Fantasy Hockey Advice

Power Play Pickups: Nov. 6, 2009
"If I'm sure of anything in hockey its that every week there is a hot new pick up that will benefit your fantasy team. I know this sounds extremely optimistic but hear me out. If a key player gets hurt, say for example a goaltender, somebody has to step in and take those minutes. Hockey is a physical game and it seems that every week a key player is hurt or limited. Mind you not every time is it a skilled player who gets the ice time and this player could be a detriment to your team. However, outside of injuries, hockey players can also gain (and conversely lose) significant value by being bumped to a different line. My general recommendation is that you look for a skilled player ..."
Waiver Wire Report
"Jason Pominville, LW, BUF (11GP-3g-6a-9pts, with a +2 and 34 shots) Pominville hasn't been getting much respect this year fantasy-wise. He was ignored in a lot of drafts and is still available in a lot of leagues. Fact is, he gets first-line minutes for a good team, and he's as reliable a guy as your likely to find anywhere on your waiver wire all year. He hasn't missed a game in over three seasons, while averaging over 70 points a year during that span. Buy now and rest easy. Tomas Plekanec, C, MTL (14GP-4g-10a-13pts, with a +5 and 6 PIMs) The Canadiens have been surprisingly strong despite losing All-Star d-man Andrei Markov for the majority of their season. Mike Cammalleri and Jaroslav ..."
Waiver Wire: Take a trip to Fantasy Isle
"Jeff Tambellini's hockey career was hanging by a thread. Tambellini learned the harsh reality of life as a pro after Islanders coach Scott Gordon forced the 25-year-old forward to the press box for five games following a lackluster performance in the season opener against Pittsburgh. Apparently, Tambellini got the message loud and clear. The Calgary native has dressed for each of the Islanders last eight games and rewarded the front office's patience with his first career hat trick on Saturday against Buffalo. "It's a pretty special night for me," Tambellini told NHL.com. "It's one more thing that I always wanted to accomplish. I look forward to the next one." The night had to be ..."
The night Carey Price got his mojo back?
"There is a time in a season when a player has that moment that changes everything. I wonder whether Carey Price had his Thursday night in Boston. His 42-save performance lifted the Montreal Canadiens to a 2-1 shootout win over their rivals. Hey, I know the Bruins were missing Marc Savard, Milan Lucic and David Krejci, and I know how their offense has dried up mightily in the last little while. But Price delivered a dynamite effort in enemy territory as the Bruins launched everything but the kitchen sink at him. And that's why I consider this game meaningful for Price. This is the team that drilled him for 15 goals in a four-game sweep this past spring, leaving him heading into the summer ..."
In The Crease: Rinne rises
"After Pekka Rinne's solid finish to 2008-09 as the Nashville Predators' unquestioned No. 1 starter, big things were expected for for him this season. But after struggling a bit through training camp, and sharing the goaltending duties with Dan Ellis for most of October, those expectations were tempered a bit. However, based on his work in the Preds' past three games, Rinne has re-established himself as the No. 1 guy. A three-win week with a 0.76 goals-against average and .968 save percentage -- while your time-share mate struggles in his limited action -- will do that. What's the difference? "I think it's more my confidence than anything," Rinne told The Nashville Tennessean. "Everything ..."
Fantasy Hockey Injury Report
"Maybe it's just me, but it seems like there have been an awful lot of injuries so far this season. With that in mind, we are going to take a look at some of the injuries and what their teams have done to compensate for the loss of that player. 1. Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh Penguins: Malkin was lost to the Penguins for two to three weeks with a strained shoulder. Not a major injury, but one the Penguins want to take care of early in the season rather than let it linger on. In his absence, the Penguins will want Jordan Staal to step up his play in five on five situations and on the power play. Staal is still just a baby at 21 years of age; he has plenty of talent, and now will be given a ..."
Observation Deck Week 5
"Welcome to this week's installment of the Observation Deck. I see upwards of 10 games a week via Center Ice or in person and this notebook will contain some scouting impressions combined with some numbers when necessary. Lets get to week 5: Everybody likes to point out all the mistakes that have been made by the front office of the New York Islanders but they did seem to hit on a free agent signing this summer when they added LW Matt Moulson. He's been good enough that he's seeing most of his playing time with rookie John Tavares and already has potted 6 goals in his first 14 games. He just turned 26 years old and has three 20 plus goal seasons to his credit at the AHL level (while in the ..."
