Sharks re-sign three

From the San Jose Mercury News:

The Sharks are expected to announce this afternoon that three players have been
re-signed: veteran forward Jeremy Roenick, back-up goalie Brian Boucher and
center Joe Pavelski. More on that later.

Read more on possible San Jose transactions this summer here.

These three players were expected to return to San Jose.

Roenick's contract is almost assuredly a one year contract. The veteran forward had a comeback season last year and provided good energy and offense for the team.

The 23 year old Pavelski really came into his own during his first full NHL season in 2007/08. Pavelski demonstrated good chemistry with Sharks center Patrick Marleau and totaled 19 goals and 40 points in 82 games. Pavelski's ability to quarterback the power play also adds to his value. His point totals should continue to rise.

As for Boucher, well, he better hope new coach Todd McLellan doesn't play his back-ups like Ron Wilson did. If so, he may play three games all season. However, I think the team will try and get Nabokov a little more rest this season and Boucher could see action in 10-12 games. In that role, Boucher should do just fine.

News You Can Use Late in the Day

1. Don't hold your breath waiting for an Oilers-Canucks deal. Kevin Lowe still seems ticked over the Nylander debacle.
2. Team Canada will unveil its new jerseys today in Toronto.
3. The Winnipeg Thrashers remain perfect at the Telus Cup. (I saw them play in the fall. Gritty little team)
4. Olaf Kolzig skipped the Capitals mandatory season ending meeting.
5. Stan Fischler likes the Rangers over the Penguins.
6. Damien Cox answers readers' questions.
7. EA Sports correctly predicted the first round of the playoffs. Click here for their second round predictions.
8. The Top 5 Avs-Wings playoff moments, brought to you by Youtube.
9. Kings' scout Robbie Laird offers his predictions on the 2nd Round.
10. Jeremy Roenick credits clean living for his resurgence.
11. Askmen.com features fitness tips from Chris Chelios.
12. John Buccigross with his thoughts on the first round.
13. Rory Boylen says people should stop criticizing Hockey Night in Canada.
14. Edward Fraser of the Hockey News hands out his 1st Round awards.
15. Brian Costello gives us 10 Players he didn't consider drafting in his playoff pool, but should have.
16. Have 7 minutes of your life that you are willing to waste? Watch Eklund's dog predict the 2nd round.
17. Sheldon Souray is blogging on the playoffs over at AskMen.com.
18. Memorial Cup History, 1932.
19. Terry Frei pronounces the Wings-Avs rivalry dead.
20. Team Canada adds Spezza, Heatley and Getzlaf. Team USA adds Mark Stuart and Adam Burish. BC standout Nathan Gerbe also garnered an invite.
21. Steven Stamkos tops the final rankings from Central Scouting. The complete list is here. A possible dark horse is #197, Edgars Lipsberg. Pure offensive talent, doesn't give a shit about defense.
22. Jim Kelley wonders if it is the GM, rather than the coaches who are to blame in Calgary.
23. Pierre Lebrun accurately captures the obvious; states the 2nd round will feature some tight series.
24. The always entertaining Darryl Reaugh introduces Stars fans to the Sharks' roster.
25. Ever see a goalie and a defenseman fight each other? What about if they are on the same team?

News You Can Use Late in the Day

1. Benoit Doucet is lighting up the ECHL and will be getting a look at the AHL.
2. The Kitchener Rangers have put up a 53 win season and are looking forward to the Memorial Cup.
3. An interview with Mark Recchi from the Kamloops Daily News.
4. A little more on the proposed Major Midget league in Canada.
5. Mirtle compiles a list of man games lost.
6. As a little shout out to our reader from Camp Liberty, here is story featuring a National Guard soldier who used to fantasize about hockey while she was in Iraq.
7. Just so we don't forget the Canadian troops in Afghanistan, former tough guys Chris Nilan and Bob Probert are visiting for a ball hockey rematch. I wonder if the Taliban will go into hiding with Knuckles' arrival?
8. Scott Burnside writes that it is time to clean house in Atlanta after another disappointing year.
9. Jeremy Roenick hopes this is the year he gets his name on the Stanley Cup.
10. The weekly Hot List from the NHL.
11. Introduce yourself to Lucio Topatigh.
12. Highly touted rookie Kyle Okposo made his NHL debut last night.
13. The new re-alignment in the QMJHL will help to rekindle some rivalries.
14. All Things Avs says that Forsberg needs to focus and play his own game.
15. Rick Dipietro will have season ending hip surgery for the 2nd year in a row. Only 13 more years of this...
16. Puck Stops Here wonders if the Stanley Cup will spend a 2nd year in the West.
17. Craig Simpson discusses the Oilers' youth movement.
18. Fantasy Spin from the Score.
19. Damien Cox writes that scouting for the Leafs isn't as fun as it sounds.
20. Alexander Mogilny 5 - Russian Criminals 3
21. Random thoughts from John Buccigross.
22. Need grooming tips? Ask Alexander Ovechkin.
23. 10 Players you may see in the NHL before the season is over.
24. The Sharks are quick to point to Nabokov when asked to explain their success.
25. Dan Barnes with an interesting article noting the lack of good goalies coming out of Russia.

