Especially in HTH leagues, this next week is very important. Taking a look at the schedule ahead, I'd say avoid any CHI players your league-mates have dropped because the Hawks' road trip is quite impressive, lasting several weeks, going through the toughest teams in the West that are outside the Central league.
Top of the list is Atlanta, with a nifty schedule this week. If Little, White, and Kovalchuk are not available, take a look at Bogosian (recent stats) and Peverley. Peverley has been on the top line while Little was hurt and might get demoted.
Blake is still one week away from returning, so look at other SJ defencemen who may be available. Ehrhoff has not done well of late, and Murray seems to be the one to take. Of course, if Boyle is available (he shouldn't be) take him first.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Filatov!
With all those goals, I've joined the Filatov rush. If you missed it, Peca should be available in your league.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Quick game notes, Jan. 7 2009
Only one game done so far: NYR vs. Montreal.
I guess sometimes one line is hot. Tonight it was Robert Lang's. Montreal has depth and could lose forwards without losing a step. The other big news is that Montreal's two D finally produced to potential: Markov 1 G 1 A and Hamrlik 3 A.
I guess sometimes one line is hot. Tonight it was Robert Lang's. Montreal has depth and could lose forwards without losing a step. The other big news is that Montreal's two D finally produced to potential: Markov 1 G 1 A and Hamrlik 3 A.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Quick game notes, Jan. 6 2009
Defense!
Wisnewski -- 1 assist.
Coburn -- 8 shots on goal.
Zidlicky -- GWG.
Campbell -- +3
Other notes:
PIT is very streaky, but doing well tonight.
FLA vs TOR -- FLA dominates. That Weiss-Booth line is getting good.
CHI 5 goals and counting.
Nabokov losing vs. CAL, but he loses big a few times each year, and CAL is a strong opponent.
Wisnewski -- 1 assist.
Coburn -- 8 shots on goal.
Zidlicky -- GWG.
Campbell -- +3
Other notes:
PIT is very streaky, but doing well tonight.
FLA vs TOR -- FLA dominates. That Weiss-Booth line is getting good.
CHI 5 goals and counting.
Nabokov losing vs. CAL, but he loses big a few times each year, and CAL is a strong opponent.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
It's time for helmet rules
Hockey player death prompts helmet talk
http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=3807147
A minor league player has died from injuries after hitting his head on the ice during a fight. I assume that he was unconscious when he fell and was unable to break his own fall. I've seen that happen in the NHL.
The NHL has to act but I'm not confident because the NHL isn't really concerned with blows to the head.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=3807147
A minor league player has died from injuries after hitting his head on the ice during a fight. I assume that he was unconscious when he fell and was unable to break his own fall. I've seen that happen in the NHL.
The NHL has to act but I'm not confident because the NHL isn't really concerned with blows to the head.
Monday, December 29, 2008
How to Keep Rotisserie Interesting: Multipliers
Here's how I would keep NHL Rotisserie interesting:
Split the season into two-week blocks. At the end of every two weeks, points are tallied. Each position has limits over two weeks. Goalie minimums can be enforced or not.
First week counts x1, second week x2, etc. Thus, the final month counts for about half of the competition, and nobody is out until the end.
The first few weeks are odd anyway, and fantasy managers adjust to new lineups and a new season.
But the most important point here is keeping everyone in the game.
Split the season into two-week blocks. At the end of every two weeks, points are tallied. Each position has limits over two weeks. Goalie minimums can be enforced or not.
First week counts x1, second week x2, etc. Thus, the final month counts for about half of the competition, and nobody is out until the end.
The first few weeks are odd anyway, and fantasy managers adjust to new lineups and a new season.
But the most important point here is keeping everyone in the game.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Selanne's on IR
His injury is a clean cut and his recovery should be predictable. I've got him on IR in both the leagues I'm in, but if you're in a league where someone dropped him, especially if the league is Roti, grab him and put him on IR.
