Training camp has opened, and here are some early observations, from a fantasy standpoint, in the Western Conference. Note that not all teams are represented, only those with fantasy-worthy news:
In Anaheim, it is looking more and more like Ilya Bryzgalov will split goaltending duties with J.S. Giguere. Giguere is in the final year of his contract, and the Ducks seem to want to keep him and then just let him walk next summer. Role back your win expectations for both of them…
In Calgary, the Calgary Sun is reporting that Jarome Iginla dropped 10 pounds over the summer and has picked up a step in camp…Matt Lombardi had a look as the No.1 center (with Iginla and Alex Tanguay on the wing). It is expected that Daymond Langkow and Jamie Lundmark will also get looks there. This reduces the outlook of having Tanguay try his hand at center on the top line, and hurts Kristian Huselius’ projected point totals (if this winds up being the case)…
In Chicago, Tony Salmelainen may get the opportunity to play with Tuomo Ruutu this year. The pair have played together before (Team Finland) and get along really well…Unrestricted free agent Eric Daze reinjured his back while skating. Just in case there were any keeper-league owners out there who wanted to hang onto him…Brian Boucher, in camp without a contract, has the inside edge to be the backup goaltender after Patrick Lalime underwent surgery…
In Colorado, Jordan Leopold will be back sooner than expected. He may only miss a handful of regular season games…Coach Joel Quenneville is VERY impressed with prospect Paul Stastny. While he will be in tough to crack the lineup this year, Stastny is making a statement that bodes very well for his future…
In Columbus, prospect Derick Brassard (shoulder) will be out for the next five months. He was a longshot for the team this year anyway…Fredrik Modin will start training camp on a line with Anson Carter and Gilbert Brule – Zherdev or no Zherdev…
On Dallas, the battle for backup goaltender is between Mike Smith and Dan Ellis. Either of them would have to clear waivers (and likely won’t) if they get cut, so that pretty much rules out Tobias Stephen for this season as far as the NHL is concerned…
In Detroit, Jason Williams is the winner (so far) to play with Pavel Datsyuk. Mikael Samuelsson will play right wing on Henrik Zetterberg’s line…Jiri Hudler will have every opportunity to crack the lineup, as he will have to clear waivers to be sent back down this year. He is late for camp, however, with some visa problems…
In Edmonton, Petr Sykora so far has amazing chemistry with Ales Hemsky. Raffi Torres is the other member of the line. If this chemistry remains, and there is no reason to feel that it shouldn’t, this will hurt Shawn Horcoff’s output this season – as Hemsky was his bread and butter as far as points go…
In Los Angeles, expectations from coach Mark Crawford is that Mike Cammalerri will be the Kings’ big goal-scorer this year…Crawford also is looking for a first line that can get 70 points each, and a second line that can get tally 60 each. This bodes well for Patrick O’Sullivan, Anze Kopitar, and Dustin Brown, who will likely make up the second line…
In Minnesota, Pascal Dupuis has been relegated to checking line, for those keeper league owners who were hoping for a resurgence in offense from him, I wouldn’t expect one…Brian Rolston was not the left winger on the Pavol Demitra/Marion Gaborik line. It was Peter Olvecky. The youngster looked good there, but even if he sticks, his career upside is that of a 55-point guy…
In Nashville, Martin Erat is looking good for a breakout season, if only because he has a coach who is practically in love with him. This from the Nashville Tennessean: "I thought that last year in the playoffs. Marty really stepped his game up to another level,'' Trotz said. What exactly was Erat doing so well against the Sharks, aside from scoring a goal in the Predators' only win of the series? Everything, his coach said. Erat said he began to see some changes in his own play last season, en route to hitting the 20-goal mark for the first time in his four-year NHL career. Ever heard quarterbacks say the game begins to slow down for them once they feel more comfortable?…
In Phoenix, Jeremy Roenick has a groin injury already. Ho hum…
In San Jose, prospect Devin Setoguchi’s chances of making the team suffered a blow after suffering a knee injury last week…
In St.Louis, Keith Tkachuk is reportedly in great shape for camp this year. Four times in his career he had injury-riddled years, and he followed each of them up with a nice comeback year. Look for that to happen again this season…
In Vancouver, the Vancouver Province reports that the Canucks will look to the waiver wire to find Roberto Luongo’s backup. Waiver wire potentials include Craig Anderson (Florida), Mike Morrison (Phoenix), Jason Labarbara (Los Angeles), and even Toronto’s Mikael Tellqvist if he loses the backup job battle…
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