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Fantasy Hockey Draft Preparation 2010 – Left Wings

Aug 28

Posted by Chris in Fantasy | No Comments

With NHL training camps set to begin about four weeks from now, it’s time for fantasy hockey managers to start reengaging their brains and begin planning for their upcoming Fantasy Hockey Draft. Most drafts will take place in the latter-half of September, but it’s never too early to start looking for that gem of a late-round pick, the underrated talent who is set for a breakout season or the veteran presence who is due for a rebound year.

Today’s Position: Left Wing

Left Wing has some very talented players, but be diligent in your drafting because these players go very quickly and very high in the draft – and you definitely do not want to lose out on some of these names.

If You Have a Top 3 Pick – Take Ovechkin. Don’t ask why, just do it.

If You Can’t Take Ovechkin – Then definitely consider Ilya Kovalchuk. Again, this is a no-brainer as Kovalchuk netted 40 or more goals in each of his past five NHL seasons and will probably continue that pace this year.

Phoenix+Coyotes+v+New+Jersey+Devils+rLtNBLrL2yZlThe Secret Is Out On – Zach Parise (pictured). Despite a breakout season in 2008-09 where Parise posted 94 points, he was still somewhat of a wild card. Well, his 84-point season last year showed that he isn’t a fluke and you can expect him to tally 30+ goals and 80 or more points this season as well.

Still Under the Radar Is – Simon Gagne. With potential to top the 70 point plateau, Gagne suffers from inconsistency and is somewhat injury-prone, which keeps him off the radar for many fantasy owners. With 40 points in 58 games last season, if Gagne can stay healthy he might shoot back up near 70 points if he plays on one of Tampa Bay’s top two lines centered by either Lecavalier or Stamkos.

Look for a Rebound Season From – Alex Tanguay. After a disappointing outing with Tampa Bay last season, Tanguay will return to Calgary where he did quite a bit of damage offensively in 2006-07 with 81 points. The Flames are hoping that Tanguay can recover that scoring touch and help boost the team’s struggling offense and will probably be given every opportunity to succeed.

Look for a Breakout Season From – Ville Leino. After being traded to the Flyers at the trade deadline, Leino came alive when the pressure was on in the playoffs and tallied seven goals and 14 assists in 19 playoff games. Look for Leino to benefit from playing on a team that is deep and very talented offensively. Fifty points could be within reach if Leino works hard for it.

Keep An Eye On – Taylor Hall. As the number one overall selection in the 2010 Entry Draft, Hall will be given every opportunity to succeed in Edmonton. Chances are he will immediately land a spot on one of the top two lines and Hall is expected to score a lot of goals in an Oilers uniform. Keep an eye on him to see if those goals start coming as early as this season.

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More NHL Award Finalists Announced

May 7

Posted by Eddie in News | 2 Comments

Two weeks ago I wrote about the first few finalists that were announced for various NHL Awards. Since then, some more finalists have been announced. The NHL Awards Show will be June 23 in Las Vegas. Here’s a preview of the award finalists as well as my picks for who could take home the hardwood. Part three will feature the Vezina, GM of the Year, and other awards.

Hart Trophy: Most Valuable Player (voted by Professional Hockey Writers Association)

Ted Lindsay Award: Most Outstanding Player (voted by NHL Players Association)

Finalists:

  • Alexander Ovechkin, Washington Capitals
  • Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins
  • Henrik Sedin, Vancouver Canucks

I get to hit two birds with one stone on this award because both the NHLPA and the PHWA agree on who the finalists for Most Valuable Player should be. All three players have cases for why they should win the award. Ovechkin and Crosby tied for second in points with 109 points. Crosby also led the league in shootout goals with 8, as well as posting a 80 percent success rate in shootouts. Sedin has already won hardware this season as he won the Art Ross Trophy with a league-leading 112 points. Crosby has one Hart Trophy has he won in 2007. Ovechkin has won it each of the last two seasons and is looking for his third in a row. Each of the last three seasons the same player has won both awards. Don’t expect that to happen this season.

