| Anaheim Ducks | Boston Bruins | Buffalo Sabres |
| C | 1. Ryan Getzlaf  ActiveRyan Getzlaf apparently was dealing with a right ankle injury since March 3, according to Anaheim Ducks GM Bob Murray. That's pretty amazing considering Getzlaf had nine goals and 28 points combined in the months of March and April. He then followed that up with three goals and six points in seven games in the playoffs, which tied for the team lead with defenseman Francois Beauchemin. Getzlaf should be 100 percent by training camp in September and is one of the better fantasy centermen in the league. May 14 |
| 2. Saku Koivu  ActiveSaku Koivu said he'll take a couple weeks to decide whether he wants to return to the NHL next season. Koivu had eight goals and 27 points this season but much of that production came during the first half of the lockout-shortened season. At 38 years old, we imagine returning for a full 82-game slate seems a bit daunting at this point. Koivu had just one goal and two assists in the Ducks' first-round playoff loss and it's unclear if GM Bob Murray would re-sign Koivu should the veteran pivot decides he still wants to play. May 14 |
| 3. Andrew Cogliano  ActiveAndrew Cogliano was happy with how his line did against Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg. Cogliano, along with Daniel Winnik and Saku Koivu, were task with shutting down Datsyuk and Zetterberg on Tuesday. The two Red Wings' stars combined for just four shots on goal and didn't get any points in Anaheim's 3-1 win. "I think we played our game plan pretty much perfect," Cogliano said. "There's times where we let them have a couple of good chances right in front of the net that Hillsy had to make good saves on. But we felt like in the neutral zone, we did a good job containing their speed. I think the other thing that we needed to do was get on the forecheck a little bit more and try to wear down their defensemen." If they can keep this up, this could be a short series. May 2 |
| 4. Nick Bonino  ActiveAnaheim Ducks GM Bob Murray says Nick Bonino's lower-body injury was actually a torn hamstring. Bonino missed six weeks with a mysterious lower-body injury, which Murray said he suffered while playing soccer before a game in March. Bonino managed to have a strong postseason after returning, scoring three goals and four points in seven games against the Red Wings. He should be fine by the time camp opens in September. May 14 |
| 5. Peter Holland  ActivePeter Holland will report to the Anaheim Ducks. Holland has three goals and two assists in 21 games this season. He also has 39 points and 68 penalty minutes in 45 AHL contests in 2012-13. Apr 27 |
| 6. Dave Steckel  ActiveDave Steckel scored his first goal of the season on Wednesday. It was a fluky goal too. The shot appeared to hit a defenders stick, fly high up into the air and then land past goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky and trickle into the net. Steckel has no fantasy value in standard leagues. Apr 18 |
| 7. Antoine Laganiere  ActiveAntoine Laganiere can earn $925,000 annually at the NHL level in the contract he recently signed with the Ducks. Laganiere had 15 goals and 29 points in 37 NCAA games to help Yale University win the national championship. This season counts as year one of his deal, which means that it will expire in 2013-14. Apr 17 |
| LW | 1. Corey Perry  ActiveCorey Perry called his punchless postseason "frustrating." Perry finished with just two assists in the seven-game series loss to the Red Wings despite putting 24 shots on Detroit goalie Jimmy Howard. "I'll take this, put it in the back of my head and use it again. He made some big saves at crucial times. You thought the puck would go in, all of a sudden you look again and it's in his glove or his leg's kicking it out," Perry said after Sunday's loss. The former Hart Trophy winner will have all summer to stew over the disappointment. May 14 |
| 2. Matt Beleskey  ActiveMatt Beleskey needed three shots to beat Jimmy Howard for Game 3's first goal in an eventual 3-2 overtime loss Monday night. Howard stopped Beleskey from point-blank range on both the forehand and the backhand before the Ducks winger tracked down the rebound wide of the net and roofed a shot over Howard, who was still down on the ice at the time. It took that kind of effort to get a puck past Howard on Monday and it's a big reason why the series is now tied at 2. Dave Steckel scored Anaheim's other goal Monday, another second-chance, loose-puck goal that came with Howard down after having stopped a pair of shots. May 7 |
| 3. Daniel Winnik  ActiveDaniel Winnik has a goal and five points in eight games this month. Winnik has six goals and 14 points in 26 contests in 2013. As you might guess, he's a borderline player in standard leagues and he's not likely to do any better for the remainder of the season. Mar 16 |
| 4. Matthew Lombardi  ActiveMatthew Lombardi is unlikely to return after not playing in the Anaheim Ducks' opening-round series against the Detroit Red Wings. Lombardi was a trade-deadline acquisition but was edged out of the lineup by some of Anaheim's younger players. The veteran pivot didn't register a point in seven games with the Ducks and finished the season with four goals and eight points in 28 games. May 14 |
| 5. Patrick Maroon  ActiveAnaheim has summoned Patrick Maroon from the minors. He has recorded two goals and 10 penalty minutes in 11 games with the Ducks this season. Maroon led AHL Norfolk in scoring this year with 50 points in 64 contests and he added 139 PIMs as well. Apr 24 |
| 6. Harry Zolnierczyk  ActiveThe Anaheim Ducks have promoted Harry Zolnierczyk. Zolnierczyk has an assist and 36 penalty minutes in seven games with Anaheim this season. The Ducks acquired him from Philadelphia on April 1 in exchange for Jay Rosehill. Apr 27 |
| 7. Max Friberg  ActiveMax Friberg has been summoned by the Ducks. Friberg has a goal in six AHL contests. Anaheim took him in the fifth round of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. Apr 27 |
| RW | 1. Bobby Ryan  ActiveThe Anaheim Ducks are looking at Game 5 on Wednesday as a critical contest. "It's huge," Bobby Ryan said. "It's more pivotal for the home team because if you lose, you give them a chance to close it out at home, as Nashville did. It's tough to win on the road in the playoffs. It's not going to make or break the series but it's going to be a huge tone-setter the rest of the way." Ryan was kept off the scoresheet in Anaheim's 3-2 loss on Monday, but he's certainly a potential game changer. May 8 |
| 2. Teemu Selanne  ActiveTeemu Selanne said it's too soon to speculate on whether he'll return to the NHL next season. Selanne did say there's a feeling of "unfinished business" after the second-seeded Ducks were eliminated by the Red Wings on Sunday night. Selanne has made it clear how much he enjoys playing with this group of teammates and it wouldn't shock us if he wanted to back at the age of 43. However, truth be told, this decision will likely linger far into the summer as it usually does. Stay tuned. May 14 |
| 3. Kyle Palmieri  ActiveKyle Palmieri scored a goal in Anaheim's 3-2 overtime victory on Wednesday. Palmieri has two goals and four points in five games in the playoffs. He ended the season on a hot streak and it looks like he was able to carry that momentum into the Ducks' first-round series against Detroit. May 9 |
| 4. Emerson Etem  ActiveRookie Emerson Etem leads the Ducks in plus/minus in the post-season with a plus-five. Etem has been a pleasant surprise for the Ducks in the playoffs as he has also chipped in with a couple of goals and a pair of assists in the first six games against the Red Wings. "He's been one of our best players if not our best player," Coach Bruce Boudreau said. "It's a great sign for the future of the Ducks, but it's also a great sign for now, because we need him." Etem is averaging only 12:21 minutes per game in the playoffs but expect a lot more next season as he should grab a regular top-six role on the Ducks. May 12 |
| 5. Radek Dvorak  ActiveRadek Dvorak is unlikely to return to the Anaheim Ducks this offseason. Dvorak had four goals in nine games after signing with Anaheim late in the regular season, but the Czech winger didn't play in a single postseason game. At 36 years old, it's possible Dvorak's NHL career has come to an end. May 14 |
| 6. Brad Staubitz  ActiveBrad Staubitz netted his first goal of the season on Thursday. It was just Staubitz's 15th game of 2013. He would have been a decent source of penalty minutes if he played regularly. Apr 26 |
| 7. Devante Smith-Pelly  ActiveDevante Smith-Pelly has been called up by Anaheim. He has no points in five appearances with the Ducks this season. Smith-Pelly accounted for 32 points with 65 penalty minutes in 65 contests with Norfolk. Apr 24 |
| D | 1. Cam Fowler  ActiveCam Fowler registered an assist on Thursday. Fowler has a point in each of Anaheim's first two playoff contests. He also had a hit and two blocked shots in 21:09 minutes of ice time in Anaheim's 5-4 overtime loss in Game 2. May 3 |
| 2. Francois Beauchemin  ActiveFrancois Beauchemin has undergone successful ACL reconstruction, according to the Anaheim Ducks. He said that he hopes to be ready for the start of the 2013-14 season. May 20 |
| 3. Sheldon Souray  ActiveAnaheim coach Bruce Boudreau has confirmed that Sheldon Souray will play in Game 4 Monday night. Toni Lydman won't play and it may be unlikely that he will return before the end of the series. Souray was a healthy scratch for the Ducks in Game 3 after playing in the team's previous two matches against the Red Wings. May 6 |
| 4. Toni Lydman  ActiveToni Lydman admitted to suffering a concussion in the Anaheim Ducks' first-round series loss to the Detroit Red Wings. Lydman never returned after a Justin Abdelkader check to his head in Game 3. Lydman eventually copped to suffering migraines as a result of the hit, which earned Abdelkader a two-game suspension by the league. While concussions can bother players for undetermined lengths of time, hopefully Lydman will be alright by training camp in September. May 14 |
| 5. Luca Sbisa  ActiveLuca Sbisa (lower body) will make his 2013 playoffs debut on Saturday. Sbisa was reportedly healthy enough to play on Saturday, but was ultimately held out of that contest. He had eight points and 23 penalty minutes in 41 regular season games. May 4 |
| 6. Bryan Allen  ActiveBryan Allen won't play Thursday. He is being scratched and Sheldon Souray will be back in the lineup in his place. However, this should probably be qualified as just a rest day for the hard-nosed defenseman. Apr 25 |
| 7. Ben Lovejoy  ActiveThe Anaheim Ducks were a dejected bunch after their Game 7 loss to the Detroit Red Wings Sunday. The Ducks were up three games to two heading into Detroit for Game 6 Friday but managed to drop both contests. "It sucks," defenseman Ben Lovejoy said. "I feel like, as a team, we let ourselves down. They were the better team tonight. They outplayed us from the start and we had to battle to hang in there with them. We didn't give ourselves a real chance to win. We tried at the end. We tried to make a push. We weren't good enough all night." The Ducks had an excellent regular season as they were the third best team in the NHL but success is usually had with a good playoff run so the Ducks will need to regroup in time for next season. May 13 |
| 8. Nate Guenin  ActiveNate Guenin has been recalled by the Anaheim Ducks. Guenin has four goals and 24 points in 66 games this season. He's an organizational depth defenseman. Apr 27 |
| 9. Jordan Hendry  ActiveThe Ducks have summoned Jordan Hendry. Hendry has no points in two games with Anaheim this season. The 29-year-old has played in 131 career NHL contests. Apr 27 |
| 10. Hampus Lindholm  ActiveHampus Lindholm has been called up by the Ducks. Lindholm has a goal and 11 points in 44 AHL games this season. He was taken by Anaheim with the sixth overall pick in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft. Apr 27 |
| 11. Sami Vatanen  ActiveSami Vatanen scored his second goal of the season in the Duck's 3-0 win over Edmonton Monday. Vatanen has great offensive talent but there are parts of his game that are still in need of work according to coach Bruce Boudreau. "Where he's standing in and thinks he can get the puck like in the American League where he can challenge," Boudreau said. "His biggest thigns (sic) are that and taking his time, trying to suck guys in and make a play. Where in this league, you've got to get it and move it because the play comes at you. There's guys on him because they're not resting. They have to learn a lot of that from experience. Or get plastered. I think he's still in the American League mode in a lot of ways. He's getting better the more I yell at him." Vatanen is worth looking at next season in deeper pools as he is the Ducks power play quarterback of the future. Apr 23 |
| G | 1. Jonas Hiller  ActiveJonas Hiller allowed three goals on 32 shots Sunday, but the Ducks found themselves on the wrong end of a 3-2 score against Detroit in Game Seven of their first round playoff series. The Swiss goaltender endured a difficult regular season that saw him momentarily cede control of the number one job to Viktor Fasth, but his playoff performance should lead to renewed faith, even if the team wasn't able to advance beyond the first round. May 13 |
| 2. Viktor Fasth  ActiveViktor Fasth revealed he had a strained lower abdominal muscle and was playing around 80 percent at the end of the year. Jonas Hiller got all the starts for the Ducks in the postseason, although it's unclear if Fasth's injury had anything to do with that fact. Fasth should be 100 percent healthy by training camp and could enter next season as the Ducks' starting goalie if Hiller is dealt for salary cap purposes this summer. May 14 |
| 3. Frederik Andersen  ActiveFrederik Andersen has been called up by the Ducks. He posted a 24-18-1 record with a 2.19 goals-against average and a .929 save percentage in 47 games for AHL Norfolk this campaign. Apr 24 |
| 4. Igor Bobkov  ActiveIgor Bobkov has been recalled from the minors. John Gibson has been loaned to Team USA for the World Championships, so Bobkov is with the Ducks as another extra goaltender. May 2 |
| 5. John Gibson  ActiveJohn Gibson excelled in the 2013 World Championship. Gibson had a 1.56 GAA and .951 save percentage in six games to help Team USA capture the bronze medal. He also had a 2.41 GAA and .928 save percentage in 27 OHL regular season games this season. He's worth keeping an eye on during the Ducks training camp, but he won't make the team unless the Ducks trade Jonas Hiller or Viktor Fasth over the summer. In fact it could still be years before he gets regular playing time in the NHL and he'll likely get some seasoning in the AHL first, but he's certainly showing a lot of promise. May 22 |
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| C | 1. David Krejci  ActiveDavid Krejci contributed two assists in Boston's 5-2 win over New York in Game 2 Sunday afternoon. He hasn't scored a goal since his hat trick in Game 4 of Round 1 versus Toronto, but he has six helpers in five playoff outings since then. The Bruins lead the Rangers 2-0 in the second-round series and Krejci still leads all skaters in the postseason in scoring with 16 points. May 20 |
| 2. Patrice Bergeron  ActivePatrice Bergeron's three-game playoff point streak ended Tuesday night in a 2-1 win over the New York Rangers. He posted four shots and finished with a minus-1 rating, but he won 70 percent of his faceoffs. Bergeron has won over 70 percent of his draws in four of his last five outings, which is a remarkable success rate. He has taken 201 faceoffs in the postseason and won 64.2 percent of them, which makes him the best in the league right now. May 22 |
| 3. Chris Kelly  ActiveChris Kelly and Daniel Paille had a goal and an assist apiece but their Boston Bruins lost to the Buffalo Sabres 3-2 via a shootout. Neither player has the kind of numbers that indicate that they'll be fantasy relevant on most nights, but Kelly at least showed why he was missed to some degree when he was on the shelf about a week or so ago. Apr 18 |
| 4. Gregory Campbell  ActiveGregory Campbell got his first goal of the 2013 playoffs in Sunday's 5-2 win over the Rangers in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals. The fourth-line center also picked up three hits and a fighting major in the third when he squared off with pugilist Derek Dorsett. Campbell has two points, 11 penalty minutes and 25 hits in nine playoff games. May 20 |
| 5. Carl Soderberg  ActiveCarl Soderberg recorded his first NHL point on Sunday. It was just his second NHL game. He joined the Boston Bruins after scoring 31 goals and 60 points in 54 Swedish Elite League games. Apr 22 |
| 6. Marc Savard  I.L.Marc Savard, who is still suffering from concussion-like symptoms, will be in Boston this week and the Bruins will declare him unfit to play. Savard is under contract through 2016-17 at an annual average salary of just a little over $4 million. The Bruins may not have to place him on long-term injured reserve to start the season though. "We've got a lot of flexibility this year," said GM Peter Chiarelli. "Do I suspect we'll use Savard's LTI? It depends. [Owner Jeremy] Jacobs has allowed us to pursue those types of players. He wants to win. I think if we presented a compelling case, I think he'd let us use it." Jan 14 |
| LW | 1. Milan Lucic  ActiveMilan Lucic got his third goal of the postseason in Boston's Game 2 win over the New York Rangers. He potted the last goal of the contest in a 5-2 victory. Lucic also posted two hits to give him a total of 42 in just nine playoff games. He currently has 10 postseason points. May 20 |
| 2. Brad Marchand  ActiveBrad Marchand said the Boston Bruins need to make sure they don't let the New York Rangers back in the series. The Bruins were up 3-1 on Toronto only to see the Maple Leafs rally and force Game 7. "We realize we let [Toronto] back in it. We didn't have that killer instinct. ... We want to step up and do the job," Marchand said at Tuesday's morning skate. The Bruins lead the Rangers 2-0 heading into Game 3 tonight. May 21 |
| 3. Daniel Paille  ActiveDaniel Paille notched a goal and an assist to lead Boston to a 2-1 Game 3 win over the New York Rangers. He picked up an assist on defenseman Johnny Boychuck's fourth marker of the playoffs and then he supplied the game-winning goal late in the third. The Bruins' fourth line wanted to contribute more offensively and they were the driving force behind Tuesday's victory. Shawn Thornton picked up two assists in the contest and Gregory Campbell had a helper of his own. Milan Lucic recorded five hits and Matt Bartkowski led the team with six. Boston now owns a commanding 3-0 series lead versus the Rangers. May 21 |
| 4. Kaspars Daugavins  ActiveKaspars Daugavins will be in the Boston lineup for Game 1 while Rich Peverley is a healthy scratch. Daugavins was skating on the third line in practice this morning alongside Chris Kelly, Jaromir Jagr and Rich Peverley. May 1 |
| 5. Jay Pandolfo  ActiveJay Pandolfo replaced Chris Bourque on the third line Thursday night. Pandolfo, who had been primarily a fourth-liner, was a minus-one in 11:42 of ice time. It's very likely this is a short-term thing as the Bruins are shopping for a No. 3 left wing. Mar 8 |
| RW | 1. Tyler Seguin  ActiveTyler Seguin is likely to begin the second round on Boston's third line. He was bumped down the rotation in favor of veteran winger Jaromir Jagr in Game 7 against Toronto. Seguin remained with Chris Kelly and Rich Peverley during Boston's practice Wednesday. He had one assist in the seventh game of the series for his first point. May 15 |
| 2. Jaromir Jagr  ActiveJaromir Jagr didn't take part in Tuesday's optional skate but will play in Game 3 tonight. Claude Julien wasn't the least bit concerned, saying Jagr knows his body and his conditioning. Plus, it's not like Jagr hasn't been putting in on-ice work on his own time. The 41-year-old winger apparently hit the ice in the hours after Tuesday's Game 2 win to work on his shot and his stickhandling. May 21 |
| 3. Nathan Horton  ActiveNathan Horton's third-period goal triggered the Bruins' improbable rally over the Leafs. Down 4-1 with a little more than 14 minutes left, the Bruins had little energy and they were hearing it from the crowd. But Horton's goal provided a jolt. "It was tough there on the bench, getting booed, and looking at the time clock and watching the seconds count down," said Brad Marchand. ... "After [Horton] got that first one for us that started the climb back, we see the emotion on the bench and guys started to believe. That's what we needed." May 14 |
| 4. Rich Peverley  ActiveRich Peverley logged 13:42 of ice time in his return to Boston's lineup Saturday night in Game 2. The Bruins are still waiting to get some offense out of their third line, which has been sore spot for the club all year. The thought was that Jaromir Jagr would help add some scoring punch alongside Peverley and Chris Kelly, but that is yet to happen. Jagr, Peverley, Kelly and Kaspars Daugavins, who played instead of Peverley in Game 1 against Toronto, don't have a point in Boston's first-round series. May 6 |
| 5. Shawn Thornton  ActiveShawn Thornton got he wanted in Game 3 as Boston's fourth line helped the team score both goals in a 2-1 triumph over the New York Rangers Tuesday night. He wanted his line, along with Daniel Paille (game-winning goal) and Gregory Campbell (an assist), to help out in the scoring act heading into the contest. "We're a better team when all four lines are going for 60 (minutes)," said Thornton, who chipped in two assists. "(Last night) we didn't have any passengers. We might have been the ones who got a couple of goals, but I thought everyone was going." May 22 |
| D | 1. Zdeno Chara  ActiveWhile Ryan Suter's 31:37 minutes per game easily tops all players in this postseason, Zdeno Chara is averaging the most ice time among active participants. Chara is logging 29:23 minutes per game, comfortably ahead of Drew Doughty (28:06) and Kris Letang (27:17). With that in mind, the towering Boston Bruins captain would likely welcome the "rust" that may come from a second-round sweep. May 23 |
| 2. Dennis Seidenberg  SidelinedDennis Seidenberg (lower body) took part in an optional session on Wednesday and said there's a chance he could be ready to play in Game 4. "There's a chance for sure," he said after the skate. "But you don't want to come back too early. We'll see how it feels [Thursday] and go from there." There is also the possibility that the Bruins may hold him out of the lineup for Game 4 because the team's defense has performed so well against the Rangers in the series. May 23 |
| 3. Dougie Hamilton  ActiveThe Boston Bruins may have a difficult decision to make when some of their veteran defensemen are available to return to the lineup from their respective injuries. Dennis Seidenberg and Wade Redden appear to be close to returning after practicing with the team on Monday, but the Bruins have benefited from solid performances by young blueliners Dougie Hamilton, Torey Krug and Matt Bartkowski in their absences. When Seidenberg, Redden or Andrew Ference are able to dress again it will be interesting to see what adjustments coach Claude Julien makes to his lineup. Changes may come as early as Game 3 Tuesday night, so stayed tuned for details during the morning skate. May 21 |
| 4. Andrew Ference  SidelinedAndrew Ference (lower body) did some off-ice work Wednesday. He hasn't resumed skating since suffering a lower-body injury in Game 5 against Toronto, but coach Claude Julien said the defenseman is making some progress. May 23 |
| 5. Johnny Boychuk  ActiveJohnny Boychuk netted his fourth goal of the playoffs in Tuesday's win over the Rangers. He potted the game-tying goal in the third period of a 2-1 victory. The Bruins have received plenty of offense from the back end in their second-round series versus New York, with five goals coming from defensemen. "It's just a bonus," Boychuk said. "We just want to get shots on net and our forwards are doing a good job of screening (the goalie). Sometimes they'll tip it and it will go in. But we've been hitting the net and it's been going in. We just have to keep doing the same thing." May 22 |
| 6. Adam McQuaid  ActiveAdam McQuaid has been named a finalist for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy. The award goes to the "player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey." He underwent two surgeries in September because of Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, which caused blood clots to form in his neck and shoulder. The ailment was expected to sidelined him for the season, but he returned for the Bruins' regular-season opener once the lockout was settled. May 14 |
| 7. Matt Bartkowski  ActiveMatt Bartkowski scored his first NHL goal in the Bruins' Game 7 win. It was the game's first goal, coming at 5:39. Bartkowski, in only his 23rd game, found the net and also had three shots on goal. Bruins coach Claude Julien was happy how his young defensemen, Bartkowski and Dougie Hamilton, played. "You have to find a way to give credit to those two young guys on the back end —Hamilton and obviously Bartkowski," Julien said. "Bartkowski was moving the puck and carrying it so well tonight, and he scored a big goal for us. I saw Dougie Hamilton get more and more comfortable as the game went on as far as carrying the puck and making plays. You talk about people coming in, well we were minus three real good veterans in our back end, so that’s half your core, and those guys come in and do a heck of a job. May 14 |
| 8. Torey Krug  ActiveIt's obvious that Torey Krug is feeling it as he begins his playoff career. He now has a goal in both of his first two postseason contests and added an assist for a two-point afternoon on Sunday. He was a big part of the Boston Bruins' 5-2 win against the New York Rangers in Game 2 and it's hard to imagine him losing his spot when the veteran defensemen are ready to return. May 19 |
| 9. Wade Redden  SidelinedWade Redden (undisclosed) won't be back in Game 3 Tuesday night. The Boston Bruins will ice the same lineup they did in Games 1 and 2. May 21 |
| G | 1. Tuukka Rask  ActiveTuukka Rask isn't bothered that his play isn't being trumpeted from the rooftops in some circles. "I don't care," he said Wednesday. "I know that people are saying our defensive system helps me out and stuff like that. And most of the time I'm in the right position and the saves look easy. I like it that way." After 10 games, Rask's pace is similar to the numbers that Tim Thomas ended up with during Boston's run to the Stanley Cup in 2011. Rask currently has a .930 save percentage and a 2.19 GAA and he has been a difference maker at key times during the playoffs. He hasn't give up much against the Rangers in Round 2 and continues to build his case to earn a lucrative contract extension in the off-season. May 23 |
| 2. Anton Khudobin  ActiveAnton Khudobin was pulled in Tuesday's loss to Philadelphia after he allowed two goals on 16 shots. Tuukka Rask was beaten three times on 14 shots in relief after starting back-to-back games for the Bruins over the weekend. The Bruins have been comfortable starting Khudobin this season and this effort probably won't change that, as he has been a solid backup to Rask. Apr 23 |
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| C | 1. Cody Hodgson  ActiveCody Hodgson was effective offensively in his first full season with Buffalo, but he needs some work defensively. According to BehindTheNet.ca, which is a statistics website dedicated to hockey, the Sabres averaged 2.91 goals per 60 minutes when Hodgson skated in five-on-five situations, but the club's opponents averaged 3.64 goals against him per 60 minutes while skating at even strength. "It's been a productive year, but there's always room for improvement," said Hodgson, who notched 15 goals and 34 points in 48 games. May 13 |
| 2. Tyler Ennis  ActiveTyler Ennis isn't sure if the Buffalo Sabres will play him at center or on the wing next season, but regardless of where he plays he will have to improve his play in the defensive zone. Buffalo gave up 2.71 goals per 60 minutes when Ennis skated five-on-five and according to Stats.HockeyAnalysis.com (which tracks the percentage of goals scored by a player's team while he is on the ice), the Sabres' opponents scored 66.7 percent of the goals when Ennis was on trying to keep his team in front. He also struggled while lining up at center against some of the league's premier pivots in addition to winning just 41.9 percent of his faceoffs. Ennis was switched back to left wing in the final seven games of the year. Offensively, he did alright for himself with 31 points in 47 games. Playing on the wing may be what's better for him if he can't handle the defensive responsibilities of skating in the middle. May 13 |
| 3. Luke Adam  ActiveLuke Adam's goal against Ottawa Friday night was his first in the NHL since December 17, 2011. Adam was once regarded as a hot prospect. That is not the case any longer. Although he may garner some additional ice time over the last three weeks of the season as the Sabres have cleaned house, Adam can be ignored for fantasy purposes. Apr 6 |
| 4. Brian Flynn  ActiveBrian Flynn appeared in 26 games with the Sabres this past season and he feels like he belongs at the NHL level. "I have the belief that I can play here," Flynn said. "This is where I belong. I know how hard you have to work to stay up here. It took a long time, a lot of hard work, a lot of hours to get here. This is where I really want to play. I'm willing to do whatever it takes to stay here." He led the team's rookie group with six goals, while finishing with 11 points, 49 shots and 20 blocks. Flynn could develop into a decent two-way forward, but for now he shouldn't be expected to contribute much in fantasy hockey. May 15 |
| 5. John Scott  ActiveJohn Scott has signed a one-year extension worth $750,000 to stay with the Buffalo Sabres. He would have been able to become an unrestricted free agent this summer. He received a decent raise after making $600,000 last season. Scott skated in 34 games with the Sabres in 2013 and amassed 69 penalty minutes. May 20 |
| LW | 1. Thomas Vanek  ActiveThomas Vanek is playing very well for Austria at the IIHF World Championships in Sweden. He leads the Austrians with three goals and 20 shots in five games going into Saturday's contest against Finland. Without any support, we sincerely doubt Vanek alone can lead Austria to a top finish in the tourney. May 11 |
| 2. Marcus Foligno  ActiveMarcus Foligno said he won Buffalo's Rookie of the Year Award by "default" since he was the only rookie to spend the whole season with the Sabres. "It was tough," Foligno said referring to his underwhelming 18-point season. "That's the way it goes sometimes. You're not always happy. It's not like the effort was not there. It's just some things aren't working. I thought I had some good games, and just consistency is an area I've got to work on." He took a step back in 2013 after recording 13 points in just 14 appearances during the 2011-12 campaign. Foligno wants to be better next year. May 9 |
| 3. Ville Leino  SidelinedVille Leino might not return to the Buffalo Sabres' lineup this season. "He’s probably out indefinitely right now with upper body," said Sabres coach Ron Rolston. Leino has two goals and six points in just eight games in 2013. Apr 6 |
| 4. Nathan Gerbe  ActiveNathan Gerbe got back into Buffalo's lineup Saturday night. He played 11:36 of ice time in the team's 2-1 win over Montreal after being a healthy scratch for the previous two games. Gerbe had three shots in the contest, but still has just three goals and six points in 26 outings on the year. Mar 25 |
| RW | 1. Steve Ott  ActiveSteve Ott provided Buffalo with the game-winning goal Tuesday night in a 4-2 victory against Pittsburgh. He scored at the 17:26 mark of the third period to break a 2-2 tie. Ott also added a 10-minute misconduct penalty in the contest to bring his season total to 93 minutes in the sin bin. Ott has picked up nine goals and 24 points in 47 games during his first year with the Sabres. Apr 24 |
| 2. Drew Stafford  ActiveThe lockout-shortened season didn't go the way Drew Stafford planned. "I had an expectation for myself to carry over from the previous two years and continue to have production goal-scoring-wise," Stafford said. "It just wasn't there this year." He registered 31 goals in 2010-11 and 20 in 2011-12, but found the back of the net just six times in 46 games in 2013. Stafford finished the year with 18 points and a career worse minus-16 rating. He has two seasons left on a four-year, $16 million deal and it isn't clear if he'll be part of Buffalo's rebuilding plan. Stafford hopes to be back though and he wants to rebound with the Sabres. May 9 |
| 3. Patrick Kaleta  SidelinedPatrick Kaleta will not play on Monday due to a hand injury. Kaleta sustained the ailment while blocking a shot on Friday. It remains to be seen if he'll return before the season ends. Apr 22 |
| 4. Kevin Porter  ActiveKevin Porter scored a goal in Buffalo's 3-1 victory Sunday. Porter is now on a four-game points streak and has seven points in seven contests in April. He typically has no fantasy value, but if you're in the mood for a gamble, you could do worse than picking him up in the hope that his hot streak will last the rest of the season. Apr 15 |
| 5. Mikhail Grigorenko  ActiveMikhail Grigorenko will probably head to the Rochester Americans this weekend to start the AHL playoffs Saturday in Toronto. The Sabres close out their regular season on Friday night when they host the New York Islanders. "We haven't talked about this, but I guess I'll go to Rochester after the season's over," Grigorenko said Tuesday. "I don't know if they made their decision, but I'm ready to go there. If they want me to go, I'll go." In 24 games with Buffalo, the rookie forward has one goal and four assists. Apr 24 |
| D | 1. Christian Ehrhoff  ActiveChristian Ehrhoff (Germany) and Thomas Vanek (Austria) will participate in the world championship. They have already committed to take part in the tournament for their respective countries once it kicks off in early May from Sweden and Finland. Ehrhoff led the Sabres' defense corps in points this past campaign with 22 in 47 games, while Vanek led the club in scoring with 41 points in 38 matches. Apr 29 |
| 2. Tyler Myers  I.L.Tyler Myers knows he has to improve after regressing each year since he won the Calder Trophy in 2009-10. "It's only natural to hear things like that the way things have gone, especially this year," he said. "I'll be the first to admit I definitely need to turn things around, get back on that path to improving and working on the things that have made me successful. It's just a matter of working that much harder this off-season." Myers notched eight points and a minus-8 rating before his season came to an end when a hairline fracture was discovered in his left leg after he blocked a shot against Montreal on April 11. He wants to put his past conditioning issues behind him and train hard in the summer, so it could make for a more fit Tyler Myers next year. Apr 29 |
| 3. Andrej Sekera  ActiveAndrej Sekera returned to action on Thursday and scored his second goal of the season. Sekera missed five games with the injury but returned to play 21:145 against the Panthers on Thursday. However, unless the goals start pouring in, Sekera remains of minimal use to fantasy owners. Mar 29 |
| 4. Adam Pardy  ActiveWith trades and injuries, Adam Pardy who started the season as the Sabres' ninth defenseman, is now playing in the top four. Thats' not a good thing if you are a Buffalo supporter. The trades of Jordan Leopold, T.J. Brennan and Robyn Regehr and the injuries to Tyler Myers and Andrew Sulzer have elevated Pardy on the Sabres' depth chart. It won't be pretty in chicken wing town for the last two weeks of the season. Apr 13 |
| 5. Mike Weber  ActiveBuffalo coach Ron Rolston likes the leadership that Mike Weber displayed during the 2013 season. "Mike Weber is one of those players that made a real big jump this year in terms of what he meant to our hockey team, how he plays the game, just the potential that he has to continue to grow on this team," Rolston said. "It put a player like Mike in more of a leadership role because of what he did and because of the minutes that he had. He was in the lineup every night blocking shots, sacrificing for his teammates. He's put himself in a situation where he can be one of those guys that are in the room and holding guys accountable." He suited up in 42 of the Sabres' 48 games after starting as a healthy scratch and was voted as the "Unsung Hero" by his teammates. Weber won't provide you with many points, but he can chip in PIMs, blocks and hits. May 17 |
| 6. Mark Pysyk  ActiveThe only positive thing out of the Sabres' terrible 8-4 loss to the Rangers Friday night was the fact that rookie defenseman Mark Pysyk scored his first NHL goal. It came on the power play with only 40 seconds left in the game. Although Pysyk put up big offensive numbers in the WHL with the Edmonton Oil Kings, he did not wow anyone in the AHL this season and projects as a steady two-way number three defenseman. He's not really a fantasy asset at this time Apr 20 |
| 7. Chad Ruhwedel  ActiveChad Ruhwedel has been fairly quiet on the ice since joining the Buffalo Sabres, which can be a good thing for some defensemen. He has compiled eight shots, five hits, seven blocks and an even plus-minus rating in six NHL appearances. Ruhwedel hasn't been a liability out on the ice despite being smaller than most big-league forwards, which has earned him some praise from interim coach Ron Rolston. "That's just the will of the player," said Rolston. "You see it all the time. It's basically how much fight you have in you, the will to win puck battles and get himself in position. We've been very pleased with that part of his game. You can see the skating, some of the things he can do with the puck and his stick skills. His competitive nature is very good." The San Diego, CA native is a solid skater and he could develop into a decent mobile blueliner. However, he'll need to get some points to warrant fantasy consideration. Apr 25 |
| 8. Alexander Sulzer  I.L.Alexander Sulzer is expected to miss the rest of the season after undergoing successful surgery on the ACL in his right knee. He was injured Feb. 23 against the Islanders and doctors had to wait for the swelling to go down before they could operate. Sulzer appeared in 17 games for the Sabres this season, while recording three goals, four points and a plus-3 rating. Mar 14 |
| G | 1. Ryan Miller  ActiveThere is a very good chance that Ryan Miller will be traded this off-season. Given the fairwell-like send off he recieved from the Sabre faithfull and his reaction to it, it seems the team and Miller would welcome the change. With only one year left on his contract before he becomes an unrestricted free agent, Miller should be a target for a number of contending teams willing to offer up some picks or young players to acquire the veteran netminder. Stay tuned. May 18 |
| 2. Jhonas Enroth  ActiveJhonas Enroth wants to be a starting goaltender and he may get that chance with the Buffalo Sabres if Ryan Miller is moved in the off-season. "I've been growing a lot," said Enroth after backstopping Sweden to a gold medal at the IIHF World Championships. "I want to play more. My goal is to be a starter one year in the NHL, and right now Ryan is the starter here. It's kind of hard to take the job from him here, but we'll see what happens." During the tournament, he posted a 5-2-1 record with a 1.15 goals-against average and a .956 save percentage. Enroth will need to be much more consistent than he's been in the past if he wants to be an NHL starter, but is making positive steps forward. May 23 |
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| Calgary Flames | Carolina Hurricanes | Chicago Blackhawks |
| C | 1. Matthew Stajan  ActiveMatthew Stajan is happy with how he did in 2013. "I think it was my best year personally," Stajan said. "The coaching staff showed a lot of confidence in me early in the season and gave me an opportunity. I really appreciated that and wanted to make the best of it. I felt like I did a pretty good job." Stajan had five goals and 23 points in 43 games after recording just 18 points in 61 contests in 2011-12. It's certainly a step up, but we don't anticipate him having much fantasy value in standard leagues next season. May 1 |
| 2. Mikael Backlund  ActiveMikael Backlund has a right foot fracture and won't play for Sweden in the world championships. Backlund had eight goals and 16 points in 32 games this season, although it's now fair to wonder how long he's been playing with this injury considering he played through the final game of the year. Backlund is scheduled for restricted free agency this summer and this injury certainly won't help his case. Regardless, the former first-round pick is unlikely to have any fantasy value in most formats. Apr 29 |
| 3. Roman Horak  ActiveFlames forward Roman Horak gained valuable experience in the NHL this season and is hoping to be a larger contributor next season. "This summer is going to be huge. Hopefully, next year I can be a part of this team," said Horak, who is one of the top prospects in the Calgary system. Apr 28 |
| 4. Steve Begin  SidelinedSteve Begin, 34, is the Calgary Flames nominee for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, as chosen by the Calgary Chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association. The Masterton goes to the player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey and the league award has been won by a pair of Calgary Flames in the past. Those winners were Lanny McDonald and Gary Roberts. "When you love the game, it’s easy," said Begin, who has collected four goals and eight points in 36 games this season. "When you like playing hockey, it’s like a kid in a candy store. You just go out and have fun. That’s what hockey is about. If you like what you’re doing, it makes it easier for you." Apr 24 |
| 5. Max Reinhart  ActiveMax Reinhart, who scored his first NHL goal on Saturday was minus-26 in the AHL when he was recalled a week ago. Reinhart was third worst in the AHL, a stat that caused Calgary coach Bob Hartley to chuckle when talking to his young center. "The first couple of games (in the NHL), he was feeling his way," Hartley said. "I brought him in and I said ‘Max, you have to jump. You have to take advantage of this.’ I said, ‘Let’s face it, there's not too many kids with a minus-26 rating being called up from the American League,’ and he started to laugh. I said, ‘Never mind this. You're in the NHL. We don't care. We're going to work with you. We're going to teach you, but show passion. Show that you like the game.’ So far, he's showing lots of great things to us." Reinhart has a minus-one rating in five NHL games so far. Apr 15 |
| 6. Blair Jones  ActiveBlair Jones will get back into Calgary's lineup Wednesday night after being called up from the minors on Tuesday. He was originally assigned to AHL Abbotsford on Feb. 21 after skating in 11 games with the Flames. Coach Bob Hartley wants Jones to be active in the forecheck and be "an up-and-down player." Apr 10 |
| 7. Paul Byron  ActivePaul Byron (fractured hand) was activated from the IL on Sunday. Byron has had a tough NHL campaign as he fractured his hand in his season debut on Feb. 13 when he was slashed by then Dallas Star Derek Roy. He played 14:57 minutes with one shot on goal and a couple of hits. Apr 22 |
| 8. Ben Street  ActiveBen Street was called up from the minors on Sunday. Street played 14:21 minutes with a couple of shots on net. He has no fantasy value. Apr 22 |
| LW | 1. Alex Tanguay  ActiveAlex Tanguay admitted that he was distracted the last month of the season after teammates Jarome Iginla and Jay Bouwmeester were dealt away. Tanguay missed the last two weeks of the season with a medial collateral ligament sprain in his knee. "I was playing pretty good the first 20 to 25 games of the year, and then when the distraction came about, I think mentally I got a little bit affected by it," Tanguay said. "And that's on me. You have to be a professional. You have to play your best every night. But I've got some good years of hockey ahead of me, and I'm hoping that I can be a key contributor in this organization." Tanguay has three years left on his contract at $3.5 million per season and could be a candidate to be bought out by the Flames. Stay tuned. Apr 29 |
| 2. Lee Stempniak  ActiveLee Stempniak had a goal and an assist in Calgary's 5-2 victory on Wednesday. Stempniak has taken a step up this season with seven goals and 18 points in 25 games this season. If this wasn't a shortened season, he would be on pace to set a new career-high with 59 points. As it is, Stempniak is looking like a good bet to surpass the 30-point mark in 2013. Mar 14 |
| 3. Curtis Glencross  SidelinedCurtis Glencross will miss the remainder of the season due to a knee injury. Glencross suffered the injury in Friday's win over Anaheim after he was hit by Ducks defenseman Ben Lovejoy in a knee-on-knee collision. "I don’t have the medical terms but he’s not coming on the trip. Not good," saod coach Bob Hartley when asked about the forward. Glencross ends the season with 15 goals in 40 games, which is likely more than his fantasy owners expected at the start of the campaign. Apr 21 |
| 4. Sven Baertschi  ActiveSven Baertschi was the only Calgary goal scorer in a 4-1 loss to the Blues Thursday. Baertschi has enjoyed a late-season scoring streak, notching three goals and six assists over a seven game span. Jiri Hudler drew the only assist on the marker. Apr 26 |
| 5. Ben Hanowski  ActiveCalgary newcomer Ben Hanowski, a Minnesota native, scored in his National Hockey League debut Monday night in the Flames' 4-3 loss to the Wild. Hanowski grew up cheering for the Wild. Also scoring goals for Calgary Monday were Jiri Hudler (ninth) and rookie Sven Baertschi (second). Apr 15 |
