The Tampa Bay Lightning management have tossed back the biggest piece of their rebuilding effort in new head coach Barry Melrose. He should have never cut the mullet. With it went the source of all of his power.
Barry. We hardly knew you. Its a tough call to fire a guy when you give him a team made up of individuals who had never played together before this season. Sure they looked great on paper... until you got to the defensemen. That was the problem with this team from beginning, they were a decent fantasy team but no one could tell whether that would translate to success on the ice. It didn't, and Barry paid the price for the GM's incompetence. Poor Barry.
What's the moral of this? Actual teams are already starting to adjust their rosters, trim the fat, and take their best shot at undoing the damage they did to their own teams in the offseason. Its time for you to do the same.
Keep 'Em:
Kris Versteeg
RW, Chicago
Okay... last time I'm saying this. Versteeg now has 15 points in 16 games this season. He has three goals in the last four games and has scored 7 points in 6 games in the month of November. The window for delay on Versteeg is shrinking and the talented rookie is showing no signs of slowing down.
Joe Pavelski
C, San Jose
You missed out on Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau in the draft. You took some bad advice from some blogger not named Richard O'Brien and drafted Jonathan Cheechoo way too early. And, of course, you didn't listen to me and pick up Devin Setoguchi or Ryan Clowe when I told you to. Now every time you look at the standings and realize that San Jose has scored more goals then anyone else in the league (73) by a wide margin (the next closest is Detroit with 64) you feel like you missed out on the party. Well, you're in luck because Joe Pavelski is probably still available in your league. Pavelski has 7 goals and 9 assists for 16 points through the first 20 games. Of those 16, 6 points (2 goals and 4 assists) came over the course of the last week and 8 (3 goals and 5 assists) have come on the powerplay. He is averaging a little over 3 shots a game and is a +1. As centers go he's kind of average, but he would make a great util player in most leagues. Grab him before you miss out entirely on the Shark Party.
Cam Barker
D, Chicago
Still the subject of widespread trade speculation, Cam Barker has responded with terrific play on the ice. Barker has 9 points in 8 games with the big club this year, with 6 of those points coming on the man advantage. Those 9 points are good for second amongst Hawks D-men with only Brian Campbell above him with 12. This showing becomes even more impressive when you consider that he has played in half the games that the rest of the team has played. The former third overall draft pick is doing a bit of everything, including getting a fighting major in the November 14th 4-3 loss to St. Louis. Grab him now.
Weigh 'Em:
Jordan Staal
C, LW Pittsburgh
You have to love the way Jordan Staal is playing right now. Staal, who had a tremendous rookie season in which he notched 29 goals, has been on something of a slide over the last year or so. This slide came to an abrupt halt this past week as Stall put up 5 goals and an assist over the last three games for the Pens. What you have to like is not only the tallies but the way in which he scored them. Down 5-3 against their Stanley Cup tormentors the Detroit Red Wings, Staal rallied and scored three even strength goals in the last 12 minutes to force overtime. Then, in the overtime period Staal assisted on Fedotenko's overtime winner. He followed this up later in the week with a strong 2 goal performance against the cooling Buffalo Sabers to bring his totals for the season up to 7 goals and 4 assists. Those may not seem like overly flashy numbers, but if this is the beginning of his reemergence then you want to get in on the ground floor.
David Perron, Lee Stempniak
LW, RW St. Louis
With Kariya and McDonald both down to injuries Perron and Stempniak have really stepped up over the last week to provide scoring in their absence. As St. Louis soldiers on through these injuries expect scoring to come from secondary sources. It might be worth a bench slot to try and catch a streak from one of these talented players. Stempniak in particular shoots the puck a ton and has seen some significant time on the powerplay.
Philippe Boucher
D, Pittsburgh
The acquisition of Boucher was a necessary one by the Pens despite his shoddy play thus far this season on the Dalls Stars. Boucher provides a seasoned veteran to man the point on the powerplay. More importantly, it gives the Pens a RIGHT HANDED shot on the point, something that they were lacking during Gonchar and Whitney's injuries. I like this acquisition by the Pens for a number of reasons. For one, it frees up Evgeni Malkin to be a bit more free wheeling on the man advantage. The Pens have given up some heart stopping short handed opportunities in the last few games when opposing forwards pressured Malkin on the point. Malkin has been the Penguins offense so far this year, but he still doesn't know how to skate back and play D as the pointman on the man advantage. Boucher will take care of that and should help with some scoring punch from the point.
Alex Goligoski
D, Pittsburgh
On the flips side, the Boucher acquisition probably puts a bit of a halt on Goligoski's development. Despite his recent scoring streak, Goligoski will more then likely see his powerplay time diminish rapidly. If you still have him on your team you might want to consider benching him for a few games to see how this plays out. If it plays out as expected I foresee his availability skyrocketing in most leagues.
Toss 'Em Back:
Andrei Kostitsyn
LW, Montreal
I've been holding off on this one but with 6 points through 14 games I might have finally given up on Kostitsyn the greater. Montreal is in a bit of funk right now, which will happen even to great teams in their best years. Even taking that into account, Kostitsyn has barely shown any signs of life as of late with long stretches of mediocrity punctuated by one or two point streaks. Put simply, Kostitsyn doesn't deliver enough in the intangible categories to keep him on your team if he isn't scoring, and right now he isn't scoring. Take that as you will.
Erik Cole
RW, Edmonton
Rough times in Edmonton. Cole, The Oilers big offseason acquisition, has only put up 5 points through the first 18 games with his new club. He has been a relatively quiet presence and hasn't even provided much in the way of shots of PIM. I was high on Cole preseason; thinking him a good sleeper pick because of his gritty play and his tendency to rack up the shots, PIM and points. It seems that there have just been one too many injuries for Cole and that his best years of hockey are now behind him as a result.
Matt Carle
D, Philadelphia
Carle was once thought of as an impressive young prospect. Since then he has been moved twice in one year, first from San Jose as the lynch pin of the deal that brought Dan Boyle to the future Stanley Cup Champions (what? Thats right, I'm calling it. Its happening.) and then, less then a quarter of a season later from Tampa to Philly for Steve Downie. Until Carle shows something, anything, resembling offensive skill with his new team I'd leave him right where he belongs; on waivers.
Showing posts with label San Jose Sharks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label San Jose Sharks. Show all posts
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
BTT Injury Report: Snow Patrol
If I lay here...
If I just lay here....
Will you "day to day" me and just forget your team...
Paul Kariya will NOT be playing tomorrow in Buffalo and may not be playing on Friday either. They are disclosing that Kariya's injury was too one of his feet and that he wasn't at practice on Monday.
Cory Stillman, recovering from a concussion, will be returning to practice this week and hopefully to the ice by the end of the week beginning of next week.