The Thin Blue Line: Myers here to stay
"In response to anyone insinuating otherwise, no, I don't have anything against Tyler Myers. First featured in this space on Oct. 21, Myers was flagged as a youngster to keep tabs on. Now that his spot with the Buffalo Sabres is more secure the 19-year-old makes his debut in the Top 75 at No. 64. But it wouldn't hurt to keep the hype to a minimum either. Only a month ago, Myers was fighting for a job with the Sabres that some, even in preseason, didn't believe he'd earn right off the bat. However, five points in his first seven games later, fans in Buffalo would've gone bonkers had the organization sent him back down to juniors. And shortly after general manager Darcy Regier gave his ..."
Goalie Report
"Vancouver Canucks Roberto Luongo (6-6-0, 2.79 GAA, 902 SV%) has missed the past four games with a rib injury. In his place, Andrew Raycroft (3-1-0, 1.52 GAA, .937 SV%) has played extremely well. In his past two games, he has stopped 40 of 41 shots picking up two wins- a 3-0 win over his former team (the Avalanche) on Sunday, and a 4-1 win over the Rangers on Tuesday. While it is still unclear how long Luongo will be out, he will join the team for their five-game road trip that starts Thursday. Expect Raycroft to start the first two or three games of the trip, with Luongo getting starts on the tail end of the trip. If you need a goalie, Raycroft has been excellent and should be a solid ..."
Lester's Blue Line Specials Volume 4
"Center Steven Reinprecht, Florida Panthers – Steven had five points (four goals, 1 assist) in three games (1.67 points/game) last week with a +5 plus/minus rating. He put eight shots on goal and won 20 face-offs. He has 11 points (eight goals, three assists) in 12 games (0.92) on the year with a +5 rating. Reinprecht has a cap number of $0.51M in the Sporting News salary cap game, and is owned in 12 percent of Yahoo! and 7.6 percent of ESPN leagues. Winger Jeff Tambellini, New York Islanders - Jeff has eight points (six goals, 2 assists) in his last six games (1.33) with a +4 plus/minus rating. He put 22 shots on goal and has three power play goals. He has eight points (six goals, two ..."
Open Ice: Trade targets
"You've been patient to this point. Like a good soldier, you've stuck by your team -- maybe making a few adds or drops, but nothing serious -- in hopes of beginning a rise up your league standings. Trouble is, you seem to be stalled out near the bottom of the standings thanks to some underperforming players and a lack of categorical balance. The free agents I can offer you here every week will do only so much. It's time to start exploring the most effective yet hardest-to-execute avenue for turning around your fantasy hockey fortunes: trading. It's never an easy task to pry away a player whom someone else in your league likes enough to have drafted, and everyone has a tendency to view his ..."
Waiver Wire Report: NHL Fantasy Free Agents, Week of 11/2
"As most hockey fans know, it was 50 years ago this past weekend that Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jacques Plante brought us the hockey mask for the first time. In honor of this historic hockey moment, BucketofPucks Waiver Wire Report will kick off this week with a "Hat Tip" to this game changing event. To begin with TSN has a fun Gallery of the Best Goalie Masks of the Year, check it out and see who you think has the most awesome mask of this season. Ranger's goalie Henrik Lundqvist just had a new mask made to honor this great hockey moment. It has the original hockey mask on it, along with a ticket to the actual Montreal-New York stub in which Plante had his nose broken by Ranger ..."
Western Conference Report
"Halloween has just passed and we are now one month into the season. Some teams have played well, some just stink, and some are just barely treading water. Here are the latest developments in the Western Conference. Anaheim Ducks (4-6-2) While the team has struggled, Corey Perry (8g, 7a, 15 pts) has been pulling his weight. He seems like the only player who poses as an offensive threat every time he is on the ice. Ryan Getzlaf (1g, 10a, 11 pts) has struggled to score goals, but at least he is chipping in with the assists. The goals will come, but fantasy owners should be patient. Saku Koivu (2g, 3a, 5 pts) has been a bit of a disappointment so far this season centering the second line. It ..."
Fantasy Stockwatch
"Stock Rising Pekka Rinne, G, NSH The Predators' timeshare goaltending situation might be a solo gig soon. Rinne has quietly amassed four consecutive wins, with only two goals allowed in his last 2 2/3 games. Included in the streak is a 22-save shutout over the Blackhawks on Thursday. After news of the timeshare with Dan Ellis at the start of the season, many fantasy owners were likely trying to either trade or drop Rinne. Let's face it: the Predators won't intimidate anyone this season and their offense is at the bottom of the league. However, don't forget that Rinne's rookie numbers last season were impressive (29-15-0, 2.38 GAA, .917 SV%, 7 SO). If you've retained Rinne on your roster ..."
