Player Notes in the Draft (Nov 17)

The Carolina Hurricanes made Ryan Murphy into a healthy scratch on Saturday night, as they took on the St. Louis Blues, as they likely went for a little bit more of a veteran presence against a high-powered Blues team.  Their plan didn't exactly work, as they dropped the decision, 4-2, in the end, but this is a sign that they don't have enough faith in Murphy to put up a responsible game against some tough Western Conference opponents.  I would expect to see Murphy back in the line-up before too long.

Murphy has been a contributor to one of our pool leader's success, as Allan has picked up 7 points from the rookie blueliner, which isn't a bad number through seven weeks.  Allan's defense has been average this season, but the rest of his team has been good, so Murphy will likely stick around through the Waiver Draft.

The Hurricanes took the loss against the Blues last night and also lost the services of Alexander Semin, who left the game with an upper-body injury.  Semin was hit hard by Alex Pietrangelo in the 3rd period of Saturday night's game and didn't return.  There was no immediate word about his condition on Sunday morning, so we'll have to wait and see.  He'll be listed as day-to-day, until the team gives a proper update.

With Semin getting hurt, this is not what Leo M. had in mind going into the Waiver Draft.  Leo's offense has been a sore spot in the early part of the season, but this week has been especially bad.  Leo has dropped down to 22nd, which means the 3rd pick, but he was hoping to only drop some underachieving players, not hurt players.

Marian Hossa was a late scratch for the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday night, as he is reportedly dealing with a lower-body injury.  The team is keeping a close eye on Hossa, as they go again on Sunday, home to the San Jose Sharks, in a huge Western Conference match-up.  If Hossa cannot go tonight, he'll continue to be listed as out day-to-day and we'll await a further update from the team, which would likely occur on Monday.

There hasn't been any indication that the injury is serious, rather just a minor injury, so there should be no real worry for Ryan M. during Waiver Draft week.  Ryan is in the race for the Mover & Shaker in Week Seven and could really use Hossa in the Blackhawks line-up tonight, as he moves up the standings at arguably the wrong time in the season.

Everyone in the Colorado Avalanche organization is likely holding their breath, awaiting further news on the injury to Matt Duchene.  Duchene was hurt on Saturday night against the Florida Panthers and the injury has been classified as an oblique muscle injury, which could be a tricky one, according to a few reports.  The Avalanche may want to run a battery of tests, which they have time to do, as they do not play again until Tuesday, when they welcome the Blackhawks to town.  Duchene will be day-to-day until an announcement is made.

Cindy already has a couple of forwards that could be shifted in the Waiver Draft this coming week, not to mention some questionable goaltending, so this injury was not what she was hoping for this weekend.  Cindy sits in 15th place after Saturday night, sitting on the verge of dropping further, but improving her pick.  Improving her pick wouldn't do her any good, unless she only had a couple bodies to replace.

Evgeni Nabokov only lasted four minutes in the game between the Islanders and the Red Wings, letting in a goal and appearing to injure his groin in the process.  The Islanders later confirmed that it was a groin injury that Nabokov had suffered and he wouldn't return to the game, leaving Kevin Poulin in charge of the crease.  The Islanders won 5-4 in the shootout and await the word on Nabokov's injury.

A second injury on the notes for Leo M. and this second one could be more devastating to his team, as his goaltending is his best position in the pool thus far.  If Nabokov is only expected to be out a couple weeks, it might be something Leo's team can stomach, but if it is a longer-term injury, blowing a pick like that will hurt other aspects of his team.  Leo only sits 9 points out of 15th, which is only one good week away, so he'll need something for Week Nine and it'll have to be really good.