My Heart Trophy Pick: Ovechkin

My Ted Lindsay Award Pick: Sedin

Jack Adams Award: Coach of the Year

Finalists:

  • Joe Sacco, Colorado Avlanche
  • Dave Tippett, Phoenix Coyotes
  • Barry Trotz, Nashville Predators

With awards like this, it usually doesn’t go to a coach who wins the Stanley Cup or even the Presidents Trophy. The last Stanley Cup winning coach who won the Jack Adams Award in the same season was JohnTortorella in 2004. It’ll usually go to someone who overachieves or leads his team to the playoffs when they weren’t expected to at the beginning of the season. These coaches are deserving of the award in their own way. Tippett took over the team from Wayne Gretzky a week before the season began and took a team that finished 25th in the league last season to fourth place in the Western Conference this season before losing to Detroit in game seven of the first round. Trotz is the only bench boss Nashville has ever had and has led the Preds to the playoffs in five of the last six seasons. Not bad for a team who has to compete with conference powers Detroit and Chicago more than most other teams. Sacco was a rookie coach who came out on fire in October. His 10-1-2 start was the second-best 13 game start for a coach in NHL history. He also led the Av’s to a second place finish in the Northwest Division.

My Pick: Tippett

Washington goalie Jose Theodore is a finalist for the Bill Masterton Trophy.

Washington goalie Jose Theodore is a finalist for the Bill Masterton Trophy.

Bill Masterton Trophy: Perseverance, Sportsmanship and Dedication to Hockey

Finalists:

  • Kurtis Foster, Tampa Bay
  • Jed Ortmeyer, San Jose
  • Jose Theodore, Washington

This award is presented to someone who had to overcome some type of hardship, injury, or situation to perform at the level that is needed in the NHL. Each player has a unique story which made them a finalist. Foster overcame a severely broken leg suffered two seasons ago. After his surgery, he realized he was lucky to even walk again. He missed nearly a calendar-year of hockey before returning to practice in Febrary 2009. After rehab stints in the AHL he made his return in March 2009 when he was with Minnesota. Signed as a free-agent with Tampa over the summer, he recorded career-high’s of 34 assists and 42 points this season from the blue line. He also blocked 70 shots.

Ortmeyer’s situation is a little different. At some point each day, Ortmeyer must use a needle to inject a blood thinner directly into his stomach to combat a hereditary blood-clotting disorder that has threatened not only his hockey career, but also his life. The process is tricky and the timing must be precise. The blood thinner, Lovenox, needs to be in his system during the down time when he’s not on the ice and it needs to be out of his system when he plays or practices so that a hard check or a high stick does not cause fatal bleeding. He’s suffered blood-clotting twice in his career and almost walked away from the game. This season, he set career high’s in goals, assists and points. Theodore’s situation is more heart breaking. Losing his starting goal position is nothing compared to when he lost his son over the summer. His son, Chace, passed away two months after birth with respiratory complications related to his premature birth. He bounced back this season to have his best year since winning the Heart and Vezina Trophies in 2002 with a 30-7-7 record and a .911 save percentage.

My Pick: Theodore

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Ovechkin Spray’s Kid With Snow… Seriously?

Apr 23

Posted by Eddie in Media | 6 Comments

Here’s the video. It’s pretty self explanatory. I love Ovie but this was for sure a classless move. Read it, soak it in, and comment below. This was from Wednesday’s Game 4 of the Capitals- Canadiens series.

