This article is part of our The Daily Puck series.
Around the Rink
It has been announced that the Buffalo Sabres will be hosting the NHL Draft in 2016. This will be the third time Buffalo has hosted a draft, making them the only city to host the draft more than twice ever since the NHL start divvying out the event to different cities.
It feels like a somewhat odd choice, given that Buffalo is neither a large city nor a destination high on most people's lists, although it is also close to Canada, so maybe the hope is folks will flood across the border. In a way, it is a shame that the Sabres aren't hosting the next NHL Draft, because it seems like a veritable lock that Buffalo will be getting one of the top two picks, and with Connor MacDavid and Jack Eichel both so highly thought of, they will be getting a potential franchise altering player.
That makes next year feel like, perhaps, too little too late. Sure, no team really wants to be so bad they are drafting first overall, but if you are going to be getting the player of your choice, it'd be nice for the fan base to be able to show up in droves. Funnily enough, the Florida Panthers are hosting the 2015 NHL Draft, one year after getting the first overall pick. As per usual, the NHL can't quite get things just right. Now, the Panthers are expected to be a bit better, perhaps even make some noise regarding a playoff spot. Maybe Sabres fans will be hoping for the same thing. The addition of MacDavid or Eichel, presumably, could take Buffalo out of the running for a high pick in 2016. Which is fine, one presumes. Nobody really wants to be the Edmonton Oilers.
Projected Goalie Starters (all times Eastern)
Bruins (Tuukka Rask) at Red Wings (Jimmy Howard) 8:00
Flames (Karri Ramo*) at Blackhawks (Corey Crawford) 8:00
Oilers (Viktor Fasth) at Coyotes (Mike Smith) 10:30
*Confirmed Starters
For updates on the projected goalies later in the day, check out our Projected Goalies Grid.
Injury News For Teams Playing Wednesday
Bruins
Gregory Campbell, C (abdomen) – Has been skating with teammates, but has not been cleared for contact.
Red Wings
Pavel Datsyuk, C (shoulder) – Still hasn't been cleared for contact.
Jonas Gustavsson, G (knee) – Has not played yet this season, currently day-to-day.
Flames
David Jones, RW (lower-body) – Did not play Saturday, did not practice Monday.
Corey Potter, D (shoulder) – Placed on Flames' injured non-roster list.
Blackhawks
Michal Rozsival, D (upper-body) – Practiced Monday, is likely to play Wednesday
Kris Versteeg, RW (lower-body) – Has yet to return to ice, was expected to miss three weeks when injured.
Oilers
None
Coyotes
None
Hot
Brock Nelson, C, NYI – Obviously, Nelson is not going to remain among the league's leading scorers for the long run. However, he's up there now, thanks to a hot start to the season. The Islanders have only played two games, but Nelson has notched three goals and three assists in New York's home-and-home with the Carolina Hurricanes, and then he added another goal against the Rangers. There is reason for some belief here. Nelson is only 22, and he has 17 goals and 32 points in 74 career games. He also has three power-play points already, so clearly he's going to get some special teams action, which can only help. The Islanders are getting better, and that raises the potential for guys like Nelson.
Wayne Simmonds, RW, PHI – Simmonds isn't often mentioned among the league's best players, but he has two near 30 goal seasons to his name, and he's off to a hot start to the season. After being blanked in the season opener, Simmonds has notched seven points in his last three games. He has five goals, three on the power-play, and this could be the year he finally hits that 30 goal mark.
Cold
Carey Price, G, MTL – Yes, Price started the year by earning two wins, but that hasn't necessarily been the result of Price's netminding. He has let in at least three goals in all three games he has played, and his best save percentage in a game is .906. In his last game, against the Tampa Bay Lighting, Price took the loss and got pulled after letting up four goals in 23 shots in 40 minutes. Sure, Price was great last season, and he will almost assuredly not finish with a .878 SV%, but we aren't that far from a time when Price posted a .905 SV% over the course of a season.
Carl Hagelin, LW, NYR – Hagelin has speed, and last year he had 17 goals and 33 points in 72 games, and he scored 38 points in 64 games his rookie year. However, so far Hagelin has not been contributing to a New York Rangers offense that has been struggling. So far, Hagelin has yet to register a point, and he's also minus-5 through four games. Eventually, Hagelin will score, but so far, he's throwing up a goose egg, and you don't get fantasy points for skating fast.
Recommended Pickup
Zach Bogosian, D, WPG – Bogosian will never be Drew Doughty, his fellow blueliner whom was selected one pick before him in the 2008 NHL Draft. Bogosian has also seen his point totals drop the last couple of seasons, combined with injuries that limited his playing time and effectiveness. However, we are still talking about a player who is only 24 and who once put up 30 points and 71 penalty minutes in one season. Bogosian only has two points this season through three games, both assists, but he's also notched six PIM and nine shots on goal while seeing 22:15 of ice time. If Bogosian can finally have another healthy season, this could be his breakout year.
