| Newsbreakers |
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| Vladimir Sobotka is nursing a sore groin, according to the Boston Herald. |
Our View: The team does not believe it is necessary to place him on the IR, but was previously in jeopardy of not making the final roster. |
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| Aaron Ward has been nursing a bruised kneecap when struck by a shot Saturday, but is expected to be fine, according to the Boston Herald. |
Our View: Ward is a solid veteran defenseman, but only scored 13 points last season, and only merits fantasy consideration in deeper leagues. |
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| David Krejci scored two goals against the Caps on Sunday night as he showed little after effects of the hop injury that had kept him out of action of late. |
Our View: Krejci will look to build on a rookie season that included six goals and 27 points in 56 games, a very likely scenario if he skates with Phil Kessel on the Bruins third line from Game 1. |
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| Manny Fernandez allowed four goals on just 24 shots on Sunday, though he came through in the shutout as he led the Bruins to a victory over the Capitals. |
Our View: Fernandez is set up as the Bruins second keeper behind Tim Thomas, and though his chances of seeing some substantial playing time this season could be on the slight upswing as he has proven to be healthy, he is still best left as a third goalie option for the moment. |
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| The Boston Herald reports the Bruins are trying to trade Peter Schaefer, who is due $2.1 million this season. If Blake Wheeler makes the team, the team will likely have to waiver Schaefer. |
Our View: There is probably not much interest in Schaefer's services considering his mediocre 2007-08 season. |
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| Martin St. Pierre cleared waivers, the Boston Globe reports. |
Our View: He has no fantasy value if and when he returns to Boston. |
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| Marc Savard registered an assist in Saturday's 3-1 loss to the Islanders. |
Our View: Savard's goal output has declined over each of the last three seasons, but remains among the best passers in the NHL, as he averages just under 69 assists over that span. |
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| Zdeno Chara scored the Bruins' lone goal in Saturday's 3-1 preseason loss to the Islanders. The score came on the power-play. |
Our View: Chara looks to be recovered from off-season shoulder surgery, evidenced by tonight's performance. He should remain a top fantasy defenseman for 2008. |
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| Marc Savard will not be traded despite rumors floating around that the team might move him, according to The Boston Globe. "He's an All-Star player, without whom we wouldn't have made the playoffs last year," GM Peter Chiarelli said. |
Our View: Stupid rumor. Why would the Bruins trade their leading point producer of the past two seasons? Toss in the fact that he has a no-trade clause in his contract and this should have been a non-story all along. |
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| Manny Fernandez has duly impressed the Bruins brass with his solid work through two preseason starts, according to The Boston Globe. "I don't think [Fernandez] needs to come back and prove himself," said coach Claude Julien. "What we needed to see was that he's capable of being himself again." |
Our View: Fernandez is locked in as the backup to Tim Thomas with the news that Tuukka Rask was assigned to the minors on Thursday. Fernandez doesn't hold much value right now, but if Thomas goes into one of his funks, Fernandez could step up. |
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| Defenseman Mark Stuart was unable to practice with the team on Thursday due to a sore right leg, according to the Boston Globe. |
Our View: Stuart should be ready to suit up on Friday. He is not a player that fantasy owners should be looking at in drafts, as he is the quintessential stay-at-home defenseman. |
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| Tuukka Rask has been sent down to Providence of the AHL, according to the AP. |
Our View: Rask held a 2-1-1 record with a 3.25 goals-against average and .886 save percentage over four games with Boston last season. He is a former first-rounder, but there is no room in Boston for him right now with Tim Thomas and Manny Fernandez entrenched in the top two spots at goalie.
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| Martin St. Pierre has been waived by the Bruins, according to the AP. |
Our View: He was not going to be fantasy worthy while serving as a reserve center with Boston this season. |
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| Defenseman Matt Lashoff was sent to the minors by the Bruins on Thursday, according to the Providence Journal. Also sent down were defenseman Jeff Penner and goaltender Tuukka Rask. |
Our View: Lashoff played 18 games for the Bruins last season, amassing five points. |
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| Bruins rookie Blake Wheeler, the fifth overall selection of the Coyotes in the 2004 draft, has played well enough that he deserves a spot on the roster, according to the Boston Globe. |
Our View: Wheeler became a free agent after deciding not to sign with the Coyotes when they offered him the maximum entry-level contract. Wheeler has limited fantasy value, as he would likely play on the third-line to start the season. |
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| Zdeno Chara made his preseason debut and scored on the power play in Boston's 3-1 loss to Montreal. |
Our View: Chara is one a solid fantasy option off of the blue line. He had 51 points and 114 PIM last season for Boston. It appears he is ready for the season after recovering from left shoulder surgery in the offseason. |
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| David Krejci remains out of action while recovering from a strained hip flexor, according to the Boston Globe. |
Our View: The injury is believed to be minor and is holding him out as a precaution. He finished the 2007 campaign strong with four assists over the final three games in the playoffs against Montreal. |
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