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