The move to Philadelphia is a reunion of sorts, as Hextall served as assistant GM to Lombardi in Los Angeles before his move to the City of Brotherly Love.
Lombardi was fired by the Kings in April following an 11-year run in the team's front office, a tenure which included Stanley Cup wins in 2012 and 2014.
While LeBrun did not indicate in which formal capacity Lombardi will serve, the appointment marks a return to Philadelphia for the longtime executive.
Prior to joining the Kings, Lombardi was a pro scout for the Flyers for two seasons, most recently in 2005-06, at which time Hextall served as the team's director of player personnel.
Knowing the depth of each position in fantasy hockey is one of the most underrated, yet crucial, aspects of planning for your draft. Simply selecting the best player available is a fairly lazy strategy. Knowing the scarcity of each position, and when the position group is about to fall off, can go a long way in building a championship roster full of balance.
This article assumes your league uses the following standard roster position setup:
Position
Quantity
C
2
LW
2
RW
2
D
4
G
2
BENCH
4
Goaltender
There are only 31 starting goaltenders in the NHL, making it by far the scarcest of all positions. The value of goaltenders can vary depending on the size of your league. If you're in a deep league - with 14 or 16 users - the value of a solid goaltender becomes increasingly high.
Goaltender has very distinct tiers - more so than any other position. The first 15 or so are very reliable. The next six or seven are serviceable, but anyone after that comes with significant red flags.
The best way to exploit the poor goaltending market is drafting more than you need. Supply and demand. At one point or another, someone in your league will be desperate for a goaltender, and will overpay to acquire one. Drafting four or five netminders may seem ridiculous, but it will make your team stronger in the long run.
Defense
Defense is the second-most scarce position in fantasy hockey - especially in standard-league scoring. With that said, building your team around someone like Erik Karlsson, Brent Burns, or Victor Hedman is never a bad idea - even if it costs you a first-round pick. There's a slight drop-off after those three blue-liners, but not as steep as at goaltender.
Furthermore, building your team from the net out is arguably the best way to go. If you can draft five defensemen who can each record at least 50 points, you will still be able to land forwards capable of putting up 60 points in the later rounds. Don't hesitate to use four of your first six picks on defensemen.
Left Wing
It may sound crazy, but forwards are the players you should prioritize last, and of them, left wing is the position with the least amount of depth.
In theScore's standard league rankings, nine left-wingers cracked the top 50, compared to 12 right-wingers. In the top 125, there are 25 left-wingers, but 35 right-wingers.
Right Wing
The difference between left wing and right wing isn't as dramatic as some of the other positions, but it should simply be used as a tiebreaker if you're stuck between picking a left-winger or a right-winger in the early rounds.
Right wing has slightly more talent than left wing, but it isn't even close compared to center.
Center
Center is like the quarterback position in fantasy football, or the outfield in fantasy baseball. There's a countless number of productive players that you can really afford to wait on.
In theScore's standard league rankings, 18 centers cracked the top 50, 33 made the top 100, and 72 made the top 200.
Unless you're in a position to draft Connor McDavid or Sidney Crosby, you can really afford to wait on your centers until the end of the draft. There will be tons available. If a player like Jack Eichel or Auston Matthews begins to fall well below their ADP, then obviously draft them, but there is no point in reaching on a center.
Furthermore, even if the centers you take at the end of your draft get off to rough starts, there will be a plethora available on the waiver wire ready for the taking. The same can't be said for any other position in fantasy hockey.
When the Atlanta Thrashers drafted Zach Bogosian third overall in 2008 - one spot behind Drew Doughty and one ahead of Alex Pietrangelo - many observers would have been hard-pressed to believe that in 534 NHL games, he'd have just 169 points.
Here was Bogosian, a towering 18-year-old defenseman who could skate like the wind. He had 61 points in 60 games as a 17-year-old in his final year of junior for the Peterborough Petes. However, his NHL career high is 30 points, and he's coming off a career-low 11 in 2016-17.
Bogosian is hoping that the Buffalo Sabres' new bench boss, Hall of Fame defenseman Phil Housley, will help him rediscover the offensive side of his game that made him such a coveted prospect.
"I'm looking forward to getting up in the play and making sure I'm that second layer of offense," Bogosian told Bill Hoppe of the Buffalo Times Herald. "He wants us to get up there. Everyone that's playing defense on our team can skate, so it's going to bode well for us."
