a top flight d-man, but this kind of injury makes him nearly useless on your fantasy team. If you already have him stash him on your IR and start scouring the waivers. If you haven't drafted yet then he is a LATE round pick at best... again to stash on your IR and then replace with someone else.
The other interesting storyline here is who will pick up the powerplay slack. The first week of the season should be very illuminating on this point.
Camp Woes: Campoli Injured in Preseason as Well
The Islanders defensive prospect Chris Campoli, who showed some nice improvement last season, was also injured in the preseason. The exact nature of the injury and the time he will miss is, at this point, unknown. Streit will now have no competition on the powerplay.
UPDATE:
ESPN is now also reporting the earlier reported story that Nikolai Khabibulin has been placed on waivers so I'd say thats not so much of a rumor anymore. I wouldn't expect Khabibulin to be taken off of waivers (The nearly 7 million dollar contract might cause a bit of a problem) but I really do think that something will get done with either LA or Ottawa before the season starts, whether it be via re-entry waivers or a trade.
Showing posts with label Lighting the lamp. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lighting the lamp. Show all posts
Monday, September 29, 2008
Lighting the Lamp: Selanne Signs two year deal, Khabibulin rumors
Selanne to Ducks Until His Next Retirement:
Teemu Selanne signed a two year deal with the Anaheim Mighty Ducks over the weekend, which was the obvious outcome of the Schneider Shenanigans. Burke got a little certainty for all his hard work at least with that two year deal. Now he knows he won't have to go through this crap all over again next offseason. Oh wait, Niedermayer is going to be a free agent... sigh.
I think this makes Anaheim a VERY dangerous team going into this season. Anaheim had the best record in the league after Niedermayer returned last season. The Ducks were hurting for scoring for most of last year. Selanne played the last 26 games with the team and had 23 points. this gives the Ducks two SOLID scoring lines and one of the best powerplays in the league. The question is who is hurt and helped by this fantasy wise? Perry might take a bit of a dive if Selanne gets moved to the first line. Brendan Morrison likely stands to benefit the most from this as he will now have a quality winger (be it Perry or Selanne). Should be interesting.
Khabibulin on waivers?
Khabibulin has been the source of speculation for the entire summer. Now hockeybuzz.com is reporting that it has heard from several sources that Khabibulin has been placed on waivers thanks to the strong play of Anti Niemi, one of their goaltending prospects.
In the short term I think this vastly increases Huet's value. In the long term... well who knows. If this plays out the way the Schnieder situation did (ie Bulin clears waivers and is eventually dealt) I would love to see who the Hawks get back. They are team lacking depth up front and really anything would help. That first line is going to be pretty taxed this year, but they should get strong defense and goaltending.
Teams (off the top of my head) that could use the Bulin Wall's services:
Ottawa
LA
Boston
Tampa
Atlanta (as a reliable expensive backup to Lehtonen)
More on this as it develops.
Teemu Selanne signed a two year deal with the Anaheim Mighty Ducks over the weekend, which was the obvious outcome of the Schneider Shenanigans. Burke got a little certainty for all his hard work at least with that two year deal. Now he knows he won't have to go through this crap all over again next offseason. Oh wait, Niedermayer is going to be a free agent... sigh.
I think this makes Anaheim a VERY dangerous team going into this season. Anaheim had the best record in the league after Niedermayer returned last season. The Ducks were hurting for scoring for most of last year. Selanne played the last 26 games with the team and had 23 points. this gives the Ducks two SOLID scoring lines and one of the best powerplays in the league. The question is who is hurt and helped by this fantasy wise? Perry might take a bit of a dive if Selanne gets moved to the first line. Brendan Morrison likely stands to benefit the most from this as he will now have a quality winger (be it Perry or Selanne). Should be interesting.
Khabibulin on waivers?
Khabibulin has been the source of speculation for the entire summer. Now hockeybuzz.com is reporting that it has heard from several sources that Khabibulin has been placed on waivers thanks to the strong play of Anti Niemi, one of their goaltending prospects.
In the short term I think this vastly increases Huet's value. In the long term... well who knows. If this plays out the way the Schnieder situation did (ie Bulin clears waivers and is eventually dealt) I would love to see who the Hawks get back. They are team lacking depth up front and really anything would help. That first line is going to be pretty taxed this year, but they should get strong defense and goaltending.
