|
|
| According to the Ottawa Citizen, Senators general manager Bryan Murray may be looking to trade up from 18th overall, and would be willing to offer up several draft picks and a roster player to do so. As has been the case for quite some time, goaltender Ray Emery will be on the market, however there may be some interest in him from St. Louis and Washington--two teams with at least one spot to fill in the crease. |
Our View: Ideally, Murray would like to land a top-notch prospect capable of jumping directly into the lineup.
|
|
|
|
| It appears that potential unrestricted free agent Ryan Malone may be paddling down the Ohio river into Columbus come draft day. The Penguins winger has garnered interest from several teams. However the Blue Jackets are more than willing to give up their second and third round picks in exchange for Malone, given that they already have two first round picks. |
Our View: Columbus should then have the opportunity to draft a franchise blueliner sixth overall, such as Luke Schenn, and perhaps a long term project forward with their 19th overall selection. Coach Ken Hitchcock will have plenty to work with in the very near future.
|
|
|
|
| The Flyers traded the rights to Vaclav Prospal back to the Lightning on Wednesday and received a seventh-round pick in 2008 and a conditional selection in 2009. "Vinny really didn't express much of an interest in coming back and playing for us next season," Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren informs the Sports Network. "His heart is elsewhere." |
Our View: Prospal is coming off a productive season (71 points, 80 games) that included 13 points in the playoffs. His fantasy value is better in Tampa, though, since that's where he is apparently happy.
|
|
|
|
| Everyone stop what you're doing. Ready? Okay, you'll have to wait until Friday. Scott Niedermayer has made a decision on his future, and he'll inform the Ducks sometime between now and the draft on Friday, the AP reports. |
Our View: We're on pins and needles. Niedermayer pulled a Brett Favre last season, and we hope he sticks to whatever decision he announces this time. He can still help in fantasy leagues.
|
|
|
|
| Markus Naslund wants to play in the NHL again next season, even if it isn't with the Canucks, the Vancouver Province reports. "It was not a hard decision to make with a little distance to everything. I feel very motivated to continue playing in NHL," he explains. "Money is not most important to me, I prioritize the social part, what type of hockey the team plays and which type of players they have. To play for another club in the same division would feel weird. But we will have to wait and see what happens." |
Our View: Naslund turns 35 this July and has seen his point total slip to 60 and 55 the past two seasons. Someone will give undoubtedly him a shot, but Markus is no longer highly coveted in fantasy circles.
|
|
|
|
| The Flames and Daymond Langkow have a deal in place to keep the center in Calgary, the Calgary Sun reports. Langkow is due to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. Rumors suggest his new deal will be worth about $5 million per season. |
Our View: Langkow has moved around quite a bit over his career, but he's been a steady fantasy tool over the last eight seasons. If he stays in Calgary, we can expect his 2008-09 numbers to resemble the digits he posted the last two campaigns.
|
|
|
|
| The Senators and Flyers have had trade discussions involving center R.J. Umberger and defenseman Andrej Meszaros, the Ottawa Sun reports. |
Our View: Umberger is coming off his best season as a pro, but the Flyers are set up well with centers. He could see a bump up the depth chart and possibly a shot at more points if he moves to Ottawa.
|
|
|
|
| The Sharks are attempting to trade Patrick Marleau to the Blue Jackets prior to July 1, the Ottawa Sun notes. The club wants to receive the Blue Jackets' No. 6 overall draft pick in return. Marleau has a two-year, $12.6 million that kicks in on July 1. |
Our View: Marleau has spent his entire career in San Jose after becoming the second overall pick in 1997. His numbers were down in 2007-08, and we're not sure that joining the NHL's lowest-scoring club will help.
|
|
|
|
| Forward Ryan Malone is not interested in being traded prior to July 1. He'd rather become an unrestricted free agent, and agent Mike Luit says his client might choose not to sign a deal if he is traded. "Ryan doesn't want to go down that road," Luit informs the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. |
Our View: Malone (and his agent) obviously prefer an open market where teams can bid against each other. This could get ugly if the Pens accept an offer between now and July 1. Either way, it sounds like Malone won't be back in Pittsburgh.
|
|
