Some weekend updates…and I’m not Chevy Chase… McGinn-Demers Trade: The Florida Panthers shipped off veteran defenseman Jason Demers to the Arizona Coyotes and received LWer Jamie McGinn.  The Cats cleared about $12 million in cap space and added some grit.  Don’t expect much in terms of offense from the journeyman now on his 6th NHL team.  The Coyotes add another veteran defenseman to go along Niklas Hjalmarsson, acquired right before the NHL Entry Draft from Chicago, Alex Goligoski and Oliver Ekman-Larsson.  This gives the Arizona Coyotes a very solid core in front of Antti Raanta who will be taking over the reins as the starting goaltender in the desert.  The Coyotes are an improved team and should not be an NHL doormat anymore. Draft Guide Updated:  Look for the new Draft Guide file in your account.  All updates are highlighted in yellow, so they are easy to spot….Some updates…Evander Kane added to Buffalo Sabres team page and Forward Tiers as was Patrick Sharp of the Chicago Blackhawks….All recent signings, David Pastrnak, Bryan Little, Nikita Zadorov to name just a few….Even the above trade has been updated in the Guide…Made a few forecast changes to Connor Brown and Oliver Bjorkstrand in particular as we curbed our enthusiasm for both talented wingers… EXCITING NEW FEATURE WE THINK YOU WILL LOVE ON THE DRAFT GUIDE PDF!!!  Open the Draft Guide and click on any Title in the Table of Contents and you will be brought directly to the page!  No more scrolling.  I am working on adding that feature for the individual Team Pages as well.  Hopefully will be done by tonight!  Check back every few days for updates as we continue to add and make updates throughout the pre-season. Ciao for now! Ray

Some weekend updates…and I’m not Chevy Chase… McGinn-Demers Trade: The Florida Panthers shipped off veteran defenseman Jason Demers to the Arizona Coyotes and received LWer Jamie McGinn.  The Cats cleared about $12 million in cap space and added some grit.  Don’t expect much in terms of offense from the journeyman now on his 6th NHL team.  The Coyotes add another veteran defenseman to go along Niklas Hjalmarsson, acquired right before the NHL Entry Draft from Chicago, Alex Goligoski and Oliver Ekman-Larsson.  This gives the Arizona Coyotes a very solid core in front of Antti Raanta who will be taking over the reins as the starting goaltender in the desert.  The Coyotes are an improved team and should not be an NHL doormat anymore. Draft Guide Updated:  look for the new Draft Guide file in your account.  All updates are highlighted in yellow, so they are easy to spot….Some updates…Evander Kane added to Buffalo Sabres team page and Forward Tiers as was Patrick Sharp of the Chicago Blackhawks….All recent signings, David Pastrnak, Bryan Little, Nikita Zadorov to name just a few….Even the above trade has been updated in the Guide…Made a few forecast changes to Connor Brown and Oliver Bjorkstrand in particular as we curbed our enthusiasm for both talented wingers… Check back every few days for updates as we continue to add and make updates throughout the pre-season. Ciao for now! Ray

van Riemsdyk, 23, is the brother of Maple Leafs forward James van Riemsdyk. Trevor will make his debut tonight with Niklas Hjalmarsson as his D partner. He spent the last three years at the University of New Hampshire and posted four goals and 19 assists (23 points) in 26 games last season.

Hjalmarsson has been off the ice for the past two days but Quenneville said he's just resting. The defenseman has taken his shot-blocking lumps in the postseason, the most frightening when he caught a puck in the throat in Game 2 on Sunday. Hjalmarsson has been advised not to speak for some time but he has played through it.

