The NHL draft is fast approaching and the scouting combine event in Toronto has begun. The top players in the draft such as Nail Yakupov, Alex Galchenyuk, Filip Forsberg, and Ryan Murray among others will all be enduring interviews with NHL teams, and undergoing a series of rigorous physical testing. The combine could be key for players who were injured writes Mike Morreale on NHL.com. Several top ranked players suffered injuries this season such as Sarnia Sting forward Alex Galchenyuk. Players who suffered serious/season ending injuries may have seen their draft rank drop slightly as a result, not unlike when Tampa selected Brett Connolly sixth overall in 2010 after he had been ranked third after he suffered a hip injury limiting him to 16 games in his draft year. Toronto would be ecstatic if Galchenyuk slipped to fifth as he had previously been ranked second.
The draft is an exciting time of year for fans, and fantasy enthusiasts as well as teams add prospects and make deals. to get a look at how our prospect expert Dave Dickenson @Dickie_D26 sees the draft unfolding read this Mock Draft 1.0
Stanley Cup Finals
The Cup Finals begin on Wednesday night and as we know will see the New Jersey Devils host the Los Angeles Kings. Fantasy hockey players who predicted this give yourself a pat on the back, and start writing for us! Playing in a fantasy playoff pool is always such a crap shoot, and I believe if you are participating in a playoff pool draft, why not pick players from your favorite team. The strategy of picking with your heart is deadly in the regular season, but in the playoffs, why not?
After all, anything can happen as we have seen this year and if you are a kings fan and drafted Mike Richards, Jeff Carter, Dustin Brown, Drew Doughty and Jonathan Quick you are riding the high of your team going to the Cup finals and going to the bank yourself! How's that beard, getting itchy yet?
The Hockey Writers David O'Connor has his preview of the Finals including his prediction for who the winner will be in his piece 2012 Stanley Cup Final Preview: Who Wins The Cup?
Who do you think wins the Cup?
Post your prediction in the comments below.
Martin Brodeur
If you own Brodeur in a fantasy keeper league, not only are you happy with his performance this season and his playoff run, but by his recent comments about retirement.
"I know a lot of people say it’s great to retire on top, but at the end of the day, when I’m going to say it’s over, it’s over, I’m not going to come back. I want to make sure I make the right decision. Right now I’m leaning toward coming back. We’ll see.”
Next Habs Coach
Fred Poulin @FredPoulin98 has reported at Hockey Writers thatBob Hartley to be named the Montreal Canadiens’ next head coach Hartley is under contract to Coach Zurich in Switzerland but Poulin believes there is an "out clause" in that contract. The decision has been made and the delay in announcing is because Hartley has gone to Zurich to inform them of his decision. Poulin also says that the Memorial Cup Champions Shawinigan Cataractes head Coach Eric Veilleux will join Hartley as his assistant.
The Habs have also found their assistant GM and it is Rick Dudley who will leave the Leafs after the draft.
Trade Rumor
Apparently Bryn Murray, Ottawa Senators GM inquired about acquiring Rick Nash from Columbus at the deadline. The price was too steep for Murray as Bruce Garrioch reports Columbus GM Scott Howson was asking for Mika Zibanejad, Mark Stone, Sen's first round pick, and a roster player. That is a lot to pay but the fantasy impact of Nash and Jason Spezza playing together would make fantasy owners drool! Spezza and Nash have played together for Canada several times now and have great chemistry together. They would remind me of Adam Oates and Brett Hull from their days in St. Louis together. They were magical together!
More Sens trade rumors, As i mentioned in my Sens off season article the Sens could be looking to trade one of their goalies this summer. With Craig Anderson established as the most reliable starting goalie the franchise has ever had, and Ben Bishop showing to be a reliable back up, and top prospect Robin Lehner waiting in the wings there is a surplus in this position. Bruce Garrioch agrees with me in his column saying Sens goalies poised to draw interest at GM meetings. While moving a goalie could be risky, the Sens own the 16th overall draft pick which is an excellent position to draft either Malcolm Subban or Andrei Vasilevski to replace Lehner. Lehner is ready now and several teams such as Tampa Bay, Chicago, San Jose and Columbus could be interested. The Sens could acquire a player fro Lehner who would provide immediate roster upgrade on defense to replace Filip Kuba should he be lost as a free agent, or Daniel Alfredsson should he retire.
The Russians Are Coming!
According to Dmitry Chesnokov via Twitter, the KHL will play two regular season games in Brooklyn New York this coming winter.
Dmitry Chesnokov @dchesnokov
According to Medvedev, the short list of #KHL teams to play in Brooklyn are: Dynamo, CSKA, Avangard, Salavat Yulaev and SKA.
Injury Update
Marian Gaborik who took some heat for his lack of production in the playoffs has been playing with a shoulder injury. He may require surgery.
Prospect Report
If you enjoyed our playoff draft guide and are looking for more insight, FHC will be releasing our prospect guide in June. We have added to our writing team for more expert insight to give you the best product possible. Our report will cover all 30 NHL teams top prospects with over 300 bios, rankings, forecasts and fantasy impact. It is a must have tool for all fantasy hockey leagues.
More to come!
Follow me on Twitter: @pharling
BIG LEAD - 160Wx600H Ad ROS