Pascal Leclaire returned to practice on Monday but is expected to be given at least practices to warm up before he sees in game action. Steve Mason is on a two game winning streak but still, to my eyes, looks shaky. Regardless, Hitchcock won't rush Leclaire so long as Mason is getting them victories.
Jonathan Cheechoo is sidelined with the deadly "upper body injury." If you are looking for a replacement winger there are at least three wingers more fantasy worthy then Cheechoo on his own team.
Good news for Devils fans, apparently Brian Rolston is inching closer to getting back on the ice after the injury to his left ankle. It might just be a lost season for the Devils anyway with Martin Brodeur, Bobby Holik, Paul Martin, Bryce Salvador and Brian Gionta all currently sitting out with injuries this is a tough time to be a fan of the horned one.
The Sharks are taking their time with Nabakov's leg injury but he was running through drills in practice on Monday.
and finally...
Marain... Gaborik... IS... SKATING No timetable yet but Gaborik has taking his first step towards a return. This likely can't come soon enough for many fantasy owners, for whom Gaborik was a high round draft pick, but I imagine Minnesota is a little reluctant to mess with the chemistry that currently sees them one point out of first in the Northwest Division with two games in hand over the Canucks. Don't expect Gaborik to be rushed.
Thats all for now. Come back a little later for Shooting Percentage... where I take shots at myself
If I just lay here....
Will you "day to day" me and just forget your team...
Paul Kariya will NOT be playing tomorrow in Buffalo and may not be playing on Friday either. They are disclosing that Kariya's injury was too one of his feet and that he wasn't at practice on Monday.
Cory Stillman, recovering from a concussion, will be returning to practice this week and hopefully to the ice by the end of the week beginning of next week.
Pascal Leclaire returned to practice on Monday but is expected to be given at least practices to warm up before he sees in game action. Steve Mason is on a two game winning streak but still, to my eyes, looks shaky. Regardless, Hitchcock won't rush Leclaire so long as Mason is getting them victories.
Jonathan Cheechoo is sidelined with the deadly "upper body injury." If you are looking for a replacement winger there are at least three wingers more fantasy worthy then Cheechoo on his own team.
Good news for Devils fans, apparently Brian Rolston is inching closer to getting back on the ice after the injury to his left ankle. It might just be a lost season for the Devils anyway with Martin Brodeur, Bobby Holik, Paul Martin, Bryce Salvador and Brian Gionta all currently sitting out with injuries this is a tough time to be a fan of the horned one.
The Sharks are taking their time with Nabakov's leg injury but he was running through drills in practice on Monday.
and finally...
Marain... Gaborik... IS... SKATING No timetable yet but Gaborik has taking his first step towards a return. This likely can't come soon enough for many fantasy owners, for whom Gaborik was a high round draft pick, but I imagine Minnesota is a little reluctant to mess with the chemistry that currently sees them one point out of first in the Northwest Division with two games in hand over the Canucks. Don't expect Gaborik to be rushed.
Thats all for now. Come back a little later for Shooting Percentage... where I take shots at myself
Friday, November 7, 2008
Thoughts on Last Night's Games
About the time that Mike Smith shoved his blocker into Aaron Voros' mouth I was positive that I was sitting at the most exciting game in the NHL last night until I saw the scores of the Edmonton/Pittsburgh game, Washington/Carolina game and Calgary/Nashville. Any doubts that scoring is up this year in the NHL can be quickly dispelled by a quick glance at last night's scoreboard. Of 11 games only 2 had less then 5 goals; 3 had 7 goals; and 3 more had 9 or more. The big one was Calgary v. Nashville which featured a grand total of thirteen tallies. Enough babbling... lots going on...
-To yesterday's BTT Injury update add the following:
- Paul Kariya left Wednesday's game in Anaheim in the second period with an undisclosed lower body injury. He returned to St. Louis for an MRI and missed yesterday's game against San Jose. St. Louis is in the middle of a road trip and plays Los Angeles tomorrow night before flying off to Buffalo for a game next Wednesday. Best case scenario I would expect Kariya to miss at least Saturday's game in LA.
- Joe Sakic missed last night's game against Minnesota with a strained lower back. This is the kind of injury that you worry about with an older player as its the kind of the thing that can become recurring. I wouldn't be too worried about Joe though as he has been a point a game so far and will play unless he is physically incapable.
- Brent Burns left Minnesota's road trip with a dreaded upper body injury. Burns hasn't really caught fire yet this year but if you still have him on your team be aware that he is going to miss at least a few games.
- Evgeni Nabakov oh noes! Nabakov finished the game against St. Louis slumped over on the ice. San Jose is calling it a "lower body injury" today but several sources are saying that he "did something" to his "left leg" and that's at least a little bit more specific. His backup, Brian Boucher, is not spectacular fantasy wise but San Jose might be good enough for a speculative add if you've got a free roster spot.
- A miniature Breaking the Slump:
Congratulations to a pair of Mighty Mites who broke their slumps last night at the Rangers/Tampa Bay game. Martin St. Louis scored one of the prettiest goals I have ever seen. He took the puck, kicked it behind his back up to his stick then skated backwards towards Lundqvist before switching to his backhand and popping the puck top shelf. Follow that? Neither did Hank. It was a freaking street hockey goal.
Marty has had a tough start to the season, but I wouldn't be worried if I were a St. Louis owner. The guy has a history of being streaky but I still think he'll get you somewhere between 70 and 80 points. The big concern, as it is with all Tampa Bay players, has to be the powerplay. I'm not convinced that that is going to change. Watching as many Tampa games as I, unfortunately, have it would seem that their special teams are just... well... off. The penalty kill is just... wow
Also on the score sheet last night, Chris Drury came out of the fog and potted a hat trick. Good for Dru... I don't think this makes him fantasy worthy yet, as you've probably already missed his production for the next few games (and he's currently the Rangers third line center). Big wait and see for Drury.
-Observations on last nights games
- Mike Smith owners... don't you wish goalie PIM's counted? Mike Smith channeled Billy Smith last night and dropped the gloves against Aaron Voros after battling with him for the entire game. Smith apparently saw a vacancy for "Rangers fans most hated goalie" with Marty out and decided to put in his application. Another point. How good is Voros? Still miss Sean Avery Rangers' fans?
- WHOOPS! Blake Wheeler recorded his first NHL hat trick for the Boston Bruins last night. Congrats to Whoops on the achievement. Wheeler, I think, still needs another year before he is reliable fantasy contributor but he is turning into a very fun player to watch.
- Pittsburgh fans! Be discouraged with Fleury's play (though putting up 4 goals and losing is Edmonton's Modus Operandi these days) but be encouraged by the play of Miroslav Satan and Petr Sykora. The Pens put up 5 goals last night and none of them were scored by Crosby or Malkin. Satan is on fire right now (8 goals) but Sykora has been slow to the starting gate. Well, 2 goals last night plus some powerplay time encourages me. If you've got Sykora on your bench it might be a good time to start playing him.
