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NHL Scratches & Line Changes

Bobby Butler(RW)|
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Heading into the training camp, it was believed that Bobby Butler would be counted on to be one of the Senators few offensive threats. Yet after a weak camp, he has slipped down the depth chart and MacLean says Butler has to learn to be solid defensively to make a significant impact.

Butler scored 10 goals and 21 points through 31 games last season after proving himself at the AHL level. With a new head coach, it seems apparent that he will need to re-earn his playing time.

Source:
Senators Extra 2011-10-05T12:15:26.000Z
Bobby Butler
Erik Condra(RW)|FA
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Condra, the always-in-the-right-place Ottawa Senators winger who figures to find a home somewhere on the club’s third and fourth lines this season, grew up in Trenton, Mich., a long slapshot away from Detroit’s Joe Louis Arena.

Condra is currently skating on the team's fourth line. In 26 games with the Senators last season, Condra scored 6 goals and tallied 5 assists, with 12 penalty minutes. He could move up with injuries.

Source:
Senators Extra 2011-10-05T12:11:23.000Z
Erik Condra
Daniel Alfredsson(RW)|INA
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“It all depends on how I feel, but I’m going to play like this is my last year and we’ll see how it goes. I think I approach it that way — that it could be the last one because you never know. I’m just going to give it everything I have and have no regrets looking back after.”

Following his worst statistical season where he struggled with injuries, Alfredsson could be nearing the end. As a point-per-game player most of his career, he likely returns to at least the 50 point range while mentoring young Swedes like David Rundblad and Mika Zibanejad.

Source:
Senators Extra 2018-07-18T17:53:16.356Z
Blake Wheeler(RW)|FA
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And for a Winnipeg Jets franchise that is expecting several players to elevate their games to the next level, Wheeler just might be the poster boy for a breakout season.

Wheeler is entering his fourth NHL season and should be motivated after watching the Bruins win the Stanley Cup. Last season he scored seven goals and 17 points over 23 games while with the Atlanta Thrashers and skating on the top line. Over a full season those stats project for 25 goals and 61 points.

Source:
Winnipeg Sun 2011-10-05T10:19:19.000Z
Blake Wheeler
Dmitry Orlov(D)|SJS
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But he was one of the final cuts, which is not surprising given what everyone around the Caps had to say about him Sunday and Monday. Coach Bruce Boudreau called Orlov's final exhibition game “mediocre” while general manager George McPhee, in an interview with The Washington Times, wondered if the young Russian needed more seasoning.

At this point the team has six healthy veteran defenders with two starting the year on IR. Last season, the Russian expatriate scored two goals and nine points in 19 games with the Bears. He should find a place in the lineup by next season.

Source:
Capitals Watch 2011-10-05T10:01:36.000Z
Dmitry Orlov
Tom Gilbert(D)|
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The Oilers are hurting on the back end and have brought in at least two new bodies in their top six — Cam Barker and Andy Sutton — but Gilbert is their go-to guy as long as Ryan Whitney (sore ankle) isn’t quite ready to play.

With Whitney out, look for Gilbert to run the blue line offensively. Last season he scored six goals and 26 points with a minus-14 rating. If you can spare the minus, Gilbert could approach his previous 45-point totals.

Source:
Edmonton Journal 2011-10-04T23:10:48.000Z
Tom Gilbert
Aaron Volpatti(LW)|FA
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Those who know Volpatti will tell you there’s something special about the guy who’s in the final year of a two-year, free-agent contract. The 15 NHL games Volpatti played last season only strengthened his resolve to become a mainstay and not an afterthought when all the preseason hype was about newcomers Steve Pinizzotto, Mike Duco and Mark Mancari plus departed veteran Victor Oreskovich vying to be Maxim Lapierre’s wingers.

Volpatti scored four goals over the last two years split between the Manitoba Moose and Vancouver Canucks. Don't expect anything more than PIM from the gritty forward.