Game notes, December 23
FLA 3 NSH 0
Frolik -- 2 goals, and 9 shots, even tho the players I'd expect to see do well are Stillman, Weiss, Zednik, Horton, and Booth.
CAR 2 MIN 3
Brindamour and Whitney -- 2 points each.
Who plays on the Koivu-Gaborik line?
DAL 8 TOR 2
Cannot figure out Dallas this year, but the centers delivered in this game -- Modano, Ribiero, and Richards -- as did Lehtinen. Don't know the kids: Brunnstrom, Neal, Ott, Grossman.
For Toronto, Grabovski and Stempniak were the only +1.
TB 2 PIT 0
I suspect that PIT lost this game, rather than TB won it.
DET 4 STL 1
All Det big players clicking: Zberg, Holms, Datsuyk, Lidstrom.
Berglund the lone STL goal. I would have Berglund in deeper leagues (16 teams, instead of 12 or 6).
CLB 0 LA 3
Wish I had the goalie in this one. What's going on with the goalies in LA? Glad I had O'Sullivan in one of my leagues. If he gets more time with Kopitar -- great!
Picked up Quick -- but there are up to five goalies competing for a spot there.
Revealing comments here (h/t goaliepost.com).
OTT 4 PHI 6
As the commentators on Versus said, OTT had one line tonight (Pizza line) and PHI had two -- Richards Gagne line and the Carter Lupul Hartnell line. Maybe the Rangers will get Briere?
WAS 5 NYR 4
NYR score 4, then WAS ties it up and wins in overtime. 13 shots for Ovechkin.
Will Victor Kozlov make his mark before Fedorov returns?
ATL 4 NYI 2
ATL has one line: Little, Kozlov, Kovalchuk. The team has many good D, but none stands out. I thought that Hainsey plus Enstrom would deliver a great power play and penalty kill, but it has not happened yet.
BOS 2 NJ 0
I watched this, and it was a 1-0 game with an empty net goal. Thomas made spectacular plays that looked lucky, but he's been doing it all year and you cannot call it luck anymore.
Frolik -- 2 goals, and 9 shots, even tho the players I'd expect to see do well are Stillman, Weiss, Zednik, Horton, and Booth.
CAR 2 MIN 3
Brindamour and Whitney -- 2 points each.
Who plays on the Koivu-Gaborik line?
DAL 8 TOR 2
Cannot figure out Dallas this year, but the centers delivered in this game -- Modano, Ribiero, and Richards -- as did Lehtinen. Don't know the kids: Brunnstrom, Neal, Ott, Grossman.
For Toronto, Grabovski and Stempniak were the only +1.
TB 2 PIT 0
I suspect that PIT lost this game, rather than TB won it.
DET 4 STL 1
All Det big players clicking: Zberg, Holms, Datsuyk, Lidstrom.
Berglund the lone STL goal. I would have Berglund in deeper leagues (16 teams, instead of 12 or 6).
CLB 0 LA 3
Wish I had the goalie in this one. What's going on with the goalies in LA? Glad I had O'Sullivan in one of my leagues. If he gets more time with Kopitar -- great!
Picked up Quick -- but there are up to five goalies competing for a spot there.
Revealing comments here (h/t goaliepost.com).
OTT 4 PHI 6
As the commentators on Versus said, OTT had one line tonight (Pizza line) and PHI had two -- Richards Gagne line and the Carter Lupul Hartnell line. Maybe the Rangers will get Briere?
WAS 5 NYR 4
NYR score 4, then WAS ties it up and wins in overtime. 13 shots for Ovechkin.
Will Victor Kozlov make his mark before Fedorov returns?
ATL 4 NYI 2
ATL has one line: Little, Kozlov, Kovalchuk. The team has many good D, but none stands out. I thought that Hainsey plus Enstrom would deliver a great power play and penalty kill, but it has not happened yet.
BOS 2 NJ 0
I watched this, and it was a 1-0 game with an empty net goal. Thomas made spectacular plays that looked lucky, but he's been doing it all year and you cannot call it luck anymore.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Game notes. December 10
DET 4 CAL 3 (OT)
Phaneuf played 33 minutes in the loss, and got 2 assists.
