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Stay Tuned Senators

Slowly, the noise in Ottawa is getting louder... Slowly, the rumours out of Canada's capital are starting to swirl.  Words like long-time target and impact move are being tossed around in regard to a potential incoming player and the hockey world starts September with a bang!

There are reports that the Senators are looking to make a move, whether that be a trade or a signing, which would provide immediate help to the club for the 2010-11 season.  The thing that makes the most sense is making a deal with Boston for Marc Savard, or possibly targetting one of New Jersey's pricier contracts (since the Devils need to clear some salary).  Another route is going after un-signed Bobby Ryan out of Anaheim.

The most likely candidate to be moved out of the prospects would be highly regarded blueliner Patrick Wiercioch who may have become redundant when David Rundblad was acquired this off-season.

Stay tuned Sens' fans... there may be legs to these rumours yet.

Niemi vs Niitymaki

With the recent addition of Antti Niemi to the Sharks' lineup, the guaranteed starting job for journeyman Antero Niitymaki is looking like a whole new battleground.

Niemi's one-year deal might simply to keep the Stanley Cup goalie in the NHL and he is likely to see a split in San Jose until someone emerges, making this a virtual fantasy nightmare for upcoming drafts.  The team is still solid from top to bottom so grabbing the winner of the goalie battle might just thrust that owner to the top of their league.

In the end, the biggest loser is Thomas Greiss who will now be relegated to AHL work and might just be in an audition versus talented Alex Stalock who has the full support of the franchise.  Stalock should be the netminder targetted by dynasty and keeper owners, as we here at SYP feel he has the makings of a number one NHL goalie.

Bringing Back Brendl

Of course this news comes out just before September, as everyone is drafting dynasty and keeper leagues, and others are preparing for their single-year leagues.  The hype machine is in overdrive as former first-round bust Pavel Brendl is rumoured to be returning to North America in hopes of securing a one-way contract with an NHL team.

What could he bring to an NHL team at this point in his career?  Well, Brendl has been tearing up the SEL and KHL over the last four years scoring 34 (in 54 games - SEL), 31 (in 54 games - SEL), 35 (in 56 games - KHL) and 27 (in 51 games - KHL).  He was always an elite scorer, but the desire to eat seemed to overpower his desire to play - maybe he finally has a full stomach!

Brendl is the second most famous bust from the 1999 NHL Entry Draft, behind wunderkid Patrik Stefan.  But while this draft is notorious for its 1st and 4th overall busts, it is equally as notorious for yielding the Sedins (Daniel  and Henrik) to the same team, Ryan Miller in the 5th round and Henrik Zetterberg at 210th overall.

Let the dust settle before wasting a pick like the Rangers did back in 1999!

Pronger's Buckled Knee

Is there any worry about a 35-year old defenseman coming off of knee surgery that hasn't started any significant training?  Maybe the Flyers and their fans just want to ignore this, but Chris Pronger had minor surgery on his right knee and there hasn't been much reported since.

Pronger is a tough bastard and should be on the ice as soon as he is ready, whenever that is... Philadelphia is hoping this isn't the injury that finally slows down the stalwart defender - as do his fantasy owners.

Svatos to Pittsburgh

Newest FA winger reportedly linked to the Pens is Marek Svatos who has regressed due to injury since his 32-goal, 50-point campaign in 2005-06.  The right-winger reminds me of Jonathan Cheechoo in that he has the desire and skill to play in the NHL, but his body no longer can battle through the rigours of the world's top league.

If he does land in Pittsburgh, he could once again find the back of the net for 25+ goals, so pay attention to the what happens in the wings.

Penguins Listening to Lisin

This is starting to sound like INSERT FA WINGER to Pittsburgh, especially when that winger has struggled to find a role at his previous stops and could come at a heavy discount.  And that is exactly why Enver Lisin is being rumoured to join the Penguins for the 2010-11 season.

Lisin is a 6-1 natural right winger with tremendous speed and a complete lack of understanding in the defensive zone.  He was drafted 50th overall by the Phoenix Coyotes in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, and showed some promise in the 2008-09 season where he scored 13 goals and notched 21 points in 48 professional games, but mostly Lisin split time in the pros and with the Rampage of the AHL.  Last year, he tried to carve out a role with the New York Rangers, but only managed half a dozen markers and eight helpers in 57 games and that wasn't good enough for another contract with the club.

