Hi everyone, Sorry I haven;t been around to focus on updating the Draft Guide more regularly as we approach the season opener but family and work has been at the forefront of my time the last week to ten days.  But I am here, have updated the Guide for a few injuries, those to Seth Jones, Torey Krug and Corey Perry stand out the most, especially since I have both Jones & Krug on 2 of my fantasy teams.  Just the first few weeks of the season and like I always say, "it's not how you start, but how you finish".  Unless you start in first and end there without giving up the spot.  Now that's nice! I have also managed to post the Prime 85 Forwards to the RANKINGS section.  I limited it because those below are just a matter of personal preference and that they all are interchangeable, or that no one could have possibly predicted that they were going to have the season they end up having.  Does that make sense?   Anyways, I have my last draft tomorrow night and I am pumped.  It's the first league I joined back in 1994 and we still get together in -person to conduct the draft.  Well, most of us anyway.  It's still a good time, smashing each other about our picks, yelling out "Great pick" when you don't really mean it.  And then there is the guy who always drafts, or tries to draft, players already selected or kept.  Always that guy! Then there is the regular season start on Wednesday.  Yeah baby!  I hope all those that I have helped with their draft get off to a great start! Good luck to all and wish that all your fantasies come true! Ray    

SMC 11-1-2015 Typical cloudy, cool November day as the hockey season shifts into the second month.  Nice to be inside with a hot cup of joe while thousands of people are running all through the 5 boroughs of NYC. It looks like Detroit’s Gustav Nyquist is coming to life after a somewhat disappointing second season.  It’s November and that means that Pavel Datsyuk is close to returning for the struggling Red Wings.  I looked and saw that the Dallas Stars are atop the Western Conference.  Getting Antti Niemi might be the most underrated off-season move. The Sharks started off hot and now are just floundering.  Didn’t mean to use the bad pun there. NY Islanders Frans Nielsen is a beast so far this season.  Let’s see if the change from October to November affects him much. If Alain Vigneault breaks up the Nash-Brassard-Zuccarello line ever again, he should be interrogated intensely. Happy to see Zuccs fully recovered from that scary incident that happened during practice in last year’s playoffs. The Devils are serving notice that they will be competitive.  Well, that’s until the injuries start taking hold. Los Angeles is for real after that extremely slow start.  And they are doing it without Anze Kopitar being involved much. Devils’ Lee Stempniak is usually a streaky scorer but he seems to be more aware of his surroundings with 6 of his 8 points assists. Stars D John Klingberg is not having any effects of the sophomore jinx as he leads all NHL defenseman in points with 11.  Well, actually tied with those two guys in Montreal and Erik Karlsson.  Some pretty decent company, no? I expected Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin to be atop the league leaders in scoring but a bit surprised to see Boston’s David Krejci up there at number 3. I didn’t realize that Nashville is 7-1-2 on the season.  They certainly have been quiet about it. Toffoli, Carter and Lucic oh my! Jake Muzzin should see his production increase with Christian Ehrhoff now sidelined for a bit. Pittsburgh’s offense has finally erupted with two straight 4 goal games.  Oh wait!  They played Buffalo and Toronto back to back. This is not the Tampa team everyone was expecting to see this season at 5-5-2.  Will Andrej Vasilevskiy cut into Ben Bishop’s playing time this season?  Brad Marchand is having himself a season with 5-4-9 in 8 games. Everyone, well mostly everyone, is expecting the Montreal Canadiens will win the President’s Trophy but the Washington Capitals will give them a good run along with the NY ...