Housley made a living rushing the puck up ice and piling up points during his illustrious career, and spent the last four seasons as assistant coach of the Nashville Predators, primarily working with their blue-liners. Anyone who watched the Preds during the postseason is well aware that Nashville liked to activate its defensemen.
Under previous Sabres head coach Dan Bylsma, though, seeing a Buffalo rearguard join the rush was akin to seeing a solar eclipse. Only one D-man - Rasmus Ristolainen - topped 20 points. That's set to change under Housley.
"He seems to be part of that new group with the skating and getting up in the play on the offensive side of things," Bogosian said. "Guys are looking forward to playing that style."
Housley seems just as excited about the prospect of coaching a player with Bogosian's skill set.
"He's in great shape," said the first-year head coach. "You can see him out there, he's explosive, he's enjoying himself.
"He can be part of the rush. I can definitely see him pinching down the walls and keeping pucks in, and when you say that, it means you have to get up ice."
Both Housley and Bogosian are hoping the new, aggressive style of play will help end the Sabres' six-year playoff drought. If they succeed, it would be the first playoff appearance of Bogosian's nearly 10-year career.
"It's been frustrating the last few years in Buffalo," said Bogosian, who was acquired from the Jets in a 2015 blockbuster trade along with Evander Kane. "We're getting sick of not making the playoffs. There's no way of getting around that. It sucks when you're sitting around watching good teams that you know you can try to compete with."
The grueling chase of the Stanley Cup has taken its toll on a few clubs. Three of the league's final four teams from the 2017 postseason are dealing with significant injury issues heading into the 2017-18 campaign.
Here is how these injuries will affect those clubs moving forward.
Ottawa Senators
Player
Injury
Prognosis
D Erik Karlsson
Foot
Status uncertain for season opener
C Derick Brassard
Shoulder
Won't be cleared for contact until Oct. 6
LW Clarke MacArthur
Concussion
Failed physical; could miss entire season
The Ottawa Senators' magical run to the Eastern Conference final has come with serious consequences. Erik Karlsson carried the team despite having one good foot, but it doesn't appear he will take such risks to begin the season. Karlsson told TSN's Ian Mendes that he will come back when he's "100 percent, whether that's in October or November."
That obviously doesn't sound promising. Karlsson is the straw that stirs the Senators' drink. Without him, Ottawa's defense projects to look something like this:
LD
RD
Thomas Chabot
Dion Phaneuf
Fredrik Claesson
Cody Ceci
Johnny Oduya
Chris Wideman
Given how competitive the Atlantic Division looks this year, a slow start could significantly hamper the Sens' playoff chances. It only makes matters worse that Clarke MacArthur's career is potentially over, and second-line center Derick Brassard could miss a month.
Anaheim Ducks
Player
Injury
Prognosis
C Ryan Kesler
Hip
Out until at least December
D Hampus Lindholm
Shoulder
Likely out until Nov. 1
D Sami Vatanen
Shoulder
Likely out until mid-November
Kesler is arguably the second-most important player on the Ducks, behind Ryan Getzlaf. As one of the league's best defensive centers, he plays all the tough minutes against the opposition's top lines. In his absence, Rickard Rakell will attempt to fill the void, but it's a tall task considering he spent most of last season playing wing.
Even with these key losses, the Ducks are still a playoff team, but they could fall behind enough to draw a tough road matchup in the first round. For a team with a "championship or bust" mentality, this would certainly decrease its chances at hoisting the Stanley Cup.
Nashville Predators
Player
Injury
Prognosis
D Ryan Ellis
Knee
Hoping to return by January 2018
C Nick Bonino
Leg
Will miss all of preseason
Nashville's core-four on defense has suddenly become the big three. Newly acquired Alexei Emelin will be asked to play a top-four role until Ellis returns. He is a physical defender, but lacks the offensive skills and puck-moving ability of Ellis.
With only one dangerous scoring line, Nashville relies heavily on the offense it generates from the back end, so it will dearly miss Ellis for the first half of the season.
Bonino was brought in to replace Mike Fisher as the teams' second-line center. His status remains uncertain for the season opener, but it's hard to imagine he'll be thrown right into action if he doesn't skate in a single preseason game. The combination of Calle Jarnkrok and Colton Sissons should be able to temporarily fill the second-line void just fine.
By now, some may forget that Nashville squeaked into the playoffs as the league's 16th-seed. It could be another uphill battle to get into the postseason this year.
The 39-year-old has continued to battle post-concussion symptoms after he was punched by Anaheim Ducks winger Nick Ritchie last season. Ritchie was suspended two games as a result of the incident.
