Opening Night!
Welcome back! It's been five months since I last wrote this column and it's been nice getting back into the swing of things.
There were some coaching changes with Willie Desjardins taking over from John Tortorella in Vancouver. Barry Trotz moved from Nashville to Washington with Peter Laviolette taking over in Music City. The Penguins let Dan Bylsma go and hired Mike Johnston. Gerard Gallant is the new coach for the Florida Panthers while Bill Peters takes over in Carolina.
This column will look at the schedule, let you know if team's are playing three games in four nights for goaltending purposes as well as back-to-back games so you know who the rested and tired teams are. This information should give you a leg up on your competition.
It's not too late to buy the Rotoworld Hockey Draft Guide for all your pools.
In addition there will be some notes for the past week and what may happen in the future.
There are still a bunch of players who are free agents in the NHL although some have signed in Europe. Here is a list of the
UFA's and RFA's.
Enjoy!
Don’t forget, for everything NHL, check out Rotoworld's Player News, and follow @Rotoworld_ HK and @mfinewaxhockey on Twitter.
Now to The Week Ahead.
WEEK OF OCTOBER 8-12
3 Games- Boston, Calgary, Los Angeles, Montreal, New York Rangers, Philadelphia, Toronto, Winnipeg
2 Games– Anaheim, Arizona, Buffalo, Carolina, Chicago, Colorado, Columbus, Dallas, Detroit, Edmonton, Florida, Minnesota, Nashville, New Jersey, New York Islanders, Ottawa, Pittsburgh, St. Louis, San Jose, Tampa Bay, Vancouver, Washington
Montreal and Winnipeg play all three games away from home.
Don't forget to join a Yahoo Hockey pool. The season starts on Wednesday so act quickly.
INJURIES
Jordan Staal is out for at least three months with a fractured right fibula. (Click here to see the rest of the injury list.)
ANAHEIM
Games this week
@ Pittsburgh, @ Detroit
Rested team: None
Tired Team: None
Notes
It looks like Dany Heatley has the inside track as the starting left winger on the top line with Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry. Heatley is currently out with a groin injury so Patrick Maroon is filling in at this point. It appears that Frederik Andersen is leading John Gibson in the battle for the starting goaltending job in Anaheim but I would be surprised if Gibson is not the starter by Christmas. Rickard Rakell should grab the spot as the Ducks third center, at least to start the season. Jakob Silfverberg should see action on the second line with Ryan Kesler. First round pick Nick Ritchie has been returned to his junior team in Peterborough.
ARIZONA
Games this week
vs. Winnipeg, vs. Los Angeles
Rested team: None
Tired Team: None
Notes
The Coyotes have moved (maybe only temporarily) Sam Gagner to the right wing from center and have placed him alongside Martin Erat and Martin Hanzal. One reason for the move is that Gagner is not great at the face off dot. Arizona also wants Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Keith Yandle to play together on the blueline and have moved Ekman-Larsson to the right side. This will let the duo play upwards of 25 minutes each and allow coach Dave Tippett to keep his defense pairings in line as he has both OEL and Yandle together on the power play. Henrik Samuelsson was sent to Portland of the AHL but look for the former first round pick to be back with the big club before the end of the season. He is worth looking at in keeper leagues. Max Domi was sent back to junior hockey on Thursday.
BOSTON
Games this week
vs. Philadelphia, @ Detroit, vs. Washington
Rested team: @ Detroit (Thursday)
Tired Team: None
Notes
The Bruins play three games in four nights so it’s possible that Niklas Svedberg will play once instead of Tuukka Rask. Svedberg will be the new backup in Boston after Chad Johnson left as a UFA at the end of the 2013-14 season. Reilly Smith and Torey Krug inked contracts this past week but could struggle a bit in the early going as they are 11 days behind the rest of the NHL in conditioning. Boston will continue to be a great source for plus/minus players as they had the top three players last season (David Krecji. Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand) and six of the top 11.
