Fantasy FanHouse

NHL Fantasy Focus: Andrew Hutchinson

Jes Golbez — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 15:06:00 EST

Filed under: General NHL, Lightning, Fantasy Hockey, NHL Free Agency

Looking for a potential Fantasy League steal next season? How about Andrew Hutchinson, the ultimate power play specialist "defenseman" that the Tampa Bay Lightning just signed to a two-year free agent deal.

With Dan Boyle traded to the Sharks, the Lightning are woefully short of blue-line talent that can produce offensively. Filip Kuba led all Bolts' d-men with a whopping 31 points last season. That ain't gonna cut it, sister!

Hutchinson is clearly going to be given a chance to quarterback the Tampa power play, and after spending last season in the AHL (64 points in 67 games), he'll be a very cheap pick-up in any fantasy league you're in.

In 95 career NHL games, Hutchinson has put up 33 points, with 20 of those being on the ice during mad-advantage situations. Consider the fact that Hutchinson averaged just 12:13 of ice time per game, and you realize that the boy knows how to put points up on the board at an efficient and effective rate.

Yes, Hutchinson has many warts in his game, but Tampa has loaded up their forward corps with many offensive talents to feed the puck to. A team that features Vincent Lecavalier, Martin St. Louis, Ryan Malone, Mark Recchi, and Vaclav Prospal front is going to, potentially, do a lot of damage on the Power Play.

Jump on this guy while you can.

NHL Fantasy Focus: Andrew Hutchinson originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Wed, 09 Jul 2008 15:06:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Canes Give Ruutu One Year to Start Scoring

Jes Golbez — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 15:07:00 EST

Filed under: General NHL, Hurricanes, Blackhawks, Fantasy Hockey

When Tuomo Ruutu was selected by the Chicago Blackhawks 9th overall back in 2001 draft, pundits expected Ruutu would be the next BIG THING in NHL Power Forwards.

Ruutu started off quite well, putting up and playing a very aggressive crash-and-bang "Canadian" style of game and putting up 23 goals in his rookie season. Ruutu loved to deliver hits, and looked like he'd develop into an effective 35-40 goal scorer for the Hawks for many seasons to come.

Alas, Ruutu ran into injury problems (and was mistaken for an armed robber!), and was never quite the same again. During the past two seasons, Ruutu has put up just 38 points in each campaign and hardly looks like he belongs on the top two lines of any club. The Canes, who gave up Andrew Ladd (another disappointing forward) to acquire Tuomo, are hoping that Ruutu can find his game in a new home, signed the young Finn to a simple 1-year deal that will pay him a cool $2.25M next season.

"We are happy he'll be back with our team and we hope that he can stay healthy and return to the 20-goal plateau that he reached during his rookie season," said Rutherford.

Is Tuomo simply a bigger version of his pesty and unproductive brother, Jarkko, or will he actually provide above-average offensive numbers? 20 goals is hardly much of an exciting target.

If I were a Canes fan, I'd be fairly optimistic that Ruutu is set to reach at least 25 goals this season, and hopefully 30. Ruutu scored 11 points in 17 games with the Canes late last season, and seemed quite comfortable in the Canes offensive, up-tempo system.

I also look at comparable Power Forward types and remember that it can take longer for these types of players to develop to their full potential.

Todd Bertuzzi - After struggling mightily on Long Island, Bertuzzi was traded to the Canucks in the infamous Trevor Linden deal. Bertuzzi didn't put up big numbers right away, but finally started to find himself at around 25-26, the same point in time which Ruutu finds himself.

Remember John "Chocolate" LeClair? He was mired at about 40-50 points a season while getting his feet wet with the Canadiens. At the age of 26, he was dealt to the Flyers and instantly become one of the game's most feared goal scorers.

I'm not sure Ruutu has the mental ability and hockey sense to ever duplicate LeClair and Bertuzzi-like numbers, but when you get a big guy like Ruutu on a new team and exercise a bit of patience, you might just get to see the ability you expected all along.

Canes Give Ruutu One Year to Start Scoring originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Tue, 24 Jun 2008 15:07:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Good News for Pens Fans! Malkin Is Gonna Stick Around For a Long Time

Jes Golbez — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 15:10:00 EST

Filed under: General NHL, Penguins, Eastern, Fantasy Hockey, NHL Rumors

With the Salary Cap hovering over the Pittsburgh Penguins like a dark cloud over a Sunday picnic (cue dark and evil background muzak), many pundits and fans have wondered if the Penguins will be able to keep the dynamic duo of Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby together for the long-term. Given the Penguins are having to spend big bucks to keep the likes of Ryan Whitney and Marc-Andre Fleury in the fold, can and will the Penguins be able to have enough cap room to keep Malkin while icing a successful club?

It has been widely speculated that Malkin would demand "Ovechkin!!" money, and might price himself out of the Penguins ability to keep him. Would the Pens have to trade Malkin rather than risk losing him on the Restricted Free Agent market to some poacher?

Well, it appears that Pens fans need not worry any longer. Reports from the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review and TSN.ca indicate that the Pens and Malkin are close on a new deal which will see Malkin and Crosby stay together for a very long time.