Source:
The White Towel 2011-10-04T23:05:40.000Z
Aaron Volpatti
Chuck Kobasew(RW)|INA
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A nine-year NHL veteran, Kobasew skated at left wing at practice today with Stastny and Jones, replacing rookie Gabriel Landeskog, who was dropped down to the third line.

The Avs should try Kobasew out in a scoring role as he scored 20 goals before in his career. While with the Minnesota Wild he only managed 18 goals through 105 games leading most to believe he lost that scoring touch. Expect Landeskog to move back onto the top line during the season.

Source:
The Denver Post 2018-07-18T17:53:15.445Z
Brett Bulmer(RW)|
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The 19-year-old Wild forward cleared another hurdle by being included on the team's roster for opening night.

Bulmer has impressed during training camp, earning a spot on the opening night's roster. Last season, the left wing scored 18 goals and 49 poiints in 57 games playing for the Kelowna Rockets. Look for him to play a third line role.

Source:
Star Tribune 2011-10-04T21:30:59.000Z
Brett Bulmer
Niklas Hjalmarsson(LD)|FA
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#Blackhawks coach Joel Quenenville said defensive pairings to start will include Hjalmarsson playing with Seabrook and Keith with Leddy.

Hjalmarsson paired with Brent Seabrook most of last season. After signing a new contract, the Swedish defender scored a career high three goals but still finished with only 10 points. Don't expect much offensively from the 24-year-old.

Source:
Chris Kuc 2011-10-04T20:16:00.000Z
Niklas Hjalmarsson
Nick Leddy(D)|FA
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#Blackhawks coach Joel Quenenville said defensive pairings to start will include Hjalmarsson playing with Seabrook and Keith with Leddy.

Leddy will start the season on the top defensive unit. Last season he scored four goals and seven points over 46 games with the Blackhawks. Look for him to improve his totals in his sophomore season.

Source:
Chris Kuc 2011-10-04T20:15:44.000Z
Nick Leddy
Brandon Pirri(C)|FA
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I definitely think he’ll be up here at some point. The numbers just didn’t work in his favor right now but it’s a long season, and he’s a center which puts him on high alert at all times.

The former second round pick has put himself in good position to make the team as the third line center with yet another impressive game. Last season, the Toronto native scored 12 goals and 43 points over 70 games for the Rockland IceHogs of the AHL. He should be capable of handling a checking role for the Blackhawks and should see time in their sweater at some point this season.

Source:
Chicago Blackhawks Report 2011-10-04T20:12:15.000Z
Brandon Pirri
Mattias Ekholm(D)|EDM
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The Nashville Predators have finalized their opening day roster and in spite of what Mattias Ekholm's agent reported earlier, it appears that he will start the season in the NHL.

Ekholm sticks in the NHL as a bottom-pairing defender. Last season he scored 10 goals and 33 points through 55 games with Brynas IF Gavle of the SEL. Look for him to get his feet wet at the NHL level.

Source:
Preds on the Glass 2011-10-04T20:02:48.000Z
Mattias Ekholm
Brett Connolly(RW)|FA
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Connolly can play in nine games before the team must decide whether to send him back to juniors. If he sticks with the team and plays a 10th game, the clock starts on his three-year, $2.7 million contract.

With a few subtractions from last season's roster, Connolly seemed poised to grasp a roster spot with an excellent training camp. So far he has not disappointed and could earn a shot at one of the top two lines. Last season he scored career highs in goals (46) and points (73) but did not alleviate concerns about dominating the WHL.

Source:
Lightning Strikes 2011-10-04T19:39:03.000Z
Brett Connolly
Victor Hedman(D)|TBL
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Victor Hedman to potentially play on the top defensive pairing with Eric Brewer. Speaking of the possibility, Hedman said “I’m up to the challenge. I’ve said before I want to be a difference maker and be a force on the ice. That’s my goal.”

Through his first two NHL seasons, Hedman posted seven goals and 49 points. In his third professional season he should be able to break through offensively. He would be a nice draft-day steal as a late round pick.