Week 5 Fantasy Hockey Planner
"Week 5 (Nov. 2-8) Teams playing four games: Atlanta, N.Y. Islanders, Phoenix, Tampa Bay Teams playing three games: Anaheim, Boston, Buffalo, Calgary, Carolina, Colorado, Columbus, Dallas, Detroit, Florida, Los Angeles, Montreal, New Jersey, N.Y. Rangers, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, San Jose, St. Louis, Toronto, Vancouver, Washington Teams playing two games: Chicago, Edmonton, Minnesota, Nashville, Ottawa Atlantic Division Islanders defenseman Freddy Meyer appears to have lost his regular spot in the lineup after missing all but 27 games last season with various injuries. Meyer has been a healthy scratch in three straight games despite totaling three assists in his first eight games ... ..."
Lester's Blue Line Specials Volume 3
"Need some help with your fantasy hockey team? You've come to the right place. Try these hot players on for size. Center Sam Gagner, Edmonton Oilers - Sam had 5 Points (1 Goal, 4 Assists) and a even Plus/Minus rating in four games (1.2 points/game) last week. Three of his Points came via the Power Play. He put 6 shots on goal and won 25 face-offs. On the year he has 10 Points (4 Goal, 6 Assists), a +4 rating, and 4 Power Play Points in 12 games (0.83). He has a $1.61M cap number in the Sporting News salary cap game, and is owned in 31% of Yahoo! and 14.2% of ESPN leagues. Winger Michael Grabner, Vancouver Canucks - Michael had 4 Points (2 Goals, 2 Assists) in four games (1.0) last week ..."
Report on Defensemen
"Ex-San Jose Sharks are making their presence on the defensemen scoring list. Some of the top veterans are starting slow, while the next generation of defensemen is showing why they were first and second round draft picks. Tomas Kaberle 2G, 15A, (-3), 4 PIM, 24 SOG, 1 PPG, 11 PPA, 1 SHA Kaberle leads all defensemen in scoring and power play points and also is Toronto's leading scorer. He is averaging a power play point per game and has more power play assists than the next leading scorer on the Leafs has total points (Mikhail Grabovski has 10 points). With the off- season departure of Pavel Kubina, the focus of the offense and power play is with Kaberle. As a team, Toronto is ranked ..."
AHL Prospect Report
"There is just something about the month of October that has to make you smile. For me, there is no better time of the year. How can you not be psyched up for the World Series, mid-season football, Halloween and most importantly, hockey season? This month, along with pumpkin, I will be eating some humble pie. I will be spotlighting players that I felt would crack the NHL 2009-10 rosters but failed to do so this year. Let's see what I have in my bag of treats…looks like we got a bunch of "wolves" and one rogue "pirate". Jason Krog, C The Chicago Wolves have very high expectations for this season. After winning the Calder Cup in 07-08 and a strong playoff showing in the 08-09, the Wolves are ..."
US Goaltending looking good
"The Americans are looking good in net for the Olympics at this time as they have the best two goaltenders in the NHL heading into November. Ryan Miller is 7-0-1 with a 1.60 goals-against-average and a .940 save percentage, while Craig Anderson also has a .940 save percentage with a 1.97 GAA and a 10-1-2 record for the surprising Colorado Avalanche. This has to bode well for the young American Olympians as GM Brian Burke and coach Ron Wilson will probably go with a youthful squad, after the United States had trouble in 2006 with an old veteran team. With Miller and Anderson back in goal, the Americans have to feel confident that they will be able to cover up a lot of mistakes by their young ..."
Power Play Pickups: Oct. 30, 2009
"Just a couple weeks into the season and already a few top players have been injured. I play most of my leagues for a web site that shall remain nameless. This site is notoriously bad for ignoring the injured reserve of fantasy hockey. The frustration compounds when one of your star players, e.g., Ilya Kovalchuk, goes down in a keeper league. Now the keeper league aspect does not change anything as you would hang on to Kovalchuk at this point in the season regardless. However, what's maddening is you can't snag a replacement off the waiver wire. Fantasy hockey is often a game of streaks and although it sucks to have Kovalchuk out, you can sometimes mimic his production with a well ..."
Fantasy Hockey Roundtable - Rookie Edition
"The Fantasy Hockey Roundtable is back at FantasyPros911.com again this week with a question regarding rookies: Which NHL rookie has impressed you the most so far this season? Okay, so with my comment last week about missing the boat on Michael Del Zotto, I guess I'm admitting my love for him. It's kind of like chasing after the girl that we know is out of our league – we've all done this before, haven't we? I made a commitment to draft better quality defensemen this season, so I wasn't inclined to jump on the waiver wire to grab the hottest player after the first game of the season. After all, I was banking on mid-round steal Sergei Gonchar to anchor my defense on several of my teams, and ..."
Fantasy Hockey Roundtable
"Which NHL rookie has impressed you the most so far this season? Okay, so with my comment last week about missing the boat on Michael Del Zotto, I guess I'm admitting my love for him. It's kind of like chasing after the girl that we know is out of our league – we've all done this before, haven't we? I made a commitment to draft better quality defensemen this season, so I wasn't inclined to jump on the waiver wire to grab the hottest player after the first game of the season."