"I'm thinking maybe five or six years," said Malkin, set to enter the final season of his three-year entry-level deal. "I'm an easy guy to deal with. I'd love to stay in Pittsburgh."

Malkin told the newspaper he does not need to exceed the $8.7 million salary of captain Sidney Crosby but sources tell TSN the likely target for Malkin is a five-year deal worth more than $9 million per season.

Obviously, this bodes well for both the Penguins and the league. Having THE dynamic duo together and maintaining a popular 'dynasty' (for lack of a better term) will provide the fans with a must-see team for many years, and give the league a team that it can promote. As great as the Wings are, their style of play, and their quiet superstars, just aren't as marketable as the Golden Boys.

Part of me worries that the Pens could end up like the Tampa Bay Lightning: Stacked with a few highly-paid superstars and a whole bunch of chaff. On the other hand, the Pens have a much better farm system, plenty more quality depth, and a salary cap that continues to rise. The future is bright.

Good News for Pens Fans! Malkin Is Gonna Stick Around For a Long Time originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Fri, 13 Jun 2008 15:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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With Dominik Hasek Gone, Will Jimmy Howard Get His Chance?

Jes Golbez — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 15:18:00 EST

Filed under: General NHL, Wings, Fantasy Hockey

The problem with being a hockey goalie prospect is that there are so few job openings for your position. Each team carries 13 forwards and seven defensemen, but usually only two goalies. It's kind of hard to crack the big time when only 60+ positions are open at any time.

For the Wings' Jimmy Howard, it must have been a huge relief to see Dominik Hasek retire and open up a job within the NHL ranks. No prospect, no matter how good there are, is going to get a lot of playing time when Chris Osgood and Hasek are on the roster.

So, is this now Howard's time to get himself a regular spot?

"I think Jimmy Howard is very close, if not there, to playing in the NHL," Holland said. "I'm guessing Ozzie can play 50 games, maybe more. The 20-30 games that Chris doesn't play in a parity league, those are key points. The hardest thing is, we're trying to continue to be a Cup contender. How do you move young people into your team at a key position?"

The Wings have always had the mentality of breaking in their kids slowly, giving the likes of Jiri Hudler and Nicklas Kronwall tidbits of ice time while the old guys got the bulk of the work.

In Howard's case, he certainly shouldn't count on the Wings' backup job being his, given that there are a few factors working against him.

1. The Wings want to win another cup, and Osgood, as awesome as he was this past season, is hardly a sure thing in the nets, given his career track record. The Wings know that having a strong goalie in tandem with Osgood ensures that they'll get quality goaltending from at least one source. Howard just doesn't have the track record to step up in case something bad happens to Ozzy.

2. Howard's play in the pro ranks hasn't been inspiring. While Jimmy was quite the talent at the University of Maine, his play in the AHL hasn't been so good. Struggling with weight issues, Howard put up some cruddy stats in the 'A' last season: 2.83GAA and a putrid 90.7SV%.

In contrast, the best AHL goalies, such as Jaroslav Halak and Karl Goehring, tend to put up save percentages of 92% and better. Howard isn't even the top 20!

Howard is at the age where he should be getting some NHL minutes, but the Wings "win now" mentality will likely mean another season in the AHL for Howard to better develop his game. At this point, he doesn't really seem ready for a backup role on a Championship team.

With Dominik Hasek Gone, Will Jimmy Howard Get His Chance? originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Tue, 10 Jun 2008 15:18:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Glen Wesley Retires After 20 Seasons

Jes Golbez — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 15:20:00 EST

Filed under: General NHL, Hurricanes, Fantasy Hockey

Another one of the NHL's longest serving players, Carolina's Glen Wesley, has called it quits after a career that has spanned 20 seasons, and over 1600 NHL games (Regular season and playoffs).

Given that Wesley is approaching the big 4-0, and has been rumored to be retiring for the past few years, today's announcement is no surprise.

Just like buddy Ron Francis, Wesley will remain with the Hurricanes in the role of "Director of Defensemen Development". Who comes up with these titles?

"There were a lot of memories, alot of great things that I can reflect on," said Wesley. "But I think for right now I'm going to enjoy time with the family and hopefully improve my golf game."

"It's [Director's role] a new role that the organization has given to me and I think it's something I'm going to enjoy in working with the younger defensemen," said Wesley. "Hopefully I'll be able to help them in different perspectives."

Besides being quite easy to notice with his fiery red hair, Wesley will always be remembered, by myself at least, for being part of the most lopsided deals of all time.

Back in 1994, Wesley was coming off of a career 58-point season with the Boston Bruins, and the Bruins, notorious cheapwads that they are, weren't willing to give Wesley good money to play for them.

In came the Hartford Whalers, who were hellbent on getting themselves a quality D-man.

The price paid to Boston? Three first round draft picks! The picks turned out to be Kyle McLaren (1995), Johnathan Aitken (1996) and Sergei Samsonov (1997).

While Wesley has provided Carolina/Hartford many good years of solid surface, he never once came close to putting up the good numbers he did with the Bruins. Wesley broke the 30-point plateau only ONCE after his departure from the Bruins, while the Beantowners got themselves two talented players to build a franchise around.