| 6. Carter Bancks  ActiveCarter Bancks may be making his NHL debut on Tuesday. Bancks has spent the last three seasons with Abbotsford of the AHL and had five goals and 12 points in 53 games. He has been practicing alongside Akim Aliu and Paul Byron and with the Flames eliminated from the post-season, they are giving some of their minor leaguers a look see down the stretch. "I'm already pretty nervous just coming to practices," the undrafted Bancks said. "I mean, I've worked my whole life for this opportunity. It hasn't always been the easiest way for me . . . but it's definitely worth it to come up here for this last week. It's already been a tonne of fun, a great experience." Stay tuned. Apr 23 |
| 7. Brian McGrattan  ActiveBrian McGrattan made a big splash in his return from a shoulder injury. The Flames' tough guy, who had been sidelined the last two weeks, had a game to remember. He scored the winning goal in Calgary's 3-1 defeat of Anaheim and was selected as the game's third star. Not too shabby considering McGrattan only was on the ice for 10:08 and 15 shifts. Apr 20 |
| RW | 1. Jiri Hudler  ActiveJiri Hudler recorded an assist on Thursday. Hudler has 10 goals and 27 points in 42 games this season. His season got off to a good start, but he ended up being somewhat streaky in 2013 and never remarkably good. This is season one of his four-year, $16 million contract. Apr 26 |
| 2. Michael Cammalleri  ActiveMichael Cammalleri underwent some dental work on Sunday. Cammalleri was injured during the lockout when Steve Stamkos took a shot that knocked out his front teeth. Cammalleri has one year remaining on his contract with a cap hit of $5.968 million while receiving $7 million so he could be dealt or bought out in the off-season, if the Flames are looking to pare salary. Apr 29 |
| 3. Akim Aliu  ActiveAkim Aliu has been called up by Calgary. He's expected to play Saturday night with Alex Tanguay out with a knee injury. Aliu has no points and 10 penalty minutes in two appearances with the Flames this season. Apr 13 |
| 4. Tim Jackman  ActiveTim Jackman had his best fantasy game of the season on Saturday. The big winger had two assists, six shots on goal and seven hits in the Flames 4-1 win over Edmonton. He now has a goal and four assists with 33 shots on goal and 55 penalty minutes in 37 games. He has 17 SOG in his last seven games after getting only 16 in his first 30. Apr 15 |
| D | 1. Mark Giordano  ActiveMark Giordano was the Calgary Flames' nominee for the King Clancy trophy, which goes to the player "that best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and has made a noteworthy contribution in his community." Giordano does a ton of charity work off the ice, from golf tournaments to working with Habitat for Humanity. He was also one of the Flames who refused to pack it in and tank for a better shot at the top pick in draft at the end of the season. The winner will be announced at the NHL awards show during the Stanley Cup final. May 7 |
| 2. Dennis Wideman  ActiveDennis Wideman returned to action on Tuesday from a broken finger. He had two shots and a minus-1 rating in just over 24 minutes of ice time after missing only two games with the ailment. Apr 24 |
| 3. Chris Butler  ActiveChris Butler potted a goal in the Flames' 3-1 loss to the Blackhawks Friday night. Butler was drafted by the Sabres in 2005 and spent parts of three seasons with Buffalo in a limited role before moving on with the Flames. He's not expected to have any fantasy value in standard leagues next season. Apr 26 |
| 4. Derek Smith  I.L.Derek Smith (upper body) has been placed on the injured reserve list. Smith suffered the injury on March 23, and then played on April 1 but has yet to play since. He has no fantasy value with only one assist in 22 games. Apr 8 |
| 5. T.J. Brodie  ActiveT.J. Brodie was thrilled to be invited to join Team Canada for the upcoming World Championships by GM Steve Yzerman. Brodie grew up a Red Wings fan and a Steve Yzerman fan to boot so the phone call meant a lot to the 21-year-old defenseman. "It's sort of weird watching him growing up and being so close to Detroit and stuff," Brodie said. "To talk to him on the phone is sort of a weird feeling, I guess. Watching your idol and getting to talk to him it's a cool experience." A fourth round pick in the 2008 Draft, Brodie had two goals and 14 points in 47 games while averaging over 20 minutes of action per game. He is worth a selection late in deep pools next season. Apr 29 |
| 6. Cory Sarich  ActiveCory Sarich suffered a broken nose Sunday when he got into a fight with Minnesota's Clayton Stoner. Sarich managed to practice Monday and is likely to play on Tuesday. "I'm fine," Sarich said. "It's a little tender. I don't think I'd want to take one off it again any time soon. Other than that, it's all right." Sarich has not played a lot this season and has only two assists in 27 games. Apr 23 |
| 7. Anton Babchuk  ActiveSportsnet reports that the Calgary Flames are trying to trade defensemen Anton Babchuk and Cory Sarich. The two blueliners are like many other Flames players: they have no-trade clauses. Chances are, they'll take a chance to play elsewhere, however ... if some team wants them for some reason. Mar 24 |
| G | 1. Miikka Kiprusoff  ActiveCurtis Glencross thinks that Miikka Kiprusoff will retire. "He's kind of said that he's pretty much done, I think," Glencross said. "Unless something changes over the summer here or the next couple of weeks, just talking to him, I don't think he'll be back." Other teammates such as Lee Stempniak and Joey MacDonald aren't as sure, but it may be that we have seen the last of Miikka Kiprusoff in the Calgary cage. Apr 29 |
| 2. Joey MacDonald  ActiveJoey MacDonald says he's feeling better after going to the hospital on a stretcher following Friday's loss to the Blackhawks. MacDonald returned to Calgary on Saturday and there appears to be no lingering effects from the incident. The 33-year-old netminder could be in position to compete for Calgary's starting job next season if Miikka Kiprusoff retires as many expect. Apr 30 |
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| C | 1. Eric Staal  I.L.Eric Staal has sustained only a third-degree, right-knee sprain of his MCL that will not require surgery. The MRI results are in and the news is as good as the Hurricanes could have hoped for. Staal will need three months to rehabilitate the injury but will not need to go under the knife. If all goes well, Staal should be good to go once training camp opens in September. All Staal owners in keeper leagues can exhale now. May 18 |
| 2. Jordan Staal  ActiveFormer Penguins forward Jordan Staal got a standing ovation from the fans in Pittsburgh on Saturday. "It was nice," Staal said. "I have good memories in this building and in this city and I appreciate that from the fans." Of course, it's easy for Penguins fans to swallow Staal's decision to turn down a contract with the Penguins and then be traded to Carolina. As good as Staal is, the Penguins haven't missed a beat without him and are certainly in a better cap position than they would have been had he re-signed. The Penguins have the top seed in the Eastern Conference while Carolina finished 13th in the conference. Apr 28 |
| 3. Tim Brent  ActiveTim Brent returned to action on Saturday April 27. Apr 28 |
| 4. Nicolas Blanchard  ActiveNicolas Blanchard has been summoned from the minors on an emergency basis. He has nine points and a team-leading 124 penalty minutes in 61 games with AHL Charlotte this campaign. Blanchard will be making his NHL debut if he gets into the lineup for Thursday's match at Washington. Apr 10 |
| LW | 1. Jeff Skinner  ActiveJeff Skinner scored but Carolina came up short in its 5-3 loss to Philadelphia on Saturday night. The gifted forward missed the team's last game with an upper-body injury. Skinner now has 13 goals and 23 points in 38 games this year. It's been a bit of a rough season for the 20-year-old as he's been dinged up, but the future remains very bright. Eric Staal and Justin Faulk potted the other goals. Apr 20 |
| 2. Jiri Tlusty  ActiveJiri Tlusty will skate for the Czech Republic at the world championship. He finished in a fifth-place tie among all players with 23 goals in 48 games during the lockout-shortened campaign. Tlusty set a new career-high with his goal total and he reached a personal best with 38 points and a plus-15 rating as well. He played very well alongside Eric Staal and Alexander Semin and the three of them will be counted on again for offense in 2013-14. Apr 29 |
| 3. Drayson Bowman  SidelinedCoach Kirk Muller said Drayson Bowman (upper body) will probably be sidelined for the remainder of the season. The Canes have nine game left on their 2013 schedule, including Thursday night's contest. Bowman has five points in 37 games with Carolina this campaign. Apr 11 |
| 4. Pat Dwyer  ActiveDespite playing in a shortened season due to the lockout, Pat Dwyer tied his career-high for goals in a year, with his eighth marker, in Tuesday's shootout win over the Islanders. He scored eight goals in 80 games in 2010-11, but it took him just 44 contests to accomplish that feat this campaign. Dwyer has 15 points this season, which is probably slightly above expectations but still not enough to get him much fantasy attention. Apr 24 |
| RW | 1. Alexander Semin  SidelinedAlexander Semin will miss Carolina's last two games of the season because he has a concussion. He did not practice Wednesday and coach Kirk Muller called it a "maintenance day" at the time, but after Semin didn't skate Thursday morning the Canes bench boss announced that the Russian winger was concussed. Semin fit in well with Carolina this season in a great bounce-back campaign. He registered 13 goals and 44 points in 44 games, which ranks him second on the team in scoring, and he had a plus-14 rating as well. The Canes rewarded him with a five-year contract extension worth $7 million per season at the end of March. Apr 25 |
| 2. Chad LaRose  ActiveChad LaRose is eligible to be an unrestricted free agent this summer. All 508 games he has played in his career have come with Carolina, but there's a chance that the team may not retain his services. He recorded two goals and two assists in 35 games this year. Apr 29 |
| 3. Tuomo Ruutu  ActiveTuomo Ruuto will have surgery on his hip this offseason. Hurricanes general manager Jim Rutherford said it had been planned and that he will be back for training camp. Ruutu had his first hip surgery in December. In 16 games, he has eight points. Apr 26 |
| 4. Tim Wallace  ActiveTim Wallace has been called up by Carolina. He was just sent down Wednesday morning only to be brought back up Wednesday afternoon. Apr 24 |
| 5. Kevin Westgarth  ActiveKevin Westgarth potted two goals for the Hurricanes as they were blasted by the Penguins 8-3 on Saturday night. The goals were his first of the season. Tuomo Ruutu registered the other goal, while Eric Staal had two helpers. Apr 27 |
| 6. Jared Staal  ActiveThe Hurricanes started the game with all three of their Staal brothers on the same line Thursday night against the Rangers. Pretty cool. They were the fourth trio of brothers in NHL to play in the same game. Jared Staal was making his NHL debut, and he played 12:16 with a shot on goal. "It was even more than I thought it would be, a lot of fun," Jared Staal said. "I didn't feel that out of place. I had a blast." Apr 26 |
| D | 1. Joni Pitkanen  SidelinedJoni Pitkanen's procedure on his broken heel bone was apparently successful, according to Carolina GM Jim Rutherford. It was reported that the success of the surgery may not be known for a few months, but Rutherford has heard that it went well. Pitkanen is projected to be ready to go next fall for training camp. Apr 18 |
| 2. Joe Corvo  ActiveJoe Corvo returned to action on Saturday April 27. Apr 28 |
| 3. Justin Faulk  ActiveJustin Faulk is playing standout hockey for the United States at the IIHF World Championships in Sweden and Finland. The Hurricanes' defenseman has registered four assists in four games and is playing heavy minutes in all game situations. We have long been touting Faulk as a player to watch. He is now a player to draft. Don't wait too late to select him in your pools next season. May 11 |
| 4. Tim Gleason  ActiveTim Gleason will dress Thursday night after being cleared to return from a lower-body ailment. He hasn't played since Feb. 12 but was activated from injured reserve Thursday and the Canes will be glad to have his hard-nosed style back in their lineup. Gleason has posted 26 penalty minutes, 24 hits and 20 blocked shots in 12 games this year. Feb 28 |
| 5. Jamie McBain  ActiveJamie McBain will continue playing hockey this spring at the world championship with Team USA. He will skate with Carolina teammate Justin Faulk on the blueline of the United States next month. Apr 29 |
| 6. Bob Sanguinetti  ActiveCarolina Hurricanes activate Bob Sanguinetti (upper body) from injured reserve. Sanguinetti hasn't played since March 21 due to the injury. He has four points and a minus-5 rating 24 games and doesn't really rate in most fantasy formats. Apr 2 |
| 7. Marc-Andre Bergeron  ActiveThe Tampa Bay Lightning have traded Marc-Andre Bergeron to the Carolina Hurricanes for a seventh round pick and Adam Hall. Bergeron has a goal and five points in 12 games this season. Those numbers might not be particularly impressive, but Bergeron is great with the man advantage and the Hurricanes are last in the NHL when it comes to power-play percentage. With that in mind, Bergeron might play often enough with Carolina to justify picking up in standard leagues. Apr 2 |
| 8. Jay Harrison  SidelinedJay Harrison has been added to Team Canada's roster for the upcoming world championship. He was said to be suffering from a concussion at the end of the regular season. Maybe his status will be determined just before the tournament begins in May. If he is healthy and ready to play then he will join fellow Hurricanes Eric Staal, Jordan Staal and Jeff Skinner in Canada's lineup. Apr 29 |
| G | 1. Dan Ellis  ActiveCarolina GM Jim Rutherford may be interested in retaining the services of goaltender Dan Ellis. "I think we had a good one-two punch early in the season with [Cam] Ward and Ellis," Rutherford said. Ellis will be an unrestricted free agent this summer and if the Canes don't bring him back then Justin Peters will likely move into the team's backup role. May 2 |
| 2. Justin Peters  ActiveJustin Peters gave up eight goals on 35 shots in Carolina's 8-3 loss to the Penguins on Saturday night. Ouch. This is a start that underscores Hurricanes' biggest problem this year -- keeping the puck out of the net. Cam Ward's injury certainly didn't help matters, but it's clear that Carolina needs to be tougher in the defensive zone. The Hurricanes finishes the season with a minus-32 goal differential. Apr 27 |
| 3. Cam Ward  I.L.Cam Ward doesn't think his knee injury was the reason for Carolina's No. 26 finish in the league's overall standings. "There's other areas where we just weren't good enough," Ward said. "I guess it was bad timing but you had Justin Faulk go down, you had Joni (Pitkanen) go down, you can go down the list. At the end of the day it wasn't good enough." He appeared in 17 games before suffering a season-ending knee injury on March 3rd. Dan Ellis and Justin Peters started 16 games apiece in 2013, but as expected none of them was able to match the numbers that Ward put up during his 16 starts. Apr 29 |
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| C | 1. Jonathan Toews  ActiveJaromir Jagr, Jonathan Toews and Tyler Seguin remain frustratingly planted in the "no-goal club." Seguin must be the most agitated with a whopping 39 SOG and zero tallies in 10 games, failing to find the net despite firing almost four shots on opposing goalies per contest. It's stunning that the Bruins are one win away from the Eastern Conference finals despite the fact that Jagr and Seguin have gone without a goal on 68 combined SOG. May 23 |
| 2. Dave Bolland  ActiveDave Bolland appears as though he will center Chicago's second line in Game 3 Monday night. He played between Patrick Kane and Patrick Sharp during the regular season, but his groin injury moved Michal Handzus into that role in the playoffs. With Bolland back in the lineup now, it was only a matter of time before he was moved back up. The Blackhawks will be hoping that Bolland's pesky and physical style will open up holes for his talented linemates. May 20 |
| 3. Marcus Kruger  ActiveMarcus Kruger scored a goal in the Blackhawks' 4-1 win over the Detroit Red Wings. Kruger has two goals and three points in his last two games. He's a bottom-six forward for the Blackhawks and isn't expected to consistently contribute from an offensive perspective. May 16 |
| 4. Michal Handzus  ActiveMichal Handzus is expected to play in Game 3 Monday night versus Detroit despite sitting some practices. However, from the projected forward lines it looks like he will skate on the wing on the fourth line with Michael Frolik and Marcus Kruger. Handzus had been playing as Chicago's second-line center while Dave Bolland was sidelined. May 20 |
| 5. Brandon Bollig  ActiveBrandon Bollig has been called up by the Chicago Blackhawks. Bollig has nine points and 157 penalty minutes in 35 AHL games this season. He also has 47 PIM, but no points in 17 contests with Chicago in 2013. Apr 3 |
| 6. Brandon Pirri  ActiveThe Chicago Blackhawks have called up Brandon Pirri. Pirri has 22 goals, 75 points, and 72 penalty minutes in 76 AHL games this season. He has two assists in six career NHL games. Apr 26 |
| 7. Drew LeBlanc  ActiveChicago Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville liked what he saw from Drew LeBlanc in his NHL debut on Wednesday. "He got better every shift," Quenneville said of LeBlanc. "First period he was just OK, second period saw him improve and the third period he had some high-quality stuff that didn’t go in. You could see he can see plays and make plays. He did very well." Don't be surprised if LeBlanc plays again on Friday as Chicago gives some of their veteran players a breather. Apr 26 |
| LW | 1. Brandon Saad  ActiveBrandon Saad and Patrick Sharp switched lines at Wednesday's practice. Saad moved to the second line to play with Dave Bolland and Patrick Kane, while Sharp skated alongside Jonathan Toews and Marian Hossa. "We'll see on the lines," coach Joel Quenneville said. "I know that it's something we'll talk about going into the game." May 22 |
| 2. Patrick Sharp  ActivePatrick Sharp practiced on the Blackhawks' top line on Wednesday. Sharp skated alongside Jonathan Toews and Marian Hossa. "That's up to Joel. He has a good feel for the team, mixing and matching players," Sharp said. "You’ve seen that in the past. I'll play wherever he puts me and I trust he knows the right combination." Toews has struggled offensively in the 2013 playoffs, so maybe this change will help spark him. May 23 |
| 3. Bryan Bickell  ActiveDo not be surprised to see Bryan Bickell on the first line during round 2 of the playoffs. Bickell played on the third line with Andrew Shaw and Viktor Stalberg against the Wild in the first round and responded with three goals. Coach Joel Quenneville thought that Bickell had a very good opening round and thought his "size and physicality were noticeable". "It's up to 'Q' (Quenneville) what we do," Bickell said. "If I'm playing with (Jonathan) Toews or (Marian) Hossa, we got to work what we can do. If our line sticks together, we'll do the same thing. We're comfortable with what everybody brings to the team." Stay tuned. May 12 |
| 4. Andrew Shaw  ActiveAndrew Shaw has accumulated 18 penalty minutes over the first three games of the second round. Shaw will be looking to play a more disciplined game on Thursday. "I’ve gotta keep going to the net and keep my hands down, also," Shaw said. "It’s a physical battle in front of the net and I can’t take stupid penalties. I have to move forward and move past the last game. We have to stay disciplined." The Blackhawks have been perfect when it comes to killing penalties in the playoffs, but allowing the other team to have a power-play opportunity still kills Chicago's momentum. May 23 |
| 5. Viktor Stalberg  ActiveViktor Stalberg rang a puck off the crossbar midway through the third period after colliding with the endboards head first on his first shift of the game. It was quite a series debut for Stalberg, who was a healthy scratch the last two games. Despite hitting the crossbar, Stalberg showed the elite speed that could make him a difference maker if coach Joel Quenneville leaves him in the lineup. Truth be told, it's amazing he was even in the game in the third considering the scary nature of his first-period collision. We'll have to see if he remains active for Thursday's Game 4. May 20 |
| 6. Daniel Carcillo  ActiveDaniel Carcillo led the Chicago Blackhawks in hits Saturday with seven. Carcillo had only one hit in his first three playoff games this season so he took his game to another level Saturday. He is a bottom-six player at this stage of his career and should be taken in only deep, deep fantasy pools as such. May 19 |
| RW | 1. Marian Hossa  ActiveThe Chicago Blackhawks are putting a lot of emphasis on getting off to a great start in Game 4 on Thursday. "It’s going to be huge," Marian Hossa said. "It’s going to be a big difference after Game 4: it’s either going to be 2-2 or 3-1. We know the stakes and we have to prepare. We did a lot of good things in Game 3, but they still found a way to be better than us. In Game 4 we have to be better than them." Chicago is 3-1 in the postseason when leading after 20 minutes and they haven't lost a 2013 playoff game when they held the lead going into the third period. May 23 |
| 2. Patrick Kane  ActivePatrick Kane scored a goal for the second straight game in Monday's Game 3. Kane hadn't scored in the postseason before Saturday afternoon but appears to be finding his touch in this series. Unfortunately for Kane, the Blackhawks have lost both games in which he's scored and now trail the series 2-1 with Game 4 in Detroit on Thursday. Kane will likely need to have a strong offensive game again Thursday night if the Hawks are to even the series. May 20 |
| 3. Michael Frolik  ActiveMichael Frolik and Marcus Kruger have been a big part of Chicago's penalty-killing success this year. Chicago has not surrendered a power-play goal in the playoffs. "They’ve been real solid all year," Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said. "When they started at the beginning of the year it was a work in progress, and they’ve progressed in a real nice way. They’re first and third on each kill, they’re blocking shots, they’re getting in lanes and play at a good pace. It’s gotten them more of a role, more ice time. And that line played well all year, so a real nice fit for us." They've been something of an unlikely duo, especially seeing as Frolik wasn't known for killing penalties before coming to Chicago. All the same, they've become valuable pieces of the Blackhawks' squad. May 17 |
| 4. Jamal Mayers  ActiveJamal Mayers will dress Monday night versus Los Angeles. He has been a healthy scratch for the past five games. "I've been skating hard and keeping myself ready," Mayers said. "The team is playing extremely well. Everybody wants to play. That's what my makeup is. I have to give him a reason to keep me in. I'm excited about the chance to get in (Monday night)." He has 13 hits and 16 penalty minutes in 13 games this season, so look for him to bring a rambunctious style to the game. Mar 25 |
| 5. Jimmy Hayes  ActiveThe Chicago Blackhawks have called up Jimmy Hayes. Hayes has a goal and three points in nine games this season. The Blackhawks will probably rest some veteran players on Saturday, so Hayes might get some playing time. Apr 26 |
| 6. Ben Smith  ActiveBen Smith centered the second line in practice Friday. Smith replaced Michal Handzus between Patrick Sharp and Patrick Kane but Handzus is expected to be back in the Chicago lineup for Game 2 Saturday. It was thought that Smith could play in Game 1 in place of Handzus but Handzus was in his regular spot when the game began and ended up playing 17:01 minutes while winning seven of 11 faceoff draws. May 18 |
| 7. Jeremy Morin  ActiveJeremy Morin has been promoted by the Chicago Blackhawks. Morin has a goal in two contests with Chicago this season. He also has 58 points and 86 penalty minutes in 67 AHL games in 2012-13. Apr 26 |
| D | 1. Duncan Keith  ActiveDuncan Keith was able to take some positives out of Detroit's 3-1 win on Monday. "We probably had one of our better game of the playoffs (Monday)," Keith said. "Even though we lost, I think we're going to take some confidence away from this game. I know it's a tougher situation down 2-1, but we just got to go in with the right mentality the next game." Chicago has been given plenty of time to reflect on that defeat, given that Game 4 won't be until Thursday. Keith assisted on Chicago's lone goal on Monday and has six points in eight playoff games. May 22 |
| 2. Brent Seabrook  ActiveBrent Seabrook has yet to garner a point in seven playoff games. Seabrook is one of only two Blackhawks who have played in every playoff game to be held off the scoresheet as Michal Rozsival also is pointless, but Rozsival is plus-six while Seabrook is struggling with a minus-two rating. Seabrook had eight goals and 20 points in 47 regular season games so his fantasy owners in the playoffs hope a break out game is around the corner. May 20 |
| 3. Nick Leddy  ActiveNick Leddy has taken a big step forward this season. Leddy's 16 points in 35 games is nothing new for him, but he's improved defensively in 2013. "He’s probably the guy I’m most impressed with this season," said teammate Niklas Hjalmarsson. "I knew he was a great skater and great offensively. But I’m most impressed this year with how he plays in the defensive zone and around the net. He has a great stick. The way he plays defensively this year is a step up." Leddy credits playing for AHL Rockford during the lockout for some of his improvements and helping him build confidence. Leddy ranks third on the team with a plus-16 rating. Apr 3 |
| 4. Niklas Hjalmarsson  ActiveDefenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson has always been thought of a defensive-minded blue liner, but he has become more of a two-way threat this season. The transformation might not be noticeable in his stat line as his total of 10 points in 44 games is not drastically different from the pace he set in past seasons, but he has been joining the rush more extensively and has generating more scoring chances. "The way I've played so far this season is my best hockey since I got here," said Hjalmarsson. "I'm more comfortable with the puck and making more plays," he said. "There's not much difference in the D-zone — I've been pretty solid in there the past couple of years — but I've been trying to do more things in the neutral zone and the offensive zone. Even though I don't put up big numbers, I've been trying to be more offensive." Apr 21 |
| 5. Johnny Oduya  ActiveJohnny Oduya missed practice on Sunday but will be in the Chicago lineup Monday according to coach Joel Quenneville. Oduya led the Blackhawks with 30 shifts Saturday and likely needed the day to recover. He has had a great playoff thus far with two goals and three points to go with a team-leading plus-seven rating. May 20 |
| 6. Sheldon Brookbank  ActiveSheldon Brookbank is looking forward to helping the Chicago Blackhawks kill penalties. Brookbank inked a two-year deal with Chicago on Sunday. "That was one of the things they said they needed, a penalty-killing defenseman," said Brookbank. "I've played penalty kill and (it's something) I take pride in." Chicago ranked 27th in 2011-12 when it came to killing penalties, so they could certainly use the boost. Jul 2 |
| 7. Michal Rozsival  ActiveMichal Rozsival returned from an upper body injury on Wednesday. Rozsival had an assist in 19:20 minutes of playing time. He missed three games due to the ailment. Apr 25 |
| 8. Ryan Stanton  ActiveRyan Stanton has been called up by the Chicago Blackhawks. Stanton has 25 points and 126 penalty minutes in 73 AHL games. He hasn't made his NHL debut yet. Apr 26 |
| 9. Adam Clendening  ActiveAdam Clendening has been promoted by the Chicago Blackhawks. Clendening has nine goals and 46 points in 73 AHL games this season. He was selected by the Chicago Blackhawks in the second round of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. Apr 26 |
| 10. Shawn Lalonde  ActiveShawn Lalonde has been recalled by the Blackhawks. Lalonde has 23 points and 91 penalty minutes in 59 AHL contests this season. The 23-year-old blueliner hasn't made his NHL debut yet. Apr 26 |
| G | 1. Corey Crawford  ActiveCorey Crawford allowed three goals on 30 shots as the Chicago Blackhawks lost 3-1 to the Detroit Red Wings. It's hard to blame Crawford for this one considering two of the goals were of the highlight-reel variety. Overall, the Hawks and Crawford played pretty well but were doomed by a couple bad penalties in the third period and a questionable goalie interference call that negated what would've tied the game at 2-2. With the loss, Crawford and the Hawks fell behind 2-1 in the series and have an obviously important Game 4 coming up in Detroit on Thursday night. May 20 |
| 2. Ray Emery  ActiveChicago Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said he won't talk about starting Ray Emery in Thursday's Game 4. "We're not talking about that right now. (Corey Crawford) is fine," Quenneville said after Crawford allowed three goals on 30 shots in Chicago's second straight loss. It's hard to disagree with Quenneville's logic despite the loss. Crawford has been excellent most of this postseason and Monday's loss was hardly all on him, but there will be some serious questions if Chicago loses Game 4 and heads home down 3-1 in the series. May 21 |
| 3. Carter Hutton  ActiveCarter Hutton lost in his NHL debut, 3-1 to the Blues on Saturday night. With Corey Crawford and Ray Emery, who is dealing with a minor lower-body injury, getting rested Saturday, Hutton was called to make the start. He made 25 saves. He had a 2.72 goals-against average and .908 save percentage in 51 games in the AHL this year. Apr 28 |
| 4. Henrik Karlsson  ActiveHenrik Karlsson will serve as Chicago's backup goaltender in Game 2 on Friday. Ray Emery (lower body) has been ruled out for Game 2. Unless something happens to Corey Crawford before Emery is healthy, Karlsson isn't expected to get any postseason ice time. May 3 |
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| Columbus Blue Jackets | Colorado Avalanche | Dallas Stars |
| C | 1. Brandon Dubinsky  ActiveThe Columbus Blue Jackets were a banged up team at the end of the regular season. A lot of teams were but the Blue Jackets will not be sending a lot of players to the World Championships as players such as Brandon Dubinsky (knee), Cam Atkinson (high-ankle sprain), Tim Erixon (ankle), Jack Johnson (groin) and Nikita Nikitin (leg) need to recover. All should be okay for the start of training camp in September. Apr 29 |
| 2. Artem Anisimov  ActiveArtem Anisimov returned to action on Saturday April 27. Apr 28 |
| 3. Ryan Johansen  ActiveColumbus Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen said he hopes Ryan Johansen takes his recent benching in stride but noted "I' don't really care' if Johansen was unhappy playing in the AHL. Johansen was a healthy scratch for Springfield during Game 4 of the AHL playoffs and coach Brad Larsen said he didn't feel like Johansen's level of play was where it needed to be. "I think this is probably going to be a disappointment [to him], to say the least, maybe even a bit embarrassing," said Kekalainen, who also noted the fourth overall pick in 2010 will have to earn an NHL spot in training camp next fall. Johansen played in 40 NHL games this season, scoring five goals and 12 points. May 21 |
| 4. Derek MacKenzie  ActiveDerek MacKenzie (upper body) returned to the Columbus Blue Jackets' lineup after a three-game absence. MacKenzie had two blocked shots and three hits in Columbus' 4-3 victory. He also ended up with a minus-two rating in 12:06 minutes of playing time. Mar 20 |
| LW | 1. Marian Gaborik  ActiveMarian Gaborik had successful abdominal surgery Thursday. He will require 3-4 weeks to heal and is expected to spend most of that time in Columbus. Gaborik should be OK in time for training camp after he had a "mesh patch," that was put in place during a sports hernia procedure he had in 2001, adjusted. May 9 |
| 2. Mark Letestu  ActiveMark Letestu's power play marker Sunday broke an 0-18 slump. The Blue Jackets went 10 games without a power play goal before Letestu's goal. The Blue Jackets are the surprise team of the NHL as most pundits thought they would finish 30th and last in the NHL but right now, with only a week left in the regular season they are sitting in the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Apr 22 |
| 3. Nick Foligno  ActiveNick Foligno notched two points, including the winning goal with only 29 seconds left in the overtime period, to lift the surging Columbus Blue Jackets to a 4-3 triumph over the Avalanche in Colorado Monday night. The goal was Foligno's sixth of the season and his assist was his 12th of the season. The Jackets are trying to put an exclamation mark on their 2013 season with a playoff berth after finishing dead last in the NHL last season. Also scoring for Columbus on Monday were R.J. Umberger, Nick Letestu and Blake Comeau. Apr 15 |
| 4. Matt Calvert  SidelinedMatt Calvert and the Columbus Blue Jackets have agreed to a two-year contract extension that will reportedly pay him nearly $1 million per season. He is not expected to play this week after suffering a broken index finger, but has recorded nine goals and 16 points in 42 games this campaign. Apr 23 |
| 5. Colton Gillies  ActiveColton Gillies returned to action on Sunday. Gillies had not played since April 9 as he was ill and then was a healthy scratch. He only played 4:39 minutes Sunday with a couple of hits. Gillies has a goal and an assist in 26 games with 17 penalty minutes. Apr 22 |
| RW | 1. R.J. Umberger  ActiveR.J. Umberger scored a power-play goal in Columbus' 5-2 defeat Saturday. Artem Anisimov also scored a goal in the losing effort. Tim Erixon, Cam Atkinson, and Matt Calvert each registered an assist for Columbus. Mar 23 |
| 2. Vaclav Prospal  ActiveColumbus Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen hasn't made a decision on whether to pursue pending unrestricted free agent Vaclav Prospal. Kekalainen did add that he's very satisfied with Prospal's performance this season. "He made a big contribution," Kekalainen said. "He always scores. I've seen him since he was a young kid. You always wonder how he does it, but every year he does it. He scores goals and has assists and contributes that way. He's had a great career, and I have a lot of respect for his career and the way he played this year." Prospal had 12 goals and 30 points in 48 games. May 8 |
| 3. Cam Atkinson  ActiveCam Atkinson has inked a two-year extension with the Columbus Blue Jackets. Atkinson was scheduled to become a restricted free agent this summer. It's a one-way deal reportedly worth $2.3 million. He has eight goals and 16 points in 34 games this season. Apr 26 |
| 4. Blake Comeau  ActiveBlake Comeau could find himself with an expanded role now that Matt Calvert has gone down with a broken finger. Comeau is the most likely candidate to replace Calvert on a line with Brandon Dubinsky and Cam Atkinson and given that the former Flame has scored in back-to-back games despite limited ice time, we like his chances of succeeding in this role. Apr 20 |
| 5. Jared Boll  ActiveJared Boll had successful surgery to repair a sports hernia on Thursday. He'll need 4-6 weeks to recovery and is projected to be fine for training camp next fall. Boll played the final two weeks of the season with the injury. May 9 |
| D | 1. Jack Johnson  ActiveJack Johnson blocked a team-high seven shots on Thursday. Johnson matched the entire Dallas Stars squad in that regard to lead Columbus to a 3-1 victory. Johnson also recorded an assist and logged a team-high 25:59 minutes of ice time. Apr 26 |
| 2. James Wisniewski  ActiveJames Wisniewski scored a goal in Tuesday's 4-0 victory against San Jose. Wisniewski has found the back of the net twice in his last two games. He's missed time this season due to a broken foot, but he should end the season on a high note. Apr 10 |
| 3. Fedor Tyutin  ActiveFedor Tyutin is on a four-game points streak. Tyutin assisted on Dalton Prout's first career goal. He has four goals and 21 points in 45 games this season. Apr 19 |
| 4. Nikita Nikitin  ActiveNikita Nikitin won't play in the world championships due to either a right foot or ankle injury. Nikitin missed the last week of the season with the ailments but will have plenty of time to get healthy before training camp. He had three goals and nine points in 38 games this season. Apr 29 |
| 5. Adrian Aucoin  ActiveAdrian Aucoin (lower body) returned to action on Sunday. Aucoin sat out two games with the injury. He played only 13:09 minutes and had two shots on goal. Aucoin has no fantasy value as he has only four assists in 34 games this season with a minus-eight rating. Apr 22 |
| 6. Tim Erixon  ActiveTim Erixon will dress Wednesday night versus Anaheim. He will take Adrian Aucoin's place on the Jackets' third defense pairing with James Wisniewski. Aucoin won't play due to a lower-body injury. Erixon hasn't played since March 29 because of an upper-body aiment. Apr 17 |
| 7. Dalton Prout  ActiveDalton Prout will report to Springfield of the AHL to take part in their playoff chase. Prout was a pleasant surprise for the Blue Jackets, recording seven points in 28 contests in the NHL. He'll be a welcome addition in Springfield. Apr 28 |
| G | 1. Sergei Bobrovsky  ActiveSergei Bobrovsky's contract talks with the Columbus Blue Jackets have gone quiet. "We've talked. We've exchanged ideas," Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen said. "But we haven't made any progress, really. It's been pretty quiet for a while now." Bobrovsky can become a restricted free agent this summer if the Blue Jackets don't re-sign him. That would allow the goaltender to ink an offer sheet, but Kekalainen said that the team is prepared to match an offer sheet if it comes to that. May 23 |
| 2. Michael Leighton  ActiveBlue Jackets coach Todd Richards isn't worried about Michael Leighton getting rusty. Leighton has played in just one NHL game this season and it sounds like the only way he'll play is if Sergei Bobrovsky suffers an injury. "He’s played in some big games in his career and proved that he can be a good goaltender at this level," Richards said. "… If something happens and he has to go in, he’s keeping himself ready." Apr 25 |
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| C | 1. Matt Duchene  ActiveMatt Duchene chipped in three assists and added the winning goal in the shootout to lift Colorado to a 5-4 win over Phoenix in a battle of non-playoff bound teams. Duchene’s numbers trailed off a bit down the stretch, but when looking at his 2013 campaign as a whole, his 43 points in 46 games has solidified his position as one of the best fantasy centres in the league despite playing on an awful Avs team. Apr 27 |
| 2. Paul Stastny  ActivePaul Stastny notched seven goals and a team-high 15 points in 10 games for Team USA at the IIHF World Championship. He served as the Americans' captain for the tournament and his efforts helped the squad win the bronze medal. It was the United States' first medal since 2004 and their third overall since 1963. He has one year left on his current contract with the Avalanche and has been the subject of trade rumors before. Perhaps he increased his value if a team is looking to deal with the NHL draft on the horizon. May 20 |
| 3. Ryan O'Reilly  ActiveRyan O'Reilly sniped a goal for the Avs, but they fell 3-1 to the Wild on Saturday night. Though he only had six goals on the season, he also had 14 assists, finishing with the best point-per-game production of his young career. He could take a big step next season. Patrick Bordeleau and Gabriel Landeskog had the assists. Apr 28 |
| 4. John Mitchell  ActiveJohn Mitchell scored his seventh goal of the season on Wednesday. Mitchell has 11 points in 21 games this season. He got off to a hot start, but has slowed down as a the season drags on. We don't anticipate him having much fantasy value in standard leagues for the rest of the 2013 campaign. Mar 7 |
| 5. David Van der Gulik  ActiveDavid Van der Gulik has been promoted by the Colorado Avalanche. Van der Gulik has 18 goals and 35 points in 60 games with the AHL Lake Erie Monsters. At the age of 29, he should be regarded as an organizational depth player. Apr 1 |
| 6. Brad Malone  ActiveBrad Malone recorded his first assist of the 2013 campaign on Saturday. Malone has two points in nine games. He only logged 7:07 minutes in Saturday's contest and shouldn't be counted on to have any fantasy value for the remainder of the season. Apr 14 |
| 7. Mark Olver  ActiveMark Olver was a healthy scratch Monday. Just an FYI as he was replaced by Chuck Kobasew in the Avs lineup. Olver has four goals and six points in 31 games, the most he's played in his third year in the NHL. Apr 16 |
| 8. Tomas Vincour  ActiveTomas Vincour was called up from the minors on Monday and he played Tuesday night. It was his first game with the Avalanche since he was acquired earlier this month from Dallas in exchange for Cameron Gaunce. He logged 11:39 of ice time and posted a minus-1 rating in the team's 3-1 loss to St. Louis. Apr 24 |
| LW | 1. Gabriel Landeskog  ActiveDon't expect the Avalanche's coaching search to end anytime soon. This according to the Denver Post's Adrian Dater, who says sources tell him nothing will be happening "in the near future." Dater infers this to mean the Avs want to see if Dave Tippett becomes available as his contract with the Coyotes expires June 30. Colorado could also look at Lindy Ruff, too. It's unclear whether Patrick Roy is still a candidate for the gig. May 15 |
| 2. David Jones  ActiveThe struggles experienced by winger David Jones this season make the remainder of his contract seem like an albatross for the Avalanche going forward. Jones signed a four-year, $16 million deal prior to the season and delivered all of three goals in 33 games while spending numerous games in the press box as a healthy scratch. While he was coming off two consecutive 20-goal campaigns entering the year he was a huge disappointment this season and becomes a buyout candidate over the summer. Apr 28 |
| 3. Jamie McGinn  ActiveJamie McGinn scored two goals and added an assist for the Avalanche in a 5-3 win over St. Louis Sunday. The games may be rather meaningless for Colorado at this juncture, but somebody forgot to tell McGinn as he delivered quite the performance. Matt Duchene, Chuck Kobasew and Cody McLeod all tallied for the Avs in the victory. Apr 21 |
| 4. Cody McLeod  ActiveCody McLeod potted Colorado's only goal in a 3-1 loss to St. Louis Tuesday night. His eighth tally of the season and his fifth in his last five games was assisted by Paul Stastny and Greg Zanon. Apr 23 |
| 5. Patrick Bordeleau  ActivePatrick Bordeleau has taken up the role as Colorado's enforcer this campaign. He leads the team with 111 hits and is ranked second with 66 penalty minutes. His willingness to drop the gloves has allowed Cody McLeod to succeed on a scoring line down the stretch. At 6-foot-6 and 230 pounds, Bordeleau can take on the heavyweights which has helped free up McLeod, who classifies as a middleweight, to take on a different role. Bordeleau can become an unrestricted free agent this summer, but it's likely he gets retained by the Avalanche. Apr 25 |
| RW | 1. P. A. Parenteau  ActiveThe Minnesota Wild needs a win tonight to make the playoffs but members of the Colorado Avalanche don`t intend to roll over and make life easy for the Wild. ``We're a proud bunch of guys and we're not going to give (the Wild) an inch out there,`` Avs forward P.A. Parenteau said. That's what it's all about." Added Colorado teammate Matt Duchene: ``Obviously it's a big one for them. Hopefully the building will be full, and we can knock Minnesota out. That will be real nice. I'd be lying if I said it wouldn't. That's a division rival and team that's had our number for a while." Apr 27 |
| 2. Milan Hejduk  ActiveMilan Hejduk won't dress in Friday's game at Phoenix, but he will play in Saturday's regular-season finale back home versus Minnesota. He has been a healthy scratch for the past two games, as Colorado evaluates some of their younger players. It is likely that Hejduk retires after this season, even though he hasn't made anything official yet, so Saturday's contest could act as a farewell appearance for the long-time Avalanche winger. Apr 25 |
| 3. Chuck Kobasew  ActiveChuck Kobasew still has confidence in himself that he can score. "I know I can score goals and have confidence in myself. I've done it before," he said. "But when you're in the NHL, you want to do anything to stay in the NHL. It's the best league in the world." He has reached the 20-goal mark three times in his career, but the past three seasons he hasn't been able to hit 10. Kobasew is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent this summer. After 27 games this year, he has four goals and eight points, but he did get to play with Gabriel Landeskog and Ryan O'Reilly for part of Wednesday's game and managed to score the game-winning goal. Mar 22 |
| 4. Aaron Palushaj  ActiveAaron Palushaj was a top-six forward in practice on Sunday as he lined up alongside Ryan O'Reilly and Gabriel Landeskog. The Avs are reeling a bit as they are losers of three in a row and coach Joe Sacco tried to stir things up in practice, playing Palushaj with his two highly regarded teammates. Sacco also moved a couple of lines around, putting John Mitchell with Paul Stastny and Milan Hejduk and David Jones with Chuck Kobasew and Cody McLeod, leaving the Matt Duchene, P.A. Parenteau and Jamie McGinn line intact. Mar 18 |
