player info
Dany Heatley, Atlanta Thrashers - Heatley underwent successful knee surgery to repair a complete tear of the MCL, reconstruction of a complete tear of the ACL and a repair of his lateral mensicus in his right knee, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Though Heatley may begin light rehabilitation exercises as early as today, there is no timetable for his return - at least not set forth by team physician's. However, we are under the assumption that Heatley will most likely miss the entire season as recovery from a complete tear of the ACL takes around six months. Of course this is completely ignoring all the legal problems Heatley will face in the coming months.
Bryan Berard, Boston Bruins - According to the Boston Herald, Bruins GM Mike O'Connell will talk to Berard's agent yet again today in an attempt to sign the defenseman to a contract. Even though they aren't letting on, the Bruins are probably just as eager as Berard to iron out a deal as their current defense corps lacks mobility and that proven powerplay quarterback. Even though it could happen tomorrow or months from now, we believe Berard will be back with the Bruins this year so it's probably best to hang on to him in fantasy leagues for the time being.
Valeri Bure, Florida Panthers - Bure skated on his own before practice Tuesday, reports the Miami Herald. Bure had been out for the previous week with a groin pull but he still might be ready for Thursday's season opener.
Olli Jokinen, Florida Panthers - Jokinen has been selected as the fifth captain in Panthers history by coach Mike Keenan, reports the Miami Herald. This has no real effect on his fantasy value, but the talented Jokinen has now truly arrived as one of the Panthers' most important players. Some folks will probably want to downgrade Jokinen on their draft lists this year, but he's the real deal and could quite easily duplicate or even surpass last year's offensive totals.
Brian Leetch, New York Rangers - Leetch skated briefly yesterday, as he did on Monday, his first two turns on the ice since he reinjured his left ankle over a month ago. However, he will not practice again until at least next week after the team returns from its two-game road trip. If Leetch truly does not practice until next week, it's unlikely he will be able to return until at least the week of October 20 as opposed to the October 16 home opener that was first rumored. In fact, according to the New York Daily News, Leetch feels as if he's still "a few weeks away" from returning which would probably mean that any action in October will be a bonus.
Dan Boyle, Tampa Bay Lightning - Boyle missed Tuesday's practice and scrimmage with the stomach flu but is expected to be back at practice today, reports the Tampa Tribune. Boyle has made it a habit to be injured and/or ill this preseason but this should all subside once the season starts. If you are unable to draft one of the NHL's elite defenseman, Boyle is certainly in the tier just below them.
Alexei Zhamnov, Chicago Blackhawks - According to the Chicago Sun-Times, the Blackhawks will likely begin the year with the following top two line combinations: Zhamnov with Kyle Calder and Igor Radulov and Steve Sullivan with Eric Daze and Tuomo Ruutu.
Kyle Calder, Chicago Blackhawks - Calder returned to practice wearing a mask and said he'll play against Minnesota. He underwent major dental work after catching a stick in the face on Saturday.
Peter Forsberg, Colorado Avalanche - Forsberg skated yesterday for the first time since suffering a slight groin injury and pronounced himself ready to go for the Avs' season opener on Friday. Obviously, you'll want him active.
Brendan Morrow, Dallas Stars - Morrow skated yesterday for the first time since suffering a left leg injury on Saturday and felt happy with how it held up. Though there is still swelling in the general area, Morrow expects to be in the lineup for tonight's season opener against the Mighty Ducks unless he suffers a setback in the morning.
Mike Modano, Dallas Stars - Modano will likely skate on a line with Bill Guerin and Jere Lehtinen for Wednesday's game against the Mighty Ducks, reports the Dallas Morning News. The second line will likely consist of Jason Arnott centering Pierre Turgeon and Stu Barnes.
Zigmund Palffy, Los Angeles Kings - Palffy did not skate Tuesday morning because of flu-like symptoms, reports the LA Times. Nonetheless, he is expected to play Thursday against the Red Wings.
goalie info
Marty Turco, Dallas Stars - Turco will be the starter for Wednesday's game against the Mighty Ducks, reports the Dallas Morning News.
Jean-Sebastien Giguere, Anaheim Mighty Ducks - Giguere will be the starter for Wednesday's game against the Stars, reports the LA Times.
Martin Brodeur, New Jersey Devils - Brodeur is the probable starter for Wednesday's game against the Bruins. You might as well consider this one confirmed as Brodeur will definitely start unless something happens to him.