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Seven storylines to follow during the final seven games of the NHL season

Mar 31

Posted by Chris in News, Soap Box | No Comments

Playoffs are merely two weeks away with about seven games remaining on the regular season schedule for most franchises. Still, a lot can happen in seven games. As the season winds down and teams gear up for playoffs, here are seven story lines that you might not want to miss as an NHL fan:

7.) Can the Avs Hang On? The Colorado Avalanche are one of two teams that defied preseason expectations this year and found themselves in the top half of the Western Conference for a good portion of the season despite being picked to finish near-dead last. However, over the last month or so as teams jockey for playoff positioning, the Avs have found themselves the odd team out after being leapfrogged by the Detroit Red Wings, Nashville Predators and Los Angeles Kings in the standings. Can the Avs hang on to the eighth seed in the West with Calgary hot on their tail? With a young core full of stars in the making, the Avalanche have a lot to build on regardless of how this season plays out.

6.) Where Will the Leafs End Up? The Leafs got themselves a great player when they traded for Phil Kessel in the offseason. Kessel has 30 goals and 54 points in 65 games for the Maple Leafs this year. However, in order to acquire the sniper from Boston, the Leafs had to trade away several draft picks – including a first-round pick in this summer’s draft. Right now, that draft picks looks to be a number two overall pick for the Bruins. That could mean nabbing either Taylor Hall or Tyler Seguin, the two highly-touted prospects expected to be taken as the first two overall players in the draft this year. Both players are having incredible seasons with over 100 points in the OHL. But, at 69 points, the Leafs are only three points behind the Tampa Bay Lightning, Florida Panthers and New York Islanders. With a playoff spot out of the picture, the Leafs are focusing on a strong finish to ensure a lower pick for the Bruins. Who will get the better end of the Kessel deal? We’ll see in two weeks.

5.) Outside Looking In: West - The Calgary Flames are the only real threat in the Western Conference outside of the playoff picture but looking to make a strong push at the end. With 85 points on the season, the Flames are four points behind the eighth seeded Colorado Avalanche. The St. Louis Blues are a long shot for a playoff spot with 83 points. Calgary has a tough schedule remaining, but they were able to take down the top-seeded Washington Capitals last weekend to keep their playoff hopes alive. Anything can happen in the NHL at playoff time.

4.) Outside Looking In: East – The playoff picture is much tighter in the East for the bubble teams. Only four points separate the tenth-seeded New York Rangers (78 points) from the sixth-seeded Philadelphia Flyers (82 points), which makes the remaining seven games that much more important for the teams fighting for the last few playoff spots in the West. The Boston Bruins and Montreal Canadiens each have 82 points and sit in the seventh and eighth seeds respectively while the Atlanta Thrashers occupy the ninth seed with 80 points. However, the Canadiens have lost three in a row while the Atlanta Thrashers are playing some good hockey in the ninth seed and could pass the Canadiens with a few more strong performances. These teams are all fighting for their playoff lives, and it may come down to the last day of the season to see who’s in and who’s out in the East.

3.) Does Chicago Have a #1 Netminder? The Chicago Blackhawks, a perennial favorite to go to the Stanley Cup Finals, shelled out big bucks a few years back for goaltender Cristobal Huet. Needless to say, he hasn’t lived up to expectations. In 46 starts for the Blackhawks this season, Huet has a 2.50 goals against average and a .895 save percentage. While going head-to-head with backup goalie Antti Niemi in recent weeks, Huet seems to be doing everything in his power to give up the starting job going into playoffs. Niemi has better numbers than Huet with a .909 save percentage and 2.31 goals against average, but has only won three of his eight starts in March. However, two of those starts were shutouts. Regardless, neither goalie has embraced the starting job like a playoff goalie needs to. Will a starting goalie emerge in the seven remaining games for the Hawks before playoffs start?

2.) The Detroit Red Wings Sweepstakes - Detroit has won six games in a row and has garnered at least one point in each of their last ten. They are streaking up the standings and up the power rankings and are easily the hottest team in the NHL right now with all of their players healthy. The Wings are becoming that low-ranked team with a lot of potential that you don’t want to meet in the first round of the playoffs. One blogger went as far as to say that San Jose was purposely throwing games in order to avoid meeting the Red Wings in the first round. That might not be a bad strategy seeing that the Wings have had San Jose’s number all season. Can the Wins continue their impressive pace and finish the season strong in the standings? More importantly, can they keep up that impressive pace once playoffs begin in April?