#6 ANAHEIM This team is built for now.  The Ducks were thisclose to making a Stanley Cup Finals appearance only to be outdone by eventual champs, the Chicago Blackhawks, who came back from being down 3 games t0 2.  Their top pairing of Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry is as good as any in the NHL so a few tweaks were made to the balance of the team.  Out go Emerson Etem, Matt Beleskey, Kyle Palmieri, rental Tomas Fleischmann, & defenseman Francois Beauchemin, Brought in were Kevin Bieksa to rejoin his good friend Ryan Kesler to solidify their young defense, speedy forwards Carl Hagelin, Chris Stewart and veteran Shawn Horcoff.  Anton Khudobin was brought in to give goalie sensation John Gibson a stint in the AHL to develop his game a little more. Can this be the right formula to get the Ducks back to the Stanley Cup Finals?  GOALIES In just his second NHL season, the Ducks put their faith in Frederik Andersen and the young net minder didn’t disappoint.  His metrics were just about average but that’s all this high-powered team needed to get to the post-season and make a legitimate run for the Cup.  Gibson was supposed to challenge the Great Dane goalkeeper but sustained an injury that left Andersen to man the crease.  The team has decided to let Gibson play a full year in the AHL this season and not rush him thereby signing Khudobin as the backup.  Look for Andersen to post similar numbers as the Ducks again should challenge for best overall record. 2014-2015                      GP      GAA       W        L        OTL       SP Frederik Andersen         57         2.38       35       12         5         .914   DEFENSE When you look at the Ducks defense, you don’t really see that superstar name like Keith, Doughty, or Karlsson but they do manage to play into Boudreau’s system well.  Perhaps this season we will see a true superstar in the making in either Sami Vatanen or Hampus Lindholm. Either of which could have a breakout season.  Cam Fowler and newly acquired Bieksa round out the top 4 with Simon Despres & Clayton Stoner filling in the top 6.  The top 5 d-men possess scoring abilities which makes their defense tough to guard against. FORWARDS Getzlaf & Perry go hand-in-hand like peanut butter and jelly.  Expect more greatness from the duo while young RW Jakob Silfverberg should be taking the next step and surpass Kesler as the third best scoring option on the team.  Hagelin was brought in for his sheer speed and his good hands.  Expect a similar role as ...

CHICAGO vs. ANAHEIM A loaded Western Conference battle between two of the elite NHL teams pits superstar forward tandems against each other as Chicago's Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews will try to outperform Anaheim's Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry in the precursor to the Stanley Cup Finals. The former has plenty of championship pedigree while the latter have fallen short in recent years. A few key factors will go a long way in deciding which team will move on: * Corey Perry has arguably been the most dominant forward in the playoffs so far, racking up seven goals and 15 points over the first two rounds but don't tell that to Mr. Patrick Kane. After putting up seven points in the first round, the sniper led the Blackhawk's offense with five goals during the second round sweep over Minnesota. Make no mistake about it- offensive depth is huge in the postseason, but whichever superstar emerges as the top threat will give his team a huge edge moving forward. *Secondary scoring will be key as Chicago's Patrick Sharp and Marian Hossa will be vital to outscoring the hot Ducks, but Anaheim has also added a few key pieces in Ryan Kesler and Jakub Silferberg with both playing a huge role in the offense over the first two rounds. Getzlaf and Toews will probably neutralize each other, but whomever wins the secondary scoring battle will greatly help their chances. *Federik Andersen has been lights out in the crease, going 8-1-1 with a 1.96 GAA and .925 SP but he hasn't faced an offensive juggernaut like the Blackhawks yet, so maintaining those lofty numbers should be a hefty challenge. For Chicago, Corey Crawford answered the bell the second round, allowing just seven goals after having such a mediocre start to the first round. The Great Dane in Anaheim deserves the edge after his fine play but don't discount Crawford's Stanley Cup winning experience in this match-up. The Ducks will give Chicago all they can handle in this series, but it's hard to bet agaist Toews and Kane as they seem destined for another Stanley Cup Final's appearance. Having said that, the x-factor will how be how well Ryan Kesler acquits himself on both sides of the ice as he has the ability to shut down Chicago's top guns. Take the Hawks in 6.

Dating back to 2004, Calgary lost 20 straight in Anaheim. Why is that relevant?  Well, the upstart Flames will need to steal a road win or two if they are to advance past round round 2. However, they displayed tons of resiliency surviving the Vancouver Canucks Round 1, rallying from three goals down to win the series clinching Game 6. Anaheim knows a thing or two of overcoming adversity, becoming first team to win three straight playoff games trailing after the second period. So you know that there will not be an ounce of "quit" between both sides in this intense showdown.  The Calgary offense was led by the top line of Johnny Gaudreau-Sean Monahan-Jiri Hudler, who combined for 17 points in Round 1. Look for much of the same from this talented trio if Calgary has a shot of advancing to the Western Conference Finals. What was expected for Anaheim was Corey Perry leading the way in points with seven during their Winnipeg sweep. What was a bit more surprising was that the Ryan Kesler unit was every bit as offensively lethal as the Perry/Getzlaf tandem. Young Jakub Silfverberg showed clears signs of breaking out in his with a dominant 6-point effort, good for eighth in the playoffs so far. For this reason, you have to give the Ducks the decisive edge in the forward corps given the emergence of 2 legit scoring lines.  In goal, Federik Anderson was brilliant for the Ducks with a 2.20 GAA and should be primed to give the Calgary shooters all they can handle. However, former Duck Jonas Hiller should be motivated to exact revenge on his ex-mates while getting over an early hook in Game 6 against Vancouver. On defense, Dennis Wideman and TJ Brodie will be relied upon heavily to complement Calgary's so-so firepower. While Anaheim's edge belongs to their offensive depth, the Flames are more dominant on the blueline. Anaheim's James Wisniewski has yet to pay dividends as their main trade deadline acquisition. You have to love Calgary's bravado and can't lose attitude, but their long losing streak in Anaheim will continue. Fly with the Ducks in 6.  

