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Dobber Hockey Dobber Sports

Published on Sunday, July 19, 2015

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July 20 2015

My thoughts on a boatload of prospect signings, some good hockey reads;  and more...

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Some signings of interest over the last couple of days…

Vladislav Namestnikov signed a one-year contract with the Lightning. He showed us last year that whenever one of the members of the Triplets line is injured, he can slide in pretty much seamlessly. Last season's numbers were low, but he did have a run of seven points in seven games. The problem here is, as it was with Panik before him - the team is too deep with that skill set to properly accommodate Namestnikov. Barring an injury to a scoring-line player, he'll be limited this season. But beyond this season, he's far too talented to be held back by simple numbers. He'll force the matter and they'll either have to make room or trade him.

Daniil Tarasov is a middling San Jose prospect. But in fantasy hockey, prior to the past two drafts, he was the only offensively gifted player in this organization. Anyway, the 24-year-old signed to play in the KHL.

Louis Leblanc, former Hab and Duck, has signed on with the Islanders. He used to have some fans around fantasy hockey circles, but he pretty much has no defenders now. Not after just 29 points and minus-19.

Calle Jarnkrok signed for $735,000 over one year. A fair deal, though not nearly big enough to give him any Golden Boy treatment. I don't foresee any jumps in production from him this year. Too many Nashville forwards ahead of him.

Calgary tough guy David Wolf has signed to play in the German League this season. He came over for one year and played 59 AHL games and three in the NHL, and compiled 168 PIM for Adirondack.

Stefan Matteau, a big defensive forward, has signed a two-year contract with the Devils. He has a chance at the making the team, but has no shot at being a scoring-line NHLer. Ever.

Former ECAC star Mat Bodie has signed with the Rangers for another year. The 25-year-old defenseman's first year as a pro was very good, as he posed 32 points in just 75 games. The Rangers do have six D spots locked up already, Bodie should be in the conversation for the seventh spot. He'll be competing with Chris Summers, Dylan McIlrath and Raphael Diaz.

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Martin Rucinsky announced his retirement. Rucinsky, you say? Didn't he retire six years ago? Why no, he actually played in the Czech League all this time, and last year he tallied 54 points in 51 games - a career high for him in terms of production during six years in that league. He is now 44 years old. His best NHL season was in 1995-96 when he tallied 75 points in 78 games. In fact, after his trade to Montreal (as part of the Patrick Roy deal), he exploded for 60 points in the last 56 games. And that had fantasy owners all in a tizzy about his surefire superstardom. Obviously that didn't happen, and it served as another lesson to us about how nothing is certain no matter how straightforward it looks.

Rucinsky retires having played 998 regular season and playoff NHL games in his career.

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Just 12 days away from releasing the Fantasy Guide - make sure you pick up your copy, or you can spend even less money to get this Guide…and the Prospects Report - by checking out this deal.

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Pavel Datsyuk could be sidelined from his ankle surgery longer than originally thought. "Four to five months" is the new term, which pushes it close to December.

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Some interesting links for you on this slow hockey news day:

The latest on Rich Peverley, and his hopes of getting back into the NHL.

Francois Beauchemin put his Anaheim house up for sale. The cost? Just $3.5 million.

A nice story here for those Derrick Pouliot owners.

And a must-read is Ian's Ramblings from yesterday. I really liked what he had to say about advanced stats in terms of the perspective of the layman. Well put.

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Short and sweet today, my shortest one in years! But I'm diving back into the Guide work after two days away at a bachelor party. Golf, beer, bonfire...yep, I was suffering. But I'm itching to get back at the Guide work, and there's not a whole lot going on anyway.

Enjoy your Monday

 

 

 


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