|
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
December 1, 2003
Story by: Eric Theis
While the material world endures through the
flu bug, the fantasy realm has had to endure a
prolonged injury spell this year; accentuated
ever so much more by this week's casualties: Alexander
Mogilny, Peter Forsberg, Jamie Langenbrunner,
Gary Roberts, Philippe Boucher, Barret Jackman,
Eric Daze and Eric Brewer. The world waits for
no one however, and fantasy teams have had to
soldier on without these high caliber players.
In their absence, several other stud players have
stepped up along with some pleasant surprises,
and dismal failures, and once again it falls on
the GBU to let you know for better or worse where
it's at in fantasy land. Best of luck this week,
unless your playing one of my fantasy teams -
in that case, a curse upon your house. See you
next week, and as always, email your fantasy questions
to me at fantasy@hockeylink.ca.
The Good
Markus Naslund 4 GP, 3 G, 6 A, 1PPP, 1 GWG, 2
PIM, +5
LW - Vancouver Canucks
Once again, Vancouver's entire top line has won
the right to be recognized this week, accounting
for 21 points in total last week. However due
to space constraints, I will focus praise on the
top performer for the line, namely Markus Naslund.
Naslund provided fantasy teams with significant
contributions in 4 separate categories over Vancouver's
four games during the week; but that comes as
no surprise to anyone who has Naslund. I can only
thank them all for going easy on the Maple Leafs!
Vladimir Orszagh 4 GP, 4 G, 2 A, 1 PPP, 1 GWG,
4 PIM, + 4
RW - Nashville Predators
One of the key components in Nashville's recent
surge (8 - 2 - 0 - 0 in last 10) has been the
surprising play of Vladimir Orszagh, who has very
quietly moved into a tie for 2nd on the Preds
in points. Although always labeled as player with
above average puck handling skills, coupled with
a genuine passion for playing, Orszagh has never
eclipsed 36 points in any of his 5 NHL seasons.
Orszagh is one of several young Predators forwards
who has clearly benefited from a few years experience
in the NHL, as well as from the energetic young
talent surrounding him. As a result, Orszagh is
starting to produce: his points-per-game average
has increased to 0.65 this season, up from an
average of 0.43 from 2001 - 2003. Plus he gets
bonus points for playing on the "Vowel Line",
easily the coolest line name in all of hockey.
Jaromir Jagr 4 GP, 2 G, 6 A, 1 PPP, +4
RW - Washington Capitals
The Skeptical Improvement Award this week goes
to the enigmatic Jaromir Jagr. As has already
been written about ceaselessly, Jagr has been
hounded his career over by criticisms that his
play ebbs and flows in accordance with his mood.
If that is the case, it certainly didn't show
this week. Jagr endured trade rumors linking him
in a deal with the New York Rangers, as well as
a groin injury last week, and still managed to
record 8 points - his most productive week to
date this season. Maybe Jagr is just that desperate
to escape Washington, that he is willing to elevate
his game to convince someone, anyone to deal for
him. What ever the cause, fantasy owners assuredly
enjoyed the boost Jagr supplied last week.
Kris Draper 4 GP, 4 G, 1 A, 2 PPP, 2 PIM, +3
Center - Detroit Red Wings
Detroit's continued success in spite of injury
is rivaled only by fellow Original Six member,
the Toronto Maple Leafs. When Red Wings winger
Thomas Holmstrom went down last week with a separated
shoulder, Detroit had yet another void to fill,
a void that already includes the likes of Dominik
Hasek, Derian Hatcher, Henrik Zetterberg. Ray
Whitney, and Darren McCarty. Enter Kris Draper.
The center for Detroit's main checking line has
found a scoring touch as of late, transforming
the so called "Grind Line" into a pseudo-scoring
line; Draper's 10 goals places him in a tie for
second on the Red Wings, and just 5 goals off
of his career best. Draper should continue to
see additional ice time with so many Wings on
convalescence, and might even see some meaningful
power play time over the next few games. Who knows;
at this rate, Draper could be an injury away from
having to center Detroit's top line of Brendan
Shanahan and Steve Yzerman.
Thomas Vokoun 4 GP, 4 W, 1.50 GAA, .950 SV%
G - Nashville Predators
Reason number two for the Predators having woken
up Monday morning holding down a playoff spot,
has been the play of Thomas Vokoun. Habitually
streaky in his career, Vokoun has been a model
of consistency as of late, rewarding his owners
with 4 wins in 4 chances (8 - 2 - 0 - 0 in his
last 10). If Nashville considers itself a legitimate
playoff contender, will be based on Vokoun's ability
to handle a high workload and still be able to
perform at an elite level - while Vokoun did play
in 69 games last year, that total was almost double
the total from any other year. It should not be
too difficult for the Preds netminder, as his
dedication to physical conditioning enables him
to play at a high intensity level night in and
out.