Until now, Glencross has been the extra winger who gets points, but tonight it was David Moss in CAL's second line with 1 G 1 A.
Lidstrom got the OT GWG.
So the two defensive heroes, Phaneuf and Listrom, showed up and played well.
Keeping an eye on Holmstrom, who got only 12 minutes (1A). Cleary did better.
PIT 1 NJ 4
PIT played well. Malkin was on fire. But NJ got the goals.
Parise's goal was a backwards backhanded work of art. Parise managed an astonishing 9 SOGs. Clemmensen played well, but the D was a team effort, with every forward contributing. Only one Penguin came out positive in +/-: Matt Cooke. But Cooke's work was entirely Malkin's work.
TB 2 BUF 4
Vanek and Pominwille! A great win for Buffalo, and the team leaders, Pominville, Vanek, Roy all contributed. Stafford who has had an up and down season got the other goal. Pominville and Hecht combined on the key short handed point.
For TB, Stamkos gets another point.
BOS 1 WAS 3
Ovechkin, Semin, and Backstrom lead WAS again. Chara and Lucic appeared to have been the best for BOS, as Savard was blanked.
NYR 3 ATL 2
Well, I don't understand either of these teams, but Redden did well tonight. How do you not give him a star when he gets 3 As in a 3-2 win???
CHI 2 OTT 0
Shutout for Huet!! I dropeed him long ago. Otherwise, the star of this game in fantasy hockey was Chris Neil with 7 PIMs.
PHO 5 DAL 3
Okay, Max, Hanzal was a good pickup. I still don't know who he is. I have Yandle. I don't know who Yandle is either.
Ribiero not doing well with Morrow out.
STL ANH still ongoing.
I wanted Backes to get PIMs in this game. So far, Crombeen, with a goal and a fight, is the best fantasy player.
Phaneuf played 33 minutes in the loss, and got 2 assists.
Until now, Glencross has been the extra winger who gets points, but tonight it was David Moss in CAL's second line with 1 G 1 A.
Lidstrom got the OT GWG.
So the two defensive heroes, Phaneuf and Listrom, showed up and played well.
Keeping an eye on Holmstrom, who got only 12 minutes (1A). Cleary did better.
PIT 1 NJ 4
PIT played well. Malkin was on fire. But NJ got the goals.
Parise's goal was a backwards backhanded work of art. Parise managed an astonishing 9 SOGs. Clemmensen played well, but the D was a team effort, with every forward contributing. Only one Penguin came out positive in +/-: Matt Cooke. But Cooke's work was entirely Malkin's work.
TB 2 BUF 4
Vanek and Pominwille! A great win for Buffalo, and the team leaders, Pominville, Vanek, Roy all contributed. Stafford who has had an up and down season got the other goal. Pominville and Hecht combined on the key short handed point.
For TB, Stamkos gets another point.
BOS 1 WAS 3
Ovechkin, Semin, and Backstrom lead WAS again. Chara and Lucic appeared to have been the best for BOS, as Savard was blanked.
NYR 3 ATL 2
Well, I don't understand either of these teams, but Redden did well tonight. How do you not give him a star when he gets 3 As in a 3-2 win???
CHI 2 OTT 0
Shutout for Huet!! I dropeed him long ago. Otherwise, the star of this game in fantasy hockey was Chris Neil with 7 PIMs.
PHO 5 DAL 3
Okay, Max, Hanzal was a good pickup. I still don't know who he is. I have Yandle. I don't know who Yandle is either.
Ribiero not doing well with Morrow out.
STL ANH still ongoing.
I wanted Backes to get PIMs in this game. So far, Crombeen, with a goal and a fight, is the best fantasy player.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Game notes, Thursday Nov. 20
Chi vs. Dal
Will Turco survive this season? Time to bring in the backup.
Dustin Byf did not play tonight. Will he respond with a big game on Saturday or will he be benched again?
