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Fantasy Hockey Friday

Jan 20

Posted by Chris in Fantasy | No Comments

Two weeks ago, we brought you an in depth breakdown of team stats around the NHL that could help give a better indication on how your goalie may fare on any given night against any given opponent. This week we turn the tables a bit to analyze more team stats, but this time focus on the impact of these stats for forwards and defenseman.

A good Fantasy Hockey league setup has roster positions and bench positions so that on some nights, when most everyone on your team is playing, you have to make the tough decisions regarding who to bench and who to play. So as a Manager, how do you decide which players to play and which to sit?

Sometimes it comes down to a “hunch” or intuition. Obviously your star players will likely get spots because they are more likely to put points on the board. Players on hot streaks may also get the nod over someone that is slumping. Or you may choose to go by which team any given player is playing against that night.

For instance, if you’re trying to decide between two players, and one is playing against the New York Rangers while the other is playing against the Tampa Bay Lightning, you may want to consider playing your guy against Tampa Bay. Why? Because Tampa Bay averages 3.47 goals against per game while the Rangers average 1.98 goals against per game, meaning there is a greater probability that your player will score against Tampa Bay.

Here is a breakdown of the top five teams in the league with the lowest goals against averages per game:

New York Rangers (1.98)

St. Louis Blues (1.98)

Boston Bruins (2.02)

Los Angeles Kings (2.13)

San Jose Sharks (2.28)

Similarly, here are the worst five teams in the NHL with the highest goals against averages per game:

Tampa Bay Lightning (3.47)

Columbus Blue Jackets (3.22)

Carolina Hurricanes (3.17)

Ottawa Senators (3.08)

Toronto Maple Leafs (3.07)

The Anaheim Ducks, Buffalo Sabres and New York Islanders also have averages of 3.00 goals against per game or better as well.

You can also get a good idea of how your players will fare by looking at which goalie he will face that night. And these numbers don’t always correlate with the team average.

Boston has a low enough team goals against per game average, but backup netminder Tuukka Rask actually has a lower goals against average than starter Tim Thomas. This means that your player is more likely to score on Thomas than on Rask, but the likelihood that he will score against Boston at all is slim.

Consider the Colorado Avalanche as well. As a whole, the team averages 2.85 goals allowed per game. However, goaltenders Semyon Varlamov and J.S. Giguere have basically split time, but Varlamov’s goals against average is much higher at 3.00 goals against per game than Giguere’s 2.12 goals against per game. So if Varlamov gets the start, play against him with confidence.

The Philadelphia Flyers have a similar issue with Ilya Bryzgalov (3.00) and Sergei Bobrovsky (2.42). Thankfully for Fantasy Managers, Bryzgalov gets the majority of the starts with 30 this season compared to Bobrovsky’s 14.

It doesn’t happen often when you have a full slate of games and have to make the tough choices as a manager on whom to bench and whom to play, but knowing the odds can help you make the right decision in the future. It’s not fool-proof by any means, but it’s a step in the right direction.

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Devin Setoguchi Placed on IR

Dec 8

Posted by EB in News | No Comments

The surprising Minnesota Wild has been dealt a blow as right winger Devin Setoguchi has been placed on the injured reserve.

The Wild has been a top story to follow this season as they are currently leading the Western Conference. With a record of 18-7-3 for a total of 39 points, it seems their playoff drought has finally come to an end. Minnesota’s last playoff appearance came during the 2007-2008 season where they lost in the first round to the Colorado Avalanche.

Setoguchi left in the first period of Tuesday’s game at San Jose with a lower-body injury. He is tied for a team leading 8 goals. Setoguchi has five helpers to put his point total to 13. Setoguchi has been averaging close to 17 minutes a game, a contributing part to the teams success. Still, Setoguchi has room for improvement with a team worst plus minus of negative 7.

The loss of Setoguchi will definitely hurt the Wild in their dominance of the West, but will they be able to hold onto their lead? Setoguchi’s injury is still unknown to be a lengthy or short one, but at the least, the winger will have to miss 7 days from being placed on injured reserve. The time off will see Setoguchi missing that of 3 more Wild games. The team plays the Los Angelese Kings tonight, the Phoenix Coyotes on Saturday and the Winnipeg Jets next Tuesday. Tonight’s matchup will be a good test as the Wild will also be missing forward Cal Clutterbuck who is out with a thigh injury.

