Identifying the least likely stars is a difficult task, as what one manager sees as a surprise can be entirely expected by another manager. This blog identifies players I have seen as the biggest positive surprises to this point of the pool. Some of these players will become new stars in the NHL while others will disappear back into obscurity. Here they are.
10. Chris Osgood Det (Ken) 15 GP, 11W, 1SO, 2.2 PPts/GP
This was a strong selection by Ken. Knowing that Hasek is up in age, Ken saw the opportunity to select a stong back-up in Osgood. Osgood was acquired as a free agent signing September 13th. Expect Ken to offer Osgood in a trade to Victor for 2-1sts and a 2nd every 3rd day for the remainder of this year.
9. Paul Ranger TB (Ryan) 22 GP, 16PTS, 20 PIM 1.1 PPts/GP
Ryan has done well with Ranger taking over as a top dman with the injuries to Boyle. Ranger was acquired as a free agent signing September 17th. Expect Ryan to move Ranger to his keeper list this year.
8. Cory Stillman Car (Mike) 21 GP, 29PTS, 6 PIM 1.6 PPts/GP
While Stillman has been a solid NHLer for years, he has never had the type of offensive numbers he has achieved this year. Carolina has been a very hot team with 4 forwards getting consideration for this top 10 list. Stillman was acquired in the 8th round of this year's draft. Expect Mike to trade Stillman packaged with two players he was planning to drop for two keepers and 3 draft picks near the trade deadline.
7. Mike Richards Phi (Trevor) 23 GP, 28PTS, 26 PIM 1.6 PPts/GP
This year has been the coming out party for Richards and good on Trevor for seeing this talent for the Flyers. Richards was acquired as a free agent on Sept. 18th. Expect Trevor to add Richards to his protected list at the end of this season.
6. Martin Gerber Ott (Adam) 17 GP, 13W, 1SO, 2.4 PPts/GP
Many picked Gerber to fade away as another marginal goaltender who played on good teams. Few picked him to be the starting goaltender for one of the best teams in hockey. Injuries have allowed Gerber this opportunity and credit GM Adam for seeing this first. Gerber was acquired as a free agent signing September 24th. Expect Gerbers numbers to reduce as Emery get more comfortable after his injury.
5. Pascal Leclaire Cbs (Kevin) 18 GP, 10W, 6SO, 2.8 PPts/GP
Many had written Leclaire off as Norrena's backup. Leclaires numbers have been outstanding with 6 of his 10 wins coming by way of the shut-out! Good job by Kevin for picking this gem as a free agent on September 10th. Expect Leclaire to be retained until the end of the year as Kevin pushes for top spot in the pool. On his very deep team, don't expect Leclaire to be a keeper.
4. Nik Antropov Tor (Ken) 25 GP, 21PTS, 34 PIM 1.2 PPts/GP
Nik Antorpov has been one of the big surprises of this year's draft. Often the object of Maple Leaf fan's fairy tale trade jokes (e.g. Antropov for Frolov), Antropov has achieved much of the long awaited potential he was said to have. Ken paid a high price in acquiring Antropov in a trade for star rookie Toews, but has done well with the points Antropov has produced. Antropov was acquired by Trevor as a free agent signing on September 17th. Expect Ken to trade Antropov for a low round draft pick near the trade deadline.
3. Mark Streit Mon (Paul) 24 GP, 13PTS, 10 PIM 0.9 PPts/GP
Mark Streit has filled in nicely the void left by the free agent loss of Sheldon Souray for the Montreal Canadiens. His powerplay time has made him a top end d-man. With Paul selecting all the Candiens available, he was destined to find one surprising player. Streit was acquired as a free agent signing on September 15th. Expect Paul to consider Streit as a keeper for this year's protected list.
2. Tobias Enstrom Atl (Adam) 23 GP, 13PTS, 10 PIM 0.9 PPts/GP
Tobias Enstrom; who is he? Where did this guy come from? Now he is playing the point on the powerplay and getting 30 minutes of icetime in Atlanta. Enstrom was acquired as a free agent signing on October 22nd. Expect Adam to drop Enstrom at the end of the year as he is unable to trade Enstom elsewhere because of lack of name recognition.
1. Dan Carcillo Pho (JW) 21 GP, 11PTS, 105 PIM 1.6 PPts/GP
Dan Carcillo is becoming the premier superpest in the NHL. This rookie combines adequate scoring ability with sandpaper in Sean Avery style that has kept him on the roster in Phoenix. Carcillo was acquired as a free agent signing on October 15th. Expect JW to protect Carcillo if he keeps his current PIM pace.
Well done GM's in plucking these diamonds in the rough off of the free agent wire.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
10 Biggest Disappointments
Six weeks into the pool and already flops are being seen in our competition. This blog identifies players I have seen as the biggest disappointment to this point of the pool. Some of these players will recover, while others will disappear as players of the past. Here they are.
10. Mike Van Ryn Flo (Adam) 13 GP, 0G, 1A, 8PIM, 0.3 PPts/GP
This solid defenceman was picked up by Adam as a free agent. The disappointment is not only in his pool value, but also in his value to the team. Van Ryn has been a healthy scratch for Florida, and if his play continues to disappoint, expect Adam to release him soon.