Fantasy Watch: Scouring the Waiver Wire

F Scottie Upshall, Philadelphia Flyers
After being buried on Nashville's depth chart, Upshall was traded to Philly last season and finally got a chance to prove he was worthy of the sixth overall pick back in 2002. Upshall didn't disappoint Philadelphia fans, as he scored 13 points in his first 18 games with the club. With Upshall being a popular sleeper pick this season, it was quite a blow to hear that the forward would be sidelined with a broken wrist for the first month. Since his return, Upshall has fit in perfectly in Philadelphia, scoring four goals and six points in nine games.
Fantasy Take: Upshall could be in for a great second half of the season as it looks like Philly is a perfect fit for him. Expect him to crush his previous career high of 24 points set back in 2005.

F Jeremy Roenick, San Jose Sharks
After producing only 28 points last season, it was widely agreed that Roenick was no longer a reliable fantasy option. Surprisingly, Roenick has turned back the clock in San Jose. Starting off the season slowly, Roenick has come alive this month scoring a point in all but one of San Jose's nine games. With 13 points on the year, Roenick has picked up the slack where other Sharks have been struggling, as he is currently in second place on San Jose in team scoring. Throw in five game winning goals and the Sharks have got to be happy with their off-season acquisition.
Fantasy Take: If your looking for a low end fantasy option, or an injury replacement, Roenick is your guy. But don't expect more than 35-40 points from the former Coyote.

G Ilya Bryzgalov, Phoenix Coyotes
Bryzgalov was a decent fantasy option in Anaheim, as he was the starter during the first few weeks while Giguere was sidelined. But since Giguere's return, the Ducks had no use for Bryzgalov anymore and put him on waivers. Looking for a proven goaltender, Phoenix snatched up Bryzgalov and immediately started him for their next game. Stopping all 28 shots to earn his first shutout of the season, Bryzgalov is on his way to becoming the #1 man in Phoenix. With backups Tellqvist and Auld not getting the job done, expect to see a lot of Bryzgalov for the rest of the season
Fantasy Take: Although Phoenix is a difficult place to play, expect Bryzgalov to put up numbers worthy of a starting spot in most leagues.

F Dainius Zubrus, New Jersey Devils
Zubrus was on his way to having an outstanding season last year, but was eventually traded to Buffalo, where his production suffered a significant drop off. Scoring only eight points in 19 games with the Sabres, Zubrus never panned out in Buffalo and soon found himself on a New Jersey team which lacked offensive weapons. While many fantasy experts were unsure if Zubrus could be a reliable fantasy option without Ovechkin, the former Capital has shown that he can still produce, just not at an elite level. With 12 points in 20 games, Zubrus has been a decent low end fantasy option and nothing more.
Fantasy Take: Zubrus has been very inconsistent this year and should only be starting in deeper leagues. Unless he is traded back to Washington, look for other options.


For Illegal Curve, I'm Jonny Remis

Morning Musings

Here are the morning papers:

