RADIO
Max Domi Suspended For Rest Of Preseason
9/20:Montreal Canadiens forward Max Domi has been suspended for the remainder of the preseason following a roughing incident in Wednesday night's game against Florida. Domi, playing in his first game with his new organization, punched unsuspecting opponent Aaron Ekblad and was consequently ejected from the game with a match penalty. The Winnipeg native was acquired by the Canadiens in exchange for center Alex Galchenyuk over the summer and is coming off a 45-point season (nine goals, 36 assists) in 82 games in 2017-2018.Source: NHL Player Safety
Ty Dellandrea Signs Three-Year Deal With Dallas
9/19:Dallas Stars forward prospect Ty Dellandrea signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the team on Wednesday. Dellandrea, the 13th overall pick in this summer's draft, is coming off a 59-point (27 goals, 32 assists) campaign with the Flint Firebirds of the Ontario Hockey League in 2017-2018. The 18-year-old center is projected as a potential top-six forward known for his great hockey sense and solid scoring ability. Having played in his first NHL preseason game with the Stars on Tuesday night, Dellandrea is expected to be returned to Flint to continue to develop over the course of the 2018-2019 season.Source: NHL.com
Sam Reinhart Signs Two-Year Deal With Buffalo
9/19:The Buffalo Sabres signed restricted free-agent forward Sam Reinhart to a two-year, $7.3 million ($3.65 million annual average value) contract on Wednesday. The 2014, second overall draft pick posted a career-best 50 points (25 goals, 25 assists) last season. In addition, Reinhart also set career-highs in penalty minutes (26), power play points (21), power play goals (12), shots (188) and average time-on-ice (17:06). Currently ranked at #123 in Yahoo's preseason rankings, the British Columbia native figures to be an intriguing fantasy option in his fourth NHL season. If Reinhart can manage to earn ice-time with Jack Eichel, he could become quite a draft bargain for the 2018-2019 season.Source: NHL.com
Aleksander Barkov Named Captain of Panthers
9/17:The Florida Panthers announced that the team has named center Aleksander Barkov its newest captain on Monday. Barkov, the team's leading scorer with 78 points (27 goals, 51 assists) last season becomes the tenth captain in Panthers franchise history. The Finnish native has blossomed into a elite player in just his fifth NHL season in 2017-2018, finishing third in voting for the Lady Byng Trophy. In addition, the young center also contributed a plus-nine rating, 17 power play points and 257 shots on goal in 79 games. Barkov's should only continue to grow in 2018-2019 as he will look to lead a young and talented Panthers team back into the playoffs.Source: NHL.com
Darnell Nurse Inks Two-Year Deal With Edmonton
9/17:The Edmonton Oilers signed defenseman Darnell Nurse to a two-year, $6.4 million contract ($3.2 million average annual value) on Monday afternoon. The former 2013, seventh overall draft pick led all Oilers blueliners with 26 points (six goals, 20 assists) and earned 22:15 in ice-time per game in 2017-2018. The big, physical defenseman also registered a +15 rating, 67 penalty minutes, 194 shots on goal and 161 hits in 82 games played. At just 23-years-old, Nurse is looking to take his game to another level in his third full season, aiming to expand his role both offensively and defensively. Nurse looks to be a depth option in most fantasy leagues but could serve as a valuable pick-up if he continues to progress.Source: Sportsnet
Josh Morrissey Signs Two-Year Contract Extension
9/17:The Winnipeg Jets signed defenseman Josh Morrissey to a two-year, $6.3 million contract ($3.15 million average annual value) on Monday. Morrissey, a solid two-way defenseman, is coming off a 2017-2018 season in which he posted 26 points (seven goals, 19 assists) to go along with a plus-15 rating, 47 penalty minutes, 102 shots and 139 hits. The former 13th overall pick of the 2013 NHL Draft emerged as a second-pair defenseman last season, earning 20:27 of time-on-ice per game. Morrissey currently projects to be a depth defenseman at best in most fantasy leagues but his value could climb as he begins to realize his offensive potential.Source: The Globe and Mail
Henrik Zetterberg To Retire Due To Back Condition
9/14:The Detroit Red Wings announced on Friday that team captain Henrik Zetterberg will be unable to continue his NHL career due to a degenerative back condition. Zetterberg had initially aimed to return to action at some point during the 2018-2019 season but found the his back pain too extreme to manage. The Swedish forward will end his career as Detroit's fifth-leading scorer in franchise history, concluding with 337 goals, 623 assists, 960 points in 1,082 career NHL games. The Red Wings are expected to place Zetterberg on long-term injured reserve for the remainder of his three-year contract.Source: TSN
Austin Watson Suspended 27 Games
9/13:Nashville Predators forward Austin Watson has been suspended for the entirety of the NHL preseason and the first 27 regular season games in 2018-2019 due to unacceptable conduct. Watson, a checking line winger, was handed the ban after the NHL completed its investigation of an event earlier this summer where the 26-year-old engaged in a physical confrontation with his domestic partner. Having posted just 19 points (14 goals, five assists) to go along with his 187 hits and 123 penalty minutes last season, Watson was likely only relevant in deep fantasy leagues prior to the suspension.Source: NHL.com
Tyler Seguin Signs Eight-Year Extension To Remain In Dallas