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NHL realignment talks on tap for Governors meeting next week

Dec 2

Posted by Chris in Soap Box | No Comments

With the NHL Board of Governors meeting next week in Pebble Beach, California, fans may finally get their long-awaited answer as to how the league plans to deal with realignment next season after the Atlanta Thrashers moved to Winnipeg this past summer, throwing the league out of whack as Winnipeg is playing in Atlanta’s Eastern Conference spot but should rightfully be a Western Conference team.

It appears as if there are two front-running suggestions right now. The first involves an even swap where Detroit would move to the East and Winnipeg to the West. This would be the simplest move for the NHL to make, which means it will never happen.

The other suggestion involves a complete realignment that shifts away from the two-conference, six-division standard and instead implements a four-division league where two of the divisions have seven teams and the other two have eight. If this idea is agreed upon, it’s likely that the Board of Governors will also alter the schedule so that each team plays every other team at home and on the road at least once during the regular season.

As a hockey fan, I’m more intrigued by the complete reformation. It would certainly be more fun from a fan’s point of view to play every team at home at least once. That way, fans all over can see Steve Stamkos, Sidney Crosby, Alexander Ovechkin and countless others at their home arena once every season. Plus, this proposal would also include two rounds of divisional playoffs – something that should increase the bad blood between division rivals. If this strategy could produce rivalry playoff matchups even remotely to the level of Detroit-Colorado in the late 1990’s, I’m all for it.

The problem is that two-thirds of the Board of Governors has to approve whatever method they propose. That’s probably the most likely reason why they will not adopt a simply strategy where Detroit moves to the East and Winnipeg to the West. Too many Western Conference general managers like having Detroit come to their arena twice a season to help draw in fans. Add in the fact that each team will also play host to Crosby, Ovechkin and Stamkos and you’re looking at a big increase in profits during those games.

The other reason why I believe they will adopt a complete restructuring involves the Phoenix Coyotes. The city of Glendale, where the Coyotes’ arena resides, has stated they will not pay for the Coyotes any longer. Unless there is a buyer in place by the end of this season, the Coyotes will likely be on the move. If the general managers agree to a straight Detroit-for-Winnipeg swap, they could be in the exact same position next season if Phoenix moves East (although I hear Las Vegas and Washington are possible destinations if Phoenix moves).

For the time being, however, I am still holding out hope that the league will adopt my strategy that drops two teams completely and moves to four, seven-team divisions. Sorry Phoenix and Columbus, you are the weakest links. Goodbye.

 

 

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Matt Duchene Through the Legs Highlight Reel Goal

Nov 16

Posted by Matt in Media | 2 Comments

Matt Duchene made his case for goal of the year against the Pittsburgh Penguins last night. Duchene collected a pass, which was behind him, slid the puck between his legs and fired a backhand past Penguins goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury.

Take a look at Duchene’s through the legs highlight reel goal below, and let us know what you think. Does it deserve to be a goal of the year candidate?

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2011-12 NHL Season Preview: Colorado Avalanche

Sep 24

Posted by Chris in Season Previews | No Comments

Key Offseason Additions: J.S. Giguere, Semyon Varlamov, Jan Hejda, Shane O’Brien, Chuck Kobasew

Key Offseason Losses: Brian Elliot, Peter Budaj, John Michael Liles, Tomas Fleishmann

Last Season Ranking: 14th in the West

Offense: Colorado has a wealth of good, young talent throughout their roster, but the Western Conference remains tightly contested and Colorado may have a tough time cracking the playoffs with a lack of experience.

The Avs are strong down the middle with Matt Duchene and Paul Stastny leading the team one-two in points last season. Both are exceptional players and will likely lead the team in scoring again this year. Along with right wing Milan Hejduk, who seems to defy age with his consistent play even at 35-years-old, these three form the nucleus of the team’s offense.

David Jones had a breakout season last year with 45 points in 77 games. Jones will likely see time in the top-six and should improve upon last season’s totals. A healthy and concussion-free Peter Mueller could also pay huge dividends offensively for Colorado. Mueller posted point-per-game numbers with the Avs two years ago before being sidelined by concussions that kept him out all of last season. Look for a big bounce back year from Mueller, who could see time on the top line with Duchene this season if training camp lines are any indication of what’s to come.