Waiver Wire: In with the new
"Is it supposed to happen this way? Am I dreaming? Did I travel to another dimension? Or am I hallucinating after eating that week old burrito with the added green fuzz? (Hey, it was the only thing left in the fridge and I was famished. You would have done the same thing.) All these questions have run through my mind as I try to make sense of why so many rookies and unknowns are making a significant impact in today's NHL. It's intriguing to see proven veterans like Alex Tanguay, Nik Antropov, Slava Kozlov, Alexei Kovalev, Nathan Horton, Jaroslav Spacek and Wade Redden get toosed aside in exchange for the new wave of talent like Jamie Benn, James van Riemsdyk, Michael Grabner, Michael Del ..."
Horcoff, Helm deliver much-needed big games
"The dramatic ebb and flow of Thursday night's 6-5 shootout win by the Edmonton Oilers over the visiting Detroit Red Wings notwithstanding, I thought it was a huge game for two players in particular. Edmonton's Shawn Horcoff and Detroit's Darren Helm needed big efforts and they delivered. Let's start with Horcoff, the 31-year-old center who entered Thursday's game with only two points (1-1) and a minus-7 rating in 12 games this season. That's not the output you expect from a $5.5-million-a-year man. Back on the top line between Dustin Penner and Ales Hemsky, Horcoff delivered his best performance of the season, a three-point (1-2) effort with a plus-2 rating in 22:25 of ice time, the most ..."
Neutral Zone Wrap: Week 4
"Experts like to give credit to group efforts. It's the PC thing to do these days. One person carries out a major task and we label it selfish or hot-dogging. The collective comes together to achieve the same activity and everyone offers high-fives and pats each other on the back. There's no shame in asking for help, but sometimes the individual makes the difference all on his own. In Calgary's case, the arrival of Jay Bouwmeester(notes) has created a positive effect that has transferred itself throughout the team. How can one acquisition make all the difference? If you consider the ex-Panther's ability to eat up minutes and produce, then that puts less pressure on the other defensemen. As ..."
In The Crease: Luongo injury fallout
"On Wednesday, the name of one of the NHL's most expensive goalies was added to the Vancouver Canucks' extensive list of injured players. While Roberto Luongo is not expected to miss as much time as Daniel Sedin -- who will be out up to six weeks -- the expectation is that he certainly will be out for the next week, a week that includes games against the Los Angeles Kings, Anaheim Ducks, Colorado Avalanche and New York Rangers. Luongo proved Tuesday that he could play with the injury, as he did finish the game against the Detroit Red Wings; on the other hand, he also proved that he can't play well with the injury, as he allowed four goals in the third period following a collision with Todd ..."
Frozen Fantasy: Over the line
"I'm sick of grown men acting like 2-year olds. Colby Armstrong(notes), Slava Kozlov(notes), Evgeny Artyukhin(notes), Alexander Ovechkin, Steve Ott(notes) and Tuomo Ruutu(notes). It was a bad week for undisciplined acts – hits from behind, knee-on-knees and slew foots. And only half were disciplined for their transgressions. And then there's Mike Richards(notes). No supplementary discipline. Described as legal. But as cheap and dirty as they come. It was head hunting at its worst. Mike Richards is a gritty, hard-working player. But David Booth(notes) can't talk on the phone or sit in front of his computer for more than five minutes at a time right now. Then he has to lie down. Five minutes ..."
Waiver Wire Report
"James van Riemsdyk, LW, PHI (8GP-1g-7a-8pts, with a +2) My favourite rookie entering the season, van Riemsdyk continues to be highly slept on in fantasy leagues. He is the only rookie forward to be averaging a point per game and he continues to improve on a game-to-game basis. As if that weren't enough, the recent hernia troubles with Simon Gagne should escalate van Riemsdyk into top-6 minutes with some better linemates. He played over 18 minutes in the Flyers' most recent game against the Caps, registering a power-play assist. Michael Grabner, RW, VAN (7GP-2g-3a-5pts, with a (-1) and 21 shots) The recent wave of injuries in Vancouver is opening up some opportunity for a few prospects to ..."
The Thin Blue Line: Shuffling Canucks D
"Truth be told, there were way too many Vancouver Canucks on this list up until this point. A shake-up was in order. However well balanced the Canucks' defensive corps may be, it was still time to reassess each individual and trim the excess fat (i.e. Shane O'Brien). Offering a well-balanced mixture of toughness (read: penalty minutes) and scoring talent, Kevin Bieksa remains your top fantasy choice on this squad. Leading the team in ice time, and not one to shy away from trouble, Bieksa contributes offensively at even strength and with the man advantage. He's the all-around fantasy package, especially when it comes to ESPN.com standardized scoring. Christian Ehrhoff ranks second in value ..."