Bernier gives Devils fire, Lightning ground Red Wings, Ducks paddle on The days are getting longer and he games are getting tighter as the season draws nearer the playoffs.  In last night’s Devils-Sabres game, won by the Devils by a score of 3-1, there wasn’t much to talk about except Steve Bernier’s rise in fantasy value as he has taken over for the departed Jaromir Jagr in terms of production with 2 goals giving him 8 points in 8 March games.  I’d only play him if I were in desperation mode and no other options were available…. It was just three short weeks ago that the Detroit Red Wings were challenging for not only the top spot in the Atlantic division, but also the top spot in the Eastern Conference but March came in like a lion for Detroit as a they have lost 6 of 9 games to fall out of those competitions.  They are still firmly entrenched in a playoff spot and it is better to go through ha slump before the playoffs start so I’m sure the Red Wings will turn things around soon.  Pavel Datsyuk missed his second straight game and was sorely missed as the Red Wings could only muster 1 goal again without their talented Center.  I was a close game until Tampa Bay’s Alex Killorn broke the tie with just under 10 minutes remaining in regulation.  Steven Stamkos added his 40th with an empty-netter to seal the 3-1 victory.  The lightning are still in the race for the Eastern Conference title & President’s Cup trophy…. Anaheim kept their hopes alive for the overall lead in NHL points as they edged the Colorado Avalanche 3-2 in overtime as Corey Perry got the game-winner, his 29th.  It was all defense as the Ducks took a 1-0 lead into the third period until a burst of scoring saw the Avs take a 2-1 lead with two goals in a two-minute span before the Ducks tied it less than two minutes after.  Frederik Andersen got the start for Anaheim after John Gibson started the last four.  Look for the rookie Gibson to be in net versus the Rangers on Sunday.

Lights out for Chicago, Anaheim explodes, Updated Rankings coming and Skinner continues. Boston came away with a much needed 2 points against New Jersey as they cling to that last wild card spot in the Eastern Conference.  Ryan Spooner scored his first NHL goal in overtime as he has been entrusted with a little more responsibility with the injury to David Krejci.  Don’t expect a lot from Spooner as he only has a total of 35 NHL game experience under his belt, but what a good time to score his first as the Bruins hold a 4-poiont lead over the Florida Panthers in the East…. The Islanders just keep on winning and now lead the Rangers by two points in the Metropolitan Division but the Rangers have three games in hand on the Isles.  Islanders Goalie Jaroslav Halak continues to improve upon his career year on the Island.  Kudos to those who took a chance on the sometimes underwhelming Halak…. Carolina’s Jeff Skinner scored again and now has 6 goals in last 8 games as the Hurricanes blanked the Washington Capitals 3-0 behind the 28-save effort from Anton Khudobin.  Look for the Canes to platoon their two goalies from here on out as they are out of the playoff race and are preparing for next season.  Skinner in the meantime can drive you bonkers as a fantasy owner because of his tremendous potential but also his propensity to get injured at the most inopportune times.  Ride him while he’s on fire…. Tampa’s Ben Bishop posted just his second shutout on the season but his 31st win by stopping all 28 SOG against the Blackhawks.  Ever since the Lightning acquired Bishop and installed him as the number 1, he has given fantasy owners a solid goaltender since day 1…With 2 goals, Steven Stamkos is rising quickly and is just 5 behind NHL leader in goals scored Alex Ovechkin.  With 20+ games to go in the season, SS could reach 50…. Colorado clings to playoff hopes as they beat the Dallas Stars 5-4 in a shootout.  Stars’ Cody Eakin (2G, A) was the offensive star in the losing effort but doesn’t hold much fantasy value I hate to say…. Anaheim awoke from their slumber after being shut out the previous game against Ottawa with a 4-goal outburst to beat their neighbors, the Los Angeles Kings 4-2.  Corey Perry was the hero scoring two late goals, the game-winner with just under 30 seconds remaining in regulation. Rookie John Gibson was the benefactor is now 7-5-0 on the season.  

