37 Days Until The Puck Drops

It's getting closer and closer to the season and the teams are pretty much shaped up with a few more little signings and the possiblity to have a big one or two left to be done.

The New Jersey Devils have to move a player or three to get themselves within the cap room provided... signings like Vladimir Malakhov and Alexander Mogilny have left them over budget, since they were the unrestricted guys that came aboard for more than $3million a piece. It looks like the offensive side of the Devils rebuilding process have cost them a little bit more than then Lou would have hoped. His team of trap-experienced players all cost him a bundle, but the trap shouldn't be used this year due to the rule changes. But you never know...

Pool implication: Mogilny & Malakhov will still be decent mid-round picks for points, no matter which team they find themselves on. Don't look for a great amount of open-ice points from the Devils, rather a stifling play against the new rules so Brodeur can flourish in points.

Pittsburgh needs to get their shape together still... with Sidney Crosby not signed yet, Evgeni Malkin more than likely staying in Russia, Mario will have to decide how much he'll get paid this year... so the Penguins still have a lot of questions to answer although they have guys like Palffy, Gonchar and LeClair now on the books. They are still really thin down the middle and now Dick Tarnstrom's arbitration ruling may keep the depth on the blueline from getting too deep.

Pool implication: Don't pick Malkin... that's the simple one. I wouldn't gamble too much on Crosby just yet... no contract, although it won't be tough negotiations... but I don't know if he's ready to be a big star of the show. If you can get him as a late forward, then I think you're laughing. Mario... health risk... I wouldn't gamble unless you got him late too.

In kind of a surprise move, the Calgary Flames moved Toni Lydman to Buffalo for a draft pick. I would have thought that Lydman would still figure on the blueline for the Flames, even with Hamrlik and the ever-improving Jordan Leopold in the mix. Nevertheless, the Flames are still very deep on the blueline and will make do with their core players. Buffalo, on the other hand, did well on picking up Lydman, he was starting to prove himself as an offensive defenseman in Calgary and that may be a good pointman for Buffalo's youth and speed.

Pool Implication: Calgary doesn't exactly lose... their players will continue the same way as Hamrlik replaces Lydman. Lydman will get more ice-time in Buffalo and guys like Briere and Drury will have a quarterback to throw them the long bombs... I would increase their pool value by 5 to 10 points.

With Pasi Nurminen not expected to play hockey in the NHL again, Atlanta will go with Kari Lehtonen to start the season... or so we should expect. Lehtonen is a great prospect and should provide Atlanta with solid goaltending and with the European direction that Atlanta is taking with their team, it could be a perfect result by taking Lehtonen within the first couple rounds of your pool draft.

Pool Implication: Get in on the ground floor here... it's a gamble worth taking. With Hossa and Kovalchuk the new partner combo in town, I think the goals will come and the Thrashers will be dangerous in all categories. Jaroslav Modry will be the number one D-man to send his wingers for breaks... so watch him too.