- Shea...motherflippin... Weber... that is all. No. OK so did I think he'd have 7 goals at this point in the season? No, but he does and now you need to figure out what to do with him? Guys like Weber, Semin and Vanek are all performing above their lofty expectations. Is it time to consider selling high? No I don't think so, particularly with Weber and Semin. Weber could very well continue to be a strong contributor throughout the year. He has 7 goals, top amongst d-men, and is ranked second to only Chris Pronger in standard Yahoo leagues. I think he finishes the year in the top 15 amongst d-men and I don't think you'll get that kind of return on him. Same for Semin, the return won't be worth what you are giving up.
- LUONGO! 2 shutouts in a row. Luongo owners... exhale.
- Ryan Clowe... two goals and the shootout winner... told you to watch him preseason based on his strong postseason and told you to pick him up yesterday... just saying. Setoguchi had another great night as well with two assists and 4 SOG.
That's all for now. I should be back a little bit later on in the day with updates, news, musings, etc.
-To yesterday's BTT Injury update add the following:
- Paul Kariya left Wednesday's game in Anaheim in the second period with an undisclosed lower body injury. He returned to St. Louis for an MRI and missed yesterday's game against San Jose. St. Louis is in the middle of a road trip and plays Los Angeles tomorrow night before flying off to Buffalo for a game next Wednesday. Best case scenario I would expect Kariya to miss at least Saturday's game in LA.
- Joe Sakic missed last night's game against Minnesota with a strained lower back. This is the kind of injury that you worry about with an older player as its the kind of the thing that can become recurring. I wouldn't be too worried about Joe though as he has been a point a game so far and will play unless he is physically incapable.
- Brent Burns left Minnesota's road trip with a dreaded upper body injury. Burns hasn't really caught fire yet this year but if you still have him on your team be aware that he is going to miss at least a few games.
- Evgeni Nabakov oh noes! Nabakov finished the game against St. Louis slumped over on the ice. San Jose is calling it a "lower body injury" today but several sources are saying that he "did something" to his "left leg" and that's at least a little bit more specific. His backup, Brian Boucher, is not spectacular fantasy wise but San Jose might be good enough for a speculative add if you've got a free roster spot.
- A miniature Breaking the Slump:
Congratulations to a pair of Mighty Mites who broke their slumps last night at the Rangers/Tampa Bay game. Martin St. Louis scored one of the prettiest goals I have ever seen. He took the puck, kicked it behind his back up to his stick then skated backwards towards Lundqvist before switching to his backhand and popping the puck top shelf. Follow that? Neither did Hank. It was a freaking street hockey goal.
Marty has had a tough start to the season, but I wouldn't be worried if I were a St. Louis owner. The guy has a history of being streaky but I still think he'll get you somewhere between 70 and 80 points. The big concern, as it is with all Tampa Bay players, has to be the powerplay. I'm not convinced that that is going to change. Watching as many Tampa games as I, unfortunately, have it would seem that their special teams are just... well... off. The penalty kill is just... wow
Also on the score sheet last night, Chris Drury came out of the fog and potted a hat trick. Good for Dru... I don't think this makes him fantasy worthy yet, as you've probably already missed his production for the next few games (and he's currently the Rangers third line center). Big wait and see for Drury.
-Observations on last nights games
- Mike Smith owners... don't you wish goalie PIM's counted? Mike Smith channeled Billy Smith last night and dropped the gloves against Aaron Voros after battling with him for the entire game. Smith apparently saw a vacancy for "Rangers fans most hated goalie" with Marty out and decided to put in his application. Another point. How good is Voros? Still miss Sean Avery Rangers' fans?
- WHOOPS! Blake Wheeler recorded his first NHL hat trick for the Boston Bruins last night. Congrats to Whoops on the achievement. Wheeler, I think, still needs another year before he is reliable fantasy contributor but he is turning into a very fun player to watch.
- Pittsburgh fans! Be discouraged with Fleury's play (though putting up 4 goals and losing is Edmonton's Modus Operandi these days) but be encouraged by the play of Miroslav Satan and Petr Sykora. The Pens put up 5 goals last night and none of them were scored by Crosby or Malkin. Satan is on fire right now (8 goals) but Sykora has been slow to the starting gate. Well, 2 goals last night plus some powerplay time encourages me. If you've got Sykora on your bench it might be a good time to start playing him.
- Shea...motherflippin... Weber... that is all. No. OK so did I think he'd have 7 goals at this point in the season? No, but he does and now you need to figure out what to do with him? Guys like Weber, Semin and Vanek are all performing above their lofty expectations. Is it time to consider selling high? No I don't think so, particularly with Weber and Semin. Weber could very well continue to be a strong contributor throughout the year. He has 7 goals, top amongst d-men, and is ranked second to only Chris Pronger in standard Yahoo leagues. I think he finishes the year in the top 15 amongst d-men and I don't think you'll get that kind of return on him. Same for Semin, the return won't be worth what you are giving up.
- LUONGO! 2 shutouts in a row. Luongo owners... exhale.
- Ryan Clowe... two goals and the shootout winner... told you to watch him preseason based on his strong postseason and told you to pick him up yesterday... just saying. Setoguchi had another great night as well with two assists and 4 SOG.
That's all for now. I should be back a little bit later on in the day with updates, news, musings, etc.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Ice Fishing: A Very Western Week
Interesting week that was in the NHL. Some goaltending controversies gained a bit more speed, some lost it. The Anaheim Ducks continued to roll as all of their stars have finally found their mojo and the Edmonton Oilers continued to stall despite strong fantasy play by most of its high profile forwards and defensemen. Toronto and Columbus scored and the Rangers bored. Mats Sundin attended a Vancouver game and Ryan Clowe took his turn as San Jose's scoring winger.
Let's get to the meat of it shall we...
Keep 'em:
Ryan Clowe
LW, San Jose
I figured I put him in the lead in so I might as well end the suspense right away. Unlike Setoguchi, who incidentally still gets my strongest recommendation, Clowe sees powerplay time with this squad. Clowe is tied for fourth on the team in points, behind only the resurgent Patrick Marleau, the spectacular Joe Thornton, and the aforementioned Devin Setoguchi, is third in PIM, and leads the team with 4 powerplay goals. What's not to like?
Chirs Kunitz
LW, Anaheim
He shouldn't be available in your league, but some people had goalie problems early and needed space on their rosters and were really lucky to pick him back up before he tallied 5 assists this last week. Yes I'm talking about myself and no I don't know why you should listen to anything I say beyond that last sentence.
Cam Barker
D, Chicago
We're having a bit of a west coast tip here but this blog is so east-centric that I'm feeling unapologetic right now. Barker has responded to his call up strongly. In 4 games Barker has 2 goals and an assist and 4 PIM. Both goals came on the man advantage. There is some speculation, has been since the preseason, that the Blackhawks are trying to move Barker. So long as that is the case and he's producing expect the Hawks to use him in showcase situations like the point on the man advantage.
