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NHL Scratches & Line Changes

Matthew Corrente(Defenseman)(D)|Inactive INA

Line Change

“There’s a lot of guys here, a good competition, but you have to worry about the things you can control and that’s yourself,” he said. “You have to get yourself ready to go every night and I feel like I’m doing a good job with that.”

Corrente likely goes back to the AHL due to the healthy competition during this season's training camp. Through 34 NHL games, the former first rounder is still searching for his first NHL goal. At this point he holds no fantasy value.

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Fire & Ice 2018-07-18T17:53:25.912Z

Brett Festerling(Defenseman)(D)|Inactive INA

Line Change

"It's been right there for about three years now," Festerling said. "The hard part is always getting established. That's a hard spot to get these days, is that last defensive spot. There's a lot of established guys."

Festerling will compete for one of the final NHL spots on the Jets' blue line. Over 83 career games, the undrafted defender has no goals and eight assists. He has no fantasy value.

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Winnipeg Sun 2018-07-18T17:53:13.486Z

Marco Scandella(Right Defenseman)(LD)|Free Agent FA

Line Change

"What you want from guys is to force you to make decisions, for a guy to come in and say, 'Here I am,' " Yeo said. "Marco is doing that."

The former Team Canada standout has a good chance of making the team but has to work hard to earn his shot. Last season he produced two assists in his first NHL campaign. Look for Scandella to improve those point totals in his first full season.

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Star Tribune 2011-09-24T23:06:42.000Z

Matt Smaby(Defenseman)(D)|Inactive INA

Line Change

But with Toni Lydman and Kurtis Foster expected to miss the first few games of the season, Smaby recognizes that this could be his opportunity to land a job with the big club when it breaks camp.

Smaby figures to slot onto the bottom pairing. Last season he was held pointless in 32 games for the Tampa Bay Lightning. Considering he has scored no goals through 122 NHL games, he is not relevant in fantasy hockey.

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OC Register Ducks Bl 2018-07-18T17:53:26.283Z

Troy Brouwer(Right Wing)(RW)|Free Agent FA

Line Change

Troy Brouwer is expected to make his Caps debut Monday against Columbus at Verizon Center, Coach Bruce Boudreau said.

Brouwer playing on Monday assures he starts the regular season on time. He scored 17 goals and 36 points last season with the Chicago Blackhawks. The 26-year-old should have no problem replicating those totals playing with Alex Ovechkin or Alexander Semin.

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Capitals Insider 2011-09-24T17:40:22.000Z

Cody Hodgson(Center)(C)|Free Agent FA

Line Change

Notably, Vancouver will dress what amounts to three fourth lines to further evaluate the competition for two open spots there, and a nominal offensive line that has Cody Hodgson at centre between veteran Marco Sturm and rookie Nicklas Jensen.

Hodgson could center the second line with Ryan Kesler injured. He scored a goal and an assist through eight games last season. The former 10th overall pick has a good deal of potential and should be given a long look over the next few weeks.

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The Province 2011-09-24T17:26:42.000Z

Manny Legace(Goalie)(G)|Inactive INA

Line Change

The news was worse for goalie Manny Legace. “We told him he wasn’t going to get an opportunity to play again,” Vigneault said. “There seemed to be some other interest out there. Some other teams are looking for goaltenders. We gave him the opportunity to stay with us and practice or maybe him and his agent can look at something else.

Legace won't get a contract with the Canucks. He has literally no fantasy value at this time.

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The White Towel 2018-07-18T17:53:24.580Z

Carter Ashton(Right Wing)(RW)|

Line Change

Brett Connolly, Mattias Ritola, Cory Conacher, Dana Tyrell and Carter Ashton are all in the lineup for a second or third consecutive game which will go a long way for the Tampa Bay brass in figuring out the large cuts that are expected Sunday.

Ashton remains a wildcard to make the team. He scored 33 goals last season between the Tri-City Americans and Regina Pats last season. The former 29th overall pick projects to play a gritty, two-way game in the NHL either this season or next.

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Lightning Strikes 2011-09-24T17:07:18.000Z

Dana Tyrell(Center)(C)|

Line Change

Tyrell played a checking line role last season with Tampa Bay, fitting in with Adam Hall and Nate Thompson. In 78 games he scored six goals and 15 points. Expect him to play a checking line role again for the Bolts this year.

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Lightning Strikes 2011-09-24T17:05:22.000Z

Mattias Ritola(Center)(C)|Inactive INA

Line Change

Ritola could make the team as a spare forward after playing sparingly last season. He scored four goals and eight points in 31 games last season for the Lightning after getting claimed off waivers from Detroit. His fantasy impact is minimal should he make the roster.

