Top Prospect Signings (Apr 19)

This past week, the Dallas Stars locked up one of their top prospects for the start of next season, 2016 1st round draft pick Riley Tufte. Tufte and the Stars agreed upon a 3-year entry-level deal, which will start next season and work the rookie maximum cap hit of $925,000, but doesn't have a great deal, in terms of performance bonuses, according to CapFriendly.

Tufte just finished his 3rd season with the University of Minnesota-Duluth, where he didn't put up any staggering numbers, but he does have a staggering body size, 6'5" and 190 pounds, so he should be able to jump right into the league at 21 years old and probably pick up a solid bottom six role to start.  It will be interesting to see how he fits into the Stars' scheme next season.

The Vegas Golden Knights finally lured Russian forward Nikita Gusev over to North America, as he had been playing in the KHL since he was drafted by the Tampa Bay Lightning back in 2012.  Gusev was dealt to the Golden Knights prior to the expansion draft, as part of a deal that would see the Golden Knights play ball and claim the right player in the draft.  Nevertheless, Gusev has joined the Golden Knights for the playoff run, signing a deal that goes through to the remainder of the playoffs and he will be a restricted free agent come July 1st.

The plan for Gusev is to possibly dress in a playoff game, but at the very least, have him acclimate himself in the North American rinks ahead of joining the team next season.  This past season, he posted 82 points in 62 games with St. Petersburg in the KHL and the last time we saw him on this blog page, he was part of the Russian team at the Olympics and was selected in the pool we had there.  He will be an interesting figure next season, possibly good for a late round pick.

Evening Preview (Apr 4)

I'm not sure how these posts have necessarily gotten better since I've changed it up from just the goalie starts to a more well-rounded post, because it looks like I've written a whole lot more than normal again today.  Where did I ever find the time?

It's the second-to-last busy day on the regular season schedule, Saturday being the last one.  I won't go much into the race detail here today, because I've already written a ton and it covers most of it already, so let's just get right to it and you can figure it out from there.

Joey Daccord (N/A) versus Carter Hutton (Wes)
It's a nothing game between the Senators and Sabres tonight and the Sens will be playing on back-to-back nights, sending NCAA signing Joey Daccord out for his NHL debut tonight.  He was one of the top goalies signed out of college in these last few weeks, so the team is certainly interested to see what he can bring to the table.

Wes' team lost its grip on its top 10 spot last night in the limited amount of action, but his team starts 1 point back of 10th place and he gets a goalie start from Carter Hutton and the Sabres, who are trying to finish the season on a positive note.  Wes' pool team is trying to do much of the same at this point.

Mikkel Boedker is expected to return tonight for the Sens after a couple of games as a healthy scratch, which is good news for Chelsea's team tonight.  Another healthy body is good news.  Coming out of the lineup tonight is Bobby Ryan, who ended up blocking a shot against the Rangers and will get the night off.  Jeremy loses out on a skater game with this news, but his 19th place team is still comfortable.

Andrei Vasilevskiy (Dale C.) versus Frederik Andersen (Wilton)
Nothing new at stake for these two teams tonight, when Tampa goes into Toronto for a tune-up game ahead of the playoffs.  This potential 2nd round match-up may not have the same bite that a playoff game might, but that's no excuse to not leave a mark tonight.

The Leafs are sending their number one goalie out for their last two regular season games, just to make sure Frederik Andersen is sharp going into the playoffs, which is good news for Wilton's team.  Wilton's team has been able to maintain 9th place and is 8 points clear of 10th, which is comfortable... for now.  The Lightning are chasing down some records of their own, so they are going to go with Andrei Vasilevskiy tonight, which is good news for Dale C., who has now moved into 10th place after Wednesday night and is chasing Wilton's team now for 9th.  There's a little bit of intrigue there, I guess.

Jake Gardiner is set to make his return to the Leafs' lineup tonight after being out for over a month with a back issue.  It's too little, too late for Troy's team, but he is in a battle for some bragging rights, so it is a positive in that way.  More on that below.  Nazem Kadri is also coming out of the lineup tonight, considered a maintenance day/healthy scratch.  Since this game has no real meaning, he'll need the extra day ahead of the playoffs.  This will be a missed skater game for John P. and his 14th place team.

Thomas Greiss (Stuart) versus Sam Montembeault (N/A)
The Islanders have an outside chance at the Metro Division title, but they need to win out and Washington needs to lose their last two in regulation for that to happen.  The Islanders are on the road for their last two, starting with Florida tonight, who is playing for pride, on the way out to the off-season.