Versteeg is for real!
NJ vs. Fla
Clemmensen! Elias!
PIT vs. Atl
Sykora and Satan show up on the score sheet.
Van vs. Minn
Mikko Koivu, hero in a losing effort, including one SHP.
Vancouver's top line of Demitra and the Sedin twins is doing what it was supposed to do: winning games.
Cal vs. Col
Colorado cannot score! Langkow playing well on Cal's top line gets the game winner.
Det vs. Edm
Visnovsky and Souray looked strong in the loss. Hudler and Lidstrom looked good in the win. Lidstrom's 4 PIMs an extra bonus for Lidster owners.
Kronwall, Holmstrom, and Cleary were all scratched. Holmstrom had back spasms and Kronwall had an ankle problem. Only Zetterberg, Datsuyk, and Lidstrom have been reliable so far. Hossa did not show up on the score sheet but was the number three star. Why?
Will Turco survive this season? Time to bring in the backup.
Dustin Byf did not play tonight. Will he respond with a big game on Saturday or will he be benched again?
Versteeg is for real!
NJ vs. Fla
Clemmensen! Elias!
PIT vs. Atl
Sykora and Satan show up on the score sheet.
Van vs. Minn
Mikko Koivu, hero in a losing effort, including one SHP.
Vancouver's top line of Demitra and the Sedin twins is doing what it was supposed to do: winning games.
Cal vs. Col
Colorado cannot score! Langkow playing well on Cal's top line gets the game winner.
Det vs. Edm
Visnovsky and Souray looked strong in the loss. Hudler and Lidstrom looked good in the win. Lidstrom's 4 PIMs an extra bonus for Lidster owners.
Kronwall, Holmstrom, and Cleary were all scratched. Holmstrom had back spasms and Kronwall had an ankle problem. Only Zetterberg, Datsuyk, and Lidstrom have been reliable so far. Hossa did not show up on the score sheet but was the number three star. Why?
Thursday, November 6, 2008
dropped wideman
and he just got an A and G today. So if he's available in your league, pick him up.
I like the SH teams of PHI and SJ. Grier, and the PHI D, and Mike Richards are good. Tonight, Crosby also has an SHP.
I like the SH teams of PHI and SJ. Grier, and the PHI D, and Mike Richards are good. Tonight, Crosby also has an SHP.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Keep an eye on these defencemen who may be available in your NHL fantasy league
Roszival: While the Rangers have had a wonderful start to the season, Girardi has more points and Wade Redden has more buzz (both positive and negative). But Roszival has more ice time and _if_ the Rangers continue to do well, he will get his points.
Vancouver D: Almost every player in Vancouver contributes in points, +/-, and PIMs. All are worth looking at. With Salo injured, other players will get ice time. If Bieksa, who usually gets the most PIMs, is available in your league, you should take him. Ohlund, Edler, and Mitchell are all good. Edler gets the most ice time and gets the best +/-; Ohlund has the highest potential for PIMs in a season.
Ruslan Salei is one of the nastiest defencemen in the league. As a rookie, he won his roster spot with the Mighty Ducks (as they then were) by slashing someone in the face -- in the pre-season. He seems to be restrained so far.
Other truly unpleasant characters include O'Brien of Vancouver, who isn't getting much ice time, and Montador in Anaheim. Because of Anaheim's slow start, Montador doesn't show up on the radar of many people, but you can expect Anaheim to lead the league in fighting majors.
Colin White is more of a foolish retaliator than an instigator, but that also gets the PIMs, and so far he has a decent number of PIMs, assists, and +/-. No Devils defenceman is at the top of anyone's fantasy rankings, however.
The Flyers' D is hurt and in trouble, but Coburn and Timonen should be reliable. Coburn will get PIMs and Timonen will get points on the power play. However, both will have problems with +/-.
Mike Van Ryn, currently in Toronto, put up reasonable numbers in Florida, an equally bad team, and is doing well so far this year.