POWER TO THE HABS The Montreal Canadiens were dead to rights last night against the Columbus Blue Jackets being down 2-0 with just under 9 minutes remaining in the game when the Jackets' started to lose their cool. One penalty after another awoken the sleeping giant and they made them pay with 3  consecutive power play goals to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.  It was a P. K. Subban sandwich wrapped around 2 pieces of Max Pacioretty power play bread as they provided the fantastic finish for the visiting Habs. The loss put a damper on the Jackets who are trying to get back into playoff contention which would be a minor miracle considering the start they have had this season with all the injuries.... Where Columbus' Sergei Bobrovsky faltered, Washington's Braden Holtby & Anaheim's Frederik Andersen stood tall as the pair pitched shutouts against their respective opponents, 1-0 and 4-0 respectively. Holtby made Jason Chimera's 1st-period goal hold up while Andersen got the benefit of a Corey Perry hat trick. Kudos goes out to the threesome. It was the unlikeliest outcome between the New Jersey Devils and Los Angeles Kings as the Devils took a 5-3 win in LA. New Jersey has been struggling all year and beating the Kings was going to be difficult. Devils' G Cory Schneider wasn't at this best, stopping 23 of 26 SOG, but the team played a solid game in front of him with some early help from an unlikely power play source, Steve Bernier, who netted 2 with the man-advantage. Without the services of Jaromir Jagr, someone had to fill those shoes. Expect Bernier to return those rentals once Jagr is cleared for action. ***The Minnesota Wild are trying to address their goaltending woes by acquiring journeyman goaltender Devan Dubnyk from the Arizona Coyotes for a third round pick. Dubnyk has played well this season for the Coyotes with a 9-5-2 record but average metrics in 2.72 GAA and a .916 SP.  Those numbers are a huge improvement over last season's nightmare, so look for the Wild to give Dubnyk every chance to be the number 1 guy in Minnesota.

With 23 points in 30 games, Anaheim's Ryan Kesler is not exactly "lighting the world on fire' but he has been streaking of late with Corey Perry out due to injuries. In the 2-1 win over Edmonton, the hard-nosed pivot scored the game-winning tally, giving him four goals and five points in his last three games. Previous to his mini-streak, he had collected just one point in five games. Take our advice and start Mr. Kesler over the next few weeks, as the Ducks will need his offense.. Low-scoring affair in Detroit, as Gustav Nyquist and Phil Kessel trade goals during regulation before the Maple Leafs prevailed in the shoot-out 2-1. James Reimer was solid between the pipes for the Blue and White, but expect Jonathan Bernier to be back in net for the next tilt..

Even the loss of Corey Perry can't slow down Ryan Getzlaf as the Anaheim center piled up three assists in the 4-3 road win over Winnipeg. With ten points in the last five games, there isn't much stopping Getzlaf these days as he has been a consistent elite option over last few years.. Jacob Trouba is making most of key injuries to Zach Bogosian and Tobias Enstrom, picking up a goal and an assist for Winnipeg in a losing cause. Definitely use him in the short-term, as the 20-year old is showing clear signs of breaking out... After putting up a "goose-egg" on Saturday night, Detroit's  Pavel Datsyuk registered a goal and 2 assists in the 3-1 win over Carolina. His three points gave him four multi-point outings in his last five games. He always puts forth a point-per-game clip but one must hope he can stay healthy long enough... Tomas Tatar was also a major contributor, collecting a goal and an assist as well. Watch out for Mika Zibenejad and Bobby Ryan, as the duo combined for 7 points in the 4-3 comeback victory for Ottawa over Vancouver. Bobby is probably taken, but Mika could be worth a waiver grab and stash.. Erik Karlsson ended the game with the overtime winner. Not much to say here, other than he is the elite of the elite. Untradeable as far as I am concerned..