Weigh 'Em:
Kris Versteeg:
RW, Chicago
Versteeg put up another two assists this week and is starting to look like a real challenger for the Calder this year. About a week ago Craig Kanelley alerted me to a piece he did on Versteeg over on Hawkey Central. Its a really interesting piece for anyone who would like to know more about the young man that has seemingly come out of nowhere to lead all rookies in scoring through November. Check it out here:
http://hawkeycentral.windycitizen.com/2008/10/29/from-lethbridge-to-chi-town
Jakub Voracek:
RW, Columbus
Notice the large number of wingers this week? You should all be pretty well set on your centers by now, but good wingers can be tough to find. For that you've got to look to surprising sources like overproducing veterans, breakout stars and yes... rookies. Voracek here came on strong in the last week and now has 10 points through 13 games.
Ray Whitney:
LW, Carolina
Oh good... I was starting to get worried that there were no Eastern Conference guys on this list. Whitney had 6 points, 3 goals and 3 assists, in the last week with four of those points coming on the man advantage. The only thing that keeps Wizard from being in the "Keep 'em" section is the fact he was also an atrocious -4 over that same span. You might want to give Tuomo Ruutu a look as well as he also has 6 points over the last week but is a +4. The knock on Ruutu is his lack of powerplay time and shots on goal(3).
Toss 'Em Back:
Kevin Weekes, Frederik Norenna, Joey MacDonald:
G, New Jersey, Columbus, New York Islanders
No. You know why. Weekes will not replace lost production from Brodeur, and you need at least a few games to see what he'll be able to do on this depleted Devils team. Norenna has shown that he is shaky at best right now. Wait for Leclaire. McDonald's numbers are deceptively good. Don't believe them. That Islanders team is atrocious.
Mathieu Garon:
G, Edmonton
Maybe just bench him until the Oil make their way back home. The only way the Oilers seem to be able to win right now is by scoring five goals. Take a hands off approach on this one.
Niklas Hagman:
LW, Toronto
I don't buy it. Toronto had some wild ones this past week and Hagman came out of it with 5 points while recording a stunning +7 over that same period. Wilson is a good coach and Hagman isn't a bad player, I just don't think he's a near point a game player. For the record I've been very very impressed with what Wilson has done with this Maple Leafs squad. I don't know if they are a playoff team but they are a heck of a lot of fun to watch. They better be careful though or they are going to play themselves right out of the Tavares Sweepsteaks.
That's all for now. Expect my report from Rangers v Lightning when I get back tonight as well as news and notes on a busy night in the national hockey league that sees 22 of the 30 teams in action. If I wasn't going to the Rangers game I'd be firing up Edmonton v Pittsburgh on my center ice package with Phoenix at Vancouver being the late game du jour.
Let's get to the meat of it shall we...
Keep 'em:
Ryan Clowe
LW, San Jose
I figured I put him in the lead in so I might as well end the suspense right away. Unlike Setoguchi, who incidentally still gets my strongest recommendation, Clowe sees powerplay time with this squad. Clowe is tied for fourth on the team in points, behind only the resurgent Patrick Marleau, the spectacular Joe Thornton, and the aforementioned Devin Setoguchi, is third in PIM, and leads the team with 4 powerplay goals. What's not to like?
Chirs Kunitz
LW, Anaheim
He shouldn't be available in your league, but some people had goalie problems early and needed space on their rosters and were really lucky to pick him back up before he tallied 5 assists this last week. Yes I'm talking about myself and no I don't know why you should listen to anything I say beyond that last sentence.
Cam Barker
D, Chicago
We're having a bit of a west coast tip here but this blog is so east-centric that I'm feeling unapologetic right now. Barker has responded to his call up strongly. In 4 games Barker has 2 goals and an assist and 4 PIM. Both goals came on the man advantage. There is some speculation, has been since the preseason, that the Blackhawks are trying to move Barker. So long as that is the case and he's producing expect the Hawks to use him in showcase situations like the point on the man advantage.
Weigh 'Em:
Kris Versteeg:
RW, Chicago
Versteeg put up another two assists this week and is starting to look like a real challenger for the Calder this year. About a week ago Craig Kanelley alerted me to a piece he did on Versteeg over on Hawkey Central. Its a really interesting piece for anyone who would like to know more about the young man that has seemingly come out of nowhere to lead all rookies in scoring through November. Check it out here:
http://hawkeycentral.windycitizen.com/2008/10/29/from-lethbridge-to-chi-town
Jakub Voracek:
RW, Columbus
Notice the large number of wingers this week? You should all be pretty well set on your centers by now, but good wingers can be tough to find. For that you've got to look to surprising sources like overproducing veterans, breakout stars and yes... rookies. Voracek here came on strong in the last week and now has 10 points through 13 games.
Ray Whitney:
LW, Carolina
Oh good... I was starting to get worried that there were no Eastern Conference guys on this list. Whitney had 6 points, 3 goals and 3 assists, in the last week with four of those points coming on the man advantage. The only thing that keeps Wizard from being in the "Keep 'em" section is the fact he was also an atrocious -4 over that same span. You might want to give Tuomo Ruutu a look as well as he also has 6 points over the last week but is a +4. The knock on Ruutu is his lack of powerplay time and shots on goal(3).
Toss 'Em Back:
Kevin Weekes, Frederik Norenna, Joey MacDonald:
G, New Jersey, Columbus, New York Islanders
No. You know why. Weekes will not replace lost production from Brodeur, and you need at least a few games to see what he'll be able to do on this depleted Devils team. Norenna has shown that he is shaky at best right now. Wait for Leclaire. McDonald's numbers are deceptively good. Don't believe them. That Islanders team is atrocious.
Mathieu Garon:
G, Edmonton
Maybe just bench him until the Oil make their way back home. The only way the Oilers seem to be able to win right now is by scoring five goals. Take a hands off approach on this one.
Niklas Hagman:
LW, Toronto
I don't buy it. Toronto had some wild ones this past week and Hagman came out of it with 5 points while recording a stunning +7 over that same period. Wilson is a good coach and Hagman isn't a bad player, I just don't think he's a near point a game player. For the record I've been very very impressed with what Wilson has done with this Maple Leafs squad. I don't know if they are a playoff team but they are a heck of a lot of fun to watch. They better be careful though or they are going to play themselves right out of the Tavares Sweepsteaks.
That's all for now. Expect my report from Rangers v Lightning when I get back tonight as well as news and notes on a busy night in the national hockey league that sees 22 of the 30 teams in action. If I wasn't going to the Rangers game I'd be firing up Edmonton v Pittsburgh on my center ice package with Phoenix at Vancouver being the late game du jour.