Jocelyn Thibault, Chicago Blackhawks - Thibault is the probable starter for Wednesday's game against the Wild. Another one that more or less doesn't need confirmation from a print source.
Dwayne Roloson, Minnesota Wild - Roloson is the probable starter for Wednesday's game against the Blackhawks. Coach Jacques Lemaire had already decided on his starting goalie by Monday but is refusing te tell anyone about it. That makes our job more difficult as we now have to guess that it will be Roloson, who seemed to be Lemaire's preferred starter last season. In any case, check back before gametime and we may have an update if there is a change or confirmation.
Felix Potvin, Boston Bruins - Potvin is the probable starter for Wednesday's game against the Devils. This is pretty much a guess as the Boston Globe reports that coach Mike Sullivan declined to name a starter for tonight's game. Potvin is the "veteran" out of the two but youngster Andrew Raycroft thoroughly outplayed him in preseason so realistically, it could go either way. Refer to the paragraph below for more information.
Andrew Raycroft, Boston Bruins - According to the Boston Globe, the Bruins haven't totally decided on which of their two goalies will go into the season as the team's #1 starter. Odds are that it will be Felix Potvin, but coach Mike Sullivan was quick to state that both Potvin and Raycroft will see a generous amount of starts. In fact, he stated that it could pan out that one goalie will get 48 starts and the other 34. If this arrangement holds true, the fantasy value of Potvin decreases but both he and Raycroft would be well worth owning except in the smallest of leagues.
Jamie Storr, Carolina Hurricanes - After signing with the Hurricanes just last week, Storr will need about ten days to get into game shape, reports the Durham Herald-Sun. It is unclear whether he will be ready to serve as the backup, but this all but means that Kevin Weekes will get a string of starts to open the season.
Garth Snow, New York Islanders - The New York Newsday reports that coach Steve Stirling has also declined to name his starter for tomorrow night's season opener against the Capitals. Snow is the probable starter according to the newspaper but Stirling did say that Snow and Rick DiPietro will both see action over the first three games. We suppose that's another way of saying that the Islanders will employ a goaltending tandem to begin the season but the team expects to name a #1 starter by the end of October and they are probably hoping deep down inside that it's DiPietro.
Dany Heatley, Atlanta Thrashers - Heatley underwent successful knee surgery to repair a complete tear of the MCL, reconstruction of a complete tear of the ACL and a repair of his lateral mensicus in his right knee, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Though Heatley may begin light rehabilitation exercises as early as today, there is no timetable for his return - at least not set forth by team physician's. However, we are under the assumption that Heatley will most likely miss the entire season as recovery from a complete tear of the ACL takes around six months. Of course this is completely ignoring all the legal problems Heatley will face in the coming months.
Bryan Berard, Boston Bruins - According to the Boston Herald, Bruins GM Mike O'Connell will talk to Berard's agent yet again today in an attempt to sign the defenseman to a contract. Even though they aren't letting on, the Bruins are probably just as eager as Berard to iron out a deal as their current defense corps lacks mobility and that proven powerplay quarterback. Even though it could happen tomorrow or months from now, we believe Berard will be back with the Bruins this year so it's probably best to hang on to him in fantasy leagues for the time being.
Valeri Bure, Florida Panthers - Bure skated on his own before practice Tuesday, reports the Miami Herald. Bure had been out for the previous week with a groin pull but he still might be ready for Thursday's season opener.
Olli Jokinen, Florida Panthers - Jokinen has been selected as the fifth captain in Panthers history by coach Mike Keenan, reports the Miami Herald. This has no real effect on his fantasy value, but the talented Jokinen has now truly arrived as one of the Panthers' most important players. Some folks will probably want to downgrade Jokinen on their draft lists this year, but he's the real deal and could quite easily duplicate or even surpass last year's offensive totals.
Brian Leetch, New York Rangers - Leetch skated briefly yesterday, as he did on Monday, his first two turns on the ice since he reinjured his left ankle over a month ago. However, he will not practice again until at least next week after the team returns from its two-game road trip. If Leetch truly does not practice until next week, it's unlikely he will be able to return until at least the week of October 20 as opposed to the October 16 home opener that was first rumored. In fact, according to the New York Daily News, Leetch feels as if he's still "a few weeks away" from returning which would probably mean that any action in October will be a bonus.
