2 years agoColorado Avalanche veteran winger Andrew Cogliano will be returning to Denver to take another run for the Stanley Cup. The speedy tight-checking forward signed a one-year deal at an undisclosed amount Tuesday. Cogliano plays a critical role with the Avalanche. His veteran leadership helps Colorado be successful. However, regarding fantasy hockey, the former Anaheim Ducks player is a non-factor scoring only four goals and 12 assists in 74 Avalanche regular-season games this past season.
--Andrew Lennox - RotoBallerSource: NHL.com
2 years agoPittsburgh Penguins netminder Casey DeSmith signed a two-year, $3.6 million contract Tuesday. The contract averages out to $1.8 million per year. With the agreement set in stone, DeSmith won't be an unrestricted free agent come July 13. The Rochester, New Hampshire, native has started 82 games in his career for the Penguins. He is 43-28-11 with a 2.67 goals-against-average, .915 save percentage and nine shutouts in 96 regular season games.
--Andrew Lennox - RotoBallerSource: NHL.com
2 years agoThe Nashville Predators have acquired defenseman Ryan McDonagh from the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for defenseman Philippe Myers and a forward prospect. McDonagh has four seasons remaining on his seven-year contract, and the veteran defenseman will bring his experience to a competitive Predators team which made the Playoffs for the eighth straight season before falling to the eventual Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche in the first round. McDonagh is a solid contributor for deeper fantasy formats heading into the upcoming NHL season.
--Denis Vondrus - RotoBallerSource: NHL.com
2 years agoTampa Bay Lightning forward Nick Paul has signed a seven-year, $22.05 million contract with the team on Friday. Paul could have become an unrestricted free agent on July 13, but the two sides reached an agreement ahead of free agency as the deal carries an average annual value of $3.15 million. The Lightning acquired the 27-year-old ahead of the 2021 NHL trade deadline, and he played a valuable role during the run to the Stanley Cup Finals with five goals and nine points through 23 games.
--Denis Vondrus - RotoBallerSource: NHL.com
2 years agoLos Angeles Kings forward Kevin Fiala has signed a seven-year, $55.125 million contract with the team, following the trade which sent him from the Wild in exchange for defenseman prospect Brock Faber and a first-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft. Fiala's deal with the Kings carries an average annual value of $7.875 million, and the 25-year-old forward could have become a restricted free agent on July 13 at the start of free agency. Fiala enjoyed a breakout season with the Wild during the 2021-22 season, posting career-highs of 33 goals, 52 assists and 85 points through 82 games to finish third on the team in goals and second in points.
--Denis Vondrus - RotoBallerSource: NHL.com
2 years agoTampa Bay Lightning forward Steven Stamkos finished the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs with 19 points in 23 games, setting his new scoring record. The Lightning captain grabbed his 19th point via his 11th goal in Sunday's Game 6 against Colorado when he gave his side an early lead. Stamkos finished the Final with two goals and four points. The former Rocket Richard Trophy winner turned 32 in February, but Stamkos managed to put together a career year with 106 points in 81 regular-season appearances and he will look to maintain his form in 2022-23.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
2 years agoColorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar was named the Conn Smythe Trophy winner on Sunday after the team won the Stanley Cup with a 2-1 victory over Tampa Bay. The 23-year-old become only the third player in history to win the Norris Trophy and the Conn Smythe Trophy in the same season. Makar put up incredible numbers during the team's playoff run, leading the Avalanche with 29 points in 20 games. He had three goals and four assists in the Final. Makar has quickly developed into an elite defenseman and is set to be a huge fantasy asset for years to come.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: NHL Public Relations
2 years agoColorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon factored in both goals as the team finished off the Stanley Cup Final with a 2-1 Game 6 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning. He scored his 13th goal of the playoffs early in the second period to tie the game and recorded an assist as Artturi Lehkonen scored the eventual game-winner 12:28 into the second frame. MacKinnon put in a superb all-around shift with seven shots, two blocks and two hits. The Avalanche star had 24 points overall in 20 postseason appearances, upping his total tally to 93 points in 70 career playoff games.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
