Fantasy Hockey Advice

Jeff Carter decided to remind the Colombus Blue Jackets why they traded for him and his $52 Million Conctract.  He also reminded them that despite that enormous contract, other teams will trade for him too (I am of the opinion that Carter, not Nash will be the one headed out of Colombus).  And if you own Carter that is good news.   Literally anywhere would be a better situation for this much maligned scorer.  And just to stir some loins out there the latest rumor is that Vancouver is interested.  AND they want him for their top line (with the Regular Season twins).  F. YES.  Now for those of you who have ridden him out through this terrible season, please go change your boxers.  He’s not in Vancouver yet…

Pavel Datsyuk – C/LW (Det):  Will miss 2 weeks (minimum) after, according to the AP report, ”having arthroscopic surgery Tuesday to remove fragments from his right knee.”  That’s it?  No explanation of what the fragments are?  Do we have any Doctor’s in the house?  Is it bone?  Cartilage?  The 2009 box office failure starring Kate Beckinsale and Forest Whitaker?  You can’t just leave it at that AP!!!

Vincent Lecavalier – C (TB):  Now this injury is easier to understand - a broken hand.  My guess is the 3-5 week timetable will be closer to 5 than 3, so it’s a tough blow you you Vinny owners..  If you need a replacement go see if Andy McDonald is hiding on the waiver wire.  And if that fails give the 9% owned Braden Schenn a shot…

Phil Kessel – RW (Tor):  Is it just me or does it seem like Kessel scored his 25th Goal in like December?  And he’s only at 31 now?  LOL… It actually isn’t that bad, but it’s close.  I have a feeling the ‘perts preseason ranking of him will largely hinge on whether or not he gets to 40 Goals.  Literally if he gets 39 he’ll be ranked a full round later than if he hits 40 (as in early 3rd instead of early 2nd).

Sam Gagner – C (Edm):  Has a lightbulb turned on for this former 6th overall pick?  It’s a possibility, but I’d like to see him keep a point per game(ish) pace for the rest of the season before I buy into him.

Ondrej Pavelec – G (Wpg):  I rarely pay attention to the ’3 Stars’ in a given game, but this just doesn’t seem to make sense.  Ondrej Pavelec is the 1st star despite the fact that he gave up 5 Goals and his team lost?  I get that 50 saves is pretty nuts and that the game was in Winnipeg – but 1st Star??

Ryan Garbutt – C (Dal):  Huh huh huh huh, butt……

Kari Lehtonen – G (Dal):  Finish strong Kari and make me look good for tagging you as a sleeper during the All Star break (despite my less than enthusiastic endorsement of you in the preseason).  More games like last night’s Shutout is a good way to go about that.

Radim Vrbata – RW (Phx):  If you’re a fan of ridiculous career years than Radim Vrbata has reached hero status.  He already has a career high in Goals and will easily set career highs in Assists, PPP’s and +/- .  He can finally say his own name with confidence – Rad, Im Vrbata!!

Marc-Andre Fleury – G (Pit):  MA finally got his 3rd Shutout of the season after going 35 starts without one.  Not that he’s been bad, but I just don’t like giving Fleury credit for anything.  And that’s basically where I’m at with him – begrudging acceptance that he is indeed an elite Goalie.

Stevegeni Malkos - C (Pit/TB):  Just 2 days after I debated myself (hey, who said that???) about who will be the #1 overall pick next year, Malkin or Stamkos, they combine for 3 Goals and 2 Assists.  These 2 have really seperated themselves in that discussion and I’m interested to see what the ‘perts will be saying in 5 months.