Around the Net
"What are you thinking right now if you're a member of the Edmonton Oilers? You've had half dozen players come down with the flu, one of which was diagnosed as the Swine flu, and you're treating another assuming they have it also. You're always in small confined places, playing a sport that constantly runs your body down, it's pretty easy to contract this. It has to be incredibly difficult to play a game under these circumstances, and it is showing in their play as the Oilers have lost three straight, scoring all of two goals in the process, this after going 6-3 in their first nine games. In a couple of those losses the Oilers could barely field a full team as they had so many players at ..."
Waiver Wire: In with the new
"Is it supposed to happen this way? Am I dreaming? Did I travel to another dimension? Or am I hallucinating after eating that week old burrito with the added green fuzz? (Hey, it was the only thing left in the fridge and I was famished. You would have done the same thing.) All these questions have run through my mind as I try to make sense of why so many rookies and unknowns are making a significant impact in today's NHL. It's intriguing to see proven veterans like Alex Tanguay, Nik Antropov, Slava Kozlov, Alexei Kovalev, Nathan Horton, Jaroslav Spacek and Wade Redden get toosed aside in exchange for the new wave of talent like Jamie Benn, James van Riemsdyk, Michael Grabner, Michael Del ..."
Observation Deck Week 4
"Welcome to this week's installment of the Observation Deck. I see upwards of 10 games a week via Center Ice or in person and this notebook will contain some scouting impressions combined with some numbers when necessary. Let's get to Week 4: When the Sharks dealt away D Christian Ehrhoff (Vancouver) prior to the season they needed another blueliner to step up to fill more of an offensive role. Into that void stepped Jason Demers a 2008 draftee who spent all of last season in the American Hockey League (AHL) with Worcester. Demers is not flashy but has shown the ability to make a good first pass and has been very responsible in his own end. Coyotes G Ilya Bryzgalov has scuffled the ..."
Lester's Blue Line Specials Volume 3
"Need some help with your fantasy hockey team? You've come to the right place. Try these hot players on for size. Center Sam Gagner, Edmonton Oilers - Sam had 5 Points (1 Goal, 4 Assists) and a even Plus/Minus rating in four games (1.2 points/game) last week. Three of his Points came via the Power Play. He put 6 shots on goal and won 25 face-offs. On the year he has 10 Points (4 Goal, 6 Assists), a +4 rating, and 4 Power Play Points in 12 games (0.83). He has a $1.61M cap number in the Sporting News salary cap game, and is owned in 31% of Yahoo! and 14.2% of ESPN leagues. Winger Michael Grabner, Vancouver Canucks - Michael had 4 Points (2 Goals, 2 Assists) in four games (1.0) last week ..."
Goalie Report
"Montreal Canadiens Montreal has goalies headed in opposite directions. Jaroslav Halak has started the past four games for the Canadiens- all wins. He has allowed just eight goals in that span. On the season, he is 4-1 with a 2.28 GAA and a .910 SV%. Those numbers are much better than Carey Price's (2-4-0, 3.36 GAA, 896 SV%), who has lost four in a row since starting off the season with two straight overtime wins. Halak will probably get the start again Wednesday in Pittsburgh as the Canadiens will continue to ride the hot hand. New York Islanders Let me start off by saying as good as Martin Biron and Dwayne Roloson may be, they hold no value on a hapless Islanders team that cannot ..."
Projections For Players Of Interest
"With nearly one month of the season in the books, it is time to look at some of the early surprises and disappointments that have occurred in 2009-2010 and project how they will do over the rest of the season. In order to do this, I will look at past performance, age of the player, pedigree coming into the league, and peripherals such as shots on goal, and make a projection based on this information. With that, let's begin! Vincent Lecavalier During the early parts of the 2009-2010 season, Vincent Lecavalier has been one of the early disappointments. Lecavalier finally scored for the first time all season on Saturday, which was Tampa Bay's ninth game. Fortunately for his owners, ..."
Fantasy Hockey For Beginners: Check In Or Check Out!
"CHECK IN Patrik Elias (NJ Devils) -- This is so obvious even a caveman could figure it out. Elias is coming back very soon from scar tissue surgery for his groin. When he comes back, the Devils offense will be in better flux and let's face the power play will be helped greatly. Rumor is defensemen in New Jersey may even score a few goals from the point. The guy should score slightly above point a game. The bottom line is find a way to trade for him if you can. Look at teams who have multiple injuries and nowhere to put a guy coming off the IR. Sami Salo (Vancouver Canucks) -- Another guy coming back from early season injury. Now he has only averaged 25 points in the last two seasons ..."
