After an essentially lost season, Sanguinetti looks to recapture his scoring touch that made him a first round pick and AHL All-Star. He could be a decent post-hype sleeper should the Canes incur some injuries on the blue line.
Despite his pugilistic playing style, Erskine never topped 100 PIM or played more than last year's 73 games. If his 11 career goals in 396 games are not enough to steer you away from him, an injured shoulder should be enough deterrence.
Williams missed nine games last season, recovering from injury ahead of schedule. He looks to stay on the ice for the entire season but holds only two 82-game seasons over his 10-year career.
Feel comfortable drafting Kopitar accordingly. Adding Mike Richards to the Kings lineup should only help take pressure off the Slovenian superstar.
Locke has a decent chance of making the team following an outstanding AHL season. As a former CHL and AHL MVP, the 27-year-old has very little to prove outside the NHL. Regardless of his accolades, his fantasy value remains limited unless centering the top line in Ottawa.
Cumiskey claims to be fully recovered after playing only 18 games last season but remains unsigned. While the 24-year-old showed some promise in the WHL and AHL, his success has yet to translate to the NHL through parts of five seasons.
Kindl has a chance to stick following four years between the AHL and NHL. His competition for playing time will mostly consist of Mike Commodore but if he displays his offensive capabilities he could challenge Ian White and/or Jonathan Ericsson for playing time.
As the current Leafs top prospect, Kadri holds the inside track against lower prospects like Colborne and Frattin. Dupuis could possess a threat as he holds the most NHL experience, but the 26-year-old coudl just-as-well serve as a 13th forward.
Latendresse recovered by the end of the 2011 regular season and used the entire summer to prepare. He will start the year on the second line in an attempt to regain his scoring touch.
Some pundits penciled Bouchard on the top line with Mikko Koivu and Dany Heatley. For the time being the injury-prone playmaker starts on the second line.
Setoguchi may even receive an upgrade in fantasy hockey value as he moves from the San Jose line juggle to a guaranteed spot on the top line.
Kane claims to be starting the regular season at full strength. If you take his word for it, feel free to draft him in the second or third round.
Barring an injury to both Brian Boucher and Cam Ward, the former backup likely stays in the AHL next season.
Last season, Segal found his way into 46 games for the injury-plagued Dallas Stars. Known mostly for his fists, Segal's five goals and 10 points fails to translate into fantasy hockey.
It looks like Roman Josi, Jack Hillen and Teemu Laakso will compete for the final two spots on the Preds' starting blue line.
For those of you expecting an uptick in production from Kulikov: be careful. The young Russian will need to earn his spot and compete for playing time with veterans like Brian Campbell and Ed Jovanovski.
It goes without saying that you should not draft Savard at this time.
Nugent-Hopkins holds a pretty good chance of making the Edmonton Oilers out of training camp as the past four first-overall selections have made their respective teams following the draft.
For those of you considering drafting Lombardi: wait and see how he reacts during training camp before taking the risk. Lombardi posted 19 goals and 53 points during the '09 - '10 campaign but missed all-but-two games due to a concussion last season.
Leclaire remains unsigned following hip surgery. It goes without saying that any prospective owner should monitor his recovery before drafting or adding the injury-prone netminder.