As for Rozsival, he was limited to just 22 games last season, often scratched or out of the lineup due to injury. The Czech blue-liner was used sparingly by coach Joel Quenneville, rotated into the lineup on an as-needed basis.
Rozsival has spent the past five seasons with the Blackhawks, winning the Stanley Cup with the team in 2013 and 2015. He inked a one-year extension with the Blackhawks in February, a deal which carries a $650,000 cap hit, according to CapFriendly.
Steve Yzerman's offseason report card came up aces.
While the Tampa Bay Lightning were disappointed after failing to qualify for last year's postseason - the Lightning missed the playoffs by a single point - the summer changes initiated from the general manager's office received a top grade from team owner Jeff Vinik, per Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times.
It was a busy offseason for the Lightning, which kicked off the summer by bringing in young and highly-regarded blue-liner Mikhail Sergachev from the Montreal Canadiens, whose acquisition cost the team former third overall pick Jonathan Drouin.
With training camp now underway, the expectation is Sergachev will compete for a spot on the team's bottom defensive pairing. A first-round pick by the Canadiens in 2016, the 19-year-old made impressive strides upon returning to junior last season, scoring 43 points in 50 games with the OHL's Windsor Spitfires and played a major role en route to a Memorial Cup victory.
With Sergachev in the bank, Yzerman continued to make moves as the offseason progressed, agreeing to terms with veteran free agents Chris Kunitz and Dan Girardi. Both players will bring an added layer of experience to a Lightning squad that many pundits see as a Stanley Cup favorite.
While the new faces should help push the Lightning to the next level, Yzerman also went to work in retaining the club's core pieces, signing center Tyler Johnson to a seven-year extension and later coming to terms with Ondrej Palat on a five-year deal.
For now, Yzerman is the offseason champion. But will his moves be enough to live up to his summer grade and lead the Lightning to the franchise's second Stanley Cup?
Fans will know soon enough, as the chase begins Oct. 6, when Tampa Bay opens its season against the in-state rival Florida Panthers.
For many older NHLers, though, age is simply a number on the back of their hockey cards.
Here are four aging players you can still bank on in your fantasy league:
Patrice Bergeron
Four Selke Trophies won't do much for your fantasy stats, but Bergeron still contributes for the Bruins at the other end of the rink.
Despite already having 13 NHL seasons under his belt, the 32-year-old has shown no signs of slowing down. Since the 2009-10 campaign, he has registered 50-plus points every year except for the lockout-shortened 2012-13 season.
Aside from his contributions on the stat sheet, Bergeron is also durable, as he hasn't missed more than 10 games in a season since 2008-09.
Regardless of his age, his ability to stay in the lineup and post 50-point seasons make him a solid fantasy add in any format.
Duncan Keith
If two Cup rings, two Norris Trophies, and a Conn Smythe aren't enough to spark your interest in Keith, his offensive numbers might.
Since the 2013-14 campaign, he has racked up solid points, recording 192 across 306 regular-season games. His fantasy appeal grows exponentially when you consider he also chips in on the power play.
Over the same four seasons, Keith tallied 12 goals and 58 assists on the man advantage while anchoring the Chicago Blackhawks' deadly No. 1 power-play unit.
Despite being a 34-year-old D-man with a lot of mileage on him, he can still log a ton of minutes, play special teams, and contribute offensively. Grab him in the middle rounds of your draft if you can.
Jeff Carter
The Los Angeles Kings took a step back last year, missing the playoffs for only the second time in eight seasons, but that didn't slow down Carter's scoring pace.
The 32-year-old continues to contribute, recording more than 60 points in three consecutive seasons (62, 62, 66). And, when you consider the fact he's played in 72 or more games since 2013-14, his addition to your squad becomes even more attractive.
While the Kings had their struggles last season, the team still touts an all-world goalie in Jon Quick, a rugged No. 1 rearguard in Drew Doughty, and a solid group of forwards that includes the criminally underrated Anze Kopitar.
Los Angeles will be much improved next season, so expect Carter's numbers to trend in the same direction.
Henrik Zetterberg
Zetterberg's days of playing on Pavel Datsyuk's wing and racking up 80-plus-point seasons are over, but that doesn't mean he can't still contribute.
While he'll turn 37 on Oct. 9, the slick-skating Swede can still produce offensively.