Monday, October 13, 2008
Ice Stock: Pickups of the Week
So the first few days of NHL action have brought with them some surprises (St. Louis and Toronto can score), some things that were expected (St. Louis and Toronto can't play defense) and a few disappointments (Chicago, Calgary and Anaheim... I'm looking squarely at you). So with a few games under most team's belts who looks worthy of being added and who needs to be dropped? Lets have a look.
Pickups of the Week:
Keith Tkachuk:
LW, St. Louis
Apparently Keith has a reserve tank in there somewhere because here we are at the beginning of the third season that was supposed to be the one where he finally petered out and Tkachuk has 4 goals (all of them on the powerplay) through 3 games. The St. Louis Powerplay is absolutely tearing it up right now and if Paul Kariya or Brad Boyes are still available in your leagues you should grab them as well.
David Booth:
LW, Florida
Long expected to be entering "a breakout campaign" Booth is showing early signs that this may actually be the year. He and fellow first linemates Nathan Horton and Stephen Weiss have accounted for 9 points through 2 games. Booth is the hottest of the trio with 3 goals and one assist. Booth is the only one getting the mention here as Horton is already owned in most leagues and Weiss doesn't generally take enough shots to penetrate the depth at center. All 3 are worth a look but Booth is the most interesting.
Devin Setoguchi:
RW, San Jose
Setoguchi is enjoying his time on Joe Thornton's wing. With 2 goals, 1 assist and 12 shots through 2 games he is an attractive pickup, particularly at the low-depth RW position. My only concern is his lack of powerplay time. If that changes he could be a stud.
Keep an Eye On:
Kyle Turris:
C, Phoenix
The forgotten candidate for rookie of the year preseason put in a strong "for your consideration" bid in his first weekend of NHL action. In two games Turris has a goal and 2 assists and 2 PP points. Turris is not a shooter, yet, but as his ice time and powerplay time expands he could increase in value. Keeper leaguers should grab him now, all other leagues should definitely take note.
Steve Bernier:
RW, Vancouver
Bernier IS the third wheel on the Sedin line and will accumulate points just by being on the ice with them. Bernier also has 7 PIM through 3 games. His potential for performing across many fantasy categories depends upon his continued presence on this line however. As a result I'm still preaching caution.
Don't Believe the Hype:
Sergei Kostitsyn:
LW, Montreal
It was a strange night against Toronto, with Tanguay and Kostitsyn the lesser cleaning up on the powerplay. I preach caution for now as Montreal's expected scorers have really yet to get rolling, and S. Kostitsyn only managed 1 shot on goal in Montreal other game, a 2-1 loss to Buffalo.
Filip Kuba:
D, Ottawa
I see tough times ahead for the Ottawa Senators. 2 weeks without their captain and spiritual leader Daniel Alfredsson could make times very difficult on the offense. While Kuba DOES appear to be the heir apparent to the powerplay throne, his plus/minus could more then offset any offensive gains he gets for you. Don't rush on this one.'
News and Notes:
Rick Dipietro continues to dress as the backup for the New York Islanders, however they are opting to start Joey MacDonald right now as Dipietro continues to have swelling and liquid buildup around his surgically repaired left knee. Don't worry Islander fans, if he misses the season you'll get to draft John Tavares! Its probably the best thing he could do for the organization actually
The Buffalo Sabres have had a strong start to the season, defeating Montreal 2-1 and, at the time of this writing, dominating the New York Islanders 7-1 through 2 and 3/4 minutes of play. Star players, Derek Roy, Jason Pominville and Thomas Vanek are all rolling, and they are getting strong play from the supporting cast members like Ales Kotalik and Maxim Afinogenov. If you are looking for causes of concern though the injuries are already starting to pile up. Tim Connoly has officially missed his first game with a hairline fracture to one of his vertebrae and Jochen Hecht left today's game with an undisclosed "upper body injury."
Manny Legace appears to be the starting goalie for the St. Louis Blues. He has looked good so far but not great. If you need wins he may not be a bad option. That said Monday's win against the Maple Leafs was one of the most entertaining games of all time as both team's offenses were playing run and gun for the entirety of the 60 minute tilt. Be aware, there will be blowouts.
Finally, on a sad note, our condolences to the family of New York Rangers prospect Alexei Cherepanov. The 19 year old died of a heart attack while sitting on the bench in a game for his KHL squad Avangard Omsk. Cherepanov was selected 17th overall by the Rangers in the 2007 draft and had more points in his rookie season in the KHL then Alexander Ovechkin, Evgeni Malkin, and Ilya Kovalchuk.
Well that's all for now, Check back later today for more team previews (getting silly now I know) and more news, notes and rumors.
Pickups of the Week:
Keith Tkachuk:
LW, St. Louis
Apparently Keith has a reserve tank in there somewhere because here we are at the beginning of the third season that was supposed to be the one where he finally petered out and Tkachuk has 4 goals (all of them on the powerplay) through 3 games. The St. Louis Powerplay is absolutely tearing it up right now and if Paul Kariya or Brad Boyes are still available in your leagues you should grab them as well.
David Booth:
LW, Florida
Long expected to be entering "a breakout campaign" Booth is showing early signs that this may actually be the year. He and fellow first linemates Nathan Horton and Stephen Weiss have accounted for 9 points through 2 games. Booth is the hottest of the trio with 3 goals and one assist. Booth is the only one getting the mention here as Horton is already owned in most leagues and Weiss doesn't generally take enough shots to penetrate the depth at center. All 3 are worth a look but Booth is the most interesting.
Devin Setoguchi:
RW, San Jose
Setoguchi is enjoying his time on Joe Thornton's wing. With 2 goals, 1 assist and 12 shots through 2 games he is an attractive pickup, particularly at the low-depth RW position. My only concern is his lack of powerplay time. If that changes he could be a stud.
Keep an Eye On:
Kyle Turris:
C, Phoenix
The forgotten candidate for rookie of the year preseason put in a strong "for your consideration" bid in his first weekend of NHL action. In two games Turris has a goal and 2 assists and 2 PP points. Turris is not a shooter, yet, but as his ice time and powerplay time expands he could increase in value. Keeper leaguers should grab him now, all other leagues should definitely take note.
Steve Bernier:
RW, Vancouver
Bernier IS the third wheel on the Sedin line and will accumulate points just by being on the ice with them. Bernier also has 7 PIM through 3 games. His potential for performing across many fantasy categories depends upon his continued presence on this line however. As a result I'm still preaching caution.
Don't Believe the Hype:
Sergei Kostitsyn:
LW, Montreal
It was a strange night against Toronto, with Tanguay and Kostitsyn the lesser cleaning up on the powerplay. I preach caution for now as Montreal's expected scorers have really yet to get rolling, and S. Kostitsyn only managed 1 shot on goal in Montreal other game, a 2-1 loss to Buffalo.