There were only 2 games in the NHL last night which makes my morning pretty easy. In a real marquee game the Blackhawks beat the  Ducks 4-2.  Anaheim is hard to beat as they have only lost 2 games in their last 20, and had won 8 games in a row.  Chicago forward Marian Hossa had 2 goals in the win and with 41 points on the season in 45 games he is still pretty much the point per game player he has been throughout his outstanding career dating back to his Ottawa days in 1998-1999. Hossa once scored 100 points with Atlanta in 2006-2007 and at 35 years old he can still bring it.  Chicago defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson had 2 assists in the game, but he has only 21 points on the season, and he is not really that fantasy worthy. Great NHL defenseman though.  Corey Crawford had 19 saves in goal for the win, and he has 18 on the season. While he has been hurt a bit this year, he should have  a better than .911 save percentage, considering how good Chicago's defense is.  Anaheim goaltender Jonas Hiller actually looked better in net with 31 saves. He has 23 wins, but like Crawford his .914 save percentage is a bit pedestrian.  Ducks forward Ryan Getzlaf had a goal and with 56 points on the season he is just below Sidney and is back to elite status. He is + 22 on the season.  In last night's other game the surging Columbus Blue Jackets won again over the struggling Washington Capitals 5-1.  Columbus has won 5 straight games, and they are thriving with the return of Vezina Trophy winning goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, who has won 4 games in a row since missing a month with a groin injury. Cam Atkinson had 2 goals for the Blue Jackets, and the youngster has a lot of talent, and while he has only 26 points on the season, he does have 15 goals, and he has been hot lately with 6 points in his last 5 games. The more interesting fantasy news is a goal and an assist from Columbus forward Ryan Johansen who has 36 points on the season. This 21 year old is going to get a lot better, and he should be moving to close to a point per game player for the rest of this year.   Washington's goaltending position is in disarray as Philipp Grubauer got pulled last night after allowing 3 goals on 14 shots. He was replaced by Braden Holtby, who has been miserable this year with a 3.08 goals against average. I think the clock is ticking on Capitals Coach Adam Oates time, as the team is floundering and he has no top goalie.  

There were only 2 games in the NHL last night which makes my morning pretty easy. In a real marquee game the Blackhawks beat the  Ducks 4-2.  Anaheim is hard to beat as they have only lost 2 games in their last 20, and had won 8 games in a row.  Chicago forward Marian Hossa had 2 goals in the win and with 41 points on the season in 45 games he is still pretty much the point per game player he has been throughout his outstanding career dating back to his Ottawa days in 1998-1999. Hossa once scored 100 points with Atlanta in 2006-2007 and at 35 years old he can still bring it.  Chicago defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson had 2 assists in the game, but he has only 21 points on the season, and he is not really that fantasy worthy. Great NHL defenseman though.  Corey Crawford had 19 saves in goal for the win, and he has 18 on the season. While he has been hurt a bit this year, he should have  a better than .911 save percentage, considering how good Chicago's defense is.  Anaheim goaltender Jonas Hiller actually looked better in net with 31 saves. He has 23 wins, but like Crawford his .914 save percentage is a bit pedestrian.  Ducks forward Ryan Getzlaf had a goal and with 56 points on the season he is just below Sidney and is back to elite status. He is + 22 on the season.  In last night's other game the surging Columbus Blue Jackets won again over the struggling Washington Capitals 5-1.  Columbus has won 5 straight games, and they are thriving with the return of Vezina Trophy winning goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, who has won 4 games in a row since missing a month with a groin injury. Cam Atkinson had 2 goals for the Blue Jackets, and the youngster has a lot of talent, and while he has only 26 points on the season, he does have 15 goals, and he has been hot lately with 6 points in his last 5 games. The more interesting fantasy news is a goal and an assist from Columbus forward Ryan Johansen who has 36 points on the season. This 21 year old is going to get a lot better, and he should be moving to close to a point per game player for the rest of this year.   Washington's goaltending position is in disarray as Philipp Grubauer got pulled last night after allowing 3 goals on 14 shots. He was replaced by Braden Holtby, who has been miserable this year with a 3.08 goals against average. I think the clock is ticking on Capitals Coach Adam Oates time, as the team is floundering and he has no top goalie.  

The Blackhawks will rest a lot of their star players tonight.

Hjalmarsson did not practice but appears to be alright.

Hjalmarsson moves up to the top pairing with Keith suspended. He has a goal and 12 points in 62 games.

Look for Hjalmarsson to round out the third pairing. He has a goal and 12 points in 58 games.