BUFFALO
Games this week
vs. Columbus, @ Chicago
Rested team: None
Tired Team: None
Notes
The Sabres are likely candidates for the top draft pick in 2015 and with two franchise players available in Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel, that’s a great prize for finishing at the bottom. Look for first round pick and second overall selection Sam Reinhart, to start the season with the Sabres but it would be no surprise if he was sent back to junior hockey before he has played 10 games in the NHL. It looks like Brian Gionta will start the season alongside Tyler Ennis and Matt Moulson while Cody Hodgson will start on the left wing with Chris Stewart and Mikhail Grigorenko. Jhonas Enroth had a better training camp and will likely start the season as the top goaltender with Michal Neuvirth as his backup.
CALGARY
Games this week
vs. Vancouver, @ Edmonton, @ St. Louis
Rested team: None
Tired Team: @ Edmonton (Thursday)
Notes
The Flames play three games in four nights so look for Karri Ramo to get into one game with Jonas Hiller playing twice. The Flames are the other team besides the Sabres, who seem to be in the running for Connor McDavid/Jack Eichel. The Flames should have a better team than last season but the schedule is against them this year as they will be the tired team on 15 occasions while being rested 10 times, in comparison to last season where they were the rested team 20 times and the tired team only on 12 occasions. Rookie Johnny Gaudreau is looking to be a top six forward this season. Sam Bennett, the Flames first pick and fourth overall, will likely be sent back to junior but could get a taste of the NHL to start the season.
CAROLINA
Games this week
vs. New York Islanders, @ New York Islanders
Rested team: None
Tired Team: None
Notes
It’s always interesting when teams play a home-and-home series, especially at the start of the season and that is exactly what the Hurricanes and Islanders are doing. There could be plenty of fisticuffs and if so, look for Brett Bellemore and Jay Harrison to participate. They had only five majors between them last season so this may be for naught. While it looks like Eric Staal will be ready for the start of the season, it is not so for his brother Jordan, who will miss at least three months with a broken right fibula. Alexander Semin has returned from injury and hopes to regain his and his linemates Jiri Tlusty and Eric Staal’s scoring prowess that was great in 2012-13 but certainly lacking last season.
CHICAGO
Games this week
@ Dallas. vs. Buffalo
Rested team: None
Tired Team: None
Notes
Nick Leddy has been bumped from the point on the second power play as Brad Richards will now play on the point with Brent Seabrook. Up front for the second unit will be Marian Hossa, Brandon Saad and Bryan Bickell while Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, Andrew Shaw, Duncan Keith and Patrick Sharp will comprise the first unit. If you are looking for penalty minutes then you might think about Brandon Mashinter late in your draft as he looks to be the Blackhawks enforcer this season. Antti Raanta will back up Corey Crawford in net this season. Keep an eye on Teuvo Teravainen this season. He’ll likely start the season in the minors but is one of the top prospects in hockey.
COLORADO
Games this week
@ Minnesota, vs. Minnesota
Rested team: None
Tired Team: None
Notes
The Avalanche play the Wild in a home-and-home series. Expect to see Cody McLeod who had 14 majors last season, lead the way, if there are any fights. McLeod just inked a three-year deal worth $4 million. Look for a big season from Alex Tanguay who is likely under the radar of most poolies as he was hurt for most of last season. Jamie McGinn is back at practice after he injured his back at the start of training camp. He saw action as a top-six forward last season but the signing of Jarome Iginla, who will play on the top line, will move McGinn to a likely bottom-six forward job.
COLUMBUS
Games this week
@ Buffalo, vs. New York Rangers
Rested team: None
Tired Team: None
Notes
The big news out of Columbus is that Ryan Johansen is still unsigned as of this writing. The Blue Jackets best offensive weapon last year is a restricted free agent and while the two sides are currently talking, they do not seem to be close to a new deal. The Blue Jackets will also be hurt as Boone Jenner will miss the first four weeks of the season after undergoing surgery on his hand. Nathan Horton signed a big contract 15 months ago but was hurt and not a fantasy asset last season and is hurt again this season. I think you should let someone else take a chance on him. Ryan Murray, the Blue Jackets first pick and second overall in 2012, could start the season despite missing most of training camp with a knee injury.