120:00:5 Minutes and Counting since the LA Kings scored their last home Goal.  What’s the :5 you ask?  Well that 1/2 a second is how much time was left when Doughty notched the game winner (allegedly) way back on February 1 against Colombus.  That win aside, they’ve now lost back-to-back 1-0 games at home.  There is really nothing more demoralizing to a fanbase than that.  “Hey, I thought this was a fantasy blog!” (Yells the angry Kings fan).  Okay okay, BUTT, it does affect alot of fantasy teams too:  Will Jack Johnson ever score again?  Will Anze Kopitar ever have another scoring ‘streak’?  Will Dustin Brown ever go back to……..  ummm…..  back to…….  whatever the hell Dustin Brown was.  Right now the only Queen I would care to own are Quick (happily) and Kopitar (begrudgingly).  Now lets move on to some happier happenings before I completely reveal my anti-Kings bias…

Steven Stamkos – C (TB):  Have I mentioned that I ranked Stamkos #1 overall in the preseason?  “Yes but you also had his teammate St. Louis ranked ahead of Evgeni Malkin!”  Quiet VTB, you’re here to give positive hyperbole and nothing more.  It’s good that you mentioned Malkin though, because barring injury, he’ll be the only guy I could see ranking ahead of Stamkos next year….  Maybe…  If Stamkos keeps up this pace he’ll get 56 Goals easy.  Geno will be lucky to get 46.  Shoot I bet just 3 or 4 guys in the entire NHL to get 40.  That kind of domination in the single most important stat in fantasy hockey cannot be underestimated…

Jason Pominville – RW (Buf):  Last night’s 3 point performance has JP right back on pace for a career year.  Pretty surprising too in a year where the rest of his teammates are playing awful.  Or awffle, depending on your breakfast habits…

Derek Roy – C (Buf):  And when I say awffle, this is one of the major contributors.  Roy is on pace for just over 50 points right now… FIFTY.  This is a guy who had 35 points in 35 games last year and topped 80 four years ago.  Maybe his 2G/2A weekend will put him back on the right path.   Roy!……..  Roy!…..   Eh, nevermind.

Jimmy Howard – G (Det):  Howard is coming back just in time for a much over-due loss.  Word on the mean streets of Detroit is that J-How will get the nod in Chicago on Tuesday.  If you live in Canada and can (GASP!) gamble on the games go do me a favor and throw down a stack of Sir Bordens on Chicago for me.  I’ll get you back later…

Andy McDonald – C/LW (StL):  Another Goal last night but time is running out.  If probabilities have any meaning than Andy Mac won’t make it through this week without a concussion.  But for the time being enjoy the free (assuming you picked him up off waivers last week like I told you to!) production and just cross your fingers.

Duncan Keith – D (Chi):  It’s time to back off Duncan attacks and give him some love.  Sure he hasn’t built on his 2009 breakout (14G/55A/+21/19PPP/213SOG), but it’s hard to complain what he’s given this season.  A 50 Point pace (with a +12) is more than menudo from a Defenseman.

Derek Stepan – C (NYR):  Derek “Sleeper” Stepan is your new name.  Just stop scoring because if you finish strong your cover will be blown for the 2012-2013 season.

Blake Wheeler – RW (Wpg):  The mother of all weekends belonged to the Wheel:  1G/6A/2PPP/+4/7SOG.  That probably Won the week for more than a few teams.  In fact this dirty Blake has helped more than a few teams to a top spot in the standings.  That doesn’t mean I’ll like him next year though.  I consider this more of a career year than some sort of springboard to greatness.

Martin Brodeur – G (NJ):  If I’ve learned one thing this season it’s that you should never count out elite (or formerly elite) Goaltenders.  Brodeur’s turnaround has been nothing short of geriatric….. errrr……  miraculous.  Just to encapsulate the magnitude of said turnaround, Brodeur has allowed 3 Goals or less in 27 of his last 28 games (including 7-1 in his last 8 starts).