The player to watch this season will be Gabriel Landeskog, the 2nd overall selection from June’s NHL Entry Draft. Landeskog was widely viewed as the most NHL-ready player atop the draft. With his size and skill he could be thrust into the mix immediately for Colorado. Keep an eye on him to see how he fairs in his first NHL season.

Only three of Colorado’s forwards are signed beyond this season. While the team has the cap space to retain the majority of them, pending free agents will need to utilize this season to make an impression and show that they belong with the Avs as the team looks to build a contender for the future.

Defense: Colorado needs to be better in their own zone and better at keeping the puck out of their net. None of the defenseman who will likely make the opening night roster finished with a positive plus-minus rating last season. Colorado also finished with a league-worst average of 3.5 goals against per game. This stat alone needs to improve if Colorado intends to make a chase at the playoffs.

Erik Johnson, a mid-season acquisition from the St. Louis Blues and former number-one overall draft pick in 2006, has a lot to prove and will get every opportunity to do so with Colorado. Johnson is capable of chipping in offensively and could be a pivot on the power play this year. After scoring 10 points in 22 games last season for Colorado, are 40 or more points out of the question?

Kyle Quincey is capable of eating up top-end minutes on the blue line and has solid puck-moving skills. Injuries hampered him last season, but a healthy season this year should pay immediate dividends for Colorado.

The addition of Jan Hejda will give the blue line depth and a veteran presence while Shane O’Brien helps provide some grit and toughness, if not necessarily quality defending.

Goaltending: After trading Craig Anderson at the trade deadline last season and losing Brian Elliott to free agency, the Avalanche did a good job of restocking with a mix of upcoming talent and a veteran presence.

At only 23-years-old, Semyon Varlamov already has a few NHL seasons under his belt with the Washington Capitals, including some playoff experience. However, his inconsistencies in net prevented him from consistently keeping the number one job. A change of scenery could do some good, but he will still need to be more consistent in net to show that he deserves to be the starter.

Varlamov should also benefit from having a veteran netminder around to help him learn and grow. The Avalanche signed J.S. Giguere to a two year contract on July 1. Giguere, a former Stanley Cup winner, will not only help push Varlamov for playing time, but he should also serve as a mentor to the young goalie and help him with the mental aspects of the game.

Giguere has some injury trouble last season, but he played well enough on a Toronto team that was soft defensively during his two years with the Leafs. If Varlamov struggles, Giguere could take over the number one spot. He still has the size, agility and skill to be a top goaltender.

The Avalanche will be arguable most improved in net this season with the additions of Varlamov and Giguere, but expect some healthy competition throughout the season between these two until one emerges as the number one goalie.

Playoff Prediction: Colorado has a lot of reasons to be excited for the future with their skilled young players. Unfortunately, stiff competition in the West will keep the Avs out of the playoff picture again this year.

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Peter Mueller expected to return from injury

Aug 27

Posted by Chris in Fantasy, News | 1 Comment

After sitting out all of last season with a concussion sustained during the first pre-season game of the season, The Denver Post is reporting that Colorado Avalanche forward Peter Mueller appears to be healthy, fit and ready to play.

“I’m excited to be a hockey player again,” Mueller said Wednesday. “Obviously, I’ve had concussions in the past and it’s something I have to deal with, but right now everything is in the right direction. Everything is pointing forward. I’m excited that it’s all behind me.”

The 23-year-old has been skating regularly and will partake in team physicals in mid-September for on-ice clearance. As long as all goes well, Mueller should be back in the lineup for the Avs when they open their season on Saturday, Oct. 8 at home against the Detroit Red Wings.

Mueller will also take extra precautions against sustaining another concussion this season. He will sport the new Easton S19 Z-Shock, a one-piece hockey helmet that Easton claims exceeds minimum safety regulations by as much as 40 percent. Mueller will also sport a tinted visor to help minimize the effects that bright lights can have on concussion victims.

“Sometimes I feel like I’m in ‘Top Gun’ out there with the tinted visor, but it’s been great and a very comfortable helmet to wear,” Mueller said of the new Easton helmet.

While news of Mueller’s imminent return should pay dividends for the young and highly talented Colorado Avalanche squad, it will also come as good news for Fantasy Hockey players looking for a quality sleeper this year.

