Shallow Frozen Water

Sunday morning armchair

the NBA Slam Dunk contest was last night and once again i just don’t get all the hype over the dunk.  its akin to skating to the hash and taking a slapshot as far as i’m concerned.  you want to impress me?  put a goalie on a platform on the same level as the rim and then see if they’ll do all that stuff knowing they’d get a Sherwood in the chops. 

Simon Gagne has a concussion and is on IR again … that bites.  i made a trade for him early into this season after i had too many PIMs on my team (Avery and Neil) and i was really hoping that i’d actually get some better contribution out of him when he returned from his first concussion.  i think this really affects where Peter Forsberg will sign by the way.  he won’t want to  return to Philly if they’re not at full strength, and they’re not.

Brandon Dubinsky has 13 pts in his last 16 games including 3 pts against a red hot Sabres team yesterday.  keepers should have this guy on their radar but i’m actually surprised at how little attention he’s getting.

poor Ryan Miller got shelled and hooked.  the guy’s had a phenomenal last 10 games or so and he’ll return to that level soon.

Sean Avery got 2 goals and he looks to be going snaky for PIMs every handful of games or so and chipping in points regularly.  there might not be a better PIM/pt combination from here through the end of the season and we KNOW he can do that sort of thing in his sleep.

King Henrik’s extension is well earned.  he’s extremely valuable to the Rangers and it looks like their Achilles heel is and will be their defense corps.  i still like Mark Staal … in about 3 years.

Daniel Girardi is a PP specialist for the Rangers who may just increase in value as soon as next year.  if the Rangers can’t or don’t sign Rozie after this year then he might end up as the first option for them on the PP as soon as next year.

a couple weeks ago i said that i thought Tomas “Dr.” Fleischman wouldn’t have any value next year once Nylander returns from the injury fold.  it’s looking like he will have value though, i’m very surprised at his production since the New Year (12 pts in 20 games) which is decent and may be indicative of something more than than the 3rd or 4th line production that i projected for him.  the Caps signed him to a 2 yr extension since the New Year too.

Olli the goalie doesnt get enough press.  he’s an elite goalie who’s been playing on an awful team for a lot of years.  yes, i said he was elite and let me also say that i think that the Caps have a real shot at the division win.  39 saves yesterday.

go watch highlights of Andrei Kostitsyn’s goal last night.  seriously good, shades of AO.

man do i love this Carey Price kid.  i remember seeing him in the AHL last year and i was sick at the idea of another great goaltender in Montreal.  he got the first of many career shutties last night and odds are that only the deepest of leagues and keepers have him on their roster, which they should be doing obviously.

Sean Bergenheim has had a nice week with 3 goals and an assist in 4 games.  i like him in keepers as a deep option.

Rick DiPietro only had to make 9 saves as the starter who finished the game yesterday, and he’s getting paid how much?  really, i think i might have been able to do that one and still get the win.

Garnet Exelby showed his frustration very easily by losing it on Blake Comeau (i think) for 17 PIMs.  it was ugly actually, i was embarrassed for him.  it was so close to being a Chris Simon moment that i stopped everything i was doing to watch.

my Leafs gave up a lead again.  oh well, they won it in OT.  Darcy Tucker is looking like he might have some value of late if he’s willing to move.  i don’t care if they only get a low pick for him, make the move.

Marc Savard leads the league in assists and people don’t really talk about how much of a superstar he is.  he’s got a PIMy history too so i’d have him on my fantasy team any time.

Milan Lucic is going to take the glory presently being sent to lesser lights like Marco Sturm and Chuck Kobasew.  i think his upside is better than Kessel’s even.

Marty Brodeur showed Ray Emery how to successfully do your job, quietly and with dignity.  class dismissed junior.

how is that the Canes can trade Stillman and not have Williams or Brind’amour in the fold for this season and they’re not worried about their offense?  they need to be now.  that trade is going to backfire on them, they’ll lose the division and miss the playoffs because of it.  if Eric Staal doesn’t take the reins and become a top 10 player in the league from here on out then things are going to crash and burn for them this season.

Nathan Horton is on fire but i still say that i want to see 40 goal seasons out of him instead of a string of 30’s.  the Cats need a lot more out of him, particularly if they go and trade Jokinen by season’s end.  i’m not convinced he’ll ever be a great player.  he’ll be very good but not great.

i traded Shea Weber for a goalie a couple weeks ago, my goalies have been brutal when they seldom start, and i’m thinking that i may’ve paid too much.  Shea is one of those D that could grow into the mould of a Rob Blake sort, back when he was good.

Manny Legace is a guy who paid his dues in the NHL for a lot of years before getting a real shot.  he shone in the All Star weekend and last night he stopped 42 shots on his way to a one goal loss.  it’s gotta suck to get all welted up for a loss.

Teddy Purcell has been lighting up the AHL this year and the Kings will find it really hard to keep him out of the lineup next year.  that Kings team is going to be REALLY good and they have an excellent shot at Steven Stamkos too.

nobody talks about Joel Perrault in fantasy circles much but he’s put up 15 pts in his 30 games this season.  that Yotes team is and will be very talented and Perrault is certainly worth a deep flyer in keeper leagues.

Sam Gagner is seeing a lot of ice since Horcoff went down.   Cogliano, not so much last night.

i heard a rumour that the Nucks might have to give up Luc Bourdon in order to land Mats Sundin off the Leafs.  if i’m the Leafs then i say YES PLEASE!  and then re-sign Mats in July.

my buddy RJ let me in on a rumour that the Canucks are considering sending Kevin Bieksa down here to Winnipeg for a conditioning stint.  that’d be worth seeing if you’re in a non-NHL city like me and only seldom get a chance to see bonafide NHL’ers.

there was a war in Vancouver last night as Alex Burrows raised his arms after an empty net goal and got smoked by Jarret Stoll for it.  Burrows is a tough kid, he’ll be fine.  in the last 9 seconds of the game there were 16 penalties handed out to 10 different players.  another 6 penalties were issued 30 seconds earlier after the empty netter.  can’t we all just get along boys?  this is supposed to be OUR game, learn to share, use your words.