Still, let's not end on a sour note. Wesley was a solid component of the Canes' cup run a few years back, and their Cinderella run of 2002. You can't blame the guy because Hartford paid too much to get him.

Glen Wesley Retires After 20 Seasons originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Thu, 05 Jun 2008 15:20:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sami Kapanen Says Goodbye to the NHL

Jes Golbez — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 15:12:00 EST

Filed under: General NHL, Flyers, Fantasy Hockey

Sami Kapanen, the spunky jack-of-all trades saw the writing on the wall when the Flyers made him a healthy scratch/bit player during their playoff run. After a regular season which saw the little bugger get a whopping eight points in 74 games, it's not as if the Flyers were going to utilize Kapanen in a big role.

Kapanen said "To hell with that!", and decided to call it quits on his lengthy NHL career, returning to play with the club he is a partial-owner of.

Flyers right wing Sami Kapanen has decided to end his NHL career with the Flyers and play in his native Finland next season.

Kapanen, who will turn 35 on June 14, has agreed to return to KalPa Kuopio of the Finnish League, where he played 10 games during the 2004-05 NHL lockout.

Kapanen had one year remaining on a contract that would have paid him $1.25 million next season. That salary will come off the Flyers' books for the 2008-09 season.

Part of me has always thought as Kapanen as a disappointment. Given his speed and smarts, I figured he be able to put up much better offensive numbers than he did. Sure, 458 points in 831 games is nothing to scoff at, but Sami only ever crossed the 60-point barrier twice in his career, and took a huge nosedive in 2002, when he was 29 and still in good shape.

On the other hand, Kapanen has been one of the most flexible and useful players during his later career. How many other players would you be comfortable playing at both forward and defense, and in any situation? Sami could do it all and never put up a fuss about it, unlike Sergei Fedorov.

Flyers fans are probably feeling a bit sad and glad today, given how much Kapanen busted his balls for the Flyers, but also knowing that this gives Philly a much needed bit of cap room to use on a younger player who isn't skating with a giant fork in his back.

Sami Kapanen Says Goodbye to the NHL originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Mon, 02 Jun 2008 15:12:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Believe it ... or Not: Marian Hossa Is Scoring In the Playoffs!!

Jes Golbez — Fri, 23 May 2008 15:15:00 EST

Filed under: General NHL, Penguins, Fantasy Hockey, Stanley Cup

While Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin get all of the media attention and fanboy love, let's not forget that Marián Hossa, a star in his own right, is doing his fair share of scoring for the Penguins in these playoffs. How does a guy with nine goals and 19 points in 14 games get so little attention?

Of course, these are the kinds of numbers that Hossa should be putting up, given his skill level and the fact that the Penguins traded the house (Colby Armstrong, Erik Christensen, Angelo Esposito, and Pittsburgh's 1st round choice in 2008 NHL Entry Draft) to rent the guy for a few months.

Last year, Hossa put up one of the stankiest playoff performances of all time with one lone assist in 4 invisible games. After scoring 100 points in the regular season, Hossa didn't even generate a drop of sweat as the Thrashers were swept aside like a cow in a tornado.

Oh, but now? Not only is Hossa now putting up the points, but he's actually paying attention to his team's own half of the rink.

Whiskey-Tango-Foxtrot?

Hossa has nine goals and 19 points in 14 playoff games while continuing to play intense defense like a fourth liner scared of getting cut. The performance has erased the whispers that the neck of his hockey jersey got tight come playoff time.

Playing with Dupuis and Crosby, Hossa has given the Penguins two elite lines for which nobody in the Eastern Conference had an answer.

"Obviously when you're successful, things are much easier," Hossa said Thursday. "I'm playing with great players on the line and power play. That makes it easy. I'm just happy I'm productive in the playoffs and I'm just trying to have fun. So far it's working for us.

If I were a Thrashers or Sens fan, I'd be rightfully pissed off at this quote. Didn't the Sens have loads of talent? Didn't the Sens have some level of success? Where was this level of effort before?

Aha! I've got it! Hossa's contract is up this summer! What better way to gouge a stupid owner than to pad up his playoff stats, and hope some sucker gives him $10mil+ per season? It all makes sense now. You can be sure that after each nonchalant shift, the voice in Hossa's head tells him "Contract Year! Contract Year!"

Believe it ... or Not: Marian Hossa Is Scoring In the Playoffs!! originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Fri, 23 May 2008 15:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chris Simon Signs ... In Russia?

Jes Golbez — Mon, 19 May 2008 11:55:00 EST

Filed under: General NHL, Fantasy Hockey, NHL Rumors

When you think of what it would take to play in the Russian Super league, if you ever do, what do you think of?

You probably consider skill, speed, puck-handling, and smarts as essential elements needed to play in one of the world's best hockey leagues.

Chris Simon possesses none of these skills, which makes him signing with a Russian Super league team very strange, indeed.

Chris Simon's tumultuous National Hockey League career may have officially come to an end on Saturday when he signed a contract with Vityaz Chekhov of the Continental Hockey League in Russia, according to Russian media reports.

Simon, who has been suspended twice by the NHL in the past 15 months for a total of 55 games, finished the 2007-08 season with the Minnesota Wild. He scored one goal and added two assists in 38 NHL games split between the Wild and New York Islanders last season.