| 5. Steve Downie  I.L.Steve Downie (torn ACL) is on the injured reserve list. Downie required knee surgery and will not return this season. Don't forget about him during next season's draft as he'll bring you a decent amount of points and a ton of penalty minutes. Feb 6 |
| D | 1. Erik Johnson  ActiveColorado defenseman Erik Johnson ended the season without recording a goal. The former first overall pick has been a constant disappointment at the offensive end of the rink and recorded a measly four assists in 31 contests this year. He's likely off most radars as a buy-low candidate next year, with good reason. Apr 28 |
| 2. Jan Hejda  ActiveJan Hejda potted the game-winning goal for Colorado with about eight ticks left in regulation to give the Avalanche a 4-3 win over Vancouver on Saturday afternoon. It was his first goal of the 2013 campaign. Gabriel Landeskog, Cody McLeod and P.A. Parenteau also scored for the Avs in the victory. Apr 13 |
| 3. Shane O'Brien  ActiveShane O'Brien played for just the seventh time this season on Tuesday. O'Brien has spent the better part of the 2013 campaign in the press box. Even when the Avalanche lose blueliners to injuries, they seem to typically play youngsters over O'Brien. What makes the decision particularly puzzling is that O'Brien is in the first season of a three-year/$6 million contract. "Nobody likes sitting out, but it is what it is," O'Brien said. "They're giving some young guys a look and a chance, and that's part of the game. At the same time, I feel like I can still play. Whenever I get my chance, I've got to prove that again." O'Brien had a plus-one rating, four hits, and four blocked shots in 17:13 minutes in Colorado's 3-2 shootout loss Tuesday. Feb 27 |
| 4. Tyson Barrie  ActiveTyson Barrie scored the game-winning goal in Colorado's 1-0 overtime win Saturday. Barrie also led the Avalanche with four shots on goal. Greg Zanon and P.A. Parenteau assisted on Barrie's goal. Mar 30 |
| 5. Stefan Elliott  ActiveStefan Elliott registered his first assist of the 2013 campaign. It was in Elliott's 11th game with the Avalanche this season. He might have some fantasy value in a few years, but he certainly isn't worth picking up in standard leagues at this time. Apr 12 |
| 6. Ryan Wilson  I.L.Ryan Wilson (ankle) will not play in Colorado's remaining two games. Wilson was limited to just 12 games this season. "He's a big part of the team on the back end and we've missed him," Sacco said. "He can play against top lines against the other team and he plays hard minutes — a good versatile player who kills penalties and a guy the other team has to know when he's on the ice. That was a big loss, sitting him out most of the year. You hate to use that an excuse, but he would have helped." From a fantasy perspective, Wilson's value is limited. He has 61 points and 145 penalty minutes in 199 career NHL games. Apr 26 |
| 7. Matt Hunwick  ActiveMatt Hunwick has agreed to join Team USA for the upcoming IIHF World Championships. Hunwick has six assists and 14 penalty minutes in 42 games this season. This will be his first time participating in the adult tournament, but he did represent Team USA in the IIHF World Junior Championships before establishing himself in the NHL. Apr 26 |
| 8. Greg Zanon  ActiveGreg Zanon has inked a two-year/$4.5 million contract with the Colorado Avalanche. Zanon had three goals and eight points in 56 games with the Minnesota Wild and Boston Bruins in 2011-12. He's a good defensive defenseman, but he doesn't have much offensive upside. Jul 1 |
| G | 1. Semyon Varlamov  ActiveSemyon Varlamov made 30 saves for the Avs in their 3-1 loss to the Wild on Saturday night. It was a very trying season for the 25-year-old netminder who ends up with an 11-21-3 record and a 3.02 goals-against average and .903 save percentage. The Avs were the second-worst team in the NHL. Apr 28 |
| 2. Jean-Sebastien Giguere  SidelinedJean-Sebastien Giguere will not be available for Colorado's season finale due to a groin injury. Jean-Sebastien Giguere had a 2.84 GAA and .908 save percentage in 18 games this season. He's already agreed to a one-year, $1.5 million deal for the 2013-14 campaign. Apr 27 |
| 3. Calvin Pickard  ActiveCalvin Pickard has been called up by Colorado. Pickard will serve as the team's backup goaltender on Saturday. He has a 2.47 GAA and .918 save percentage in 47 games this season. Apr 27 |
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| C | 1. Jamie Benn  ActiveCoach Glen Gulutzan believes the Stars will be just fine if they leave Jamie Benn at center and not shift him back to the wing. "Initially, I thought he was a better winger," Gulutzan admitted. "But watching this year, and especially the second half of this year, and we had some little heart-to-heart talks about bearing down at that position, and what I have seen from the back end is he certainly can play center. He's such a smart player, there's no question in my mind he can play that position and be one of the best at it. But it's a process. You can't just take a guy off the wing and stick him at center and say you're going to be a great center. But he's going to be." Benn said he will work on getting better at faceoffs and at playing in the defensive zone, which are very important aspects of the position. May 1 |
| 2. Cody Eakin  ActiveCody Eakin had a goal and an assist in Dallas' 5-2 victory over the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday. Eakin is quietly putting together an impressive sophomore season with four goals and 15 points in 23 games this season. It probably helped that he got a chance to participate in 35 AHL games with the Texas Stars during the lockout. Mar 8 |
| 3. Vernon Fiddler  ActiveVernon Fiddler returned from a lower body injury Wednesday. Fiddler missed two games due to the ailment. He had an assist and logged 12:46 minutes of ice time in Dallas' 5-2 loss. Apr 4 |
| 4. Tom Wandell  ActiveTom Wandell has completed his AHL conditioning stint. Wandell has four points in 11 AHL games this season. That stint helped him stay in game shape after spending weeks as a healthy scratch with the Dallas Stars. Apr 3 |
| 5. Ryan Garbutt  ActiveRyan Garbutt (hand) has been activated off the injured reserve list. Garbutt has five points and 20 penalty minutes in 20 games this season. He has a little fantasy value but only in deep leagues. Just an FYI. Apr 3 |
| LW | 1. Ray Whitney  ActiveRay Whitney has been selected as the Dallas Stars' Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy nominee. Whitney, 40, broke his foot early in the season and attempted to play through it. He finally had to take some time off because he was making the injury worse, but he has been great since he returned. Whitney has 11 goals and 27 points in 29 games this season. Apr 22 |
| 2. Eric Nystrom  ActiveEric Nystrom scored the game-winning goal in Dallas’ 4-1 victory over Edmonton on Tuesday night. The fourth-line left winger was surprisingly effective on Tuesday. Aside from scoring the go-ahead marker in the third, Nystrom finished with a plus-3 rating. Jaromir Jagr also added his fourth goal of the year later in the final frame. Feb 13 |
| 3. Antoine Roussel  ActiveAntoine Roussel scored Dallas' only goal in a 2-1 loss at the hands of the Blues Friday night. It was the youngster's sixth goal of the season. Stephane Robidas and Aaron Rome registered the assists on the marker. Apr 20 |
| 4. Matt Fraser  ActiveMatt Fraser and Jordie Benn were healthy scratches for the Stars on Sunday. While Fraser has only one assist in nine games after scoring 33 goals in the AHL this season but coach Glen Gulutzan has been quite impressed with the youngster. "I've watched Matty quite a bit, and he's not going to wow you with 100 different things," Gulutzan said. "He's a quick-strike guy, and he hasn't had a lot of opportunities to bury pucks. He has an incredible shot and incredible release, and he needs to find those areas in the NHL to get his shot away. That's part of the learning process." Fraser could be someone to look at in a couple of years in fantasy hockey as he knows how to score. Apr 22 |
| 5. Lane MacDermid  ActiveLane MacDermid (chest) returned to action on Sunday. MacDermid missed seven games with the chest injury. He was held off the scoresheet Sunday but has two goals in six NHL games this season. Apr 22 |
| RW | 1. Loui Eriksson  ActiveLoui Eriksson had two goals and an assist in Sweden's 3-0 victory over Finland in the IIHF World Championship semifinals. Henrik Sedin had a goal and two assists. Henrik's twin brother, Daniel, assisted on both of Eriksson's goals. Jhonas Enroth turned aside 30 shots to earn the shutout. Sweden will now participate in the gold medal game while Finland still has a shot at the bronze medal. May 18 |
| 2. Erik Cole  ActiveErik Cole had an assist on Thursday. Cole has just nine goals and 13 points in 46 games this season. The trade from Montreal to Dallas wasn't enough to spark him as he's recorded seven points in 27 contests with the Stars. Apr 26 |
| 3. Alex Chiasson  ActiveAlex Chiasson is determined to start the 2013-14 campaign with the Dallas Stars. Chiasson spent seven games with Dallas this season. "(Now) I’m not going to take anything for granted, I got a taste of what it is to be (in the NHL) and that’s my main goal this summer … that they’re going to have to keep me," he said. Chiasson had six goals and seven points in his seven NHL games, so he's certainly worth keeping a close eye on during the Stars' training camp. May 23 |
| 4. Reilly Smith  ActiveReilly Smith has been summoned by the Dallas Stars on an emergency basis. Smith will play if Lane MacDermid (chest) and Alex Chiasson (shoulder) are unavailable Thursday. Smith has three goals and seven points in 31 NHL games this season. Apr 17 |
| D | 1. Alex Goligoski  ActiveAlex Goligoski has been playing through a spider fracture in one of the bones of his foot. "He'll be OK tonight," coach Glen Gulutzan said Thursday morning. "He's got the same thing that Ray Whitney had early in the year. He's kind of got a little of a spider fracture in his foot there that he's been playing with for the last three or four games. It's just a pain management thing for him, but he'll play tonight." Goligoski didn't participate in Thursday's morning skate, but he's projected to play against Columbus. He has picked up three points in his last two games to give him a total of 27 in 45 matches. Apr 25 |
| 2. Stephane Robidas  ActiveStephane Robidas registered two assists in Tuesday's 5-4 overtime win. Robidas has nine assists in 20 games this season. He puts up decent offensive numbers, but his real value comes in leagues that use hits and blocked shots as categories. Feb 27 |
| 3. Trevor Daley  SidelinedTrevor Daley (neck) is likely to require offseason surgery. Daley missed the Stars' season finale and before that he was playing through the injury. He had four goals and 13 points in 44 games this season. May 1 |
| 4. Aaron Rome  SidelinedAaron Rome might need surgery due to a hip injury. Rome was had five assists in 27 games this season. He was able to play in the Stars' season finale, although he didn't participate in the contest before that. May 1 |
| 5. Philip Larsen  ActivePhilip Larsen returned to action on Thursday March 21. He had been dealing with flu-like symptoms and hadn't played since March 14th. Larsen recorded three shots and played 11:27 of ice time against Los Angeles in Dallas' 2-0 victory. Mar 22 |
| 6. Jordie Benn  ActiveJordie Benn has been called up by the Dallas Stars. Benn has a goal and six points in 23 games with the Dallas Stars this season. He also has 21 points and 33 penalty minutes in 43 AHL contests. Apr 8 |
| 7. Brenden Dillon  ActiveBrenden Dillon ranks fourth among rookies with 21:10 minutes per game. "I think Dillon is a real physical specimen, so those minutes don’t bother him," Stars coach Glen Gulutzan said. "He has the body, he has the big frame, but he also can skate. He doesn't get trapped in his own end and have to take the abuse, because he can skate himself out of some of the problem areas. He’s efficient, and he doesn't burn energy when he doesn't have to." Dillon averaged 17:17 minutes in seven January contests, but his responsibilities have increased as the season's progressed. He doesn't excel offensively, but he is an asset in leagues that use some less traditional categories. Dillon has 117 hits and 63 blocked shots in 42 contests. Apr 17 |
| G | 1. Kari Lehtonen  ActiveKari Lehtonen has declined an invitation to play for Finland in the IIHF World Championships. Lehtonen has a newborn son and he would rather spend time with his family. "I want to take some time off and be a dad," Lehtonen said. "That’s exciting. I can start a little earlier to work out and skate and I should be good to go." Lehtonen added that he didn't live up to his own expectations this season. He finished with a 2.66 GAA and .916 save percentage in 36 games. May 2 |
| 2. Richard Bachman  ActiveRichard Bachman made 34 saves in the Stars' 3-0 loss to the Red Wings on Saturday night. The Stars finish the year with a disappointing 22-22-4 record. Bachman had a good run of starts recently where he was very good, but he was undone by a lousy stretch at the beginning of the year. He had a 6-6-0 record, 3.25 goals-against average and .885 save percentage this season. Apr 27 |
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| Detroit Red Wings | Edmonton Oilers | Florida Panthers |
| C | 1. Pavel Datsyuk  ActivePavel Datsyuk threaded a goal just under the crossbar at 6:46 of the third period in Monday's 3-1 Game 3 win. Datsyuk's goal came just over 2 minutes after the Blackhawks had cut Detroit's lead to 2-1 and not long after the referees negated Chicago's game-tying goal with an interference call. The goal itself was vintage Datsyuk and eerily similar to one he scored against Anaheim in the first round, with Datsyuk streaking into the zone and roofing the puck shortside just over Corey Crawford's shoulder. Datsyuk shot the puck so perfectly it rang in and out of the net fast enough for the TV announcers to think he hit the crossbar. May 20 |
| 2. Valtteri Filppula  ActiveDetroit Red Wings coach Mike Babcock says Valtteri Filppula needs to be a "huge factor" against the Chicago Blackhawks. Filppula, who is slated for free agency this summer, had one goal and four points in seven first-round games but also had some bad giveaways, particularly on a Game 6 goal by Emerson Etem. Due to the Hawks' great depth, the Red Wings need Filppula to be one of their best players without having to play alongside Henrik Zetterberg. May 14 |
| 3. Joakim Andersson  ActiveMike Babcock is a lot happier these days as he has three good offensive lines. The third line of Joakim Andersson, Damien Brunner and Gustav Nyquist has been outstanding for the Detroit coach as he put the trio together late in the regular season when the Red Wings promoted Nyquist and Andersson from the minors and dropped Brunner from the top line. "The Andersson line has been a key for us because we got worked in the three line the first two or three months (of the regular season)," Babcock said. "We couldn't handle it." May 20 |
| 4. Cory Emmerton  ActiveCory Emmerton will draw back into Detroit's lineup Wednesday night when they open the second round of the playoffs against Chicago. He suited up in the Red Wings' first six games in Round 1 versus Anaheim, but was a healthy scratch in Game 7. He will replace injured forward Mikael Samuelsson in the lineup and will center the fourth line his return. May 15 |
| 5. Darren Helm  I.L.Darren Helm hasn't skated in two and a half weeks, but he's hoping that staying off the ice will help his ailing back finally get better. "I feel pretty good and feel that I can go out onto the ice and get going," Helm said Wednesday. "But, we've proven three or four times already that that doesn't work. Just (taking) a different approach and hopefully this one works." He won't be back during Detroit's second-round series, but if the team advances further into the playoffs then he is hoping to be available. He isn't expected to need surgery despite all the setbacks he has suffered. May 22 |
| LW | 1. Henrik Zetterberg  ActiveHenrik Zetterberg had two assists in the Red Wings 4-1 win Saturday. The captain of the Red Wings moved into a tie for fourth place in NHL scoring as he now has 10 points in the playoffs, including three goals. He played 19:38 minutes Saturday and was the second star of the game. May 19 |
| 2. Daniel Cleary  ActiveDaniel Cleary had one assist on Saturday. Cleary is having a good offensive playoff with two goals and four assists in nine games. Kudos if you picked him late in your playoff pool. May 19 |
| 3. Gustav Nyquist  ActiveGustav Nyquist's first career playoff goal was the overtime winner in the Detroit Red Wings 5-4 win over the Anaheim Ducks to even their series at one apiece. Nyquist converted a pretty feed by Valtteri Filppula in overtime to give the Wings the 5-4 win and evening the series at one apiece. Johan Franzen continued to be a playoff scoring machine, scoring a pair of goals and giving him 73 points in 88 playoff games. The Red Wings took a different approach this season, letting the holes in their lineup be filled by their youngsters and they delivered in game two. Aside from Nyquist's goal, the Red Wings also got a goal and two assists from rookie Damien Brunner, and Justin Abdelkader also scored. Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk can't be the only source of offense, so it's good to see the kids contributing. May 3 |
| 4. Drew Miller  ActiveDrew Miller's goal 8:20 into the second period turned out to be the game winner in Monday's 3-1 win over the Chicago Blackhawks. Miller's goal wasn't nearly as pretty as some of the others scored Monday night, but that doesn't make it any less important. The gritty winger charged the net and swatted home the rebound of a Patrick Eaves shot only 30 seconds after Gustav Nyquist made it 1-0 for Detroit. Miller also logged a shift of 3:15 early in the second period, most of which was spent in the defensive zone and started with the tail end of a Blackhawks power play. May 20 |
| 5. Todd Bertuzzi  ActiveTodd Bertuzzi is a healthy scratch on Saturday. Drew Miller (hand) is ready to return and that's why Bertuzzi was pushed out of the lineup. Bertuzzi has no points and a minus-two rating in six playoff games. May 18 |
| 6. Jordin Tootoo  ActiveJordin Tootoo netted the game-winning goal in Wednesday's 3-1 victory over Los Angeles. Tootoo has three goals and seven points in 40 games this season. "Any time you can contribute, and as a fourth-line players, it's always exciting," said Tootoo. "You don't get that very often, so you make the best of it." Thanks in part to Tootoo's efforts, the Red Wings have moved up to the eighth seed in the Western Conference. They will try to protect that position on Thursday against Nashville. Apr 25 |
| RW | 1. Justin Abdelkader  ActiveJustin Abdelkader has grown into a top-six forward. Abdelkader's physical play in the main reason he's moved up in the depth charts, but he also has some offensive upside. He had two goals and three points in five games in the first round. If he can continue to get top-six minutes next season, he'll be a candidate for a breakout season. May 15 |
| 2. Johan Franzen  ActiveJohan Franzen scored his fourth goal of the playoffs Saturday. Franzen broke out of scoring slump with his third period goal as he had gone the previous six games without a goal and the last three games without a point. The Red Wings are looking for the talented Franzen to be a difference maker in their series against the Blackhawks and Saturday's game could be the starting point. May 19 |
| 3. Damien Brunner  ActiveDamien Brunner is excelling on the third line with fellow rookies Joakim Andersson and Gustav Nyquist. Brunner has four goals and seven points in nine playoff games to lead all first year players. Brunner is not actually considered a rookie because of his age but it is his first season in the NHL after a very good career in Europe. He played a lot of the regular season with Henrik Zetterberg but his play in the playoffs has been excellent as a third line player. "I really don't think (Brunner) has a clue what's going on," Jimmy Howard said with a chuckle. "I don't think he understands the realm of things and what can possibly happen as the playoffs unfold. He's in a good mood every single game. We got a lot of guys with a lot of energy, and you can just see the excitement on their faces." May 20 |
| 4. Patrick Eaves  ActivePatrick Eaves may be inserted in the Detroit lineup for Game 7. Eaves will likely replace one of Mikael Samuelsson or Todd Bertuzzi on the fourth line. Just an FYI in case you are in a very deep playoff pool. May 12 |
| 5. Mikael Samuelsson  SidelinedMikael Samuelsson is still day-to-day with a sore pectoral muscle. Samuelsson originally sustained the injury on March 31 and returned to play in the first round against the Ducks, playing in the final five games of the series. He had a goal and an assist against Anaheim but has yet to play in round 2. Consider him questionable for Monday's contest. May 20 |
| D | 1. Niklas Kronwall  ActiveNiklas Kronwall picked up his second point of the playoffs Saturday. After a 29 point performance in 48 regular season games, Kronwall has struggled in the playoffs offensively as he has only two assists in nine games. He assisted on Johan Franzen's third period goal, along with Jonathan Ericsson. Kronwall needs to pick it up offensively for the Red Wings if Detroit has any hope in moving on to the Western Conference final. May 19 |
| 2. Jonathan Ericsson  ActiveJonathan Ericsson stressed the value of getting under the Blackhawks' skin. "If we can get them frustrated, that's almost 1-0 for us right away," Ericsson said. "So that's what we want to do." The Blackhawks are denying that the Red Wings have succeeded in frustrating them, but they have suffered back-to-back rough losses against Detroit. They'll enter Game 4 on Thursday with the goal of evening this series, but if the Red Wings get off to a strong sstart, it could be a big blow to Chicago's confidence. May 22 |
| 3. Brendan Smith  ActiveBrendan Smith had a great bounce back game Saturday after struggling in Game 1 Wednesday. Smith's second goal of the playoffs was the game winner and his overall play was crucial in the Red Wings win. "I thought Smitty was fantastic today," coach Mike Babcock said. "But he sure does seem to be in the middle of things, doesn't he?" The rookie defenseman is worth looking at in deeper pools next season as a sixth defenseman. May 19 |
| 4. Dan DeKeyser  SidelinedDan DeKeyser said he expected to have his hard cast removed from his broken thumb after practice Wednesday and he hopes to return at some point if the Red Wings can advance deep into the postseason. "As long as they keep winning here, that just gives me a better chance for a return with every win," DeKeyser said. "I'm just hoping that the guys in here can keep winning and keep improving along the way. Hopefully, I'll get a chance in a playoff game again." He might be available to return around mid-June if his six-week recovery projection holds true. May 22 |
| 5. Kyle Quincey  ActiveKyle Quincey was a healthy scratch Sunday. He was replaced by Brendan Smith in the lineup. "I don't have much to say on it," Quincey said. "Three guys are waiting and all ready to play and they're all good defensemen, so it's the nature of the beast." He has not had any fantasy value this season. Apr 15 |
| 6. Jakub Kindl  ActiveJakub Kindl is finally getting a chance to be a regular defenseman and has three assists and a plus-3 rating in 10 postseason games. Kindl settled into his role midway through the regular season after spending the past two years as an extra defenseman. With Brad Stuart and Nicklas Lidstrom no longer in Detroit, the Red Wings needed the former first-round pick to step up. Kindl has been huge for us," Red Wings coach Mike Babcock said. "He's found confidence." Kindl credits the new confidence to the lockout, when he played major minutes for a team in the Czech Republic. "Once the season started, I came here and was I ready," Kindl say. May 21 |
| 7. Ian White  ActiveThe play of defensemen Brendan Smith and Dan DeKeyser have made Ian White and Carlo Colaiacovo superfluous in Detroit. The Red Wings are excited about their young defensemen and Ian White has now been a healthy scratch the last six games. He has only played in 25 games with two goals and a couple of helpers and it appears that his time with the Red Wings is now short. Apr 23 |
| 8. Carlo Colaiacovo  ActiveCarlo Colaiacovo played his first game for the Red Wings since April 14th as he suited up for Game Six of their opening round playoff series against the Ducks Friday. The veteran blueliner only played in six regular season contests due to a shoulder ailment, but his puck-moving skills were a welcome addition for the Wings in his first game back "I thought Colaiacovo had a couple of shifts, like everyone else, he wishes he didn’t have, but I thought he played well,'' coach Mike Babcock said. There's little doubt Colaiacovo will be in the lineup in place of Brian Lashoff for Game Seven of the series Sunday night. May 11 |
| G | 1. Jimmy Howard  ActiveJimmy Howard argued that people underestimating the Detroit Red Wings is nothing new. "A lot of people have counted us out for many years, saying our leadership is getting too old," Howard said. "And those guys just go out and prove the naysayers wrong. A lot of people picked the 'Hawks to sweep us, and we're playing great hockey against them now. We just gotta keep it up." The Detroit Red Wings didn't make it past the second round in each of their previous three playoff runs, so they didn't exactly defy expectations. At the same time, the Red Wings were seen as a team in transition in 2013 and were expected to regress. They just barely made the playoffs, but the fact that they might even go further than any Detroit team since 2009 is impressive. May 23 |
| 2. Jonas Gustavsson  ActiveOne of the major reasons the Red Wings have struggled this season is the lack of production they have received from their offseason free agent acquisitions. The group of incoming free agents was made up of Jonas Gustavsson, Carlo Colaiacovo, Jordin Tootoo, Mikael Samuelsson and Damien Brunner and the Swiss winger is the only member of that group to offer anything in the way of production although he has also struggled of late. Some of the difficulties have been related to injury, however there's no denying the fact these acquisitions haven't lived up to expectations. Apr 20 |
| 3. Jared Coreau  |
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| C | 1. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins  I.L.Ryan Nugent-Hopkins had successful surgery on his ailing shoulder Tuesday. "It's something that's been nagging at me for a couple years," said Nugent-Hopkins. "It got a little bit worse and it's something that has to be taken care of eventually. We all decided it was time." The procedure repaired a torn labrum. Nugent-Hopkins didn't live up to expectations this season with just four goals and 24 points in 40 games. Look for him to be better next year. Apr 24 |
| 2. Sam Gagner  ActiveSam Gagner is hoping to get invited to play with Team Canada at the upcoming World Championships. A lot of Oilers, including Taylor Hall, Jordan Eberle and Devan Dubnyk are in the mix for the Worlds, but Gagner would be a nice acquisition for the Canadian side as he now has 14 goals and 35 points, second best on the Oilers. "If I got invited, I wouldn't think twice about. I'm going," Gagner said. "The Spengler was a great experience and I hope I can be in the mix (for a Canadian spot). I think I showed there that I could play different positions and you need guys who can play center, right or left, penalty kill. I think I'm pretty versatile." The Worlds start May 3. Apr 23 |
| 3. Shawn Horcoff  ActiveJim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal speculates it's only 50-50 the Oilers will buy out captain Shawn Horcoff this summer. Horcoff, who will be 35 before next season starts, is due to count $5.5 million against the cap the next two seasons and is coming off a 12-point, 31-game season. Young players like Taylor Hall and Jordan Eberle appear ready to take over the team's leadership mantle and it's hard to see Horcoff having a big enough role next year to justify that pay day. If Horcoff does end up as a free agent, we imagine he'd have a decent group of teams interested in adding him at a reduced cost. May 14 |
| 4. Eric Belanger  ActiveEric Belanger (groin) will return to the Edmonton Oilers' lineup on Monday. Belanger hasn't played since March 25. "I'm not going to lie, there's a little bit of worry about it but I'm feeling pretty good," Belanger said. "I've been skating for over a week and it's been feeling okay. I'm crossing my fingers but if I can go through a game, hopefully I can finish the year strong." Apr 22 |
| 5. Lennart Petrell  SidelinedLennart Petrell is projected to miss at least a week with a high ankle sprain. He totaled nine points and 63 hits in 35 matches, so even if he doesn't play again this campaign his absence likely won't impact your fantasy roster. Apr 17 |
| 6. Anton Lander  ActiveAnton Lander was called up from the minors on Tuesday April 16. Lander won 71.4% of his faceoffs and logged 10:35 minutes of playing time. He has an assist in five games with Edmonton this season. Apr 17 |
| LW | 1. Taylor Hall  ActiveTaylor Hall potted a goal and also registered two assists in the Oilers’ 6-1 win over the Wild Friday night. The number one overall pick in the 2010 Entry Draft has taken a huge step forward in this 48-game shortened season as he has 16 goals and 48 points in 44 games. He deserves to be a high pick in next season's pools. Apr 26 |
| 2. Ryan Smyth  ActiveRyan Smyth said he feels "great" physically and "absolutely" plans to return for the final year of his contract. Smyth had just two goals and 13 points in 47 games this season after turning 37 in February. If he wants to keep playing, it'll like be for the Oil since we can't imagine another team taking on his $4.5 million salary next year. However, that doesn't mean he'll be playing in games. It's entirely possible Smyth could spend more time in the press box next season than on the ice. Apr 30 |
| 3. Mike Brown  ActiveMike Brown has impressed his Oiler teammates since being acquired four games ago from Toronto. Brown has a goal and two fights and generally has provided some jump when he is on the ice. "He got into two spirited fights. I would have liked to have seen us respond, too ... a little bit better," Edmonton captain Shawn Horcoff said. "We talked about that. But he's been a really good addition for us ... and the kid can really skate. He really brings what we're looking for which is an uptempo style, and he's great in the locker-room." The Oilers really needed a tough guy to protect all their outstanding young talent and Brown is worth picking up in pools that use the penalty minute category. Mar 12 |
| 4. Magnus Paajarvi  ActiveMagnus Paajarvi will get back into Edmonton's lineup Wednesday after missing Monday's match with a bruised foot. He is projected to play alongside Shawn Horcoff and Nail Yakupov. Apr 24 |
| 5. Jerred Smithson  ActiveJerred Smith, acquired by Edmonton for a fourth-round draft pick this week, likely will be in the Oilers' lineup when they play the Kings in Los Angeles this afternoon. Smithson, a left winger, recorded five points in 35 games for the Panthers this season. Apr 6 |
| RW | 1. Jordan Eberle  ActiveJordan Eberle collected an assist, but it wasn't enough as Switzerland defeated Canada 3-2 (SO) in the 2013 World Hockey Championships. Familiar name Martin Gerber helped the Swiss take that win. Normally it's Jonas Hiller making the Swiss a tougher out that expected, but he's going strong in the NHL playoffs this summer. May 5 |
| 2. Ales Hemsky  ActiveAlex Hemsky will likely be dealt in the off-season according to The Edmonton Journal. The injury-prone forward is quite the scorer when healthy but he has been anything but the last four seasons as he has missed 118 games in that span. "I don't think there's a market for him . . .I shouldn't say there's no market," said former NHL GM Craig Button, who now works for TSN. "But the salary cap is coming down to $64.3 million. He makes $5 million for one more year. Would the Oilers pick up half of that to trade him, 50-50 (with another team)? That would still free up $2.5 million in cap space for the Oilers. I don't know if they can get something tangible in return for Hemsky. Andrew Cogliano got the Oilers a second-round draft (pick). I don’t know if they can get that for Hemsky." Hemsky has struggled the last two seasons with 20 points in 38 games this season and 36 points in 69 games in 2011-12 but was a point-a-game player, or close to it, before that. May 20 |
| 3. Nail Yakupov  ActiveNail Yakupov was surprisingly not among the finalists for the Calder Trophy. Most teams will cry foul at their prized rookies not being nominated for the Calder, but the Oilers may have the strongest case. Yakupov led all rookies with 17 goals and he tied Jonathan Huberdeau, who was named a finalist on Monday, for the most points with 31 in 48 games. 11 of his goals came in the month of April, so that might have played a part in his name being left off the final ballot. May 6 |
| 4. Ryan Jones  ActiveDue to the injury suffered by Lennart Petrell forward Ryan Jones will likely be in the lineup for every game down the stretch for the Oilers. Jones is set to become a free agent this summer and though he would like to remain with the Oilers, the team has not yet decided on their interest in him going forward. "It’s really important for us to take a really good look at Ryan Jones here and give him the opportunity to be the player he can be for the Edmonton Oilers," said head coach Ralph Krueger. He's not worthy of a roster spot in most fantasy leagues. Apr 20 |
| D | 1. Ryan Whitney  ActiveRyan Whitney will become an unrestricted free agent in July. Whitney will get a fresh start somewhere else as his final two seasons in Edmonton were not good ones. He had only four goals and 13 points this season after a 20 point season in 2011-12. At age 30, he still could turn things around in a new environment as he was a good scoring defenseman before his last two seasons. Apr 29 |
| 2. Justin Schultz  ActiveJustin Schultz tied for 828th in the NHL with a minus-19 rating. That's only plus-three higher than the NHL's worst rating. "It’s been a tough season for a lot of us," said Schultz. "It’s not like the AHL or college, where you can afford to make a mistake and guys won’t capitalize. Here, you make a mistake and they’re going to put it in the back of your net." Schultz has still performed well offensively with seven goals and 23 points in 46 games. Schultz still has a lot of upside and we wouldn't read too much into his plus/minus rating, especially given that he's a rookie on a bad team. Depending on the changes the Oilers make over the summer, Schultz could do much better in 2013-14. Apr 26 |
| 3. Jeff Petry  ActiveJeff Petry posted a goal and a fight in Tuesday's 4-3 shootout loss to Columbus. His third goal of the year opened the scoring in the contest and he dropped the gloves with Jackets forward Matt Calvert later in the first period. Petry has been very good of late with five points, 11 penalty minutes and a plus-2 rating in his past five games. Ryan Whitney and Magnus Paajarvi also scored for the Oilers in the defeat. Mar 5 |
| 4. Ladislav Smid  ActiveLadislav Smid will play for the Czech Republic in the upcoming world championships. Smid had just one goal and four points in 48 games this season but is a solid all-around defenseman who led the Oilers in hits (151) and blocked shots (119) this season. Apr 30 |
| 5. Nick Schultz  ActiveNick Schultz was booed by the crowd in Anaheim on Monday. The boos were meant for his teammate Justin Schultz who refused to sign with the Ducks last season and became an unrestricted free agent, eventually signing with the Oilers. Some fans in Anaheim could not distinguish between the two and hence Nick was booed but eventually the crowd got it right and booed Justin every time he touched the puck. He scored his first goal of the season in a 2-1 loss. Maybe the boos were good for him. Apr 9 |
| 6. Corey Potter  ActiveCorey Potter was a healthy scratch Monday. Potter was replaced in the lineup by Mark Fistric. Potter has only a goal and an assist in 25 games this season so his absence from the Oilers lineup should not have affected your fantasy team. Apr 9 |
| 7. Mark Fistric  ActiveMark Fistric was in contract negotiations with the Edmonton Oilers prior to the trade deadline. "They made a quick back and forth, but it died off," Fistric said. "There was an offer, but over two or three days we couldn't find the middle ground." He's scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent this summer. Apr 19 |
| 8. Theo Peckham  ActiveTheo Peckham was back in the Oiler lineup Friday night against the Predators. Peckham is obviously over the flu. However the rough and tumble defenseman will continue to rotate in and out of the Edmonton lineup depending on matchups so deploy him accordingly. Mar 9 |
| G | 1. Devan Dubnyk  ActiveDevan Dubnyk completed his impressive season by earning a 7-2 win over the rival Canucks in which he made 28 saves. Whether GM Craig McTavish decides to reinforce his crease this offseason or not, the fact is Dubnyk was the best Oiler on the ice fairly often this season and kept the team in games despite a colossal workload. Apr 28 |
| 2. Nikolai Khabibulin  ActiveEdmonton goalie Nikolai Khabibulin stopped 38 shots for the Oilers in a remarkable 6-1 upset of the Wild in Minnesota Friday night, but his teammates were disappointed about the one goal Minnesota scored. "I don’t know if it’s Khabby’s last game here or of his career, but it would have been nice to get him a shutout," Edmonton forward Taylor Hall said. "He played a great game. It’s always nice to see Khabby do well. He’s worked so hard to rehab his hip after surgery. He’s really been a rock for us and I hope he’s proud of his effort, because we are." Khabibulin is set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer and is uncertain about his future. Devan Dubnyk is scheduled to start in the season finale Saturday at home against the Vancouver Canucks. Apr 27 |
|
| C | 1. Jonathan Huberdeau  ActiveJonathan Huberdeau underwent a procedure on his hip Tuesday. Renaud Lavoie of RDS reported Huberdeau played with the injury his entire rookie season, which makes his inaugural NHL season a bit more impressive. The Calder Trophy finalists finished with 14 goals and 31 points in 48 games for a Panthers team that was basically an AHL club by the middle of March due to injuries. Huberdeau is expected to be 100 percent in time for training camp. May 14 |
| 2. Drew Shore  ActiveDrew Shore will have off-season wrist surgery. He missed three games with a wrist problem this year and will have it looked after in Cleveland. The rookie center recorded three goals, 10 assists and a minus-10 rating in 43 games with the Panthers this season. Apr 29 |
| 3. Shawn Matthias  ActiveWith 14 goals this season, Shawn Matthias has shattered his previous career-high. That's pretty impressive given that this is obviously a shortened campaign. Matthias broke out in March, netting 11 goals in 16 games. Obviously that pace is unsustainable and once he cools down, he might not score another goal for what little is left of the 2013 campaign. Apr 1 |
| 4. Marcel Goc  ActiveMarcel Goc ended up playing Tuesday night and he produced two points in Florida's 5-2 loss to the New York Islanders. He didn't participate in the morning skate because he was "sore," but the ailment didn't stop him from contributing a goal and an assist to give him 16 points in 36 games this campaign. Dmitry Kulikov had the Panthers' other marker in the contest and it came on the power play. Apr 16 |
| 5. Stephen Weiss  ActiveJosh Cooper of The Tennessean speculates the Predators could target Stephen Weiss in free agency this summer. Weiss was struggling offensively before undergoing wrist surgery in March but is generally regarded as one of the best two-way centers in the NHL. That would fit coach Barry Trotz's style quite well, but, unfortunately for Nashville, there's been talk from both the Panthers and Weiss' camp that he'd prefer to re-sign with the Panthers. If Weiss isn't an option, Cooper also mentioned Derek Roy and Nathan Horton as potential targets up front with Sergei Gonchar as an option on the blue line. May 7 |
| 6. Greg Rallo  ActiveGreg Rallo has been "sent home for the summer," according to coach Kevin Dineen. He isn't technically with the team, but since the AHL season for San Antonio is over there wasn't any reason to send him back down. For now at least, it looks the Panthers and Rallo have parted ways unless another injury occurs. He had one goal in 10 NHL outings this year. Apr 25 |
| 7. Nick Bjugstad  ActiveNick Bjugstad doesn't have a point in his first eight games with the Florida Panthers. The Panthers decided to keep him around for the final six games of the 2013 season, so the first year of his entry-level deal has already been used up after he signed with the team earlier this month. Bjugstad, who has 13 shots and a minus-6 rating thus far, is thankful for the experience though. "It's nice to get my feet wet for these games," he said. "I didn't want to go into the training camp not knowing what to expect at this level, that's why this is a big deal." Apr 23 |
| LW | 1. Tomas Fleischmann  ActiveTomas Fleischmann potted two goals in Florida's 5-3 win over the Lightning on Saturday night. Fleischman was a solid fantasy forward this year, with 12 goals and 35 points. Scottie Upshall, Nick Bjugstad and Marcel Goc had the other goals. Jonathan Huberdeau had three assists. Apr 27 |
| 2. Peter Mueller  ActivePeter Mueller has been nominated for the 2013 Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy. Mueller missed the 2010-11 campaign and and was limited to 32 contests last season due to concussion problems. However, he's bounced back in 2013 with eight goals and 17 points in 42 contests. Apr 26 |
| 3. Tomas Kopecky  ActiveTomas Kopecky will play for Slovakia at the upcoming IIHF World Championships. Nick Bjugstad (United States), Brian Campbell (Canada), Jacob Markstrom (Sweden), Marcel Goc (Germany) and Tomas Fleischmann (Czech Republic) will also take part in the tournament. Apr 29 |
| 4. Sean Bergenheim  I.L.The Florida Panthers aren't going to hold a grudge against Sean Bergenheim (groin) after he won two grievances against them. Bergenheim's victories mean that the Panthers will have to pay his full salary. He was suspended him without pay after he sustained the injuries during the lockout. "We're not in a position to say [goodbye] to anybody who scored [20 goals, including playoffs]," Panthers GM Dale Tallon said. "I'm obviously disappointed in how this went down, but we've got to move on." Bergenheim won't return this season. Mar 16 |
| 5. Quinton Howden  ActiveQuinton Howden returned to action on Thursday April 25. Apr 26 |
| 6. Eric Selleck  ActiveEric Selleck returned from a concussion on Saturday. Selleck suffered the injury during a fight in his NHL debut. He ended up with an assist and 17 penalty minutes in two games with Florida. Apr 28 |
| RW | 1. Jack Skille  ActiveJack Skille is ready to play after recovering from his upper-body injury. He has missed the last five games and practiced Wednesday. Look for him to get back in the lineup on Saturday. Apr 3 |
| 2. Scottie Upshall  ActiveScottie Upshall got some power-play ice time on Saturday. Panthers coach Kevin Dineen has been critical of Upshall at times this season, but he was happy to see Upshall respond with a goal after the two engaged in a lengthy one-on-one conversation. "Being on the power play is a privilege," said Upshall. "It was nice to be able to chip in, doing little things. Hopefully, we can build on that." Apr 15 |
| 3. George Parros  ActiveGeorge Parros (upper body) is back in the Panthers lineup Saturday night. Parros had been out for the past two weeks. Outside of penalty minutes, Parros isn't worth adding in fantasy leagues. Mar 30 |
| 4. Kris Versteeg  I.L.The latest Kris Versteeg update is mostly positive, but it's disappointing that he might not be ready for the beginning of the 2013-14 season. The word is that he's off crutches related to his knee injury and that he's shooting for an August 5 date to start skating again. Apparently about two months won't be enough for him to be ready to play, though, at least according to Sunday's estimates. Apr 28 |
| D | 1. Brian Campbell  ActiveBrian Campbell had a goal and an assist in a 6-2 defeat Saturday. Marcel Goc scored his seventh goal in 38 games this season. Tomas Fleischmann, Mike Weaver, and Shawn Matthias each registered an assist in the losing effort. Apr 20 |
| 2. Dmitry Kulikov  I.L.Dmitry Kulikov had surgery on his right shoulder recently. He missed the last three games of the regular season with what was originally classified as an "upper-body injury." Kulikov didn't take the next step in his development this year, while posting three goals and 10 points in 34 appearances. However, he still has the potential to be a solid offensive contributor from Florida's back end. Apr 29 |
| 3. Filip Kuba  ActiveFilip Kuba has recovered from a lower-body injury and should be in the Panthers' lineup Saturday afternoon against the Devils. If you need Kuba, who had missed the Cats' last two games due to the injury, feel free to activate him. Apr 20 |
| 4. Ed Jovanovski  I.L.Ed Jovanovski (hip) doesn't have any plans for early retirement. The veteran blueliner has two years left on his contract and he was limited to six games this season because of a hip issue which required surgery. "My mind-set is work hard in the summer, get my hip strong, but it's too early to say how it's going to respond," Jovanovski said. "I'm a driven individual and for me playing again is what I want to do and what I'm going to do." Apr 29 |