Source:
TampaBayLightning.com 2011-10-04T19:33:48.000Z
Victor Hedman
Evgenii Dadonov(LW)|FA
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Evgeny Dadonov, starting his second full season with the Panthers, may be the odd man out at least early on.

With all the recent signings in Florida, it appears Dadonov is the odd man out. Last season he scored eight goals and 17 points through 36 games at age 21. He should rotate back into the lineup at some point this year.

Source:
On Frozen Pond 2011-10-04T18:48:36.000Z
Evgenii Dadonov
Ryan Murphy(RD)|FA
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The Carolina Hurricanes find themselves in a perplexing situation regarding their rookie defenseman Ryan Murphy. They can keep him for the season, they can keep him for a nine game "preview" and then return him to the juniors, or they can return him to his junior team before the season starts, (and anytime up to the nine games).

Murphy probably is beaten out of a spot by Justin Faulk. Last season he scored 26 goals and 79 points through 63 games with the Kitchener Rangers of the AHL. Expect him to make an NHL impact as soon as next season.

Source:
Canes Country 2011-10-04T18:37:12.000Z
Ryan Murphy
Alex Ovechkin(LW)|WSH
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Alex Ovechkin will miss at least three days of practice while he attends to his family following the death of his uncle, but is hoping to return from Russia on Friday and play in the Capitals’ regular season opener Saturday night at home against the Carolina Hurricanes.

Ovechkin will not miss a game due to his family tragedy. ast season, the consensus fantasy hockey first overall pick scored 32 and 85 points -- both the lowest totals of his career. Expect him to return to the 50-goal, 100-point range this season.

Source:
CSN Washington 2011-10-04T18:23:14.000Z
Alex Ovechkin
Mathieu Perreault(C)|FA
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Most notably, there was Mathieu Perreault centering Alexander Semin and Troy Brouwer on what could be considered the second line.

Perreault made the team mostly because he can rotate between the first and third line when called up, or sit when he is not. Last season he scored seven goals and 14 points over 35 games with the Capitals. Expect around 20 points this season if he continues to shuffle in the lineup sporadically.

Source:
Capitals Watch 2011-10-04T18:21:33.000Z
Mathieu Perreault

NHL Line Changes

NHL line changes are essential in keeping a team’s players fresh on the ice over the course of a hard-fought 60-minute matchup. With shift changes occurring rapidly throughout any given game, we are here to provide you with everything you need to know regarding line changes.

Making sure a team is efficiently making line changes can be essential to their success within a matchup, as it ensures that the players needed on the ice to gain the upper hand are ready to spring into action at a moment’s notice. For NHL daily fantasy hockey players, knowing how to track line changes can be important as you look to keep tabs on the players you’ve drafted to your lineup and their production.

On The Fly

Unlike other sports where play must come to a stop in order to make a player substitution, in hockey, players can switch in-and-out of play on the fly. This helps in keeping the breakneck pace of the contest going, increasing the amount of action from whistle-to-whistle and avoiding any unnecessary stoppages.

On the fly changes are generally done when a team is in possession of the puck and are looking to make a transition play from their own end to their opponent’s side of the rink. Players must be aware of the action around them when making an on the fly substitution as a poorly timed switch could leave themselves vulnerable to an odd-man rush on the other end.

In order to make successful line changes on the fly it is up to the team coaching staff to keep players informed on when their line matchups are due to hit the ice. Generally, with both forwards and defensive pairings, line changes go from the first line trickling its way down to the fourth. Depending on the situation of the game, coaches may opt to give a particular line more playing time, increasing the amount of shifts they receive.

Play Stoppages

NHL line changes can also be made during stoppage of play, with both sides being given the chance to put fresh bodies on the ice ahead of the upcoming faceoff. Examples of a play stoppage that would allow teams to make line changes are after minor or major penalties, offsides, icing, and puck out of play calls. These line changes are often much more calculated as each coach has time to survey the other team and decide what would be the most advantageous line combination that will provide them with a competitive advantage.