Stuart gets the only hockey pool start in this one, as Thomas Greiss was the first goalie off from their morning skate today, which is one of the better indicators on game day.  There's very little hockey pool importance, since Stuart is miles ahead of the everyone else in the standings.  It would have been better if Chelsea got a start from Robin Lehner, but he'll be backing up, dealing with some general soreness.

Jimmy Howard (Tony) versus Matt Murray (Scott)
The Penguins did indeed take the Red Wings for granted in the first half of their home-and-home series, so they are still looking to lock up their playoff spot tonight, but this time it will be in their own barn and probably with a little bit more desperation.  A win would indeed clinch their spot, but a single point could do it with a little bit of help from the rest of the schedule.

Scott's team starts play tonight 6 points back of 24th place, so if there is any hope to get out of last place, he'll need the Penguins to clinch their playoff spot tonight with a win, so Matt Murray can collect those 2 (or more) points.  Murray has been given the green light tonight and there's no sense in waiting for other teams to lose, right?

Carey Price (Stacey M.) versus Braden Holtby (Stacey C.)
The Montreal Canadiens still have a real shot at a playoff spot tonight, but they do not control their own fate.  They do, however, still need to win the games that they have left, starting with tonight in Washington.  The Caps need a win to earn the Metro title outright or else they could rely on some help in the schedule, but they will likely continue playing like they have something to play for.

We know Stacey M. will get her second start of the night from the visitors, who are pushing for that spot.  Carey Price gets the nod in this crucial game for the Habs, who don't have control over their destiny, but Price's success will certainly leave Stacey's fate in her team's hands.

Cory Schneider (N/A) versus Petr Mrazek (Stacey C.)
The Carolina Hurricanes can clinch their playoff berth with a regulation win and a Montreal loss in any fashion or they can gain a point in the standings and they would need Montreal to lose in regulation.  Either way is good for the Hurricanes, who get the New Jersey Devils tonight, a team coasting to the finish.

Stacey C. gets the only hockey pool start in this game, his team will get the Petr Mrazek start and look to close up the 7-point gap up to 7th place, the highest point he can finish this year.  It's a pretty good bet for the 2 points, but that's why they play the game. 

Brian Elliott (Troy) versus Jordan Binnington (N/A)
The St. Louis Blues start the night 1 point back of both Winnipeg and Nashville, all three teams start the night with two games remaining on the schedule, all three playing tonight and Saturday.  The Blues get the traveling Flyers tonight, as they try and keep the pace and make things interesting.  They'll be going back to their wonder-kid goalie, Jordan Binnington, to try and keep the pressure on.

The only pool start will be the last one for Troy in Philly this season, as Brian Elliott has been tapped for this game, as his team is in a 3-way tie for 15th place with Clayton and Brian at 617 points.  Troy's team only has 4 points this week, 1 clear of the basement, so one last win from Elliott would be greatly appreciated.

Jacob Markstrom (Chelsea) versus Pekka Rinne (John P.)
The Nashville Predators will welcome the Vancouver Canucks to town tonight, as they try to keep the pressure on the Winnipeg Jets for the Central Division title.  The Predators don't have the tie-breaker against the Jets, so they need to get the most points outright to take the title.

The Predators are treating this game as an important one and rightly so, sending Pekka Rinne out to the crease tonight.  If John P.'s team is going to have a late shot at the equator of the standings, he'll need a big outing from his keeper tonight, as his team start the night 9 points back of 13th.  Of course, if he gets that high, there are a couple more places he can get to as well.  At the visiting end, Chelsea gets another start out of Jacob Markstrom, making his 60th start of the season, and he's playing for a long-term contract with the Canucks, so he'll be motivated for that extra win to negotiate with.

Grant's team has fallen right out of the money picture in the last couple weeks, so the return of Jake Virtanen to the Canucks lineup is within the realm of too little, too late.  Grant's team has now fallen all the way down to 6th and is running cold, only 6 points this week.

Jaroslav Halak (Stacey M.) versus Alex Stalock (Ryan)
There isn't much in this game, as the Bruins already know who and where they are playing their opening round games next week, while the Wild are out of the playoffs in the west, so it will be going through the motions, some players looking to stay sharp, other players looking for job security next season.