| 5. Mike Weaver  ActiveMike Weaver will be back in Florida's lineup Saturday when the team hosts Pittsburgh. He hasn't played since Feb. 28 because of a knee injury. Weaver is a very good penalty killer, which should help the Panthers' 30th-ranked PK upon his return. He has 38 hits and 38 blocks in 19 games this year. Apr 13 |
| 6. T.J. Brennan  ActiveT.J. Brennan earned two assists in Florida's 3-2 shootout win over Tampa on Tuesday. He has four points in eight games with the Panthers since being acquired from Buffalo. Greg Rallo scored his first NHL goal in the contest and Tomas Kopecky had Florida's other regulation marker. Peter Muelleer was the only skater who scored in the shootout. Apr 2 |
| 7. Erik Gudbranson  SidelinedErik Gudbranson (hand) will not be available for the Panthers' season finale on Saturday. Gudbranson had four points and a minus-22 rating in 32 games this season. One of the few bright spots for Gudbranson from a statistic perspective was his 80 hits. Needless to say, you would have had to be in a very deep league to get any use out of Gudbranson in 2013. Apr 27 |
| 8. Alex Petrovic  ActiveFlorida coach Kevin Dineen was impressed with the play of Alex Petrovic in his fourth NHL game on Tuesday night against the New York Rangers. He received a personal-high 21:28 of ice time, while producing a plus-1 rating, four hits and a blocked shot. "I think he is making a statement that he is comfortable playing in the NHL," Dineen said. He shouldn't be on fantasy radar though. Apr 24 |
| 9. Tyson Strachan  ActiveTyson Strachan will return to action Thursday against Toronto. He has missed Florida's past four games with an upper-body injury. Apr 25 |
| 10. Nolan Yonkman  ActiveNolan Yonkman was called up from the minors for Sunday's game versus Carolina. He replaced injured defenseman Dmitry Kulikov in the lineup. Yonkman logged just over six minutes of ice time and posted one shot on goal in the contest. Mar 4 |
| G | 1. Jacob Markstrom  ActiveJacob Markstrom yielded three goals on 31 shots, but the Panthers won 5-3 on Saturday night against the Lightning. Markstrom had a very rough rookie season, but one would think -- and this doesn't say that much -- that he has the upper hand on the goalie job heading into next year, unless Florida goes out and gets someone else. He ends the season with a 3.22 goals-against average and .901 save percentage. Apr 27 |
| 2. Scott Clemmensen  ActiveScott Clemmensen allowed six goals on 30 shots Thursday as the Panthers were dominated by the Rangers by a score of 6-1. Two nights after Jacob Markstrom was bombarded by the Islanders, the Panthers defense hung their other netminder out to dry. Life as a Florida goaltender ain't easy. Apr 18 |
| 3. Jose Theodore  I.L.Jose Theodore wants to re-sign with the Florida Panthers. He will be an unrestricted free agent this summer if a deal cannot be reached with the Panthers. "I feel I got a big role with this team and like what we started here when I signed," Theodore said. "I never accept a backup role, but that doesn't mean it's not going to happen." If Florida intends to use Jacob Markstrom as their starter next year, as it is expected they will, then it might be best for them to part ways with Theodore and use Scott Clemmmensen, who has one year remaining on his deal with the club, as his backup. Theodore finished the season on the sidelines with a groin injury that kept him on the shelf since the beginning of March. Apr 29 |
|
| Los Angeles Kings | Minnesota Wild | Montreal Canadiens |
| C | 1. Anze Kopitar  ActiveAnze Kopitar has just one goal in his last 26 contests. Kopitar did get an assist on Tuesday to end his four-game points drought. The Kings have only managed two goals in their last two games and consequently their second-round series against the San Jose Sharks is now even at 2-2. May 22 |
| 2. Mike Richards  ActiveMike Richards is leading all Kings players with nine points in 10 playoff games. Richards scored the Kings' lone goal on Tuesday. He's traditionally been an effective player in the playoffs with 22 goals and 74 points in 93 career games. May 22 |
| 3. Jarret Stoll  SidelinedJarret Stoll (undisclosed) isn't expected to return on Thursday. Stoll has been sidelined with what's likely a head injury after being hit by Raffi Torres. Torres was suspended for his actions. "He’s obviously a very good player," Sharks coach Todd McLellan said of Stoll. "The suspension that Raffi had imposed on him also affects us, so we both lost valuable players in this series. Both teams have players that are playing banged up, and the positive thing for both teams is that no one is really making excuses. Whoever you put out there has to play. That’s the way it’s got to be." May 23 |
| 4. Colin Fraser  ActiveColin Fraser is projected to replace Brad Richardson on Los Angeles' fourth line Thursday night in Game 2 versus St. Louis. Fraser skated in 34 games for the Kings during the regular season, where he picked up two goals and seven points as well as 71 hits. May 2 |
| 5. Jordan Nolan  ActiveJordan Nolan was a healthy scratch on Saturday. Nolan was replaced in the Kings lineup by Tanner Pearson. Nolan had four penalty minutes with nary a point in five previous playoff games this season. May 19 |
| LW | 1. Dwight King  ActiveDwight King has a goal and four assists in his last seven games. That's not bad, especially considering King had no points in his first 12 games. He is a fringe fantasy player in the deepest of leagues at this time and only because of his recent streak. Mar 5 |
| 2. Dustin Penner  ActiveDustin Penner appeared to score a goal on Tuesday, but it was judged to have came after a quick whistle. "Well, I’m sure it’s in the rule book," Kings coach Darryl Sutter said. "When the whistle goes, right? So what are they going to come and tell us? They’re going to come and say they lost sight of the puck and they blew the whistle." The Kings ended up losing the game 2-1 and now the series is even at 2-2. May 22 |
| 3. Brad Richardson  ActiveAs expected, Brad Richardson was inserted into the Kings' lineup on Thursday due to the injury to Jarret Stoll. "I thought he was nervous," Kings coach Darryl Sutter remarked. Richardson recorded an assist and three hits, but also finished the night with a minus-one rating. He logged 11:00 minutes of playing time. May 17 |
| 4. Kyle Clifford  ActiveKyle Clifford skated with Anze Kopitar and Justin Williams during Wednesday's practice. If the Kings go with those lines on Thursday, then this would be a big opportunity for Clifford. The Kings top line has been struggling in the postseason, so perhaps this change will provide them with a spark. That being said, Clifford isn't an known for his scoring abilities, but Williams sees the benefit of him being on their line. "We’re obviously starved for goals, and there’s a reason for that. Not enough net pressure, not enough traffic, not enough rebounds, not enough going to the net with a purpose. Kyle brings all of those, and if we are to play together tomorrow, we’re going to need to do that to get results," Williams said on Wednesday. May 23 |
| 5. Tanner Pearson  ActiveTanner Pearson made his NHL debut Saturday. Pearson played only 5:44 minutes on the fourth line with Brad Richardson and Colin Fraser. "I was coming up to be a black ace, just expecting to skate with them," Pearson said. "I guess anything can happen. . . .If you had asked me three years ago and saying I'd be playing my first NHL game in three years, I would have taken it in a heartbeat but I probably wouldn't have believed you." Pearson was the Kings first round pick in the 2012 Draft after going undrafted in his previous two years of eligibility. He had 19 goals and 47 points in 64 AHL games and looks to have a bright future in the NHL. May 19 |
| RW | 1. Dustin Brown  ActiveDustin Brown was taken off the Kings' top line during Wednesday's practice. Brown skated on the third line with Dwight King and Trevor Lewis. The Kings' first line hasn't been effective in the playoffs and Brown is one of the players that's been struggling. He has just two goals and three points in 10 games, although he also leads the team with 46 hits. May 23 |
| 2. Jeff Carter  ActiveJeff Carter had a goal and an assist in Game 2 on Thursday. Carter has four goals and six points over the last five contests. He was a dominate goal scorer in the regular season, but also a hot/cold player. Right now he's on fire and the Kings are reaping the benefits. May 17 |
| 3. Justin Williams  ActiveJustin Williams said the Los Angeles Kings need more offense from their top players. "It's going to take our best players, myself at the top of the list, to get more offense," Williams said. "Plain and simple, your guys who produced during the year need to produce just as much, if not more, during the playoffs." Williams has just two points in the playoffs -- a goal and an assist -- and nothing in the three games against San Jose. The Kings have a 2-1 series lead but have scored just seven goals in the three games. While Mike Richards and Jeff Carter each have three points in the series, regular-season scoring leader Anze Kopitar hasn't registered a point since May 8 and is likely one of the people Williams is not-so-subtly addressing. May 21 |
| 4. Trevor Lewis  ActiveTrevor Lewis said 'something happened' when he was called for goaltender interference with five seconds remaining in regulation time. The penalty put the Kings down two men heading into the overtime as the Sharks Patrick Marleau pushed him into Antti Niemi in the Sharks net. While the Kings killed off the first penalty, they were unable to handle the onslaught of the Sharks as Logan Couture scored at the 1:29 mark of overtime. May 19 |
| 5. Anthony Stewart  ActiveThe Los Angeles Kings have recalled Anthony Stewart from the minors. Stewart was acquired by the Kings from the Hurricanes after the lockout but spent the season in the minors where he had four goals and seven points in 30 games. He also spent the lockout playing in England where he had six goals and 11 points in 19 games for Nottingham. May 12 |
| 6. Tyler Toffoli  ActiveTyler Toffoli netted an unassisted goal in the Kings' 2-1 overtime defeat on Saturday. It was Toffoli's first career playoff goal. Jeff Carter and Brad Richardson each recorded four shots on goal. Drew Doughty blocked a team-high five shots. Colin Fraser and Dustin Brown each had six hits for the Kings. Anze Kopitar won 16 of his 23 faceoff attempts in the losing effort. May 19 |
| D | 1. Drew Doughty  ActiveCoach Darryl Sutter was not happy with the play of his defenseman, save for the effort of Drew Doughty. Doughty was a stud on the blueline once again as he played a team-leading 28:28 minutes and scored a power play goal, his second goal of the post-season. "Our defense can clearly do a better job at that (getting more involved in the play), other than Doughty last night," coach Darryl Sutter said. "I think he had . . .maybe nine total attempts, and he had five shots. After that, we were. . .not nearly as involved, or what we were getting from the outside from some guys that are looked on as goal scorers or shooters for their team, what they were doing in the series – things like that." Game 3 will be played on Saturday with the Kings leading two games to none. May 18 |
| 2. Willie Mitchell  I.L.Kings general manager Dean Lombardi is concerned that Willie Mitchell's knee injury could cause him to miss next season, possibly even ending his career. Mitchell had two surgeries on his knee, which was injured during the lockout, and the Kings GM expressed his worry over the 35-year-old's availability for next season. In terms of his career, that’s what I think we have to figure out now where he is health-wise in terms of his career," Lombardi said. ... "Now I’m getting some information – and I don’t like speaking to it because I don’t have it all, but I guess it’s safe to say there would be a legitimate concern now whether he plays next year. But that could be premature. Let’s just say now, though, it’s possible, where I wouldn’t have thought it possible." Mitchell has another year left on his deal at $3.5 million, and there's a chance he could be bought out this offseason. Apr 3 |
| 3. Slava Voynov  ActiveSlava Voynov and Mike Richards powered the Kings to a 2-0 Game 1 victory over San Jose on Tuesday night with a goal and an assist each. Voynov scored his third goal of the postseason thanks to a great hustle play from Richards, while Richards tipped in his first after a Voynov point shot. They’ve both been among the Kings’ top offensive players in the playoffs, and will be key for the remainder of this series. Jeff Carter was a plus-2 and added an assist in the win. May 15 |
| 4. Alec Martinez  ActiveKings coach Darryl Sutter wants to lean on Alec Martinez more. "So he’s given us 12 minutes. Is 12 minutes enough? No. We need a little more in both ways – quality and quantity," Sutter said. "Whether we like it or not, we are not a veteran defense. Marty…played a grand total of maybe a hundred games or whatever in the NHL. I don’t even know. But he’s got to play like one of our veterans. It can’t be just Robyn and Drew and Slava and Robbie playing like veterans. You need everybody to." Martinez has played in 142 regular season games. Look for him to get more minutes Wednesday night. May 8 |
| 5. Jacob Muzzin  ActiveKings defenseman Jacob Muzzin appears likely to retain his role on the team's second power play unit, which seems to be the reason he has stayed in the lineup. Coach Darryl Sutter acknowledged Saturday that Muzzin is a crucial part of the second unit, saying "Well, we kept him in more just because our power play’s been so good, and we’ve used Richie on the point on the one unit, so we need Muzzin there for the other one, for sure." Muzzin picked up 11 points in 17 games during the month of March and has been a pleasant surprise to anyone who gambled on him in deep fantasy leagues. Apr 21 |
| 6. Robyn Regehr  ActiveRobyn Regehr broke his nose for the second time in Game 5. Regehr also broke his nose in Game 1 after David Backes kicked him in the face and it was broken again on Wednesday when he was clipped by the high-stick of T.J. Oshie. Regehr has been paired with Drew Doughty and the duo have been terrific in the playoffs. May 12 |
| 7. Robert Scuderi  ActiveRobert Scuderi thinks the Kings slow start cost them on Tuesday. "I think the challenge for us is – as Darryl would say – ‘starting on time,'" Scuderi said. "I thought they dominated the first. Second period, I thought they dominated the first half. We took the second half, and we dominated the third. When you think about it, it’s pretty much an even game, but they buried on their chances." Scuderi added that the Kings didn't learn their lessons from Game 3, so now the series is tied. The good news for the Kings is that the series is moving back to Los Angeles for Game 5. May 22 |
| 8. Keaton Ellerby  ActiveKeaton Ellerby will be a healthy scratch Tuesday night. Matt Greene, who had been sidelined with an undisclosed injury, will take his spot in the lineup. May 21 |
| 9. Matt Greene  ActiveMatt Greene made his 2013 postseason debut on Tuesday. Greene had been dealing with an undisclosed injury. He had two blocked shots and four hits in 14:08 minutes of ice time. May 22 |
| G | 1. Jonathan Quick  ActiveJonathan Quick allowed two goals on 23 shots, as the Kings dropped Game 4 to the Sharks by a score of 2-1. Quick was tested early and often, stopping 14 of 15 shots in the first period, as the Sharks sent a slew of pucks at him throughout the frame. He faced just eight shots the rest of the way, but a San Jose power play goal in the second proved the difference, as L.A. was unable to generate successful scoring chances. Quick has been pretty impressive this series, despite dropping back-to-back 2-1 contests in San Jose. Hopefully the shift back to L.A. for Game 5 will change the Kings’ fortune and give Quick some offensive help. May 22 |
| 2. Jonathan Bernier  ActiveThe Los Angeles chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers' Assn. nominated goalie Jonathan Bernier for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, awarded annually to the NHL player "who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey." Bernier, 24, didn't play during the Kings' Stanley Cup run last season but has played a key role this season while Jonathan Quick recovered from back surgery. Bernier ranks among the NHL leaders with a 1.86 goals-against average and .922 save percentage in 13 games. Apr 24 |
| 3. Martin Jones  ActiveMartin Jones has been summoned by the Los Angeles Kings. Jones isn't expected to get any playing time in the postseason, but this will be a learning experience for him. Jonathan Bernier is scheduled to become a restricted free agent this summer and the Kings might trade him rather than re-sign him because Jonathan Quick is already inked to a 10-year deal. If that happens, Jones might end up as the team's backup in 2013-14. He had a 2.53 GAA and .919 save percentage in 56 AHL games this season. May 8 |
| 4. Jean-Francois Berube  ActiveJean-Francois Berube has been called up by Los Angeles. Berube will try to learn what he can during the Kings' playoff run, but he won't participate in it. He had a 2.24 GAA and .910 save percentage in 24 ECHL contests in 2012-13. May 8 |
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| C | 1. Mikko Koivu  ActiveMikko Koivu finished the first round with no points and a minus-six rating in five games. Chicago's ability to silence Koivu was obviously a big part of the reason the Wild have been eliminated. "Last thing I want to do is sit up here and talk about puck luck or bounces. … I feel bad for Mikko," Wild coach Mike Yeo said. "He did a lot of the right things … and just didn't get rewarded." Provided he can stay healthy, Koivu should reach the 60-point mark next season despite his abysmal playoff numbers. May 10 |
| 2. Kyle Brodziak  ActiveKyle Brodziak scored twice in a 5-3 win against Edmonton. Charlie Coyle, Mikael Granlund, and Zach Parise each scored a goal for the Wild. Jason Pominville and Clayton Stoner each recorded two assists. Apr 17 |
| 3. Mikael Granlund  ActiveThe Minnesota Wild have recalled Mikael Granlund from the minors. Granlund is considered the Wild's best prospect but had a tough rookie season as he had only two goals and eight points in 27 NHL games. The Wild will likely switch their lines around for Game 3 and Granlund could draw into the lineup before the end of the playoffs as Minnesota could use some offensive flair, something that Granlund has in abundance. Look for Granlund to be a special player in his career but he may require a couple of seasons before having a lot of fantasy value. May 5 |
| 4. Charlie Coyle  ActiveCharlie Coyle was struck in the face by a high stick on Monday. Coyle is playing through it, but he has a chipped tooth and needs a root canal. "I have a lisp now, I’m spitting in people’s faces, I couldn’t eat or drink on the plane because it was stinging, my eyes are watering," Coyle said with a laugh. "Not fun at all." Apr 17 |
| 5. Zenon Konopka  ActiveZenon Konopka was a healthy scratch Sunday. He was joined in the press box by Mikael Granlund, Nathan Prosser, Jacob Dowell and Brett Clark. Konopka missed Game 1 but played in the second game of the series. He will likely be shuffled in and out of the lineup while Minnesota remains in the playoffs. May 6 |
| 6. Jacob Dowell  ActiveThe Minnesota Wild have recalled Jacob Dowell from the minors. Dowell played in only two games with the Wild this season and was recalled after the Houston Aeros were eliminated in the AHL playoffs. He had four goals and nine points in 37 games for Houston with 34 minutes and managed one assist in four playoff games. He is a depth player for the Wild at this time. May 5 |
| 7. Chad Rau  ActiveChad Rau will miss some AHL time as he is out of action with a foot injury. Rau signed a one-year/two-way contract in the off-season with the Wild. He has no fantasy value. Dec 4 |
| LW | 1. Zach Parise  ActiveZach Parise finished Minnesota's playoff run with just one goal and a minus-seven rating in five games. Parise signed a massive contract with the Wild over the summer and it's hard to regard his first season as a success. It wasn't a disaster either though, as he did end up with 18 goals and 38 points in 48 games. Look for him to push at the 70-point mark in 2013-14. May 10 |
| 2. Matt Cullen  ActiveMatt Cullen is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent this summer. Cullen, 36, isn't sure if he'll be back next season. "You just don’t know in this game," Cullen said. "For sure, I know that could have been my last game as a wild player. There’s lot of things that can happen. Never take it for granted. It’s been a lot of fun, but we’ll see what happens." He had seven goals and 27 points in 48 games, so he should still be able to find another team that'll want him if the Wild don't re-sign him. May 10 |
| 3. Devin Setoguchi  ActiveDevin Setoguchi scored his first postseason goal Friday night since he potted seven during the 2011 Stanley Cup playoffs with San Jose. Setoguchi's goal stemmed the Hawks' tide for a while Friday night, but the Wild were unable to hold the fort for long. Chicago scored three times in the third period to take a 2-0 lead in the series, which heads back to Minnesota for Game 3 on Sunday. May 4 |
| 4. Michael Rupp  ActiveIn addition to Niklas Backstrom, Michael Rupp also ranks among Minnesota Wild players who underwent surgery after the season ended. In Rupp's case, it was for his knee (meniscus). The Minneapolis Star-Tribune's Michael Russo reports that his window for return should be short. May 11 |
| 5. Jason Zucker  ActiveJason Zucker scored the 3-2 overtime-winner to get the Minnesota Wild back in their first-round series against the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday. That's the first goal of his postseason career. The 21-year-old has actually been one of the Wild's best offensive players so far in this series, creating chances and also generating an assist. In other news, Zach Parise finally found the net to relieve a little pressure on Minnesota's top players. May 5 |
| RW | 1. Jason Pominville  ActiveJason Pominville (upper body) will return to the fold for the Wild in Game 4. He has been out of action since April 23 with a suspected concussion. He posted nine points in 10 games with Minnesota after being acquired from Buffalo before getting hurt. According to the warmup, he will start on the fourth line. May 7 |
| 2. Dany Heatley  SidelinedDany Heatley (shoulder) skated alone Monday and was spotted firing pucks, as well, during the session. Heatley underwent surgery on his dislocated shoulder April 7 and is supposed to be done for the season. However, it appears possible he could return depending on how far the Wild go. He's likely definitely out for the first round, which means the Wild would have to upset the top-seeded Blackhawks for Heatley to have a chance to return. Apr 30 |
| 3. Pierre-Marc Bouchard  ActivePierre-Marc Bouchard was outstanding on Sunday as he scored a goal and added an assist. The normally mild mannered Bouchard was all over the ice, throwing out an occasional bodycheck and playing very well defensively. "That's the best hockey game that I've seen him play," coach Mike Yeo said. "For me, that was the best. He was a very, very good player tonight." It was Bouchard's first two points of the post-season and the winger is now a plus-three. May 6 |
| 4. Brett Bulmer  ActiveMichael Russo of the Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune thinks that the lower body injury suffered by Brett Bulmer over a week ago was his knee. The highly regarded Bulmer played nine games for the Wild last season as a 19-year-old before being returned to Kelowna of the WHL where he scored 34 goals in 53 games. He got off to a rough start in the AHL but had been turning it around when he was injured. There is no word on when he would be able to return to action. Dec 4 |
| 5. Cal Clutterbuck  ActiveCal Clutterbuck registered a goal in his first NHL playoff game in Tuesday's 2-1 overtime loss to Chicago. Clutterbuck scored from defenseman Clayton Stoner early in the first period to give Minnesota a 1-0 lead, but the Wild were outlasted by the Blackhawks in the postseason opener of the series. Ryan Suter led all skaters in the contest with a whopping 41:08 of ice time. He posted a minus-1 rating and four blocks. Apr 30 |
| 6. Torrey Mitchell  ActiveTorrey Mitchell potted a goal for Minnesota in Chicago Thursday night but it was too little and too late as the Blackhawks won the game and the opening-round playoff series against the Wild. Mitchell's goal was his only one of the series. Assists went to Kyle Brodziak and Marco Scandella. The Wild obtained high-priced free agents Zach Parise and Ryan Suter in the off-season but still have a long way to go before it can be considered a legitimate Stanley Cup defender. Don't be surprised if Mike Yeo is canned as the Wild's coach as this team didn't come close to its pre-season expectations. May 10 |
| 7. Stephane Veilleux  ActiveUpdating an earlier item: the Wild have recalled Stephane Veilleux from Houston. Just an FYI. The 31-year-old had three goals and eight points this season in Houston. May 5 |
| 8. Carson McMillan  ActiveCarson McMillan has been called up by Minnesota. He will join the Black Aces practice squad of the Wild because Houston has been eliminated from the AHL playoffs. May 6 |
| D | 1. Ryan Suter  ActiveAfter being shutout in Game 4, the Minnesota Wild absolutely have to win on Thursday. "It’s do or die," Suter said. "Every single guy has to play their best game if we want a chance to keep at this thing. It’s tough to reset. But we have to go in there with a mind-set of, ‘Hey, we have nothing to lose.'" The Wild are down 3-1 in their series against the Chicago Blackhawks. Suter has been a workhorse for Minnesota, averaging an incredible 32:07 minutes per game. May 8 |
| 2. Tom Gilbert  ActiveTom Gilbert is expected to play Thursday after spending two games in the press box. Gilbert will skate alongside blueliner Justin Falk. Gilbert has three goals and nine points in 34 games this season. He also ranks second last on the team with a minus-13 rating. Apr 11 |
| 3. Jonas Brodin  ActiveJonas Brodin made a solid case for himself to be among the finalists for the Calder Trophy, but he didn't end up making the cut. He led all rookies in average ice time per game at 23:12, but his 11 points and plus-3 rating paled in comparison to the totals of some other first-year blueliners in the league. After three playoff matches, Brodin has averaged nearly 29 minutes of ice time per game, while skating alongside Ryan Suter. He has the potential to become a solid defenseman, but his future as a fantasy asset is unclear due to his lack of production. May 6 |
| 4. Marco Scandella  ActiveMarco Scandella was paired with Jared Spurgeon during Monday's practice. It appears as though he will dress in Game 1 versus Chicago with Justin Falk drawing out of the lineup. Scandella hasn't played since Feb. 7 and was slowed by a groin injury that he suffered in the minors during the lockout. Apr 29 |
| 5. Jared Spurgeon  ActiveJared Spurgeon scored his first goal of 2013 in Thursday's 4-3 win over the Phoenix Coyotes. Spurgeon has two points in 10 games this season. He took a big step forward in 2011-12 with his 23-point campaign. He's still averaging 3:15 power-play minutes per game this season, so we wouldn't dismiss the possibility of him putting up far better numbers in the second half of the season. Mar 1 |
| 6. Clayton Stoner  SidelinedClayton Stoner is out with an upper body injury. Stoner was injured in Game 1 and did not practice again on Saturday. Do not expect him to be in the Minnesota lineup for Game 3 Sunday. May 5 |
| 7. Justin Falk  ActiveJustin Falk (illness) was able to play in Tuesday's game. Falk missed three straight contests. He had two blocked shots and two hits in 10:50 minutes of playing time. Feb 27 |
| 8. Mathew Dumba  ActiveMinnesota has summoned Mathew Dumba from the minors. With Houston knocked out of the AHL playoffs, Dumba will join the ranks of the Wild's taxi squad during the NHL postseason. May 6 |
| 9. Nate Prosser  ActiveThe Minnesota Wild will rely more on defensemen Nate Prosser and Justin Falk this season. Both he and Falk are helped by injuries to Jonas Brodin and Marco Scandella. "We feel [Falk and Prosser] have earned the right to get the first shot with the injuries that we have," GM Chuck Fletcher said. "They're young players that took a big step in their development, and I know our coaches are very comfortable putting them in the lineup. We like our depth on D, and when Scandella and Brodin get healthy, we'll be that much deeper." Prosser had 12 points and 57 penalty minutes in 51 games so he could be drafted late in deep pools. Jan 15 |
| G | 1. Niklas Backstrom  SidelinedThe Wild announced that Niklas Backstrom underwent successful sports hernia surgery on Thursday. He is expected to be fully recovered in time for next season, but as a pending unrestricted free agent it isn't clear if he'll back with Minnesota or somewhere else when he returns to the ice. May 16 |
| 2. Josh Harding  ActiveJosh Harding was one of three finalists for the Masterton Trophy announced Tuesday. Harding missed a large chunk of the season after he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Perhaps most amazingly, Harding came off the bench and started all six games of the Wild's opening-round playoff series after Niklas Backstrom suffered a sports hernia during warmups before Game 1. While fellow finalists Sidney Crosby and Adam McQuaid have their own tales and justification for their nominations, it'll be tough to deny Harding for this one. May 14 |
| 3. Jeff Deslauriers  ActiveJeff Deslauriers has been traded to Minnesota for future considerations. He has appeared in 15 games with the ECHL's Fort Wayne Komets this year and two with the AHL's Norfolk Admirals. Deslauriers will add some organizational depth in the crease after the team traded Matthew Hackett to Buffalo before Wednesday's deadline. Apr 3 |
| 4. Darcy Kuemper  ActiveDarcy Kuemper entered Game 4 in the second period, stopping 15 of 17 shots he faced in Minnesota’s 3-0 loss to Chicago. The 23-year-old rookie was forced into playoff action despite appearing in just six regular season games. He was clearly nervous, allowing a goal on the first shot he faced. Kuemper responded well, however, settling down before allowing a weak goal midway through the third which all but sealed the Wild’s fate. Nicklas Backstrom was dressed on the bench and served as the emergency goaltender, which may bode well for the Wild for Game 5 assuming he’s ready to return. We’ll update you on Harding’s progress and the goaltending situation as soon as we learn more. May 8 |
|
| C | 1. Tomas Plekanec  ActiveTomas Plekanec doesn't think the Canadiens need to become a bigger team. "I think our team identity is quickness and speed," Plekanec said. "When we play that game, we are successful. I don’t think it has anything to do with size. We have guys with size, who play like it. Plekanec thinks it was timing -- everyone playing their best together -- more than talent. "You don’t need to score a lot of goals, but you need to score at the right time, Plekanec said. "It seems like we didn’t have that. … We’ve had injuries the last couple years (so) it’s easy to kind of pinpoint that we need size and toughness. But I think we have that. Maybe we actually need more scoring." May 14 |
| 2. David Desharnais  ActiveMontreal's front office expects a bounce-back season from David Desharnais. General manager Marc Bergevin locked the forward up to a four-year, $14 million deal prior to the season only to see him slip to 28 points after putting up 60 the year before. "He’s still a young player and I expect him to rebound," the GM said. May 14 |
| 3. Lars Eller  SidelinedLars Eller has no recollection of the crushing hit he received from Ottawa's Eric Gryba that gave him a concussion and a broken nose. "It happened so fast. I don't remember anything of it happening on the ice" he said. "I don't remember getting carried off the ice, trying to get up, all that stuff." He lost consciousness but he is making positive strides in his recovery now. He skated twice last week with Pierre Allard, who serves as Montreal's strength and conditioning coach. Eller said he's "been feeling really good for the last three or four days," which has allowed him to ramp up his training. Concussions can be tricky to predict, but it looks like he will OK for next season. We'll keep you posted on his status if updates emerge over the summer. May 13 |
| 4. Jeff Halpern  ActiveMontreal Canadiens forward Jeff Halpern hopes to be back with the team in 2013-14. Of course, the feeling might not necessarily be mutual. He managed one point in three playoff games after producing just three in 46 regular season contests, so his defense would need to be stellar to draw any interest in a return. It's reasonable to wonder if he'll catch on with any team next season, let alone the Habs. May 11 |
| 5. Gabriel Dumont  ActiveGabriel Dumont made his second appearance of the postseason Tuesday night in Game 4. He played in Game 2 as well and both times he dressed because of injuries. Ryan White and Brian Gionta were unable to suit up on Tuesday because of upper-body injuries. He received just 7:30 of ice time. May 8 |
| 6. Petteri Nokelainen  ActivePetteri Nokelainen has successfully cleared waivers. Montreal has responded by sending Nokelainen to the minors. He hasn't played this season due to a back injury. Mar 15 |
| LW | 1. Max Pacioretty  ActiveMax Pacioretty suffered a dislocated shoulder in Game 1 that may have bothered him throughout Montreal's first-round series against Ottawa. He wasn't able to play in Game 2 because of the ailment and didn't look the same when he returned to the lineup for the next three contests. Pacioretty didn't record a single point in the playoffs after he led the Canadiens in scoring with 15 goals and 39 points during the regular season. May 10 |
| 2. Alex Galchenyuk  ActiveAlex Galchenyuk scored two shootout goals to help the United States win the bronze medal game against Finland at the 2013 IIHF World Championships. John Gibson made 36 saves in the victory while Craig Smith wrapped up an impressive tournament with a goal in the bronze medal game. May 19 |
| 3. Rene Bourque  ActiveRene Bourque scored the only Montreal goal in a 6-1 loss at the hands of the Senators in Game Three of their Eastern Conference playoff series on Sunday. The power play marker was the second tally of the postseason for Bourque, who added four shots on goal and 10 penalty minutes in the process. Brian Gionta and Tomas Plekanec picked up the assists on the lone Montreal goal in a brutal loss. May 5 |
| 4. Brandon Prust  SidelinedBrandon Prust missed Montreal's final playoff game with a broken rib. He was injured on a fall in the corner when he tried to pursue Ottawa goaltender Craig Anderson for a loose puck. Prust is projected to require three to four weeks of rest. May 13 |
| 5. Travis Moen  ActiveTravis Moen scored his first goal of the season in Tuesday's 4-3 shootout win over Tampa Bay. He also picked up a fighting major of the year when he battled with B.J. Crombeen. Colby Armstrong earned an assist on Moen's marker to get his first point as a member of the Canadiens. The production came after coach Michel Therrien spoke with his fourth-liners about getting more involved in the team's offensive attack. Feb 14 |
| 6. Michael Bournival  ActiveMichael Bournival notched a goal and two assists and finished a +1 in two lively games this weekend. Bournival hasn't been too noticeable this season so far, but that's not a bad feat for a rookie defenceman. The Habs' third round pick from 2011 is a -1 with 10 points through 21 games. Dec 16 |
| RW | 1. Brian Gionta  SidelinedBrian Gionta has a torn left bicep that requires surgery. Gionta will not be able to return before the end of Montreal's playoff run. He played in Games 1 and 3, but wasn't available for Montreal's 3-2 overtime loss on Tuesday. The Canadiens are just one loss away from elimination heading into Game 5 on Thursday. May 8 |
| 2. Brendan Gallagher  ActiveCanadiens coach Michel Therrien doesn't like how much Brendan Gallagher is getting "abused." Gallagher, a Calder Trophy finalist, has two goals in the series. In the penalty-fest that was Game 3, he also wound up fighting, which is something his coach doesn't really want to see. "He’s a kid who comes to the rink with such a great attitude and great work ethic. He’s a small guy who plays a big game, but the thing I don’t like is he’s getting abused. "You never want to see your young players get abused," Therrien said. "Yesterday, he ended up fighting. That’s not his game. He’s never done that before, maybe one time. Hopefully, those things are going to stop. He drew two penalties, but that doesn’t make the other five times he was hit okay. It’s not okay. He’s a good player. The NHL needs good kids like that to sell the game." May 7 |
| 3. Michael Ryder  ActiveMichael Ryder is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent this summer. Bottom-six forwards Colby Armstrong and Jeff Halpern can also become UFAs if the Canadiens don't offer them extensions. Ryder is the most valuable from an offensive point of view and he played much more regularly than his potential free agent teammates, so Montreal may want to get him back in the fold. He registered 10 goals and 11 assists in 27 games with the Canadiens after being acquired from Dallas and he had two points in five contests during the team's first-round playoff exit. May 10 |
| 4. Colby Armstrong  ActiveMax Pacioretty told the Montreal Gazette's Dave Stubbs that he wants the Habs to retain Colby Armstrong, calling him a "hero" for his leadership and presence this season. Though he has displayed some decent scoring ability in his career, Armstrong has turned into a into a bottom-six role player whose contributions aren't often seen in the score sheet; he had only two goals and three assists this season. He was bought out by the Leafs prior to this season with a $3 million deal and inked a $1 million contract with the Habs. May 11 |
| 5. Michael Blunden  ActiveMichael Blunden will make his NHL playoff debut Thursday night. He skated in five games with the Canadiens during the regular season. Blunden probably won't see much ice time in Game 5. May 9 |
| 6. Ryan White  SidelinedRyan White's upper body injury was a punctured lung. White understandably missed Games 4 and 5 for that reason. Fortunately the issue has been dealt with and he might have even been able to return during the Canadiens' postseason run had they managed to avoid elimination. May 10 |
| D | 1. Andrei Markov  ActiveAndrei Markov was obviously upset after Montreal's playoff exit Thursday night, but he also attempted to look on the bright side. "It doesn't matter where you place in the regular season," said Markov. "When you don't get through the first round, everybody's disappointed. It's not easy, but at the same time, we have a good young group of guys who will improve next year, so we have a good future." The Canadiens won the Northeast Division this season after finishing with the worst record in the Eastern Conference a year ago. It wasn't a pretty end to the 2013 campaign, as they were quickly eliminated in five games by Ottawa, but Montreal still has plenty to proud of going into next season. Markov should also be pleased that he managed to appear in all 48 games during the regular season and all five matches in the playoffs after struggling with injuries the past three years. May 10 |
| 2. P.K. Subban  ActiveP.K. Subban will join Team Canada for the remainder of the World Hockey Championship. He is slated to join the team in time for Thursday's quarterfinal game. Subban, who concluded the NHL season as a finalist for the Norris Trophy, will be a big addition to Canada's back end at the tournament. May 13 |
| 3. Raphael Diaz  ActiveRaphael Diaz will close out the year in the World Hockey Championship with Switzerland. The Swiss will play the Czech Republic in Thursday's quarter-final round. "I learned a lot of things again this year," said Diaz prior to leaving for the tournament. "I want to go and show my best hockey and support my teammates from Switzerland." He played in Switzerland's top league during the lockout, where he starred for EV Zug. Diaz had 14 points in 23 games during the regular season for Montreal. May 15 |
| 4. Alexei Emelin  SidelinedAlexei Emelin will be sidelined for the next six months after undergoing surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left knee Tuesday. Emelin suffered the season-ending injury on April 6 but waited until just today to have it repaired. Given the timeline, it's likely Emelin won't be able to return to the lineup until at least the end of November and possibly early December. While the injury won't affect your fantasy draft, the Canadiens clearly missed his physical presence on the blue line. May 21 |
| 5. Josh Gorges  ActiveThe Montreal Canadiens were visibly upset and baffled by some of the calls made in Tuesday's overtime loss to Ottawa, but Josh Georges isn't blaming the officials for the defeat. Most notably the Habs didn't like the questionable icing calls that went against them late in the contest that eventually led to the Senators tying the score in the final minute of regulation. "I just want everything to be called the same way," Gorges said. "I don't care if they wave them off, but in the first period they put one behind me and I stopped to let (Raphael Diaz) get it and the linesman waved it off. His explanation was that, as soon as I stopped moving my feet, it was no longer icing. I asked the same thing (in the third period). But that's not why we lost. The (officials) make the calls and we live by it." May 8 |
| 6. Francis Bouillon  ActiveMontreal Canadiens defenseman Francis Bouillon admitted that he played with a fractured finger for almost a month. Bouillon reportedly injured his hand fighting Steve Ott on April 11. Clearly Bouillon wanted to show that he'd fight through pain, even after signing a one-year contract extension through 2013-14. May 11 |
| 7. Jarred Tinordi  ActiveRookie defenseman Jarred Tinordi is proving himself to be playoff-ready with his performance through two games. Tinordi has yet to contribute offensively, but he's playing to his strength as he registered four hits and three blocked shots in Friday's win over the Senators. "I think the playoffs are good for my style," said Tinordi. "I'm not out there to score goals. I'm realizing what kind of defenseman I am and I'm comfortable playing in defensive situations." Like his father, former NHLer Mark, Tinordi adds an element of toughness to the blue line that any team would welcome. May 5 |
| 8. Davis Drewiske  ActiveDavis Drewiske will play alongside Andrei Markov on Montreal's second pairing. The new Canadiens defenseman will fill in for injured blueliner Alexei Emelin, who isn't expected to play again this season. Josh Gorges and P.K. Subban will likely get the majority of the ice time for the team as the top tandem. Apr 9 |
| 9. Tomas Kaberle  ActiveTomas Kaberle will not be sent down to the AHL if he's not claimed on waivers, according to RDS' Renaud Lavoie. We'll know Sunday, but the chances of him being claimed are miniscule as he's still owed a pro-rated $4.25 million this year and the same amount next season. He's a prime buyout candidate once the season ends. Mar 30 |
| 10. Nathan Beaulieu  ActiveNathan Beaulieu and his father, OHL coach Jacques Beaulieu, are facing assault charges from an altercation Saturday at a house party. Strathroy-Caradoc police say the father and son have each been charged with two counts of assault for an altercation following a charity golf tournament. They will have their case heard in court on June 11. May 1 |
| 11. Greg Pateryn  ActiveThe Canadiens announced after Wednesday's game that defenseman Greg Pateryn was being returned to AHL Hamilton. He logged just under seven minutes of ice time during Wednesday's shootout win over Ottawa in his third NHL appearance of the season. Montreal doesn't play again until Saturday, so Pateryn or another defender could join the team before then if the team doesn't get Yannick Weber or Raphael Diaz back from injury. Mar 14 |
| G | 1. Carey Price  SidelinedHabs general manager Marc Bergevin fully supports Carey Price, but wants him to be better next year. Price has all the talent in the world, but the 25-year-old remains very inconsistent. He had a 2.59 goals-against average and .905 save percentage in the regular season, while posting a 3.26 goals-against average and .894 sve percentage in the playoffs. "Can Carey be better? He’ll be the first one to admit he can be better and he said he will be better," Bergevin said. "I have faith in him that he will be better. He had some good stretches and he had some so-so stretches. And that’s part of being a young goaltender and we’re going to move forward with him and I’m 100 percent behind him." May 14 |
| 2. Peter Budaj  ActivePeter Budaj was beaten six times on 29 shots Thursday as the Canadiens dropped a 6-1 decision to the Senators. Budaj was forced into action due to the injury suffered by Carey Price and he was the victim of a woeful performance by the team around him. He'll enter next season as the primary backup to Price once again. May 9 |
| 3. Dustin Tokarski  ActiveTampa Bay has shipped Dustin Tokarski to Montreal in exchange for Cedrick Desjardins. The two clubs traded minor-league goalies on Thursday. Tokarski helped backstop Norfolk to a Calder Cup championship last season. In 2012-13 with Syracuse, he has posted an 18-8-4 record, a 2.46 GAA and a .900 save percentage. Feb 14 |
| 4. Robert Mayer  ActiveRobert Mayer will serve as Peter Budaj's backup Thursday night in Game 5. Number one goaltender Carey Price has been ruled out for the rest of the series due to a lower-body injury. Mayer has never played in an NHL game. May 9 |
