Cody Franson, Buffalo Sabres nearing 2-year contract deal? When free agency began, Cody Franson was a wide-eyed 27-year-old defenseman, full of life and optimism and thinking this summer would produce a contract offer that befit his 6-5 frame and 40-point potential. As of Thursday, Aug. 27, Franson was a frustrated 28-year-old, sitting by while dozens of defensemen were gobbled up on the UFA … [Read more...]

Christian Ehrhoff signing adds more Slava Voynov questions for LA Kings Where does Christian Ehrhoff fit with the Los Angeles Kings?  And does his arrival mean the end of Slava Voynov with Los Angeles? Those are two important questions that have been asked since Ehrhoff signed a one-year $1.5 million contract with the Kings on Sunday. It seemed to truly signal the final Hollywood chapter for … [Read more...]

Scott Gomez gets Blues camp invite, and he’s earned it The good news for Scott Gomez is that, over the years, he’s become a punchline to fewer and fewer people.  The loudest guffaws came when he didn’t come close to living up to his elephantine contract, and went through an epic goal-scoring drought that earned him an ironic cult following. The chuckles continued when he went from a top six … [Read more...]

Blues forward Patrik Berglund out four months after shoulder surgery What is it with the St. Louis Blues and crummy offseason surgeries to key forwards? On Thursday the team announced Patrik Berglund would go under the knife for shoulder surgery that will knock him out at least four months. According to the team, Berglund reinjured his shoulder while training this offseason. The surgery will … [Read more...]

NFL rookie says hockey made him a tackling machine Nick Dzubnar rushed up the middle of the Arizona Cardinals’ offensive line, lunged and grabbed the leg of quarterback Drew Stanton, bringing him down to the grass.  Granted, his natural inclination may have been to put a shoulder into his jaw, knocking him down, forcing a turnover and then preparing to fight one of his teammates in … [Read more...]

Fantasy Hockey: Ranking the best NHL defensemen for 2015-16 Dobber Hockey launched in 2005 and Dobber and his staff have hitched their wagons to Puck Daddy to preach fantasy hockey to the Yahoo! masses since 2009. As it is in real hockey, fantasy roto hockey starts from the net out. After the truly elite forwards are gone, I make sure my defense corps are solid. And I'll never leave the … [Read more...]

Tom Sestito gets tryout deal from Penguins, continues odd journey Tom Sestito’s NHL journey has been an odd one, right through his professional tryout contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins that was announced on Wednesday.  He punched his way into the NHL, amassing over 300 penalty minutes in three seasons in the OHL, then 202 in the AHL before getting his first NHL game with the Columbus … [Read more...]

What if NHL doesn’t expand to Quebec City, Las Vegas after all? It was announced recently that Quebec City and Las Vegas have entered “Phase III” of the NHL expansion process, which we assume is the talent portion. Can’t wait to see Bill Foley spinning plates while singing the national anthem …  The markets are now proving their viability to the NHL and its Board of Governors, and the League … [Read more...]

Nicklas Backstrom unsure if he’ll be ready for start of Capitals' season Washington Capitals star center Nicklas Backstrom had arthroscopic hip surgery after last season. All indications are that the surgery went well, and that Backstrom would join the Capitals in training camp.  But appearing in training camp is different than being ready for the start of the 2015-16 season, and Backstrom … [Read more...]