1.) The Rocket Richard Race – Sidney Crosby leads the race with 47 goals, but Alexander Ovechkin and Steve Stamkos are right on his heels with 46 goals a piece. Ovechkin has won the trophy the past two years, but this could be Crosby’s year to shine as a goal-scoring machine. Stamkos came out of nowhere during a huge sophomore surge to stay on pace with Crosby and Ovechkin and could easily take home the trophy as well. All three players have cooled off in recent weeks, making the Rocket Richard Trophy for most goals in a season anyone’s to step up and grab at this point.

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Alexander Ovechkin Goal vs. the New York Rangers

Feb 5

Posted by Matt in Media | No Comments

Just when you think Ilya Kovalchuk being dealt to the Devils was going to be news of the night, Alex Ovechkin comes through with another highlight reel goal. Is this how easy all of Backstrom’s assists are?

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Ovechkin Injured and Vokoun Leaves on a Stretcher

Nov 30

Posted by Matt in News | 5 Comments

Alex Ovechkin injured himself on a knee to knee hit tonight and could face a suspension in addition to his injury

Alex Ovechkin injured himself on a knee to knee hit tonight and could face a suspension in addition to his injury

As you already know, the 2009-10 NHL season has been filled with countless injuries. It’s been estimated at times that up to 20% of the league’s players at the start of the season are out of action due to injury. Tonight, two more big names went down.

First and foremost, Alexander Ovechkin. He left the game against the Carolina Hurricanes during the first period after initiating a knee to knee hit on Tim Gleason. Ovechkin was given a 5 minute kneeing major on the play, as well as a 10 minute game misconduct. Knee to knee hits can be extremely dangerous, as we saw with Niklas Kronwall who is out 4-8 weeks after being on the receiving end of the dirty play. Ovechkin remained down on the ice for several minutes after the play, and eventually had to be helped off. The extent of the injury won’t be known until tomorrow, but it certainly doesn’t look good. Tim Gleason went down on the play as well, but looked to be okay as he came back out on the power-play afterwards. Ovechkin could be looking at a suspension for his hit, even though he took the worst of it. The NHL will be looking into it and may continue laying down penalties for stupid plays that don’t belong in the game. Video of the hit is here.

In Atlanta tonight, Florida Panthers goaltender Tomas Vokoun had to be taken off the ice on a stretcher after being struck in the head by the stick of frustrated teammate Keith Ballard. Ballard, who was disgusted after Ilya Kovalchuk scored his 15th of the season, attempted to swing his stick across the goal post but instead caught Vokoun in the head. Vokoun was cut on the play, and the extent of his injury is unknown. Ballard meanwhile, after realizing what he had done, was still pretty insistent on breaking that stick. He took another swing and successfully broke it before heading to the bench, leaving his goaltender laying on the ice writhing in pain. Video can be seen here.

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Alexander Ovechkin Shootout Goal vs. Nashville

Oct 21

Posted by Matt in Media | 1 Comment

This clip is a few days old, but it is still glorious. Alexander Ovechkin has been on a roll to start the season and he embarassed Dan Ellis here. Does he have any chance at 50 in 50?

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How Would You Build Your Team?

Oct 7

Posted by Eddie in Fantasy, Round Table | 6 Comments

Every hockey fan will go through this discussion. “If I were to build my own team, I would have (insert player names here).” Well it got Hockey World Blog thinking, “Build a team with 1 forward, 1 defenseman, and 1 goalie, who would you pick?”

Eddie:

Forward: Pavel Datsyuk

If I were to build my team, I would keep it young in terms of age and experience, but I’d throw in a few guys in that 30-35-year-old range to provide leadership on and off the ice. Datsyuk is one of those players who can score a highlight reel goal every time he touches the puck. At age 31, Datsyuk has won two Stanley Cups and was a finalist for the Heart Trophy this past season. On my team, he would be that perfect combination of experience and offensive threat. Not to mention he’s a great two-way player as he won the last two Selke Trophies.

