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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Knightfall" data-source="post: 2990809" data-attributes="member: 2012">Injuries, movements, rumors and newsmakers...<a href="http://forecaster.ca/thescore/hockey/news.cgi?notebook" target="_blank">http://forecaster.ca/thescore/hockey/news.cgi?notebook</a>The Score's NHL WeeklyThe list of prominent UFA's has dwindled down to a few. We take our weekly look at the biggest ones still left on the free agent market, and we follow that up with a look at each team's "go-to" guys -- the players that the coaches send out with a minute left when they're up or down a goal...--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Free Agent Fantasy SkinnyAs of August 2... The most prominent unrestricted free agents left on the free agent market:Peter Bondra, RW ... The Fantasy Skinny: His fantasy stock has gone down year after year. It is now as low as it can get, short of him retiring. There aren't a whole lot of situations out there for him that would change that.Brian Leetch, D ... The Fantasy Skinny: No longer a fantasy pool asset as injuries have taken a toll.Manny Legace, G ... The Fantasy Skinny: His stock in hockey pools has plummeted. Not being a No.1 goalie in Detroit is one reason. Destined to become a backup goalie again is another.Mike Leclerc, LW ... The Fantasy Skinny: The talent is there, but the health never seems to be. Leclerc would be a solid depth fantasy player if he could play 75 games.Eric Desjardins, D ... The Fantasy Skinny: His stock as a fantasy defenseman has been low for years now. He's contemplating retirement, which obviously doesn't help matters.Jason Allison, C ... The Fantasy Skinny: Too slow for the new NHL? A one-time fantasy stud, Allison may be a fantasy dud if NHL GM's feel that way.Anson Carter, RW ... The Fantasy Skinny: Hockey pool owners loved Carter with the Sedin twins. They don't much like him in limbo now. It is unlikely he will find the same chemistry with skilled linemates elsewhere.Radek Dvorak, RW ... The Fantasy Skinny: Fringe fantasy player could ignite career in the right situation with the right team.Oleg Kvasha, RW ... The Fantasy Skinny: Strong performance in brief stint in Phoenix fails to make up for the weak performance in the rest of his career. He'll need to repeat that act on a new team (and hang onto it) to regain his fantasy value.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------AvalanchePressing for a goal: Wojtek Wolski, Milan Hejduk, Marek Svatos, Andrew Brunette, John-Michael Liles, Joe SakicHolding a lead: Sakic, Ian Laperriere, Antti Laaksonen, Karlis Skrastins, Ossi VaananenX-Factor: Steve Konowalchuk will also get some final-minute ice time when the lead is slim.BlackhawksPressing for a goal: Martin Havlat, Tuomo Ruutu, Radim Vrbata, Tony Salmelainen, Adrian AucoinHolding a lead: Martin Lapointe, Bryan Smolinski, Michal Handzus *, Patrick Sharp, Aucoin, Jassen CullimoreX-Factor: Rookie Cam Barker and sophomore Brent Seabrook will also see their share of ice time during clutch moments.Blue JacketsPressing for a goal: Sergei Fedorov, Rick Nash, Nikolai Zherdev, Gilbert Brule, Bryan Berard, David VybornyHolding a lead: Sergei Fedorov, Manny Malhotra, Jason Chimera, Adam Foote, Duvie WestcottX-Factor: Zherdev could decide to play in Russia this season, in which case Fredrik Modin will get the call.BluesPressing for a goal: Keith Tkachuk, Doug Weight, Bill Guerin, Petr Cajanek, Martin Rucinsky, Dennis WidemanHolding a lead: Dallas Drake, Tkachuk, Dan Hinote, Jay McKee, Eric BrewerX-Factor: As usual, when the game is on the line the Blues will lean heavily on big Tkachuk.BruinsPressing for a goal: Marco Sturm, Patrice Bergeron, Glen Murray, Marc Savard, Brad Stuart, Paul Mara.Holding a lead: P.J. Axelsson, Bergeron, Wayne Primeau, Zdeno Chara, Milan Jurcina.X-Factor: Bergeron's improving face-off ability will see him out there in more