Dan Boyle, Tampa Bay Lightning - Boyle missed Tuesday's practice and scrimmage with the stomach flu but is expected to be back at practice today, reports the Tampa Tribune. Boyle has made it a habit to be injured and/or ill this preseason but this should all subside once the season starts. If you are unable to draft one of the NHL's elite defenseman, Boyle is certainly in the tier just below them.
Alexei Zhamnov, Chicago Blackhawks - According to the Chicago Sun-Times, the Blackhawks will likely begin the year with the following top two line combinations: Zhamnov with Kyle Calder and Igor Radulov and Steve Sullivan with Eric Daze and Tuomo Ruutu.
Kyle Calder, Chicago Blackhawks - Calder returned to practice wearing a mask and said he'll play against Minnesota. He underwent major dental work after catching a stick in the face on Saturday.
Peter Forsberg, Colorado Avalanche - Forsberg skated yesterday for the first time since suffering a slight groin injury and pronounced himself ready to go for the Avs' season opener on Friday. Obviously, you'll want him active.
Brendan Morrow, Dallas Stars - Morrow skated yesterday for the first time since suffering a left leg injury on Saturday and felt happy with how it held up. Though there is still swelling in the general area, Morrow expects to be in the lineup for tonight's season opener against the Mighty Ducks unless he suffers a setback in the morning.
Mike Modano, Dallas Stars - Modano will likely skate on a line with Bill Guerin and Jere Lehtinen for Wednesday's game against the Mighty Ducks, reports the Dallas Morning News. The second line will likely consist of Jason Arnott centering Pierre Turgeon and Stu Barnes.
Zigmund Palffy, Los Angeles Kings - Palffy did not skate Tuesday morning because of flu-like symptoms, reports the LA Times. Nonetheless, he is expected to play Thursday against the Red Wings.
goalie info
Marty Turco, Dallas Stars - Turco will be the starter for Wednesday's game against the Mighty Ducks, reports the Dallas Morning News.
Jean-Sebastien Giguere, Anaheim Mighty Ducks - Giguere will be the starter for Wednesday's game against the Stars, reports the LA Times.
Martin Brodeur, New Jersey Devils - Brodeur is the probable starter for Wednesday's game against the Bruins. You might as well consider this one confirmed as Brodeur will definitely start unless something happens to him.
Jocelyn Thibault, Chicago Blackhawks - Thibault is the probable starter for Wednesday's game against the Wild. Another one that more or less doesn't need confirmation from a print source.
Dwayne Roloson, Minnesota Wild - Roloson is the probable starter for Wednesday's game against the Blackhawks. Coach Jacques Lemaire had already decided on his starting goalie by Monday but is refusing te tell anyone about it. That makes our job more difficult as we now have to guess that it will be Roloson, who seemed to be Lemaire's preferred starter last season. In any case, check back before gametime and we may have an update if there is a change or confirmation.
Felix Potvin, Boston Bruins - Potvin is the probable starter for Wednesday's game against the Devils. This is pretty much a guess as the Boston Globe reports that coach Mike Sullivan declined to name a starter for tonight's game. Potvin is the "veteran" out of the two but youngster Andrew Raycroft thoroughly outplayed him in preseason so realistically, it could go either way. Refer to the paragraph below for more information.
Andrew Raycroft, Boston Bruins - According to the Boston Globe, the Bruins haven't totally decided on which of their two goalies will go into the season as the team's #1 starter. Odds are that it will be Felix Potvin, but coach Mike Sullivan was quick to state that both Potvin and Raycroft will see a generous amount of starts. In fact, he stated that it could pan out that one goalie will get 48 starts and the other 34. If this arrangement holds true, the fantasy value of Potvin decreases but both he and Raycroft would be well worth owning except in the smallest of leagues.
Jamie Storr, Carolina Hurricanes - After signing with the Hurricanes just last week, Storr will need about ten days to get into game shape, reports the Durham Herald-Sun. It is unclear whether he will be ready to serve as the backup, but this all but means that Kevin Weekes will get a string of starts to open the season.
Garth Snow, New York Islanders - The New York Newsday reports that coach Steve Stirling has also declined to name his starter for tomorrow night's season opener against the Capitals. Snow is the probable starter according to the newspaper but Stirling did say that Snow and Rick DiPietro will both see action over the first three games. We suppose that's another way of saying that the Islanders will employ a goaltending tandem to begin the season but the team expects to name a #1 starter by the end of October and they are probably hoping deep down inside that it's DiPietro.