Mueller never really seemed to live up to his full potential with the Phoenix Coyotes, who drafted him 8th overall in 2006, but he showed that potential after getting traded to the Avalanche in 2010 where he promptly posted 20 points, including nine goals, in 15 games before being sidelined with the first of two concussions that kept him off the ice for the better part of a year.

Several players around the NHL are still sidelined by concussion symptoms – most notable David Perron of the St. Louis Blues and Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins.

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Red Wings forward Kris Draper announces retirement

Jul 26

Posted by Chris in News | No Comments

After 17 years with the Detroit Red Wings, grinder Kris Draper announced his retirement from the National Hockey League this afternoon at a press conference at Joe Louis Arena.

“This is the most difficult decision I’ve ever had to make because I love the game of hockey, and I love being a Red Wing,” Draper said during the news conference. ”I consider myself one of the luckiest athletes of all time to be able to play with this organization for 17 years.”

Originally drafted by the Winnipeg Jets in 1989, Draper spent several seasons bouncing around Winnipeg’s minor league system before he was finally traded to the Red Wings in 1993 for only a dollar. That single dollar may have been one of the best monetary transactions the Red Wings made as Draper became a pivotal role player for the Red Wings during the 1990’s and 2000’s, especially as a center on Detroit’s famed “Grind Line” with former teammates Kirk Maltby and Darren McCarty. Draper helped the team win four Stanley Cup championships during his tenure.

“I think the best way to put it is,” said senior vice president Jim Devellano, “it was a dollar well spent.”

Draper also represented his home country of Canada several times during his NHL career, winning gold medals at multiple international tournaments, including two World Championships (1990, 1991) and the World Championships (2003). Draper also played for Team Canada at the 2006 Winter Olympics, but the team failed to garner a medal that year.

Perhaps what Draper will be most remembered for, however, is his involvement in the exhilarating rivalry between the Red Wings and Colorado Avalanche throughout the mid-to-late 90’s. The rivalry began when Claude Lemieux sent Draper face-first into the boards with a hit from behind during Game 6 of the 1996 Western Conference Finals at Colorado, resulting in numerous facial injuries to Draper. The Avalanche went on to win the series, and the Stanley Cup, but the hit sparked one of the league’s most vicious rivalries that culminated the following season in a massive brawl between the two clubs and caused several seasons of bitterness. The rivalry managed to strengthen the bonds of Red Wings teammates during those years as they went on to win back-to-back championships in 1996-97 and 1997-98.

Later in his career, while still an effective grinder and face-off player, Draper became a mentor to young up-and-coming talent like Justin Abdelkader and Darren Helm, the latter of which shows many similarities to Draper with his ability to cause turnovers with his speed.

With so many players clamoring for roster spots, however, the Red Wings simply couldn’t afford to keep Draper on another season and risk losing valuable young talent. Draper stated earlier this summer that he wished to play another season, but he expressed his disinterest in signing a two-way contract or playing for another team.

The Red Wings stated during the press conference that Draper will take an unspecified position within the organization, much like former teammates Kirk Maltby and the recently retired Chris Osgood.

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Chris Osgood Retires

Jul 19

Posted by EB in News, Rumors | 1 Comment

Today at Noon EST, along side Detroit Red Wings’ General Manager Ken Holland, goaltender Chris Osgood will hold a press conference. The conference will most likely be an emotional filled retirement announcement.

The 38 year old Osgood began his career in the ’93 – ’94 season with the Detroit Red Wings. Going 23-8-5 in his rookie season, it was evident he was bound for greatness. He has scored a goal in the WHL, two time winner of the William M. Jennigs Trophy (fewest goals scored during the regular season with a minimum of 25 games played), and currently holds the 10th ranking for all-time wins as a goaltender with 401. These stats are merely a glimpse of his career.

Osgood had short stints with both the New York Islanders and the St. Louis Blues, yet the majority of his play has been with the Detroit Red Wings. Being there for the Wings through the thick and thin, Osgood is most notably  known for his helmet/cage combination goalie mask. Perhaps even recognized as a feisty goalie who fought with Colorado Avalanche net-minder Patrick Roy. For Red Wings’ fans though, he will always be known as the Wizard of Oz.