Waiver Wire Report: NHL Fantasy Free Agents, Week of 10/26
"As mentioned in last week's BucketofPucks Quick Hit's NHL Fantasy Injury Report, injuries are starting to pile up at an alarming rate this first month of the season. Where injuries are a part of every sport, there is a disturbing trend emerging. That is the increase of concussion related injuries. In the last few years, there has been a rise in concern and some action related to concussions in most of the major sports. In hockey alone, we've seen an improvement in head gear for both goalie and skater to better protect players but has that been enough? In the NFL there has been rule changes penalizing players for blows to the head, not unlike hockey rules relating to stick fouls. You ..."
Fantasy Stockwatch
"Stock Rising Anze Kopitar, D, Los Angeles Kings Is Kopitar ready to step into the fantasy elite? This may be the most obvious stat in this report, but the pride of Slovenia leads the NHL with 10 goals and 21 points. Kopitar was named the NHL's First Star after a nine-point week, and he has scored points in 11 out of 12 games played this season. If you can flip Kopitar for some top-level talent, I say that you should do so. But Kopitar's prospects for continued production are bright. He is entering that magical fourth year in which a player finally breaks out to their full potential. As well, the Kings should be a borderline playoff contender this season, meaning that you won't be saddled ..."
NHL Skinny: Able replacement
"If you make a habit of reading local coverage of NHL teams, you'll likely find a lot of 10-game report cards out there. After play is completed Monday, all but 10 teams will have 10 games in the books. It's not an insignificant sample size. So while the beat writers hand out their marks, why not take the time to take inventory of things in fantasy land? It's still too early to write off individual slow starters. Hang in there, Ryan Getzlaf(notes) owners. But it's not acting rashly to address a team need right now. There's a tendency among casual owners to just visit the league home page, look at the overall rotisserie standings and accept his or her standing in the league as a measure of ..."
Open Ice: Boosting your plus/minus
"Just as all hockey players have a role for their NHL team, there's a role for them in fantasy hockey as well. There are 12 players who are a plus-8 or better as of Monday morning. Of those twelve, only four are owned in more than 5 percent of ESPN leagues and only two are owned in more than 70 percent. Maybe that's because only four of the twelve have more than five points. And herein rests our problem: How do we benefit from league-leading plus/minus when it comes from a player who doesn't help much in any other categories? We see it every season, as some of the year-end leaders in plus/minus are defensive defensemen or two-way forwards who don't put the puck in the net. They have value ..."
Little-Known Fantasy Help
"Each year, there are players that slip under the radar—it's inevitable. From promising rookies, to sleepers, to players due to improve after a rookie season or a sophomore slump, there are always a few players who slip through the cracks, only to have fantasy owners fretting that they'll still be there the next time they refresh their league page. This season is no different. While Anze Kopitar has been having an outstanding season for the Los Angeles Kings, and Joe Thornton and Dany Heatley have been combining to form one dangerous duo for the San Jose Sharks, each team has a player that you wouldn't think twice about at the outset of the season. Now? They're worth at least a second ..."
Week 4 Fantasy Hockey Planner
"Teams playing four games: Colorado, Minnesota, Montreal, N.Y. Islanders. N.Y. Rangers, Phoenix, Toronto, Vancouver Teams playing three games: Anaheim, Boston, Buffalo, Carolina, Chicago, Columbus, Dallas, Detroit, Edmonton, Florida, Nashville, New Jersey, Ottawa, Pittsburgh, San Jose, St. Louis, Washington Teams playing two games: Atlanta, Calgary, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Tampa Bay Atlantic Division Devils defenseman Cory Murphy cleared waivers and was sent to Lowell of the AHL. He had no points in three games this season as he rotated for the sixth defenseman spot with Andy Greene. We expect to see Murphy back at some point, but there is no need to hold onto him in Fantasy ... Devils ..."
Waiver Wire: Down go Gonchar, Savard
"When the news broke Wednesday that Penguins defenseman Sergei Gonchar would miss 4-6 weeks with a broken wrist, the situation felt all too familiar. This wasn't the first time in 2009-10 that Fantasy owners lost an elite defenseman. Canadiens blueliner Andrei Markov was dealt a devastating blow after he cut a tendon in his ankle during the team's opener. Markov could be sidelined as much as four months. The Gonchar situation isn't as serious and Pittsburgh will likely persevere for the next month as their All-Star defenseman watches from the press box. But Gonchar's injury got us thinking about the Canadiens. He was injured on the same night (Tuesday) that Marc-Andre Bergeron made ..."