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| Nashville Predators | New Jersey Devils | New York Islanders |
| C | 1. David Legwand  ActiveDavid Legwand has racked up 16 points in his last 18 games. In his past eight outings, he has four goals and eight points. "David is competing really hard. He knows that he has to carry a lot of the load and is showing his ability," coach Barry Trotz said. "He's using his ability on a consistent basis shift-in and shift-out, and you talk about being a real good pro and producing and trying to make a difference. He has been trying to make a difference." He has also done a good job of taking advantage of shoot-first linemates Taylor Beck and Patric Hornqvist. Apr 11 |
| 2. Mike Fisher  ActiveMike Fisher scored a goal and recorded an assist in his return from a hand injury on Thursday. Fisher missed seven games as a result of the injury. He also had five hits and logged 18:53 minutes in Nashville's 5-2 loss to Detroit. Apr 26 |
| 3. Paul Gaustad  I.L.Paul Gaustad had successful shoulder stabilization surgery Monday. He will need four months of rehab which will take him into August, well ahead of the start of training camp. Apr 16 |
| 4. Nick Spaling  ActiveNick Spaling returned to action on Saturday after being a healthy scratch. Spaling played 16:28 minutes as he replaced the injured Patric Hornqvist in the lineup. "I just want to play my game and get back to playing down low and play at the net," Spaling said before the game Saturday. "I need to get to the net and be there for screens and rebounds." He has three goals and five points in 24 games with a poor minus-seven rating. Mar 11 |
| 5. Craig Smith  ActiveNashville Predators coach Barry Trotz called out Craig Smith and Sergei Kostitsyn for their lack of production this season. "We expected production from Sergei and Craig Smith and we got none," Trotz said. "Both those guys, we were looking at them to be top-six, top-seven forwards and we got no production." Ouch. Smith finished with four goals and 12 points while Kostitsyn scored three goals and 15 points. Both were pretty big disappointments for a Predators team that finished tied for last in the NHL in scoring with 2.27 goals per game. Apr 29 |
| 6. Filip Forsberg  ActiveFilip Forsberg will return to Sweden and finish high school. Forsberg was recalled for the last game of the season and ended up playing five games this year for the Predators after being traded from Washington at the deadline. He has a very bright NHL future as he is an all-round player. Not a bad gig to play in the NHL and then have to return home to finish high school. He is worth picking up in all keeper pools next season. Apr 29 |
| LW | 1. Sergei Kostitsyn  ActiveSergei Kostitsyn suffered an MCL injury Saturday and will need two-four weeks to recover. It was the last game of the regular season and with the Predators on the outside looking in at the playoffs, it will only interfere with his off-season. Just an FYI as he had only three goals and 15 points in 46 games this season and should not have been in your lineup. Apr 29 |
| 2. Colin Wilson  I.L.Colin Wilson underwent stabilization surgery on his left shoulder on Monday. If you're experiencing deja vu, it's because Wilson had the same procedure on his right shoulder a few weeks back. Wilson's right shoulder was injured in March, but he's had chronic problems with the left one. He's expected to need four-to-six months to recover. May 10 |
| 3. Gabriel Bourque  SidelinedGabriel Bourque's surgery to repair a torn meniscus went well and he will be out for two-four weeks. Unfortunately, the Predators were eliminated from playoff contention on Monday evening so Bourque's season is over. He had 11 goals in 34 games this season. Apr 16 |
| 4. Brandon Yip  SidelinedBrandon Yip (lower body) is expected to return to practice Wednesday. Yip has been sidelined since suffering the injury April 7. He has just three goals and seven points in 35 games this season and shouldn't be in your lineup. Apr 16 |
| 5. Taylor Beck  SidelinedTaylor Beck will miss Tuesday's contest with an upper body injury. Beck has three goals and seven points in 16 games this season. Consider him day-to-day, although obviously this is the final week of Nashville's campaign. Apr 22 |
| 6. Kevin Henderson  ActiveKevin Henderson was called up from the minors on Saturday April 27. Apr 28 |
| RW | 1. Patric Hornqvist  ActivePatric Hornqvist is upbeat about the Predators' future after signing a five-year, $21.25 million contract. Hornqvist would have been a restricted free agent this summer. "I think we have something really good here going," Hornqvist said. "I want to stay here. I like it here. Great place to live and a great place to play. The fans are great; it was a quick deal." Hornqvist, who was limited to 24 games this season, is one of the few offensive weapons the Predators have so locking him up was vital. May 1 |
| 2. Bobby Butler  ActiveThe Nashville Predators are unsure as to whether or not they will re-sign RFA to be Bobby Butler. Butler is currently with Team USA at the World Championships. His inconsistent play caused the Devils to place him on waivers where the Predators grabbed him in March. "He hasn’t been consistent. If we can get his 'A' game all the time, we have a spot for him. But his inconsistency is what has held him back," GM David Poile said. "We have to get a handle on whether he’s 'A' game Bobby or something less than that," May 12 |
| 3. Richard Clune  ActiveRichard Clune fought Colorado's Cody McLeod in Saturday's 1-0 overtime loss. Clune now has 84 penalty minutes in 34 games this season. He accumulate about two penalty minutes per game for the rest of the season and also chip in with the occasional point. Mar 30 |
| 4. Chris Mueller  ActiveNashville has called up Chris Mueller. He was sent down Wednesday after playing in Tuesday's win over Colorado. In seven NHL games this year, Mueller has two goals and three points. Apr 4 |
| 5. Matt Halischuk  SidelinedMatt Halischuk expects to undergo shoulder surgery on Monday. The good news is that the young winger expects to be good to go for training camp. Halischuk had 11 points in 2013, including four points in his final three contests. Apr 28 |
| 6. Daniel Bang  ActiveThe Nashville Predators have sent Daniel Bang to the minors. Bang will presumably play for the Milwaukee Admirals in Game 1 of the first round on Friday. He has two assists in seven games with Nashville this season. Apr 26 |
| D | 1. Shea Weber  ActiveShea Weber wants to remain with the Nashville Predators and is committed to their rebuilding process. "For sure, definitely," Weber said Sunday. "I’m committed to everything here -- committed to the team and coaching staff and my teammates, and committed to being better for them and getting back to the postseason." Weber's been locked in to the process since Nashville matched a 14-year, $110 million offer sheet Weber signed with the Flyers last summer. There have been rumblings that Weber might want out after flirting with leaving already and while these words seem to dispute that notion, what one says in public can be entirely different to what is said in private. Time will tell if Weber is true to his words and if the Preds can afford to pay the defenseman the full freight on that massive deal. Apr 30 |
| 2. Kevin Klein  ActiveKevin Klein was back in the Predators lineup against Chicago Friday night. Klein had been for the last week with an upper body injury but seems fine now after logging 21:22 of ice time and registering an assist in the Preds' 5-4 overtime loss to the Hawks. Activate him if you normally would. Apr 20 |
| 3. Roman Josi  ActiveThe Nashville Predators will make the signing of Roman Josi a priority in the off-season. Josi will become a restricted free agent in the off-season and the Predators want him to add muscle in the off-season as they think he lacks "man strength" according to coach Barry Trotz. Josi is second on the Predators depth chart on the blueline, behind Shea Weber and is expected to be an integral part of the Nashville defense for many years to come. He had five goals and 18 points in 48 games this season and should hit the 35-40 point mark next season if he remains healthy. May 18 |
| 4. Hal Gill  ActiveHal Gill will play in his 1,100th career game Tuesday. Gill will be the 16th active player to hit the milestone. Congratulations to Gill on the achievement. Apr 23 |
| 5. Jonathon Blum  ActiveCoach Barry Trotz was not happy with the effort of defenseman Jonathon Blum on the winning goal Sunday. The Blackhawks and Predators were tied at three just past the halfway mark of the third period when Blum was beaten to the puck by Patrick Kane who passed in front to Jonathan Toews. Toews buried his shot to put the Blackhawks up for good. "They dump the puck in two on three and beat us to the end boards and made a play," Trotz said. "That's right on our 'D.' Our 'D' has to have that puck." Blum could be a healthy scratch once again as he was in mid-March when he spent five games in the press box. Apr 8 |
| 6. Victor Bartley  ActiveVictor Bartley produced his first NHL point when he earned an assist on Nick Spaling's second-period goal Thursday night. The marker gave Nashville a 4-2 lead in what would become a 5-3 victory. Bartley didn't have a shot during his 19:05 of ice time against Calgary, but he did finish with a plus-3 rating. Mar 22 |
| G | 1. Pekka Rinne  SidelinedPekka Rinne said he expects to be much better next season after undergoing hip surgery. Rinne wouldn't blame his sub-par year on the injury, but he was pretty clear about how much he expects it to help matters. "I’m positive it will be better," Rinne said Monday. "Right now I’m just happy it’s taken care of and hopefully I can return stronger. I’m sure once I get back on the ice, I’ll notice the biggest differences." Rinne is expected to remain on crutches for six more weeks and hopes to ready to play by the time training camp opens in September. May 21 |
| 2. Chris Mason  ActiveChris Mason will play between the pipes on Saturday. Nashville has nothing left to play for, so Mason will get back-to-back starts. He has a 3.97 GAA and .852 save percentage in 10 games this season. Apr 27 |
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| C | 1. Travis Zajac  ActiveTravis Zajac was back in the lineup Thursday night despite an illness that limited him to 13 minutes Monday. Zajac admitted he was throwing up in between periods and was very under the weather Monday night. Unfortunately, a return to health didn’t mean a return to fantasy prominence as Zajac didn’t register a point and managed just two shots on goal Thursday against the Bruins. Apr 5 |
| 2. Adam Henrique  ActiveAdam Henrique had no shots on goal in New Jersey's 4-0 loss Saturday. Henrique will finish the season with 11 goals and 16 points in 42 games. That's a huge step down from his 51-point rookie campaign, but if he's given top-six minutes, he could bounce back in 2013-14. Apr 27 |
| 3. Ryan Carter  ActiveRyan Carter scored his third goal of the season for New Jersey in a 3-2 shootout win over Winnipeg Sunday. Carter has produced at a decent clip by his standards this season with 10 points in 22 contests and with his history of penalty minute accumulation holds true he could have value in deeper rotisserie formats. Stephen Gionta also found the back of the net in the victory. Mar 10 |
| 4. Jacob Josefson  ActiveJacob Josefson got his first goal of the season in Tuesday's win over Montreal. "You always want to at least break the zero," Josefson said. "It was good to see it go in." He has three points and a minus-9 rating in 20 appearances with New Jersey this year. Apr 24 |
| 5. Andrei Loktionov  ActiveAndrei Loktionov will be a healthy scratch Thursday when the Devils play in Philadelphia. "It's coach's decision,"Loktionov said. "We have to change something in the offensive zone because we didn't win the game. We have to do something because it's can't be 11 games in a row. If it works, it's nice. If not, we'll see." He hasn't posted a point in seven straight contests. Apr 18 |
| LW | 1. Patrik Elias  ActivePatrik Elias and the New Jersey Devils haven't started contract discussions yet. The Devils have started talking to David Clarkson though. Both players are eligible for unrestricted free agency in July. May 17 |
| 2. Alexei Ponikarovsky  ActiveAlexei Ponikarovsky (lower body) has been activated off of the injured reserve list. Look for Ponikarovsky to play in Friday's game against the Tampa Bay Lightning. He hasn't been in the Devils' lineup since March 19. Mar 29 |
| 3. Stephen Gionta  ActiveStephen Gionta and Ryan Carter were happy to contribute to Team USA's bronze medal at the World Hockey Championship. "It was a fun tournament and, obviously, it helps coming home with something," Gionta said Wednesday. "The ultimate goal is the make the (NHL) playoffs and play in that, but to go over and represent USA and come home with the first medal since '04 was pretty cool and definitely something that I enjoyed." The two of them played with Tampa Bay's Nate Thompson in the tournament. Gionta had three goals in 10 contests, while Carter had a goal and an assist in 10 games. May 23 |
| 4. Steve Sullivan  ActiveSteve Sullivan said he'd be "extremely surprised" if the Penguins are upset again in the first round. Sullivan, now with the Devils, was with the second-seeded Pens when they were shocked by the Flyers last season. "I'd be extremely surprised if something like that happens to them again," Sullivan said. "Extremely. You know, you learn from your past experiences. They've learned their lesson. Look at how they've played all season. They are a team with a chip on its shoulder, and it shows. They aren't going to get stunned by anything again." Apr 26 |
| 5. Dainius Zubrus  ActiveSaturday afternoon's game against the Rangers could be the last contest Dainius Zubrus plays as a New Jersey Devil. He is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent July 1st and there is no indication whether Devil GM Lou Lamoriello will make an attempt to re-sign him. Patrik Elias and David Clarkson, who are also UFA's, stand a better chance of returning to the Jersey shore. Apr 27 |
| 6. Krys Barch  ActiveKrys Barch tumbled headfirst into the boards on a hit by Philadelphia's Daniel Briere, but he returned to the game and finished it Wednesday night. "He just kind of caught me there, adjusted my neck for me," Barch joked. "I've been hit harder with a fist than that." Barch has no points and 44 penalty minutes in 20 games this campaign. Mar 14 |
| 7. Harri Pesonen  ActiveHarri Pesonen was brought back up by the Devils on Sunday. He doesn't have a point in three games with New Jersey this season. Mar 25 |
| RW | 1. Ilya Kovalchuk  ActiveIlya Kovalchuk leads all scorers at the IIHF World Championships. The Devils' star is having a monster tourney for Russia with six goals and nine points in five games. Kovalchuk is also a plus seven and has amassed 25 penalty minutes. Too bad these numbers don't count in many hockey pools. May 11 |
| 2. David Clarkson  ActiveThe Maple Leafs could be one of many teams interested in the services of winger David Clarkson this summer. The unrestricted free agent is coming off his most productive NHL season and offers a combination of skill and toughness all teams covet. The bidding process will likely net Clarkson a very lucrative contract once all is said and done. May 19 |
| 3. Matt D'Agostini  ActiveMatt D'Agostini had an MRI on his wrist and GM Lou Lamoriello reported that "he's OK." He missed the last three games of the 2013 campaign with a sprained left wrist, which he suffered at a practice. May 16 |
| 4. Steve Bernier  ActiveSteve Bernier registered an assist on Sunday. Bernier has eight goals and 13 points in 39 games this season. He also is in a three-way tie for the worst plus/minus rating on the team at minus-11. Apr 8 |
| 5. Tom Kostopoulos  ActiveNew Jersey Devils coach Pete DeBoer says he held Tom Kostopoulos out of the lineup Thursday just to be safe. Kostoplous admitted he was knocked unconscious during a fight with Matt Martin of the Islanders on Monday. The Devils dressed seven defensemen instead of Kostopoulos. Apr 5 |
| D | 1. Henrik Tallinder  ActiveHenrik Tallinder is a buyout candidate this off-season. The Devils need to make room for some younger reargaurds such as Eric Gelinas, Alex Urbom and Jon Merrill and paying Tallinder almost $3.4 million to sit in the press box makes no sense. There is also a chance that Anton Volchenkov could be bought out if Devils' GM Lou Lamoriello wants to make even bigger changes on his blueline. May 4 |
| 2. Andy Greene  ActiveAndy Greene netted a shorthanded goal in the Devils' 5-1 loss Saturday afternoon. Dainius Zubrus and Ryan Carter each assisted on Greene's goal. It was Greene's first point in seven games this season. Feb 2 |
| 3. Marek Zidlicky  ActiveThe New Jersey Devils appear to be interested in bringing back potential UFA defenseman Marek Zidlicky. "We'd certainly like to have him back," said GM Lou Lamoriello. Zidlicky is currently playing for the Czech Republic at the World Hockey Championship. The Devils are still deciding what their off-season plans are at this time. May 16 |
| 4. Adam Larsson  ActiveAdam Larsson was able to play Friday night against the Senators. He recovered from being hit by a shot in practice Wednesday. Larsson was on the ice for 16:40 but did little with his opportunity from a fantasy perspective. Apr 13 |
| 5. Anton Volchenkov  ActiveAnton Volchenkov has completed his four-game suspension. Volchenkov returned on Sunday and logged 18:13 minutes in the Devils' 4-1 loss. He blocked four shots and had a neutral plus/minus rating. Apr 22 |
| 6. Bryce Salvador  ActiveAccording to New Jersey GM Lou Lamoriello, Bryce Salvador's bruised left wrist/thumb is now "100 percent." "He's back to normal," Lamoriello said Wednesday. "I saw him yesterday and he's perfect." Salvador was injured blocking a shot from Zdeno Chara and the ailment forced him to miss the last eight games of the regular season. May 16 |
| 7. Mark Fayne  ActiveDevils GM Lou Lamoriello stated on Wednesday that Mark Fayne is "OK" after ending the season with a bulging disc in his back. He sat out the last four games of the year, but he didn't have to undergo surgery to repair the problem. May 16 |
| 8. Peter Harrold  ActivePeter Harrold scored his first goal of the season but the Devils came up short in their 2-1 loss to the Canadiens on Saturday night. Harrold, who also picked up a minor penalty and had four shots on goal, has only played in seven games this season. He may be playing over 17 minutes a night, but he's not a very exciting defenseman for fantasy purposes. Ilya Kovalchuk had the assist. Mar 16 |
| G | 1. Martin Brodeur  ActiveMartin Brodeur has already said that he will play next season in the final year of his contract, but he hasn't said that he's done once that year is over. "Not at all," he said Monday. "It's the last year on my contract and that's about it. This year, even though we didn't make the playoffs, I had a great time playing the game. I really had a good time competing at the level I wanted to compete (at) and if it stays like that and I'm still having fun, who knows that's going to happen? I'm not putting a decision in my mind." Brodeur, who will turn 41 years of age one week from today, posted a 13-9-7 record with a 2.22 goals-against average and a .901 save percentage. He even said that he's not opposed to eventually splitting starts with a younger goaltender when the time comes. Apr 29 |
| 2. Johan Hedberg  ActiveJohan Hedberg kicked out 17 of 21 shots in a 4-0 loss Saturday. Hedberg lost three of his last four games to wrap-up the season. He will finish with an abysmal 6-10-3 record. He'll be 40 by the time the 2013-14 campaign starts and we don't expect him to have much fantasy value next season. Apr 27 |
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| C | 1. John Tavares  ActiveJohn Tavares plans to work hard during the off-season to continue his development. "I just don't want to stop here. I want to keep getting better," he said after the Islanders were eliminated from the playoffs in the opening round by Pittsburgh. "It's my goal to help this team win a Stanley Cup and if I can improve myself in any way, that's what I'm going to do." Any success the team enjoys in the years to come will probably be directly impacted by the play of Tavares, who proved his worth this year by being selected as a Hart Trophy finalist. May 15 |
| 2. Frans Nielsen  ActiveFrans Nielsen said that the Islanders need to make sure that their improvements carry over into next year. "We've got to realize that what we did down the stretch this year, we have to do it from Day 1 next year and we've got to do it for 82 games," he said Tuesday morning. "It only gets tougher from here. Teams are going to be even more prepared for us." Making the playoffs is a great accomplishment, but it has to be earned each year and the Islanders will need to stay consistent for longer stretches to make sure they remain as a team on the rise. May 15 |
| 3. Joshua Bailey  ActiveThe Islanders are a confident group, but know that means nothing if they don't win. Down 2-1 in the series entering a home tilt against the Penguins, the Islanders know they're close. "If you're satisfied with just being able to compete, that's a recipe for losing,'' Josh Bailey said. "We're not here to try and hang with them and go home having put up a good fight. We're here to win.'' May 7 |
| 4. Casey Cizikas  ActiveUpdating a previous note, Casey Cizikas (mouth) has returned to the game. Great news. Cizikas was caught by a Simon Despres skate in the chin/mouth area and presumably went to the locker room to get stitched up. He has two goals and a helper in the series. May 11 |
| 5. Marty Reasoner  ActiveMarty Reasoner was ejected from Game 1 Wednesday night after he was assessed a kneeing major with 2:10 left in the third period on a collision with Pittsburgh forward Jussi Jokinen. Reasoner, who was a healthy scratch for the Islanders in the final 10 games of the regular season, stuck his leg out on the play but the contact was more ankle on ankle than anything else. New York's Travis Hamonic, Casey Cizikas and Matt Moulson were given misconduct penalties on the ensuing scrum, while Doug Murray, Jarome Iginla and Pascal Dupuis got the same from the Penguins' side. Reasoner isn't likely to face supplemental discipline for the hit and Jokinen's status wasn't updated after the game. May 2 |
| 6. Anders Lee  ActiveAnders Lee made his NHL debut Tuesday night and he scored the opening goal of the match in a 5-2 win over Winnipeg. The former Notre Dame forward posted a minus-1 rating and played 9:36 of ice time. Lee just signed his first pro contract on Monday. Apr 3 |
| 7. Ryan Strome  ActiveRyan Strome was called up from the minors Sunday along with seven other players. Forwards Brock Nelson, Johan Sundstrom and John Persson, defensemen Matt Donovan, Aaron Ness and Calvin de Haan and goaltender Anders Nilsson were also brought to serve as the Islanders' Black Aces squad during the playoffs. Apr 29 |
| 8. Brock Nelson  ActiveThe New York Islanders decided to tab Brock Nelson for Game 6 against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday, making this his NHL debut. He brings size and a solid amount of skill to the table, so he's at least worth watching. The Islanders selected him 30th overall in the 2010 NHL Draft. May 11 |
| LW | 1. Matt Moulson  ActiveMatt Moulson is a nominee for the 2013 Lady Byng Memorial Trophy. Moulson was also a finalist in 2012, but lost to Brian Campbell. Moulson had 44 points and four penalty minutes in 47 games. May 16 |
| 2. Michael Grabner  ActiveMichael Grabner had a goal and an assist in the Islanders' 4-3 overtime loss to the Penguins in Game 6 on Saturday night. And with that, the Isles' season comes to an end. It's certainly not the way they wanted to go out, but there's a lot of promise here and coach Jack Capuano has made a ton of strides with this young team -- to the point that it wouldn't be surprising to see them in the thick of the playoff picture again next season. Colin McDonald and John Tavares scored the other goals, while Keith Aucoin chipped in with two helpers. Matt Carkner and Josh Bailey recorded an assist apiece as well. May 11 |
| 3. David Ullstrom  ActiveDavid Ullstrom has entered the Islanders' lineup Friday night in Game 2. Marty Reasoner has been scratched. The 24-year-old picked up five points in 20 NHL games this year, and he had 26 in 33 games in the AHL May 3 |
| 4. Eric Boulton  ActiveEric Boulton has agreed to a one-year extension with the New York Islanders. Boulton was scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent this summer. He had no points and 36 penalty minutes in 15 games in 2013. May 17 |
| 5. John Persson  ActiveThe New York Islanders signed prospect John Persson to a three-year, entry-level contract on Tuesday. He amassed 23 goals and 58 points in 70 contests with the WHL's Red Deer Rebels in 2011-12. Persson concluded the year with the Islanders' AHL affiliate, where he produced four goals and four assists in 12 games with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. New York selected him in the fifth round of the 2011 draft. May 31 |
| RW | 1. Brad Boyes  ActiveBrad Boyes is eligible for unrestricted free agency this July. He joins defenseman Mark Streit and goaltender Evgeni Nabokov as key potential UFAs who the Islanders should retain for the 2013-14 campaign. Boyes registered 10 goals and 35 points in 48 games during the truncated regular season, while primarily on a line with John Tavares and Matt Moulson. Tavares thinks that the Isles should re-sign those three players too. "I hope we'll see all those guys back," he said. "The leadership they brought [meant] leaps and bounds for us getting over the hump in a lot of ways." May 15 |
| 2. Kyle Okposo  ActiveKyle Okposo recorded his third goal of the postseason in Tuesday's 6-4 win against Pittsburgh. The Islanders are a confident group in their first-round series versus the Penguins and with both teams winning two games that confidence is justified. Okposo scored from behind the goal line on a bank shot off Marc-Andre Fleury's pad in the second period. He had four goals in 48 regular-season contests, but has elevated his game to a much higher level in the playoffs. May 8 |
| 3. Keith Aucoin  ActiveKeith Aucoin scored the lone Islanders' goal in a 2-1 shootout loss to the Sabres Friday night. Sure, it was a gift from Ryan Miller, but Aucoin still managed to get his sixth of the season on the play. Overall, the 34-year-old has excelled at the AHL level during his professional career, but success in the NHL has eluded him so far. He has no fantasy value moving foward. Apr 26 |
| 4. Matt Martin  ActiveMatt Martin leads the NHL in hits with 216. Bet that wasn't your first guess as to who is the top body checker in the league. Martin is therefore very valuable in pools that count hits as a category. Of course if you are in such a pool, you probably knew that already. Apr 20 |
| 5. Jesse Joensuu  ActiveJesse Joensuu made his NHL playoff debut Thursday in Game 5. He recorded one shot and played just 8:26 of ice time in the Islanders' 4-0 loss to Pittsburgh. David Ullstrom came out of the lineup to give Joensuu an opportunity to play. May 10 |
| 6. Johan Sundstrom  ActiveThe New York Islanders have signed Johan Sundstrom to a three-year, entry-level contract. He notched six goals and five assists in 49 games with Frolunda in the Swedish Elite League this past season. Sundstrom was selected in the second round, 50th overall, in the 2011 draft. Jun 13 |
| D | 1. Mark Streit  ActiveMark Streit, who is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent, wants to stay on Long Island. "I've said it all along, I want to be back," Streit said. The Islanders captain posted six goals and 27 points in 48 games this season, while collecting five points in six playoff contests. Streit has played for the Islanders for the last four years and the two sides had reportedly started working on an extension prior to the end of the regular season. May 15 |
| 2. Lubomir Visnovsky  ActiveIn case you were wondering whether Lubomir Visnovksy is injured, he is not. He sat out Friday's season finale against the Sabres to rest up for the playoffs. Apr 27 |
| 3. Travis Hamonic  ActiveTravis Hamonic isn't worried that the Islanders are down 2-1 in their first-round series versus Pittsburgh. "We can't be down. We played a great game," he said following Sunday's overtime loss. "We battled back against one of the tougher teams in the league. It's a loss, so it stinks, we're mad, but you can't dwell on it. We'll be ready for Game 4." New York was picked apart in Game 1, but they've been competitive and right there with the Penguins in the past two games of the series. Hamonic doesn't have a point yet, but the shutdown defenseman has produced 14 hits, eight blocks and 14 penalty minutes in three games versus the Penguins. May 6 |
| 4. Andrew MacDonald  SidelinedAndrew MacDonald is expected to need six to eight weeks of recovery time after having surgery on his hand. The defenseman sustained a broken hand in Game 4 and the Islanders missed his presence on the back end in Thursday's 4-0 loss to Pittsburgh. May 10 |
| 5. Brian Strait  ActiveBrian Strait potted his first career playoff goal to open the scoring Tuesday in New York's 6-4 Game 4 victory. Scoring against the Pittsburgh Penguins must've felt great for him after he was waived by the club prior to the season. Strait also has nine hits and four blocks in four games in the series. May 8 |
| 6. Thomas Hickey  ActiveThomas Hickey made his second career playoff appearance in Game 5 Thursday night. He got the nod over rugged blueliner Matt Carkner in the contest. Hickey hadn't played since Game 1. He has no points, six blocks and a minus-2 rating against the Penguins in New York's quarterfinal series. May 10 |
| 7. Matt Carkner  ActiveMatt Carkner is making his Islanders postseason debut Friday night. Carkner draws into the lineup at the expense of Thomas Hickey, who has been scratched. Carkner has played in 10 playoff games in his career. He had two assists on the year. May 3 |
| 8. Radek Martinek  ActiveRadek Martinek logged 19:14 of ice time in his 2013 playoff debut Thursday night. He didn't play in New York's first four postseason contests, but got the chance to play because of an injury to shutdown defenseman Andrew MacDonald. Martinek finished the Islanders' Game 5 4-0 loss to Pittsburgh with two shots and a minus-1 rating. May 10 |
| 9. Calvin De Haan  ActiveCalvin de Haan's season is over due to a dislocated his left shoulder. de Haan had two assists in three AHL games. He was taken with the 12th overall pick in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. Oct 22 |
| 10. Matt Donovan  ActiveMatt Donovan lit the lamp twice for Bridgeport Sound in its 4-3 win over Albany on Wednesday night. The defenseman also the decisive goal 12:44 into the third period. Donovan has 13 points on the year and is molding into a capable NHL blueliner. Casey Cizikas also had two goals to give him 14 points on the season. Dec 19 |
| 11. Aaron Ness  ActiveAaron Ness had two assists in the Bridgeport Sound Tigers' 3-2 victory against the Springfield Falcons Saturday night. Ness has four assists in five AHL contests. He participated in nine games with the New York Islanders last season, but he's still looking for his first point at the NHL level. Oct 27 |
| G | 1. Evgeni Nabokov  ActiveEvgeni Nabokov's agent spoke to Islanders GM Garth Snow four weeks ago, according to the veteran goaltender, but there haven't been any contract talks since then. The two sides held conversations on an extension earlier in the season, but those broke off as well. "I think Garth will make his decision," Nabokov said. "I told him I would like to stay, but we were fighting for the playoffs and nothing was going on. Now we have to see." Nabokov posted 23-11-7 record with a 2.50 GAA and a .910 save percentage during the regular season prior to struggling in the playoffs against Pittsburgh's high-powered offense. Coach Jack Capuano praised Nabokov for his body of work over the season though. The 37-year-old goalie will become an unrestricted free agent this summer if a new contract isn't worked out with New York. May 15 |
| 2. Kevin Poulin  ActiveKevin Poulin allowed two goals on 30 shots in a 2-1 loss to the Flyers on Thursday night. Poulin was given a start as Evgeni Nabokov enjoyed a well-earned rest now that the Isles have clinched a playoff spot and he played well, only suffering a loss as a result of the poor offensive showing from his teammates. Apr 25 |
| 3. Tim Thomas  SuspendedTim Thomas' agent says nothing has changed with his client despite the New York Islanders' decision to demote Rick DiPietro. Thomas is expected to sit out the entire season but was traded to the Isles earlier in February in a financially motivated move. "Nothing’s changed," Bill Zito told the Boston Globe. "I got a lot of calls and e-mails last week when (the Islanders) put (Rick) DiPietro on waivers. But nothing’s changed with Timmy." Nothing to see here. Feb 26 |
| 4. Anders Nilsson  ActiveGoaltender Anders NIlsson says he's feeling much better after he missed three months of the AHL season due to a mysterious illness. After a battery of tests were conducted, it was determined Nilsson suffered from a severe vitamin deficiency in addition to allergies to gluten and dairy. "It feels so much different now -- I can work hard on the ice or in the gym," he said. "It was a tough year, but I learned a lot. You live, you learn, right?" Now that the issues have been regulated, Nilsson has been practicing with the NHL club as the third netminder. May 5 |
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| New York Rangers | Ottawa Senators | Philadelphia Flyers |
| C | 1. Brad Richards  ActiveBrad Richards will be a healthy scratch Thursday night when the Rangers face elimination from the playoffs in Game 4. "I'm surprised, I guess," said Richards, who was told about the decision by coach John Tortorella this morning. "I'm disappointed." He has played most of the playoffs on the fourth line and has one goal, along with a minus-3 rating, in 10 games. Richards was given just 8:10 of ice time in Game 3. He is still owed $36 million through 2020, but this decision has led to plenty of speculation about his future with the organization. The Rangers may decide to use an amnesty buyout on Richards in the off-season, but for now he'll have to watch his teammates try to stay alive against Boston. May 23 |
| 2. Derek Stepan  ActiveDerek Stepan registered his third goal of the playoffs in Thursday's 3-2 overtime loss to Boston. He didn't record a point in Games 5, 6 and 7 against Washington in the first round. Stepan's marker ended that cold streak and it gave the Rangers a 2-1 lead early in the third. May 17 |
| 3. Brian Boyle  ActiveBrian Boyle was upset with himself for his poor night in the faceoff circle Tuesday night. "We were in our zone way too long because I couldn't win a freaking draw," Boyle said. "I could have contributed more, and that's infuriating." He won just four of his 21 draws and he hasn't registered a point in his last five contests. May 22 |
| 4. Derick Brassard  ActiveThe Rangers are expected to use Derick Brassard on the point of their struggling power play in Game 3 Tuesday night. He practiced there in the team's morning skate after playing there briefly in Game 2 and it's something he has done before. "I played the point my first year. It's different than playing in front," Brassard said. "You have to move on the blueline and make sure you shoot the puck. That's what I'm planning on doing. Our power play needs to be good and we need to score some goals." The Rangers don't have a man-advantage marker on eight opportunities against Boston in the series. May 21 |
| 5. Darroll Powe  SidelinedDarroll Powe (undisclosed) said he wouldn't be back in New York's lineup for Game 4 Thursday night. He hasn't played since Game 3 against Washington on May 6 due to a suspected concussion. May 23 |
| 6. Kris Newbury  ActiveKris Newbury is projected to make his NHL playoff debut Thursday night. It looks like he'll center the fourth line between Darroll Powe and Arron Asham. Newbury played in six games with the Rangers during the regular season, where he accounted for one assist, nine hits and nine penalty minutes. May 2 |
| LW | 1. Carl Hagelin  ActiveCarl Hagelin doesn't believe he "stinks" on the power play, contrary to what coach John Tortorella told the media on Saturday. "For me, I definitely don't think I stink on the power play," Hagelin said in his defense. "That's the only comment I have on the PP." He received 46 seconds of man advantage time in Sunday's loss to Boston and felt he generated a couple of good chances. May 20 |
| 2. Ryane Clowe  SidelinedRyane Clowe (undisclosed) skated Wednesday with his teammates for the first time since he exited Game 5 against the Washington Capitals in Round 1. His availability for Thursday night is still uncertain though. May 22 |
| 3. Brandon Mashinter  ActiveBrandon Mashinter was returned to the minors on Wednesday. He skated in four games with the Rangers, while averaging almost six minutes and didn't record a point. Mashinter posted seven hits and two shots during his NHL stint. Feb 28 |
| 4. Chris Kreider  ActiveChris Kreider is projected to play in Game 4 after he missed most of the third period on Tuesday. He was struck in the forehead by the stick of Tyler Seguin and didn't skate on Wednesday. However, he is apparently fine to play. May 23 |
| 5. JT Miller  SidelinedJT Miller has been shut down and sent home because of a wrist injury. He had been skating as part of the Rangers' Black Aces squad during the playoffs. However, now he'll get an early start on his rehab. Miller skated in 26 games with the Rangers during the regular season. May 13 |
| 6. Ryan Bourque  ActiveRyan Bourque potted the game-winning goal in Connecticut's 3-2 win over Springfield on Sunday evening. With 14 points, Bourque had a disappointing 2011-12 campaign, his first after jumping to the pros from the QMJHL, but he's looked a little more comfortable this. He also added an assist, so he already has eight points in 13 games. Matt Gilroy also notched a goal in the win for the Whale. Nov 25 |
| RW | 1. Rick Nash  ActiveRick Nash played on three different lines in Sunday's loss to Boston and John Tortorella plans to play him "a lot" as the series shifts to New York for Games 3 and 4. Armed with the last change it should make it easier to get Nash away from Bruins captain Zdeno Chara, who always draws the assignment to shut down the opposition's best. Nash scored his first goal of the playoffs on Sunday and the Rangers are hoping he can get on a bit of a roll now. May 21 |
| 2. Ryan Callahan  ActiveRyan Callahan and the New York Rangers are adopting the "one-win at a time" philosophy as they try to claw their way back into their semifinal series against Boston. "We're not looking at odds or anything like that," said Callahan whose team trails the Bruins in the series 3-0. "We're looking at one game at home, and we'll try to bring this thing back to Boston. That's the only way we can look at it, to try to win one game in our building." Three teams have recovered from this type of deficit before to win an NHL series and Boston was the latest victim of that circumstance in 2010 against Philadelphia. May 23 |
| 3. Mats Zuccarello  ActiveMats Zuccarello potted his first career playoff goal in Game 7 against Washington. He scored the final marker of the contest to make it 5-0 for the Rangers. "The Norwegian Hobbit" recorded five points in seven games versus the Capitals in the first round and the Rangers will count on him to supply more offense against Boston in the semifinals. May 15 |
| 4. Taylor Pyatt  ActiveTaylor Pyatt was credited with New York's only goal in a 2-1 loss to the Boston Bruins in Game 3 Tuesday night. The goal was originally thought to be scored by defenseman Ryan McDonagh, but after a review it was given to Pyatt on the tip. The Rangers carried a 1-0 lead into the third period, but the Bruins netted two goals in the final frame to take a commanding 3-0 series lead. Derek Stepan led the club with five shots and Ryan Callahan posted a game-high seven hits to go with four shots. John Moore finished with a minus-1 rating and a game-high four blocks. May 21 |
| 5. Derek Dorsett  ActiveThe Washington Capitals were upset with Derek Dorsett after Game 6 because they feel he slew-footed Mike Green in the third period. Green was assessed a penalty for cross-checking Dorsett in retaliation, which angered the Capitals. "That play to me is the one that does concern me because it looked like a slew-foot to me and obviously that's why Mike reacted," coach Adam Oates said. "Mike's not that type of player, and you're watching it. To me it looks like a slew-foot. Very dangerous play. Greenie's one of those guys that they want to target, but to me, that's a very dangerous play." May 13 |
| 6. Arron Asham  ActiveArron Asham scored what is considered the game-winning goal in the Rangers' 5-0 triumph in Game 7. Asham now has a team-leading two goals in the playoffs despite averaging 6:22 per game. It was his slapshot in the first period that began the scoring. The 35-year-old has 11 career playoff goals in 69 games. "I don’t think the coach is expecting me to go out there and dangle five guys and roof one," Asham joked. "I play a simple game. I get the puck in, I use my forecheck and whenever the guys get it to me, I try to get it on net the best I can." May 14 |
| 7. Micheal Haley  ActiveMicheal Haley was among 10 players recalled from AHL Connecticut on Sunday. The Rangers also summoned Stu Bickel, Ryan Bourque, Brandon Mashinter, Dylan McIlrath, Jason Missiaen, J.T. Miller, Brandon Segal, Cameron Talbot, and Christian Thomas to serve as their practice squad during the NHL playoffs. Only Haley will skate with the main squad and travel with them to Washington for Game 1. Apr 29 |
| 8. Christian Thomas  ActiveChristian Thomas has been sent to the minors by the New York Rangers. Thomas made his NHL debut on Saturday. He has 13 goals and 24 points in 52 AHL contests in 2012-13. Feb 25 |
| 9. Brandon Segal  ActiveArron Asham's return from a suspension means Brandon Segal will end his brief time in the New York Rangers rotation. He collected two penalty minutes in a skimpy (5:21 TOI) showing on Saturday. He's at least a moderately experienced extra body for the Rangers with 104 career NHL games under his belt. Jan 20 |
| D | 1. Daniel Girardi  ActiveDaniel Girardi posted a minus-4 rating in Game 2 versus Boston and was on the ice for all five of the Bruins' goals in a 5-2 loss Sunday. He was out with Michael Del Zotto for the Bruins' last four goals. Girardi is typically one of the team's most dependable defenseman, but he had a rough game in his own zone. As a result of his struggles, he logged a playoff low 19:29 of ice time. Look for him to be better in Game 3 Tuesday night when the semifinal series shifts back to New York. May 20 |
| 2. Marc Staal  SidelinedIt would be very beneficial for the Rangers if Marc Staal were able to return for Game 4 Thursday night. He skated Wednesday and hasn't played since Game 3 versus Washington. The Rangers probably won't have Anton Stralman available when they face elimination from the playoffs after he was injured in Tuesday's contest. May 22 |
| 3. Michael Del Zotto  ActiveMichael Del Zotto appears fine after being struck in the ear in the first period of Game One against the Bruins Thursday. Del Zotto left the ice during the game for a few repairs after a shot that was deflected by Patrice Bergeron hit him on the ear. There's no question about his availability for Game Two Sunday. May 19 |
| 4. Ryan McDonagh  ActiveRyan McDonagh wants to see his team be a bit more patient in the Boston Bruins' zone. "You see them, they're pretty good at waiting for help, waiting for guys to come into the zone," McDonagh said, "and I think we can use that, too, wait for second or third guys to come into the zone, and look for guys as opposed to throwing it to an area and try to skate onto it." The Rangers are down 3-0 in their second-round series and have only scored five goals in that span. May 22 |
| 5. John Moore  ActiveJohn Moore is looking forward to playing his first playoff game at home with the Rangers Monday night. "I was getting chills in the regular season playing here at the Garden, I can't even imagine what it's going to be like in the playoffs," he said. "In Washington for my first playoff game of my career, that's one of the things that jumps out at you is how electric the building is and how everyone is into it. I'm excited to play in front of our fans and I'm sure it'll be a night I won't forget." Moore doesn't have a point after two games in the series, but only three members of the Rangers have hit the scoresheet. They will be hoping that some home cooking will help stir up some offense. May 6 |
| 6. Anton Stralman  SidelinedAnton Stralman was hurt in the second period of Game 3's loss to Boston and he didn't play in the third period. He took to the ice for just one second-period shift after he was hit into the boards by Boston forward Milan Lucic. "He's played so well that's a big blow for us as far as our matches and just our depth within our defense," coach John Tortorella said. Consider Stralman day-to-day for now. May 22 |
| 7. Roman Hamrlik  ActiveRoman Hamrlik and Matt Gilroy will be the Ranger scratches for Saturday night's crucial game against the Islanders. Not a big surprise but we thought you should know. Apr 13 |
| 8. Steve Eminger  ActiveSteve Eminger will play in Sunday's contest against the Buffalo Sabres. Matt Gilroy will take a seat tonight. However, Eminger will not have much fantasy impact during this 48-game shortened season. Mar 3 |
| 9. Michael Sauer  I.L.Michael Sauer (concussion) is "not even in the conversation" for the Rangers, coach John Tortorella said. The defenseman suffered a concussion Dec. 5, 2011, in a collision with the Maple Leafs' Dion Phaneuf. Sauer has not been on the ice since. "I wish I could give you some kind of timetable on when or if he can come back, but I can’t," Sauer’s agent, Ben Hankinson, said. "Unfortunately it’s still day to day, week to week, month to month." Jan 18 |