Unfortunately Osgood’s time has come to an end in the NHL. With current Red Wing’s young goaltender Jimmy Howard taking the number one spot, as well as coming off of a season filled with groin injuries and surgeries, it proved to be his Achilles heel. He can hang his head high though. Through his career as a Detroit Red Wing, Osgood brought home the Stanley Cup three times, both back to back years in 1997 and 1998, as well as another in 2008.

It is a sad day indeed, as another great player retires.

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Semin rumors swirl while Capitals seek cap relief

Jul 15

Posted by Chris in Rumors, Soap Box | 2 Comments

The Washington Capitals have some tough decisions to make concerning their 23-man roster in the coming weeks as the team finds themselves roughly $900,000 over the salary cap after the recent signing of defenseman Karl Alzner, leading many to speculate that a big move could be on the horizon for a team looking to add depth and become cap compliant.

The trio of Alexander Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom and Alexander Semin eats up roughly one-third of the team’s salary cap – and rightly so as they also accounted for 35 percent of the team’s offense last season. With the former two locked up by long-term contracts, the most likely candidate to be moved appears to be Alexander Semin and his one-year, $6.7 million contract. As a top three scorer, moving Semin could not only give the Capitals the cap relief they need, but it could also help the team balance their scoring and make them a deeper team offensively.

The New York Islanders, Nashville Predators, Colorado Avalanche, Phoenix Coyotes and Winnipeg Jets are all currently under the salary cap floor. Semin’s contract could easily push several of these teams over the floor, but many of them may not be willing to trade the assets required to obtain Semin.

The Capitals need scoring depth, they need roster players capable of joining the team and paying immediate dividends – not prospects and draft picks. The Capitals would likely look to pick up a good second or third line center in a deal as well. Colorado has a lot of good, young talent and could benefit from Semin’s scoring touch, but the Capitals wouldn’t receive the necessary cap relief if they traded for Paul Stastny and the Avalanche would be very hard pressed to trade budding star Matt Duchene.

In fact, most of those teams have few assets up the middle making it difficult for them to trade away those assets. The more likely scenario would be for many of those teams to sign remaining free agents like Alex Kovalev to lucrative one-year contracts to meet the floor. That way they can retain their budding star players and still become cap compliant.  

The Detroit Red Wings are one team continually associated with Semin trade rumors. This could mostly be a product of the Wings’ available cap space, however. The Wings have just under $6.5 million available in cap room with only a backup goaltender left to sign. The Capitals would likely target Valtteri Filppula in the trade, along with picks or prospects, but the Wings would probably be more eager to move Jiri Hudler in a packaged deal in order to retain Filppula. Adding Semin to the Wings would give Detroit more of an offensive punch and Semin would fit in well on the top line with fellow Russian Pavel Datsyuk. The Red Wings tend to drag their feet in situations like this, however, so a deal is highly improbable.

The Capitals will likely explore all options that would allow them to retain Alexander Semin and still become cap compliant, most of which include trading lesser salaries and bringing up young players to fill bottom line holes. But if the team is serious about winning soon, they will also explore options that could send Semin elsewhere in exchange for offensive depth.

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Avalanche will retire Peter Forsberg’s number

Jun 30

Posted by Chris in News | No Comments

The Colorado Avalanche will pay homage to Peter Forsberg, one of the franchise’s greatest players, by retiring his number to the rafters prior to their season opener on Oct. 8 against the Detroit Red Wings.

Forsberg was one of the best two-way forwards in the NHL during his prime in the 1990’s and helped the Avalanche secure two Stanley Cup titles in 1996 and 2001. He currently ranks tenth all-time in career points per game and fourth all-time in career assists per game. Forsberg finished his NHL career with 249 goals and 636 assists in 708 career games spent with the Avalanche, Philadelphia Flyers and Nashville Predators.

Forsberg tried to complete an NHL comeback last season with the Avalanche after several seasons overseas but opted out of the comeback after only two games thanks to nagging foot injuries.

It’s fitting that Forsberg’s number will be retired in a game against the Red Wings, a team who Forsberg battled against throughout most of the late 90’s and early 2000’s. Both the Avalanche and Red Wings were two of the most dominant teams in the NHL during that time with the two teams combining for five of the 10 Stanley Cup titles won between 1995 and 2004.

Forsberg’s number will hang in the rafters alongside goaltender Patrick Roy, Avalanche all-time leading scorer Joe Sakic and defenseman Ray Bourque.

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