Preissing was an astonishing fantasy surprise last year, finishing the year at +40 with the Senators, but is expected to be a healthy scratch in his next game.
This early in the season, it's difficult to predict who will be the best D. There's not much data. The most revealing stat, in my mind, is shots on goal
http://tinyurl.com/6qpc44
The list of leaders in shots on goal, I believe, is a good predictor for who will lead the league in offence.
The top four are: Phaneuf, Boyle, Blake, and Green. If they're available if your league, grab them now.
There's a surprise appearance by Beauchemin of Anaheim in this list. He's a risk. He's already scored three goals in nine games, but Anaheim's having a strange season. Take a gamble on him if you wish, but only if other options are not available.
Vancouver D: Almost every player in Vancouver contributes in points, +/-, and PIMs. All are worth looking at. With Salo injured, other players will get ice time. If Bieksa, who usually gets the most PIMs, is available in your league, you should take him. Ohlund, Edler, and Mitchell are all good. Edler gets the most ice time and gets the best +/-; Ohlund has the highest potential for PIMs in a season.
Ruslan Salei is one of the nastiest defencemen in the league. As a rookie, he won his roster spot with the Mighty Ducks (as they then were) by slashing someone in the face -- in the pre-season. He seems to be restrained so far.
Other truly unpleasant characters include O'Brien of Vancouver, who isn't getting much ice time, and Montador in Anaheim. Because of Anaheim's slow start, Montador doesn't show up on the radar of many people, but you can expect Anaheim to lead the league in fighting majors.
Colin White is more of a foolish retaliator than an instigator, but that also gets the PIMs, and so far he has a decent number of PIMs, assists, and +/-. No Devils defenceman is at the top of anyone's fantasy rankings, however.
The Flyers' D is hurt and in trouble, but Coburn and Timonen should be reliable. Coburn will get PIMs and Timonen will get points on the power play. However, both will have problems with +/-.
Mike Van Ryn, currently in Toronto, put up reasonable numbers in Florida, an equally bad team, and is doing well so far this year.
Preissing was an astonishing fantasy surprise last year, finishing the year at +40 with the Senators, but is expected to be a healthy scratch in his next game.
This early in the season, it's difficult to predict who will be the best D. There's not much data. The most revealing stat, in my mind, is shots on goal
http://tinyurl.com/6qpc44
The list of leaders in shots on goal, I believe, is a good predictor for who will lead the league in offence.
The top four are: Phaneuf, Boyle, Blake, and Green. If they're available if your league, grab them now.
There's a surprise appearance by Beauchemin of Anaheim in this list. He's a risk. He's already scored three goals in nine games, but Anaheim's having a strange season. Take a gamble on him if you wish, but only if other options are not available.
Gainey's Idea Would Reduce Injuries
NHL to consider shot-blocking rules to increase offense?
The idea is to forbid players from sliding full length along the ice to block shots. I think that reducing blocked shots is a good idea because it injures players but Gainey just wants more goals in the NHL.
The idea is to forbid players from sliding full length along the ice to block shots. I think that reducing blocked shots is a good idea because it injures players but Gainey just wants more goals in the NHL.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Don't Panic, Nabokov Owners
The bad news: he gave up six goals tonight, and he often has bad nights on the road in pairs. The good news: for the first time in memory, he gave up six goals and WON!
Expect a pair of shutouts next week
Expect a pair of shutouts next week
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Mark Eaton: Surviving
This defensive defenseman, with a sad history of injury, is playing a key role for the Penguins now that Gonchar and Whitney are out. Don't pick him up on your fantasy team -- he's not going to score much -- but I'm glad to see he's healthy and hope he gets a chance to shine
Chicago: real or not?
Is Chicago a real deal or a work in progress? Huet was weak tonight, but he has a great defense and offense in front of him. The team should be able to win games -- but it has not yet done so.
Monday, October 13, 2008
Check out these players
Voros
Nylander
Keith
Vanek
...
and if, for any reason, Phaneuf is not owned in your league, take him immediately.
...