| 10. Stu Bickel  SidelinedStu Bickel has a wrist injury so he won't be part of the New York Rangers' taxi squad. He has been sent home to start rehabbing the ailment. Bickel dressed in 16 contests with the Rangers in the regular season. May 13 |
| 11. Dylan McIlrath  ActiveDylan McIlrath had a follow-up procedure on his knee. McIlrath underwent knee surgery in July. The latest procedure went "very well" and he's "making great progress." The bad news is that he hasn't been given the green light to resume skating. Oct 19 |
| G | 1. Henrik Lundqvist  ActiveHenrik Lundqvist stopped 32 of 34 shots in a 2-1 loss to Boston in Game 3 Tuesday. The Rangers held a 1-0 lead going into the third period, but ended up losing and digging themselves a 3-0 hole in the series. New York wasted a strong bounce-back effort from their goaltender, who stopped 14 shots in the second period. Lundqvist rebounded after getting burned for five goals against in Game 2, but his teammates couldn't close out the Bruins by giving him some additional offensive support. May 21 |
| 2. Martin Biron  ActiveWe anticipate that Martin Biron will be in goal Saturday against Carolina. Henrik Lundqvist will likely sit out due to a slight hamstring pull. Check back with us closer to game time for confirmation of the Rangers' starting netminder for Saturday's contest. Apr 6 |
| 3. Cameron Talbot  ActiveThe New York Rangers recalled Cameron Talbot from the Connecticut Whale on Monday night. The Whale's season ended, so the Rangers recalled six guys to provide depth in case of an injury to one of their players during the postseason. Talbot went 14-15-1 with a 2.61 goals-against average and .913 save percentage in the AHL this season. Though he only went 5-4 in the playoffs, he improved on his rates, with a 2.10 GAA and .939 SV%. May 14 |
| 4. Jason Missiaen  ActiveJason Missiaen has signed as a free agent with the New York Rangers. He posted a 10-33-8 record with a 3.33 goals-against average and an .893 save percentage in 53 games with Baie-Comeau Drakkar in the QMJHL this past season. Missiaen was originally drafted in the fourth round, 116th overall, by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2008 draft. Mar 24 |
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| C | 1. Jason Spezza  ActiveJason Spezza reported no ill effects after playing in his first game in Sunday since having back surgery. "I feel good," Spezza said Monday. "To play a double-overtime game and coming out no worse for wear is definitely positive for me and encouraging that I made the right decision [to play]. I took a pretty good pounding and played more than we had initially planned, but it's all positive and I hope to get even better as we go on." He was nailed on a big hit from Pittsburgh's Craig Adams in the first overtime session, which proved to be a good test. May 20 |
| 2. Kyle Turris  ActiveKyle Turris potted his team-leading fifth goal of the postseason in Wednesday's 7-3 loss to Pittsburgh. His tally gave the Senators a 2-1 lead after the first period, the Penguins poured it on in the next two frames to put Ottawa on the brink of elimination. Turris has five goals and seven points in nine playoff contests after he recorded 12 markers and 29 points during 48 regular season games. May 23 |
| 3. Mika Zibanejad  ActiveMika Zibanejad helped spark Ottawa's comeback win in Game 4 with his first NHL playoff goal at the 11:55 mark of the third period. Zibanejad redirected the puck into the net off his skate and the play held up as a goal after a lengthy review. He didn't have a point in his previous two postseason matches after getting two assists in Game 1. May 8 |
| 4. Zack Smith  ActiveZack Smith opened the scoring in Game 5 Thursday night. His first career postseason goal came just over two minutes into the opening period on a juicy rebound in front of Montreal starter Peter Budaj. Smith was credited with nine hits and 15 penalty minutes (all of which came in one game) in Ottawa's first-round series. May 10 |
| 5. Peter Regin  ActivePeter Regin returned to Ottawa's lineup Monday night from a chest injury. He doesn't have a goal in 13 games this season, but tallied the game-winning marker in the fifth round of the shootout to give the Senators a 2-1 win over Montreal. Regin has 22 shots and two assists on the year. Feb 26 |
| 6. Jean-Gabriel Pageau  ActiveJean-Gabriel Pageau scored for the Senators in their 4-3 loss in Game 2 of their second-round series with the Penguins on Friday night. The coming out party continues for the 5-foot-9 winger who now has four goals and two helpers in seven playoff games. Kyle Turris notched a power-play goal and Colin Greening had the other marker. Chris Neil had four penalty minuets, a game-high six hits and a helper. Ottawa needs to figure out a way to hold on to pucks longer and sustain pressure or this will be a very short series for them. The upside is that this is a team that has brushed aside adversity the entire season. May 17 |
| 7. Mike Hoffman  SidelinedMike Hoffman re-injured his collarbone last week and will be out indefinitely. Hoffman broke his collarbone earlier in the year while playing in the minors. He missed two months with the injury, but it's not clear yet whether Hoffman simply aggravated the injury or fractured the bone again. Either way, it sounds like it'll be a long time before Hoffman is back on the ice. Apr 12 |
| LW | 1. Milan Michalek  ActiveMilan Michalek scored in Wednesday's 7-3 loss to Pittsburgh for the first time since Game 2 of the opening round against Montreal. He busted through the Penguins' defense to score a shorthanded marker early in the first period. Michalek has two points in last two games and four in nine total playoff outings. May 23 |
| 2. Cory Conacher  ActiveCory Conacher is likely to be scratched by the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday night when they host Pittsburgh in Game 4. He posted a minus-1 rating and had no shots in 13:22 of ice time in Sunday's double-overtime victory. It is expected that Mark Stone will take his place in the lineup. May 22 |
| 3. Guillaume Latendresse  ActiveGuillaume Latendresse will be back in the Senators' lineup for Game 2 on Friday. Latendresse hasn't played since May 3. He had six goals and 10 points in 27 games in 2012-13. May 17 |
| 4. Colin Greening  ActiveColin Greening is using his big frame and speed to success against Pittsburgh in the second round of the playoffs. He has scored a goal in each of his past three games versus the Penguins going into Wednesday night's match-up. "If my skating is on, everything else falls into place," Greening said. "I want to pride myself on being a player that can play in the playoffs." Greening, Erik Condra and Jean-Gabriel Pageau has arguably been Ottawa's best line in the series so far. May 22 |
| 5. Jim O'Brien  ActiveJim O'Brien scored the only Ottawa goal in a 2-1 overtime loss to the Bruins Thursday night. The power play marker was the fifth of the campaign for O'Brien, a figure that amazingly leads all Ottawa forwards and stands only one tally behind the injured Erik Karlsson for the team lead. Kaspars Daugavins and Zack Smith drew assists on the goal. Feb 28 |
| 6. Matt Kassian  ActiveMatt Kassian is a healthy scratch for the Senators in Game 2 of their second-round series with the Penguins. The 26-year-old played in Game 1, getting 9:42 of ice time and a shot on goal. Guillaume Latendresse, who has played in two playoff games this year, gets the chance in Kassian's place. May 17 |
| RW | 1. Daniel Alfredsson  ActiveDaniel Alfredsson isn't confident that Ottawa can come back from a 3-1 series deficit against Pittsburgh. When he was asked if the Senators can win three straight games over the Penguins he said, "Probably not. I mean, with their depth and power play right now, it doesn't look too good for us." He believes the team will try their hardest in Game 5 Friday night back in Pittsburgh, but he was clearly dejected by Wednesday's 7-3 defeat. Alfredsson has generated two goals and two assists in his past three games and he'll need to shoulder the load again if Ottawa is going to extend their playoff run. May 23 |
| 2. Jakob Silfverberg  ActiveJakob Silfverberg is projected to start on the second line with Kyle Turris and Daniel Alfredsson in Game 4 Wednesday night. He played there for part of Sunday's double-overtime win and he saw some shifts on Jason Spezza's line as well. Silfverberg had been seeing most of his playing time with Mika Zibanejad prior to the shuffling. He doesn't have a point in his last five games and has three points in eight playoff contests. May 22 |
| 3. Chris Neil  ActiveChris Neil (undisclosed) practiced Tuesday and is cleared to play in Wednesday's Game 4. Neil left Sunday's Game 3 during the second overtime session, but the Sens said Tuesday that Neil could've returned if the game had gone longer. We expect he'll be in the lineup again Wednesday night as the Senators try to even the series. May 21 |
| 4. Erik Condra  ActiveErik Condra generated a goal and two assists in Game 5's 6-1 win over Montreal. He assisted on Cory Conacher's first goal of the night and helped set up Kyle Turris' shorthanded marker in the second period. Condra scored his first goal of the playoffs on the power play late in the third period. May 10 |
| 5. Mark Stone  ActiveMark Stone registered two shots in 11:23 of ice time for the Senators in Game 4 versus Pittsburgh. Stone hadn't played in the NHL since early March when he skated in four contests with Ottawa. He replaced Cory Conacher, who sat as a healthy scratch, in the lineup. May 23 |
| D | 1. Erik Karlsson  ActiveErik Karlsson collected two assists and five shots in Wednesday's 7-3 loss to Pittsburgh. The supremely talented defenseman had been struggling in his previous three matches against the Penguins in the series. Going into Wednesday's contest, Karlsson had no points, eight shots, six penalty minutes and a minus-4 rating after he looked very good versus Montreal in the first round of the playoffs. May 23 |
| 2. Sergei Gonchar  ActiveSergei Gonchar and Erik Karlsson collected two assists each in Sunday's 6-1 win over Montreal. Both of them picked up a helper on Daniel Alfredsson's power-play goal in the first period. Gonchar ended up with nearly 26 minutes of ice time thanks to a shortened Senators bench, due mostly to penalties, while Karlsson played over 28 minutes. May 6 |
| 3. Patrick Wiercioch  SidelinedThe Ottawa Senators announced on Sunday that Patrick Wiercioch remains sidelined with a lower-body injury. He played in one May 5 playoff game before leaving that game early on with this vaguely reported injury. He's been in and out of Ottawa's lineup at various points of the season, so he's obviously not a make-or-break guy at this point in his career. May 12 |
| 4. Chris Phillips  ActiveThe Ottawa Senators are psychologically prepared to face the Pittsburgh Penguins in the second round of the NHL's playoffs, veteran defenseman Chris Phillips says. The Penguins earned the right to meet the Sens by eliminating the New York Islanders Saturday night with a 4-3 overtime victory. "It would be a tough series (against Pittsburtgh)," Phillips said, "but yeah, we welcome the challenge. We've played them a few times (over) the last years, and I would expect no different ... a lot of energy and an exciting series." May 12 |
| 5. Jared Cowen  ActiveJared Cowen collected an assist in Ottawa's Game 1 loss to Pittsburgh Tuesday night. He didn't have a strong showing defensively though, as he inadvertently deflected a shot from Paul Martin into his own net 2:41 into the game while trying to kill a penalty. Cowen also turned the puck over deep in his own zone and then lost Evgeni Malkin in front of the net for the Penguins' second goal of the contest. Pittsburgh opened Round 2 with a 4-1 win over the Senators. May 15 |
| 6. Marc Methot  ActiveThe Senators realize shutting down the Penguins' top offensive players is easier said than done. The key is to play smart and controlled. "People need to know when you’re playing against great players, it’s not always easy to be physical," Marc Methot said. "They’re good for a reason. They don’t put themselves in vulnerable positions where they’ll get hit. It’s going to be tough. The biggest thing is to stay tight in our own end and not get running around in our own end where they thrive." May 14 |
| 7. Mike Lundin  ActiveMike Lundin (concussion) was activated off injured reserve and played 17 minutes against the Boston Bruins on Thursday. Lundin had missed the past eight games with the head injury, although his return is unlikely to affect many fantasy lineups. Lundin finished Thursday's game with three blocked shots and an even rating. Mar 22 |
| 8. Andre Benoit  ActiveAndre Benoit picked up an assist Wednesday night. In four playoff appearances with Ottawa, he has contributed three helpers. Benoit also owns a plus-4 rating while seeing nearly 16 minutes of ice time per game. May 23 |
| 9. Eric Gryba  SidelinedEric Gryba (upper body) won't play in Game 4, but he did return to practice with his teammates on Wednesday. Wednesday's session marked his first appearance back on the ice since he violently collided with Pittsburgh defenseman Brooks Orpik in Game 1 on May 14. May 22 |
| G | 1. Craig Anderson  ActiveCraig Anderson kicked out 32 of 38 shots in a 7-3 defeat on Wednesday. Anderson was great in the first period, but the Penguins seemed to get better as this contest went on. He was finally yanked in the third period in favor of Robin Lehner. The 21-year-old goaltender ended up stopping three of four shots in the losing effort. The Senators are now down 3-1 in this series and will likely need Anderson to bounce back and steal Game 5. May 22 |
| 2. Robin Lehner  ActiveRobin Lehner was excellent Sunday as he stopped 34 of 36 shots en route to a 4-2 win over the Bruins. Lehner will certainly find himself on the bench once the playoffs begin, but his talent is obvious and the Senators have an embarrassment of riches between the pipes. With the victory Ottawa jumps to seventh place in the Eastern Conference and the Sens will take on Montreal in the opening round of the playoffs. Apr 28 |
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| C | 1. Claude Giroux  ActiveClaude Giroux continues to play well for Canada at the IIHF World Championships. He has two goals and six points in five games, second in team scoring behind Steven Stamkos. Although Giroux was a point-per-game player in 2013, those who drafted him were a little disappointed. Look for Giroux to rebound and register 90-plus points in a full season in 2013-14. May 11 |
| 2. Daniel Briere  ActiveDanny Briere scored his first goal in 20 games Thursday night. It was a nice way to go out, if this truly was his last home game with the Flyers. Briere's deal is expected to be bought out or he will be traded in the offseason. He has six goals and 16 points this season. "It's my home," he said. "One of the best places to play. Ask anyone in the NHL. The fans have been amazing." Apr 26 |
| 3. Sean Couturier  ActiveSean Couturier regressed in his sophomore season despite getting more ice time. He registered four goals, 15 points and a had a minus-8 rating in 46 games after he recorded 13 markers, 27 points and a plus-18 rating in 77 matches during his rookie campaign. Couturier averaged almost two minutes of extra ice time in 2013, while playing mostly on the third line, but his numbers took a step backward. He still has the potential to be a solid two-way forward though. Apr 30 |
| 4. Maxime Talbot  I.L.Maxime Talbot has a broken bone in his leg. The Flyers haven't provided a timetable for Talbot's return other than to say he's out indefinitely. Still, with roughly four weeks left in the season, it would be surprising to see him play again in this campaign. He has 10 points and 23 penalty minutes in 35 games this season. Apr 1 |
| 5. Adam Hall  ActivePhiladelphia has taken Adam Hall off waivers from Tampa Bay. The Lightning reacquired Hall from Carolina on Tuesday after putting him waivers last month. In 26 games this season, Hall has four assists and 47 hits. Apr 3 |
| 6. Zac Rinaldo  SidelinedZac Rinaldo has agreed to a two-year contract extension with the Philadelphia Flyers. In 32 games this year, Rinaldo has posted five points and 85 penalty minutes along with 143 hits. He is expected to miss the rest of the regular season after suffering a high ankle sprain on April 3 against Montreal. Apr 17 |
| 7. Scott Laughton  ActiveScott Laughton has been summoned by the Philadelphia Flyers. Laughton has a goal and three points in six AHL games this season. He also had 56 points and 72 penalty minutes in 49 OHL contests in 2012-13. He's already participated in five matches with Philadelphia and is searching for his first NHL point. Apr 22 |
| LW | 1. Scott Hartnell  ActiveScott Hartnell was a disappointment in 2013. Missing 16 games with a broken foot didn't help, but when he played he wasn't nearly as productive as he was during the 2011-12 campaign. Hartnell averaged just 0.34 points-per-game while recording eight goals and 11 points in 32 matches. Last year, he clicked at a 0.82 points-per-game rate and posted career highs with 37 goals and 67 points. If the Flyers don't make any moves up to compliment their top six during the off-season then Hartnell should get an opportunity to rebound next season alongside Claude Giroux on Philadelphia's top line. May 8 |
| 2. Simon Gagne  ActiveSimon Gagne has been skating on the top line with Claude Giroux and Jakub Voracek. which has helped renew his on-ice vigor. "I'm starting to enjoy the game again, that's been the main issue," Gagne said. "The last two years have been a little bit tough. Health was an issue. Not playing as much as I wanted was an issue. I'm back to being healthy again. I'm starting to feel good on the ice. Even when we're losing right now, I'm having fun coming to the rink. That's something that, to start the season, I lost a little bit. All that helped me get a good feeling again about the game." He has six points in his last eight games and is hoping to stay with the Flyers beyond the end of this season. The 33-year-old winger is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent in the summer. Apr 18 |
| 3. Tye McGinn  ActiveThe Philadelphia Flyers have called up Tye McGinn. McGinn has five points and 19 penalty minutes in 18 games with the Flyers this season. He also has 26 points and 54 PIM in 46 AHL contests in 2012-13. Apr 22 |
| 4. Mike Knuble  ActiveMike Knuble will likely be a healthy scratch Saturday against Ottawa. The 41-year-old winger will make a decision in the coming months whether he will retire for good. We have always been supporters of Knuble but it has been some time since he has been a fantasy factor. Apr 27 |
| 5. Jay Rosehill  ActiveJay Rosehill may play Saturday against Carolina. He got a black eye in a fight earlier in the week but did participate in the Flyer practice. Consider him probable. Apr 20 |
| 6. Jody Shelley  I.L.Jody Shelley's hip injury will require surgery. The date for the procedure hasn't been determined yet and a timetable for his return is uncertain as well. Shelley has played in just one game this season, but he sits often as a healthy scratch. He shouldn't be on your fantasy radar even if you are desperate for penalty minutes. Feb 14 |
| RW | 1. Jakub Voracek  ActiveJakub Voracek is reportedly OK after wrecking his car in an accident this morning in the Czech Republic. Philadelphia GM Paul Holmgren released this statement: "I spoke with Jake this morning. He was involved in a car accident in the Czech Republic. Although his car did suffer damage, there were no injuries. Jake is fine." Voracek totaled his Ferrari in the accident, but it's a relief that he wasn't hurt. May 22 |
| 2. Wayne Simmonds  ActiveWayne Simmonds scored his first career hat trick in the Flyers' 5-3 win over the Hurricanes Saturday. The 24-year-old right winger finished with a career-high four points in the win on Saturday. "It feels good," Simmonds said after the game. "I feel like Scott Hartnell today." Hartnell registered a hat trick in Montreal on Monday. Simmonds can be a valuable fantasy all-around contributor for the stretch run. Apr 21 |
| 3. Brayden Schenn  ActiveBrayden Schenn isn't discouraged by his lack of significant progress in his sophomore season. "It's been a little inconsistency, but at the same time, I think I've made strides," he said. "I'm still a young player in this league and still learning. The more experience you get, the more you learn from the older players on the team, and it's only going to help you." Schenn had 12 goals and 18 points in 54 games last season and he tallied eight markers and 26 points in 47 contests this past campaign. He did manage to finish third among the team in hits with 109, so he has the potential to develop into a solid rough and tumble forward. Apr 30 |
| 4. Ruslan Fedotenko  ActiveRuslan Fedotenko (shoulder) was back in the lineup for the Flyers on Thursday. Fedotenko left Monday's game during the second period with an apparent shoulder injury. He finished Thursday's game with three shots on goal and one hit in 10:30 of ice time. Apr 19 |
| 5. Jason Akeson  ActiveJason Akeson scored his first NHL goal in his debut on Saturday. "It feels pretty good," Akeson said. "It's pretty exciting. The puck popped out there on a nice play by G (Claude Giroux) and luckily I was able to put it home. I know my family and friends are here and are probably loving it just as much as I am right now. It's fun to experience this. I don't know what else I can say. I'm pretty speechless right now." Akeson had an amazing season. He started with the ECHL Trenton Titans and worked his way up the ranks. Apr 28 |
| D | 1. Kimmo Timonen  SidelinedKimmo Timonen has a compression fracture in his right foot and will be sidelined for four to five weeks. It's been that kind of season for Philly. Timonen joins Andrej Meszaros, Nicklas Grossmann, Braydon Coburn, Bruno Gervais, Kent Huskins, Marc-Andre Bourdon and Chris Pronger among the Flyers' wounded defensemen, which isn't even counting the forwards that are hurt. Needless to say, Timonen will miss the rest of the season. Apr 23 |
| 2. Braydon Coburn  SidelinedBraydon Coburn separated his left shoulder on Thursday. Coburn is out indefinitely due to the injury. He doesn't have much fantasy value in standard leagues, but does rank fourth on the team with 76 hits and third with 61 blocked shots. Mar 29 |
| 3. Andrej Meszaros  I.L.Philadelphia GM Paul Holmgren expects Andrej Meszaros to be fully recovered for next season. "Andrej is a big, strong guy," Holmgren said. "He has had 18 months of bad luck ... the work they did on his shoulder will make it stronger. He's a hard-working kid. I have no issues or worries." Meszaros was limited to 11 games in 2013 and his season ended after he played March 26 against the Rangers because he needed shoulder surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff. Apr 29 |
| 4. Nicklas Grossmann  SidelinedNicklas Grossmann is still suffering from post-concussion syndrome. He is scheduled to revisit a neurologist in Pittsburgh on May 6, along with fellow Flyers defenseman Marc-Andre Bourdon, for follow-up exams. They are suffering from vestibular imbalance, which affects motion and balance. It is the same affliction that has hindered Chris Pronger from returning to normalcy. Apr 29 |
| 5. Luke Schenn  ActiveLuke Schenn registered eight hits and finished with a plus-3 rating in Philadelphia's 5-2 win over Boston Tuesday night. He also added an assist. Schenn has 11 points and a plus-2 rating on the year. Schenn still leads all NHL defenders with 173 hits. He is the only Flyers defenseman who has stayed healthy from the start of the year. Apr 24 |
| 6. Kurtis Foster  ActiveWith injuries to Kimo Timonen and Nicklas Grossman, Kurtis Foster could be in the lineup Saturday afternoon against the Jets. Timonen is a game-time decision and his status will have a bearing on whether Foster plays. Foster has been a regular healthy scratch this season. Apr 6 |
| 7. Bruno Gervais  SidelinedBruno Gervais will undergo surgery to repair a torn stomach muscle and will be sidelined indefinitely. It's not clear when Gervais suffered the injury but it shouldn't affect fantasy lineup given his minimal production. Gervais will likely miss the remainder of the season. He has one goal and six points in 37 points this season. Apr 16 |
| 8. Erik Gustafsson  ActiveErik Gustafsson scored the game-winning goal Wednesday in Philadelphia's comeback win over Montreal. The Flyers scored three goals in the third period to rally from a 3-2 deficit. Gustafsson recorded five shots and logged 17:17 of ice time in the match. He has three points in 15 games this campaign. Apr 4 |
| 9. Andreas Lilja  ActiveAndreas Lilja has been sent down to the minors. Lilja made his season debut on Jan. 29 and hasn't played since. He might get called up again this season, but he won't have any fantasy value in standard leagues. Feb 16 |
| 10. Brandon Manning  ActiveBrandon Manning made his season debut Tuesday night and he earned his first NHL point, with an assist, in Philadelphia's 4-2 win versus the Rangers. He played four games with the Flyers last season. Despite his helper, Manning isn't expected to have much, in any, fantasy value during his latest NHL stint. Apr 17 |
| 11. Oliver Lauridsen  ActiveOliver Lauridsen has impressed the Flyers in his short time with the team. The rookie blueliner has only played in 14 games, but he has goals in two straight -- including the winner on Thursday -- and was a physical force in the last game with four hits and four blocked shots. "When you come up and make an impact with the big club, you start to talk about that person and start to look forward to the future with that person," Laviolette said. "Somebody who brings his size and his presence onto the ice, I think is a positive. He's a towering man, he plays with a physical edge, and he's kept the game simple up here." Apr 26 |
| 12. Matthew Konan  ActiveMatthew Konan has been promoted by the Philadelphia Flyers. Konan has six points and 54 penalty minutes in 45 AHL games this season. This isn't his first stint with the Flyers, but he hasn't made his NHL debut yet. Apr 22 |
| 13. Marc-Andre Bourdon  I.L.Marc-Andre Bourdon practised with his Flyer teammates for the first time this season. Well, better late than never. Bourdon has been sidelined for all but 17 AHL games with a concussion. We do not see him as a fantsay asset in the foreseeable future. Apr 27 |
| 14. Chris Pronger  I.L.Chris Pronger spoke about the struggles, which included depression, he's dealt with during his recover from an inadvertent stick to his right eye. Pronger hasn't played in 16 months, as the incident left him with vision loss and severe concussion symptoms. "You get headaches, you're not wanting to do anything, you sit around, you can't work out, you get depressed," said. "You try to work out and you get nauseous, a headache, you want to lay down. It's an awkward feeling, and it's something that when you haven't experienced it before you really don't understand what it is that these guys are talking about. I guess the biggest part is the depression and how you feel about yourself and how you feel about the injury. How dark you go down." Doctors are unsure if he'll ever regain his peripheral vision and he is still dealing with headaches -- even after a news conference -- when he has any physical activity. Mar 8 |
| G | 1. Ilya Bryzgalov  ActivePhiladelphia Flyers owner Ed Snider "didn’t pick" Ilya Bryzgalov before the team signed him to a nine-year, $51 million contract. "That’s not my job," Snider continued. "Our staff picked Bryz of the available goaltenders and (general manager) Paul Holmgren basically decided that was the guy he wanted. My role in the whole thing was to say, ‘We’ve got to get a quality goaltender. We can’t go through what we went through that year with the goaltending in the (2010) playoffs.’ I think we would have won that Cup (instead of losing in the Final to Chicago) if we had been a little more solid at the time in goal and not switching around so often. The point is that I don’t get involved. I don’t ever say, ‘I’m signing this player.’ I don’t know enough about the players. We have scouts. We have Paul Holmgren. We have all the people that work for Paul that make these decisions." There has been speculation in the past that Snider was largely responsible for the Flyers getting Bryzgalov specifically, so when asked about it, he wanted to set the record straight. May 17 |
| 2. Steve Mason  ActiveSteve Mason is expected to compete for playing time with Ilya Bryzgalov next season if the two of them remain the fold together. There has been plenty of speculation about the future of Bryzgalov in Philadelphia, but some healthy competition and extra rest may benefit him next year and Mason can provide that. In seven appearances with the Flyers, Mason posted a 1.90 goals-against average and a .944 save percentage while earning four wins. He benefited from the change from Columbus to Philadelphia, but the jury is still out on him. Having him and Bryzgalov work off each other might be the best course of action for the Flyers heading into the 2013-14 campaign. May 2 |
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| Phoenix Coyotes | Pittsburgh Penguins | San Jose Sharks |
| C | 1. Antoine Vermette  ActiveAntoine Vermette netted the lone goal for the Coyotes in their 2-1 loss to the Canucks on Thursday night. Vermette ended a five-game pointless skid. For a player receiving as much ice time as he does, Vermette doesn't produce at a top-six-forward rate. He has just seven goals and 14 points in 31 games this year. Radim Vrbata and Oliver Ekman-Larsson had the assists. Mar 22 |
| 2. Martin Hanzal  ActiveMartin Hanzal registered an assist on Thursday. Hanzal was pointless in his previous four contests. He's taken a step forwards this season with 11 goals and 21 points in 34 games this season. Apr 19 |
| 3. Boyd Gordon  ActiveBoyd Gordon had a goal and an assist on Wednesday. Gordon has four goals and 13 points in 40 contests this season. He never has been much of an asset in standard leagues, but he's hot lately with four goals and six points in his last eight games. Apr 11 |
| 4. Kyle Chipchura  ActiveKyle Chipchura tallied two goals in Phoenix’s 4-2 victory over Vancouver on Tuesday night. Chipchura has scored four of his five goals of the season in his past four games, so he’s definitely picked up his play offensively. His career high for goals in a season is six, so he should break this personal best. However, Phoenix does not rely heavily on Chipchura and he should not be looked upon as a serious fantasy option moving forward. Feb 27 |
| 5. Chris Brown  ActiveThe Coyotes recalled Chris Brown on Wednesday night. Brown, the team's second-round pick from the 2009 draft, made his NHL debut March 4. The 22-year-old has 25 goals, 40 points and 94 penalty minutes in the AHL this year. Apr 3 |
| LW | 1. Mikkel Boedker  ActiveMikkel Boedker said he wants to add a mean streak to his game before next season. Boedker has been accused of playing "too nice" by his general manager, Don Maloney. It's not something Boedker disagree with, saying he needs to learn to be a little "grumpy" in certain situations. Boedker also needs to work on his consistency in the offensive zone. The 23-year old had four goals and 15 points over his first 20 games but just three goals and 11 points over his final 28 contests. May 14 |
| 2. Lauri Korpikoski  ActiveLauri Korpikoski (upper body) returned to action on Monday. Korpikoski has six goals and 11 points in 33 games with a minus-three rating. He had four shots on goal in 14:53 minutes of action as the Coyotes were shut out on Monday. He has minimal value at best in fantasy pools. Apr 23 |
| 3. Rob Klinkhammer  ActiveRob Klinkhammer signed a two-year, $1.25 million contract with the Coyotes. Klinkhammer is coming off a one-year, two-way deal worth $650,000. The upside for him now is some job security on a one-way contract. He had five goals and 11 points in 22 NHL games, and he notched 44 points in 55 AHL games this season. May 17 |
| 4. Brandon McMillan  ActiveBrandon McMillan has been dealt to the Phoenix Coyotes for Matthew Lombardi. McMillan spent 60 games in his rookie season with the Ducks in 2010-11 but has spent most of the last two seasons in the minors as he played only 25 games with four assists last season and only six thus far in 2013 with a measly assist. He has a new chance to play in the desert but is likely a bottom-six forward at best. Apr 3 |
| RW | 1. Shane Doan  ActiveShane Doan does not have any regrets as to his re-signing with the Phoenix Coyotes last off-season. Doan waited until the day before the lockout before re-signing with Phoenix. He waited so long because of the uncertainty as to whether or not Greg Jamison would buy the team as he wanted to remain in Phoenix if he could. Well Jamison did not purchase the club and it is still unknown if the Coyotes will remain in the desert. May 12 |
| 2. Radim Vrbata  ActiveRadim Vrbata would like the Coyotes to add more offensive pieces before next season. The Coyotes lost Vrbata's partner-in-crime, Ray Whitney, to the Dallas Stars last summer and Vrbata's offensive numbers suffered. "That’s what we had with Ray the last few years," Vrbata said. "It’s too bad he couldn’t stay. It would help to bring some skill. It would help everybody -- power play, five-on-five play." Apr 30 |
| 3. David Moss  ActiveDavid Moss helped the Phoenix Coyotes beat the Edmonton Oilers 3-1 on Wednesday. Moss had a goal and an assist, giving him 20 points in 38 games this season. His peripherals don't really make him quite good enough to be a significant factor fantasy-wise, but he's probably appreciated on an offensively deficient team like the Coyotes. Apr 11 |
| 4. Paul Bissonnette  ActivePaul Bissonnette has an assist in three straight games. This is the first three-game point streak of Bissonnette's career. He's a bottom-six forward for the Coyotes and you'd have to be in a very deep fantasy league to warrant using him. Feb 27 |
| D | 1. Keith Yandle  ActiveKeith Yandle notched three assists in the Coyotes 5-4 shootout loss to Colorado in their home finale Friday night. With both teams already eliminated from the playoffs, the players still put on a good show for the 16,000 plus fans in Glendale. For those with fantasy interest in Friday’s game, Yandle continued to build on a comeback season after taking a step back during his 2011-12 campaign. Apr 27 |
| 2. Oliver Ekman-Larsson  ActiveOliver Ekman-Larsson played through a foot injury the final month of the season. Ekman-Larsson didn't miss a game despite the injury, but he won't be playing for Sweden in the upcoming world championships. It was another strong season for Ekman-Larsson, who registered three goals and 24 points to go along with a plus-5 rating and 26 penalty minutes. He should be pretty high on the list of fantasy defensemen entering next season. Apr 30 |
| 3. Zbynek Michalek  ActiveZbynek Michalek (lower body) has been taken off the injured-reserve list and will play Wednesday night. The Phoenix defenseman last played on March 9, having cracked a bone in his foot blocking a shot. Michalek has two assists on the season. The Coyotes will dress seven defensemen. Apr 10 |
| 4. Derek Morris  SidelinedDerek Morris (lower body) will not return on Friday. It remains to be seen if Morris will play in the Coyotes' season finale on Saturday. He has 11 points and 36 penalty minutes in 39 contests in 2013. Apr 26 |
| 5. Rostislav Klesla  ActiveRostislav Klesla had four assists in Phoenix's 7-4 victory on Thursday. That's more points than Klesla had in his previous 24 games combined. This outburst aside, Klesla isn't worth owning in standard leagues. Mar 29 |
| 6. David Schlemko  ActiveCoach Dave Tippett is happy with the play of defenseman David Schlemko. Schlemko has played two games since returning after missing 16 games with a shoulder injury and has been playing tough, just what Tippett wants. He has three blocked shots in the two games with a couple of hits. "I liked that he wasn't tentative coming out of an injury, and he was a little better (Saturday) night," Tippett said. "We expect him to keep building to get his game back where it needs to be." While we can't recommend him in traditional pools, he is a valued member of the Coyotes blueline. Mar 18 |
| 7. Chris Summers  ActivePhoenix Coyotes recall Chris Summers from AHL Portland. This will be Summers' second stint with the Coyotes. He was demoted on Feb. 28 after racking up nine penalty minutes in five games. Mar 12 |
| G | 1. Mike Smith  ActiveMike Smith is understandably expecting a big payday as an unrestricted free agent this summer. "I've always been on one- or two-year deals," Smith said. "This is the time in my career I've solidified being a No. 1 goaltender, and I believe I should be compensated for it." Smith was amazing in 2011-12 and even though he took a step backwards this season, he still ended up with a respectable 2.58 GAA and .910 save percentage in 34 starts. The Coyotes have expressed an interest in re-signing him, but Smith suggested that the lack of ownership might get in the way. NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly argued that GM Don Maloney doesn't have any "real limitations on the club’s ability to re-sign Mike Smith" beyond the obvious fact that he has to work within a budget, let any other GM does. Either way, Smith might hit the open market this summer. May 3 |
| 2. Jason LaBarbera  ActiveJason LaBarbera made 43 saves on 46 shots in an excellent win over the Ducks to cap off the season. LaBarbera had to work hard for his wins this year. Only one of his four wins came when he faced less than 38 shots. Apr 28 |
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| C | 1. Sidney Crosby  ActiveSidney Crosby generated a goal and an assist Wednesday night in Game 4 versus Ottawa. He scored his seventh marker of the playoffs, which ties him for the most in the league with teammate Pascal Dupuis, on a sweet backhand that went top shelf and chased Senators goaltender Craig Anderson near the midway mark of the third period. The score at the time was 6-2 and it ended up as a 7-3 victory for the Penguins. May 23 |
| 2. Evgeni Malkin  ActiveEvgeni Malkin had a game-high 10 shots on goal in Pittsburgh's double overtime loss to Ottawa Sunday night. He wasn't able to register a point in the contest. Penguins defenseman Kris Letang had a busy night as well with seven shots on goal, but he didn't get onto the scoresheet either as Ottawa goaltender Craig Anderson shut the door in a 2-1 victory. They'll try to get Pittsburgh's offense rolling again on Wednesday night in Game 4. May 20 |
| 3. Jussi Jokinen  ActiveJussi Jokinen contributed a power-play assist and won 60 percent of his faceoffs in his return to the lineup Wednesday night. He pretty much did exactly what was expected of him after being a healthy scratch for the past five games. May 23 |
| 4. Brandon Sutter  ActiveBrandon Sutter has struggled with consistency on his faceoffs during the postseason, but he isn't overly concerned. "It's funny, because it's game to game. One game, you'll struggle really bad," he said. "The next game, against the same guys, you'll do really well. It's tough to get that consistency. That's the challenge." Going into Game 4, he flirted with nearly a 60 percent winning percentage in three straight contests. On Wednesday though, he won just 44.44 percent of his draws. Sutter has two points in 10 postseason contests. May 23 |
| 5. Dustin Jeffrey  ActiveDustin Jeffrey notched a goal and an assist in Pittsburgh's 3-1 win over Ottawa Monday night. It was his first appearance since April 2 and he made the most of his 14:49 of ice time. "This was my opportunity," Jeffrey said. "I wanted to do something with it." Apr 23 |
| 6. Joe Vitale  ActiveJoe Vitale didn't play Sunday or Wednesday because of his lack of success on faceoffs and not because of a "health thing." Vitale said Wednesday he had "a hiccup" to a previous lower-body injury, but that's not the reason why he's currently watching his teammates from the press box. Coach Dan Bylsma has not been pleased with Vitale's work in the faceoff circle in Round 2, as he won only 9 of 21 draws in Games 1 and 2. May 23 |
| LW | 1. Chris Kunitz  ActiveChris Kunitz was reunited with Sidney Crosby and Pascal Dupuis at Thursday's practice. "I'm sure [coach Dan Bylsma] is pretty comfortable with us because we've played together for so long," said Crosby. The move sent Jarome Iginla back to the right side with Evgeni Malkin and James Neal. These may be the line combinations that Bylsma chooses to go with in Game 2 versus Ottawa Friday night. May 17 |
| 2. Brenden Morrow  SidelinedBrenden Morrow appeared to be favoring his left arm when he left practice Tuesday. He missed Wednesday's contest with an undisclosed ailment and since the Penguins won't talk about injuries or their lineup it leaves us to speculate on what's ailing him. He should be considered questionable to play Friday in Game 5 at this time. May 23 |
| 3. Matt Cooke  ActiveMatt Cooke got his first point of the playoffs in Sunday's 2-1 double overtime loss to Ottawa. He picked up the only assist on Tyler Kennedy's second marker of the postseason. His contributions on offense have obviously been lacking, but his overall game hasn't gone unnoticed by his teammates or the coaching staff. "He's pretty unbelievable right now," Kennedy said. "Cookie's always a good player, but he's really getting it done right now. He's a great leader, too." Cooke tied Craig Adams with a team-high six hits in Game 3 and he has racked up a total of 39 in nine playoff outings. He's also played great defensively. May 21 |
| 4. Tanner Glass  ActiveTanner Glass played 9:56 of ice time in Pittsburgh's double overtime loss to Ottawa in Game 3. He suited up in four games against the Islanders in the first round, but Sunday's match was his first appearance in the semifinals. He replaced Joe Vitale in the lineup. May 20 |
| RW | 1. James Neal  ActiveJames Neal scored two goals and registered an assist in Pittsburgh's 7-3 win Wednesday night. Neal bounced back after recording just three points in his last seven postseason contests. Jarome Iginla netted his third and fourth goals of the playoffs. Sidney Crosby and Pascal Dupuis each had a goal and an assist for Pittsburgh. Chris Kunitz scored a goal, giving him four points in his last four games. Kris Letang registered four assists for the Penguins. May 22 |
| 2. Jarome Iginla  ActiveJarome Iginla scored twice as Pittsburgh routed Ottawa 7-3 in Game 4 Wednesday night. He posted four shots in the contest and finished with a plus-2 rating despite getting a playoff-low 13:56 of ice time. Iginla has 12 points in 10 postseason games for the Penguins. May 23 |
| 3. Pascal Dupuis  ActivePascal Dupuis tied a franchise record set by Penguins' great Mario Lemieux by scoring his second shorthanded goal of the playoffs on Wednesday night. Dupuis is tied with Sidney Crosby for the postseason lead at seven goals apiece going into Thursday night's action. He also had an assist in Game 4's 7-3 domination of the Senators. May 23 |
| 4. Beau Bennett  ActiveBeau Bennett will play in Game 4 on Wednesday. Bennett has been a healthy scratch since May 5. He is projected to start the game on Pittsburgh's fourth line. May 22 |
| 5. Tyler Kennedy  ActiveTyler Kennedy was the lone goal scorer for the Penguins in a 2-1 overtime loss to the Senators in Game Three of their second round playoff series Sunday. The goal was the second of the postseason for Kennedy, who has played in every game of the second round after dressing for only Games 5 and 6 of the first round after being made a healthy scratch for the first four contests. Matt Cooke picked up his first point of the playoffs with an assist on the goal. May 20 |
| 6. Craig Adams  ActiveThe Penguins know that it will be a major test for them to contain Erik Karlsson. Karlsson has a goal and five assists in five games during the playoffs. "I don't think he changes your game plan," Craig Adams said. "It just makes things more difficult when he's out there. His biggest asset is his skating. He carries the puck up the ice, but you can't always count on him playing at the point. He's just so mobile. He's got that ability to jump into the play and the speed to get back." May 14 |
| D | 1. Kris Letang  ActiveKris Letang racked up four assists in Pittsburgh's 7-3 blowout win over Ottawa in Game 4. Two of his helpers came on the man advantage, which ties him with San Jose's Logan Couture for the most power-play points in the playoffs at eight going into Thursday night's action. Letang also leads all NHL defensemen in scoring with 13 points in 10 postseason contests. May 23 |
| 2. Paul Martin  ActivePaul Martin posted a game-high eight blocked shots in Sunday's double overtime loss to Ottawa. Martin broke his left hand blocking a shot in March, but that won't stop him from getting in front of chances for the opposition. "You don't think about getting hurt this time of year," Martin said. "You just play your game. You're in a zone. You know these games can come down to one little play. If you don't get a piece of the puck or you don't let [Tomas] Vokoun see it and you end up losing the game, you feel awful. You do everything you can to help the team win." Martin has been great for the Penguins this season and he's carried over that play into the playoffs, where he has nine points and a plus-8 rating in nine games. He is also currently third in the postseason with 26 blocks. May 22 |
| 3. Matt Niskanen  ActivePenguins Matt Niskanen recently found himself on the team's top defensive pairing alongside superstar Kris Letang. Niskanen, who plays a fairly well-rounded game, understands he must play a more defensive style when paired with the Norris Trophy finalist. "Being aware of when [Letang] is being aggressive up the ice, I've got to be more responsible to let him do what he does," Niskanen said. It's a testament to his versatility that Niskanen can be paired with such an offensive partner after spending time alongside stay-at-home blueliner Doug Murray. May 19 |
