The Sports Xchange reports look for Danny Briere to start the season as a top-line right wing with center Mike Richards and left wing Simon Gagne and for Claude Giroux to start as a third-line center. "Danny can play either side and he likes to play the off wing," Stevens said. "We loved Giroux at center ice and that's where he'll start camp. I met with Danny and told him we'd like to see him start on the wing. He puts a lot of time into mentally and physically preparing and it's important all of your players know their roles. Danny will clearly be involved in the offense and on the power play. He is fully committed to staying healthy this season and by watching him his quickness is back to where it was before the groin injuries." Read More

The News The Associated Press is reporting that Blues' captain Eric Brewer underwent minor knee surgery, delaying his return to the team. Brewer is expected to miss two-to-four weeks due to the surgery, and it is unlikely that he will be ready to play when the Blues open the season on October 2. Our View Brewer has struggled with back injuries over the last year, and this knee surgery is just piling onto an already grueling rehab schedule. Brewer is hoping to be ready for the start of the season, but that seems highly unlikely, especially after this setback. Look for him to miss some time early, and don't be shocked if he misses significant time from injury this season. Read More

The News Alexei Kovalev stated that he would like to have a chance to finish his career with the Canadiens, according to TSN. Our View He was disappointed that he won't be staying with the Canadiens, but should be focused on helping his new team, the Senators, in 2009-10. He signed a two-year deal with Ottawa, and this may rub his teammates the wrong way that he is already thinking about his future. Read More

The News According to the Nashville Tennessean, the Predators are interested in veteran defenseman Chris Chelios. Our View Chelios is a free agent and has received offers from Russian clubs, but would much rather stick around in the NHL, so the fact that the Preds are interested bodes well for him. Read More

Free agent defenseman Erik Reitz signed a contract to play for Sibir Novosibirsk of the Kontinental Hockey League (Russia). Read More

The News Dennis Seidenberg is talking to the Rangers, according to Newsday. Our View Seidenberg only scored five goals and 25 assists over 70 games with Carolina last season, and the blueliner did not garner much attention as an unrestricted free agent. He could benefit from a fresh start if signed by New York. Read More

The News Dion Phaneuf has fully recovered from the cracked rib and shoulder injury that he sustained during the postseason, according to the Toronto Sun. Our View The elite defenseman should be good to go for training camp, and will be looking to bounce back after only scoring 11 goals and 36 assists over 80 games in 2008-09. Read More

The News According to mLive.com, Red Wings' forward Patrick Eaves will play on the team's third line for the upcoming season. The team feels like Eaves has top-six potential, but his will play more of a defensive role this season. Our View Eaves has struggled with injuries during his NHL career, but the Wings feel like he could develop into a decent scorer if he can stay healthy. Don't look for much offense from his this season, but he could develop into a fantasy option in the future, especially playing in Detroit. Read More

The News The Nashville Tennessean is reporting that the Predators have signed center Marcel Goc to a two-way contract worth $550,000. Goc played in 55 games with the Sharks last season, tallying 11 points, including two goals and nine assists. Our View Goc should provide some nice depth for the Preds this season, and he has some value on the penalty kill, as he played on the kill with the Sharks quite a bit last season. He won't have any fantasy value, but he may just play an important role for the team next season. Read More

The News According to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, the Wild have a serious interest in free agent forward Alex Tanguay. Tanguay missed 32 games last season and scored only 41 points for the Montreal Canadiens. Our View There have been several teams linked to Tanguay over the summer, but as training camp nears we can expect a decision shortly. Minnesota needs another scoring forward, and Tanguay is interested in signing to one-year deal in order to re-establish himself as a legitimate scoring threat in this league. Don't be shocked if he ends up wearing the green and red next season. Read More

The News Jeff Cowan has signed a deal with the Sabres, according to TSN. Contract terms were not disclosed. Our View Cowan last played in the NHL in 2007-08 with Vancouver, when he notched one assist and 110 penalty minutes over 46 games. He will provide toughness if he makes the Sabres this season, but would not offer anything more than penalty minutes in fantasy leagues. Read More

After reiterating his innocence following a brief court appearance, Chicago Blackhawks star forward Patrick Kane became emotional as he made the short walk back to his lawyer's office Thursday. Flanked by his parents, Patrick Sr. and Donna Kane, and attorney Paul Cambria, Kane became teary-eyed as a reporter asked about the emotional toll he's under facing misdemeanor assault, theft and harassment charges that he and his cousin beat up a cab driver over a fare. Kane, 20, and his cousin James Kane, 21, pleaded not guilty during a brief arraignment before Buffalo judge Thomas Amodeo. The appearance came a day after the two were indicted by a grand jury. The panel dismissed a more serious felony charge of second-degree robbery. Amodeo adjourned the case until Aug. 27 and granted a defense request that the Kanes do not need to appear at that session. They're free without bail. The judge also granted a request made by both Cambria and assistant district attorney Paul Bonanno that the Kanes Read More