Filip Kuba:
D, Ottawa
I see tough times ahead for the Ottawa Senators. 2 weeks without their captain and spiritual leader Daniel Alfredsson could make times very difficult on the offense. While Kuba DOES appear to be the heir apparent to the powerplay throne, his plus/minus could more then offset any offensive gains he gets for you. Don't rush on this one.'
News and Notes:
Rick Dipietro continues to dress as the backup for the New York Islanders, however they are opting to start Joey MacDonald right now as Dipietro continues to have swelling and liquid buildup around his surgically repaired left knee. Don't worry Islander fans, if he misses the season you'll get to draft John Tavares! Its probably the best thing he could do for the organization actually
The Buffalo Sabres have had a strong start to the season, defeating Montreal 2-1 and, at the time of this writing, dominating the New York Islanders 7-1 through 2 and 3/4 minutes of play. Star players, Derek Roy, Jason Pominville and Thomas Vanek are all rolling, and they are getting strong play from the supporting cast members like Ales Kotalik and Maxim Afinogenov. If you are looking for causes of concern though the injuries are already starting to pile up. Tim Connoly has officially missed his first game with a hairline fracture to one of his vertebrae and Jochen Hecht left today's game with an undisclosed "upper body injury."
Manny Legace appears to be the starting goalie for the St. Louis Blues. He has looked good so far but not great. If you need wins he may not be a bad option. That said Monday's win against the Maple Leafs was one of the most entertaining games of all time as both team's offenses were playing run and gun for the entirety of the 60 minute tilt. Be aware, there will be blowouts.
Finally, on a sad note, our condolences to the family of New York Rangers prospect Alexei Cherepanov. The 19 year old died of a heart attack while sitting on the bench in a game for his KHL squad Avangard Omsk. Cherepanov was selected 17th overall by the Rangers in the 2007 draft and had more points in his rookie season in the KHL then Alexander Ovechkin, Evgeni Malkin, and Ilya Kovalchuk.
Well that's all for now, Check back later today for more team previews (getting silly now I know) and more news, notes and rumors.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
TEAM PREVIEWS: SAN JOSE SHARKS
With a fair amount of uncertainty swirling over a majority of the remaining Eastern Conference teams we turn our attention West for a bit, to talk about many of the perennial Stanley Cup Favorites. We start with the Titans of Teal, the San Jose Sharks.
Introduction:
What are 51, 54, 37? No... they're not the numbers from lost, they are Joe Thornton's powerplay stats for the last 3 years. You might notice the gigantic leap downward that they took last season. 41, 30, 15...Cheechoo's numbers on the powerplay for the last 3 years. 44, 37, 26... Marleau's. It was a team wide problem.
Now, its unfair to blame this spiral on the recently departed Matt Carle. To begin with he was just 23 last season. He couldn't possibly, by himself, have been responsible for the decline of San Jose's powerplay. However trading him to Tampa Bay was just one of the steps the organization took to correct this glaring problem. Gone is coach Ron Wilson, having been given the "Stanley or Bust" ultimatum prior to the playoffs. Recently arrived are Dan Boyle, one of the premier powerplay quarterbacks in today's game, and Rob Blake, one of the premier offensive defenseman for the last decade or so.
Though much of the lineup remains the same, expect San Jose to sport a vastly different look this season, both on the man advantage and at even strength.
Key Departures:
Matt Carle
Carle is a competent offensive defenseman. He may blossom into a good one given time and some tutelage. He wasn't going to get either on this team. It is best for both sides that he was given the old heave-ho. At least they sent him some place warm.
New Face(s):
Dan Boyle
Rob Blake
Now we are talking. The front office saw what happened after Campbell arrived last season and, realizing he was not resigning, went out and replaced him. Jeez did they ever replace him. The double threat of Blake and Boyle on the point is going to make for a DEADLY powerplay unit. The loss of Carle might hurt in the long run but these are moves made for RIGHT NOW. In the very very competitive Western Conference we'll see how they play out.
The Offense:
San Jose's offense is a mixed bag. There is a lot of talent on this team, but much depends on the line combinations. Cheechoo's value disappears almost entirely if he is not on Thornton's line. Michalek gets quiet without Joe as well. You will want to monitor who is playing where as the season progresses, particularly if new coach Todd McLellan shows the same penchant for shuffling lines as his predecessor.
You Want to Draft
Joe Thornton
Patrick Marleau
Milan Michalek
Thornton doesn't shoot enough. He doesn't get enough goals and he is no longer going to get north of 70 PIM in a season. However, he is usually a significant plus, usually scores a ridiculous number of points on the powerplay and will almost single-handedly take care of the assists category for you. Boyle is going to do wonders for him on the powerplay and vice versa. 100 + points for Jumbo Joe look like a safe bet.
FACT: 12 of Thornton's 29 goals came in the last 20 games of the season, after Brian Campbell arrived. Expect similar production with Boyle and Blake on board.
Marleau was AWFUL last season. I don't want to be the guy that says "He's too good for that and therefore that must change this year." I've always felt that was a cop-out. Last season, it oftentimes seemed like Marleau was on the outs with coach Ron Wilson. Marleau has seen significant dips in playing time for the last two seasons. After averaging nearly twenty minutes two seasons ago, Marleau's average ice time now circles around 18. Still good but vastly decreased. Furthermore Marleau was consistently rumored to be on the trading block. The coaching change should do Marleau some good. Expect him to rise back to around 70ish points this season. All that and possible left wing eligibility make Marleau an easy recommendation for me to make.
FACT: Marleau was drafted second overall in 1997. The first pick that year... was Joe Thornton.
Michalek's point totals took a dive last season but many of his secondary stats, including ice time, improved. Michalek will play on Joe's wing and will see a good amount of powerplay time as well. Expect his numbers to climb back into the mid 60's, good territory for a left wing.
FACT: Michalek's shots, one of his less spectacular categories, jumped along with his ice time last season to 233... perfectly respectable.
You Want to Watch
Jonathan Cheechoo
Ryane Clowe
Devin Setoguchi
The most important question with Cheechoo is has the bleeding stopped? Cheechoo came on pretty strong after the all star break, scoring 21 of his 37 points there. Do I think there is talent here? Yes. Do I think he'll likely start the season on a line with Michalek and Thornton? Yes. So how can I not recommend that you draft him? You really shouldn't draft him where you'll have to. Despite a massive decline a season ago, Cheechoo STILL went 22nd overall on average last year, even if that dips to like 44th... 50th... I think there are better options out there at RW then a guy who has seen ALL of his stats dip season after season.
The other reason I put Cheechoo here is that he is generally a very slow starter. You'll get a lot more value out of him by trading for him a month or two into the season. Trust me. My team was called "The Cheechoo Train" last year. This is tough for me too.
FACT: Cheechoo took 317 shots in 05-06 but only 220 in 07-08.