situations. Twin giants Chara and Jurcina will form a wall in front of Hannu Toivonen.CanadiensPressing for a goal: Sergei Samsonov, Saku Koivu, Alexei Kovalev, Michael Ryder, Sheldon Souray, Andrei MarkovHolding a lead: Koivu, Steve Begin, Radek Bonk, Craig Rivet, Mike KomisarekX-Factor: Captain Koivu to the rescue, whenever the Habs need the boost.CanucksPressing for a goal: Henrik Sedin, Daniel Sedin, Markus Naslund, Brendan Morrison, Mattias Ohlund, Lukas KrajicekHolding a lead: Naslund, Ryan Kesler, Matt Cooke, Willie Mitchell, Sami SaloX-Factor: With Roberto Luongo in net, not many leads will be blown in the last minute.CapitalsPressing for a goal: Alexander Ovechkin, Alexander Semin, Dainius Zubrus, Richard Zednik, Brian Pothier, Steve EmingerHolding a lead: Ovechkin, Brian Sutherby, Chris Clark, Pothier, EmingerX-Factor: With no elite defensive defensemen on hand, Pothier and Eminger will be out there more than they should.CoyotesPressing for a goal: Ladislav Nagy, Shane Doan, Mike Comrie, Jeremy Roenick, Ed Jovanovski, Keith BallardHolding a lead: Mike Ricci, Dave Scatchard, Steve Reinprecht, Zbynek Michalek, JovanovskiX-Factor: Coach Wayne Gretzky will give Roenick all the ice time he needs to get his stellar career back on track.DevilsPressing for a goal: Scott Gomez, Patrik Elias, Brian Gionta, Jamie Langenbrunner, Brian Rafalski, Paul MartinHolding a lead: John Madden, Jay Pandolfo, Grant Marshall, Colin White, Richard MatvichukX-Factor: Being so far over the salary cap limit at this point, much of the above could drastically change as the Devils try and trade their salary down.DucksPressing for a goal: Teemu Selanne, Andy McDonald, Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry, Chris Pronger, Scott NiedermayerHolding a lead: Todd Marchant, Samuel Pahlsson, Rob Niedermayer, Pronger, S. NiedermayerX-Factor: Dustin Penner and Chris Kunitz will be thrown out there in those games where they have played well, and the Ducks are pressing to tie. FlamesPressing for a goal: Jarome Iginla, Alex Tanguay, Kristian Huselius, Daymond Langkow, Dion Phaneuf, Roman HamrlikHolding a lead: Stephane Yelle, Iginla, Marcus Nilson, Phaneuf, Robyn RegehrX-Factor: At 21 years of age, Phaneuf is already the Flames go-to guy along with Iginla.FlyersPressing for a goal: Peter Forsberg, Simon Gagne, Mike Knuble, Jeff Carter, Kyle Calder *, Joni Pitkanen, Mike RichardsHolding a lead: Forsberg, Gagne, Derian Hatcher, Mike RathjeX-Factor: If Keith Primeau can battle back from his concussion woes, he'll be out there to help hold the lead.HurricanesPressing for a goal: Eric Staal, Cory Stillman, Erik Cole, Justin Williams, Rod Brind'Amour, Frantisek KaberleHolding a lead: Scott Walker, Brind'Amour, Staal, Kaberle, Bret HedicanX-Factor: Brind'Amour is the horse that the 'Canes will ride whenever they need some clutch results.IslandersPressing for a goal: Alexei Yashin, Miroslav Satan, Jason Blake, Mike York, Alexei Zhitnik, Chris CampoliHolding a lead: York, Blake, Mike Sillinger, Brendan Witt, ZhitnikX-Factor: If sophomore forward Robert Nilsson gets off to a good start, he will be relied upon as well.KingsPressing for a goal: Alexander Frolov, Craig Conroy, Michael Cammalleri, Anze Kopitar, Rob Blake, Lubomir VisnovskyHolding a lead: Alyn McCauley, Conroy, Scott Thornton, Blake, Aaron MillerX-Factor: If Patrick O'Sullivan makes a strong rookie impression, he'll be out there trying to the tie game up with the rest of them.LightningPressing for a goal: Brad Richards, Vincent Lecavalier, Martin St. Louis, Vaclav Prospal, Dan Boyle, Filip KubaHolding a lead: Tim Taylor, Richards, Rob DiMaio, Cory Sarich, Luke RichardsonX-Factor: Richards is their money player -- both literally and figuratively!Maple LeafsPressing for a goal: Mats Sundin, Darcy Tucker, Jeff O'Neill, Kyle Wellwood, Bryan McCabe, Tomas KaberleHolding a lead: Michael Peca, Sundin, Matt Stajan, Kaberle, McCabeX-Factor: Coach Paul Maurice will be quick to