Wednesday’s deskchair
March 19th, 2008 by Iani’m a bit sombre today after learning in the last 24 hrs that a hero from my youth passed away. Larry Norman was a Christian music legend who pushed the envelope so that Christians thought he was sacreligious and non-Christians thought was too weird and radical. rest in peace my friend, i’ll miss you.
Rob Davison scored the funniest goal of his career (perhaps the only goal of his career) from 200 feet away. it goes on record as a shortie too. apparently the Circus came through Long Island recently, the ice was crap and it was Vesa Toskala with the E6 on the bouncing grounder.
i think i’m going to really like Alex Steen as a serviceable NHL’er. he might even be as good as Christopher Higgins someday.
i don’t see Kyle Wellwood as ever being more than a C3 for the Leafs, and i’ve wanted him to succeed for several years now.
Carlo Colaiacovo hurt his hammy and probably lost whatever small value he has for any fantasy team. he’s another guy i had hopes for one day but won’t realize them … ever.
the big OH was out there for his first ever game for the Isles. you’re going to LOVE this kid Isles fans and if you have him in a keeper then go ahead and jump up and down with glee. nobody’s watching you, go ahead. by the way, it’s pronounced Oh-pos-oh as best i understand it.
i think that Pony-boy could supply to the Leafs next year what Antropov has provided this year, IF he can stay healthy.
Antero Niittymaki made a HUGE save right at the end of the game to preserve a huge win for the Flyers against the Thrash. Kovalchuk nearly took the whole game over single-handedly until sushi-boy said, “enough of this crap, it’s ok to actually win a game guys”. maybe he didn’t say exactly that, ok i don’t know what he actually said but actions do speak louder than words. i actually started Niittymaki yesterday and he did well for me, finally.
dare i say it but the Flyers should trade Daniel Briere this summer and re-sign Jeff Carter, that’s a better situation. trade him to Buffalo, that’d be cool.
Dan Fritsche and Manny Malhotra have been lining up with Rick Nash. Nash will turn both of them into better options than they are. we already know that Malhotra is decent on faceoffs and defensive play so if he can add a bunch more offense then he rockets up the fantasy value charts.
the standings in the NW are so tight that no team can afford a loss, particularly a shuttie at home against a non-divisional rival. i bet Keenan’s head was about to explode after losing, let alone losing at home. the Flames are playing a lot over the last few weeks of the season and they can’t afford to let up … or lose.
Jarome Iginla was -3 with 1 SOG. ouch.
i wouldn’t have started Conklin against a division rival at home at this time of year, not when MAF hasnt shown to be bothered by the work load one bit. the Pens play TB in TB on Thursday, why not start Conk’s there instead? why don’t these guys ask me about these sorts of decisions? they should, and i’d tell them too.
Sean Avery is on a pt/game pace since mid-Feb. he’s still racking up PIMs but they’re mostly of the 2 minute variety. still, one of the best PIM/pt combo’s around … but he’s also an ass.
Martin Straka has been a 70 pt guy each of the last two seasons, but he’s definitely not that anymore. i think the upside is gone and even a lateral move to get somebody who might approach 60 pts in the future is a wise move. (think Pavol Demitra).
Jaroslav Halak got his 2nd start in a row and couldn’t beat the Blues who just aren’t very good (in comparison). i’d expect maybe only 1 or 2 more starts for Halak before next October assuming Price stays right.
Paul Kariya still gets assists, i just want him to shoot more. Andy MacDonald and Brad Boyes are decent hockey players but Kariya has two 20 goal seasons, four 30 goal seasons, two 40 goal seasons and a 50 goal season to his credit; you can’t tell me that he doesn’t know how to score. his SOG totals need to be higher and there’s no way that he should be this close to failing to reach 20 after playing so many games on the season.
i saw an old Alexei Kovalev youtube video of him putting it top right from the other blueline, over and over again. there’s no doubt that the man has exceptional skill.
Andrei Kostitsyn will easily outclass his brother for NHL talent. the kid’s gonna be a 35 goal guy for the next decade (not including this year).
i’m betting that Mark Streit signs elsewhere in the offseason for way too much money and ends up as a flop wherever that is. meanwhile the Habs PP doesn’t miss a beat as Roman Hamrlik steps in as the 2nd option on their PP point.
how stressful a game do you figure it was between the Caps and Preds last night? both are tooth and nail to make the playoffs and they face each other knowing that neither team can afford a loss. i say the season’s over for the Preds after that loss last night.
i still have a hard time picking AO for the Hart if the Caps don’t make the playoffs.
stupid freaking Oilers. what business do they have still being alive in this hunt for a spot? i suppose i should respect the never-say-die approach but i just can’t get past my distaste for all things Oiler. now of course i don’t let that affect my fantasy prognostications for which i see great things for several young Oils: Gilbert, Cogliano, Gagner, Nilsson, Schremp.
Hemsky has 20 goals, how’d that happen? he’s always been a passer in my eyes.
i saw an interesting story on Sportsnet West about Nick Boynton and how he adjusts to being a diabetic as an NHL player. it actually looked like it’s not the easiest adjustment to have to make.
Daniel Carcillo went all snaky for 21 PIMs in Vancouver on Monday night. i love it when a guy gets me PIMs like he’s supposed to, provided he doesn’t do it cheap … and Carcillo doesn’t get many cheap PIMs.
i can’t express to you how much Brian Campbell changes the Sharks into a contender. i’d be hard pressed to pick a winner in a 7 game series with the Wings right now and before the deadline it was an exceedingly easy pick. it hasn’t hurt that Patrick Marleau and Jonathan Cheechoo look to be awake finally.
i have one H2H league where Lubomir Visnovsky is actually on the waiver wire. he shouldn’t be, plain and simple. i got spanked in the first round when my goalies let me down otherwise i’d take a serious look at adding him. now though? what’s the point? i’m already out and playing for 5th place. man, i hate H2H.
Posted in armchair
2 Responses to “Wednesday’s deskchair”
By Commish Cauda on Mar 19, 2008
Ian,
Can Ellis still be counted on as a #2 starting goalie in fantasy playoffs since, as you noted above, the Preds are basically out of it after the loss to WAS?
MJC
By Ian on Mar 20, 2008
the Nashville situation is and will continue to be confusing. Ellis could easily be a very nice G2 for you but it could just as easily be Mason coming back and doing what he does. i’d expect 50% of the starts for Ellis and less if Mason gets hot.
Mason is supposed to start tonite (Thursday).