• Due to injuries to Scott Walker and Eric Cole, the Hurricanes played last night's game versus Philadelphia with 10 forwards and 7 seven defensemen. Speaking of Cole, he missed last night's 3-2 overtime loss with a foot injury he sustained playing soccer before the game.
• The Thrashers can't seem to mount any kind of consistent offensive attack writes Craig Custance of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Custance also lists the possible candidates to take over behind the Atlanta bench in this morning's paper.
• The Ducks lost to the Stars 3-1 last night and the fact of the matter is they just flat-out can't score writes Dan Wood of the Orange County Register.
• As Steve Conroy of the Boston Herald tells us, the gritty Bruins outworked the Rangers in yesterday afternoon's 1-0 shootout victory. No surprise that Phil Kessel scored the winning goal in the shootout as he is the Bruins "closer" when it comes to those situations. In other Bruins' news, forward Chuck Kobasew is finally healthy and has been able to prove his worth so far this young season.
• Kevin Paul Dupont's usual Sunday article can be found here.
• The Sabres just didn't get the bounces last night in Montreal writes John Vogl of the Buffalo News.
• Last night's 4-1 victory over the Oilers was the most complete game that Calgary has played all season. Meanwhile, Flames' coach Mike Keenan wants Oilers' forward Raffi Torres suspended for his hit on the Flames' David Moss.
• Chris Kuc of the Chicago Tribune says that the Hawks gave viewers north of the border an idea of the progress the Blackhawks organization is demonstrating these days. (Writer's note: Or, viewers got a chance to watch a terribly played hockey game between a well below par Maple Leafs squad and a young Chicago team that had no business winning this game with all the weak goals they scored last night.) Jonathan Toews is surprising many, including himself, with his production thus far.
• Jordan Leopold talks about the old days in his home state of Minnesota with Terry Frei of the Denver Post. (Writer's note: On a more positive note, he didn't get hurt during the interview.)
• The Blue Jackets are improving at puck management says coach Ken Hitchcock and that is one of the main reasons they are keeping the puck out of their own net. Here are the Blue Jackets' probable lines for tonight's game.
• Even though the Ducks are struggling, the Stars view last night's victory as significant writes Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News.
• The Red Wings defeated the Coyotes 5-2 last evening and their goaltender Dominik Hasek says they "dominated whole 60 minutes." In other Red Wings' news, the team is looking to sign forward Daniel Cleary to a contract extension.
• The Oilers' struggling powerplay was one of the many reasons they were defeated by the Flames 4-1 last night. Coach Craig MacTavish coached his 500th game last night and more importantly, he implied that Sam Gagner is staying with the club.
• Panthers' goaltender Tomas Vokoun says that the Senators outplayed the Panthers in every aspect of the game in last night's 4-1 loss. The Panthers somehow only won 22% of their draws on the night, which is one of the main reasons they got it handed to them.
• Roman Hamrlik stole the show last night for the Habs in their 4-2 victory over the Sabres.
• Earlier this season the Predators couldn't stop pucks from entering their net, now that they have clamped down on their goals against, they can't score writes John Glennon of the Tennessean.
• Former Devil Bill Guerin scored the overtime winner with seconds remaining on the clock as the Islander upended the Devils 4-3 on Saturday night. The Devils only played 40 minutes of hockey and that is not good enough in the NHL says Brent Sutter. Sutter did get a bit sentimental about his time with the Islanders and his return to Uniondale after the game.
• The Rangers lost to the Bruins in a shootout 1-0 on Saturday afternoon. With all their firepower, Larry Brooks of the NY Post wonders how the Rangers have been shutout in 15 of the 21 periods they have played this season.
• Here is Larry Brooks' Sunday morning Slap Shots piece.
• With a week off before their next game, the Islanders were happy to have been able to get the victory last night over the Devils after blowing their 2 goal lead in the third period.
• The Sens continue to play like well-oiled machine that they are as last night night they defeated the Panthers 4-1. Everyone loves Chris Kelly writes Eric Nicks of the Ottawa Sun.
• The Flyers defeated the Hurricanes 3-2 in overtime and continue to play like one of the elite teams in the league opines Joe Juliano in this morning's Philadelphia Inquirer.
• The Coyotes have lost three straight games and Shane Doan says he needs to be better if the team expects to breakout of its current slump. After the game, coach Wayne Gretzky made it clear that goaltending is not the problem in Phoenix so far this season.
• The first battle of the season between Ovechkin/Crosby goes to Crosby as the young superstar assisted on his team's game winning goal to lead the Penguins to a 2-1 victory.
• Jeremy Roenick ended last night's contest on the Sharks' first line and ended up scoring the game winner as the Sharks beat the Predators 3-0.
• The Blues were impressed with the play of their opponents in their 3-1 loss to the Wild last night. The Blues' Eric Brewer returned from injury last night to play against the Wild.
• Lightning coach John Tortorella is happy with his new line combinations writes Erik Erlendsson of the Tampa Tribune. The new lines worked well last night as the Bolts pasted the Thrashers 6-2 to remain unbeaten at home.
• After blowing another game last night, Leafs' coach Paul Maurice says the Leafs' problems are mental, not physical right now. (Writer's note: In today's day of trapping, clogging the neutral zone and dropping five guys below the red line, how does a team give up 5 goals in one period?????????? That's horrid.) As Jason Blake says about when the Leafs get the lead heading into the third, "(W)e sit back, don't play as hard and that's why you take penalties."
• Alexander Ovechkin understands that the Capitals have to generate more offense if they expect to end their four game losing skid writes Tarik El-Bashir of the Washington Post.

For Illegal Curve, I'm Richard Pollock.