This kid is a finisher, with a tremendously accurate wrister that snaps off his stick with speed.  He can fly on the ice, but looks mostly lost in his own zone.  He is NOT a bottom-6 forward, but he doesn't have the resume to warrant a high salary that goes along with being on a scoring line, except maybe in Pittsburgh where he could slot in with fellow Russian Evgeni Malkin.

If Lisin lands on ice with the Pens, he would immediately deserve fantasy attention.  Think of him as this year's Maxim Afinogenov (24 goals, 37 assists and a full season of games in Atlanta).  Check out his speed and slick wrist shots in this video compilation (from the RSL, but maybe a glimpse of things to come?):

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No AHL for Huet

The rumour floating around the NHL right now is that Cristobal Huet would not accept a demotion to the AHL, and would likely bolt overseas and play in Switzerland instead.

Huet carries a massive price tag of $5.6 million and it isn't a secret that with the Blackhawks' cap woes, that the now-backup goaltender would be buried (along with his cap hit) in the minors.  Huet has little to prove in the AHL, and no hope of getting back into the NHL as he would have to pass through re-entry waivers (something Chicago cannot afford to do; pay Huet $2.8 million to play in another city).

Any keeper/dynasty league owner holding out there own hope of having Huet re-take the reigns of the Blackhawks, or any NHL team, should now sit back and see if he can even find his way back into the NHL.  Don't hold your breath!

Selanne, Kariya to Re-Unite?

Teemu Selanne has declared his intent to return to the Anaheim Ducks for at least another season.  Selanne told Finnish magazine Sports Journal that he has resumed contract negotiations with the Ducks and expects to have a deal in place shortly.

Selanne also told the publication that he has reached out to Ducks management about friend and former teammate Paul Kariya.

Kariya is also an unrestricted free agent and the pair formed 2/3 of one of the most potent lines in hockey in the mid-90's.  In 2003-04 the duo signed 1-year contracts for less-than-market-value to join a loaded Colorado Avalanche team.   The season was a disappointment and the lockout came the following year.  Both players have played on different teams ever since.  Selanne returned to the Ducks and flourished, meanwhile Kariya had two strong seasons in Nashville and has shown signs of decline ever since.

The Ducks do have some cap space but the belief is that they would like to add another veteran blueliner and have been linked in talks about Kevin Bieksa and Willie Mitchell (among others).

The club also has the issue of re-signing RFA Bobby Ryan.

One would expect that in order for the team to bring both Selanne and Kariya into the fold it would have to come at a fairly cheap price.

Kaberle deal imminent...

A cancelled charity event plus a quick Brian Burke trip to an unknown European destination, and an explosion of rumours insues.

There has been wild speculation on what exactly would be big enough to force the Leafs' GM to blow off a Special Olympics charity event and take him overseas.  Some Toronto fans are holding out for the Peter Forsberg pipedream, while others hope to see the return of Mats Sundin (so he can retire a Maple Leaf)... more reasonable thoughts are Maxim Afinogenov though I can't see him being worth a trip; he is more a phone call kind of guy.

So that leaves us with not a FA signing, but a potential deal for an ever-outbound Tomas Kaberle.  There have been so many rumours surrounding Kaberle that sifting through the mess, its tough to determine a true destination.  The usual suspects pop up as both Anaheim and Columbus need a player like Kaberle, and many other teams could certainly use him...

All I know is that this makes the most sense - more sense that BB bringing the Teemu Selanne - Paul Kariya tandem to Toronto... Such silliness on the net these days, but is there a better place to dream big?

March of the Penguins

Pittsburgh is still in the market for another NHL forward, and any remaining (cheap) FA option is being considered.  From Lee Stempniak to John Madden, the Penguins will need to add another player to help give the depth needed to succeed over an NHL season.

While the one-dimensional Stempniak is likely too much money (there is about $1.5 million left for the Pens), adding a player like Madden would allow management to play with the lines.  There isn't much exciting about Madden anymore; he has long become a specialist player (faceoffs and penalty kill), but its the intangibles that this veteran brings to the arena every night.

Other FA names being tossed around are the underwhelming Raffi Torres and possibly Clarke MacArthur if he decides to take a massive paycut to play with an elite centre.

In the end, there is nothing concrete - even rumours... but if a skilled player ends up signing there, he automatically gets a fantasy bump.