Teams (off the top of my head) that could use the Bulin Wall's services:
Ottawa
LA
Boston
Tampa
Atlanta (as a reliable expensive backup to Lehtonen)
More on this as it develops.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Lighting the Lamp: Schneider on waivers
Brian Burke has once again screwed up my column.
Here is what I was going to write about Mathieu Schneider in my defenseman rankings, now postponed until Schneider has a home:
Schneider is an incredibly talented offensive defenseman... unfortunately he's the third best
offensive defenseman on this team. With rumors swirling that Schneider will be traded its entirely possible that he could move up this list but until he is, his ice time and lack
of quality powerplay time doesn't justify a higher ranking.
Well. Here we are. Mathieu Schneider has been placed on waivers so that the Ducks can trim salary. This move will put the Ducks approximately 2.5 million under the cap. Given recent movement this would SEEM to indicate that Teemu will be coming back, though one would think it would take more then 2.5 to appease the Finnish Flash.
Schneider's prospects are looking dim unfortunately. The way waivers work in the NHL is that the last place team from last season has highest priority through November 1st. Right now that means the Top 5 teams in waiver priority are: Tampa Bay, Los Angeles, Atlanta, St. Louis, and the Islanders.
Tampa can't afford his 5.75 million salary so cross them off the list (though they've done crazier things this offseason).
LA is actually below the cap minimum right now so I would count them as a very high possibility at this stage of the game. They also are desperate for a veteran two way defenseman to tutor Drew Doughty and Jack Johnson. Schneider would seem to be a natural fit.
Assuming LA passes, I don't see Atlanta or St. Louis putting in a bid either. Atlanta has already made their big salary commitment this offseason to Ron Hainsey. Also, Atlanta is very aware that they need to keep whatever money around that they can to try to woo Kovalchuk to stay at the end of the season.
St Louis is committed to rebuilding from within and Schneider would be step back for them and against everything the organization has been attempting to do these last few seasons.
The Islanders would seem to be another natural fit, though God they need forwards for him to play with first.
I'll keep you updated as this develops, and will likely post the top ten defensemen later in the day as Schneider can't really effect that.
Here is what I was going to write about Mathieu Schneider in my defenseman rankings, now postponed until Schneider has a home:
Schneider is an incredibly talented offensive defenseman... unfortunately he's the third best
offensive defenseman on this team. With rumors swirling that Schneider will be traded its entirely possible that he could move up this list but until he is, his ice time and lack
of quality powerplay time doesn't justify a higher ranking.
Well. Here we are. Mathieu Schneider has been placed on waivers so that the Ducks can trim salary. This move will put the Ducks approximately 2.5 million under the cap. Given recent movement this would SEEM to indicate that Teemu will be coming back, though one would think it would take more then 2.5 to appease the Finnish Flash.
Schneider's prospects are looking dim unfortunately. The way waivers work in the NHL is that the last place team from last season has highest priority through November 1st. Right now that means the Top 5 teams in waiver priority are: Tampa Bay, Los Angeles, Atlanta, St. Louis, and the Islanders.
Tampa can't afford his 5.75 million salary so cross them off the list (though they've done crazier things this offseason).
LA is actually below the cap minimum right now so I would count them as a very high possibility at this stage of the game. They also are desperate for a veteran two way defenseman to tutor Drew Doughty and Jack Johnson. Schneider would seem to be a natural fit.
Assuming LA passes, I don't see Atlanta or St. Louis putting in a bid either. Atlanta has already made their big salary commitment this offseason to Ron Hainsey. Also, Atlanta is very aware that they need to keep whatever money around that they can to try to woo Kovalchuk to stay at the end of the season.
St Louis is committed to rebuilding from within and Schneider would be step back for them and against everything the organization has been attempting to do these last few seasons.
The Islanders would seem to be another natural fit, though God they need forwards for him to play with first.
I'll keep you updated as this develops, and will likely post the top ten defensemen later in the day as Schneider can't really effect that.
Friday, August 29, 2008
LIGHTING THE LAMP: A Mesz on their hands?
The Hockey News broke the story late last night that Andrej Meszaros, Ottawa's 22 year old defenseman, has possibly been signed to an offer sheet by another NHL team. The identity of the team and the details of the offer sheet are being kept quiet but it is looking like its a 3 year deal worth 5 million per season. If you want speculation on the team any number of websites will give you their guesses. The popular opinion seems to be New Jersey, Columbus, Atlanta or Vancouver. I don't think any of those teams make sense (much as I'd want him as a Devils fan) for various reasons that I won't get into. For now I want to focus on what this means for Ottawa.