DALLAS
Games this week
vs. Chicago, @ Nashville
Rested team: None
Tired Team: None
Notes
Dallas fans were worried when starting goaltender Kari Lehtonen suffered a concussion earlier in the week but he was back on the ice Thursday and it’s looking good that he will be able to start against Chicago. Sergei Gonchar will start the season on the sidelines as he will miss the first two-four weeks with a fractured ankle. He had lost most if not all of his fantasy value and at age 40 has little left. Look for Trevor Daley to take over his spot on the power play full time alongside Alex Goligoski and not give it back when Gonchar returns. The Stars first pick in the 2014 Draft, Julius Honka will play in the AHL and not return to Europe at this time.
DETROIT
Games this week
vs. Boston, vs. Anaheim
Rested team: vs. Boston (Thursday)
Tired Team: None
Notes
Pavel Datsyuk only played in 45 games last season and will miss the first two weeks of this season with a separated shoulder. At age 36, you have to wonder if this is going to be more common than not during the remainder of his NHL career. Gustav Nyquist suffered a knee-on-knee hit Saturday but it appears that he will be ready to go for the start of the NHL season. The Red Wings have made the playoffs the last 23 seasons but could be in tough this season. Daniel Alfredsson’s NHL career could be over. He is currently suffering with a bad back and while the Red Wings will likely sign him once he is healthy, there is no guarantee that will occur in the foreseeable future.
EDMONTON
Games this week
vs. Calgary, @ Vancouver
Rested team: vs. Calgary (Thursday)
Tired Team: None
Notes
The Oilers should have been strong enough down the middle to send rookie Leon Draisaitl back to junior hockey but he’ll likely line up as the second line center in Edmonton. I would hesitate to draft him in one year pools but would be excited to take him in dynasty pools. This is an important season for Ryan Nugent-Hopkins as he is more than one year removed from his last shoulder surgery. He needs to show that his shoulder is strong and if not, it may mean he never sees the outstanding offensive seasons that most predicted for him. I’m looking for a good offensive season from Nail Yakupov and his plus/minus will not be as bad as last season’s minus-33.
FLORIDA
Games this week
@ Tampa Bay, vs. New Jersey
Rested team: None
Tired Team: None
Notes
Aaron Ekblad, the first overall pick in the 2014 Draft has been having trouble during the pre-season but coach Gerard Gallant and the Panthers will give him at least nine games during the regular season to show what he can do. Shawn Thornton is an interesting pickup in drafts as he is a good penalty minute player who could get even more minutes than usual as he protects his younger Florida teammates. Do not forget about Aleksander Barkov in your pools. He was injured playing for Finland at the Olympics and is capable of 50-55 points this season. The same goes for Jonathan Huberdeau who had a poor sophomore season after winning the Calder Trophy in 2012-13.
LOS ANGELES
Games this week
vs. San Jose, @ Arizona, vs. Winnipeg
Rested team: None
Tired Team: None
Notes
The Kings have won two of the last three Stanley Cups and could rest goaltender Jonathan Quick more often in the regular season due to the amount of games he has played in the post-season of late. If you take him in your pool, handcuff him with Martin Jones who could see 25-30 games this season. I’m looking for a big season from Marian Gaborik who will play on the top line with Anze Kopitar. His only drawback is that he gets hurt an awful lot but is capable of 40-plus goals if he can stay healthy. I would steer away from Dustin Brown as he had a poor year in 2013-14 and is unlikely to play a lot as a top six forward.