Defenseman: Mike Green

Mike Green has the perfect combination of scoring and defensive presense for a young player.

Mike Green has the perfect combination of scoring and defensive presence for a young player.

What a first-round draft the Capitals had in 2004. With the No. 1 overall pick, they take Alexander Ovechkin. And at No. 29 they take a young defenseman in Mike Green. They are amongst the best forward-defenseman combinations in the league. Both can light the lamp at anytime. What I like about Green is  that he’s grown into a much better player the last two seasons. Last year he scored 31 goals. That’s an insane amount for a defenseman. But what attracts me to him is his +/- rating. His +24 rating was tied for fifth in the league last season.

Goalie: Steve Mason

 In looking for a goalie, I want someone young who can be my franchise goalie, in the way that Chris Osgood was for Detroit and Martin Brodeur was for New Jersey. Living in the Central Division, I got to see a lot of the Blue Jackets and Steve Mason. He helped guide a team that was once the laughing stock of the NHL to a playoff birth last season. His 10 shutouts was the most in the league last season. If Columbus can get a couple more quality defenseman in front of him Mason can rise to one of the best goalies in the league.

EB:

Forward: Jarome Iginla

The boy can score, set up plays, fight and can even do commericals! Iginla is a class act, both on and off the ice. He is an ambassador for Kidsport Calgary which which donates $2,000 for every goal he scores. The money aides disadvantaged families by purchasing equipment as well as registration fees. He also supports many other causes through time and money, ranging from hockey diversity initiative to literacy programs. Sure you are widely known for the work you display on the ice, but to have a franchise player, you want someone well rounded both on and off the ice.

Jonathan Ericsson finishes a hit and already has eyes back on the play.

Jonathan Ericsson finishes a hit and already has eyes back on the play.

Defense: Jonathan Ericsson

Perhaps my biased Wings fan is showing, but Ericsson is going to be in the Hockey Hall of Fame one day. Currently under Nicklas Lidstrom’s leadership as a defenseman, I expect nothing but great things to come from this kid and would be more than willing to put a franchise with him at the center. The 6′4″ 206 lb. hard hitting and shooting player is a treat to watch at his young age. His agility and coordination improves daily it seems, with the natural unteachable poise of play that he possesses, and willingness to drop the gloves when he needs to.

Goalie: Jonas Gustavsson

Any player with the nickname “The Monster” is bound to gain attention. Coming into his first year and already with the media following would only mean $$$ for the owner. Fans would come far and wide just to get a glimpse of his enormous size only to be matched by his enormous talent. With the feeling that he alone could defeat a team with his quick reflexes, you could only imagine that he increases your chances of making playoffs as well as the possibility of getting some cups.

 

Chris:

Forward: Alexander Ovechkin

Give me a goal-scorer like Alexander Ovechkin any day of the week to build my offensive program around. This guy can score from his knees, while he’s diving, forward or backward. He is one of the most dynamic forwards in the NHL right now because of his speed, skating ability and his capacity to shoot mid-stride and catch both goalies and defenders off guard. Ovechkin has topped the 50-goal plateau three times in his four NHL seasons, only missing out on 50 by four goals in 2006-07. Plus Ovechkin is young. At just 23 years of age, this sniper has a long NHL career ahead of him.

Defenseman: Dion Phaneuf

If I get one player to build my defensive core around, I want a guy like Dion Phaneuf standing on my blue line. At 6′3 and 214 pounds, this guy is big, scary, and mean. He plays physical and is no stranger to throwing a few bone-crunching checks. His physical style of play has landed him with 90 penalty minutes or more in each of his four NHL seasons, topping out at 182 PIM during the 2007-2008 season. Phaneuf has an offensive prowess, too. In 323 NHL games, Phaneuf has accumulated 206 points, including 141 helpers. At the tender age of 24, Phaneuf has all the makings of a star blue liner.