Fighting is not allowed in European leagues, which already negates Simon's #1 skill. With Simon's lack of foot-speed, you know he'll end up taking a lot of dumb fouls, which he's very good at, and hurt his team with many penalties to kill.

I know the Russian Super league loves to sign ex-NHLers, but why sign a 36-year old thug who has just 52 points in his last 177 games?

Well, at least we know the NHL will be thrilled to have the guy out of their hair.

Chris Simon Signs ... In Russia? originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Mon, 19 May 2008 11:55:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Preds Secure Erat for Seven More Seasons

Jes Golbez — Tue, 13 May 2008 15:09:00 EST

Filed under: General NHL, Predators, Fantasy Hockey

While the trading away of veterans Tomas Vokoun, Scott Hartnell, and Kimmo Timonen signaled a cleaning of the Nashville Predators' house, and reeked of a ' asset sell off', the Preds have quietly done a good job in securing their premium young players to long-term deals.

First, it was David Legwand, who signed for 6 seasons and $27 million. Now? It's Martin Erat, who was rewarded for his fine playmaking skills with a 7-year deal worth $31.5 million. W00t!

"Martin Erat is a perfect example of this organization's philosophy," Poile said. "He came to us as a seventh-round draft pick, and grew steadily into an elite player when given an opportunity to succeed. He has continued to take on more responsibility and is an integral part of our team moving forward. We look forward to his leadership and production for the next seven years."

As fellow FanHouser James Mirtle notes, Erat is getting paid quite handsomely for a guy who puts up a good-but-not-great 55-60 points a season. Given Erat's upside, he *should* be able to do better in the future, and he has the skills to do so.

Next up for the Preds? Ryan Suter and Shea Weber, the two cornerstone defensemen who will both want similar contracts, and one Dan Ellis, who won the #1 goaltender's job after Chris Mason laid a whole basket of eggs.

Preds Secure Erat for Seven More Seasons originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Tue, 13 May 2008 15:09:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Detroit's "Mule" Pulls a Big Load

Jes Golbez — Tue, 06 May 2008 15:14:00 EST

Filed under: Detroit, General NHL, Wings, Fantasy Hockey, Stanley Cup

One thing that I have always enjoyed about the NHL Playoffs are those blue-collar plumbers and grinders that go on an incredible streak and get a little bit of limelight to themselves. Guys like Chris Kontos, Dave Lowry, and John Druce were typically third line players that got little notice through most of their careers, but earned some fame for some unexpected playoff heroics.

As a Panthers fan, back in 1996, I'll never forget Dave Lowry leading the Panthers in playoff scoring with 17 points and 10 goals. This, after scoring just 24 points during the whole season. Yowsa!

This season, Detroit's Johan "Mule" Franzen has leaped into Conn Smythe contention with 11(!) goals, three assists, and +9 in 13 games, including two hat tricks. Not bad for a guy who had just 27 goals and 38 points in 72 games during the regular season.

Even more impressive is that Franzen's 11 goals scored is a Red Wings record for one playoff year. That's quite a feat, given the Wings have had many great postseason performers, such as Gordie Howe, Steve Yzerman, Sergei Fedorov and Brendan Shanahan.

The Mule still has one or two more series to go, and just may put that team record out of reach for good.

Detroit's "Mule" Pulls a Big Load originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Tue, 06 May 2008 15:14:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Brad Richards' Star is Fading

Jes Golbez — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 14:10:00 EST

Filed under: Dallas, General NHL, Stars, Fantasy Hockey, NHL Injuries

When the Dallas Stars spent BIG (Mike Smith and forwards Jussi Jokinen and Jeff Halpern and a 4th round draft pick in 2009) to acquire Brad Richards from the Tampa Bay Lightning, it was seen as the final offensive piece needed to put the Dallas Stars over the hump.

In his first game with the Stars, Brad Richards had FIVE(!) assists, and looked like a whole new man. It was easy for any Stars fan to get excited about their new acquisition.

Since that game, however, Richards has just one goal and four assists in 11 games, and now finds his 'Ironman' streak at an end. Not surprisingly, Brad Richards, who was -25 with the Lightning, is -2 in his brief tenure with the Stars.

Richards said hasn't been feeling well overall and didn't play in the Dallas Stars' game in Phoenix, which the Stars won 4-2.

Richards said it's not flu and it's not lingering effects from the mono he had earlier in the year. However, he has to be feeling really bad because he will stop a streak of 354 consecutive games played by missing Thursday night's game. It was only the third game he has missed in his pro career. The other two were due to a death in his family.

The Stars are 2-7-2 with Richards in the lineup, falling from second overall in the NHL and in the Western Conference to fifth place in the west.

Apparently, Richards has been battling mono all season, and that could account for his poor play. Don't you think, however, the Dallas Stars should have realized they were getting damaged goods, in the first place? Did they not do their homework?

While I acknowledge Richards' awesome playmaking skills, I have to wonder why the Dallas Stars thought he'd fit in well with their team. Richards, despite 500 points in 564 career games, is an overall -57. Even with his great offensive output, Richards is one of the biggest defensive liabilities in the game, and not the type of player usually associated with the Dallas Stars.