Jonas Hiller – G (Ana):  Everything I said 8-12 seconds ago (depending on how fast you read) applies to Hiller.  Except Hiller’s been even hotter.  And he’s not geriatric…

Niklas Backstrom – G (Min):  I’m not the biggest Backstrom fan out there by any stretch; but when a man throws down a 48 Save Shutout against the defending Stanley Cup Champs, I talk about it.  I have a feeling I’ll be talking about Backstrom in the offseason too.  I say he gets traded and the reasons are simple:  1) Minnesota will miss the playoffs again.  B) He’ll be headed into the last year of a 4 year deal, and  3) Josh Harding is 7 years younger and deserves a shot…

Danrik Sedin – C/LW (Van):  One of the twins lines last night:  1G/1A/+2/2SOG.  The other?  1G/1A/+1/2SOG.  And before you ask the answer is yes – Daniel was the weak link…

Teemu Selanne – RW (Ana):  To steal a line from Teemu, the last couple seasons have been ‘unbelievable‘.  At this point I wouldn’t be shocked to see Teemu still playing when my daughter is in Kindergarten (she’s 16 months).

And lastly, I have to just rail for a minute on the Rick Nash trade rumors.  I’ve been hearing about a Nash trade since before I even knew what a puck was.  This shit better happen this year or I will officially boycott Rick Nash for the duration of this blog!  Seacrest OUT!!!

The Los Angeles Kings once again displayed their complete and utter disaster of an offense last night and it’s time to start calling out someone other than Mike Richards.  Enter Anze Kopitar.  Now granted, compared to most the rest of these bums Anze is having an MVP type season.  But that’s not my point.  My point is that Kopitar gets treated in fantasy circles like an elite Center and I’m here to say NO MORE!  If the Kings don’t bring in a legit scorer before the deadline, Kopitard may not even break 70 Points.  And that’s just special…

Claude Giroux – C/RW (Phi):  Just when Claude the Bod was showing signs of weakness (13 Points last 18 games) he goes and has himself a 5 Assist night.  I have a feeling this year was the last time in a long time he gets drafted outside the 1st Round.

Victor Hedman – D (TB):  You want a luke-warm endorsement?  Okay just imagine that I am the Tea Party and Victor Hedman is Mitt Romney… Ha!  Political humor!

Martin St. Louis – RW (TB):   Hey Marty!  Just a couple dozen more 2 Goal games like last night and you’ll begin to approach your preseason ranking!

Jonathan Toews – C (Chi):  Earlier in the week I mentioned Marian Hossa and how if Chicago was going to turn things around, he’d be a big reason why.  Well Toews is THE reason why.  And he proved it last night with 2 Points and a Blackhawk Win.  I smell a huge finish for Toew jam so enjoy the ride.

Marc Staal – D (NYR):  Not that Staal is a real important piece for the Rangers, but it does surprise me that his 1st Goal is on February 16th and the Rangers have the best record in the Eastern Conference…

Andy McDonald – C/LW (StL):  2 Points in 3 games since returning so quick, go pick him up now he’s only got 4 games left until his next concussion…

Evander Kane –  LW (Wpg):  Kane has proven to be streaky at the tender age of 20 and he just had his best game in a month (2G/1A) yesterday.  Get him in your lineup if you’ve been burying him on your roster.  It’s gonna be interesting to see if he can put it all together next year, cuz the only thing he’s missing is consistency (and a good Center to feed him those easy Goals).

Mikko Koivu – C (Min):  The single best quality Mikko has shown over the years is consistency.  But after missing 8 games last month with a bum shoulder he is starting to get labeled “fragile”.  Well….. By me anyway…

Mike Cammalleri – C/LW (Cgy):  Now has a modest 3 game scoring streak with last night’s Goal.  Camm is showing his age this year but a strong finish is not out of the question.  But neither is a broken hip…

Steve Ott – C/LW (Dal):  The 113PIM’s goes down like a cold beer but his 27 Points is really disappointing.  With Richards leaving I thOTT (HA!) Steve would easily set a career high in points but he may not even get to the 46 he put up 3 years ago.  I Ott to be pissed, but I’m nOtt (HA HA!)

Milan Michalek – LW/RW (Ott):  Remember when this dude lead the NHL in Goals?  It was an ugly time in the history of the league but luckily Milan Michalek is back to being Milan Michalek.