Meszaros was a first round pick for Ottawa, drafted 23rd overall in 2004, and was almost certainly a large part of the reason Ottawa has been allowing themselves to shed offensive defensemen like prom dresses. In 2006-2007 this team had Tom Preissing, Joe Corvo, Wade Redden AND Meszaros. That is a team that understood the value of transition, puck-moving defensemen. When the season starts this year it appears that all of those defensemen will be gone.
I don't blame Meszaros for abandoning ship particularly after this quote from Bryan Murray, "I think Mez is a potentially good young defenseman who had a bit of an off-year this past year, and we've asked their camp to entertain that in what we're trying to do with him." OK. Meszaros is 22. Can you tell me how many other 22 year old defensemen there are in the league that already have three 30+ point campaigns under their belt, no less 30+ point campaigns where they were competing with Chara, Redden, Pressing and Corvo for ice time? Yea I didn't think you could. That line reeks of damage control.
Someone will still be running the powerplay with the Sens All-Star line of Heatley, Spezza and Alfredsson. If Meszaros is really gone I would expect the Senators to give looks to Cristoph Schubert (8 goals and 16 assists last season) Anton Volchenkov (former 21st overall pick, 1 goal and 14 assists last season) and Brian Lee (the 9th overall pick from 05 who hasn't shown a whole lot of shake and bake in the minors but who is highly regarded as a defensive prospect). One of those will be a nice sleeper because, whatever else this team is going to be it should still be a good powerplay team.
I'll keep you informed as this story develops.
Meszaros was a first round pick for Ottawa, drafted 23rd overall in 2004, and was almost certainly a large part of the reason Ottawa has been allowing themselves to shed offensive defensemen like prom dresses. In 2006-2007 this team had Tom Preissing, Joe Corvo, Wade Redden AND Meszaros. That is a team that understood the value of transition, puck-moving defensemen. When the season starts this year it appears that all of those defensemen will be gone.
I don't blame Meszaros for abandoning ship particularly after this quote from Bryan Murray, "I think Mez is a potentially good young defenseman who had a bit of an off-year this past year, and we've asked their camp to entertain that in what we're trying to do with him." OK. Meszaros is 22. Can you tell me how many other 22 year old defensemen there are in the league that already have three 30+ point campaigns under their belt, no less 30+ point campaigns where they were competing with Chara, Redden, Pressing and Corvo for ice time? Yea I didn't think you could. That line reeks of damage control.
Someone will still be running the powerplay with the Sens All-Star line of Heatley, Spezza and Alfredsson. If Meszaros is really gone I would expect the Senators to give looks to Cristoph Schubert (8 goals and 16 assists last season) Anton Volchenkov (former 21st overall pick, 1 goal and 14 assists last season) and Brian Lee (the 9th overall pick from 05 who hasn't shown a whole lot of shake and bake in the minors but who is highly regarded as a defensive prospect). One of those will be a nice sleeper because, whatever else this team is going to be it should still be a good powerplay team.
I'll keep you informed as this story develops.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
LIGHTING THE LAMP: Teemu's yearly bout of indecision
So... like the Panthers I feel there is a big enough question mark hanging over the Anaheim Mighty Ducks to hold off on writing their team preview. That question... will he or won't he? Will Selanne play a full season for the Ducks, a half season, or retire altogether?
Teemu had 23 points in 26 games last season, but I'm not holding off simply for Teemu's sake. Anaheim has cap problems... problems that will become catastrophic if they suddenly need to make room for Teemu. Lots of shuffling would have to happen very quickly, including the long rumored dealing of Mathieu Schneider and his 5,750,000 dollar salary(who would be most teams best offensive defenseman but is easily third on this squad). Movement will happen fast and furious and this team will look altogether different.
In addition Teemu would improve the offensive prospects for Brendan Morrison, the Ducks new second line center, as he would either be playing with Corey Perry or Sellanne instated of Brad May and Bobby Ryan.
Teemu takes a one line team and gives it two. The Ducks will be successful without him, but its impossible to tell how successful until we get an answer from Teemu one way or another. So I'll be holding off on this team preview until we get wind of Teemu's decision or it is just too close to the season to keep waiting.
