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| Defenseman Mike Mottau and Sheldon Brookbank both re-signed with the Devils on Thursday, according to Slam Sports. Contract terms were not announced. |
Our View: Neither player brings anything to the table from a fantasy perspective as both are more focused on the central tenant of playing defense in the NHL. As a result, neither does much of anything on offense limiting their fantasy value.
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| Nicklas Lidstrom is looking to become the first European player to captain his team to the Stanley Cup, according to the Associated Press. “It would mean a lot,” Lidstrom said. “But it’s still secondary to being able to win the Cup again and getting another ring.” |
Our View: Lidstrom already set a milestone this playoff by skating in his 201st playoff game to break Jari Kurri's NHL record for European born players.
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| Tim Gleason was the Canes best defender over the course of the second half of the season, and he is about to reap the rewards of that effort as he nears the completion of a new contract, according to the News and Observer. |
Our View: Gleason remains a solid on ice defender with virtually no fantasy value, the result of middling offensive production. The team would love to lock up Gleason considering they may lose Bret Hedican to free agency.
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| Philippe Boucher missed almost all of the playoffs because he had a torn a hip flexor not merely a strain, according to the Dallas Morning News. |
Our View: The report states that Boucher would have been able to play if the Stars had reached the Finals, but now we know why he was unable to go for so long with what seemed like a rather innocuous injury.
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| Harrison Reed signed a 3-year entry level contract with the Hurricanes on Thursday, according to TSN. "Harrison has good speed and a nice shot, as he showed with an excellent training camp for us in 2006," said assistant general manager Ron Francis. "He has a lot of potential and we are looking forward to watching his progress as he begins his career in professional hockey." |
Our View: Redd is 20 years old and has spent the past three seasons in the OHL, so his game should be up to the point that Reed could likely contribute in the coming season if called upon.
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| D Karl Alzner, the fifth player selected in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft, signed a 3-year entry level contract with the Capitals, according to TSN. |
Our View: While playing for the Calgary Hitman of the WHL, Alzner was named the league's Player of the Year after scoring 36 points in 60 games. He has a legit chance at making the Caps next season, though he could begin the year getting some seasoning in the minors.
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| Teemu Selanne scored 23 points in 26 regular season games this year, but the team will not wait for him to decide whether or not he wants to play again this coming season, according to the Los Angeles Times. Teemu was given until next month's NHL Entry Draft to make up his mind about whether or not he will hang up the skates. |
Our View: Teemu can still bring it, and after all these years he still possesses the wheels of a much younger man. The good news is that you'll know whether or not to draft Selanne this year as his decision will be made long before any drafts for the coming season.
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| The Ducks would love to have Scott Niedermayer back on their blueline next season, but that team will not wait around like it did this season for him to make up his mind, according to the Los Angeles Times. Niedermayer was given until next month's NHL Entry Draft to make up his mind. |
Our View: Niedermayer still possesses the all-world skills that make him one of the top-5 defensemen in the game. The question is, will he return for one final season or ride off into the sunset?
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| Corey Perry will be back with the Ducks no matter what other teams offer the restricted free agent, according to the Los Angeles Times. "We think we will be in position to sign him. He's made it very clear that he wants to stay," GM Brian Burke said. |
Our View: Perry had a big season despite being injured late as he scored 29 goals and added 108 PIM in just 70 games. He is primed for a breakout campaign in the coming season, a fact that the Ducks are obviously aware of.
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| Simon Gagne had a terribly disappointing 2007-08 season being limited to just 25 games of action, but both he and the team believe that he will be ready to go come next season, according to the Philadelphia Enquirer. "I believe that he'll be a good player for us next year and a healthy player," said GM Paul Holmgren, pointing out the Gagne was skating at season's end. "I haven't seen any reports or heard from our doctors or the doctors that have seen Simon that have led me to believe otherwise." |
Our View: Gagne had back-to-back seasons of 40-goals in 2005-06, so look for him to be undervalued heading into pools next season marking him as an intriguing mid-round selection with considerable upside.
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| Goalie John Grahame has reportedly signed a deal with Avangard Omsk of the Russian Elite League, according to the Raleigh News and Observer. Terms or further details of the deal were not revealed.
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Our View: The Hurricanes were not expected to offer Grahame a new deal after two seasons as Cam Ward's backup. Grahame went 5-7-1 over 17 games (12 starts) in 2007-08.
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| Tony Granato has returned as Colorado's head coach, according to the AP. Team GM Francois Giguere said, "Tony has gained tremendous coaching experience over the last five seasons behind the Avalanche bench. He has great knowledge of our depth chart, a strong admiration for our players and really enjoys working with the organization’s young and talented group of athletes." Granato will inherit an Avalanche team that went 44-31-7 and claimed the Western Conference’s number six seed in this year’s Stanley Cup playoffs.
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Our View: As an assistant with the Avalanche over the last three years, Granato served as Colorado’s head coach for parts of two campaigns from 2002-04, posting a 72-33-17 record and guiding the club to a pair of postseason performances. But after being eliminated during the 2004 playoffs, the Avalanche hired Joel Quenneville to replace Granato, who remained with the team as an assistant.
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| Gary Roberts practiced with his Penguins' team-mates on Wednesday, and is optimistic he can play in Saturday's Game 1 against the Red Wings, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. He missed the final three games of the Eastern Conference final due to a mild case of pneumonia. |
Our View: Roberts won the Stanley Cup with Calgary in 1989, but has not been to a final since. The veteran notched two goals and one assist over six playoff games this season.
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| Stu Barnes will contemplate retirement over the offseason, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram notes. |
Our View: Barnes is 37 and has been in the NHL since 1991, so this news is no surprise. He isn't a fantasy factor, but he offers good veteran leadership for the Stars.
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| Johan Franzen is doubtful for Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals on Saturday, according to the Detroit News. Franzen hasn't played, or even skated, since May 8 because of concussion-like symptoms, but was able to skate lightly at Joe Louis Arena on Wednesday. GM Ken Holland said it was a positive step, but added that Franzen is "highly doubtful" for Game 1. Holland also remarked, "He's feeling better, but he hasn't practiced in nearly two weeks. I guess he did go for a twirl. He hasn't been cleared to go full out."
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Our View: His availability remains game-to-game, but the team is hopeful he can return at some point against the Penguins.
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