Back in September I decided to throw out some deep sleepers and write glowingly about their potential to surprise us all. Turns out only 2 of the 8 decided to wake up this season. That’s an accuracy of 25%, which coincidentally is the exact same odds of getting a correct answer on a multiple-choice question. (Wow that really made it sound bad didn’t it?) But it really isn’t that bad so let me defend my much younger self: These were guys I was advising taking as a late-round flier. Not dudes you should build your team around. Hopefully if you ended up drafting, say, Andrew Cogliano you dropped him shortly after realizing he still sucks (which was somewhere around the 3rd period of the Ducks 1st game for me). Judging by the players I chose it seems I’m a sucker for former 1st Round NHL draft picks. (Dually noted… wait, dooley? Duelie? Dooly?). Next year I put more emphasis on opportunity, line-mates, and the potential to see time on the Power Play…. Seriously though, Cogliano? Must have been back before I quit sniffin’ glue…
Anthony Stewart – RW (Car): Wow and here I thought Cogliano was the really big terd in this punch bowl… Jeez. 20 Points in 77 Games? 64 Shots on Goal? Not to be a dick about it, but that’s less than a shot per game. You could freeze a stick in an upright position 15 feet from the net and get more Shots than that.
T.J. Galiardi – LW (SJ): Wait this guy is on the Sharks now? When the he-double-hockey-sticks did that happen?
Michael Frolik – C/RW (Chi): Man this list is getting worse with each name. I feel like (eyebrows raised) frolik-ing in some traffic right now.
Dustin Penner – LW/RW (LA): “I could’ve had this tiny-joint in my LW rankings but I’m just not a huge fan. In fact I bet most of you saw the name and went HUH? Penner is a badass!!! Well he’s not, just look at the stats. HOWEVA, he did have 32G, 31A, 17PPP’s and 200+ shots 2 years ago for the Oil. HOWEVA II (the return of HOWEVA) after his trade to the Kings last year he disappeared. I think the 30 Goal guy is still lurking somewhere, but I have a funny feeling that was a career year.” Pretty strange blurb there. I basically threw out every reason why Penner sucks, and then said ‘F*CK IT! DRAFT HIM ANYWAY!’ I’m starting to realize having the ability to instantly go back and see what you wrote is more curse than blessing…
Derek Stepan – C (NYR): So technically I could’ve labeled Stepan a successful sleeper pick (17G/34A/+14/169SOG) but I won’t. 21 Goals last year and only 17 this year just doesn’t scream ‘success’. 10 more Assists are nice, but with players who are this far down your roster Goals are the key. I’m not sure how I’ll feel about Stepan in a few months, but it’s important to remember he’s still just 21 years old.
Kevin Shattenkirk – D (StL): For you loyal readers (hi Mom!), you know I’ve been extremely critical of Shattenkirk this season. But that’s just because I love him and have high expectations for his career! Oh no wait, that’s what my Mom says about me… The season ending line however is just too good to be critical: 9G/34A/+20/18PPP’s/60PIM’s/178SOG. Forgive me Shatty, I know now what you’ve done…
Tomas Fleischmann – LW/RW (Fla): Ding ding ding! The true winner of my Sleeper lottery emerges! Flash went batshit crazy this year and exceeded even my lofty expectations. Any time you can get this kind of production (27G/34A/22PPP’s/217SOG) from a guy you either A) drafted in the last round or B) plucked off the waiver wire it’s gonna be a good season (wait I have Fleischmann in both leagues and my teams still sucked… QUIET REALITY! You’re ruining my best sleeper pick of 2011-2012!).. Now just don’t be surprised when he falls off the preverbial cliff next year…
And there you have it. Not a completely terrible list but not something I wanna put on my resume either… Enjoy the weekend playoff games and don’t forget to follow Puck Daddy’s instructions for viewing Saturday’s playoff extravaganza!