Despite the Red Wings' struggles last season, his numbers remained solid. Across a full 82-game slate (his second straight year without missing a game), Zetterberg recorded 17 goals and 51 assists while throwing 195 shots on net.
And, when you consider the fact he could see a lot of time on the top line with two blossoming offensive talents in Tomas Tatar and Anthony Mantha, he becomes another aging player you can safely bank on.
There are plenty of reasons to get excited about the upcoming NHL season, but there are also several areas of concern.
All seven Canadian franchises, in particular, have issues that could hinder them during the 2017-18 campaign.
Here are the primary challenges facing Canada's teams, presented alphabetically by city:
Calgary Flames
The Flames had an encouraging summer, but they head into the fall with a potentially significant distraction.
Calgary's arena mess has ramifications far beyond the sports world, especially with a municipal election looming Oct. 16 - less than two weeks after opening night of the NHL season.
There's no reason to believe the squabble between the Flames and the city will go away anytime soon, and the unceasing questions about the club's future could take a toll on players, coaches, and executives alike.
Edmonton Oilers
(Photo courtesy: Action Images)
The Oilers appear primed to build on last season's long-awaited return to the playoffs, especially with franchise cornerstones Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl now under contract for the long haul, but there is something of which they need to be mindful.
Cam Talbot performed admirably last season considering he led the NHL with 73 appearances and played in 13 playoff games, but his heavy workload could eventually start to wear him down.
Another 70-plus-game regular season might take its toll on Talbot - who turned 30 in July - and while he's proven to be up to the task so far, it's something the club would be wise to monitor.
Montreal Canadiens
(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)
In some ways, the Canadiens had a productive summer, locking up all-world goaltender Carey Price and acquiring dynamic winger Jonathan Drouin. But, on the other hand, Montreal's defensive group will likely be a source of recurring headaches for coaches, executives, and fans.
Andrei Markov's exodus to the KHL in July left a gaping hole on the back end for Montreal. Karl Alzner, who was signed to a five-year deal a few weeks before Markov left, will probably be counted to play top-pairing minutes with Shea Weber at even strength and on the power play - neither of which he has much experience doing.
Say what you want about Alexei Emelin's game, but Montreal won't have his 20-plus minutes per contest or Nathan Beaulieu's steady play this time around, either.
Center depth is also going to be a key issue for the Canadiens, as it was last season, but the blue line is a more critical concern.
Ottawa Senators
(Photo courtesy: Action Images)
Few expected the Senators to go as deep as they went in the playoffs last season, and it's tough to imagine them getting back to the Eastern Conference final next spring, so Ottawa's biggest challenge will be living up to the expectations set by the improbable run.
The Senators got within one game of the Stanley Cup Final thanks in part to the NHL's divisional playoff format, but Ottawa was also buoyed by Erik Karlsson's persistence, Jean-Gabriel Pageau's heroics, and Craig Anderson's perseverance.
The 2016-17 campaign was undoubtedly a magical one in the Canadian capital, but duplicating it is going to be very difficult.
Toronto Maple Leafs
(Photo courtesy: Action Images)
The Leafs had their own season to remember, as their youth movement got its first taste of playoff action and pushed the Washington Capitals in six hard-fought games, but Toronto's talented core also faces the burden of increased expectations now.
That shouldn't be a problem for most of the veterans, like newcomers Patrick Marleau and Ron Hainsey, or for a generational talent like Auston Matthews, but the Leafs' other promising young players will need to avoid falling into prolonged slumps now that the book is out on them around the league.
There are plenty of reasons for optimism in Toronto, but building on last season's encouraging step forward - and not taking a step back - is going to be the Leafs' major challenge beginning this fall.
Vancouver Canucks
(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)
There's really no way around this, so we may as well get right to it:
The Canucks' biggest challenge will be to avoid once again being one of the worst teams in the NHL. Vancouver finished in the basement of the Pacific Division last season, and only the historically-atrocious Colorado Avalanche had a worse record in the entire league.
Still, it looks like it'll be another grim season for the Canucks.
Winnipeg Jets
(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)
After missing the playoffs for the second straight season and for the ninth time in the last 10 campaigns as a franchise, Jets ownership rewarded general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff and head coach Paul Maurice with contract extensions.
Those new deals, and the club's commitment to a duo that hasn't accomplished much to this point, will need to be justified relatively soon by the young Jets squad.
There's a solid foundation in Winnipeg led by Patrick Laine, Mark Scheifele and company, but it's on the entire organization to make owner Mark Chipman look smart for giving two key members of his staff some job security.