If Richards can't shake off this mono cloud over his head, the Stars may very well win the award for worst trade of the season. Don't forget, Brad Richards is a mighty big cap hit for a player who has so many warts.

Brad Richards' Star is Fading originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Fri, 04 Apr 2008 14:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rick DiPietro to Have More Hip Surgery

Jes Golbez — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 15:13:00 EST

Filed under: General NHL, Islanders, Fantasy Hockey, NHL Injuries

Just 10 months ago, Rick '15 Years!' DiPietro, the 'savior' goaltender of the New York Islanders franchise, had to undergo major hip surgery on his left side. This prompted me to comment, "Any time you sign a player to a long-term contract, a major injury is a big worry. When that player is your #1 goalie and you signed him to the most insane deal ever, you have to hope this hip problem doesn't become a constant thorn in Ricky's side. Hip problems doesn't always just go away, as any senior citizen will tell you."

You would hope a major surgery would clear away the problems, but now DiPietro will have to face another surgery on his other hip, and the problems for their prized goalie continue to mount.

I guess it is no coincidence that DiPietro's play regressed quite a lot this season, as he dropped from 91.9% to 90.2% in the save percentage department. Rick tweaked his hip at the All-Star break, and never seemed to be in the fine form that he showed in his breakout campaign. The Isles, in the meantime, lost any hope at making the playoffs as their #1 goaltender looked about as good as Dan Cloutier handling a Nick Lidstrom shot.

Two hip injuries, some nasty concussions ... and the Isles still have over a decade left on this guy's contract. While DiPietro was perfectly healthy when he signed that massive deal, it just goes to show that any player can break down like an American-made car once they actually go on a road trip or two.

Rick DiPietro to Have More Hip Surgery originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Wed, 19 Mar 2008 15:13:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsonov Back From the Dead

Jes Golbez — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 15:10:00 EST

Filed under: Carolina, General NHL, Hurricanes, Fantasy Hockey

When the Chicago Blackhawks, a team that doesn't ooze offensive depth from its pores, put the enigmatic Sergei Samsonov on waivers in December, most of us thought that it was the end for the little Russian. He had his last chance, and blew it.
Sammy appeared to care little about doing much other than whining and pouting, despite the fact that given every opportunity to succeed during his brief tenure in the Windy City. Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, and Robert Lang had no problems scoring, but Samsonov certainly did.

Who would really want to take a chance on a whiny, me-first player who put up just 4 points in 23 games? The Carolina Hurricanes, apparently, who took Samsonov on waivers, and made a lot of fans scratch their heads.

Whatever magic tonic Peter Laviolette has been giving Sergei could make a mint on eBay. Somehow, some way, the Canes' head coach has coaxed 24 points and +11 in 27 games out of the little bugger.

Frankly, I am quite amazed and shocked. Even with Samsonov's skill set, there was nothing to suggest that there was something left in the tank. It's not just the production that has suddenly reappeared, but the passion for the game and the willingness to work hard. For whatever reason, Samsonov didn't care much about winning when he was with the Habs or Hawks, but is now working his buns off to backcheck, forecheck, hipcheck, bodycheck, cross-check, and produce offensively.

Just think ... it could very well be Sergei Samsonov, of all people, that turns out to be the best in-season transaction in the NHL for this campaign. With Justin Williams and Rod Brind'Amour lost to injury, Samsonov may very well be the reason why Canes win their division.

Samsonov Back From the Dead originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Mon, 10 Mar 2008 15:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Patrick the SHARPshooter

Jes Golbez — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 15:14:00 EST

Filed under: Chicago, General NHL, Blackhawks, Fantasy Hockey

Question: Who leads the Chicago Blackhawks in goal scoring and ranks 9th in the league with 33 goals?

Patrick Kane? Jonathan Toews? Martin Havlat? Robert Lang?

Nope. It's Patrick Sharp, the once-forgotten Philadelphia Flyers prospect that has quietly developed into one of the league's more dangerous snipers. The likes of Vincent Lecavalier, Dany Heatley, and Olli Jokinen are all eating this guy's goal-scoring ice dust.

One of the bigger reasons for Chi-Town's resurgence has been the fine and underrated play of this small sniper. Sharp, together with Rene Bourque, has given the Blackhawks the most dangerous shorthanded units in the entire NHL. Sharp leads the league (tied with Daniel Alfredsson) with seven shorthanded goals, and the Hawks lead the entire NHL with 14 goals while a man or two sits in the sin bin.

YEAR	CLUB	GP	G	A	PTS	+/-
03-04	PHI	41	5	2	7	-3
05-06	PHI/CHI	72	14	17	31	+5
06-07	CHI	80	20	15	35	-15
07-08	CHI	65	33	18	51	+18

It's been quite a steady rise for Sharp, and Philly's 'brain trust' must be kicking themselves for giving up a solid 2-way player for a minor leaguer who won't amount to anything useful to the Flyers.

Fantasy Leaguers: It's rarely smart to bank on somebody who gets a huge amount of their offense from shorthanded goals, as that offense is never steady from year to year. That said, Sharp should be good for 25-30 goals per season from here on out. Make sure you pilfer him from under the noses of your rival GMs.