9/13:The Dallas Stars announced that the team has signed Tyler Seguin to an eight-year, $78.8 million contract (average annual value of $9.85 million) on Thursday. Seguin, the team's top center, finished the 2017-2018 season ranked second in scoring on the Stars, posting 78 points (40 goals, 38 assists). Since being traded to Dallas (from Boston) prior to the 2013-2014 season, the Ontario native has ranked second in the NHL in goals (173), seventh in points (384), fourth in power play goals (56) and third in shots (1488). Considering Seguin's excellent chemistry with fellow superstar Jamie Benn, the former 2010, second-overall draft pick should once again find himself toward the top of the League's leaderboard once again in 2018-2019.Source: NHL.com
Chris Tierney, Dylan Demelo Part Of Package Heading To Ottawa
9/13:Something tells us that Ottawa Senators fans will be quite unhappy with the return they received for Erik Karlsson. Heading back to Ottawa are Chris Tierney, Dylan Demelo, Rudolfs Balcers, Josh Norris, a first-round pick in 2019 or 2020, and a second round pick in 2019. Tierney scored a career-high 40 points in 2017-18 but he is only a fantasy option in the deepest of leagues. He should see an increased role with the Senators, although he seems hard-pressed to reach over 50 points. On the other hand, Demelo could be an interesting fantasy flier on the blueline. Demelo tallied 20 points last season (all assists) in 63 games. The Senators now have a Karlsson-sized hole to fill on their blueline and powerplay. Demelo, along with Thomas Chabot, is definitely the best candidate to fill that vacancy. He can be drafted as a depth defenseman with PP upside. As for Norris and Balcers, they are prospects who are still at least a year away from an NHL role. They can be avoided for fantasy purposes in 2018-19.Source: Dean Brown
Erik Karlsson Traded To San Jose Sharks
9/13:The trade of the NHL offseason went down on Thursday afternoon as two-time Norris Trophy winner Erik Karlsson has been traded to the San Jose Sharks. Karlsson had been the subject of rampant trade speculation for the past few months, and it was seeming more likely that Karlsson would start the season with the Senators. While the exact return is not yet known, it sounds as though the Sharks have sent two roster players plus extras back to Ottawa. While Karlsson's fantasy value was already sky-high, this raises it even more as he will be surrounded by a plethora of talent with the Sharks. More to come.Source: Pierre LeBrun
Nick Suzuki Included In Trade to Montreal
9/10:The Montreal Canadiens acquired top prospect Nick Suzuki (along with Tomas Tatar and a 2019 second-round pick) in exchange for Max Pacioretty on Monday. Suzuki, the 13th overall selection in the 2017 NHL Draft, is fresh off a 100-point (42 goals, 58 assists) season playing for the Owen Sound Attack of the OHL. The undersized forward possesses incredible talent and top-notch offensive instincts and should instantly make a case to break the Canadiens roster right out of training camp. Considering the lack of depth up the middle in Montreal, Suzuki could very well blossom into a top-six option early in the season. As a result, the Ontario native should be considered a late sleeper in upcoming fantasy drafts.Source: NHL.com
Tomas Tatar Shipped To The Canadiens
9/10:The Montreal Canadiens acquired forward Tomas Tatar, prospect center Nick Suzuki and a second-round selection in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft from the Vegas Golden Knights on Sunday in exchange for veteran forward Max Pacioretty. Tatar was operating as a top-six forward with the Western Conference champions after coming over in the middle of the season from the Red Wings. Just as quickly as his fantasy value bumped up, it nosedives in his move from a contender to an Eastern Conference team which missed out on the playoffs last season. Tatar is likely to maintain a top-six job with time on the power play, but his plus/minus takes a hit and subsequently so does his fantasy appeal.Source: NHL.com
Max Pacioretty Acquired By The Golden Knights
9/10:The Vegas Golden Knights acquired forward Max Pacioretty on Sunday in exchange for forward Tomas Tatar, prospect center Nick Suzuki and a second-round pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, originally belonging to Columbus. Pacioretty seems like he's been around a while, but he is still just 29 years old and in the prime of his career. The Connecticut native has posted 30 or more goals in five of his NHL seasons, totaling 226 goals and 448 points through 626 career games. He'll be a top-six forward in Vegas and should see a jump in plus/minus rating going from a non-playoff team to a Stanley Cup runner-up, thus increasing his overall fantasy appeal.Source: NHL.com
Nate Schmidt Suspended 20 Games For PED Violation
9/4:Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Nate Schmidt was handed a 20-game suspension for violating the NHL's Performance Enhancing Substances Program. A microscopic amount of a banned substance was found in his system, and he vehemently denies that he intentionally took any performance enhancers. Schmidt will still be able to attend training camp with the team, but he will have to serve the 20 game suspension at the start of the regular season. The 27-year-old put up five goals, 31 assists, a +19 rating, 16 PIMS, and 11 PPP during the 2017-18 season. He projected to be one of the top defenders on Vegas. This massive hole on the blueline adds extra value to youngster Shea Theodore's stock as the Golden Knights will look to him to eat up the extra minutes. Schmidt can be avoided on draft day, whereas Theodore can be drafted as a solid fantasy depth defenseman, although he still needs to sign a contract for the upcoming season.Source: CBC Sports
