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NHL Scratches & Line Changes

Petr Sykora(RW)|INA
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He finished the preseason tied for the team lead with two goals and also had one assist in four games. He also had a hat trick in a training camp scrimmage.

Sykora has done everything except win the job outright. Last season, the former 18th overall pick split the year between the Czech league and the KHL. He should earn a contract and get a chance to play on a scoring line at least until Travis Zajac returns.

Source:
Fire & Ice 2018-07-18T17:53:29.328Z
Alexander Urbom(D)|INA
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Urbom made the most of his opportunity in Friday night’s 1-0 win over the Islanders, standing out from a group was made up mostly of players destined to sent to Albany. With Bryce Salvador being rested tonight because of some groin and hip soreness, the 20-year-old Swede got another chance and excelled again in a 2-1 win over the Flyers.

Sounds like Urbom impressed in his preseason debut. Last season the Swedish d-man scored two goals and 23 points last season while playing with the Albany Devils, earning an eight-game tryout with the big club. Should an injury hit Anton Volchenkov or Bryce Salvador, look for Urbom to get called up.

Source:
Fire & Ice 2018-07-18T17:53:10.498Z
Ryan Keller(RW)|INA
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“The way things are going (Oilers injuries), it might be the best way to make the team ... unfortunately we’ve had a lot of guys go down,” said Keller, with a large helping of empathy for Fedun’s catastrophic injury.

Keller moved to the blue line following the recent injury to Taylor Fedun. Last season he scored 32 goals and 51 points as a member of the Binghampton Senators, helping them win the Calder Cup. He could earn a spot on the team as he provides depth without needing to play.

Source:
Edmonton Journal 2018-07-18T17:53:30.721Z
Cody Hodgson(C)|FA
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Cody Hodgson will centre the second line — as a stand-in for injured Ryan Kesler, who’s expected to miss the first month of the season recovering from hip surgery — between veteran wingers Marco Sturm and Mikael Samuelsson.

Hodgson holds high potential as a former 10th overall pick. The former 10th overall pick scored 17 goals and 30 points through 52 games for the Manitoba Moose last season. Grab him now if you need a depth center.

Source:
The White Towel 2011-10-01T18:52:46.000Z
Cody Hodgson
Keith Aulie(D)|FA
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Carl Gunnarsson and Keith Aulie also could be on the bubble.

Aulie made the team last season and formed a shutdown pairing with Dion Phaneuf. The former fourth round pick scored two goals through his first 40 games. If he remains on the roster, expect solid defensive play but close to no offense.

Source:
The Star 2011-10-01T18:36:26.000Z
Keith Aulie
Mike Komisarek(D)|INA
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Mike Komisarek, a veteran who entered training camp in a fight to keep his regular spot on a deep blue line.

With an inflated contract and declining skillset Komisarek is an easy choice to be cut. Last season he scored a goal and 10 points through 75 games with the Leafs. Don't expect much in terms of production from the West Islip, New York native.

Source:
The Star 2018-07-18T17:53:27.444Z
Jake Gardiner(LD)|FA
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Gardiner's ever-emerging presence on the Leafs blue line has further complicated things for Ron Wilson heading into the preseason finale against Detroit on Saturday.

As one of the better defensive prospects in hockey, Gardiner could make the team and push a veteran out of a job. Last season, he scored 10 goals and 41 points in as many games with the University of Wisconsin. He could use a bit more time in the AHL after playing only 10 games with the Marlies last season.

Source:
Leafs Report 2011-10-01T18:30:57.000Z
Jake Gardiner
Erik Gudbranson(D)|CBJ
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Gudbranson will at the least get the nine games but there has to be a reason the Panthers are keeping eight defensemen in camp for now.

Look for the former third overall pick to stick with the club on a nine-game tryout. Last season he scored 12 goals and 34 points over 44 games with the Kingston Frontenacs. However, considering the team has no reason to rush their youngsters, expect another year of no fantasy impact.

Source:
Sun-Sentinel 2011-10-01T18:25:35.000Z
Erik Gudbranson
Justin Faulk(D)|DET
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"I haven't seen any reason to think of him differently than a good NHL defenseman," Maurice said. "There's just hasn't been a hole (in his game). So I'm almost moving to the point that you start thinking of this guy in the same way you did about Jeff Skinner last year.

Faulk seems more likely to make the team out of camp if the above quotes are any indication. Last season, at the University of Minnesota-Deluth, he scored eight goals and 33 points over 39 games. Expect him to be eased into NHL play.

Source:
Canes Now 2011-10-01T18:13:47.000Z
Justin Faulk
Joe Corvo(D)|INA
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Between Corvo and Chara, who owns the fastest slap-shot in the NHL, the B’s should be able to create great scoring chances on the power play if they can work the puck back to the point.

Corvo played on the top power play unit to excellent results. Last season he scored 11 goals and 40 points over 82 games; 23 of those points came with the man advantage. Feel free to draft him in standard mixed leagues.

Source:
The Official Tumblr Home of the Boston Bruins 2018-07-18T17:53:21.440Z
Mark Scheifele(C)|WPG
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“Look at the stats from the league. He’s a pretty good player. I’ve seen enough to know that over the course of games that I’ve watched him that he’s an excellent player and I don’t only look at what he presents, in terms of skill. It’s his mind that’s so sharp.”

Scheifele continues to impress the team's brass with his near dominant outings. Scheifele scored 22 goals and 75 points in 66 games with the Barrie Colts of the OHL. If he makes the team, expect him to play a relatively prominent role on a scoring line.

Source:
Winnipeg Sun 2011-10-01T17:49:48.000Z
Mark Scheifele
Patrik Berglund(C)|
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"At this point in the year, compared to last year, his skating looks much, much stronger," coach Davis Payne said after Friday's practice. "So he's driving to some areas with the intention to put that puck on net. That's great.

Berglund should play a more physical game which could lead to an uptick in goals. The Swedish center scored a career high 22 goals but could be looking at 30 should he continue to center the top line. Expect a breakout year in his fourth season in the NHL.

Source:
St. Louis Post-Dispatch 2011-10-01T17:42:56.000Z
Patrik Berglund
Michal Neuvirth(G)|
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In other news, both Michal Neuvirth and Mathieu Perreault, who missed the previous two days of practice with minor injuries are back on the ice.

Neuvirth seems fine to play which forces Braden Holtby back to the AHL. He posted a 2.45 GAA and ,914 SV% over 48 games played last season but figures to play significantly less with Tomas Vokoun the acting starting goalie. His best fantasy hockey value would be as a handcuff to Vokoun.

Source:
Capitals Insider 2011-10-01T17:32:17.000Z
Michal Neuvirth
Brooks Laich(C)|
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On Saturday morning at KCI, however, Laich was lined up as the center of the third line between Jason Chimera and Joel Ward. It’s a combination that would allow the Capitals to maximize all of the depth they have on the wing while putting an established NHL player in the middle of the third line.

Laich could center the third line, which would eliminate any fantasy hockey value for Mathieu Perreault, Matthias Sjogren and Cody Eakin. Last season Laich alternated between center and wing which netted him his worst offensive season in three seasons. Expect no higher than 50 points should he remain on the third line.

Source:
Capitals Insider 2011-10-01T17:30:21.000Z
Brooks Laich

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.