Patrick the SHARPshooter originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Thu, 06 Mar 2008 15:14:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A Second Look at Kiprusoff, Brodeur, Lundqvist, and Osgood

Jes Golbez — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 15:13:00 EST

Filed under: General NHL, Devils, Rangers, Wings, Flames, Fantasy Hockey

We must never forget that a NHL season is 82 games, and many things can happen over the course of such a long stretch. Today's darling is tomorrow's forgotten has-been.

Sure, teams and players go on hot and cold streaks, but the true nature of the beast, in terms of statistical measures, tends to show itself as more and more games are played. Just think of NBA Jam or Super Mario Kart and the 'Rubber Band AI' that tends to smooth out things like peanut butter. Goalies that I had panned or praised earlier in the season look like far different animals now that the cage has been opened.

Miikka Kiprusoff is a perfect example of the peanut butter theory, as he's now worked his save percentage to a just-below average 90.5%, up from the depth of the 88's that he was sporting earlier this season.

October: 12GP 6-3-3 2.97GAA 89.1SV%
November: 13GP 4-8-0 2.95GAA 87.9SV%
December: 14GP 9-1-4 2.57GAA 90.9SV%
January: 11GP 7-3-1 2.67GAA 91.4SV%
February: 12GP 6-5-1 2.51GAA 91.5SV%
March: 1GP 1-0-0 0.00GAA 100SV%

Not long after signing a lengthy contract extension, Kiprusoff started the season in a serious funk. It was if Kipper completely lost his game, and aged 10 years in one day.

As we've seen recently, however, Kipper has been above average since in the New Year, and one more solid month should bring his overall numbers to at least average.

Great? No, but at least he's back to a respectable level, and is playing well at the best time to be doing so. One could deduce that the Flames can expect a 91.5SV% goaltender come playoff time.

Martin Brodeur also started the season in an awful slump, and a horrible October brought down his overall numbers so much that he wasn't considered a true Vezina candidate for the longest time.

Well, looking at the numbers, we can see that October was a complete outlier, and now Brodeur has made himself into an uber-l33t Vezina contender. He isn't giving up his Burger King crown that easily, and we can see that he's been absolutely stellar in every other month! It's strange how a poor start skewed his stats so much until he got more games under his belt.

October: 9GP 3-6-0 3.02GAA 88.5SV%
November: 13GP 8-4-1 1.81GAA 92.9SV%
December: 12GP 8-3-1 2.13GAA 92.0SV%
January: 11GP 7-4-0 2.07GAA 92.5SV%
February: 15GP 9-3-3 2.09GAA 92.5SV%
March: 2GP 1-1-0 1.51GAA 95.5SV%

Now, how about some examples of goalies going the other way, such as Henrik Lundqvist and Chris "The Wizard of" Osgood?

King Henrik played the first two months like a man on a mission, taking away the crown from King Mabel . Then, the floor fell out from under him, and he's not even close to being one of the best goalies in the league.

October: 11GP 4-6-1 1.82GAA 93.0SV%
November: 12GP 9-3-0 1.81GAA 93.0SV%
December: 11GP 5-4-2 3.11GAA 87.5SV%
January: 12GP 4-6-2 2.55GAA 89.1SV%
February: 10GP 7-2-1 2.39GAA 91.5SV%
March: 2GP 0-1-0 4.25GAA 76.9SV%

A good February might suggest that Henrik is out of his slump, but I'd find it hard to count on a guy who has been so wildly inconsistent the entire season.

Chris Osgood, signed to be a backup/caddy to the fossilized Dominik Hasek, was a media darling for his sparking stats and fine play as the de-facto #1. Thanks to Osgood's amazing play, the Wings managed to pile up an artificially high W-L record that had everyone and their mother going bonkers.

Then, reality smacked him upside his hobbit-like head, the clock struck midnight, and Osgood and his Wings started losing game after precious game.

October: 6GP 6-0-0 1.50GAA 93.1SV%
November: 9GP 6-1-1 1.97GAA 92.0SV%
December: 6GP 5-1-0 1.67GAA 94.1SV%
January: 6GP 4-1-1 2.35GAA 91.3SV%
February: 8GP 2-5-1 2.99GAA 87.3SV%

Now that the Wings want to use Hasek for most of their remaining games, it's unlikely Osgood's overall stats will decrease significantly. Still, it was quite obvious that he was playing out of his mind, and nobody should realistically expect a repeat of his numbers from October-December. His January-February stats paint a much more realistic picture.

A Second Look at Kiprusoff, Brodeur, Lundqvist, and Osgood originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Wed, 05 Mar 2008 15:13:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sheldon Souray Done for the Year

Jes Golbez — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 15:24:00 EST

Filed under: General NHL, Oilers, Fantasy Hockey, NHL Injuries

As if Oilers fans weren't depressed enough about how badly the Dustin Penner signing has turned out, or the numerous injuries to star players, or the fact that the team has little chance at making the playoffs, now we have word that Sheldon Souray (the guy who is trying to kiss Doug Weight in the picture there) will miss the rest of the regular season with yet another big injury.