Shane Doan 3 GP, 2 G, 3 A, 2 PIM, +3
Center - Phoenix Coyotes
Doan was handed the captain's "C" at
the start of this season, and has done nothing
so far to displace the confidence Phoenix management
has in him as a cornerstone of the franchise.
Seemingly stuck at the 20-25 goal mark through
his 8 NHL seasons, Doan is well on his way to
surpassing all of his career best numbers, all
while playing on a rebuilding club. At only 26,
Doan will provide much return on the investment
the Coyotes have made in him for several years
to come.
Honourable Mention:
Mike Cammalleri 3 GP, 3 G, 1 PPP, 1 GWG, 2 PIM,
+1
Center - Los Angeles Kings
I have always been a champion of the underdog,
and they don't come any closer to underdog than
Mike Cammalleri. At only 5'9", Cammalleri
is at a tremendous size disadvantage as an NHL
forward, yet he has always used his intelligence
and great playmaking skill to offset any size
disadvantage he may have. If he can stay health,
he will be one of LA's top scoring threats this
year.
Owen Nolan 4 GP, 2 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 20 PIM, +4
RW - Toronto Maple Leafs
There were many players with better, single category
fantasy numbers than Nolan; but few players had
the same across-the-board impact as the big winger.
In an earlier column, I suggested that Nolan's
early season woes were due to his hush-hush back
problems - well someone obviously forgot to tell
Owen. Kudos to those owners who stuck with him.
Jussi Markkanen
G - New York Rangers 2 GP, 2 W, 0.50 GAA, .982
SV%, 1 SO
Or
Manny Legacy 4 GP, 3 W, 0.80 GAA, .961 SV%, 1
SO
G - Detroit Red Wings
Like birds of a feather, both of these back-ups
have been forced into starting spots, as a result
of injuries, and both have outstripped the expectations
of anyone. Legacy, despite the ever-difficult
goaltending situation in Detroit, won 3 games
in a row, including a huge 2-1 road victory in
St. Louis. Markkanen played so well for the Rangers
in the games since starter Mike Dunham went down,
that there is now talk of Markkanen inheriting
the starting job. Good week to be a back up.
The Bad
Marc Savard 2 GP, 1 G, 14 PIM, -1
Center - Atlanta Thrashers
When you draft a grinder or a goon onto your
fantasy team, you expect a certain degree of reckless
stupidity from them in exchange for good PIM numbers;
the occasional stick across the head, some match
penalties for fighting with fans - all the things
that make "character players" who they
are. When top line center for one of the best
scoring teams does the same thing, it drives fantasy
owners insane, especially if it comes with a nifty
little suspension.
Marian Gaborik 3 GP, 0 G, 1 A, Even
RW - Minnesota Wild
Fantasy owners who drafted Gaborik (no doubt
in the hopes that his contract dispute would end
quickly) have been compensated with 12 missed
games, and a muscular 5 points since his return.
And you wonder why patience is a virtue?
Marc-Andre Fleury
G - Pittsburgh Penguins
The current joke in Pittsburgh goes something
like this:
A guy calls up the Penguins box office looking
for tickets to that night's hockey game. "Indeed",
the ticket agent on the other end says, "there
are good seats still available for the game."
The man then asks "what time does the game
start?" "Well, that depends", the
ticket agent responds, "what time can you
be here by?"
It is an unfair plight to have to play on a team
as a skilled youngster, when that team has so
many other issues to deal with beyond the actual
sport itself. Yet that is the situation in Pittsburgh
this season. Fleury will be a standout in the
NHL, that much is certain: just not with this
year's Penguins team.
The Ugly
Chicago Goaltenders 3 GP, 0 W, 3 L, 3.39 GAA,
.868 SV%
I mentioned above that this was a good week to
be a back-up goalie - well every rule has an exception.
Jocelyn Thibault is not worrying one bit about
his job security when he comes off the injured
list. Chicago has been absolutely miserable over
the last few weeks, going winless in their last
10 games (0 - 7 - 1 - 2). While not all of that
is the fault of the Chicago's two back-ups, Michael
Leighton or Craig Andersson, the duo certainly
are not removed from the problem either. Leighton
came into this season as the heir apparent to
succeed Thibault down the road, and Andersson
put up a very respectable 1.94 GAA/.923 SV% with
Chicago's AHL affiliate Norfolk Admirals. If thou
seeks goaltending help for thy own fantasy squad,
thou need look elsewhere, else thyn GAA shalt
rise with the regularity of the morning sun.
Questions or comments about this, or another fantasy
article? fantasy@hockeylink.ca
|
