To get our summer hockey fix, I have come up with the idea of a “Greatest Championship Team Ever” tournament. My tentative idea is to have a bracket-style tournament using What If Sports. I did something similiar for Super Bowl teams during my time as a college newspaper sports writer. My only requirement is that they have to have won the Stanley Cup during that season. Depending on the number of suggestions we receive, we might impose a cap of number of entries per franchise (do we really need 5-6 Canadiens teams if its a 16-team tournament?). This is a great opportunity for the readers of Hockey World Blog to have an input in what they see and read. For your suggestions, feel free to comment below or email eddie@hockeyworldblog.com.
Posts Tagged Fantasy
Don’t you hate it when you’re searching through the free agent wire in your fantasy league, only to have slim pickings? I went through this earlier this week when I was trying to get my team to rise out of the cellar. I usually give the players I draft the first month of the season to prove their worth before I drop them unless they were injured. The fortunate thing is, I did not have any injuries. The bad news, is that I’m in last place. Some of it was due to my own negligence such as owning four fantasy football teams and worrying about those more. But now I have a little time on my hands and I can handle what’s on my fantasy plate. Here’s a list of the best players available in the free agent world, along with the percentage of Yahoo! Fantasy teams own that player.
Note: Players owned on 60% or fewer teams were considered.
Center:
Ryan Kesler, Vancouver (5-8-13, 53% Owned)
Kesler is one of the hottest players on his team. With 5 goals the first month of the season, he’s shown that he can find the net as he is tied for third in goals and is second in points on the Canucks. He’s also valuable on special teams as he as six power play points.
Honorable Mention:
Mike Fisher, Ottawa (5-6-11, +3, 3PPG, 2GWG, 22% Owned)
Brendan Morrison, Washington (4-6-10, +6, 6 PIM, 2 PPG, 15% Owned)
Wayne Simmonds
Right Wing:
David Clarkson, New Jersey (3-6-9, 40% Owned)
Clarkson started off hot, but midway through October he went through a five game goal-less drought. Clarkson ended that drought last week. Don’t be afraid to pick him up. I strongly believe he will warm up or get hot before he becomes ice cold. His 20 penalty minutes are worth using if you need someone to raise your team penalty minutes.
Honorable Mention:
Nathan Horton, Florida (3-7-10, 20 PIM, 55% Owned)
Wayne Simmonds, Los Angeles (4-4-8, +9, 9 PIM, 5% Owned)
Left Wing:
James van Riemsdyk, Philadelphia (2-11-13, +6, 3 PPA, 27% Owned)
While he may only have two goals this young season, #2 overall pick in the 2007 draft James van Riemsdyk has made an impact through the assist for the Flyers. You have to take notice of someone that has more points than games played, as the Flyers have played only 10 games. He leads the team in assists and is third in plus-minus. If you’re in need of assists because your defensemen aren’t coming through, I recommend his as only 1 in 4 teams own him. Unfortunately in my fantasy league, Chris picked him up Monday afternoon.
Honorable Mention:
Matt Moulson, New York Islanders (6-5-11, 6 PIM, 3 PPA, 45% Owned)
Jarkko Ruutu, Ottawa (4-3-7, 27 PIM, 6% Owned)
Defense:
Jason Demers, San Jose (0-10-10, +7, 4 PPA, 32% Owned)
Rookie Demers has been producing on the blue line for a solid Sharks team. While he haven’t scored a goal this season, his team-leading plus-minus rating is worth taking note of. Look for him to see increased playing time from coach Todd Mclellan.
Ryan Suter, Nashville (2-5-7 8 PIM, 2 PPA, 59% Owned)
I had several defensemen to consider picking. But Suter was the best out of a good bunch along with Demers. Suter is an experienced player who is in the top-five on his team in points and penalty minutes. He also has three power play points in 13 games this season.
Honorable Mention:
Jaroslav Spacek, Montreal (1-4-5, +6, 14 PIM, 49% Owned)
Roman Hamerlik, Montreal (4-2-6, +6, 12 PIM. 22% Owned)
Goalie:
Ondrej Pavelec, Atlanta (5 W, 2.75 GAA, .921 SV%, 42% Owned)
Just like everyone else before the season, I didn’t have much faith in the Thrashers. But they got off to a good start in the first month of the season, and that’s what they need. In goal, Pavelec has solidified his #1 spot over Johan Hedberg. He’s owned in 2 out of every 5 leagues, so chances are he’s available for you.
Honorable Mention:
Jaroslav Halak, Montreal (5 W, 2.85 GAA, .893 SV%, 39% Owned)
Dwayne Roloson, New York Islanders (4 W, 2.70 GAA, .914 SV%, 34% Owned)
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 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.
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.
Round Trip
Aug 3
Radim Vrbata returns to the Coyotes lineup next season.
With all the hoopla surrounding the Phoenix Coyotes, it is easy to have missed the return of right wing Radim Vrbata. Vrbata played with the Coyotes in the ’07–’08 season, posting 56 points in 76 games. Afterwards he signed with the Tampa Bay Lightning only to play 18 games, and returns to the Coyotes lineup next season.
It is uncertain what line and with whom he will be playing with, yet with the loss of Nigel Dawes to the Calgary Flames, expect him to be playing on the second line. From a fantasy perspective Vrbata does contribute points wise, and if given the opportunity to play on the power play, he would be a real good addition for depth.
One last thing to note, Peter Mueller entered the league in the ’07–’08 season with a very respectable 54 points, yet dipped last season. If the two play together consitently, watch closely as the two could be a dangerous tandem.