The defenceman who signed a five-year, $27 million contract in the offseason will not suit up with team for the rest of year, following arthroscopic surgery on his left shoulder late last week.

Souray was placed on the injured reserve list in January after aggravating his shoulder in a game against the Florida Panthers. He originally suffered a second-degree sprain on the same shoulder in an Oilers' game at Vancouver in October.

Souray certainly wasn't justifying his monster price tag with a measly three goals and -7 in 26 games. At an average $5.4mil per season, Souray has racked up a nice $207,692 per game played this season. Of course, the Oilers knew they were getting a player with long string of injuries, right? Right?

Previously on FanHouse:
Souray's Wait Over as Edmonton Comes Calling.

Sheldon Souray Done for the Year originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Tue, 12 Feb 2008 15:24:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Deadline Day: Are Big Deals Worth the Cost?

Jes Golbez — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 15:10:00 EST

Filed under: General NHL, Eastern, Western, Fantasy Hockey, NHL Rumors

As I grow older and more mature (stop snickering), I'm beginning to see the folly of a team, on Deadline Day, spending major assets for a playoff rental. Yes, D-Day is always hyped to the max, and gets fans drooling at the prospect of seeing their team get the likes of Marian Hossa, Peter Forsberg, or Mats Sundin to put their team over the top.

Like Tom Benjamin notes over at his blog, rarely does spending the farm on a short-term rental ever really help a team do big things. Last season, we saw the Isles give up lots for Ryan Smyth and the Thrashers do the same for Keith Tkachuk. Both teams fell flat on their asses in the first round, although some would argue that just getting the teams into the playoffs, and one round of lucrative playoff revenue, was the justification for screwing the team's future.

Think of building a house. A good house takes time to plan, and the foundation is laid early in the design choices one makes. You can't simply stick some Sears Aluminum siding on the outside of a stucco monstrosity and expect it to turn into a million-dollar mansion, can you?

Looking back at the eventual Stanley Cup winning teams reveals a noticeable trend: The great teams don't need to do much at the deadline. Great terms are built during the off-season, or earlier in the season, rather than February and March.

2007 - Anaheim: Anaheim obtains F Brad May from Colorado for G Michael Wall, obtains D Doug O'Brien from Tampa Bay for D Joe Rullier. Dealing for a 4th line thug was hardly making waves, but the Ducks already had a great team, and Burke just wanted some toughness.

2006 - Carolina: Carolina obtains veteran RW Mark Recchi from Pittsburgh for LW Niklas Nordgren, C Krys Kolanos and Carolina's second-round choice in 2007. One of the few big deals made by a deadline team, Recchi was more icing on the cake, and spent most of his time on the third line with Doug Weight.

2004 - Tampa Bay: Nothing of note. Their big late-season deal occurred on January 27th, when they acquired Daryl Sydor for a draft pick. This was 40 days before the deadline.

2003 - New Jersey: New Jersey acquires Atlanta defenseman Richard Smehlik, but he plays only five games. A black ace, nothing more.

2002 - Detroit: Detroit was quiet during the season. Its best move is trading for Buffalo goalie Dominik Hasek in July.

2001 - Colorado: Nothing on deadline day. Their big deal was 20 days prior, acquiring Rob Blake and his big slapshot.

2000 - New Jersey: New Jersey Devils obtain RW Alexander Mogilny from Vancouver for C Brendan Morrison and C Denis Pederson. Finally, a truly big deal on deadline day that helped both teams (although Mogilny got only seven points in 23 playoff games that season). Mogilny helped push the Devils over the top while Morrison became a key cog between the Naslund-Bertuzzi combo. Looking at both sides, it was more than simply a rental deal, and not typical of your average deadline deal.

1999 - Dallas: Dallas reacquires Benoit Hogue a few days before the deadline, but that just adds depth. Their free agent signing of Brett Hull in the summer is the biggest transaction. Again, the Stars were already a fine team, and simply added a Black Ace.

So, I would conclude that any team that spends a vast amount of resources on Deadline Day isn't going to be significantly better than they were 24 hours prior. Hockey is a game that requires a great deal of chemistry, and plopping in a new shiny star player into a new environment is hardly a cure-all panacea. GM's need to avoid the public pressure and do what is best for the club. Sometimes, not making a significant move might be the best option.

Deadline Day: Are Big Deals Worth the Cost? originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Tue, 12 Feb 2008 15:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Brad Isbister: Going, Going, Gone?

Jes Golbez — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 17:11:00 EST

Filed under: General NHL, Canucks, Western, Fantasy Hockey, NHL Rumors

Ask any coach of his from his checkered past, and you'll likely find out that Brad Isbister is one of the most frustrating players they have ever had the misfortune of coaching.

Blessed with great size (6'4" 222), good balance, and a blistering shot, Isbister has all the physical tools needed to be a successful power forward. It's just too bad that he seems to have none of the mental ones.

The phrase "a million dollar body and a ten cent head" is most appropriate when talking about the guy (although he is kinda pudgy), and one wonders how long he'll remain in the NHL. After the Canucks made him a healthy scratch for the third straight game, especially against a physical team like the San Jose Sharks, it's quite obvious that he isn't part of the team's plans for much longer.

