Well, at least that’s what I tell my wife…. It’s been 6 years of pounding that message home and she still doesn’t believe me…. The rest of you should believe me though, at least when it comes to Alexander Semin. He had a Goal and an Assist on Saturday and an Assist yesterday against Toronto, and was the best player on the ice in both games. Which is pretty much Semin’s career in a nutshell. He’s no doubt an elite talent, but he just doesn’t give a sh*t. (I get the same feeling about a certain “superstar” in Columbus – who shall remain nameless). If Semin had the work ethic or the toughness or the “grind” of a guy like Corey Perry, Jarome Iginla, Shane Doan or even Brandon Dubinsky you’d be looking at a Top 5 player in the NHL. But that’s the thing – for a week or 2 he is capable of performing at that level and in a H2H league, that could lead to a fantasy championship. I remember 3 years ago that happened to me with Johan Franzen (who is the same type of player as Semin, just a notch below talent-wise) but he had like 13 Goals in the Wings last 9 games and I blew through the playoffs… Semin is capable of doing the same thing (or more)…
Ilya Kovalchuk – LW/RW (NJ): Sure, go ahead and get 40 Goals why don’t you? And like that even matters anyway cuz your on pace to set a career high in Assists. My explanation? He’s a great player, and he hates me for trading him…
James Neal – LW/RW (Pit): Like he’s been doing all season, Neal rebounded from a mini-slump with 3 Points in Pitt’s beat down of the Champs. I’ve come around to King James (can that stick?) this year but I still say he’s in the midst of a career year. The man is currently #7 on the Yahoo Player Rater, which is wackier than wacky tobaccy.
Jose Theodore – G (Fla): This fact is why I will continue to draft Goalies late: Jose Theodore has a better GAA and SV% than Roberto Luongo, Carey Price, and Ryan Miller. This fact makes me feel really old: Jose Theodore started his NHL career during Bill Clinton’s 1st term as President…
St. Louis Blues – Here is my tweet-sized take on the Blues: Ken Hitchcock = Coach of the Year… And Shattenkirk still sucks!
Erik Christensen – C (Min): Look up “NHL Journeyman” in the dictionary and you’ll see a picture of this guy (unless you look in an actual Dictionary, then you’ll find nothing). Christ and Son is only 28 but he’s already spent time in Pittsburgh, Atlanta, Anaheim, and now Minnesota. So for that, and because he scored 2 Goals last night, I give him is 1 (and only) mention ever…
Brian Boyle – C (NYR): 21 Goals last season but just 6 so far this year. In fact, excluding last year Brian Boyle has just 18 Goals in 175 games. In other words, why the h-e-double hockey sticks did I spend any time talking about him this season?
John Tavares – C (NYI): There are a handful of players I’m hoping go cold the rest of the way so I can draft them next year. I thought Tavares was one of those guys, but in reality I don’t think it’s going to matter. A Point-per-game 21 year old with a #1 overall pedigree is impossible to undervalue…
Patrick Kane – C/LW (Chi): On the flip-side of what I just said, Kane is a guy who I’m hoping finishes strong. He is chronically over-valued in drafts and when guys go too early, it means good players will be available later. So keep up the current hot streak will ya’?
