4 months agoThe Arizona Coyotes acquired right wing Phil Kessel, defenseman Dane Birks and a fourth-round draft pick in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft from the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday in exchange for forward Alex Galchenyuk and defenseman Pierre-Olivier Joseph on Saturday. Kessel registered 27 goals and 82 points in 2018-19 with the Pens. Even if he is able to continue that kind of scoring production, his fantasy value will likely take a hit as his plus/minus rating suffers moving from Pittsburgh to Arizona.
--Daniel E. Dobish - RotoBallerSource: TSN.ca - Darren Dreger
4 months agoThe Vegas Golden Knights signed forward William Karlsson to an eight-year contract extension through the 2026-27 season, and the deal has an annual average value of $5.9 million per season. Karlsson posted 24 goals and 56 points during the 2018-19 regular season. Since landing with the Golden Knights during the expansion draft prior to the 2017-18 season he has posted 67 goals and 67 assists in 164 games in Vegas, emerging as a must-start fantasy option across the board.
--Daniel E. Dobish - RotoBallerSource: NHL.com/GoldenKnights
4 months agoNewly acquired Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Calvin De Haan (shoulder) underwent right shoulder surgery back in May and the original recovery time was expected to be four to six months. As such, it's possible he might not be ready for the starting of training camp in September, and he might not even be ready for the regular season opener. Still, the 'Hawks pulled the trigger on the deal, so they must not have concerns that the injury is going to be a long-term issue. He is a nice stay-at-home rearguard who doesn't do much on the offensive end. If your pool doesn't reward hits and blocked shots his fantasy appeal is rather minimal.
--Daniel E. Dobish - RotoBallerSource: NBC Sports Chicago - Charlie Roumeliotis
4 months agoThe Arizona Coyotes traded defenseman Kevin Connauton and a third-round draft pick to the Colorado Avalanche for center Carl Soderberg on Tuesday. This is a salary cap move for the Avs, as the rearguard will cost just $1.375 million against the cap in 2019-20, while Soderberg was set to count $4.75 million. Connauton registered just one goal and eight points with a minus-2 rating while dishing out 108 hits with 75 blocked shots over 50 games for the Coyotes. The stay-at-home rearguard doesn't warrant much in the way of fantasy consideration heading into the 2019-20 season.
--Daniel E. Dobish - RotoBallerSource: TSN.ca - Darren Dreger
4 months agoThe Colorado Avalanche traded center Carl Soderberg to the Arizona Coyotes on Tuesday in exchange for defenseman Kevin Connauton and a third-round draft pick. Soderberg registered a career-high 23 goals with 49 points, and his point total was two short of tying a career high set during the 2015-16 season. This was likely a salary-cap related move for the Avs, as they save a little bit of bread in this transaction, while also adding a veteran rearguard. On the surface this deal doesn't appear terribly strong for the Avs. Soderberg is also 33, so he isn't exactly a spring chicken, so perhaps Colorado views him as a sell-high player who is about to take a step back. Regardless, he is a decent late-round pick in most fantasy pools heading into the 2019-20.
--Daniel E. Dobish - RotoBallerSource: TSN.ca - Darren Dreger
4 months agoThe Tampa Bay Lightning signed forward Nolan Foote to an entry-level contract on Tuesday, team vice president and general manager Julien BriseBois announced. The team drafted Foote No. 27 overall in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft this past weekend. The son of former NHL rearguard Adam Foote, and younger brother of Cal Foote, the team's first-round pick in 2017, posted 36 goals and 27 assists with 62 penalty minutes across 66 games for the Kelowna Rockets of the WHL, including 17 power-play goals. He'll likely need at least a year or two before he makes a splash in the NHL, but the bloodlines are strong with this one, and he is a nice long-term keeper prospect.
--Daniel E. Dobish - RotoBallerSource: NHL.com/Lightning
4 months agoCarolina Hurricanes general manager Don Waddell said that the organization had "good talks" with the representation of defenseman Justin Faulk on a contract extension at the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, and the two sides plan to continue talking. "If he stays on for (the) last year of (his) contract we're OK with that," Waddell said, adding that there is no urgency to get a deal done. Faulk is the cornerstone of the defenseman corps along with Dougie Hamilton, and the fan favorite has been with the organization since going No. 37 overall in the second round of the 2010 draft. He has 11 or more goals in four of the past five seasons and is a decent fantasy option in many pools heading into 2019-20, especially if Carolina contends again and his plus/minus rating continues to be improved.