The [line combination] alignment also showed that Brad Isbister has become a non-factor. For the third-straight game and 13th time this season, the winger was a healthy scratch. So, what does the future hold for a 6-foot-4, 225-pound grinder who seldom plays to his imposing size?

To describe Isbister's game, think of a big marshmallow. It's big, white, soft, and just sits there and provides little nutritional value or taste.

Isbister was given a prime opportunity to play a big role with the Canucks, a team in desperate need of both size and offensive output up front. Instead of seizing that opportunity by the throat, Isbister loafed around and put up a pathetic two goals and five assists in 30 games. All the while, Isbister rarely hit anyone, rarely broke a sweat, and spent more time hitting the local sushi buffets than working on his game.

After showing some potential with the Isles in his early days, Isbister has produced just 81 points in 224 games as he's floated between teams and between the AHL and NHL. As Isbister can't really provide much value in any facet of the game, I'd be shocked if another NHL team wants to take a chance on the guy. Good riddance to bad rubbish (I hope!).

Brad Isbister: Going, Going, Gone? originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Mon, 14 Jan 2008 17:11:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It's Official! Flames sign CuJo

Jes Golbez — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 15:06:00 EST

Filed under: General NHL, Flames, Fantasy Hockey, NHL Rumors

Well, the old dog is back! The Calgary Flames, one of about four teams chasing after the old pup, have won the sweepstakes and signed the geezer to a contract. We're still awaiting the actual details, but it's assumed to be a deal simply for this season.

The other scuttlebutt floating around is Mike Keenan made a personal phone call to Joseph and apologized for being such a complete asshat back in their St. Louis days. I didn't think 'Iron' Mike was capable of a sincere apology. How about that?

While CuJo is hardly capable of providing quality goaltending at this stage of his career, he is an instant upgrade on Curtis McElhinney, a no-name backup goalie so awful that Mike Keenan would rather play with an empty net than give a start to the guy.

With Kiprusoff playing so horribly this season, and having started 45 of the 46 Flames' games, it's obvious that the Flames needed somebody that could give Kiprusoff some nights off. "Kipper" looks like a tired goalie and he's been unable to put together a consistent string of good starts.

While Joseph may not have the ability he once did, he'll have the confidence of Iron Mike, which is the most important reason for this signing. Getting Kiprusoff some rest down the stretch may very well help their #1 goalie get his groove back.

It's Official! Flames sign CuJo originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Mon, 14 Jan 2008 15:06:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sunday Slatherings: Sens' Win Costly

Jes Golbez — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 12:55:00 EST

Filed under: General NHL, Senators, Thrashers, Avalanche, Coyotes, Fantasy Hockey, NHL Rumors

Last night's tilt between the Red Wings and Senators was exactly as good as the FanHouse hype suggested. We got to see the league's two best teams play the game at the highest level of ability and provide us with a nail-biting thriller. Even those of us with no rooting interest in the game could find a lot of entertainment value in the match, which is the surest mark that the game delivered.

Unfortunately for the Sens, they lost Dany Heatley for the next 4-6 weeks with a separated shoulderr. Win the game, lose the battle of attrition, eh? Here's a quote from the 'What the hell' category.

Heatley left after he fell awkwardly into the boards while checking Detroit's Dallas Drake behind the Senators' net. He did not return. On Saturday, the team said he had an upper body injury and didn't say if he would miss any time.

*sigh* Are teams so afraid of releasing information during the middle of the regular season that they'll resort to this level of secrecy? As for Dallas Drake injuring people ... just like the old days :)

** Remember when Avs' winger Jaroslav Hlinka started the season with a bang, and then went completely in the tank? Well, the former Czech Extraleague scoring champ seems to have finally adjusted to the North American game and has put up nine points in his last 14 games and has developed some nice chemistry with Marek Svatos. With the injuries to Ryan Smyth and Joe Sakic, their production is sorely needed.** Meanwhile, Avs centerman Paul Stastny continues to struggle with the weight of the team on his shoulders. Without Sakic and Smyth to divert attention, Stastny has withered with just five points and an awful -5 in his past 11 games. The Avs need THIS guy to be producing the bulk of the offense, and he's looked a bit too overwhelmed. At this stage, we see that he's still got a few steps to take in his development.

** The Phoenix Coyotes got a bit of a gift when the Chicago Blackhawks basically gave them talented-but-enigmatic sniper Radim Vrbata on a plate with a garnish of beets. Well, the young Czech has piled up an impressive 33 points in 41 games this season, and is probably one of the best fantasy league bargains one could ever find. I know the Hawks have a fairly decent offense this year, but why is a club with a history of losing giving away offensive talent for just about nothing? Makes no sense to me.

** With the trade deadline approaching, many rumors of the Thrashers ready to shop Marian Hossa are floating about. Now, as talented as Hossa is, does he strike you as the type of player you want to spend heavily on as a playoff rental? Remember last season, when he wilted with just a single point and a -6 in 4 games? Or 03-04 with just four points in seven games? Buyer beware, fo' shizzle.

Sunday Slatherings: Sens' Win Costly originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Sun, 13 Jan 2008 12:55:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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