Shallow Frozen Water

thursday’s deskchair

across the NHL schedule Wednesday night can be nearly as busy as Saturday night although that is not the case this week since they overloaded the sched on Tues night after the AS Break.  since that is the case then i expect that i’ll do more armchair stuff on Thursdays for the rest of the season.  i enjoy it actually, it’s reminiscent of TRUM stuff that used to happen over at TMR back in the day.  i miss me the TRUM.

 a significant UH-OH came across the lips of Thrashers fans last night after Ilya Kovalchuk went knee on knee with Jarko Ruutu.  Ruutu has enough of a reputation that he should just change the spelling of his name to Jerko anyway but still, it looked bad for Ilya.  he came back for a PP shift later but left after that shift and wasn’t seen again.  many fantasy folks are hoping that their season didn’t just go up in smoke.

Giguere wasnt jiggy with it last night in Minnesota as the Ducks dropped their 4th in a row to Minny.  he looked plenty pissed to get the hook before the middle of the game had come upon them.  Giggy is definitely worth waiting on though, don’t panic, just be patient with it.

Pierre-Marc Bouchard is an excellent compliment to the steady all around play of Brian Rolston.  Bouchard gets neglected in a lot of fantasy leagues but he’s playing at nearly a pt/game pace and he’s eligible on the wing.

the values of both Doug Weight and Chris Kunitz will get a significant boost when Teemu steps on the ice, it’s looking like this Friday.  Weight will be a very nice C4 in any format and you might be able to trade for Kunitz by giving up as little as Marco Sturm right now.

the poor Yotes had a lead going into the 3rd, at home against the mighty winged wheel … and they coughed it up.  that win could’ve really put them on a significant path toward the playoffs.  by the way, if you haven’t noticed Peter Mueller is red hot going into last nights game.  he did nothing last night but it’s kind of a tough game to dominate when you’re playing a team that is arguably in a whole other league from you.  give the dogs a couple years though, different shoe, other foot.

the league leader for PIMs was shelved for something like 17 games and he returns … as still the league leader in PIMs.  keepers need to hang on to Carcillo, he’ll win that category for you all by himself and still provide decent offense too.

i read a keeper league question over at dobberhockey that asked if Ed Jovanovski was too old to be a viable keeper candidate.  uh, no he isn’t.  that offense is just coming into it’s own and he’ll be a rock on that blueline as it does.  i see Jovo as among the best D options in the league for the next 2 years or so.

Tomas Holmstrom has his 20th goal in 42 games.  if he stays on the ice he has very nice value but i have concerns for his health during the regular season.  be very careful if you’re relying on him down the stretch, i hope it works out for you.

i had a keeper conversation today with a buddy and he’s trying to decide between Zetterberg and Alfredsson as his last (of 3) keeper options.  i suggested he offer them both to whoever has Sid or AO and just be done with the problem.  that could work in a keeper league if you’re not going to win the league this year.

Kris Draper is a great checker.  as a hockey fan, i love that.  as a fantasy hockey guy, i don’t even notice him on the waiver wire.  neither will you.

Tomas Vokoun has GOT to be frustrated.  he shuts the door on all but one shot on the night and loses the game 1-0.  if the Cats move Olli Jokinen before the deadline it won’t get any prettier in Miami any time soon.  his back has got to be killing him from all the heavy lifting he has to do.

Tomas Vanek took 9 SOG last night, and 1 actually went in the net.  another buddy of mine said that he doesnt think he’ll reach 20 this year, but i say 25 is feasible and if he breaks into a couple hot streaks he even has a shot at 30.  really.  no honest, really.

interesting post over on the Panthers blog about Olli and some drug stuff going on with a friend, and Olli may have a connection to it.  i know nothing about this but if it has any bearing then a trade out of Miami might be wise, don’t you think?

i’ve been advising guys of late to add Jose Theodore.  it looks like hair-boy’s back spasm’d up last night and Budaj had to finish the game for him.  if you’ve been listening to me on this one you need to watch that situation carefully for the next couple days.  Theo is still the better goalie right now but i sure hope that advice doesn’t blow up in my face.

Marek Svatos is taking full advantage of injury time in Colorado and he has started scoring goals again.  if you need goals (and don’t we all) then look no further but it kills me that he’s only got 5 assists on the season.  stupid kid puck hogs.

Milan Hejduk needs to take advantage of this time like Svatos has been.  he’s doing that a little bit with 7 pts in his last 8 games (although 2 of those pts were last night).

leagues that count F% should take a long look at Yanic Perreault who has been the king of F% for the last several years.  he got 2 late goals last night in what was already a blowout loss.

Owen Nolan with a hattie last night.  that won’t happen very often anymore.

the Sharks got the first goal of the game last night.  actually it was Marleau, who looked relieved, and it looked like they had things well in hand.  in truth they gave away that game last night when they gave up 3 unanswered goals in the 2nd.  they clawed back late but this time it was the Flames that smelled blood and stole the chance away.

with all this talk about how Keenan doesn’t like Tanguay let me just say, i’d take him on the Leafs if you don’t want him.  in a year where outside of the top 3 in Calgary there’s little offense to play with why be surprised if Tanguay doesn’t get many pts.  he’s got 40, with no significant options to help him.  it’s Huselius that the Flames need to move.

rumour is the Flames will be re-signing Phaneuf very soon.  smart move.

if the Sharks are going to trade a young D in any deal to land McCabe, i’d want pickles in the deal, Pavelski would be nice too.

Cheechoo got his 10th, Marleau his 9th and yet Cheech’s season is bad but Marleau’s is disastrous?  why is that?  i expect both to pick it up over the last half and i hope i’m right about both of them.