You know... there were a lot of places I thought about going with this week's (Editor's Note: Last week's really... if we're being honest) Breaking the Slump. Luongo, whose Sv % is usually stellar is still sub .900. He is starting to win games but is still failing to deliver in other respects. I thought I could talk about how Joe Corvo has come up lame so far this season after a stunning debut with Carolina last year or how Martin St. Louis has lost mushroom and gone from Super Marty to tiny Marty. Then I took a look at the rankings and I realized that there are two superstars who have yet to record a point this season...
Peter Forsberg & Mats Sundin. The Swedish version of the Hardy Boys. Incidentally Sweden must be awesome because I've never seen more people from a country debate whether or not they want to be paid millions of dollars to play a sport for a year.
So... what is it like to be the men behind blue eyes and what can you expect if they decide to make their return this year.
Lets start with Peter Forsberg. The rumors surrounding Foppa heated up this week as he was rumored to be a part of one possible resolution to the Khabibulin mess out in Chicago or at the very least a strong motivating factor. This got me thinking... why would Peter Forsberg possibly try to make another comeback? My recollection was that Forsberg hadn't been particularly spectacular in any of his recent attempts at returns. As it turned out I was wrong.
Foppa played 60 games in 05-06 and scored 75 points (19 Goals, 56 Assists). In 06-07 Peter Peter Ankle Beater played 57 games and scored 55 points (13 Gaols, 42 Assists). Last year Peter the Lesser played in only 9 games for the Colorado Avalanche but still managed 14 points (1 Goal, 13 Assists). So despite the fact that if you were to combine the last two seasons Peter hasn't played 82 games, when he HAS played he has been incredibly productive.
The problem with Forsberg is that there is no way to know when he'll play or how long he will play for. I'm not exactly sure what is wrong with his ankles, but my layman's understanding of the problem is that his feet are attached to his body with the ligament equivalent of shoestrings and bubblegum. Ankles are an important part for a hockey player, particularly one as strong on his skates as Peter Forsberg. Forsberg has shown that if he is uncomfortable playing he won't play. In a league where there are almost 20 players that are currently on a point a game pace you need more certainty then that if you are going to use a roster spot.
My recommendation: Wait and See
The biggest soap opera this hockey season and pre-season and god forbid post-season, has been centered around Mats Sundin. We've talked about it some here but only to the extent that it has been fantasy relevant. Sundin threw an massive yellow and blue wrench into my blog this summer as I decided to hold off on team previews for teams that were still in the Sundin sweepstakes. Well... he still hasn't picked a team and we're about a month in now.
However, last week rumors kicked into high gear when Sundin attended the Canucks game against the Los Angeles Kings. Sundin is working out in Los Angeles and the popular rumor is that he is prepping for a return to an NHL team by December 1st.
Well... now that we have something of a concrete date that is kinda supported by evidence its time to ask... what does this mean for you the fantasy owner? Sundin is team-proof. What does that mean? It means that Sundin played very well for the last two years on what can only be described as sub par Toronto teams with sub par coaching. The result? Sundin was over a point a game in both seasons with over 60 PIMs, 30 PPP, and 260 + shots. That translates to "Sundin is very valuable."
Sundin has always hovered around a point a game or better and has actually trended up since the lockout. So, if Sundin is actually going to be on a roster by December 1... now might be the time to stash him on your bench, assuming he hasn't already been snatched up by an enterprising owner in your league and you aren't loaded with talent.
My recommendation: Pick him up
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