Chris Kreider (1 G, 1 A, 2 SOG, +1) was having a fairly quiet rookie campaign until recently, but the quiet is fading quickly behind a wall of cheers from Rangers faithful as he settles in on the top line for the Rangers with Rick Nash and Derek Stepan. Kreider burst onto the scene immediately following his senior season with Boston College, diving head first into 2011-12 playoffs scoring a handful of key goals for his team early on, finishing with 6 points (5 G, 1 A) in 18 playoff games that season. There’s one hell of a way to start your career and get some experience, eh? No pressure! He had a rough year in the lockout shortened season and he didn’t start the year with the Rangers in 2013 because of it. Regardless, it didn't take him long to get called back up this season when the Rangers started out flatter than the funny pages and were desperate for some scoring. Well, they found some in the 22 year old as he continues to have a Calder worthy season and he's currently on pace for 51 points in 75 games and currently sits at plus-11, ten points higher than any other Ranger with Carl Hagelin coming in second with a plus-one. He’s a big (6’3” 240lbs) fast skating prototypical power forward with incredible hands, vision, a great slapper and a nasty wrister. He can can hit hard, and does so often, plays both ways and, well, frankly the kid can do it all. While there’s bound to be ups and downs given his age and the fact that the Rangers are so awful offensively, he’s so good he remains an absolute must own in every keeper league and at this point it's probably wise to own him everywhere because his upside in the second half is huge. Despite that he’s owned in just 38% of Yahoo! Leagues? Come on, really? What the eff is wrong with Yahoo managers?! The 73% ownership mark in ESPN leagues sounds more in line with what he’s done and capable of so if he’s available in your league and you need a scoring boost, pick him up already! Anyway, here’s what else I saw in the world o’ fantasy hockey yesterday:
The 2013 San Jose Sharks season could have sponsored by Windex. Nothing was more streaky than the Sharks were. Take a look back and see where the fantasy value was on this roller-coaster team. Please, blog, may I have some more?
Patrick Marleau’s tenth goal of the season came in a shocking loss for the San Jose Sharks. They were beaten up and down the ice by the Columbus Blue Jackets 6-2. Please, blog, may I have some more?
The concussion monster dealt a death blow to Chris Pronger yesterday. Kinda wierd they would IR him for the season considering Philly could be playing for another 6+ months. The rumor is Pronger triggered a new CBA rule where once you go over 200 career concussions, you can’t play again that season. Please, blog, may I have some more?
Alright it’s a little riDQlous (unsponsored plug) to title the name of a post after a guy who currently sports a -6 with only 1 Assist on the season. But just like the winning Chef on Hell’s Kitchen, talent isn’t all that important when you have the best in the world helping you along. Please, blog, may I have some more?
A whole slew (is the plural for cole-slaw cole-slew?) of preseason games took place last night, and being in the city/state/country that I am my viewing options are limited to whatever the NHL Network decides to air. Please, blog, may I have some more?
Just to reiterate, I think Left Wing is the most shallow of all positions in fantasy hockey. Right Wingers are 2nd but it isn’t particularly close, so many of these lefties could determine your fantasy fate for the upcoming season. Please, blog, may I have some more?