2 years agoColorado Avalanche winger Valeri Nichushkin starred once again in Friday's Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final, but he also picked up an injury. Mike Chambers of the Denver Post has reported that Nichushkin was taken to the X-ray room after the game. The Russian winger had a goal and an assist in Game 5 with five shots and three hits. He has tied a franchise record with four goals in the Final and Nichushkin has also produced two assists in the series, so his absence would obviously be a massive blow for the Avalanche.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Mike Chambers
2 years agoTampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy pushed away 35 of 37 shots in Friday's crucial 3-2 win over Colorado in the 2022 Stanley Cup Final. He improved to 20-2 in games following a defeat across the last three postseasons. Vasilevskiy has recorded a 1.82 goals-against average in those contests with an outstanding .932 save percentage. The reigning Conn Smythe Trophy winner had a rough start to the 2022 Final by giving up 11 goals in the first two games, but he's bounced back superbly to register a .938 save percentage in the last three contests.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
2 years agoTampa Bay Lightning left wing Ondrej Palat scored a late game-winning goal in Friday's elimination game in the Stanley Cup Final. He tucked in his 11th goal of the postseason with 6:22 left in regulation. The Czech winger tallied a total of three shots in the game with two hits in 20:15 of ice time. Seven of Palat's goals in the 2022 postseason have come in the third period and he now sits on 12 career game-winning goals in the playoffs, which is the third-highest mark among active players. The former seventh-round pick continues to deliver in big moments for the Lightning and he will try to do it again in Game 6 on Sunday.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
2 years agoColorado Avalanche winger Andre Burakovsky (hand) is a "possibility" for Game 5 against the Lightning on Friday, according to head coach Jared Bednar. He has missed the last two games after getting hurt in Game 2 of the series when Burakovsky took a puck to the hand. Burakovsky has mostly been quiet during the team's playoff run, but he had a spectacular start to the Final before getting injured, scoring a game-winning goal in overtime in Game 1 and grabbing a goal and an assist in Game 2. The Swedish winger has tallied a total of eight points across 12 postseason appearances in 2022.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: NHL.com
2 years agoTampa Bay Lightning defenseman Erik Cernak (lower body) looks ready to play in Friday's Game 5 against the Avalanche despite exiting Wednesday's loss with an apparent leg injury. He was forced to limp off the ice after blocking a shot in the second period and ended up logging only 7:37 in the game. Cernak is a shutdown defenseman who has tallied 45 blocks and 75 hits during the team's postseason run this year. The Lightning gave up 11 goals in two games in Denver at the start of the series, so having Cernak available should be a nice little boost for the team on Friday.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Chris Krenn
2 years agoTampa Bay Lightning forward Brayden Point (lower body) is considered a game-time decision for Friday's Game 5 against the Colorado Avalanche. The Lightning have been without one of their best players for two games, but it's possible that the defending champions get Point back for Friday's elimination battle. According to reports, the 26-year-old star forward looked good at Friday's optional morning skate. Point has notched 79 points in 76 career playoff appearances and he would be a huge addition to the team as Tampa tries to extend the series. Anthony Cirelli (upper body) is also a game-time call for Friday after getting injured in Game 4.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: NHL.com
2 years agoTampa Bay Lightning defenseman Erik Cernak was hurt in Wednesday's Game 4 against Colorado, suffering a lower-body injury whilst blocking a shot in the second period. The 25-year-old tallied an assist when Anthony Cirelli opened the scoring 36 seconds into the game, and it was a busy night all around for Cernak before he was injured as he added three shots, two blocks and two hits to his line in 7:37 of ice time. Mikhail Sergachev picked up most of the slack and ended up leading all Tampa players in ice time with 32:50. The severity of Cernak's injury is unclear at present, but it looks like he will be doubtful for Friday's Game 5.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Joe Smith
RADIO