Waiver Wire Report
"Patrice Bergeron, C, BOS (7GP-2g-3a-5pts, with a (-1) and 4 PIMs) Marco Sturm, LW, BOS (7GP-2g-2a-4pts, with a +1 and 4 PIMs) The recent wave of injuries to big name players is going to shake up a lot of rosters and create a lot of opportunities for some guys to step up. Of course, the Boston Bruins lose two big names this week in Milan Lucic and Marc Savard for four to six weeks each, but anyone quick to jump on Bergeron or Sturm really shouldn't suffer too big of a hit. Both guys were already capable of helping your fantasy squad and the injuries will only solidify their role for the upcoming month or so. It's likely that the entire Bruins squad will take a slight hit in value losing two ..."
In The Crease: Fleury's hot start
"With NHL teams through about one-tenth of their schedule, it's hard to make any definitive statements yet as to who the best fantasy 'tenders will be by season's end. In all likelihood, the law of averages will bring some early overachievers back to reality, which is why some players haven't shot all the way up the rankings list in spite of dominant early-season work. After all, right now there are three men who are their team's unquestioned starter and who have goals-against averages under 2.00. The last time anyone finished under that threshold was Niklas Backstrom in 2006-07 (1.97), and the last time three men did it was during the final season of clutch-and-grab in 2003-04. To take a ..."
Netminder Notes - ADDS, DUMPS, and DEALS
"We're in Week 3 of the NHL season, and things haven't really calmed down on offense. It seems like there's at least one game every night with 5 goals, or a goalie getting pulled, or a top goalie sucking again. So what to make of this mess? Herewith, a list of Adds, Dumps and Deals to target for the short term. ADDS Scott Clemmensen, FLA – A lot of people drafted Thomas Vokoun to be their goalie, and I was one of them. Vokoun is still the unquestioned starter, but after a great opening game, he has been atrocious. Clemmensen, who played very well last year as Marty Brodeur's backup, is the #2 for the Panthers, and could easily steal starts if Vokoun continues to struggle. Antero Nittymaki, ..."
Power Play Pickups: Oct. 22, 2009
"Thus far the Toronto Maple Leafs have been awful. At the start of this week, they were winless in six contests and floundering in goal with both potential starters Vesa Toskala and Johan Gustavsson out with injuries. All of the blue line additions in the off-season can't keep the puck out of the net (a league worst 32 goals allowed thus far). The offense which was not supposed to be their strong suit regardless had mustered just 14 goals on the season. Compounding the problem is likely their best offensive weapon, newly acquired winger Phil Kessel is not due back for a while yet. Anyway, most of the Leaf fans are calling for coach Ron Wilson's head already. Its been 6 games and ..."
The Thin Blue Line: Sharks D in flux
"While most are focusing on what the Sharks' newly acquired Dany Heatley brings to the offensive table, one rookie defenseman is already making a mild fuss in his young NHL career in San Jose. Nine short games in, Jason Demers has seven assists and has earned a spot on San Jose's top power-play unit with Dan Boyle. The 186th draft pick overall (2008) seems poised and comfortable and, by all appearances, has earned his coaches' confidence. He has yet to score, but as long as the minutes with the extra man are there, the goose egg in that column will yield some crooked numbers. Also, this 21-year-old needs to shoot more, but time will solve that as well. Mr. Demers, welcome to spot No. 58. On ..."
Lester's Blue Line Specials Volume 2
"Need some help with your fantasy hockey team? You've come to the right place. Try these hot players on for size. Center Rich Peverley, Atlanta Thrashers – Peverley had 4 points (2 goals, 2 assists) in three games (1.33 points per game) and a +1 plus/minus rating last week. He had 3 power play points. On the year he has 8 points in 6 games (1.33), a +3 rating, and 4 power play points. He's owned in 20% of Yahoo! and 24.7% of ESPN leagues. Winger Dustin Penner, Edmonton Oilers – Penner had 4 points (3 goals, 1 assist) in 3 games (1.33) last week with a +4 rating and 1 power play point. On the year he has 9 points in 8 games (1.13), a +6 rating, and 1 power play point. He's owned in ..."
Goalie Report
"St. Louis Blues Not that much of a controversy, but with Chris Mason (1-2-1, 2.73 GAA, .904 SV%) struggling, the veteran Ty Conklin could see more action. Mason has lost three in a row, and Conklin has posted a 2-0 record (including one shutout) allowing just three goals in those two games. Mason started 51 games for the Blues last season, while Conklin started 37 for the Red Wings, so it is not out of the realm of possibilities that these two could split time 50:50 at a later point of the season. Tampa Bay Lightning Antero Niittymaki has started three of the past four games for the Lightning (2-1-0 2.43 GAA, .913 SV%). He has allowed eight goals in those three games. Mike Smith (0-2-2, ..."
Fantasy Hockey For Beginners: Surprise! Surprise!