Jonas Hiller – G (Ana):  Take away that 6 Goal debacle against Dallas on February 1st and Hiller is 12-1-3 with a .952SV% and a 1.72GAA in 16 games.  That’s what I call a turnaround and if you were more patient than I (who dropped him 2 months ago) Hiller is rewarding your patience.

King Henry the 8th gets all the accolades, but without his Dad (Henry 7), Henry 8 would’ve never been King.  Henry 7 reigned for almost a quarter century and was (officially) the last king of England to win his throne on the field of battle.  And after that he fought off multiple rebellions while enriching the monarchy with extensive (and brutal) taxation policies that broke up the powerful Nobility & their Bastard feudalism.  AND he married his cousin.  That’s how you rule as King.  And right now, Henrik Lundqvist is at that same level (well not literally).  The King all but wrapped up the Vezina yesterday with his 7th Shutout.  That lowered his GAA to 1.77 and lifted his Save % to .941 (wait, what?  1.77 and .941?  Are you sure about that?? I’ve seen worse from a few NHL ‘Player’s of the Month’).  If he can keep this up for another 8 weeks it would be the greatest season ever for a Goalie and I’d have no problem if he won the Hart trophy too.  BEST. SEASON. EVER…

Ilya Kovalchuk – LW/RW (NJ):  I didn’t lead with Kovy’s Hat Trick because it’s just a painful topic for me right now.  I was desperate for Goaltending in my league so I traded Kovy a couple weeks ago for Carey Price.  Granted it hasn’t been a disaster, but since that fateful day the Russian Sniper has 6 Goals and 10 Assists in 8 Games.

Jason Spezza – C (Ott):  “Do you see?  You must die completely before you can be reborn, and Jason Spezza died completely last year!”  Thanks VTB.  That’s a real nice way to say Spezza, after sucking last year, is having one h-e double hockey sticks of a season.

James Wisniewski – D (CBJ):  J-Wiz was one of my preseason busts and so far so good.  But it’s gotten a little crazy and I think he’s actually undervalued right now.  His ownership has dipped below 50% but judging by his last 3 games (2G/2A/+3/2PPP) Wiz’s beat of the day has proven he’s still more than menudo.

Ryan McDonagh – D (NYR):  At just 27% ownership this DEFENSEMAN  could be had for free in some leagues.  Worst case you get just a handful of points but a great +/- …

Jimmy Howard – G (Det):  Congrat’s to Detroit for breaking an 80 year old record with their 21st straight home win, but the real news out of Detroit is that Howard will start on Sunday, so get him back in your lineup before you forget, or he explodes… Yeah, you’ll forget…  For those of you trolling, Joey MacDonald should get 1 more start on Friday at home against Nashville (as if it matters who the opponent is).

Marian Hossa – RW (Chi):  Hossa may not be the poster boy of Chicago’s current collapse (that honor is bestowed upon the Goalies), but he certainly hasn’t helped the cause.  He scored his 1st point in 7 games yesterday and if Chicago claws their way back into contention Hossa will be a big reason why.

Jonas Gustavsson - G (Tor):  I’ve been luke-warm on ”The Monster” since last year and he and Reimer are the 2 most over-reported Goalies in the entire league.  You wanna know why neither one has taken the starting job and run with it?  Because they both SUCK.

Alex Tanguay – LW (Cgy):  I’m officially endorsing Tanguay as my #1 ‘under 50% owned player’ in fantasy hockey.  He’s got 31 Points in 41 games this year and it wouldn’t be shocking if he averaged a point-per-game the rest of the way.

Michael Grabner – RW (NYI):  I have a funny feeling Grabner is the new Devin Setoguchi.  A guy who scores 30+ Goals early in his career only to never come close again.  Sure he’ll get to 20, maybe even 25, but the 34 he scored last year is going to stick out on his career stat sheet like a boner in sweatpants…