Category Archives: Hockey News

Fantasy: 3 players that will disappoint with new team

This past offseason saw plenty of players undergo a change of scenery. While a new team can often mean a fresh start, here are three faces in new places to stay away from this fantasy hockey campaign.

Corey Perry, RW, Stars

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Perry won't be pulling on an Anaheim Ducks sweater for the first time in his 14-year career. The 34-year-old signed a one-year deal in Dallas following his buyout from the team where he won a Stanley Cup, a Rocket Richard, and an MVP.

The veteran winger has been handed a new opportunity with the Stars but he likely won't come close to being the player he was in the past. He'll probably be buried on Dallas' second or third line and could be limited to second-unit power-play duties due to the club's bevy of options.

Injuries have derailed Perry's production over the last few years, so the bar for him to have a decent bounce-back campaign is pretty low. However, he's worth nothing more than a waiver pickup this fantasy season.

Micheal Ferland, LW/RW, Canucks

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Ferland inked a lucrative four-year contract with the Canucks this offseason after posting 40 points in 71 games in Carolina last season. He has all the tools to be an effective player in Vancouver's lineup on the ice but he has a lot of red flags fantasy-wise.

First and foremost, Ferland's health is a major issue. He spoke last season about his concerns for his well-being after suffering the second concussion of his career.

Second, the 27-year-old doesn't register a ton of shots and is unlikely to earn big power-play minutes on a Canucks team laden with young talent.

Ferland has spent plenty of time alongside superstars in both Carolina and Calgary. If he gets a look alongside Elias Pettersson and Brock Boeser on Vancouver's top line, Ferland could have some value as a streaming option. Otherwise, there's too much risk involved.

Robin Lehner, G, Blackhawks

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Lehner was a steal in fantasy leagues last year, as the 28-year-old posted a career-high .930 save percentage across 46 games with the Islanders en route to being an out-of-nowhere Vezina Trophy finalist.

For whatever reason, the Isles couldn't come to terms with Lehner on a new deal, and now he'll share a crease with longtime starter Corey Crawford after winding up in Chicago.

Crawford's missed a ton of time in recent seasons due to injuries, so Lehner may have an opportunity to emerge as the Blackhawks' No. 1. However, he still needs to prove last season wasn't a flash in the pan. He may be in tough to do so, as he goes from the defensive-minded Isles, who allowed the 11th-fewest shots per game last season (30.9), to a Blackhawks squad that gave up 34.8 per contest - the second-highest number in the league.

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Tarasenko ‘ready to go’ after sustaining shoulder, knee injuries during Cup run

Vladimir Tarasenko says he's healthy.

The St. Louis Blues sniper allayed any fears about his status for training camp after suffering a pair of injuries en route to winning the Stanley Cup in June.

"Now everything feels fine," he told NHL.com's Tom Gulitti on Thursday. "I'm still recovering, but I feel strong, I feel good and ready to go."

Tarasenko revealed he sustained a dislocated shoulder early in the Cup Final against the Boston Bruins but continued playing.

"My shoulder popped out in Game 2 in the second period," he said. "They put it back in, and I was able to finish the game."

Tarasenko had surgery to repair a dislocated shoulder last offseason but didn't require a procedure this summer.

He also had a knee scope performed following the championship victory in June.

Despite the two injuries, the 27-year-old winger didn't miss a playoff game in 2019.

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NHL roasted for Apple-inspired tweet

The NHL's marketing department is certainly thinking differently, and that may not be a good thing.

A tweet shared by the league's primary account Thursday which clearly referenced Apple's 1997 "Think Different" ad campaign was met with confusion and scorn by Twitter users.

It doesn't take a Genius to figure out that the league might have missed the mark on this one.

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Horvat believes he’s ready to be Canucks captain

Bo Horvat says he's cut out to be captain of the Vancouver Canucks - if they call his number.

"Yeah I think so," Horvat told NHL.com from the Player Media Tour in Chicago on Thursday. "First of all, it would be an unbelievable honor to wear the 'C' and to wear any letter, for that matter. But to even be in consideration is definitely humbling. But it wouldn't change who I am."

He added: "It wouldn't change the type of player I want to be. I wouldn't let it affect me that me. I'd just try to be the best leader I can be."

The Canucks didn't have a captain last season, electing against naming a new leader after the retirement of Henrik (and Daniel) Sedin. Horvat was an alternate captain along with Alexander Edler, Brandon Sutter, and Chris Tanev.

The 24-year-old Horvat was drafted ninth overall by the Canucks in 2013. He's coming off the best season of his career, which saw him notch 61 points in 82 games and average nearly 21 minutes of ice time per contest.

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Report: Oilers sign Sheahan to 1-year, $900K deal

The Edmonton Oilers added some center depth by landing veteran pivot Riley Sheahan on a one-year, $900,000 contract, Sportsnet's Mark Spector reports.

Sheahan split last season between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Florida Panthers, collecting 19 points in 82 games while being deployed primarily on the fourth line.

The 27-year-old has totaled 149 points in 447 career NHL games. He was a first-round pick in 2010 by the Detroit Red Wings, who were run by current Oilers GM Ken Holland at the time.

Sheahan is expected to compete with Colby Cave and Kyle Brodziak, who's currently dealing with a back ailment, for Edmonton's fourth-line center job.

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Kessel says he never used lonely theater room in Pittsburgh house

Phil Kessel's suburban Pittsburgh home hit the real estate market this summer following his trade to the Arizona Coyotes, and it quickly went viral thanks to a photo of its single-seat theater room.

Kessel explained during a Tuesday interview with NHL Network that there was a good reason for the emptiness: he never used the room.

"I was selling my house and, you know, there's nothing in there, right? It was used as a bedroom, like a blow-up mattress and everything," Kessel said. "I actually never used that movie room one time, but my realtor's wife thought it was a good thing to put in there one chair or something, look like I used it or something. But, I don't know. I never used it one time there."

Kessel's realtor, Dave Tumpa, said they thought the single chair "would be cute" and highlight the size of the room.

The listing for the house is still up, so it appears it hasn't sold yet.

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Krug, Bruins yet to begin extension talks

The Boston Bruins and defenseman Torey Krug, who's set to become an unrestricted free agent next offseason, haven't begun talks on a potential contract extension, the blue-liner told Stephen Whyno of The Associated Press.

Krug became eligible to ink an extension on July 1, but the Bruins need to address the contracts of fellow defensemen Charlie McAvoy and Brandon Carlo. Both youngsters are currently restricted free agents and training camp is set to open next week.

The lack of extension negotiations doesn't mean Krug and the Bruins won't eventually find common ground. In July, general manager Don Sweeney said it would take a "unique opportunity" to trade away the defender, who's developed into a core piece for the team.

Additionally, following a loss in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final, Krug said he wants to stay in Boston forever.

Krug will have a $5.25-million cap hit in 2019-20, the final season of a four-year deal signed in 2016. He should be in line for a considerable raise whenever he puts pen to paper, as he ranks fifth among all defensemen with 163 points in 221 games since inking the contract.

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