"Most people love surprises but some are downright afraid of them. Either way we have a list today on fantasy hockey for beginners of the best surprises and some of the not so good kind. We call them "Good Apple" and "Rotten Apple". GOOD APPLES Eric Belanger (Minnesota Wild): Thought this guy might be a pleasant surprise. Few knew just how good that would be. A 31 year old journeyman more or less who is about a 30-35 point guy mushrooms like Mario from Super Mario Bros. into a point a game guy (8 points in 7 games). With guys like Petr Sykora and Martin Havlat nursing groin injuries (what is it with Euro players and groin issues?)...Belanger should see extended time and provide some ..."
Front Line: Ascending Kings
"While there haven't been enough hockey games played yet this season to feel truly comfortable with conclusions drawn from the sample size, it's time to start accepting some of the trends we see. This acceptance is reflected strongly in this week's rankings, as the biggest risers are Anze Kopitar and Ryan Smyth. I can no longer keep Kopitar and Smyth down based purely on the Los Angeles Kings' defensive shortcomings. The top line of Kopitar, Smyth and Justin Williams is too good to let their plus/minus sink too far. Kopitar and Smyth may be done with their quick ascent, though. While I admit they won't be an abyss for plus/minus, I don't see them challenging for the league lead either. ..."
Open Ice: Backup goalie roulette
"Goaltending. When all is said and done, your fantasy hockey team will live and die by your goalies. If you have a championship team, you likely got there with the help of your goalies. If you missed out on the playoffs, you probably can saddle much of the blame on your netminders. It's for that reason that we have a dedicated column each and every week of the season dealing strictly with goaltending. My colleague Tim Kavanagh focuses on all things puck stopping in In The Crease on Thursdays. But those two active roster spots in your league that make up at least 30 percent of the standings are just so darn important, we are going to have a look at some backup goalies here in Open Ice this ..."
Week 3 Fantasy Hockey Planner
"Week 3 (Oct. 19-25) Teams playing four games: Columbus, Dallas, Edmonton, Los Angeles, San Jose, Vancouver Teams playing three games: Atlanta, Boston, Carolina, Colorado, Florida, Minnesota, Montreal, Nashville, N.Y. Islanders, N.Y. Rangers, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, St. Louis Teams playing two games: Anaheim, Buffalo, Calgary, Chicago, Detroit, New Jersey, Ottawa, Phoenix, Tampa Bay, Washington Teams playing one game: Toronto Atlantic Division Devils forward Brian Rolston is once again responding to the coaching of Jacques Lemaire, who coached Rolston previously with the Devils and Wild. Rolston has four points (two goals) in his first five games ... Devils right wing David Clarkson is ..."
Western Conference Report
"Another year, another day, and another hockey season is back with a vengeance. While many faces have changed, the teams are still the same. Here are the latest developments in the Western Conference. Anaheim Ducks It should be clear to most fantasy owners that Jonas Hiller (3-2-0 2.67 GAA, .920 SV% and 0 SO) is and will be the number one starter for the Ducks. Base on numbers, Hiller is proving that he should be considered as a top-five fantasy goaltender in the Western Conference. For now the team will be giving J-S Giguere (1-1-1 3.06 GAA, .910 SV% and 0 SO) starts in order to showcase him to other teams and to ensure that Hiller is fresh for the playoffs. Bobby Ryan (1g, 1a, 2 pts) is ..."
When Injury-Prone Players hit it Big
"In a lot of ways, NHL teams and Fantasy Owners have to make many of the same decisions. Each has to go through a draft process, scouting the players that may work out for their team and then weed out those that aren't going to fit in to their system or who they flat-out don't like. Then, each has to make decisions about injury-prone players: Do you hold out hope that one day they're going to turn the corner and be productive, or do you simply cut ties and hope that they don't? Sometimes they're worth it. Other times, they aren't. So how do you decide? To put it simply, you can't. Injury-prone players are so hard to predict that it's hit-and-miss. Look at the New York Rangers. While they ..."
Injury Report
"Hello and welcome to another edition of the injury report. Here are the latest injury developments in the NHL. Kari Lehtonen (Atlanta Thrashers) (19-22-3, 3.06 GAA, .911 SV% and 3 SO) (2009 season) Lehtonen has been sidelined by a back injury and is still out indefinitely. However, the problem for fantasy owners is that Ondrej Pavelec (3-1-0 2.76 GAA, .918 SV% and 0 SO) has been solid in net. If he continues his strong play, Lehtonen may have lost his job as the number one starter. Keep this in mind and watch Pavelec over the next few weeks. If the Thrashers continue to play well, it might be time to dump Lehtonen and look for other goaltender options on the waiver wire. Thomas Vanek ..."
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