Teemu had 23 points in 26 games last season, but I'm not holding off simply for Teemu's sake. Anaheim has cap problems... problems that will become catastrophic if they suddenly need to make room for Teemu. Lots of shuffling would have to happen very quickly, including the long rumored dealing of Mathieu Schneider and his 5,750,000 dollar salary(who would be most teams best offensive defenseman but is easily third on this squad). Movement will happen fast and furious and this team will look altogether different.
In addition Teemu would improve the offensive prospects for Brendan Morrison, the Ducks new second line center, as he would either be playing with Corey Perry or Sellanne instated of Brad May and Bobby Ryan.
Teemu takes a one line team and gives it two. The Ducks will be successful without him, but its impossible to tell how successful until we get an answer from Teemu one way or another. So I'll be holding off on this team preview until we get wind of Teemu's decision or it is just too close to the season to keep waiting.
Friday, August 22, 2008
LIGHTING THE LAMP: Florida Panthers
Lighting the Lamp, until I come up with a better name for it, is going to be our rumors and speculation feature. Our very first one (unless you include the untitled discussion of the still viable Khabibulin trade from week 1) will focus on the Florida Panthers and will serve as a bit of a place holder until their team preview is written.
There are constantly rumors swirling in the NHL, but when I've thought one is viable and will have a big effect on a team I have tried to avoid their team preview (the reason that amongst others I have thus far skipped over Ottawa, Vancouver, Chicago, Toronto, Colorado, et al). Earlier this week a pretty big trade rumor came down the pike and was reported in several major outlets.
The rumor was that Toronto's Bryan McCabe would be traded to the Florida Panthers for Mike Van Ryn. Other players would be involved in the deal ultimately but its unclear as to who they would be at this particular moment. So lets look at the salary dump ...er trade as it stands currently.
McCabe is talented... at feeding the puck to Mats Sundin on the powerplay and getting stupid penalties... which means that you should have loved him fantasy wise for the last couple of seasons. That said he has DEFINITELY worn out his welcome in Toronto, making this a personality dump as well. With no obvious Sundin in Florida, Nathan Horton maybe, and competition from Jay Bouwmeester for powerplay time McCabe could see his numbers take a serious dip.
The deal isn't particularly great for Van Ryn either. With no Sundin in Toronto anymore, we think, Van Ryn is going find the powerplay up there significantly less welcoming then it was to McCabe. He would also find himself third on the depth chart behind Kaberle and Kubina.
The reason the deal has been delayed, so goes the story, is that McCabe is waiting to OK it until after Toronto has paid his 2 million dollar signing bonus for the season. I'm sure that's actually one of Florida's conditions and not McCabe's but I'll trust the media on this. So we won't know for sure whats going on until the date for that arrives, which is reported to be the 15th of September. I'm going to attempt to not preview either team, until we know for sure what is going on with this situation. I'll keep you informed.
There are constantly rumors swirling in the NHL, but when I've thought one is viable and will have a big effect on a team I have tried to avoid their team preview (the reason that amongst others I have thus far skipped over Ottawa, Vancouver, Chicago, Toronto, Colorado, et al). Earlier this week a pretty big trade rumor came down the pike and was reported in several major outlets.
The rumor was that Toronto's Bryan McCabe would be traded to the Florida Panthers for Mike Van Ryn. Other players would be involved in the deal ultimately but its unclear as to who they would be at this particular moment. So lets look at the salary dump ...er trade as it stands currently.
McCabe is talented... at feeding the puck to Mats Sundin on the powerplay and getting stupid penalties... which means that you should have loved him fantasy wise for the last couple of seasons. That said he has DEFINITELY worn out his welcome in Toronto, making this a personality dump as well. With no obvious Sundin in Florida, Nathan Horton maybe, and competition from Jay Bouwmeester for powerplay time McCabe could see his numbers take a serious dip.
The deal isn't particularly great for Van Ryn either. With no Sundin in Toronto anymore, we think, Van Ryn is going find the powerplay up there significantly less welcoming then it was to McCabe. He would also find himself third on the depth chart behind Kaberle and Kubina.
The reason the deal has been delayed, so goes the story, is that McCabe is waiting to OK it until after Toronto has paid his 2 million dollar signing bonus for the season. I'm sure that's actually one of Florida's conditions and not McCabe's but I'll trust the media on this. So we won't know for sure whats going on until the date for that arrives, which is reported to be the 15th of September. I'm going to attempt to not preview either team, until we know for sure what is going on with this situation. I'll keep you informed.
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