replace O'Neill with Alexander Steen if O'Neill falters again this year.OilersPressing for a goal: Ales Hemsky, Ryan Smyth, Shawn Horcoff, Joffrey Lupul, Jarret Stoll, Marc-Andre BergeronHolding a lead: Ethan Moreau, Marty Reasoner, Smyth, Jason Smith, Steve StaiosX-Factor: With Hemsky setting them up, and Smyth and Lupul hammering them home, the Oilers could be scary in that final minute.PanthersPressing for a goal: Todd Bertuzzi, Olli Jokinen, Gary Roberts, Nathan Horton, Jay Bouwmeester, Mike Van RynHolding a lead: Joe Nieuwendyk, Jokinen, Roberts, Bouwmeester, Ruslan SaleiX-Factor: Veterans Nieuwendyk and Roberts have "been there" and "done that", no question about it.PenguinsPressing for a goal: Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin **, Colby Armstrong, Mark Recchi, Sergei Gonchar, Ryan WhitneyHolding a lead: Recchi, Crosby, Armstrong, Whitney, Brooks OrpikX-Factor: "Sid the Kid" would play 60 minutes if he could.PredatorsPressing for a goal: Paul Kariya, Steve Sullivan, Jason Arnott, Alexander Radulov, Marek Zidlicky, Kimmo TimonenHolding a lead: Scott Hartnell, Kariya, Arnott, Timonen, Shea WeberX-Factor: The opposition better hope they have a TWO goal lead in the final minute, because those six are scary-good.RangersPressing for a goal: Jaromir Jagr, Brendan Shanahan, Martin Straka, Michael Nylander, Petr Prucha, Karel RachunekHolding a lead: Matt Cullen, Shanahan, Jagr, Marek Malik, Michal RozsivalX-Factor: If Sandis Ozolinsh puts his personal demons behind him, he'll replace Rachunek when they need a goal.Red WingsPressing for a goal: Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg, Robert Lang, Jason Williams, Nicklas Lidstrom, Mathieu SchneiderHolding a lead: Kris Draper, Daniel Cleary, Kirk Maltby, Lidstrom, Chris CheliosX-Factor: Lidstrom didn't win the Norris Trophy for nothing!SabresPressing for a goal: Daniel Briere, J.P. Dumont, Tim Connolly, Maxim Afinogenov, Jaroslav Spacek, Brian CampbellHolding a lead: Chris Drury, Jochen Hecht, Paul Gaustad, Teppo Numminen, Toni LydmanX-Factor: Derek Roy will also see some time in both situations, as he's impressing at both ends of the ice.SenatorsPressing for a goal: Jason Spezza, Dany Heatley, Daniel Alfredsson, Mike Fisher, Wade Redden, Tom PreissingHolding a lead: Antoine Vermette, Alfredsson, Fisher, Redden, Chris PhillipsX-Factor: Andrej Meszaros will also take on a lot more responsibility this season.SharksPressing for a goal: Joe Thornton, Mark Bell, Jonathan Cheechoo, Patrick Marleau, Matt Carle, Steve BernierHolding a lead: Curtis Brown, Marleau, Ville Nieminen, Kyle McLaren, Scott HannanX-Factor: Thornton may lead the team in scoring, but Marleau will be relied upon both offensively and defensively.StarsPressing for a goal: Mike Modano, Jere Lehtinen, Brenden Morrow, Eric Lindros, Sergei Zubov, Jussi JokinenHolding a lead: Jeff Halpern, Lehtinen, Modano, Jaroslav Modry, Philippe BoucherX-Factor: Modano/Lehtinen still a great combo after all these years.ThrashersPressing for a goal: Ilya Kovalchuk, Marian Hossa, Vyacheslav Kozlov, Bobby Holik, Niclas Havelid, Steve McCarthyHolding a lead: Hossa, Holik, Rucchin, Havelid, Greg de VriesX-Factor: Pouring much of the team's salary into two players (Kovalchuk and Hossa) obviously does not leave many options in these situations.WildPressing for a goal: Pavol Demitra, Marian Gaborik, Brian Rolston, Mark Parrish, Kim Johnsson, Pierre-Marc Bouchard Holding a lead: Wes Walz, Rolston, Gaborik, Nick Schultz, Keith Carney X-Factor: A lot more scoring options this year for coach Jacques Lemaire.* Switched, by me, due to trade.** Malkin is unlikey to be in a Penguins uniform this year, unless Alexei Mikhnov is successful in setting a precedent in his bid to walk away from Yaroslavl using a Russian labour law statute. Malkin would also likely give his team two-weeks notice. If it works then the Russians are screwed.</blockquote>

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