MINNESOTA
Games this week
vs. Colorado, @ Colorado
Rested team: None
Tired Team: None
Notes
The Wild play a home-and-home series against the Avalanche this week but they lost both of their tough players last season, Zenon Konopka and Clayton Stoner, so we are not sure at this time who will get into a fight if the situation arises as tempers tend to flare in back-to-back games against the same team. I think this is the year that Markus Granlund breaks out and has a big fantasy season. I don’t understand why Mikko Koivu always seems to get drafted so low. He is a very good centerman with great linemates in Thomas Vanek and Zach Parise. Parise is going to have a tough season off the ice as his dad, J.P. currently has Stage 4 lung cancer. Zach will be going all out to play well in front of his father.
MONTREAL
Games this week
@ Toronto, @ Washington, @ Philadelphia
Rested team: None
Tired Team: @ Washington (Thursday)
Notes
The Canadiens play three games in four nights and all on the road so do not be surprised if Carey Price only plays twice this week with his backup (likely Peter Budaj over Dustin Tokarski) gets the other game between the pipes. I would have a hard time handcuffing Budaj though because if Price is hurt, the Habs would recall Tokarski to start, just like in the 2014 playoffs. Expect another big fantasy season from P.K. Subban who I think is the best fantasy defenseman in the NHL. Jiri Sekac is in line to make the Canadiens as a third line center. He has played the last three years in the KHL after an eight game trial with Peterborough of the OHL during the 2009-10 season.
NASHVILLE
Games this week
vs. Ottawa, vs. Dallas
Rested team: None
Tired Team: None
Notes
It will be interesting in Nashville this season as they are without former head coach Barry Trotz for the first time in franchise history. The defensive minded coach has been replaced by Peter Laviolette who will play with more offensive flair. Filip Forsberg is due to break out this season and is getting first line minutes in training camp with James Neal and Mike Ribeiro. Ribeiro has made his way over from the Phoenix Coyotes where he had a tough season off the ice as he separated from his wife. His play on the ice suffered but he should return to form in Nashville. The third member of the line, James Neal, was a stud in Pittsburgh but he benefitted from playing with both Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, a luxury he will not have in Nashville. Look for Seth Jones to start showing his capabilities in the second half of the season.
NEW JERSEY
Games this week
@ Philadelphia, @ Florida
Rested team: @ Philadelphia (Thursday)
Tired Team: None
Notes
The Devils will be without Martin Brodeur for the first time in a generation but the goaltending situation in New Jersey is in good hands with Corey Schneider. It was thought that Damien Brunner would be a top-six forward but as of now it appears he is a fourth liner. The Devils have a veteran first line with Michael Cammalleri, Patrik Elias and Jaromir Jagr. Jagr wants to play until he is 50. It’s unfortunate that he spent three seasons in the KHL as he would likely trail only Wayne Gretzky in points if he remained in the NHL. Ryane Clowe finally saw his first action of the pre-season on Thursday as the Devils were extra cautious before the start of the season as Clowe has struggled with concussion problems of late.
NEW YORK ISLANDERS
Games this week
@ Carolina, vs. Carolina
Rested team: None
Tired Team: None
Notes
The Islanders play a home-and-home series against the Hurricanes this week and they have Matt Martin and Matt Carkner at the ready in case there are any fisticuffs. Brock Nelson is worth looking at, at this time as he is slated to start on the first line alongside John Tavares and Kyle Okposo. Tavares is returning from a knee injury suffered at the Olympics and is likely to finish in the top five in scoring at worst and probably higher than that. Mikhail Grabovski and Nikolai Kulemin will play on the second line and try to regain the magic they had in the 2010-11 season when Kulemin scored 30 goals and 57 points while Grabovski had 29 goals and 58 points for the Maple Leafs.
NEW YORK RANGERS
Games this week
@ St. Louis, @ Columbus, vs. Toronto
Rested team: None
Tired Team: None
Notes
The Rangers play three games in four nights so Henrik Lundqvist could be rested one game with Cameron Talbot playing in net if that is the case. Martin St. Louis is likely to see action at center to start the season as the Rangers are hurting down the middle with injuries to Derek Stepan and Matthew Lombardi. Anthony Duclair has been great at training camp and the 19-year-old has a great chance of breaking with the team. The third round pick in the 2013 Draft had 50 goals and 99 points in 59 games with the Quebec Remparts of the QMJHL last season. Expect to see Dan Boyle paired with Marc Staal this season.