| 4. Brooks Orpik  ActiveBrooks Orpik potted the game-winning goal in the Penguins' 4-3 overtime win against the Islanders on Saturday night sending them into the second round. Yes, Orpik and his 12 career NHL goals (first in the playoffs) got the decisive goal at 7:49 of overtime on a slapshot. Sure, what counts is that Penguins won the series 4-2, but they were far from consistent in this game (and series). Now it's time to turn the page and forget about their ragged play. Paul Martin had a goal and two helpers, while Pascal Dupuis and Jarome Iginla notched the other markers. Matt Niskanen, Joe Vitale, Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby had the other assists. Malkin had a rough game in every zone until he fed Martin on the 3-3, game-tying goal with 5:16 left. The Penguins will now face the Senators in Round 2. May 11 |
| 5. Deryk Engelland  ActiveIt looks like Deryk Engelland will get back into the lineup for Game 1 against Ottawa Tuesday night. His inclusion makes sense since the Senators played a physical series versus Montreal in Round 1 and he enjoys playing that kind of game. He was paired with Doug Murray in the morning skate after he skated in the team's top-six group in Monday's practice as well. With Engelland likely to play, Simon Despres will head to the press box. May 14 |
| 6. Doug Murray  ActiveDoug Murray recorded five blocked shots in Tuesday's Game 1 victory over Ottawa. He also chipped in an assist to give him three points in seven playoff games. Murray was paired with Deryk Engelland in the contest. "It was great," he said afterward. "He's very similar to myself. He plays a physical game, a simple game. We make simple plays. He's an easy guy to read off." His offensive support has been a surprising addition to his arsenal, to go with his typical contributions of 11 hits and 15 blocks, which has helped him to slightly exceed expectations. May 15 |
| 7. Simon Despres  ActiveSimon Despres was a healthy scratch Tuesday. He played in three games against the New York Islanders in Round 1, but when the semifinals began against the Ottawa Senators he was sent to the press box. Despres sat in favor of Deryk Engelland, who plays a rugged style which matches the Senators' style much more. May 15 |
| 8. Robert Bortuzzo  ActiveRobert Bortuzzo played in his first game since his recall Wednesday night. Bortuzzo, who was sent to the minors in late March for a conditioning stint, had an assist in 18:41. He has three points and a plus-three rating in 12 games this season. Apr 3 |
| G | 1. Marc-Andre Fleury  ActivePenguins goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury continues to await his chance to get back between the pipes in the postseason. Fleury was replaced by backup Tomas Vokoun prior to Game Six of the team's first round series win over the Islanders who has yet to concede the role, posting a perfect 4-0 record in the process. Vokoun will be in goal for Game Three of their second round series in Ottawa Sunday, but it's anybody's guess which net minder gets the nod once the Penguins actually lose a game. May 19 |
| 2. Tomas Vokoun  ActiveTomas Vokoun saved 30 of 33 shots in a 7-3 win in Game 4 on Wednesday. Since taking over for Marc-Andre Fleury, Vokoun has now won five of six postseason contests. The Penguins decision to acquire him in the summer has proven to be one of their biggest additions and the Penguins are likely to continue to ride him unless he goes cold. Pittsburgh now has a 3-1 series lead with Game 5 scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m. ET on Friday. May 22 |
| 3. Eric Hartzell  ActivePittsburgh GM Ray Shero said the team has "no plans" to play Eric Hartzell this season. Since he was signed after the NHL trade deadline, he isn't eligible for the Stanley Cup playoffs and he can't play for their AHL affiliate in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton either during the postseason. "He's going to be the third goalie, soak things up and be around the team," Shero said. "Having Eric here will be good for his development." Hartzell was signed by the Penguins last week after he posted a career-year with Quinnipiac University. He's projected to join the team on Wednesday. Apr 17 |
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| C | 1. Joe Thornton  ActiveJoe Thornton earned a lot of praise for his efforts in Game 4 on Tuesday. Thornton had an assist in San Jose's 2-1 victory. "That was vintage Joe Thornton right there," Logan Couture said. "Unbelievable. Creating turnovers, making passes, skating like a young guy. He was flying, and I know me personally, it got me going. We need Joe to play like that for the rest of the playoffs." May 22 |
| 2. Logan Couture  ActiveLogan Couture scored his fifth goal of the playoffs on the power play, leading the Sharks to a 2-1 Game 4 victory on Tuesday to even the series up at 2-2. Couture originally did not receive credit for the game-winning goal, but the replay showed that the Dan Boyle point shot clearly ricocheted off of Couture and past Jonathan Quick. Couture led the Sharks with five shots on goal, and has been active all series, having tallied points in each of the past three games. Brent Burns opened the scoring in the first period with his second of the playoffs, while Joe Thornton received the first star of the game after notching an assist and playing well on the defensive side of the puck in the win. May 22 |
| 3. Scott Gomez  ActiveScott Gomez had two assists Thursday, including his 100th playoff point of his career. Gomez played in Game 2 as the third line center, replacing the suspended Raffi Torres. It was his second two-point game of the season, with the previous one on March 9. With Torres suspended for the remainder of the series, Gomez will get plenty of work on the third line and the power play. May 18 |
| 4. Andrew Desjardins  ActiveAndrew Desjardins returned to action Friday against the Blackhawks. After missing a two weeks due to an illness, Desjardins took 13 shifts and played 7:13 in his fourth-line center role Friday night. Needless to say he has no fantasy value. Feb 23 |
| 5. Bracken Kearns  ActiveIt looks like Bracken Kearns will skate on the San Jose Sharks' fourth line in Tuesday's Game 1. Kearns and Tim Kennedy both took turns skating in the spot normally held by Adam Burish, who is likely out of the entire second-round series with an upper-body injury. Kearns left Tuesday's morning skate well before Kennedy, which is usually a sign that Kearns will be in the lineup at gametime. May 14 |
| LW | 1. Patrick Marleau  ActivePatrick Marleau assisted on both San Jose goals Saturday. Marleau set up the overtime winner as Logan Couture scored to cut the Los Angeles lead in the series in half as the Sharks now trail two games to one. Marleau has six goals and nine points in seven playoff games thus far. May 19 |
| 2. Tim Kennedy  ActiveTim Kennedy is expected to return to the lineup in Tuesday's Game 4. Kennedy sat out Game 3 as Martin Havlat returned to the lineup after an undisclosed injury. However, Havlat is out again Tuesday with a lower-body injury, which clears the way for Kennedy to return to the lineup. May 21 |
| 3. T.J. Galiardi  ActiveT.J. Galiardi is playing on a line with Joe Thornton and Brent Burns. The line was very good on Saturday in the 2-1 overtime win over the Kings as they stopped the Kings best line of Mike Richards, Jeff Carter and Dwight King. "I mean, if you look at it, I think we're in their zone every time," Galiardi said. "I don't remember being in our zone the whole series, so I'd say so. We just have to score now." Galiardi and Burns have not scored in the series while Thornton has two assists. May 20 |
| 4. James Sheppard  ActiveJames Sheppard will draw into the lineup Wednesday night. Sheppard, who has four points on the year, last played April 9. Scott Gomez is a scratch against the Coyotes. Apr 24 |
| 5. Raffi Torres  SuspendedRaffi Torres won't appeal his suspension. Torres was suspended for the rest of Round 2 for his illegal hit to the head of Kings forward Jarrett Stoll. Don't think that this means Torres agrees with the suspension, though; in fact the organization disagrees with it. Sharks general manager Doug Wilson released a statement on it, calling it "abundantly clear that this was a clean hockey hit." He also said it was an "inappropriate application" of Rule 48.1, where the head is the principal point of contact and target of the hit. Wilson said this suspension was "grossly unfair" to Torres. May 17 |
| RW | 1. Joe Pavelski  ActiveJoe Pavelski moved up to San Jose's top line at Thursday's morning skate with Raffi Torres unavailable. Torres is in New York for an in-person hearing, so Pavelski will play with Patrick Marleau and Logan Couture in Game 2 against Los Angeles. "We like Pav there, and think he's a responsible two-way guy, and has the ability to help out in the faceoff circle against a [Anze] Kopitar or a [Mike] Richards, said coach Todd McLellan." May 16 |
| 2. Martin Havlat  SidelinedMartin Havlat (lower body injury) won't play Tuesday in Game 4 versus Los Angeles. Coach Todd McLellan made the call on Sunday after Havlat didn't practice. He didn't take part in Monday's session either. "If you're hurt and you can't play, you can't play," McLellan said. "We can be as frustrated as we want. It was hard because we had to juggle the lineup, but we talked about the difference between being injured and hurt. He's injured." May 20 |
| 3. Tommy Wingels  ActiveTommy Wingels said he'll be ready for the next round of the playoffs after he was shaken up in overtime in Game 4 against Vancouver. Daniel Sedin was given a two-minute penalty for boarding on the play and Wingels appeared to be in discomfort when he left the ice. The Sharks scored the series winner on the ensuing power play. Wingels has two assists in four playoff games. May 9 |
| 4. Adam Burish  SidelinedAdam Burish (hand) practiced with his teammates Monday and he hopes to return at some point during the Sharks' second-round series against Los Angeles. "That's on my timeline. I'd like to get back," said Burish. "If the doctors let me, I'd play tomorrow if I could. My goal is to get back in this series sometime. When that is, I don't know. It will be between us and the coaches and the doctors to see when that is. But, I'll be ready whenever it is." Coach Todd McLellan said that Burish may be further along than the team had originally thought. May 20 |
| D | 1. Dan Boyle  ActiveDan Boyle is approaching Tuesday night's Game 4 as a must-win contest for the San Jose Sharks. "It has to be 2-2 when we leave here, has to be," he said. Boyle scored a power-play goal in Game 3's 2-1 overtime win and he has five points in seven playoff games. May 21 |
| 2. Brent Burns  ActiveBrent Burns scored a goal in San Jose's 2-1 win Tuesday. Burns has two goals and four points in eight playoff games. He also ranks second on the team with 26 hits and is tied for third with 25 shots on goal. May 22 |
| 3. Brad Stuart  ActiveBrad Stuart had a big game on Saturday despite being the culprit on Tyler Toffoli's game-tying goal. Stuart's bad pass went directly to Toffoli who backhanded the puck over Antti Niemi, tying the game at one. But he had a big hit on Justin Williams later in the period and ended up with five hits and four blocked shots. "You make a mistake, and all you can do is try not to let it affect the rest of your game," Stuart said after Game 3. "You just hope the team pulls it out. It was a tight game. I'd like that back, but it happens. I just tried to put it behind me and not let it affect the rest of the game." May 20 |
| 4. Marc-Edouard Vlasic  ActiveThe San Jose Sharks disputed Marc-Edouard Vlasic's costly delay of game penalty. The argument is that the puck hit Kings forward Jeff Carter before going into the stands, but the referees disagreed. That gave Los Angeles a 5-on-3 advantage, which they used to score two power-play goals late in the third period of their 4-3 victory. "You go back and look at it, it looks like it changed direction," Sharks coach Todd McLellan said. But he also added, "The one thing that I've learned, certainly through this playoffs, is it’s not going to do me any good to whine and moan and bitch about the referees. It’s not going to get us anywhere. We took some penalties, we needed to kill them, and we move on." It's worth noting that Vlasic's third-period goal might have been the game winner if not for his penalty. May 17 |
| 5. Jason Demers  SidelinedSan Jose Sharks coach Todd McLellan said he's weighing a lineup with Jason Demers inserted as a seventh defenseman for Tuesday's game 4. Demers has been sidelined since he suffered a sprained left ankle on April 18. He said Monday he's available to return to the lineup, which puts the decision squarely on McLellan's shoulders. Demers did skate at forward at times Monday and could help McLellan balance out both sides of the Sharks' banged-up equation. May 21 |
| 6. Justin Braun  ActiveSharks defenseman Justin Braun found himself watching Friday's loss to the Blackhawks from the press box. The return of Brent Burns has made it increasingly difficult for Braun to find a spot in the lineup so he's not worth rostering at this time. Feb 17 |
| 7. Scott Hannan  ActiveScott Hannan will probably get the nod over rookie Matt Tennyson to play Wednesday night in Game 1 against Vancouver. "We will have to make that decision still," said coach Todd McLellan. "Come game time, we'll still be making it. We'll look at what their lineup is like throughout warmup. We have an idea, but we're not sure. We'll go with an inexperienced puck-mover, or we'll go with a ton of experience." Hannan appeared to be the team's choice judging from the morning skate and he would make sense given his experience. May 1 |
| 8. Matt Irwin  ActiveMatt Irwin recorded six shots on goal in a disappointing night for the Sharks offense, dropping Game 1 2-0 on Tuesday. The Sharks coaching staff praised Irwin for his performance in the first round against Vancouver, and he’s off to a solid start in this series. However, he and his defensive partner Dan Boyle will need to find a way to beat Jonathan Quick, who looks almost unbeatable right now. Logan Couture recorded just two shots and finished an ugly minus-2 on the evening. May 15 |
| G | 1. Antti Niemi  ActiveAntti Niemi was strong in net, stopping 22 of 23 shots he faced as the Sharks tied up the series with 2-1 Game 4 win on Tuesday. Niemi wasn’t busy for most of the night, as the Sharks did a good job of stalling the Kings attack. He was helped in the second period after a premature whistle was blown before a Kings goal. He rallied from there, and aside from allowing a power play goal in the third, he settled in quite nicely when L.A. turned it up towards the finish. After starting the series slowly, Niemi has responded with back-to-back .950 SV% performances. He’ll have to steal one for the Sharks on the road, however, if they are going to advance to the Western Conference finals. May 22 |
| 2. Thomas Greiss  ActiveThomas Greiss failed to get his second win of the 2013 season as the Phoenix Coyotes beat his San Jose Sharks 2-1 on Wednesday. Greiss is 1-4-0 on the season, losing or getting a non-decision in every appearance since he began the campaign with a 24-save shutout on Jan. 26. Greiss has only played in three games since March began. The Sharks might decide to give Antti Niemi another breather, however, as the Finn has played a lot lately. Apr 25 |
|
| St Louis Blues | Tampa Bay Lightning | Toronto Maple Leafs |
| C | 1. David Backes  ActiveWith the St. Louis Blues eliminated, David Backes will play for the U.S. team in the 2013 World Hockey Championships. Backes generated a disappointing offensive output in the 2013 regular season, managing 28 points in 48 games on just 100 SOG. His six goals would've been well short of the pace he generated in 2010-11 (31 tallies) and 2011-12 (24). May 11 |
| 2. Patrik Berglund  ActivePatrik Berglund scored a goal in St. Louis' 2-1 victory on Thursday. Berglund now has three goals in five games, dating back to the regular season. He had 17 goals and 25 points in 48 contests prior to the playoffs. May 3 |
| 3. Alexander Steen  ActiveAlexander Steen couldn't lead the St. Louis Blues past the Los Angeles Kings in Game 5 on Wednesday, but he did collect his third goal of the series. It's been a minor breakout year of sorts for the former Toronto Maple Leafs forward, as he's shown he's one of the reasons why the Blues' balanced attack can be dangerous when it's on. Alex Pietrangelo breathed a sigh of relief with his first goal of the 2013 postseason in that 3-2 OT loss to Los Angeles. May 9 |
| 4. Scott Nichol  SidelinedScott Nichol (lower body) practiced Thursday and he hopes to return before the end of the regular season. "It's frustrating because it feels good and you want to push it, and then you have to take a step back," said Nichol, who has been out of commission since April 1 due to a lower-body injury. "So, I'm trying to be patient. But if you sit out too long it's kind of hard to jump on a moving train. So I'm hoping to get back soon." Apr 18 |
| LW | 1. David Perron  ActiveDavid Perron's demotion to the fourth line didn't last long, as he played most of Tuesday's game with Patrik Berglund and Vladimir Tarasenko. Coach Ken Hitchcock wasn't pleased with Perron's turnover in Sunday's 5-3 loss to Colorado. The Blues bench boss was impressed with his response though even though he didn't get a point in Tuesday's win over the Avalanche. Apr 24 |
| 2. Andy McDonald  ActiveNHL.com's Lou Korac reports that St. Louis Blues GM Doug Armstrong didn't exactly give his teams unrestricted free agents glowing reviews. Among the most interesting names on that list: Andy McDonald, Jamie Langenbrunner, Jordan Leopold and Scott Nichol. With a cloudy goaltending situation also in mind, this could be an interesting offseason. May 12 |
| 3. Jaden Schwartz  ActiveJaden Schwartz practiced on Sunday after getting hurt Saturday. Schwartz was hobbling during the third period of Game 3 Saturday but there were no ill effects Sunday. "Just a little banged up at the time, but it's fine now," Schwartz said. "I got a little bit twisted up when I fell into the boards, but it's fine now. I just wanted to see how it feels - a short little skate for the team - but it was good to get out there and feel the puck a little bit." He should be in the lineup for Game 4 Tuesday. May 6 |
| 4. Andrew Murray  ActiveAndrew Murray has been recalled by St. Louis. "Peoria has only two games remaining and if Andrew got hurt, it would be shame on us," coach Ken Hitchcock said. "He's an extra guy. He's available to us. We're going to need him and we want to make him part of the group right away." The Blues have injuries to T. J. Oshie, Scott Nichol and Jamie Langenbrunner and Peoria won't make it to the AHL playoffs. Murray has skated in one NHL game this season. Apr 18 |
| 5. Vladimir Sobotka  ActiveVladimir Sobotka had the closest thing to a standout Sunday for St. Louis as the Chicago Blackhawks beat the Blues 2-0. Sobotka had four SOG, two PIM and went 9-3 on faceoffs for a useful fantasy night despite the defeat. Apr 14 |
| 6. Evgeny Grachev  ActiveEvgeny Grachev has been summoned by the St. Louis Blues. Grachev has 11 goals and 15 assists in 76 games this season. He also has a goal and four points in 34 career NHL contests. Apr 27 |
| RW | 1. T.J. Oshie  ActiveT.J. Oshie recorded a team-worst minus-4 for the Blues in their opening round series loss to Los Angeles. Oshie returned from a late-season injury to suit up for the Blues in Game One of the series, but it's fair to question whether he returned too soon, as he became a defensive liability. The winger is a talented scorer and we shouldn't read too much into such a small sample, but let's hope coach Ken Hitchcock has a short memory entering next season. May 11 |
| 2. Chris Stewart  ActiveChris Stewart was held off the scoresheet again in the St. Louis Blues' series-ending 2-1 loss Friday night. Stewart finished the postseason with just one assist in six games after leading the Blues in scoring during the regular season. Stewart and his linemates were often given a defensive role against the Kings, but that's still not reason enough for a player of Stewart's caliber to be so inept offensively in the playoffs. The Blues have never been an offensive juggernaut under coach Ken Hitchcock, but it's pretty clear they'll need to find a way to improve their scoring next season if they finally want to make a deep playoff run. May 11 |
| 3. Vladimir Tarasenko  ActiveVladimir Tarasenko is expected to be an important part of St. Louis' future and he received that message before leaving the team after their playoff elimination. "I was very impressed with his season," GM Doug Armstrong said. "Now he has to go home and he has to come back in and be a player that we can count on. He left with a mandate that, 'Your name is on the board in an important spot now.'" Tarasenko played in just one playoff game in the Blues' first-round exit against Los Angeles after producing eight goals and 19 points in 38 games during his rookie season. May 16 |
| 4. Jamie Langenbrunner  I.L.Jamie Langenbrunner (hip surgery) is skating but the St. Louis Blues would have to advance for him to have a chance to play this season. Langenbrunner underwent surgery in mid-February and it seems extremely doubtful he'd be able to return this season. Stranger things have happened, but we'll continue to consider him out for the season for the time being. Apr 30 |
| 5. Ryan Reaves  ActiveThe St. Louis Blues fourth line, consisting of Adam Cracknell, Chris Porter and Ryan Reaves have been given the nickname of the CPR line. "It's got a good ring to it," Cracknell said. "That pretty much sums up our line. We try to bring as much energy to the team any way we can." Reaves has been the Blues top hitter with 15 hits, second most in the NHL during the playoffs. May 5 |
| 6. Adam Cracknell  ActiveLook for Adam Cracknell to play on Wednesday. Cracknell was a healthy scratch on Monday to make room for Vladimir Tarasenko, but it looks like their roles will be reversed for Game 5. Cracknell is projected to play alongside Chris Porter and Ryan Reaves on the fourth line. May 8 |
| 7. Chris Porter  ActiveChris Porter scored the lone goal for the St. Louis Blues in a 2-1 loss Friday night. Porter was in the right place at the right time as a Roman Polak shot deflected off Porter and past Kings goalie Jonathan Quick. Porter had just two goals and eight points in 29 games this season and is more of a depth forward at this point in his career. May 11 |
| D | 1. Alex Pietrangelo  ActiveAlex Pietrangelo scored a goal in St. Louis' 3-2 overtime loss Wednesday. Pietrangelo has two points in this series. Even with the team's strong core of defenseman, Pietrangelo is still averaging 27:39 minutes per game in the playoffs. He has a plus-two rating while his team is one defeat away from elimination going into Game 6. May 9 |
| 2. Kevin Shattenkirk  ActiveThe St. Louis Blues will be looking to bounce back Wednesday night after dropping Games 3 and 4. The Blues squandered their 2-0 series lead and they are now tied with the Los Angeles Kings. "I don’t think our confidence is shaken here," Kevin Shattenkirk said. "If anything, we’re just disappointed with what happened because we know we could have done better. It’s not like we don’t know what we have to do to get back to the right way. The series is back to a tie. We go back home and start over. It’s just a matter of resetting and getting back to the way we were playing." Neither team has won a game on the road yet, but the Kings will need to do that at least once to win this series. May 8 |
| 3. Jay Bouwmeester  ActiveJay Bouwmeester is getting ready for his first postseason game. Bouwmeester, 29, has played in 762 career contests without participating in a playoff game. However, the St. Louis Blues have clinched a playoff berth. "I think they have a good team here, we have a team that's kind of built for that (playoff) kind of hockey," he said. "That's the focus now, it's not just getting in. We want to win. It's fun winning, we've had a pretty good stretch here. It's a young group of guys; I kind of feel a little old sometimes but it's been fun. I've enjoyed my time here -- and hopefully I have a long time here." Bouwmeester is signed through the 2013-14 campaign. Apr 25 |
| 4. Kris Russell  ActiveKris Russell will dress Thursday night in the place of injured defenseman Barret Jackman. He has played only one of the Blues' last 12 games when he skated as a forward in Detroit on April 7. Russell has five points and a plus-4 rating in 31 games this season. Apr 25 |
| 5. Barret Jackman  ActiveA seemingly harmless shot from defenseman Barret Jackman with 51 seconds remaining in the third period gave the St. Louis Blues a 2-1 triumph over the visiting Los Angeles Kings Thursday night. Jackman's goal, from just inside the Kings' blueline, also gave the Blues a 2-0 lead in their opening-round, best-of-seven series against last season's Stanley Cup champions. Jonathan Quick, the Kings' goaltender, appeared to have been screened by teammate Drew Doughty on the rather weak shot from Jackman. Quick wound up wearing goathorns for the second time this series. He was at fault for a giveaway in overtime in the first game, which the Blues won 2-1. The Kings actually opened the scoring Thursday on a Dustin Brown goal midway through the first period but St. Louis tied the game at 1-1 on Patrik Berglund's first goal of the series. Assists on Berglund's goal went to Alex Pietrangelo and David Perron's, their first assists of the playoffs. Jackman's goal was his first in the playoffs and the assists on his goal were credited to Chris Stewart and Vladimir Sobotka. It was also their first assists in the post-season. May 3 |
| 6. Jordan Leopold  ActiveJordan Leopold will play his first game for the St. Louis Blues without the benefit of a practice with his teammates. The good news for Leopold is that he will be playing in his home state of Minnesota for his Blues debut after spending all season in the Eastern Conference with the Sabres. He only had two goals and eight points this season but had three straight seasons of double digit goals so he definitely knows how to score. He will play with Kevin Shattenkirk on the blueline and that will not hurt the offensive side of his game. Apr 1 |
| 7. Roman Polak  ActiveBlues defenseman Roman Polak is upset with his play on the eventual game-winning goal for the Kings Friday. With second remaining in the second period of a 1-1 game, Kings forward Dustin Penner fired a long shot on goal in desperation, but Polak's attempt to block it screened goaltender Brian Elliot and led to the go-ahead marker for Los Angeles. "It was a bad play by me," he said. "There were just two seconds left. I tried to block it and I just got a piece of it." May 11 |
| 8. Taylor Chorney  ActiveTaylor Chorney has been promoted by St. Louis. Chorney has four goals and 24 points in 73 games this season. The 26-year-old has played in 61 career NHL contests. Apr 27 |
| 9. Ian Cole  ActiveAfter playing 24:40 minutes on Saturday, Ian Cole saw only 14:44 minutes of action on Monday. Cole has played in half of the Blues 12 games as he has been a healthy scratch in the other half-dozen. He had a tough time Monday as a puck jumped over his stick leading to a goal by Jeff Carter. He has only an assist in six games so he really should not be in your lineup. Feb 12 |
| 10. Jeff Woywitka  ActiveJeff Woywitka has been called up by the St. Louis Blues. Woywitka has a goal and 11 points in 34 AHL games this season. He's an organizational depth defenseman. Apr 27 |
| 11. Jani Hakanpaa  ActiveSt. Louis Blues recall Jani Hakanpaa from AHL Peoria. Hakanpaa appeared in 14 games with Peoria this season, registering one goal and three assists. The 20-year-old blueliner was the Blues' fourth-round pick in the 2010 entry draft. Apr 23 |
| G | 1. Brian Elliott  ActiveBrian Elliott stopped 14 of 16 shots as the St. Louis Blues lost 2-1 Friday night and were eliminated in Game 6. Elliott and the Blues lost four straight after staking a 2-0 lead in the incredibly physical series. The margin of victory in most of the games was razor thin and Friday night was no different, with Dustin Penner's last-second goal in the second period proving to be the difference. It's a goal Elliott will carry all offseason with the Blues netminder likely kicking himself for sitting back in the crease instead of challenging Penner's slap shot from just inside the blue line. It's the second straight year the Kings have eliminated the Blues. May 11 |
| 2. Jake Allen  ActiveJake Allen made 15 saves on 19 shots in the Blues' 4-1 loss to the Blue Jackets Friday night. With Jaroslav Halak expected to miss the remainder of the season, Allen and Brian Elliott should be owned in 12-team leagues. With the loss tonight, the 22-year-old rookie is 9-4 in this 48-game shortened season. Apr 12 |
| 3. Jaroslav Halak  ActiveSt. Louis Blues GM Doug Armstrong acknowledged the elephant in the room: the team's goaltending situation is "cloudy." All three of Jaroslav Halak, Brian Elliott and Jake Allen could argue that they deserve playing time. Of note: Allen is a restricted free agent this summer while Elliott and Halak have one year left on their deals. It could be an interesting offseason storyline. May 12 |
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| C | 1. Steve Stamkos  ActiveSteven Stamkos has been Canada's best forward at the IIHF Championships. This should not be a surprise. Stamkos has scored four goals and registered nine points in leading Canada to a 4-0-1 record. May 11 |
| 2. Vincent Lecavalier  ActiveVincent Lecavalier doesn't want to go anywhere. "Yeah, I want to be here. I want to play here the rest of my career and I've always said that and will keep saying it," said the long-time Tampa Bay Lightning. "I've been here for 15 years now. I'm proud to be part of this organization." He's signed until 2020 and has a no-trade clause. Lecavalier was disappointed with how Tampa finished the 2013 campaign after a promising start, but he doesn't feel like the team is far away from returning to the playoffs. May 21 |
| 3. Alex Killorn  ActiveAlex Killorn looks like he could be a promising player in the future. He has produced seven goals and 18 points in 33 games and coach Jon Cooper believes "he's a can't-miss" prospect. Killorn wants to be a "dependable two-way player and chip in offensively" and he has done that while averaging 17:05 of ice time per contest. He's worth watching next year to see if he can take his game to another level. Apr 18 |
| 4. Nate Thompson  ActiveNate Thompson was thrilled to win a bronze medal with Team USA at the IIHF World Championship. He called it "a once in a lifetime experience I will never forget." It was his first medal and second time he has competed for the United States at the tournament. "It was awesome," he said. "With the group of guys we had an how young we were, I don't think anyone would have picked us to do that. We had a pretty resilient group." Thompson generated a goal, three points and a plus-1 rating in 10 games. May 22 |
| LW | 1. Ryan Malone  ActiveThere's been some speculation in Tampa that the Lightning may buy out the remainder of Ryan Malone's contract. He has two years left on his current deal at a $4.5 million cap hit. However, GM Steve Yzerman wasn't willing to discuss his thought process just yet. "We'll spend the next month figuring out our plan," Yzerman said. "I'm not really concerned with where we are with the cap. It's not going to be an issue for us as far as what we want to do." May 1 |
| 2. Benoit Pouliot  ActiveBenoit Pouliot returned to the lineup Saturday against the Capitals after sitting out the previous two contests as a healthy scratch. Pouliot will boost the Lightning's depth, but he doesn't have a ton of fantasy value. "At first I didn't really get it, and it's tough when a coach tells you that you are not going to play for a couple of games,'' he said. "I was a little confused, but after that you realize it's part of the game and part of the business and that's what I did. It (stinks) sitting out and at first I was mad, not at the coach or anybody like that, just a matter of not playing is terrible. It's happened to me in the past and I don't like it at all and it's something you don't like to go through.'' Pouliot has 18 points and a plus-nine rating in 28 games this season. Apr 14 |
| 3. Tom Pyatt  ActiveTom Pyatt returned from an upper body injury on Sunday. Pyatt missed two games due to the ailment. He had three shots on goal in 13:56 minutes of ice time in his return. Apr 22 |
| RW | 1. Martin St. Louis  ActiveMartin St. Louis has been nominated for the 2013 Lady Byng Memorial Trophy. The other two finalists are Patrick Kane and Matt Moulson. St. Louis is a two-time winner of the award, but this time capturing the trophy would carry with it some extra meaning. He would join Stan Mikita and Wayne Gretzky as the only players to win both this award and the Art Ross Trophy in a single season. St. Louis had 60 points and 14 penalty minutes in 48 games. May 16 |
| 2. Teddy Purcell  ActiveTeddy Purcell scored two goals in Tampa Bay's 6-3 defeat Thursday night. Brett Connolly scored his first goal of the season. Steven Stamkos, Sami Salo, Richard Panik, Alex Killorn, Martin St. Louis, and Matt Carle each recorded an assist in the losing effort. Apr 11 |
| 3. B.J. Crombeen  ActiveB.J. Crombeen returned to action from a lower-body injury on Tuesday April 2. He had been sidelined since March 23. Crombeen played 10:07 of ice time in his return. Feel free to get him back in your lineup if you rely on his penalty minutes. Apr 3 |
| 4. Dana Tyrell  ActiveDana Tyrell is back up with the Tampa Bay Lightning. He was brought up from the minors on Wednesday. In 12 games with the Bolts this season, he has three points and 10 hits. Apr 4 |
| 5. Pierre-Cedric Labrie  ActivePierre-Cedric Labrie (upper body) is expected to be available for Tuesday night's game in Winnipeg. He has missed the past two games with an upper-body injury. Labrie has picked up two points and 28 penalty minutes in 13 NHL games this campaign. Apr 16 |
| D | 1. Eric Brewer  ActiveEric Brewer had an assist on Sunday. Brewer has four goals and 12 points in 42 games this season. He's a well-rounded defenseman, but isn't worth owning in standard fantasy leagues. It's a different story in leagues that use hits and blocked shots as categories. Apr 15 |
| 2. Victor Hedman  ActiveVictor Hedman assisted on both Lightning goals in a 3-2 loss to Montreal on Thursday. Hedman has enjoyed a mini-breakout offensively this season with 19 points in 40 games, a vast improvement on his scoring pace over his first two NHL seasons. Richard Panik and Vincent Lecavalier were the goal scorers for Tampa Bay in the loss. Apr 18 |
| 3. Matt Carle  ActiveMatt Carle registered an assist on Sunday. That extended Carle's point streak to a career-high five contests. That helped him bury a particularly cold patch from late February to late March. He has four goals and 18 points in 38 games this season and should be able to maintain that pace for the remainder of the campaign. Apr 8 |
| 4. Sami Salo  ActiveAfter missing a couple of games, the Tampa Bay Lightning welcome Sami Salo (lower-body) back into the lineup on Monday. He's been a very nice fit for the Bolts in his first season there. The Lightning are still struggling to improve in their own end in 2013, so getting the fragile veteran back is a relief. Mar 3 |
| 5. Keith Aulie  ActiveKeith Aulie was a healthy scratch in the Lightning's 6-5 overtime win against the Panthers Saturday. The 6-foot-6 rearguard has two points in 13 contests in this 48-game shortened season. He doesn't have any fantasy appeal. Feb 17 |
| 6. Mattias Ohlund  I.L.Mattias Ohlund (knee) still isn't close to being able to resume his NHL career. Ohlund hasn't played in an NHL game since May 27, 2011. He's signed through 2015-16, but at this point retirement seems likely for the 36-year-old. "I've thought about (the next step) quite a bit, but it clearly involves more people than me," Ohlund said. "I've spoke to Steve (Yzerman) quite a bit about what the end result will be. For a long period of time I've been trying to get better and better, but clearly the longer you don't play, the likelihood of playing again gets smaller and smaller each day, especially at my age. I don't know long term what my situation will be, but I'm sure it will be figured out shortly." Apr 8 |
| 7. Mark Barberio  ActiveMark Barberio has been called up by the Tampa Bay Lightning. Barberio has 40 points and 44 penalty minutes in 70 AHL games this season. He might make his NHL debut on Tuesday. Apr 8 |
| 8. Mathieu Roy  ActiveTampa Bay Lightning sign Mathieu Roy for the remainder of the season. Roy played 51 games with the Hamburg Freezers of the German Elite League this season. He was a part of the Lightning organization in 2010-11, playing 45 games with the Norfolk Admirals under current Lightning coach Jon Cooper. Apr 23 |
| G | 1. Ben Bishop  ActiveBen Bishop made 26 saves in the Lightning's 5-2 win over the Leafs on Wednesday night. It was Bishop's first win since April 9, snapping a personal span of four games without a victory. The netminder sports a 2.67 goals-against average and .920 save percentage, certainly numbers he'll look to improve on next season. Apr 24 |
| 2. Anders Lindback  ActiveAnders Lindback lost his third straight game Saturday night, as the Lightning fell 5-3 to the Panthers. Lindback has given up nine goals over that span, making 27 saves on 31 shots Saturday. There are some good pieces in Tampa Bay -- it really needs to shore up its defense, though. Apr 27 |
| 3. Mathieu Garon  ActiveMathieu Garon allowed three goals on 22 shots Sunday as the Lightning dropped a 3-1 decision to Buffalo. Garon entered Saturday's loss to the Capitals in relief of the newly-acquired Ben Bishop and drew the start today, but was unable to record a victory. His record falls to 5-9-2 on the campaign. Apr 14 |
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| C | 1. Tyler Bozak  SidelinedToronto GM Dave Nonis said the team will re-sign Tyler Bozak if the contract makes sense. Nonis said, "the (salary) cap is going down, and how we allocate our dollars is very important if we're going to remain competitive." Bozak will become an unrestricted free agent in July if a new deal isn't worked out with the Maple Leafs. It was also revealed that he tore his triceps muscle at the end of Game 5 against Boston. The injury was initially reported as a bicep issue. In any event, his "arm injury" will take about four weeks to recover from. May 16 |
| 2. Nazem Kadri  ActiveAfter the disappointment of blowing a three-goal lead settled, Nazem Kadri took the glass-half-full approach. "At the end of the day, we proved a lot of people wrong. Nobody gave us a fair shake at this series. We pretty much gave Boston all it could handle," said Kadri. "I truly believe it’s going to make every single person in that dressing room a better hockey player in the future. This is an experience you can’t buy. We’re going to take what we can and go back to work next year. Despite the struggles early in the playoffs, Kadri emerged as one of the better up-and-coming young centers in the league with 18 goals and 44 points this season. May 14 |
| 3. Mikhail Grabovski  ActiveMikhail Grabovski admitted, in an published interview Monday, that he bit Montreal Canadiens forward Max Pacioretty back on Feb. 9. "He was choking me and I bit him," Grabovski told Yahoo!'s Dmitry Chesnokov. "Don't stick your hands where you shouldn't. To be honest with you he was choking me pretty hard, to the point where I really couldn't breathe. And I couldn't pull his hand away at all. I tried to hit him with my other hand, but I couldn't because he was choking me. There was nothing left to do but bite him." The NHL investigated the incident but no suspension was given because they couldn't prove that a bite occurred, but it doesn't matter now. May 21 |
| 4. Jay McClement  ActiveJay McClement moved up to Toronto's second line in Tuesday's overtime win over Buffalo and he responded with his best showing in a Leafs uniform. He played on the wing with Mikhail Grabovksi and Nikolai Kulemin for most of the contest and scored his first goal of the season to open the scoring. McClement played a season-high 16:59 of ice time thanks to injuries up front. The 29-year-old has also helped improve the club's much-maligned penalty killing so far this year. He signed a two-year deal with Toronto this past summer. Jan 30 |
| LW | 1. Joffrey Lupul  ActiveJoffrey Lupul tweeted the Monday's Game 7 loss to the Boston Bruins will "haunt me until the day I die." It's hard to blame Lupul for feeling that way after the Maple Leafs blew a three-goal lead in the third period and then lost in overtime. Lupul didn't have a point Monday night but was all over the ice and just missed on a couple of opportunities. It's unlikely anyone on the Maple Leafs will get over the feeling of collapse anytime soon, but eventually they'll move past it and start preparing for next year. May 14 |
| 2. James van Riemsdyk  ActiveToronto head coach Randy Carlyle was very impressed with what he saw from winger James van Riemsdyk in the Maple Leafs' playoff series against Boston. Carlyle referenced the fact that van Riemsdyk was seemingly unwilling to take the punishment required to score goals when he first arrived in Toronto, saying "We told him to camp in front of the net and if he didn’t want to do that, we’d put somebody else there. From that point on, he made the decision that he was going to go to those tough areas and make a living there." The 24-year-old led the Maple Leafs in playoff scoring with seven points, which bodes well for his future with the club. May 19 |
| 3. Clarke MacArthur  ActiveClarke MacArthur had a solid playoffs for Toronto, but it might not save his roster spot on the team for next season. He will probably be permitted to walk as a free agent this summer despite getting two goals and three points in five postseason appearances. The Leafs have some depth players on the Marlies, in the AHL, who could take his place in the lineup and play for less money. MacArthur had eight goals and 20 points in 40 games with Toronto during the regular season. May 15 |
| 4. Frazer McLaren  ActiveFrazer McLaren registered an assist Thursday. McLaren played despite dealing with flu-like symptoms since Tuesday. It was only McLaren’s fifth point of the season and the pugilist is not likely to help your fantasy team. Apr 5 |
| 5. Ryan Hamilton  ActiveWinger Ryan Hamilton is happy to have been a part of Toronto's impressive win over the Bruins on Saturday. The 28-year-old AHL veteran picked up an assist in his NHL playoff debut and did exactly what the coaching staff had hoped for when they inserted him into the lineup. For his part, Hamilton understands his role with the club. "It feels good to be part of the battle and help the team any way you can," Hamilton said. "You’ve got to focus on what you’ve got to do, focus on the details, play the system. Stay in the moment." Given the uphill battle the team faces and his limited role, Hamilton's not worth a selection in playoff pools. May 5 |
| RW | 1. Phil Kessel  ActiveToronto's brass was thrilled with the play of Phil Kessel this season. "From a development standpoint, what we would say is the biggest plus, because there were a lot of pluses, is probably the play of Phil Kessel," Leafs vice-president of hockey operations Dave Poulin said on Wednesday. "Not only in the playoffs and in that series, but throughout the year. He took his game to a different level. He did it physically and he did it in all three zones and he played hard (against the Bruins)." Much was made about Kessel's past struggles versus his old team heading into the first round, but he put those talks to rest by netting four goals and recording six points in the series. The 25-year-old winger has one year left on his current deal, so an extension could be in the works as soon as this summer. May 16 |
| 2. Nikolai Kulemin  ActiveNikolai Kulemin has rediscovered some of his scoring touch of late. He had two goals in his first 28 contests, but he has scored in three of his past six outings. "The difference has been his skating and his awareness away from the puck and the recognition that when his center or lineman has the puck that he moves to a hole or moves off the puck. He's doing that more effectively," coach Randy Carlyle said. "He's a big, strong guy who can skate ... He's got a quick wrist shot ... It's nice to see it's part of his ammunition." It also doesn't hurt that he's been riding shotgun with productive center Nazem Kadri, which has helped him snap out of his funk. Mar 27 |
| 3. Matt Frattin  ActiveMatt Frattin was surprisingly physical in the Maple Leafs' Game 5 win over the Bruins. Frattin, who is known more for his speed and his offense, tied Milan Lucic and Dion Phaneuf in hits during Game 5 with seven. We have also liked his overall game this post-season. Keep Frattin in mind next season as we see a maturing player with skill emerging here. He could be a nice sleeper in 2013-14. May 11 |
| 4. Leo Komarov  ActiveLeo Komarov admitted Tuesday that he's talking with the Moscow Dynamo of the KHL but said he's waiting for an offer from the Toronto Maple Leafs. Komarov is a restricted free agent and is free to head to Russia if he pleases. Whether he's seriously contemplating it or not, the fact is that this will likely drive the price up for whatever contract Toronto had in mind. Depending on what the KHL club is willing to offer, the cost might be too much for the Leafs to keep a player that's essentially a fourth liner. May 21 |