Clowe signed a one year deal with the Sharks in the off-season. Clowe is skilled, he had 34 points in 58 games with the Sharks in 06-07. He's got a lot to prove and is playing for a big contract. Expect big things.
FACT: After missing most of the season to injury and various personal issues, Clowe had 9 points in 13 games in the postseason last year. That was second only to Joe Thornton.
Setoguchi is a highly regarded offensive prospect. He was drafted 8th Overall in 2005 and spent 44 games up with the big club last year. He exploded out of the gate with 7 goals and an assist in his first 9 games before slowing down significantly thereafter. Setoguchi's time will come however. He is almost guarateed a spot on the team this year. What he will do with it is any one's guess.
FACT: The Sharks have confidence in Setoguchi. He played in every one of their playoff games last season.
The Defense:
You Want to Draft:
Dan Boyle
Rob Blake
You've seen both of their names all over this piece so this should come as no surprise.
Boyle is going to be very very good on this team. A return to the 63 point performance of a year ago without the pesky plus/minus issues that come with being a Tampa Bay player seems all but guaranteed. 40 points on the powerplay? 50? What is the ceiling? I would say high 40's. Make no mistake, Boyle's addition makes this a very high powered offense.
FACT: Don't worry about Boyle as an injury risk. All of the problems he faced last season were of the freak non-recurring variety. As long as San Jose has invested in some blade covers for Boyle's skates when they are hanging in the locker room everything should be fine.
Blake is no slouch. He too should now be free of the plus-minus issues he's suffered the last few seasons in LA. I expect a return to the mid-40's in points with a majority of that coming on the man advantage is about Blake's ceiling. Blake still has an absolute cannon of a shot and will be a great partner for Boyle on the powerplay.
FACT: Blake gets PIM too! Draft him as your second or third defenseman and enjoy.
The Powerplay:
Joe Thornton
Patrick Marleau
Milan Michalek/Jonathan Cheechoo
Dan Boyle
Rob Blake
I am, as you may have guessed from my rankings, right now betting that Michalek will get the principal first unit time. I imagine he and Cheechoo will trade off duties, but should Cheechoo somehow win the majority of the time... well that's why I said you should watch him. This is going to be a deadly efficient powerplay... expect everyone who is on the first unit to see increases in their numbers as a result.
The Goalie(s):
Evgeni Nabakov is going to be drafted very early in most leagues this year and with good reason. He has no competition for his job and was nominated for his first Vezina last season along with Henrik Lundqvist and Martin Brodeur. Moreover he finally broke his habit of posting one good season and then following it up with an absolute stinker. Nabakov doesn't give you the save percentage that some other goalies will get you, but he will more than make up for that with his GAA and wins.
The Verdict:
The Pacific Division may just be the most competitive division in hockey this year, hosting three solid cup contenders in Anaheim, San Jose and Dallas. San Jose and Dallas are the two best teams in this division. Its going to be a dog fight but you should expect San Jose to still be air born come playoff time.
Introduction:
What are 51, 54, 37? No... they're not the numbers from lost, they are Joe Thornton's powerplay stats for the last 3 years. You might notice the gigantic leap downward that they took last season. 41, 30, 15...Cheechoo's numbers on the powerplay for the last 3 years. 44, 37, 26... Marleau's. It was a team wide problem.
Now, its unfair to blame this spiral on the recently departed Matt Carle. To begin with he was just 23 last season. He couldn't possibly, by himself, have been responsible for the decline of San Jose's powerplay. However trading him to Tampa Bay was just one of the steps the organization took to correct this glaring problem. Gone is coach Ron Wilson, having been given the "Stanley or Bust" ultimatum prior to the playoffs. Recently arrived are Dan Boyle, one of the premier powerplay quarterbacks in today's game, and Rob Blake, one of the premier offensive defenseman for the last decade or so.
Though much of the lineup remains the same, expect San Jose to sport a vastly different look this season, both on the man advantage and at even strength.
Key Departures:
Matt Carle
Carle is a competent offensive defenseman. He may blossom into a good one given time and some tutelage. He wasn't going to get either on this team. It is best for both sides that he was given the old heave-ho. At least they sent him some place warm.
New Face(s):
Dan Boyle
Rob Blake
Now we are talking. The front office saw what happened after Campbell arrived last season and, realizing he was not resigning, went out and replaced him. Jeez did they ever replace him. The double threat of Blake and Boyle on the point is going to make for a DEADLY powerplay unit. The loss of Carle might hurt in the long run but these are moves made for RIGHT NOW. In the very very competitive Western Conference we'll see how they play out.
The Offense:
San Jose's offense is a mixed bag. There is a lot of talent on this team, but much depends on the line combinations. Cheechoo's value disappears almost entirely if he is not on Thornton's line. Michalek gets quiet without Joe as well. You will want to monitor who is playing where as the season progresses, particularly if new coach Todd McLellan shows the same penchant for shuffling lines as his predecessor.
You Want to Draft
Joe Thornton
Patrick Marleau
Milan Michalek
Thornton doesn't shoot enough. He doesn't get enough goals and he is no longer going to get north of 70 PIM in a season. However, he is usually a significant plus, usually scores a ridiculous number of points on the powerplay and will almost single-handedly take care of the assists category for you. Boyle is going to do wonders for him on the powerplay and vice versa. 100 + points for Jumbo Joe look like a safe bet.
FACT: 12 of Thornton's 29 goals came in the last 20 games of the season, after Brian Campbell arrived. Expect similar production with Boyle and Blake on board.
Marleau was AWFUL last season. I don't want to be the guy that says "He's too good for that and therefore that must change this year." I've always felt that was a cop-out. Last season, it oftentimes seemed like Marleau was on the outs with coach Ron Wilson. Marleau has seen significant dips in playing time for the last two seasons. After averaging nearly twenty minutes two seasons ago, Marleau's average ice time now circles around 18. Still good but vastly decreased. Furthermore Marleau was consistently rumored to be on the trading block. The coaching change should do Marleau some good. Expect him to rise back to around 70ish points this season. All that and possible left wing eligibility make Marleau an easy recommendation for me to make.
FACT: Marleau was drafted second overall in 1997. The first pick that year... was Joe Thornton.
Michalek's point totals took a dive last season but many of his secondary stats, including ice time, improved. Michalek will play on Joe's wing and will see a good amount of powerplay time as well. Expect his numbers to climb back into the mid 60's, good territory for a left wing.
FACT: Michalek's shots, one of his less spectacular categories, jumped along with his ice time last season to 233... perfectly respectable.
You Want to Watch
Jonathan Cheechoo
Ryane Clowe
Devin Setoguchi
The most important question with Cheechoo is has the bleeding stopped? Cheechoo came on pretty strong after the all star break, scoring 21 of his 37 points there. Do I think there is talent here? Yes. Do I think he'll likely start the season on a line with Michalek and Thornton? Yes. So how can I not recommend that you draft him? You really shouldn't draft him where you'll have to. Despite a massive decline a season ago, Cheechoo STILL went 22nd overall on average last year, even if that dips to like 44th... 50th... I think there are better options out there at RW then a guy who has seen ALL of his stats dip season after season.