OTTAWA
Games this week
@ Nashville, @ Tampa Bay
Rested team: None
Tired Team: None
Notes
Big happenings in Ottawa on Thursday as Bobby Ryan signed a seven-year extension worth $50.75 million and the team named Erik Karlsson their team captain. Expect an even bigger year from Karlsson who is now 21 months removed from surgery to repair a partially torn Achilles tendon as it usually takes over a year to fully recover from such an operation. Look for Craig Anderson and Robin Lehner to share the net in Ottawa unless one gets really hot. The top two lines in Ottawa should be Kyle Turris between Clarke MacArthur and Bobby Ryan while Mika Zibanejad will center Milan Michalek and Alex Chiasson.
PHILADELPHIA
Games this week
@ Boston. vs. New Jersey, vs. Montreal
Rested team: None
Tired Team: vs. New Jersey (Thursday)
Notes
The Flyers play three games in four nights so expect to see Ray Emery play once with Steve Mason getting two starts. It appears that Claude Giroux will start the season on the ice and not in the press box as he has already played in a pre-season game after suffering a lower body injury only a few minutes into training camp. Vincent Lecavalier will likely start the season as the second line center but if he struggles at all, do not be surprised if the Flyers move Sean Couturier to fill the spot quickly. The Flyers want to play Brayden Schenn on Giroux’s wing with Jakub Voracek on the other side while Lecavalier will center Wayne Simmonds and Matt Read to start the season. Samuel Morin has a shot to crack the Flyers blueline corps but they will have to get rid of someone on the blueline for that to happen as they will be over the salary cap as well.
PITTSBURGH
Games this week
vs. Anaheim, @ Toronto
Rested team: None
Tired Team: None
Notes
Evgeni Malkin has yet to play in a pre-season game and if he is unable to go, then it’s likely that Brandon Sutter will take his role as the number two center. The Penguins finally got Sidney Crosby back for his first pre-season game on Wednesday so he looks like he is good to go in the season opener against the Ducks. Kris Letang had a real tough season last year that culminated when he suffered a stroke but I’m looking for him to return to his lofty status as a top-five fantasy defenseman. Beau Bennett has had terrible luck throughout his career and it continued during training camp as he suffered a lower body injury that should keep him out until November.
ST. LOUIS
Games this week
vs. New York Rangers, vs. Calgary
Rested team: None
Tired Team: None
Notes
Fans of the Blues have to be pleased with the signing this week of restricted free agent Jaden Schwartz who had 25 goals and 56 points last season. I always try to get David Backes in my fantasy pools as he is a great combination of goals, assists, power play points, plus/minus and penalty minutes. In one of my pools I play against Rotoworld’s Kevin Brown and we always seem to be bidding each other up on Backes. Paul Stastny was a great off-season acquisition by the Blues and you should look for a big season from the former Av. Alex Pietrangelo is a top five-seven fantasy defenseman and will look to improve on that ranking this season.
SAN JOSE
Games this week
@ Los Angeles, vs. Winnipeg
Rested team: None
Tired Team: None
Notes
The goaltending situation in San Jose is up in the air at this time as it is assumed that Alex Stalock will get a lot more action this season than last (possibly upwards of 35 games) and then take over the job next season when Antti Niemi becomes an unrestricted free agent. Tomas Hertl looks like he will play alongside Joe Thornton and Joe Pavelski and that has to help his fantasy value. Logan Couture is healthy again and could lead the Sharks in points this season. Brent Burns is being moved back to the blueline and he’ll also quarterback the power play.
