HEADS UP:  Need one more league?... we're still looking for more GMs for the FHSPL, we've got at least two auctions happening this week... check here for the details

Exhibit # 5839 that the pre-season doesn't mean a thing... The Hawks obviously had decided when they brought Ray Emery in for a try-out that he was making the team as he certainly didn't earn it based on his play in the pre-season (4.58 & .813).  I guess they just wanted to see that he wouldn't fall apart during training camp and that was good enough for him to get a one-way contract yesterday and push Alexander Salak to the minors.  We'll see how Salak feels about that as he opted to play in Sweden last year as opposed to the AHL but returned this year cause the Hawks gave him a one-way deal.  This is disappointing as we had high hopes for Salak this year and while Emery could challenge Crawford for starts, I have a lot of questions about his health, attitude, consistency & stamina.

The Jets signed Mark Scheifele to an ELC and Coach Claude Noel had this to say about how long he expects the kid to be in Winnipeg:

Stunned. You watch him, he has high hockey intellect and I've said that all along, he is clever and his teammates realize it. He's smart. I'll be stunned. I'll guarantee you, he'd have to be a complete failure in these nine games. He also knows he's here day-by-day and he's not guaranteed anything, but I would be stunned to see him go back. And we'll make that assessment. I don't want to sound boastful, but I'd be stunned.

That's four "Stunned" in one quote, so I'd say Noel would be stunned if Scheifele was sent down after a nine game run.  Wow, I'm stunned, this kid was playing Jr. B hockey just 18 months ago and now he's apparently the second coming of Dale Hawerchuk.

Detroit signed Fabian Brunnstrom to a two-way deal yesterday so he's made the team for now.  All he did was score three goals in six exhibition games and since he only projects to play on the 3rd/4th line, I wouldn't get too excited.

Anton Stralman is still in camp with the Devils and it's sounding like he might get himself a contract as well... we shall see shortly.  They could use some help on the PP so he could get see some quality ice-time.

The latest Sidney Crosby non-update is that he's officially on IR so that means he's unavailable for the first week.

Marc Staal (concussion) is not taking a European vacation so he's going to miss at least the Rangers first two games of the season.

Matt Carkner is out for 4-6 weeks following knee surgery, which isn't fantasy relevant but means that both David Rundblad & Jared Cowen will begin the season on the Sens roster... and so it begins for Rundblad. 

Josh Harding hurt his ankle, we're not sure how long he's out for but the Wild have recalled Matt Hackett to take his place.  Anyone else think that Harding might be cursed?

The Habs have said that Andrei Markov is "quite a ways" from returning due to his recurring knee injury... I have like zero faith in this guy right now.

The Leafs say that Tim Connolly (UBI) should be able to go on opening night but he'll likely be a game-time decision... not a great way to start.

Nino Niederreiter seems to have made the Islanders but he's out for a few weeks due to a groin injury.

Here are the notable cuts from the past 24 hours:  Brandon Pirri (CHI), Marcus Kruger (CHI), Ryan Ellis (NSH), Jonathan Huberdeau (FLA), Joe Morrow (PIT), Justin Braun (SJ), Benn Ferriero (SJ), Matt Taormina (NJ) & Vladimir Zharkov (NJ).  All of these guys were really close to making the team and you can probably expect them to be one of the first call-ups for their respective clubs except for Huberdeau & Morrow who will head back to Jr. for the year.

Dobber with a good rundown of the preseason scoring leaders and what it all means, along with a look at some of the key training camp battles.

Robert Vollman of Hockey Prospectus with another good list, this one of some Regression Candidates.  A lot of you aren't gonna like seeing some of the names on this list... cross your fingers, that usually fends off bad luck.