Stacey M. is hoping that her second start of the night is a fruitful one, as she'll get another Jaroslav Halak start out of the Bruins, as her team defends 2nd place from the duo.  Now that the Wild are out of the playoff picture, we might get to see Alex Stalock a little bit more, which is of interest to Ryan's team, which is still holding out hope for a top 10 spot, opening up tonight only 5 points back, not getting any help from his goalies last night.

It sounds like the Wild are going to shut down Zach Parise for their last two games of the season, citing the flu tonight and likely going to give some ice-time to NCAA signing, Nico Sturm.  Dale C. is looking for help to stay in 10th place or even catch 9th, but no Parise for the last two games of the year won't be any help.  On the Bruins side, David Krejci appears to be getting a rest for the Bruins, coming out of the lineup as a healthy scratch.  This will make five bodies out of active duty on Neil's team, which still has some room to give in 7th place today.

Connor Hellebuyck (Jeremy) versus Philipp Grubauer (Jesse)
The fate of the last playoff spot in the west is in the hands of the Colorado Avalanche, since they control their own destiny.  They need 1 point out of the last two games in the regular season to make it and the first game is against the division leading Winnipeg Jets.  The Jets are in their dog fight for top spot in the division, so they will not be giving this game away.

Neither team appear to be giving up anything, as the Jets will run their number one out there tonight, Connor Hellebuyck getting the nod and giving Jeremy a start tonight.  Not that it really matters to his pool team.  The Avalanche have seemingly put all of their eggs into Philipp Grubauer's basket of late, as he is the choice to help lift the team into the playoffs tonight with the start against the Jets.  Jesse was hoping that this would happen this season, but at a much earlier point in the season.  Nevertheless, the starts does help his team in the last gasp for the money.

Jets forward Brandon Tanev has been sent back to Winnipeg to be evaluated for his upper-body injury and won't be available for tonight's game and it seems rather unlikely that he'll play on Saturday as well.  Brian's chances of getting out of the weekly Basement Dweller spot have just gotten a little bit longer.

Aaron Dell (Troy) versus Anthony Stolarz (N/A)
It's a nothing game in Edmonton tonight, when the San Jose Sharks visit the Oilers.  The Sharks may be tuning up for their playoff run, while the Oilers are probably looking at themselves and thinking, 'what do we do next?'

Troy gets the first of two starts from the San Jose Sharks, who are coasting through this match-up with their backup goalie, Aaron Dell.  From having very little action in the crease to two starts, Troy's team won't know what to do with all of this action.  The Oilers are also rocking their backup tonight, because why not?

In the lineup department, the Sharks will sit Joonas Donskoi tonight, according to some early afternoon reports.  He'll be out as a healthy scratch, possibly nursing some bumps and bruises, just ahead of the playoffs.  If Wes wants to see his team finish in the top 10, he's going to have to hope for his healthy players to really show up tonight or else it will be tough sledding going forward.

Darcy Kuemper (Neil) versus Marc-Andre Fleury (Troy)
The Arizona Coyotes don't control their own fate for that last wild card spot in the west, but they can still make things interesting, if the Avalanche were to drop tonight's game against the Jets.  The Coyotes don't have it much easier, heading into Vegas to take on the Golden Knights, who are already locked in for 3rd place in the Pacific.  Saying that, it will be interesting to see what their mind set is ahead of this game.

There was a bit of an eye injury scare for Arizona's Darcy Kuemper, but it sounds like he'll be good to go tonight against the Golden Knights, trying for that one last gasp for a playoff spot, you know, if the Avalanche hadn't quite knocked them out in the game earlier.  They won't know for sure until midway through their game, at least.  Neil is also trying to hold off Stacey C. for 7th place in the standings, so he's glad to get the start.

For the Golden Knights, Marc-Andre Fleury will try to shake off the rust of missing action since the middle of March, dealing with a lower-body injury.  Fleury has been given the green light, which is more positive news for Troy's team, which is teetering over top of the basement heading into action tonight.

Morning Player Notes (Mar 31)

Going five games without a point, even on a team that hasn't had any intentions of the playoffs this year, is still enough to be a healthy scratch and that was the situation for Mikkel Boedker and the Ottawa Senators against Toronto on Saturday night. The Sens played with a little bit of purpose in that game, surprising their provincial rivals with a 4-2 win at home.  Now the question becomes whether or not this scratch was a statement game and Boedker goes back in or if he's found himself in the doghouse for the last week of the year.