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Lightning Strikes 2018-07-18T17:53:26.054Z

Brett Connolly(Right Wing)(RW)|Free Agent FA

Line Change

Connolly could make the team and play in place of Simon Gagne on one of the top two lines. Last season he managed to score 46 goals in only 59 games with the Prince George Cougars of the WHL. If he fails to make the cut this season, expect him to be right back into the mix next year.

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Lightning Strikes 2011-09-24T17:02:38.000Z

Alex Pietrangelo(Defenseman)(D)|Vegas Golden Knights VGK

Line Change

That would seem obvious, since last September he was trying to make the Blues' roster and heading into the 2011-12 season he's expected to lead the team in ice time. Still, after an 11-goal, 43-point season in which he finished with a plus-18 rating, he is assuming nothing.

Expect Pietrangelo to lead the team in ice time and in the locker room. The 21-year-old seems poised to make big strides this season and should be taken seriously in any keeper league.

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St. Louis Post-Dispa 2011-09-24T16:55:11.000Z

Thomas Greiss(Goalie)(G)|Free Agent FA

Line Change

Greiss, of course, is the team’s back-up netminder with Antero Niittymaki expected to miss the next three months after undergoing hip surgery this week.

Greiss has played well during the preseason, alleviating any concerns about his skill level. As Evgeni Nabokov's backup, the German 'tender found his way into 19 games over parts of two seasons. He's proven a capable backup in the past with relatively no starter experience at the NHL level.

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Working the Corners 2011-09-24T16:48:40.000Z

Joe Morrow(Right Defenseman)(LD)|

Line Change

Defenseman Joe Morrow, the club's first-round pick in this year's draft, survived the first cut after having a strong exhibition game Wednesday against Detroit.

Morrow likely gets a longer look as one of the team's top prospects. He scored nine goals and 49 points through 60 games with the Portland Winter Hawks last season. Expect him to return to Juniors for at least one more season.

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Pittsburgh Post-Gaze 2011-09-24T16:41:10.000Z

Brian Boyle(Center)(C)|Free Agent FA

Line Change

Although its only one night, and a pre-season game at that, I just don’t get the feeling that using Boyle on the left wing of the top line would work out to the team’s advantage.

Coach Tortorella prefers to use Boyle as the team's third line center. Last season, the hulking center scored 21 goals and 35 points in his breakout campaign. His production could be a fantasy mirage but he was quite relevant last season.

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Hockey's Future NY R 2011-09-24T16:14:09.000Z

Wojtek Wolski(Left Wing)(LW)|Inactive INA

Line Change

It was the first time we got to see the Wojtek Wolski, Richards, Gaborik line in action, and it did not disapppoint.

Wolski passed the eye test in his first game on the top line. Despite scoring only 12 goals last season, the former 21st overall pick is only one season removed from a 23-goal, 65-point campaign. At this point he seems like the frontrunner.

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Hockey's Future NY R 2018-07-18T17:53:35.631Z

Adam Larsson(Defenseman)(D)|Seattle Kraken SEA

Line Change

“It’s only two games,” he said. “Let’s wait until the regular season. Don’t give him too much love.”

Sounds like Larsson definitely makes the team out of camp. The Devils could benefit from a good, right-handed shot from the point. Should Larsson click, his fantasy value should skyrocket as he is listed with an excellent supporting cast.

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Fire & Ice 2011-09-24T15:54:23.000Z

Adam Henrique(Center)(C)|Free Agent FA

Line Change

Henrique, who will play again Saturday against the Islanders, centered a line with Tedenby on his left wing and veteran tryout Petr Skyora on his right side tonight. He ended up playing 14:57 for the game.

With the injuries down the middle, Henrique figures to make the team out of camp. Last season, the former Windsor Spitfire scored 25 goals and 50 points with the team's AHL affiliate Albany Devils. Look for him to center the third line until Zajac returns.

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Fire & Ice 2011-09-24T15:15:48.000Z

Sergei Kostitsyn(Left Wing)(LW)|Inactive INA

Line Change

Trotz is thrilled with what he has seen out of Kostitsyn in camp so far. "He looks really good. His fitness level is 100 times better than last year when it wasn’t very good."

Kostitsyn looks to improve on his breakout season of last season where he scored 23 goals and 50 points. He should be able to match that production with the team keeping most of his frequent linemates. Feel free to draft in deeper leagues.

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Preds on the Glass 2018-07-18T17:53:32.047Z

Brad Staubitz(Right Wing)(RW)|Inactive INA

Line Change

The Wild's Brad Staubitz has been suspended indefinitely pending a hearing with discipline czar Brendan Shanahan for his hit from behind on Cody Bass

The suspension probably carries over into the regular season. Last season, Staubitz scored four goals and nine points in 71 games for the Wild, amassing 173 PIM. Grab him if you need the penalty minutes as he has close to no value beyond that.

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Russo's Rants 2018-07-18T17:53:12.906Z

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.