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| Kovalchuk wants big changes | Monday 4/7, 8:37 PM CT |
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| Ilya Kovalchuk isn't happy with the way that the season went in Atlanta this year, and he wasn't shy about it while speaking to the Atlanta Journal Constitution. "I want to win something before my contract is up," Kovalchuk said. "Hopefully, we can make the right moves and go forward. Not stand in the same place..."It's six years here now and nothing really changed." When a guy with 50 goals in two of the last three seasons speaks, you would hope the organization will listen. The team lost Marian Hossa at the deadline this year because they couldn't pay him, and the same thing could happen in two years when Kovalchuck's contract runs out. |
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| Naslund may not return | Monday 4/7, 8:30 PM CT |
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| Markus Naslund may or may not return to the Canucks next season, this according to the Vancouver Sun. Naslund's contract is up, and at 35 years of age coming off a 55 point season, Naslund will likely have to take a pay cut to return. The truth is that Naslund will have to take a pay cut no matter where he ends up after seasons of 60 and 55 points, this after a stretch of 5-straight seasons with at lest 75 points. |
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| Coach wants Sundin back | Monday 4/7, 8:10 PM CT |
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| Many believe that Mats Sundin's career with the Maple Leafs is over, but don't count his coach as someone in that camp, this according to TSN. "My feeling on him is that he's more valuable to this franchise today than maybe at any other point because he has to be the light for this team going forward." Toronto is a hockey mad city akin to New York for baseball, and as such every little issue is scrutinized. The bottom line is that the coach wants him back, Sundin wants to be back, and he can still score. So why won't he come back? The only answer would appear to be money. |
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| Schultz has emergency surgery | Monday 4/7, 7:49 PM CT |
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| Nick Schultz had to undergo an emergency appendectomy on Monday throwing his availability for the team's first round playoff series is in doubt, this according to the AP. Schultz doesn't have any fantasy impact, but he is a stabilizing influence on the blueline for the Wild so his loss could be substantial, especially with Kurtis Foster already out of action. |
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| Lighting win top pick | Monday 4/7, 7:45 PM CT |
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| The Tampa Bay Lightning won the draft lotter on Monday night and therefore were awarded the top selection in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, this according to TSN. Following the Bolts will be the Kings, the Thrashers and the Blues. It is expected that the Lightning will select forward Steve Stamkos with the first overall selection, and it would appear that he could make the club out of camp next season. |
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| Sharks getting healthy | Monday 4/7, 4:42 PM CT |
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| Craig Rivet sat out the final regular season game of the season as he continued to nurse a few bumps and bruises, but he should be ready to go for Game 1 against the Calgary Flames, this according to the San Jose Mercury News. Besides welcoming back Rivet, the Sharks should also have the services of Christian Ehrhoff, Mike Grier and Jeremy Roenick, all who sat out the team's final game of the season. |
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| Wings finally getting healthy | Monday 4/7, 4:39 PM CT |
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| Brad Stuart appears to be in line to return from a broken finer for the first game of the playoffs, this according to the Detroit News. Tomas Holmstrom has already returned, and Kris Draper (groin) should also be back for Game 1, though Kirk Maltby (hamstring) and Mikael Samuelsson (groin) likely won't be. |
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| Richards set for Game 1 | Monday 4/7, 4:37 PM CT |
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| Brad Richards battled health issues this season, including a bout with mono, but even though he missed the Stars last three games he said he will be ready to go for Game 1 of the playoffs, this according to the Dallas Morning News. The Stars will also welcome back Jere Lehtinen and Mike Ribeiro, though the status of Sergei Zubov is still at a high level of doubt for the first round of the playoffs. |
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| Forsberg not 100% | Monday 4/7, 4:34 PM CT |
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| Peter Forsberg scored 14 points in nine games this season, but it is unknown just how much he will be able to play in the playoffs, this according to the Denver Post. "I don't know how it's going to be. It all depends on how I feel...I'm just hoping the body's going to hold up." Just how will Forsberg's body handle the pounding of the playoffs? As long as he is out there he will produce, but there is just no way to know how long he will be out there. |
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| NHL draft lottery tonight | Monday 4/7, 4:28 PM CT |
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| The NHL draft lottery takes place tonight, and the Tampa Bay Lightning have a 25% chance of being awarded the first overall pick in the upcoming entry draft, this according to TSN. The prize for winning the top pick will be the chance to draft Steven Stamkos who scored 58 goals and 105 points this year in the Ontario Hockey League, a year after he scored 42 times and registered 92 points in the OHL. |
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| Price named first star | Monday 4/7, 4:23 PM CT |
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| Carey Price was named the NHL's first star of the last week of the regular season, this according to NHL.com. Price was perfect on the week going 3-0-0 with a 0.67 GAA and .977 SV% for the Canadiens. Montreal finished first in the Eastern Conference and will take on the Bruins in the first round, and with the way Price is going he should be a high selection in fantasy pools. |
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| Jagr named second star | Monday 4/7, 4:20 PM CT |
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| Jaromir Jagr was named the NHL's second star of the last week of the regular season, this according to NHL.com. Jagr scored seven points on the week including five goals in four games for the Rangers. Is it possible that Jagr has finally woken up? Jagr still led the Rangers with 71 points on the year, but for a guy who averaged 110 points in his last two seasons he was a terrible disappointment. |
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| Huet named third star | Monday 4/7, 4:18 PM CT |
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| Cristobal Huet was named the NHL's third star of the last week of the regular season, this according to NHL.com. Huet finished the year on a tremendous run that included a 3-0 record with a 1.00 GAA and .955 SV% to lead the Caps to the playoffs. In 13 games with the Caps, Huet went 11-2 as the team prepares to take on the Flyers in the first round. |
