The number of blockbuster trades since the start of training camp has nearly matched the number that went down in the entire offseason, forcing fantasy pundits to reevaluate some big-time scorers.

First was Dany Heatley going to San Jose. The latest is Phil Kessel, dealt from Boston to Toronto last weekend for three draft picks. The about-to-turn 22 right wing has been steadily improving since his rookie season, progressing in goals (11, 19, 36), points (29, 37, 60), plus-minus (-12, -6, +23) and power-play goals (1, 5, 8). Remember that Kessel underwent surgery on May 21 for a torn rotator cuff and labrum in his left shoulder that was expected to keep him sidelined until mid-November. He expressed to reporters last weekend that he is progressing on schedule.

"My shoulder's doing well. I started skating probably about a week ago, shooting pucks around," Kessel said. "I'm going to check in here with the doctors (last weekend). Hopefully a month, month-and-a-half, I'm ready to go again."

Last season with Boston, Kessel spent the majority of his time on a line with supreme playmaker Marc Savard and gritty space-making winger Milan Lucic. Their chemistry was apparent, as Savard and Kessel recorded one point each on the same goal 33 times. Savard recorded an assist on a Kessel goal 22 times -- 17 times with the first assist. Lucic assisted on 10 goals by Kessel -- four times with the primary assist. On the flip side, Kessel assisted on 7 goals by Savard and 6 by Lucic.

Expect Kessel's spot to now go to veteran winger Michael Ryder, increasing his fantasy value.

"We think his 36 goals (scored last year) are a platform, not a peak," Toronto GM Brian Burke, who has also evaluated Kessel for the 2010 U.S. Olympic team, told the Toronto Globe and Mail. "I've watched his maturation."

As for how this trade re-shapes the Maple Leafs, the Toronto Star reported that Kessel is expected to have either John Mitchell or Matt Stajan as his center, but raised the possibility that Kessel, a center before reaching the NHL, could get a shot at sliding to the middle. Other reports mentioned that Leafs coach Ron Wilson envisions a future pairing of Kessel with center and 2009 first-round draft pick Nazem Kadri, who remains in Toronto's camp.

"For sure. As a centerman -- and I think I'm more of a passer -- you relish the chance to play with someone who scores (36) goals and hopefully score a lot of goals for this team," Stajan told the Toronto Sun. "But we'll see what happens. As a player you go to the rink every day and work hard and the coach's will see where Phil fits the best."

In the Fantasy Forecaster season preview, I projected Kessel for 26-27-53 in 59 games. If he returns for the Maple Leafs' first game in November, he'll have missed 12 contests. If he sits out all of November, he'll be at 25 games missed. Sticking with the projection of 59 games for Kessel, I'll slightly decrease his scoring to 23-26-49. Kessel is not a puck carrier but is fast and creative once he has the puck. In Boston, the scoring is more balanced. In Toronto, the spotlight is squarely on Kessel, and the team's next-best goal scorer is Jason Blake, an underwhelming fantasy option. Then there is that whole in-your-face Toronto media crush, something that won't jive with Kessel's non-chatty personality.

On the day of the trade, Kessel was being selected with the 81.7 average pick in all Yahoo! leagues that had drafted, making him an early eighth-round pick. By Monday morning, his average pick increased ever so slightly to 81.5, only good enough to be the 18th best right wing selected.

If you haven't already, register for your own free team in "Fantasy Hockey '09" from Yahoo! Sports and NHL.com today. You can even practice by participating in a free mock draft.

On to the notebook ... 

Boston -- Sophomore Blake Wheeler and veteran Marco Sturm, two left wings, could switch to the right to replace Kessel, reports the Boston Globe.

Calgary -- Olli Jokinen appears in mid-season form. The center recorded the first Gordie Howe Hat Trick of the preseason last Thursday in a 5-4 shootout victory against the Islanders. Jokinen scored two second-period power-play goals, assisted on David Moss' third-period score, and fought Mike Haley.

Columbus -- Veteran Fredrik Modin is sidelined for at least a month with a sprained right knee, reports the Columbus Dispatch.

Detroit -- Darren Helm, the projected fourth-line center, suffered a strain to his right shoulder last week during practice. He could be out anywhere from 2-4 weeks.