Keep an eye on
Hamrlik, Spacek, Rivet, and the entire Vancouver D.
Bernier, Setogouchi, Krejci, Tkachuk, Booth.
Nylander
Keith
Vanek
...
and if, for any reason, Phaneuf is not owned in your league, take him immediately.
...
Keep an eye on
Hamrlik, Spacek, Rivet, and the entire Vancouver D.
Bernier, Setogouchi, Krejci, Tkachuk, Booth.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
This is a very good list of players
Looking for a list of hockey players? Check out the draft in Yahoo's Friends and Family league:
http://hockey.fantasysports.yahoo.com/hockey/52090/draftresults?drafttab=team
And here's Q&A with Janet Eagleson, who got the number one pick.
Notes:
round 2: surprised Lundqvist went before turco and giggy, but that probably has a lot to do with injury fears and Lundqvist's number of SOs.
I believe that players should draft D early. Some experts did and others did not.
round 5: Nathan Horton and Pominville (round 4) finally getting the respect they deserve.
round 6: Bryan McCabe -- overrated? Underappreciated? Time will tell.
round 7: Huet will be a steal if the Hawks can convince Khabi to play in Russia this year. I picked him and I'm hoping that happens. Biron, I believe, is overrated. Stastny still doesn't get respect. A lot of goalies in this round. Goalies go in bunches, but not necessarily in any particular round.
round 8: IMO, Wade Redden's overrated. I expect Kronwall and Liles, for example, to do better.
round 12: I pick Ryan Clowe as sleeper -- if he can make the top line in SJ and also have a lot of PIMs.
Sami Salo underappreciated.
Jordan Staal's value rises as he gets time on the PK or PP. I hope he gets it.
round 13: I dropped Duncan Keith (I expect him to be the stay at home guy, and Campbell the power play quarterback) and kept Kuba, who has 2 assists in each of his first two appearances. I expect him to do very well. Pick him up if he is available.
round 14: Ray Whitney, if healthy, is the steal of this round.
round 15: I'm betting on Lupul, but that was a nasty injury last year. I'm also keeping an eye on Bernier -- everyone wants to know who will fit on the top line with the Sedin twins. So far, defencemen seem to be getting the extra points on Sedin goals.
round 16: Vermette delivers an interesting combination of PIMs and SHP.
http://hockey.fantasysports.yahoo.com/hockey/52090/draftresults?drafttab=team
And here's Q&A with Janet Eagleson, who got the number one pick.
Notes:
round 2: surprised Lundqvist went before turco and giggy, but that probably has a lot to do with injury fears and Lundqvist's number of SOs.
I believe that players should draft D early. Some experts did and others did not.
round 5: Nathan Horton and Pominville (round 4) finally getting the respect they deserve.
round 6: Bryan McCabe -- overrated? Underappreciated? Time will tell.
round 7: Huet will be a steal if the Hawks can convince Khabi to play in Russia this year. I picked him and I'm hoping that happens. Biron, I believe, is overrated. Stastny still doesn't get respect. A lot of goalies in this round. Goalies go in bunches, but not necessarily in any particular round.
round 8: IMO, Wade Redden's overrated. I expect Kronwall and Liles, for example, to do better.
round 12: I pick Ryan Clowe as sleeper -- if he can make the top line in SJ and also have a lot of PIMs.
Sami Salo underappreciated.
Jordan Staal's value rises as he gets time on the PK or PP. I hope he gets it.
round 13: I dropped Duncan Keith (I expect him to be the stay at home guy, and Campbell the power play quarterback) and kept Kuba, who has 2 assists in each of his first two appearances. I expect him to do very well. Pick him up if he is available.
round 14: Ray Whitney, if healthy, is the steal of this round.
round 15: I'm betting on Lupul, but that was a nasty injury last year. I'm also keeping an eye on Bernier -- everyone wants to know who will fit on the top line with the Sedin twins. So far, defencemen seem to be getting the extra points on Sedin goals.
round 16: Vermette delivers an interesting combination of PIMs and SHP.
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