TAMPA BAY
Games this week
vs. Florida, vs. Ottawa
Rested team: None
Tired Team: None
Notes
The big story in training camp was the status of rookie Jonathan Drouin who broke his thumb but still is in line to open the season with the Lightning. The third overall pick from the 2013 Draft has a great shot at the Calder Trophy but his play in the early going will determine if Tampa Bay will keep him on the roster or send him back for one more year of junior hockey. We think he’ll stick and contend for the rookie of the year award. The Lightning are in capable hands in net with Ben Bishop who was outstanding last season until he was injured in the late stages of the regular season and could not play in the post-season. Of course, having a healthy Steve Stamkos all season will help the most.
TORONTO
Games this week
vs. Montreal, vs. Pittsburgh, @ New York Rangers
Rested team: None
Tired Team: None
Notes
The Maple Leafs head into the 2014-15 season with good top-six forwards and an improving bottom-six that was helped out in the off-season with the signings of Leo Komarov, Mike Santorelli and Daniel Winnik. The hope of course is the drafting of William Nylander who has sublimely great offensive talent but could use a year or two of playing in Europe or at the AHL level filling out his body. He is worth taking in dynasty pools. Phil Kessel is the only NHLer to place in the top-ten of scoring in each of the last three years. The Leafs will use Jonathan Bernier in goal as much as possible so do not be surprised if he plays in 60 games. He will have to stand on his head if the Maple Leafs hope to make the post-season.
VANCOUVER
Games this week
@ Calgary, vs. Edmonton
Rested team: None
Tired Team: None
Notes
The Canucks will need comeback seasons from everyone, and it will start with the Sedin twins who were horrible under former coach John Tortorella. Henrik Sedin had only 50 points in 70 games while Daniel Sedin was even worse with 47 points including only 16 goals in 73 contests. Look for the duo to get back to the 70-80 point mark, especially with former Coyote Radim Vrbata now on their right side. The Canucks have a new netminder between the pipes in veteran Ryan Miller as former GM Mike Gillis likely made a huge mistake in trading both Cory Schneider and Roberto Luongo and not getting a lot in return with the possible exception of drafting Bo Horvat. The Canucks were also forced to trade Ryan Kesler in the off-season but the trade netted them Nick Bonino who should start the season as Vancouver’s second line center.
WASHINGTON
Games this week
vs. Montreal, @ Boston
Rested team: vs. Montreal (Thursday)
Tired Team: None
Notes
Alex Ovechkin once again led the NHL in goals (51), power play goals (24) and shots on goal (386) but his plus/minus of minus-35 which was third worst in the NHL, hurt his fantasy value and dropped him from elite to just very good as far as fantasy hockey was concerned. Eric Fehr should be an interesting play this season as he is seeing time on the first line with Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom but will be shuffled around and not see much time on the power play. Braden Holtby suffered under former coach Adam Oates but the goaltender should rebound now that defensive specialist Barry Trotz will be behind the bench in Washington. The Capitals spent a ton of money in the off-season wooing Matt Niskanen and Brooks Orpik to the nation’s capital and they should help the blueline to keep the puck out of their own net. Don’t expect Niskanen to have as good an offensive year in Washington as his power play time will be reduced with John Carlson and Mike Green ahead of him.
WINNIPEG
Games this week
@ Arizona, @ San Jose, @ Los Angeles
Rested team: None
Tired Team: None
Notes
The Jets play three games in four nights so look for Ondrej Pavelec to play twice and Michael Hutchinson once this week. Mark Schiefele is emerging as an offensive force and look for the sophomore to take his game up a notch this season. The same goes for defenseman Jacob Trouba who is looking outstanding and should be the Jets best defenseman for years to come. He is worth drafting as a second or third defenseman in most pools. Dustin Byfuglien has plenty of fantasy value, especially if he has dual eligibility on the blueline and as a forward but will lose some value if he is only eligible in your pool at forward. Expect Evander Kane to finally show his offensive skills again. He had 30 goals in the 2011-12 season but only 19 last year.
