AVALANCHE LINE PLANS: According to Adrian Dater of the Denver Post, Avalanche Head coach Patrick Roy has set his line combinations before going into training camp: LINE 1: C Matt Duchene- LW Ryan O' Reilly- RW P.A. Parenteau; LINE 2: C Paul Stastny- LW Gabriel Landeskog- RW Alex Tanguay; and LINE 3: C Nathan MacKinnon- LW Jamie McGinn- RW Steve Downie. Very interesting, considering Reilly will be shifted to left wing, while Tanguay will play the right side on the 2nd line. If this hold true, then the Av's plan to hold on to all their young centers. Let's see how this plays out when the free agency period begins on July 5. read more

O'Brien, 29, is a physical blueliner who had four assists and 60 penalty minutes in 28 games last season. He has also played for Anaheim, Tampa Bay, Vancouver, and Nashville over seven NHL campaigns.

The former first round pick of the Avalanche in 1998 will return to Colorado after spending the last seven seasons with the Flames, Canadiens and Lightning. He played for the Avalanche from 1999 to 2006 where he scored 400 points in 450 games. The 33-year-old forward finished the 2013 with 11 goals and 16 assists (27 points) in 40 games on a weak Flames team.

TANGUAY GOES BACK HOME: Calgary sent left wing Alex Tanguay and defenseman Corey Sarich to Colorado for winger David Jones and defenseman Shane O'Brien. Tanguay was mostly slotted as a center for recently-departed Calgary, but could returning to his old club signal a departing of ways between Colorado and their underachieving center Paul Stastny? Both are similar players, more known for their deft passing ability rather than their goal scoring touch. Stastny has been the subject of various trade rumors, so you never know.. read more

TANGUAY GOES BACK HOME: Calgary sent left wing Alex Tanguay and defenseman Corey Sarich to Colorado for winger David Jones and defenseman Shane O'Brien. Tanguay was mostly slotted as a center for recently-departed Calgary,but could returning to his old club signal a departing of ways between Colorado and center Paul Stastny? Both are similar players, more known for their deft passing ability rather than their goal scoring touch. Stastny has been the subject of various trade rumors, so you never know.. read more

Tanguay is the latest Flames player to go down in the twilight of this shortened season. Tanguay had a modest 27 points in 40 games this season and can safely be dropped in all formats.

The Prime 100 rankings have been updated. RW Jarome Iginla missed the first day of training camp due to a minor groin injury. Head coach Bob Hartley reiterated that the star winger sat out mainly because of precautionary reasons and that he will ready to go for the season opener. During the first day of camp, Alex Tanguay centered the top line with LW Curtis Glencross and RW Blake Comeau in place of Iginla. Watch Glencross if he sticks on the top line. He had serious chemistry with Iginla prior to a mid-season injury last year. read more

RW Jarome Iginla missed the first day of training camp due to a minor groin injury. Head coach Bob Hartley reiterated that the star winger sat out mainly because of precautionary reasons and that he will ready to go for the season opener. During the first day of camp, Alex Tanguay centered the top line with LW Curtis Glencross and RW Blake Comeau in place of Iginla. Watch Glencross if he sticks on the top line. He had serious chemistry with Iginla prior to a mid-season injury last year. read more

If Tanguay retains his winger eligibility, he could become more valuable if he is Centering, say, Cammalleri and Iginla. Keep an eye on this for a sneaky late draft pick.

Pressure is mounting on NHLPA Chief Donald Fehr to come up with a legitimate proposal that can help resolve the lockout. Time is running out for any semblance of a 2012/13 NHL season.. Happy birthdays to Calgary winger Alex Tanguay, St. Louis goalie Ben Bishop, and Los Angeles winger John Zeiler!