The St. Louis Blues will likely be without workhorse defenseman Jay Bouwmeester to start the season. The veteran blue-liner suffered a left ankle fracture during a team scrimmage and will be re-evaluated in three weeks, the team announced Tuesday.
Bouwmeester's offensive ability has diminished in recent years, as he's failed to crack the 20-point mark in three consecutive seasons. The former third overall pick by the Florida Panthers is 33 years old, but remains an exceptionally smooth skater for someone who stands 6-foot-4.
His skating ability is what's allowed him to average 22:43 minutes per night during the past three seasons. He and captain Alex Pietrangelo form the Blues' shutdown defense pairing.
In Bouwmeester's absence, fellow left-handed shooting defensemen Joel Edmundson and Carl Gunnarsson will likely be asked to pick up the slack.
The Blues also announced that Zach Sanford, who was vying for a spot as a bottom-six winger, will miss five-to-six months with a dislocated left shoulder.
Ottawa Senators forward prospect Colin White will be out for six-to-eight weeks after undergoing surgery to repair a broken left wrist, the team announced Tuesday.
White, 20, suffered the injury in Ottawa's preseason game Monday night. He was on the fast track to make the Senators out of training camp this year with second-line center Derick Brassard injured and unlikely to start the year with the club.
White tallied 33 points in 35 games at Boston College a year ago. He then played three games with Ottawa's AHL affiliate, picking up three points. He suited up in two regular-season games with Ottawa and one playoff game.
For hockey fans outside of Canada's capital, White is best known for his fantastic performance during the 2017 world juniors. He scored seven goals in as many games, helping the United States capture the gold medal.
No, this isn't a commentary on the team's rebuilding process, but rather the literal state of affairs as the team practiced at Mercedes-Benz Arena in Shanghai, China, in advance of an upcoming preseason game against the Los Angeles Kings.
The fog does make for cool pictures. I'm sure they're working on it. Three more practices before the game Thursday. #NHLChinaGames 🇨🇳 pic.twitter.com/jBDWe7lU6T
Throughout the month of September, James Bisson and a cast of editors from theScore will share their rankings of the greatest players, teams, and moments in the 100-year history of the National Hockey League. This week's list focuses on the greatest team logos (active team logos courtesy NHL; defunct team logos courtesy SportsLogos.net):
Few teams have undergone as many logo changes as the Kings, who appear to have nailed it with their most recent offering. While it lacks the pizzazz of earlier editions, it's sleek. That Oakland Raiders color scheme works.
79. Brooklyn Americans (1941-42)
The Americans lasted just one season in the National Hockey League, but boy, did they nail the logo. Red, white and blue across every square inch, combined with a strong font and beloved shield design. Great work.
78. Columbus Blue Jackets (2000-07)
The original Blue Jackets logo was a work of art, with a star-spangled red banner spelling out CB while clutching a hockey stick with a star perched on top. Not bad at all for an expansion logo.
77. Nashville Predators (2001-07)
This was a nice attempt at an alternate logo, but you can't help but wonder why bother? If you're going to feature a saber-toothed cat, you might as well make it look fearsome - and this one pales in comparison to the original.
76. Columbus Blue Jackets (2003-present)
This logo gets major marks for its simplicity in relation to some of the Blue Jackets' other logos. A flag swoosh wrapped around a silver-and-white star gets the point across better than earlier iterations.
75. Colorado Avalanche (1996-2015)
Few teams stuck with a secondary logo as long as the Avalanche did - and why not? The big hairy foot is a hit with younger fans, though traditionalists long for that old Rockies mountain logo. Don't worry - we'll get to it.
74. Quebec Nordiques (1980-95)
The Nordiques' primary logo is considered one of the most revered in NHL history - and the secondary one isn't bad either. It's simple, but elegant, and looks best in blue, after going through several color changes in the 1970s.
73. New York Islanders (1995-97)
Teams can occasionally be forgiven for straying from a logo that works. We'll let you decide whether you can give the Islanders a pass for the now-infamous "Captain Highliner Debacle" of the mid-1990s.
72. Boston Bruins (1926-32)
Before the famed spoked "B", there was this cute little number featuring an actual bear. The different fonts on top of and below the bear are a bit of a throw-off, but otherwise it's a decent logo.
71. Dallas Stars (2013-present)
The Stars made a significant change to their logo in 2013, losing the "DALLAS STARS" text and opting instead for a big D. As logos go, they don't get much simpler than this - and that's not necessarily a bad thing.
70. Ottawa Senators (1997-2007)
The Senators' subtle change - removing the logo's helmet laurels and moving them to the gold semi-circle band to replace the team name - was a home run. Laurels > team name every single time.
69. Atlanta Thrashers (1999-2011)
The Thrashers lasted just 12 years - and their primary logo stayed with them the entire way. Extra points for the small blue swoosh above the thrasher's head, which provided a much-needed splash of color.
68. St. Louis Blues (1985-87)
The Blues have one of the most iconic logos in all of professional hockey - but this mid-1980s alteration is a rare miss. In addition to looking a little too hand-drawn, is the giant "BLUES" marquee really necessary?