I can't imagine Chelsea has had much stock in the back half of this season, as her team is a little bit more comfortable in 22nd place, now 7 points clear of 23rd after Saturday night.  Boedker has been disappointing for her team, since the Week Eighteen Waiver Draft, picking up 5 assists in 18 games played.

A curious collision in the Tampa Bay/Washington game last night, saw defenseman Victor Hedman collide with Carl Hagelin at the offensive blueline and Hedman's chin took the top of Hagelin's helmet, as the defenseman engaged on the hit and that collision was enough to send Hedman packing, missing the last two periods of the game.  Hedman does have a record of concussions and now there is a real concern that he may have suffered another one, which would come at a very poor time, as we start leading up to the playoffs.  We'll have our eyes peeled on this situation.

Dale C.'s team did not have a great Saturday night, failing to move up from his 11th place spot at the start of play, instead, dropping a spot, down to 12th, and will start Sunday's action 4 points back of 10th place.  The loss of Hedman could be big in his chase for the top 10.

One lineup change for the Vancouver Canucks between Thursday night and Saturday night, as Sven Baertschi returned from his night off and Jake Virtanen came out, cited to be dealing with a lower-body injury.  The coaching staff have said that Virtanen is day-to-day with the injury, but the team has now officially been eliminated from playoff contention, so it could be more about getting some looks at some other players, which may keep the coaches from rushing Virtanen back.

Grant's team has not had a very good week and the bad luck compounds with this injury to Virtanen, who has only been okay for his team, as one of his player swaps this season, 13 points in 39 games since coming on board.  Grant's team is losing ground to Kristy & Don, who now sit in 3rd, now 13 points back.

Vegas forward Paul Stastny was a late scratch for the Saturday night tilt between the Golden Knights and Sharks in San Jose, but there hasn't been any information released as to why he was a scratch.  Stastny reportedly took the pregame skate, but something like that could have been an illness that caught up to him or maybe a minor injury causing him some discomfort, but it's hard to say for sure.  We'll consider him day-to-day, questionable for Monday's game, at home to Edmonton.

Currently, there are two top 10 spots still available to change hands, 9th and 10th, and Wilton is currently holding on to the 9th spot in the standings, 6 points clear of 11th and 12th, which is far from comfortable.  Even 8 points opens up 13th spot and none of these teams in the week have pulled away from each other, leaving a bit of a dog fight for the last week.

Morning Player Notes (Mar 28)

The Dallas Stars were able to take a win out of Calgary last night, but it came at a cost, as goaltender Ben Bishop suffered another lower-body injury in the 2nd period of the game and was forced out, not to return.  Bishop spent some time on the shelf with a lower-body injury not long ago, so we're curious to know if the two are related at all.  With the Stars battling for a playoff spot, 5 points clear after their win, but there are still five games remaining on the schedule for them and they are now without their number one.

All Clayton's team is trying to do is to stay out of the basement for another couple weeks, just to save a little bit of face on this season and his team should be safe this week, already posting 12 points, through Wednesday night's action.  No points in the win for Bishop last night, as the Stars surrendered a late goal and it changed the goalie of record in the game to Anton Khudobin.

The Philadelphia Flyers are all but eliminated from playoff contention this season, 8 points back of the last wild card spot and only five games left to play, so it is fairly likely that we'll see a good rotation of the three goalies they have on the roster. Last night, against the Leafs, Carter Hart got the start (and the shootout win), while Brian Elliott came out of the lineup as the healthy scratch. I would expect a couple more posts like this in the next week and a half, as the goalies continue to do a twirl, auditioning for next season.

Last night, it was Troy's turn to take the scratch, as he has Elliott for the final segment of the season, while Jeremy got the start and Mike's team had the goalie working backup duties.  All three teams are in the bottom half of the standings, so there isn't a whole lot of meaning left to these scratches in the pool.

Speaking of rotation in lineups, the Vegas Golden Knights to work their rotation through the blueline, as Shea Theodore drew back in from his one game of rest and Nick Holden came back out for a turn up in the press box.  The Knights failed to clinch their playoff spot last night, but it's only a matter of time, barring an epic collapse, so I would fully expect them to continue their rotation through the last 11 days of the regular season.

Brenda & Seward may have been getting the short end of the stick on this rotation, as Holden has sat out a bunch more games than some of the other guys.  The duo are only 1 point back of moving up to 22nd in the standings, which does seem like quite the accomplishment, since they were in last for the bulk of the season.