--Daniel E. Dobish - RotoBallerSource: Raleigh News & Observer - Chip Alexander
4 months agoCarolina Hurricanes general manager Don Waddell said on Tuesday that the organization continues to negotiate with impending unrestricted free-agent goaltender Petr Mrazek on a daily basis. He added "but not so much" when asked about the talks with impending unrestricted free-agent goaltender Curtis McElhinney. Mrazek quickly became a fan favorite in Raleigh during the team's playoff run. If they're unable to bring him back at a cap-friendly price, the organization added Anton Forsberg to possibly serve as backup to Charlotte Checkers goaltender and Calder Cup champion Alex Nedeljkovic.
--Daniel E. Dobish - RotoBallerSource: Raleigh News & Observer - Chip Alexander
4 months agoSt. Louis Blues right wing Vladimir Tarasenko (knee) had successful arthroscopic surgery on his left knee on Tuesday, president of hockey operations Doug Armstrong said. He will be re-evaluated in four weeks. Tarasenko posted 33 goals and 68 points across 76 games during the regular season for the Stanley Cup champs, and he added 11 goals and six assists in 26 playoff games. It sounds like the 27-year-old Russian forward will be recovered in plenty of time for training camp and the preseason. He'll be a popular early-round selection in most fantasy pools heading into the 2019-20 season.
--Daniel E. Dobish - RotoBallerSource: NHL.com/Blues
4 months agoThe Carolina Hurricanes acquired goaltender Anton Forsberg and defenseman Gustav Forsling from the Chicago Blackhawks on Monday in exchange for defenseman Calvin de Haan and center Aleksi Saarela. Forsberg is the name to watch here, as he might be given a long look to at least be the backup in net if the team is unable to bring back Petr Mrazek and Curtis McElhinney, which is not expected. Forsberg could serve as the primary backup to Alex Nedeljkovic, unless the organization decides to add more reinforcements via free agency or trade.
--Daniel E. Dobish - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Dom Luszczyszyn
4 months agoThe Chicago Blackhawks acquired defenseman Calvin de Haan and center Aleksi Saarela from the Carolina Hurricanes on Monday in exchange for goaltender Anton Forsberg and defenseman Gustav Forsling. De Haan was added in free agency last season, and the stay-at-home defenseman added one goal with 14 points across 74 regular-season contests. He joins Olli Maatta in making up a new rearguard corps in the Windy City. For fantasy purposes, he can mostly be left to the waiver wire unless your pool rewards hits. De Haan registered 187 hits and 106 blocked shots in 2018-19.
--Daniel E. Dobish - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Dom Luszczyszyn
4 months agoSt. Louis Blues forward Robert Thomas (wrist) underwent successful surgery on Monday to repair a tendon in his left wrist. He suffered the injury during Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals against the San Jose Sharks. Thomas has the entire offseason to rehab the injury and he will have a full evaluation before the start of training camp. He managed nine goals and 24 assists across 70 regular-season games for the champs, and he posted a goal and five helpers in 21 playoff games. Thomas is on the rise, and a decent addition in deeper fantasy pools heading into 2019-20.
--Daniel E. Dobish - RotoBallerSource: NHL.com/Blues
4 months agoThe Anaheim Ducks signed goaltender Ryan Miller to a one-year contract extension through the 2019-20 season. The all-time leader among United States-born goaltenders with 378 wins will battle with John Gibson for starts in SoCal, and could end up in a 60-40 type split in 2019-20. The team also inked defenseman Korbinian Holzer and center Derek Grant to one-year contract extensions as well. Miller's is the bigger news, and he is the only one of these players with any immediate fantasy value.
--Daniel E. Dobish - RotoBallerSource: NHL.com/Ducks
4 months agoThe Vancouver Canucks signed defenseman Alexander Edler to a two-year contract with an average annual value of $6 million. "Alex is important to our team and has played as the cornerstone of our defense throughout his career," general manager Jim Benning said. "He's a leader with tremendous experience, plays important minutes and contributes to every part of our game." Edler posted 10 goals with 34 points across 56 games during the 2018-19 campaign, and he ranks first in franchise history in points among defensemen. Another 40-point campaign is easily within reach barring any injuries, making him a decent fantasy option across the board.
--Daniel E. Dobish - RotoBallerSource: NHL.com/Canucks
4 months agoThe Carolina Hurricanes acquired center Patrick Marleau from the Toronto Maple Leafs on Day 2 of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, with the Canes also landing a first-round pick in the 2020 draft in what is believed to be a salary dump for the Leafs. Carolina can buy out the final year of his contract so he can explore options to return closer to his home in the San Jose area. "I could see myself playing beyond this next year. I still feel really good and I still feel I can contribute," Marleau said. It's unlikely Marleau will ever don a Hurricanes sweater or participate in a Storm Surge, but stranger things have happened. Perhaps general manager Don Waddell can talk Marleau into giving it a try if captain Justin Williams decides not to return. That seems unlikely, however.
--Daniel E. Dobish - RotoBallerSource: NHL.com - Mike Zeisberger
RADIO