67. Anaheim Ducks (1996-2006)
This alternate logo first appeared when Anaheim was known as the "Mighty Ducks" - though this duck looks more angry than mighty. We prefer the kinder, gentler duck face from the original logo.
66. Washington Capitals (1997-2007)
Washington went full Capital for a 10-year stretch, complete with a mini U.S. Capitol Building and two gigantic stars. The font doesn't exactly scream "hockey", and we would have preferred a solid black puck, but we're nitpicking.
65. Tampa Bay Lightning (1992-2001)
Oh, what a logo. Could any professional sports team get away with that crazy font these days? We're especially fond of this electric rain shower background of the late-1990s, though it's clearly not for everyone.
64. Colorado Avalanche (2015-present)
It isn't quite as eye-popping as the old Rockies logo, but this homage to the 1970s is one of the more popular secondary offerings this decade. Give the Avs credit: they do logos extremely well.
63. Vancouver Canucks (1997-present)
Give the Canucks massive credit for coming up with logos that get people talking. The addition of the word "VANCOUVER" above the logo in 2007 didn't really enhance anything, but that is one cool orca regardless.
62. Washington Capitals (1995-2007)
The mighty eagle found a home on Washington's jersey for more than a decade, and marked a significant shift from the iconic font-based logo the Capitals wore for the first 21 years of their existence. The talons are a nice touch.
61. Winnipeg Jets (2011-present)
The return of the Jets franchise to Winnipeg (actually, it was the arrival of the Atlanta Thrashers franchise, but whatever) came with a decidedly different logo, despite pleadings for the original. This one has kind of grown on us.
(NHL logos are used with permission and are courtesy of the National Hockey League.)
Mike Hoffman's first goal of the preseason Monday night needs a third assist, according to the Ottawa Senators.
Hoffman buried a one-time pass from Alex Burrows against the Toronto Maple Leafs after missing a wide-open net, but, as the Senators' social media team revealed, the rest of the play was more intricate than it appeared.
Keeper league fantasy managers have to keep the big picture in mind, assessing not only which players can help their teams in the present, but also which players project to be high-end options down the road.
Here, then, are five players you should target in those keeper fantasy leagues.
Oliver Bjorkstrand
A third-round pick of the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2013, Oliver Bjorkstrand has impressed in limited NHL time. Through 38 appearances, he's recorded 10 goals and 11 assists, all at even strength.
Last season's sample size dipped to 26 games, but Bjorkstrand ranked ninth in points per 60 in five-on-five play among players with at least 200 minutes of total ice time, according to Nat Stat Trick
If he gets regular playing time and power-play opportunities, as is projected for this coming season, he'll certainly be a player worth owning in all fantasy leagues, and a potential building block on keeper rosters.
Clayton Keller
Drafted seventh overall by the Arizona Coyotes in 2016, Clayton Keller is set to have an immediate impact after making the jump from a successful freshman year at Boston University, where he registered 21 goals and 24 assists in 31 games.
"He's consistently drawn comparisons to Blackhawks superstar Patrick Kane," wrote Keith Duggan of Dobber Prospects, "and while that's a high bar to set, Keller has the skill, vision and creativity to live up to those expectations. He should be a top pick in keeper leagues but also a mid- to late-round pick in redraft leagues, Keller's that good."
Sold.
Thomas Chabot
The Ottawa Senators appear to have another top-flight defenseman on their hands, as Thomas Chabot certainly seems ready to take the next step.
Best player so far at the rookie tournament in Toronto is @senators Thomas Chabot. What a pick by Ottawa.
Dobber Prospects has assigned Chabot an A+ fantasy outlook, saying he's an "extremely mobile and active defender with a good compete level" who "projects as a top-pairing, puck-moving defenseman who can log minutes on the power play."
He may be a year or two away from breakout numbers, but an injury to Erik Karlsson means he could get a long look out of training camp this season.
If you haven't added him by then, it'll be too late.
Charlie McAvoy
Charlie McAvoy is another stud defenseman set to his the scene this season, but who's got some growing to do before living up to all the hype.
Still, after an impressive debut during the playoffs against Ottawa, McAvoy is is a must-own in keeper leagues and probably yearly leagues as well. He'll log heavy minutes in all situations and will probably rank behind only Torey Krug in both ice time and points among Boston defensemen.
McAvoy will also provide an added boost in leagues that reward hits.
Ilya Samsonov
This Washington Capitals goalie is more a long-term keeper prospect, but will be well worth the wait.
Since being selected 22nd overall in 2015, Samsonov has been excellent in net for KHL club Metallurg Magnitogorsk, and projects to be Washington's No. 1 option whenever Braden Holtby steps aside.
There's no telling what the Capitals will look like at that point, but Samsonov is as good a goalie prospect as any to build around, both in real life and in the realm of fantasy hockey.
The No. 1 overall pick in June's draft made quite an impression in his preseason debut Monday night, pickpocketing the Capitals' defense before burying a beautiful backhander.