"It's never fun to get injured, especially right now," Helm said. "For me trying to prove that I belong here all year, for this to happen, it's pretty frustrating. Hopefully things heal up as quick as possible and I can get back on the ice as soon as possible."

All-Star Henrik Zetterberg has a sore groin, an injury of a lesser concern that has prevented him from playing in any of Detroit's three preseason games thus far. "It hasn't gotten any worse," Zetterberg told the Detroit News. "This gives me a few days and hopefully it will show some good results on Monday."

Edmonton -- Early in training camp, offensive defenseman Lubomir Visnovsky was still feeling the effects of season-ending shoulder surgery he had last February, which kept him out of scrimmages. But after a few more practices, he declared himself ready for contact and played in Sunday's preseason contest against the Islanders in Saskatoon. "I feel good, I'm ready for contact, I'm ready for NHL," Visnovsky said.

Signed only 11 days ago, veteran center Mike Comrie is leading all players in preseason scoring with 0-7-7 in three games. He had one huge contest last Friday in a 4-0 victory against Florida. Comrie assisted on all four goals and recorded a fighting major.

Minnesota -- Originally brought to camp as a tryout, veteran right wing Petr Sykora has signed a one-year contact with the Wild. Last season he placed fourth in scoring on the Penguins with 25-21-46 in 76 games. "I've been working out the whole summer, trying to become a better skater," he told the Pioneer Press. "I really think I can score some big goals."

New Jersey -- Forward Patrik Elias, slated to move from left wing last to center this year, had a procedure last week to break up scar tissue in his groin, making it unlikely that he will be healthy enough to play in the season-opening game on Oct. 3. In all, Elias is expected to miss 3-6 weeks.

"That is, when I say six weeks, I mean fully ready to play, depending on where his conditioning is -- that's why we go three to six," GM Lou Lamoriello said. "The doctor felt we could be fairly aggressive right away because it was, simplistically, scar tissue."

NY Islanders -- Oft-injured goaltender Rick DiPietro is making progress in his recovery from knee surgery and has been facing shots during training camp. "Now that he's taking shots and feeling good, that's a positive sign," GM Garth Snow told Newsday. With new goaltenders Martin Biron and Dwayne Roloson on the roster, the Islanders are expected to remain extremely cautious with DiPietro.

Young right wing Kyle Okposo told Newsday that he's feeling better after taking a hard hit from Calgary defenseman Dion Phaneuf in a preseason game last week. Okposo suffered a mild concussion and was carted off the ice on a stretcher.

NY Rangers -- Brandon Dubinsky, the expected center for new winger Marian Gaborik, ended his eight-day holdout and signed a two-year deal. His first full practice with the team will come on Monday. "I'm excited and obviously relieved to have a deal done. I just want to go in and play," Dubinsky told the Daily News. "There's definitely going to be questions -- 'Is he ready to go, because he's missed a week now? Is he fit enough? Will he be prepared to start the season?' They're all valid questions. I've just got to prove I'm prepared."

Gaborik, who has been experiencing a sore groin – an injury that has plagued his career – is probably to make his preseason debut on Monday at home against Detroit. Dubinsky may not play until Thursday against Washington at the earliest.

Ottawa -- Russian winger Ilya Zubov was a somewhat surprising cut last weekend, sent to AHL Binghamton. Last season, he led the baby Sens in scoring with 52 points (14 goals, 38 assists).

San Jose -- Even before Dany Heatley officially joined the Sharks, coach Todd McLellan all but handed him the left wing spot on the top line next to Joe Thornton and Devin Setoguchi, and nothing has changed since. "Jumbo (Thornton) is obviously a pass-first guy," McLellan told the Mercury News. "We'd like him to shoot the puck a lot more, but when he's passing, it'll be nice to see it go to Dany Heatley and Devin Setoguchi. Both of those guys love to shoot the puck. We think it's a nice combination."

Toronto -- The heart problem experienced by goaltender Jonas Gustavsson was described as minor by the Maple Leafs. "They go in and touch a part of his heart that was misfiring," said coach Ron Wilson. "It's a simple procedure that's actually fairly common with athletes." Gustavsson, a free agent from Sweden, is battling Joey MacDonald for the right to backup starter Vesa Toskala.

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