Bench Configuration

It may seem like a confusing and unorganized area of the game, but in hockey there is a fair amount of strategy put into the bench configuration within a matchup. With both benches positioned in the neutral zone, making sure that players can quickly hop the boards and get into the game is key to making successful line changes. Benches are generally set so that players entering into the game on the fly are in the best possible position on the ice to fulfill their role.

Generally, a bench in hockey will have the forwards positioned closest to the attacking zone, whereas the defenceman will be situated closest to their defensive zone. This separates the forward lines and defence pairings from on another on each end of the bench so that groups can easily stay together. From here the rested forwards ready to enter into the game will be placed in the centre of the bench, positioned near the coaches so they can easily receive instruction before hitting the ice. This is also advantageous as players coming off the ice for a line change will often enter from the opposite side they came onto the ice from, preventing any unnecessary traffic or confusion when making a change. While each team may have their own preferences on how to configure their bench, these are the most common ways they are run.

Line Change Rules

Understanding the rules of NHL line changes in hockey is an understated part of the game and when used correctly can swing the tide of a matchup in your favour. Without in-depth understanding of line changes in hockey, this can cause costly mistakes that can result in minor penalties, lengthy shifts, or mismatches off a faceoff.

Last Line Change

The last line change rule exists so that the home team is able to make an adjustment to whatever lineup the visiting team decides to roll out after a stoppage in play. This rule was designed to make NHL line changes efficient, as well as provide both sides with the chance to strategically place their players based on the lines sent out by their opponents.

For example, after the whistle, the home team’s coach can elect to make a line change to the personnel on the ice. After that, the visiting coach will send out any new players into the game off of a line change. Thanks to the last line change rule, the home team coach is now granted the opportunity to make one last line change before play resumes to counter whatever line changes were made by the opposing team.

For daily fantasy sports bettors this is where having ample knowledge of each NHL team can come in handy. You can envision how each team may look to gain a competitive advantage over their opponent during a possession, drafting players who are set up for success within a matchup.

Penalties & Infractions

While NHL line changes are meant to be an efficient and simple way to keep the game being played at a fast-pace with minimal interruptions, there is still room for serious error during these substitutions. It’s not uncommon to see teams assessed for a penalty due to a botched line change, resulting in a power play opportunity for the opposing team.

A common penalty called as a result of a poorly executed line change is “too many men on the ice”. This penalty results when the offending team has six or more skaters (including the goaltender) on the ice at any given time and comes in physical contact with the puck. While players entering in the game during a shift change are eligible to hop the boards and get in on the action once their teammate is within five feet of the bench, they must time this correctly or they could be hit with a premature substitution infraction. When a bench minor penalty such as too many men on the ice is assessed, it is up to the team’s head coach to decide who serves the penalty based on the players currently on the ice at the time of the penalty.

Another line change infraction to be aware of is in the case of an icing call. Icing is called when a team plays a puck from their own side of the red centre line across the red goal line in their opponents end. When icing is called, a faceoff will be taken from the end of the team that committed the infraction. During an icing call the team that was called for icing is not able to make any line changes, meaning they are forced to keep all players who were on the ice at the time of the infraction in the contest. Their opponents however are allowed to make any line change they desire, making this an incredibly beneficial call if they can strategize correctly.

How Line Changes Impact Fantasy Hockey

NHL line changes can come fast and suddenly so it can be challenging to keep track of certain players over the course of a matchup. This can make it difficult for avid fantasy hockey managers and sports bettors to know when the players they’ve wagered on are on the ice. Some broadcasts now incorporate various display mechanics that allow for you to see who is on the ice at any given time, making shift change tracking much simpler than ever before. Be sure to stay up-to-date on the jersey numbers of any players on your fantasy roster or that you bet on as a failsafe so that you can find them quickly while watching the action unfold.

Knowing how long a typical shift for a player entering into a matchup is can be an advantageous piece of knowledge for fantasy managers and bettors alike. The longer a player’s shift lasts, the higher their chances of registering a point or other statistical milestone which can help you in winning your fantasy matchups and/or bets placed on a game.