Goalie: Ryan Miller

For a starting goalie, I like Ryan Miller. While he may not be cozying up to any goaltender records anytime soon, this is a guy who is solid between the pipes and gives you a chance to win every night. While he isn’t a tender young pup anymore at the age of 29, he definitely still has several quality years left in him to backstop a team to the Cup. Miller sports a career goals against average of 2.66 and a save percentage of 0.910. Not every team can draft a Marty Brodeur or Roberto Luongo, but Miller will make the saves he’s supposed to and probably stop a few that he shouldn’t. If nothing else, he will give you a chance to win night in and night out.

 

Matt:

Forward: Alex Ovechkin

Alexander Ovechkin is a scoring machine, plain and simple. As time goes on, however, he is solidifying himself as a more responsible defensive player as well. In fact, Alex finished his 2009 playoff campaign with a +10 rating in 14 games played. He is evolving into a terrific leader, and a player who wants nothing more than to win the Stanley Cup.

Defense: Mike Green

Does this guy not just remind you of Bobby Orr a little bit? At least in terms of his skating and scoring? If there is another defenseman to crack the 100 point barrier anytime soon, my money is on Mike Green. Last season he had 31 goals and another 42 helpers, for 73 points on the season, in only his third full year in the NHL. He is young, he is talented, and he will win a Norris Trophy and a Stanley Cup before his career is over.

Goalie: Roberto Luongo

They say that goalies tend to reach their peak performance level a bit later in their career than most other players. Well, if that’s the case, at 30 years young, Roberto Luongo is a guy you want on your squad. He has proven himself as a guy who can handle a heavy workload, playing more than 70 games in four of the past five seasons. Along with that, he’s posted a .919 save percentage throughout his career. As the current captain of the Vancouver Canucks, you know the man has tremendous leadership ability, and that is vital to the construction of any team.

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Washington Capitals

Sep 15

Posted by Matt in Season Previews | 1 Comment

Alexander Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals will repeat as Division Champions this season

Alexander Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals will repeat as Division Champions this season

Get ready it’s our time.

This tagline, along with a picture of the Stanley Cup, was featured on a shirt worn by none other than Alexander Ovechkin during the Washington Capitals Media Day. Despite losing two key veteran leaders, Sergei Fedorov and Donald Brashear, in the off-season, the Capitals are very confident in their abilities this upcoming season.

Young players such as Alexander Semin, Nicklas Backstrom, Mike Green and Ovechkin are all ready to make the jump to that next level. They can all score, and are each capable of putting together 75+ point seasons. With the experience developed by these young guns over the past two seasons, its going to be hard for anyone to stop them come playoff time.

On top of that, add in the free agent signings of Mike Knuble and Brendan Morrison to the roster. Last season for the Flyers, Knuble chipped in 27 goals along with 20 assists for a 47 point campaign. Brendan Morrison, splitting time between Anaheim and Dallas last season, totaled 31 points on 16 goals and 15 assists. Clearly offensive production should not be a problem for the Caps this season.

Defensively the Capitals are just as strong as last year. Mike Green will lead the way with a terrific plus/minus and strong skating and scoring abilities. Shaone Morrisonn, Tom Poti and Milan Jurcina are big, strong, gritty defenseman who will work well to shut down the opposition.

Between the pipes, Bruce Boudreau has given the starting role back to Jose Theodore heading into training camp. Theodore had a poor showing in last seasons playoffs in which Semyon Varlamov relieved him. Boudreau and the Capitals never looked back as Varlamov continued to play well, posting a .918 save percentage and 2.53 goals against average in 13 games. Varlamov is sure to see more time this season than he did in 2008-09, however.

The Capitals should cruise through the regular season to a first place finish in the Southeast Division. Their best games will be those against Boston, and the defending Stanley Cup Champion Pittsburgh Penguins. Come playoff time, however, the Capitals will make a huge push. Don’t be surprised if you see them playing into June next year.

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