| 5. Colton Orr  ActiveColton Orr was scratched from Toronto's lineup Wednesday night. Fellow Leafs' enforcer Frazer McLaren didn't play in Wednesday's loss to Tampa either. Coach Randy Carlyle likes to play his tough guys though, so they will probably be back in the lineup soon. Carlyle likes his team's identity with Orr and McLaren in the lineup even though the Leafs outshot an opponent for the first time in 11 games with them in the press box. The Toronto bench boss will ice the squad he feels gives them the best chance of winning and the Leafs have played well with them skating on the fourth line. Orr leads the league with 155 penalty minutes in 42 games this year. Apr 25 |
| D | 1. Dion Phaneuf  ActiveDion Phaneuf atoned for his overtime mistake in Game 4 by scoring the opening goal of the contest in Toronto's Game 6 victory over Boston. He redirected a shot from Nazem Kadri 1:48 into the third period in what would become a 2-1 Leafs' win. "I felt I owed it to the guys," said Phaneuf. "It was a mistake I didn't feel too good about. Obviously, with our last game in here, I didn't feel great about the outcome." He didn't make a good pinch in overtime, but he had a strong showing in Game 6 and now the Leafs and Bruins will face in a winner take all match-up on Monday night. May 13 |
| 2. John-Michael Liles  ActiveJohn-Michael Liles, who was a healthy scratch for Games 2-4 of the first round series against the Bruins, played well in his return to the lineup in Game 5. He got the chance to play due to the injury to Mark Fraser and was steady during his 14:31 of ice time with a plus one rating. We are not recommeding you rush to add Liles to your playoff pool roster but he if you are desparate for a post-season defenceman, you could do worse. May 11 |
| 3. Jake Gardiner  ActiveJake Gardiner has been one of the best Maple Leaf players the past two games. He has been outstanding moving the puck out of the Toronto zone with his smooth-skating ability. Gardiner has also been solid defensively taking the Bruin forwards out with efficient positioning and physicality. Gardiner has been rewarded for his fine play with ice time. He led all Toronto skaters with 24:05 minutes of ice time in Game 6. May 11 |
| 4. Cody Franson  ActiveCody Franson scored Toronto's first two goals in the Maple Leafs' eventual 5-4 loss in overtime of Monday's Game 7. Franson was guilty of a brutal turnover on the first goal of the game when he tried to clear the puck between his legs through the middle of the ice. Of course, the Bruins pounced and scored shortly after, but Franson's two goals over the first and second periods staked the Leafs to a lead they wouldn't relinquish until the final minute of the third. Unfortunately for Franson, that wasn't enough as Boston won Game 7 six minutes into overtime to eliminate Toronto. May 13 |
| 5. Carl Gunnarsson  ActiveCarl Gunnarsson will be a restricted free agent this summer. "The ball is in their court right now, so they got to get it moving," Gunnarsson said. "The four years I've had here have been great. We'll see what they want from me next year. I haven't thought about what I want." He plans to speak with his agent this week. May 22 |
| 6. Ryan O'Byrne  ActiveRyan O'Byrne scored a goal in his Maple Leafs debut Monday night. He jumped into the rush and scored a nice feed from across the ice by Nazem Kadri. O'Byrne also posted two shots, three hits, three blocks and a plus-2 rating to fill a pretty solid night on the stat sheet. Apr 9 |
| 7. Mark Fraser  SidelinedMark Fraser isn't certain if the X-ray floating around the Internet, depicting his fractured skull, is real or not. "I haven't seen anything, but to be honest I can't bring any validity to anything," he said Thursday while sporting a nasty scar above his right eye. "I wasn't the one taking the picture and I haven't even seen it." Fraser suffered a frontal skull fracture when was struck by the puck in Game 4 against Boston. He is expected to be available in time for training camp. May 16 |
| G | 1. James Reimer  ActiveToronto GM Dave Nonis expects James Reimer to be back as the team's number one goalie next season. "At this point, I'd say he'll be back as No. 1," Nonis told reporters on Thursday to wrap up the year. "I think his mental make-up remains his strength. It's something you could question last year. I think it was clear that a lot of his issues a year ago were based upon his health. When we needed quality goaltending ... James was very good. I don't think anyone could point to goaltending as an issue with our team." The Leafs may continue their search for a quality veteran keeper, but Reimer made plenty of positive steps during the lockout-shortened campaign. May 17 |
| 2. Ben Scrivens  ActiveBen Scrivens was on the ice Saturday morning for Toronto's optional skate. He obviously made it back from a family funeral and will dress as James Reimer's backup Saturday night. Drew MacIntrye won't get his chance to dress after all. May 4 |
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| Vancouver Canucks | Washington Capitals | Winnipeg Jets |
| C | 1. Henrik Sedin  ActiveHenrik Sedin's two goals helped Sweden throttle Switzerland 5-1 to win a gold medal in the 2013 IIHF World Championships. Loui Eriksson, Erik Gustafsson and Simon Hjalmarsson were the other goal scorers. Sweden enjoyed a rare treat in winning in front of its home crowd as the event took place in Stockholm. May 19 |
| 2. Ryan Kesler  ActiveRyan Kesler scored twice in the third period of a 3-2 overtime loss to the San Jose Sharks in Friday's Game 2. Kesler's first goal was a power-play tally and came less than a minute into the period. He followed it up six minutes later with what looked to be the game-winning goal until the Sharks tied the game in the final minute. Henrik and Daniel Sedin each assisted on Kesler's man-advantage score, but the Canucks now trail 2-0 heading back to San Jose. May 4 |
| 3. Derek Roy  ActiveDerek Roy scored a goal in Vancouver’s 7-2 blowout loss to the Oilers Saturday night. It was his sixth point in 12 games since joining the Canucks. He might be worth a look in deep playoff pools if you believe the Canucks could go far this post-season. Apr 28 |
| 4. Maxim Lapierre  ActiveMaxim Lapierre scored the lone goal in the shootout to lift the Canucks to a 2-1 win over the Red Wings Saturday night and punch their ticket to the playoffs. Lapierre scored in the third round after slowly approaching the goal, making a few nifty dekes and roofing a backhander high blocker side on Jimmy Howard. Apr 21 |
| 5. Andrew Ebbett  ActiveAndrew Ebbett scored a goal and two assists, his first points of the season, in the Canucks 7-4 win over the Nashville Predators. Ebbett had one of the best games of his career in his second game back from being called up from the minors. Ebbett has proved to be an excellent source of offense in his AHL career, scoring 204 points in 210 games. The 5'9 center isn't much of offensive threat in the NHL mostly due to his small frame. He's 30 years old so don't expect much more than a skilled fourth liner. Mar 15 |
| 6. Manny Malhotra  I.L.Manny Malholtra addressed the media for the first time since Canucks general manager Mike Gillis put him on injured reserve due to the recurring effects of his serious eye injury suffered almost two years ago. Malhotra says he feels "good" and "comfortable" with his abilities and disagrees with Gillis' decision to shut him down, though he doesn't harbor negative feelings toward him. "I truly believe he cares for my well being and for my future — not only in the game of hockey but as a young man, a young father," Malhotra said. "He wants to see me have a successful life post hockey." Malhotra's contract expires at the end of the season. He said he won't be demanding a trade and would discuss his future with his family. Feb 27 |
| 7. Jordan Schroeder  SidelinedJordan Schroeder may require shoulder surgery. Vancouver GM Mike Gillis said the 22-year-old forward will get a second opinion before deciding if the procedure is necessary. He notched three goals and nine points in 31 games for the Canucks during the regular season, but wasn't able to play during the playoffs. May 9 |
| 8. Kellan Lain  ActiveVancouver Canucks recall Kellan Lain from AHL Chicago. Lain signed an entry-level deal with the Canucks after completing his junior season at Lake Superior State University this year. He didn't register a point in 13 games with Chicago. Lain was recalled along with a host of other Wolves after Chicago missed the AHL playoffs. They'll simply tag along with the Canucks and get a chance to experience the playoff atmosphere. Apr 30 |
| 9. Alexandre Mallet  ActiveVancouver Canucks recall Alexandre Mallet from AHL Chicago. Mallet signed his entry-level deal last August and split the 2012-13 season between the Canucks' ECHL and AHL affiliates. He was recalled along with a host of other Wolves after Chicago missed the AHL playoffs. They'll simply tag along with the Canucks and get a chance to experience the playoff atmosphere. Apr 30 |
| LW | 1. Daniel Sedin  ActiveDaniel and Henrik Sedin's play on the power play have propelled Team Sweden into the Gold Medal game at the World Championships. The Swedes will take on the upstart Swiss team for the Gold. Sweden has scored four times on the power play in the last two games with the Sedin twins in the lineup after going only two for 30 in their first seven games. May 19 |
| 2. David Booth  I.L.David Booth may be candidate for a buyout this off-season. He has been hampered by injuries since joining the Vancouver Canucks from Florida and carries a $4.25 million cap hit for the next two seasons. Vancouver GM Mike Gillis said there will be changes after the team's troubling end to the 2013 campaign. It wouldn't be surprising if Booth and/or Keith Ballard may be removed from the team's roster. May 13 |
| 3. Mason Raymond  ActiveMason Raymond (shoulder) will play for the Canucks on Saturday. "It's great to get back out there," said Raymond. "I had a good couple of games rest and it helped me improve." He has nine goals and 18 points in 35 games this season. Apr 6 |
| 4. Tom Sestito  ActiveTom Sestito replace Andrew Ebbett in the Vancouver lineup for Game 3 Sunday. Sestito played only 5:51 minutes in Game 3. He took a co-incidental minor with Adam Burish in the first period and had a couple of hits. May 6 |
| 5. Jim Vandermeer  ActiveVancouver Canucks recall Jim Vandermeer from AHL Chicago. The 33-year-old Vandermeer is a little different than the rest of the young prospects he was recalled alongside. Vandermeer made the Canucks out of training camp but was waived after watching the first two games from the press box. Vandermeer has two assists and 17 penalty minutes in 21 career NHL playoff games. Apr 30 |
| 6. Darren Archibald  ActiveVancouver Canucks recall Darren Archibald from AHL Chicago. Archibald had 12 goals and 22 points in 55 games with the Wolves this season. He was recalled along with a host of other Wolves after Chicago missed the AHL playoffs. They'll simply tag along with the Canucks and get a chance to experience the playoff atmosphere. Apr 30 |
| RW | 1. Alex Burrows  ActiveAlex Burrows scored a goal and added an assist in a losing effort, as the Vancouver Canucks were eliminated in four games thanks to a 4-3 overtime loss on Tuesday. Secondary scoring was a major issue for the Canucks throughout the season, and the problem was exacerbated in the four-game sweep. Burrows did his best to keep the Canucks alive, but it wasn’t enough. Having been eliminated in the first round for the second straight season, expect some changes up front in the Canucks lineup this summer. May 8 |
| 2. Christopher Higgins  ActiveChristopher Higgins will have an MRI on his right knee now that Vancouver's season is done. He strained it late in season and it's preventing him from playing for Team USA at the world championship. Higgins missed six games with a knee ailment, but he returned for the final three contests of the regular season and he played in the club's four postseason matches. May 9 |
| 3. Jannik Hansen  SidelinedJannik Hansen sustained a sprained shoulder in Game 4's loss to San Jose. He wasn't able to play in overtime after getting hurt on a hit from Sharks winger Raffi Torres. Hansen didn't have a point in the series after he accounted for 10 goals and 27 points over 47 contests during the regular season. May 9 |
| 4. Zack Kassian  ActiveZack Kassian is back up with the Vancouver Canucks and he'll return to the lineup Thursday night. He was sent down to the AHL for a one-game stint after recovering from a back injury. "It was good to be down there to get in a game and I feel really confident," Kassian said. "My back is 100 percent and I'm really excited to get going again. I spoke to management before I went down and they stressed the things I need to work on, both on and off the ice. On the ice, it was just play the way I was early in the season, moving my feet and playing physical. Off the ice, it was just being professional, especially in a market like this. You have to be a professional." He's slated to start on the third line with Max Lapierre and Nicklas Jensen Apr 4 |
| 5. Steve Pinizzotto  ActiveSteve Pinizzotto (illness) will get back into Vancouver's lineup Thursday. He missed the past four games due to an illness. He is slated to play with Chris Higgins and Andrew Ebbett on the third line. Mar 28 |
| 6. Dale Weise  ActiveDale Weise was a healthy scratch Monday. Weise was replaced in the lineup by Tom Sestito. Just an FYI. Apr 23 |
| 7. Alexandre Grenier  ActiveVancouver Canucks sign Alexandre Grenier to entry-level contract. Grenier played 25 games with EC Red Bull Salzburg of the Austrian League before playing 37 games for the Kalamazoo Wings of the ECHL and four games for the Chicago Wolves of the AHL. Grenier was the Canucks' third-round pick in 2011. Apr 30 |
| 8. Nicklas Jensen  ActiveVancouver Canucks recall Nicklas Jensen from AHL Chicago. Jensen was sent down to Chicago just four days after making his NHL debut April 1. He was recalled along with a host of other Wolves after Chicago missed the AHL playoffs. They'll simply tag along with the Canucks and get a chance to experience the playoff atmosphere. Apr 30 |
| D | 1. Alexander Edler  ActiveAlexander Edler may be dealt in the off-season. If Edler was to be traded, it would have to happen before July 1 as his no-trade contract goes into effect at that time. The Canucks need help up front and have some nice depth on the blueline so it makes sense that Edler could be the odd man out in Vancouver. May 19 |
| 2. Kevin Bieksa  ActiveKevin Bieksa called out San Jose Sharks forwards Joe Thornton and Logan Couture for embellishing penalties. Whether Bieksa was just trying to deflect attention from Vancouver's 3-0 series deficit or not, the Canucks defender went after the two Sharks hard on Monday. Bieksa called players "so-called Canadians" and said the duo exaggerate to draw penalties. "Couture, you can't go near the guy, he snaps his head back, he flails," Bieksa said Monday. "You touch him after the whistle and he is going to jump off the ice and throw himself into the glass." We'll see if Bieksa's tactic works in Game 4 on Tuesday night. May 7 |
| 3. Dan Hamhuis  ActiveDan Hamhuis will play for Team Canada at the IIHF World Championship after Vancouver's first-round exit from the NHL playoffs. He is expected to arrive Saturday and will increase the club's roster to 23 players, including eight defensemen. Hamhuis notched a goal and an assist in four playoff appearances with the Canucks. May 10 |
| 4. Chris Tanev  SidelinedVancouver coach Alain Vigneault doesn't expect Chris Tanev to be available at the start of the playoffs. Tanev is out indefinitely with a foot/ankle injury. Apr 18 |
| 5. Jason Garrison  ActiveJason Garrison scored his eighth goal of the season in the Canucks 3-1 loss to the Anaheim Ducks. Garrison has had a rough season until April. In Garrison's first 35 games, he had eight points, but in the past 12 games he has matched that. Garrison is capable of decent production thanks to his point shot but there are more talented options to consider come playoff time. If you're in a draft format in your playoff pools, then he is someone to keep your eye on. Apr 26 |
| 6. Keith Ballard  ActiveLook for the Vancouver Canucks to buy out the contract of Keith Ballard in the off-season. The Canucks are up against the cap and should they buy out Ballard and trade Roberto Luongo, they will free up $9.5 million in cap space which will go a long way to signing the seven or eight players they will need next season to fill out their roster. Stay tuned. May 19 |
| 7. Cam Barker  ActiveCam Barker successfully cleared waivers. The Canucks still opted to keep Barker on their active roster. He was plus-one in 12:43 minutes of playing time Thursday. Apr 5 |
| 8. Andrew Alberts  ActiveAndrew Alberts was moved to the fourth line from the blueline for Thursday's game against Detroit. Alberts was originally scheduled to be a healthy scratch but when Christopher Higgins was unable to go due to the flu, Alberts drew into the lineup. He played only 2:47 minutes and saw no action in the third or overtime period. Feb 3 |
| 9. Derek Joslin  ActiveDerek Joslin has been called up from the minors. He has split the 2012-13 season between the AHL's Chicago Wolves and Worcester Sharks. Joslin has four goals, 16 points and 47 penalty minutes in 66 minor-league contests this year. Apr 17 |
| 10. Frank Corrado  ActiveDefenseman Frank Corrado could have a bigger role next season for the Vancouver Canucks. The rookie played in the OHL this past season before playing six games in the NHL for Vancouver at the end of the regular season and the playoffs as the Canucks were impressed enough with his playoff performance to burn a year of his entry level contract. The Canucks will likely buy out the contract of Keith Ballard, giving Corrado a spot in the lineup if he is able to earn it in training camp. Otherwise, expect him to spend some time in the minors honing his craft. May 19 |
| G | 1. Cory Schneider  ActiveCory Schneider's "body" injury was to his groin. He strained his groin on April 22 against Chicago and wasn't able to return until Game 3 of the playoffs. Schneider's return wasn't enough for the Canucks though, as they were quickly eliminated from the postseason in four straight games by the San Jose Sharks. May 9 |
| 2. Roberto Luongo  ActiveRoberto Luongo doesn't want to spend another season serving as Cory Schneider's backup. "Who knows what is going to happen," he said. "I think we are all aware of what the situation is. . .my main goal is to be a starter. I want to play and feel like I still have a lot to give. At the end of the day that's what I want, so we'll see what happens." When GM Mike Gillis spoke to the media he said it was "unlikely" that Luongo would be back with the Canucks next season, so it appears as though he will try to grant the veteran goaltender's wish to play elsewhere. For that to happen, Gillis may have to accept less than he was asking for previously. May 10 |
| 3. Joe Cannata  ActiveJoe Cannata will serve as Vancouver's backup netminder in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series against San Jose. He was called up by the Canucks last week when Cory Schneider was hurt. He will occupy the bench, with Roberto Luongo in goal until Schneider is able to return. May 1 |
| 4. Eddie Lack  ActiveVancouver Canucks recall Eddie Lack from AHL Chicago. Lack underwent season-ending hip surgery in January, which might've thrown a monkey wrench into any plans to trade Roberto Luongo during the season. Lack was recalled along with a host of other Wolves after Chicago missed the AHL playoffs. He obviously won't play and instead will tag along with the Canucks and get a chance to experience the playoff atmosphere. Apr 30 |
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| C | 1. Nicklas Backstrom  ActiveNicklas Backstrom notched a goal and an assist in Tuesday's win over Winnipeg. He has four points in his last two games to give him 48 in 46 contests this season. Backstrom is third in the NHL with 40 helpers and is tied for eighth in league scoring. Hopefully, you stayed with patient with him at the beginning of the year and you are being rewarded for it now. Apr 24 |
| 2. Mike Ribeiro  ActiveMike Ribeiro reiterated that he's seeking a four- or five-year contract this offseason. The 33-year-old center is coming off a five-year, $25 million deal, and says that the length of the contract is more important to him than the money. "If I can stay in the city and retire here. It’s more about the kids. If I could stay in the city until they go to college," Ribeiro said. Ribeiro doesn't necessarily expect to make a decision before July 5, the start of free agency, though the Capitals will be in the mix if he hits the market. He had 13 goals and 36 assists this season. May 15 |
| 3. Mathieu Perreault  ActiveMathieu Perreault generated a goal and an assist in Washington's 4-3 loss to the New York Rangers Wednesday night. His first career playoff marker came just past the midway mark of the second period to get Washington on the scoreboard. Perreault has been productive in the playoffs with four points in four games. He had five shots in Game 4 after registering two in his previous three contests, so hopefully he's learned that he needs to shoot the puck more. May 9 |
| 4. Marcus Johansson  ActiveMarcus Johansson will need a new contract this summer. He is a pending restricted free agent and is coming off his entry-level deal. He skated alongside Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom on Washington's top line for most of the season and coach Adam Oates praised Johansson's play down the stretch. He should get a nice bump in salary, but he'll probably have to prove himself further before he earns a substantial contract. May 22 |
| 5. Jay Beagle  ActiveEven though the Capitals hung with the Rangers, their parade to the penalty box early on set them back. They took six minor penalties in the first 27 minutes of the game. The Rangers only capitalized on one (and scored just as one expired), but it kept the Capitals on their heels and kept their offensive players glued to the bench. "Your momentum gets killed," Jay Beagle said, "and it’s tough to get going again. We need to keep our sticks down and stay off the refs." Mike Green also added: Anytime you’re taking penalties, it’s losing momentum and it’s tough to get that flow of the game. Guys get tired and we can’t have that." May 7 |
| LW | 1. Matt Hendricks  ActiveMatt Hendricks will get offers from other teams if the Washington Capitals don't sign him to an extension before free agency opens on July 5. He can play left wing and center, take faceoffs, block shots, hit and work on the penalty kill. "I think I've established myself more in this league," Hendricks said. "Proved I can play throughout the lineup – special teams, penalty kill, things like that. I'm pretty good at faceoffs. I think I'm just more of an established player at this level." Washington GM George McPhee praised Hendricks for his work, but it's unclear if the team wants to commit to the longer term deal that he is reportedly seeking. Hendricks hopes to be back with the Capitals though and several of his teammates want that to happen as well. May 21 |
| 2. Brooks Laich  SidelinedBrooks Laich (groin) won't play Monday in Game 7 versus the New York Rangers. There was some buzz that he could make his series debut, but coach Adam Oates said that won't be the case. Laich skated in nine just games during the regular season because of his troublesome groin. May 13 |
| 3. Jason Chimera  ActiveThe Capitals' penalty kill helped propel them to a Game 1 win Thursday night. The Capitals went down two men in the middle of the second period for 56 seconds and had close to four minutes of time on the penalty kill, but they killed it off. Minutes later the Caps scored twice in 46 seconds. "Anytime you kill a five-on-three, especially in playoffs, the momentum goes the other way, for sure," said Jason Chimera, who scored the team's third goal. "If they get a goal, they’re feeling it. If we get a kill, obviously the crowd gets into it or we get into it. Everyone’s pumped up. It’s a good way to create momentum for us." May 3 |
| 4. Aaron Volpatti  ActiveAaron Volpatti will begin the 2013 playoffs in the press box. He probably would've started on the fourth line if Joel Ward wasn't able to return from his knee injury. However, with Ward back in the lineup Volpatti will join Wojtek Wolski, Tom Poti and Jeff Schultz as healthy scratches. May 2 |
| RW | 1. Alex Ovechkin  ActiveAlex Ovechkin credits coach Adam Oates with his successful turnaround during the 2013 campaign. "Right now I can tell to work with him, it was probably one of the biggest reason to my success this year," Ovechkin said. He was still productive in his previous two seasons, but his star among the NHL's elite players had been waning a bit. After a sluggish start to the lockout-shortened season, he emerged as a top-tier player again while recording 32 goals and 56 points in 48 games. May 23 |
| 2. Troy Brouwer  ActiveTroy Brouwer scored for the Capitals in their 4-3 loss against the Rangers in Game 4 of their first-round series Wednesday night. The Capitals had trouble generating any consistent offense through the first half of the game, but found themselves tied 2-2 by the end of the second thanks to a slick backhander from Brouwer, who now has 15 points in 61 playoff games. Mathieu Perreault had the team's first goal, taking advantage of Joel Ward's hard move to the net and banking in the rebound. Karl Alzner had the other goal for Washington. Ward ended up with two helpers. Alex Ovechkin was limited to one shot on goal and a minus-one rating. He also had two penalty minutes. May 8 |
| 3. Martin Erat  SidelinedMartin Erat dislocated his left elbow in Game 4 of the Capitals' first-round series against the Rangers. The winger was injured in a collision with Alex Ovechkin and the Rangers' Derek Stepan. This won't be an issue heading into next season; in fact, Erat said he would've been ready for Round 2 if the Capitals had advanced. "I feel better," Erat said. "It’s kind of sad, you know, when I was getting ready to go back and I’m not going to be able to." May 15 |
| 4. Eric Fehr  ActiveThe Capitals were left shaking their heads after their no-show in Game 7 of their first-round series with the Rangers. For a series that was so close, nobody expected a 5-0 result in the decisive game. "That’s as tough as it gets right there," forward Eric Fehr said. "It’s really disappointing. We played a hard series. And [I’m] not even sure what happened." May 14 |
| 5. Joel Ward  ActiveThe Washington Capitals take a 3-2 lead into New York today in their best-of-seven, opening-round playoff series against the Rangers, and coach Adam Oates thinks it's somewhat attributable to the hard play of right winger Joel Ward. "It’s been great to have him back. We missed him when he was hurt," Oates said of Ward’s impact since he returned from a left knee contusion at the start of the playoffs. "That line with (Mathieu) Perreault and (Jason) Chimera," Oates continued, "they’ve really, the last 10 games of the year and so far in the series, they’ve really upgraded their game and really helped us." The third line of Chimera, Perreault and either Ward or, earlier, Eric Fehr has been the Capls’ most effective unit through the first five games of this Eastern Conference quarterfinal series. They’ve done everything from creating sustained offensive zone pressure and establishing a hard-hitting forecheck to pitching in on the scoresheet and making smart plays in their own end. The current trio has combined for three goals and eight assists in the playoffs and they’ve been on the ice for only one even-strength goal against. May 12 |
| 6. Tom Wilson  ActiveTom Wilson will remain in the lineup for Monday's Game 7 against the New York Rangers. Both Wilson and Aaron Volpatti took pregame warmups after coach Adam Oates said he might change his lineup for Game 7. Wilson will skate on the fourth line again and likely be limited to under eight minutes. May 13 |
| 7. Joey Crabb  ActiveIt's possible that Joey Crabb could play in Monday night's Game 7. Coach Adam Oates said there may be one lineup change, but he wouldn't say what it would be. Stephen Whyno of The Washington Times speculates that the change might be Crabb for rookie Tom Wilson, who has played in the past two games for the Capitals while seeing very little ice time. May 13 |
| D | 1. Mike Green  ActiveThe Capitals have already turned the page on their loss and are focusing on fixing their mistakes for Game 4. "It’s unfortunate," Mike Green said after the team's 4-3 loss. "We wanted to be up three, but we have a lot of work to do and we knew we would." The Capitals got the first goal of the game, then the Rangers held three one-goal leads as the Caps answered back twice. May 7 |
| 2. John Carlson  ActiveJohn Carlson feels the key to defeating the Rangers in first round of the postseason is to take what made the Capitals last year and blend it with their higher tempo style. "It plays to our strengths a little bit," Carlson said. "If we can take that commitment level that we had last year in that series into this one with our system and our skills, I think we're a really good team." Washington played in a defensive shell last year under Dale Hunter, but with coach Adam Oates they have been given more freedom to create offense and get in on the forecheck. Committing to blocking shots and being able to grind out wins will be important against a Rangers team that prides themselves in playing that kind of game. Apr 30 |
| 3. Karl Alzner  ActiveKarl Alzner is a restricted free agent this summer. He made $1.27 million last season and carried a cap hit of $1,285,000. The steady, 24-year-old defenseman will no doubt be getting a raise and given his importance to the team it will probably be a long-term deal. May 22 |
| 4. John Erskine  ActiveJohn Erskine played in his second straight game Thursday after being sidelined for nearly a month. Erskine returned to the lineup Tuesday after being sidelined since March 9 with an upper-body injury. His return is a boost to the surging Capitals but he won’t help your fantasy team. Apr 5 |
| 5. Tom Poti  I.L.Tom Poti won't be back with the Washington Capitals next season, but he wants to continue playing in the NHL. The pending unrestricted free agent said, "It's time to move on." Poti has struggled with injury for the past couple of seasons, appearing in just 37 games over that time. It may be tough for him to find interested suitors at the age of 36. May 16 |
| 6. Steven Oleksy  ActiveSteve Oleksy made his presence felt in his first career NHL playoff game. The 27-year-old rookie played 13:57, notched two hits and blocked four shots, one coming off his face. His most impressive play, though, was the saucer pass he sent from his own end to spring Marcus Johansson for a breakaway goal. "It felt like another game," said the 27-year-old Capitals rookie. "Amped up intensity, faster, physical, which helps you get into the game as a player. It was great to be a part of it." May 3 |
| 7. Jack Hillen  ActiveWashington Capitals sign Jack Hillen to two-year, $1.4 million contract extension. Hillen is mostly a depth defenseman for the Caps and has spent most of the year dealing with an upper-body injury. Apr 2 |
| 8. Jeff Schultz  ActiveAfter spending four straight games in the press box, Jeff Schultz will be back in the Capitals' lineup on Saturday. "Sometimes you ask a guy to take a step back and re-evaluate themselves and we’ve got two games in two nights and we need him. We need his size, we need him to be a force and hopefully a little bit of a wakeup call," said Capitals Coach Adam Oates. Schultz is a defensive defenseman with three points in 24 games this season. Mar 30 |
| 9. Tomas Kundratek  ActiveTomas Kundratek has been called up by Washington. Fellow defensemen Dmitry Orlov, Cameron Schilling and Nate Schmidt as well as goaltender Philipp Grubauer have also been brought up from AHL Hershey. They aren't likely to play in the playoffs though. May 10 |
| 10. Dmitry Orlov  ActiveWashington Capitals reassign Dmitry Orlov to AHL Hershey. Orlov had one assist and was a plus-5 in five games since being recalled March 18. It's possible Orlov could return to the Capitals when rosters expand. Apr 2 |
| 11. Nate Schmidt  ActiveThe Washington Capitals have signed Nate Schmidt to a two-year, entry-level contract. Schmidt was a college free agent after completing his season with the University of Minnesota. Schmidt had nine goals and 32 points with the Gophers this season. He's expected to practice with the Capitals on Wednesday and could stay with the NHL club after rosters expand at midnight tonight. Apr 2 |
| 12. Cam Schilling  ActiveCam Schilling has been sent down to the minors. Schilling made his NHL debut on Tuesday. He had a minus-one rating in 11:58 minutes of playing time. Mar 16 |
| G | 1. Braden Holtby  ActiveBraden Holtby didn't let a shaky start to the 2013 campaign derail his confidence and at the end of the year he emerged as a solid option between the pipes and the team's undisputed starter. He posted a 23-12-1 record, a 2.58 goals-against average, a .920 save percentage and four shutouts in 36 games. "If you're not improving every year, you're doing something wrong," said Holtby. "It was nice to get sort of a full season in, and every little experience can help if you use it the right way." He brought some stability to Washington's crease for the first time in a while and will likely be given the number one job again heading into next season. May 22 |
| 2. Michal Neuvirth  ActiveMichal Neuvirth has inked a two-year, $5 million contract extension with the Washington Capitals. Neuvirth was scheduled to become a restricted free agent this summer. He will make $2.4 million next season and $2.6 million in 2014-15. "We talk about it and I don’t feel as a backup," said Neuvirth. "I feel I’m better than that, and that’s why they offer me more money than the backups in the league." He might not feel like a backup, but he has his work cut out for him if he wants to wrestle the starting job away from Braden Holtby next season. It's certainly not an impossible task for him, but we'd sooner bet on Holtby. Apr 27 |
| 3. Philipp Grubauer  ActivePhilipp Grubauer has been sent down to the minors. That's probably an indication that Michal Neuvirth, who took a high during Saturday's morning skate, is feeling okay. Grubauer has a 3.57 GAA and .915 save percentage in two games with Washington this season. Apr 1 |
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| C | 1. Bryan Little  ActiveCoach Claude Noel appreciates the efforts of his top line. Bryan Little, Andrew Ladd and Blake Wheeler have carried the majority of the offensive load for the team all season and Noel went as far to call them a legitimate No. 1 line in the NHL. "You've really got to tip your hat to them, the three of them, they've done a good job at becoming a top line in the National Hockey League," Noel said. "Whereas before, even last year, you're like, 'Are they or aren't they or what are they?' Well, it's pretty hard to argue right now. They've certainly matured there." Evander Kane is the only forward outside that trio who has produced somewhat consistently this campaign. Apr 18 |
| 2. Olli Jokinen  SidelinedOlli Jokinen will continue to rest and rehab his ankle injury during the off-season. He won't require surgery after sustaining a high-ankle sprain late in the 2013 campaign. Jokinen had a disappointing first year with the Jets after he was brought in with the hope of anchoring the team's top line. He notched seven goals and seven assists, while picking up a minus-19 rating, in 45 games. May 23 |
| 3. Alexander Burmistrov  ActiveAccording to two league sources, Alexander Burmistrov has no intention of re-signing with the Winnipeg Jets. He is slated for restricted free agency. Burmistrov reportedly wanted to be dealt at the trade deadline and despite discussions with Ottawa, Buffalo and the New York Islanders, the Jets were unsuccessful in moving him. His agent, Mark Gandler, wouldn't say much about the matter, but he did say that "Alex is not going to sign in the KHL." Burmistrov hasn't been very productive in three seasons, with 23 goals and 35 assists in 194 career contests, but he's still just 21 years of age so it might be too early to label him as a bust. May 22 |
| 4. Mike Santorelli  ActiveMike Santorelli scored again in Tuesday's shootout. He is 10 for 19 in his career during the NHL's breakaway competition, which gives him some value to the Winnipeg Jets down the stretch. "I'm glad it went in," Santorelli said. "I'll help any way I can. I just kind of read off the goalie. I've got a couple of moves. I just go in thinking of one and take whatever. Today my was first one but I was a little bit nervous. I'm glad we got the extra point." The Jets are tied with the New York Rangers for the final playoff spot so any extra points they can muster in shootouts could be the difference down the stretch. Santorelli has one regulation time point, an assist, in five games with Winnipeg since being claimed off waivers from Florida. Apr 17 |
| 5. Jim Slater  I.L.Jim Slater is week-to-week with an upper body injury, according to Jets coach Claude Noel. It's worth noting that previous reports suggested that Slater had a broken hand. He has two points and 19 penalty minutes in 26 games this season. Mar 13 |
| 6. James Wright  ActiveJames Wright was activated from the IL on Saturday but was not able to get on the scoresheet in the Jets' 4-1 win over the Flyers. Wright was on the ice for just over nine minutes in the contest and was not a factor in the win. Apr 7 |
| LW | 1. Andrew Ladd  ActiveAndrew Ladd has been one of Canada's better players at the IIHF World Championships. Ladd had a terrific season with the Jets with 46 points in 48 games and he has continued to hold a hot stick at the World Championships with three goals and four points in five games. There are many who regard Ladd's accomplishments as a bit flukey. Don't count us amongst them. May 11 |
| 2. Evander Kane  ActiveEvander Kane's wrist ailment will not require surgery, according to Winnipeg GM Kevin Cheveldayoff. He will receive treatment and rest over the course of the off-season for a wrist problem and some nerve damage in his lower leg and foot. May 23 |
| 3. Eric Tangradi  ActiveEric Tangradi's goal may have bought himself a little more time on the Jets' roster. He had played in all 16 games since being acquired from the Penguins, but he had no points to show for it. He scored in the first period on Thursday, in 4:48. "That felt great. I’ve been trying to contribute and I think I have with my size, but scoring is something I have to do as well," said Tangradi. "Hopefully this will give me more opportunity and I can build on this." Mar 8 |
| 4. Chris Thorburn  ActiveChris Thorburn feels there's plenty of hockey left in him and he's eager to be better offensively when the lockout ends. He scored just 11 points in 72 games last season, but registered 151 hits and 83 penalty minutes. "I'm 29 and I feel like there's a lot of hockey left in my body and I'm as energized as ever," Thorburn said. "Maybe it'll be that this break will be a blessing in disguise, that guys like myself, crashing and banging every night, will have rested their wounds and when it's time to get back at it, we'll go full tilt." Oct 17 |
| 5. Antti Miettinen  ActiveAntti Miettinen scored the game-winning goal for Winnipeg Monday night. He also finished the Jets' 2-1 victory with a plus-2 rating despite getting just 9:54 of ice time. Miettinen was playing in his first game since April 4 after he had been relegated to the press box. He finished the game alongside James Wright and Evander Kane when Kyle Wellwood got injured. Apr 23 |
| RW | 1. Blake Wheeler  ActiveBlake Wheeler scored his 19th goal of the season for the Jets in a 4-2 loss to Montreal Thursday. Wheeler has 41 points on the season including 10 over his last nine games, proving last season was no fluke. James Wright also scored a goal in the losing effort for the Jets. Apr 26 |
| 2. Kyle Wellwood  SidelinedKyle Wellwood suffered a long-term hand injury Monday night, which will likely end his season. He blocked a shot from Thomas Vanek in the second period and returned to finish the stanza, but didn't play in the third. Nik Antropov is projected to be available to play and take Wellwood's place in the lineup. Apr 23 |
| 3. Nik Antropov  ActiveNik Antropov generated a goal and an assist in Winnipeg's 5-3 loss to Washington Tuesday night. It was his first game back since April 2 because of a lower-body injury and he displayed some good leadership while garnering 18:41 of ice time. Antropov was also credited with two hits and two blocked shots. He's unrestricted free agent this summer and his future with the club is uncertain. Apr 24 |
| 4. Anthony Peluso  I.L.Anthony Peluso (hand) returned to practice Tuesday. It marked the first time he had done so since breaking a bone in his hand on March 2. "I guess right now it'll be day to day, (that's how) we'll take it," Peluso said. "I haven't really talked to the trainers about it. That's coming from me. I mean, if it was up to me, I'd be in the lineup tonight. There's protocols to follow." Coach Claude Noel said it may take some extra time for Peluso to get back into game shape. Apr 10 |
| 5. Aaron Gagnon  ActiveAaron Gagnon registered his first NHL goal in Winnipeg's 4-1 win over Buffalo on Tuesday night. He was credited with the game-winning tally in his third contest this season since coming up from the minors. Gagnon had two assists in his previous 30 NHL appearances. Apr 10 |
| D | 1. Dustin Byfuglien  ActiveA Winnipeg columnist argued that the Jets need to trade Dustin Byfuglien. Byfuglien's defensive struggles, fitness, and consistency issues were cited as reasons to deal him. Who knows if a trade will ever materialize, but he's a remain a great offensive defenseman from a fantasy perspective. Apr 27 |
| 2. Tobias Enstrom  I.L.Tobias Enstrom had a back injury at the end of the regular season. The ailment forced him to sit out the final seven games of the year, but it won't require off-season surgery. Enstrom will just need to get more rest and treatment during the summer. May 23 |
| 3. Ron Hainsey  ActiveRon Hainsey returned to action Tuesday after missing Sunday's game with a bruised left hand. He registered an assist and a plus-3 rating in 21:30 of ice time versus the Carolina Hurricanes. Mar 27 |
| 4. Zach Bogosian  SidelinedZach Bogosian missed the last three games of the regular season with a concussion. Winnipeg GM Kevin Cheveldayoff said the 22-year-old defenseman is doing fine as he recovers. Bogosian sustained "an upper-body injury" when he took to a hit the head from New York Islanders forward Kyle Okposo on April 20. He will hope to continue to improve during the off-season. Bogosian also needs to work out a new contract with the Jets during the summer as well. May 23 |
| 5. Grant Clitsome  ActiveGrant Clitsome returned to action on Thursday April 4. Apr 5 |
| 6. Mark Stuart  ActiveMark Stuart played through a sports hernia late in the season, but the good news is that it won't require an off-season procedure. He'll just need to rehab it over the summer. May 23 |
| 7. Derek Meech  ActiveDerek Meech got back into Winnipeg's lineup Monday night for the first time since April 1. He registered an assist, which was his first point in 16 appearances with his hometown Jets, and had a plus-1 rating in 19:53 of ice time. Meech got back into the fold because of Zach Bogosian's injury. Apr 23 |
| 8. Paul Postma  ActivePaul Postma is probably the most likely candidate to go into the lineup if Tobias Enstrom is deemed unfit to play because of his mid-body issue. In 27 games this season, Postma has eight points and a minus-4 rating. The Jets may also decide to go with Derek Meech and are less likely to go with much less inexperienced blueliners of Jacob Trouba or Arturs Kulda. Coach Claude Noel will see how Enstrom feels after the morning skate and make a determination. Apr 11 |
| 9. Zach Redmond  ActiveZach Redmond has been summoned from the minors. Redmond was sent to the AHL on a conditioning assignment, which has been completed. He suffered a serious cut to his femoral artery during a Jets practice on Feb. 21. He required surgery but remarkably appears set to aide the Jets in their fight for a playoff spot. Apr 22 |
| 10. Jacob Trouba  ActiveWinnipeg GM Kevin Cheveldayoff and assistant GM Craig Heisinger spent most of their time at the IIHF World Champioship eyeballing 2012 first-round pick Jacob Trouba. "We saw him play in a lot of different situations with eight defensemen in the lineup any given night. Jacob played on the first power play in all the games that we watched," Cheveldayoff said. "He was given a lot of responsibility in that regard. He has a very good slapshot. The team was looking for some chemistry in some areas and found it. I think their power play was pretty good and from that standpoint, it was pretty good to see Jacob be a part of it. Not having played for an extended period of time or ever at the men's level, I think there was a good transition period for him. It looked like he was more comfortable every time he played. He's had a wonderful opportunity given to him and he took full advantage of it." It sounds like the team's brass is impressed with the 19-year-old's play and he's definitely a player to watch going into training camp. May 23 |
| G | 1. Ondrej Pavelec  ActiveOndrej Pavelec allowed four goals on 30 shots in Thursday's 4-2 loss to Montreal. This was a must-win game for the hopeful Jets in order to remain in the playoff chase, but their hopes have faded as a result of the loss. Pavelec sports a 21-20-3 record for the season. Apr 26 |
| 2. Al Montoya  ActiveAl Montoya is eligible for unrestricted free agency unless the Winnipeg Jets choose to bring him back. He played with the team on a one-year deal this past campaign and dealt with a pair of groin injuries. In seven appearances, he posted a 3-1-0 record with an .899 save percentage, a 2.91 goals-against average and one shutout. If the Jets don't re-sign him then they will have to find another backup goalie for Ondrej Pavelec. Apr 29 |
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