The other reason I put Cheechoo here is that he is generally a very slow starter. You'll get a lot more value out of him by trading for him a month or two into the season. Trust me. My team was called "The Cheechoo Train" last year. This is tough for me too.
FACT: Cheechoo took 317 shots in 05-06 but only 220 in 07-08.
Clowe signed a one year deal with the Sharks in the off-season. Clowe is skilled, he had 34 points in 58 games with the Sharks in 06-07. He's got a lot to prove and is playing for a big contract. Expect big things.
FACT: After missing most of the season to injury and various personal issues, Clowe had 9 points in 13 games in the postseason last year. That was second only to Joe Thornton.
Setoguchi is a highly regarded offensive prospect. He was drafted 8th Overall in 2005 and spent 44 games up with the big club last year. He exploded out of the gate with 7 goals and an assist in his first 9 games before slowing down significantly thereafter. Setoguchi's time will come however. He is almost guarateed a spot on the team this year. What he will do with it is any one's guess.
FACT: The Sharks have confidence in Setoguchi. He played in every one of their playoff games last season.
The Defense:
You Want to Draft:
Dan Boyle
Rob Blake
You've seen both of their names all over this piece so this should come as no surprise.
Boyle is going to be very very good on this team. A return to the 63 point performance of a year ago without the pesky plus/minus issues that come with being a Tampa Bay player seems all but guaranteed. 40 points on the powerplay? 50? What is the ceiling? I would say high 40's. Make no mistake, Boyle's addition makes this a very high powered offense.
FACT: Don't worry about Boyle as an injury risk. All of the problems he faced last season were of the freak non-recurring variety. As long as San Jose has invested in some blade covers for Boyle's skates when they are hanging in the locker room everything should be fine.
Blake is no slouch. He too should now be free of the plus-minus issues he's suffered the last few seasons in LA. I expect a return to the mid-40's in points with a majority of that coming on the man advantage is about Blake's ceiling. Blake still has an absolute cannon of a shot and will be a great partner for Boyle on the powerplay.
FACT: Blake gets PIM too! Draft him as your second or third defenseman and enjoy.
The Powerplay:
Joe Thornton
Patrick Marleau
Milan Michalek/Jonathan Cheechoo
Dan Boyle
Rob Blake
I am, as you may have guessed from my rankings, right now betting that Michalek will get the principal first unit time. I imagine he and Cheechoo will trade off duties, but should Cheechoo somehow win the majority of the time... well that's why I said you should watch him. This is going to be a deadly efficient powerplay... expect everyone who is on the first unit to see increases in their numbers as a result.
The Goalie(s):
Evgeni Nabakov is going to be drafted very early in most leagues this year and with good reason. He has no competition for his job and was nominated for his first Vezina last season along with Henrik Lundqvist and Martin Brodeur. Moreover he finally broke his habit of posting one good season and then following it up with an absolute stinker. Nabakov doesn't give you the save percentage that some other goalies will get you, but he will more than make up for that with his GAA and wins.
The Verdict:
The Pacific Division may just be the most competitive division in hockey this year, hosting three solid cup contenders in Anaheim, San Jose and Dallas. San Jose and Dallas are the two best teams in this division. Its going to be a dog fight but you should expect San Jose to still be air born come playoff time.
Monday, July 21, 2008
Quick! Boyle and Blake or Campbell and Carle
Which side got the better of the deal when you think about it that way?
San Jose Sharks
The titans of teal took steps to shore up their back line this offseason. Defensive point production was a trouble spot for San Jose for most of last season until the trade deadline acquisition of Brian Campbell. Campbell's presence seemed to reinvigorate Thornton, who scored 12 of his 29 goals in the 20 games after Campbell's arrival.
When it became clear that Campbell would be leaving, San Jose did what it had to do to replace that production. Dan Boyle is a good fantasy option anywhere, but becomes a great one here in San Jose. He does a bit of everything fantasy wise and is a powerplay magician. In San Jose he should add another trick, being a + for the first time since 2003/2004. Low 60's in point production with over 30 points on the powerplay is not at all out of the question for Boyle on this squad. He is fully recovered from the horrific accident that cost him half of last year. So long the equipment guys put safety guards on all the sharp objects in the dressing room I would say Boyle is one of your best options on D not named Lidstrom this year.
Rob Blake is another issue. Blake has continued to put up some pretty good numbers for an old guy. Like Boyle his large - should be erased by his arrival on a much more defensively oriented team. San Jose didn't acquire Blake for his defense, they brought him in for his still booming slapshot. Another 30 + point campaign, 20 or so of those coming on the powerplay, seems likely from the once and future King (they'll retire that jersey... come on... you know it). When you factor in his 90 or so PIM and the potential for 180 or more shots and you've got a recipe for relevance. Injury is my only concern here.
Despite his step back last season, I have faith the Carle will eventually make something of himself, maybe as early as this season (see http://breakingthetrap.blogspot.com/2008/07/mullet-over.html). San Jose wants to win right now and will be aggressive to make sure this happens.
San Jose Sharks
The titans of teal took steps to shore up their back line this offseason. Defensive point production was a trouble spot for San Jose for most of last season until the trade deadline acquisition of Brian Campbell. Campbell's presence seemed to reinvigorate Thornton, who scored 12 of his 29 goals in the 20 games after Campbell's arrival.
When it became clear that Campbell would be leaving, San Jose did what it had to do to replace that production. Dan Boyle is a good fantasy option anywhere, but becomes a great one here in San Jose. He does a bit of everything fantasy wise and is a powerplay magician. In San Jose he should add another trick, being a + for the first time since 2003/2004. Low 60's in point production with over 30 points on the powerplay is not at all out of the question for Boyle on this squad. He is fully recovered from the horrific accident that cost him half of last year. So long the equipment guys put safety guards on all the sharp objects in the dressing room I would say Boyle is one of your best options on D not named Lidstrom this year.
Rob Blake is another issue. Blake has continued to put up some pretty good numbers for an old guy. Like Boyle his large - should be erased by his arrival on a much more defensively oriented team. San Jose didn't acquire Blake for his defense, they brought him in for his still booming slapshot. Another 30 + point campaign, 20 or so of those coming on the powerplay, seems likely from the once and future King (they'll retire that jersey... come on... you know it). When you factor in his 90 or so PIM and the potential for 180 or more shots and you've got a recipe for relevance. Injury is my only concern here.
Despite his step back last season, I have faith the Carle will eventually make something of himself, maybe as early as this season (see http://breakingthetrap.blogspot.com/2008/07/mullet-over.html). San Jose wants to win right now and will be aggressive to make sure this happens.
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