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| Biron puts together two shutouts | Monday 4/7, 4:13 PM CT |
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| Martin Biron was as responsible as any Flyer for the team making the playoffs this year and he came up huge at the end with 44 saves and two shutouts in his last two starts, this according to the AP. Biron ended the year one win off his career best mark of 31 though he did establish a career best mark in SV% of .918. The Flyers don't figure to go too far in the playoffs, but Biron is hot right now so who knows. |
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| Richards named Flyers MVP | Monday 4/7, 4:10 PM CT |
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| Mike Richards was named the Flyers MVP after a season of 75 points in 72 games, this according the the Philadelphia Inquirer. Not a surprise at all given the fact that Richards was tremendous across the board with 28 goals, a +14, 31 PP points, five shorties and six game-winning goals. He would appear set to notch the first 80-point season of his career next year. |
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| Stephan called up | Monday 4/7, 2:55 PM CT |
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| The Stars called up Tobias Stephan from Iowa of the AHL on Monday. He'll add depth for the playoffs. |
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| Marchant ready for playoffs | Monday 4/7, 1:32 PM CT |
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| Todd Marchant did not play on Sunday due to a bruised right foot, but he will be ready for the start of the playoffs, the Los Angeles Times reports. |
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| Schultz cloaked in mystery | Monday 4/7, 1:19 PM CT |
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| The Capitals aren't saying if Jeff Schultz will be available for the start of the playoffs. The defenseman suffered an undisclosed injury on Saturday and will be re-evaluated on Monday, the Washington Post notes. |
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| Kelly could return during first series | Monday 4/7, 1:13 PM CT |
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| Chris Kelly might be able to return for Game 3 or 4 of the opening series against the Penguins, the Ottawa Citizen reports. He has been out due to a hairline fracture in his right leg. Kelly's timetable appears to be ahead of teammates Daniel Alfredsson and Mike Fisher. |
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| Samuelsson remains out | Monday 4/7, 1:03 PM CT |
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| The Red Wings aren't expecting Mikael Samuelsson to be ready for the start of the playoffs, the Detroit News reports. He hasn't played since March 25 due to a sore groin. |
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| Maltby won't be ready | Monday 4/7, 1:01 PM CT |
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| The Red Wings do not expect Kirk Maltby to be ready for the start of the playoffs, the Detroit News reports. He has been dealing with a sore hamstring. |
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| Bergeron cleared to play | Monday 4/7, 12:57 PM CT |
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| The Bruins have cleared Patrice Bergeron to play in the postseason, the AP reports. Bergeron only appeared in 10 games during the regular campaign due to a concussion. This could be a big boost for the Bruins and will help Bergeron's fantasy value for the 2008-09 season. |
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| Grossman inks extension | Monday 4/7, 12:39 PM CT |
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| The Stars signed Nicklas Grossman to a two-year, $1.95 million contract extension on Monday, the Dallas Morning News reports. |
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| Perry leads the Ducks in points | Monday 4/7, 6:03 AM CT |
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| Corey Perry led Anaheim with 29 goals despite missing the final 12 games of the season after his quad was cut by the skate of Colorado goalie Jose Theodore on March 6. It was the lowest total to lead the Ducks in a regulation season since their inaugural 1993-94 campaign, when Bob Corkum had 23. |
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| Cheechoo scores 23rd of season | Monday 4/7, 5:19 AM CT |
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| Jonathan Cheechoo returned to the San Jose lineup after missing six contests with a spinal/neck injury. The winger scored his 23rd goal of the season in a 4-2 loss to Dallas. |
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| Carter returns to the Ducks' lineup | Monday 4/7, 5:16 AM CT |
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| Ryan Carter was back in the lineup on Sunday. The rookie had missed 17 games with a broken wrist. On Sunday against Phoenix, Carter lined up with Kunitz and Bobby Ryan. |
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| Stars' stars down with flu | Monday 4/7, 5:13 AM CT |
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| Jere Lehtinen was scratched from Sunday's lineup because of flu-like symptoms. Rookie Konstantin Pushkarev was recalled and dressed in his place. Dallas has not spent much ice time on Mike Ribeiro and Brad Richards recently, who are reportedly down with the flu as well. |
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| Shelly racks up penalty minutes | Monday 4/7, 5:09 AM CT |
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| San Jose tough guy Jody Shelley picked up a total of 41 penalty minutes in San Jose's rough season finale against Dallas on Sunday. Among his penalties: an instigator and a game misconduct in the second period. While this type of rough play works in the regular season, don't expect to see Shelly on the ice much during the upcoming Stanley Cup games |
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| Holmstrom returns to active duty | Monday 4/7, 5:05 AM CT |
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| Tomas Holmstrom returned to the Red Wings' lineup on Sunday, this after missing 13 contests with an abdominal and groin injury. The winger was limited to just under 14 minutes. Holmstrom is a key figure to the Wings success. No player in the league does a better job of parking himself in front of the opposition's net on the power play and causing havoc. |
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| Turris scores his first NHL point | Monday 4/7, 5:01 AM CT |
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| Kyle Turris picked up his first NHL point Sunday in the game against the Ducks. Turris set up Daniel Carcillo on the power play for the game's opening goal. Peter Mueller and Turris are expected to be a popular combination over the next few years. |
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| Nabokov pulled for fear of his safety | Monday 4/7, 4:29 AM CT |
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| Evgeni Nabokov had a shutout going on Sunday against the Stars when he was pulled in favor of Brian Boucher. There were no indications that Nabokov was injured and most reports believe the goalie was pulled due to the tempo of the game. Attitudes were rampant on Sunday. There were 21 penalties and three fights, plus a two misconducts in the ice contest. Coach Ron Wilson was fearful that one of the Dallas skaters would take an unnecessary shot at their star keeper. |
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