9. Alexei Zhitnik ATL (Jordan) 14 GP, 0G, 2A, 8PIM, 0.3 PPts/GP
Zhitnik's disappointing season is surprising in that he has been a solid defenceman throughout his career. This pick looked good when Jordan selected him in the draft as he was seen to be the quarterback the offensively gifted Thrashers required for their powerplay. Expect Jordan to have patience in Zhitnik as he tries to recover from his early season struggles.
8. Tom Poti WAS (Mark) 8GP, 0G, 2A, 2PIM, 0.4 PPts/GP
Poti was seen as the quarterback to complement Ovechkin's powerplay magic up front. After 3 strong seasons with the Rangers and a breakout season with the Islanders, this season's numbers were not to be anticipated. Poti has lost his powerplay pointman job to Pothier and rookie Green. Expect Mark to drop Poti once Niedermayer starts playing.
7. Doug Weight STL (Victor) 13GP, 0G, 3A, 4PIM, 0.3 PPts/GP
Doug Weight has been a solid point per game player for as long as anyone can remember. Is this the first of Victor's over-the-hill gang to march into retirement. Victor continues to have faith in Weight despite his terrible numbers. Expect Weight to retire by Christmas if his numbers don't improve.
6. Dwayne Roloson EDM (Mark) 12GP, 3W, 0SO, 0.5 PPts/GP
Roloson looked like a great pick by Mark early in the draft. The signing of Garon combined with Edmonton's struggles and their injuries on defence have made Roloson's numbers look bad. Expect Mark to stick with Rollie as he currently has no alternative in goal. Roloson's numbers will improve after Pitkanen and Souray return from their injuries.
5. Jonathan Cheechoo SJ (Ryan) 14GP, 3G, 3A, 10PIM, 0.6 PPts/GP
While others have worse numbers than Cheechoo, these are not numbers expected from a Joe Thorton linemate and former first round pick and keeper. Ryan is likely receiving many unsolicited offers for Cheechoo, but expect him to weather the storm for this notorious slow starter.
4. Dan Boyle TB (Paul) 4GP, 0G, 0A, 0PIM, 0.0 PPts/GP
Dan Boyle's disappointing season has been punctuated by two surgeries to repair a self inflicted severing of wrist tendons with his skate. This keeper has missed the better part of six weeks with this injury and should miss the next month as a minimum. Expect Paul to trade Boyle within the next two weeks as someone gives him an offer he can't refuse.
3. Patrik Marleau SJ (Ihor) 14 GP, 3G, 2A, 2PIM, 0.4 PPts/GP
Marleau has been a source of heartache for this blogger as he was foolish enough to select Marleau in three pools. Marleau has struggled with San Jose's powerplay and has brought down the numbers of his disappointing linemates Bernier and Michalek. Expect Ihor to hang on to Marleau as he would expect a similar keeper in any deal for Marleau.
2. Kari Lehtonen ATL (Trevor) 5GP, 0W, 0SO, 0.3 PPts/GP
Lehtonen has been traded three times this year in the GDHL. While sometimes this shows a strong value for a player, I expect that in Lehtonen's case it is the disappointment of an oft injured former keeper. Lehtonen has injured his groin which kept him out for the majority of the year two years ago. Expect Trevor to move Lehtonen as he has a stable of better goalies available.
1. Martin Brodeur NJ (Jordan) 12GP, 4W, 0SO, 0.8 PPts/GP
I have selected Brodeur as my #1 disappointment this year not solely based on his numbers, but more based on the expectations his consistent play has created. Brodeur is producing points at 1/3 the pace he did last year. This NJ team is not good. Losing Rafalski and Niedermayer has really hurt the defence of Jersey. The question is, will Brodeur bounce back. I expect that he will, and expect that Jordan will be patient with this franchise goaltender.
Expect to see the 10 least likely stars of the pool in the next couple weeks.
10. Mike Van Ryn Flo (Adam) 13 GP, 0G, 1A, 8PIM, 0.3 PPts/GP
This solid defenceman was picked up by Adam as a free agent. The disappointment is not only in his pool value, but also in his value to the team. Van Ryn has been a healthy scratch for Florida, and if his play continues to disappoint, expect Adam to release him soon.
9. Alexei Zhitnik ATL (Jordan) 14 GP, 0G, 2A, 8PIM, 0.3 PPts/GP
Zhitnik's disappointing season is surprising in that he has been a solid defenceman throughout his career. This pick looked good when Jordan selected him in the draft as he was seen to be the quarterback the offensively gifted Thrashers required for their powerplay. Expect Jordan to have patience in Zhitnik as he tries to recover from his early season struggles.
8. Tom Poti WAS (Mark) 8GP, 0G, 2A, 2PIM, 0.4 PPts/GP
Poti was seen as the quarterback to complement Ovechkin's powerplay magic up front. After 3 strong seasons with the Rangers and a breakout season with the Islanders, this season's numbers were not to be anticipated. Poti has lost his powerplay pointman job to Pothier and rookie Green. Expect Mark to drop Poti once Niedermayer starts playing.
7. Doug Weight STL (Victor) 13GP, 0G, 3A, 4PIM, 0.3 PPts/GP
Doug Weight has been a solid point per game player for as long as anyone can remember. Is this the first of Victor's over-the-hill gang to march into retirement. Victor continues to have faith in Weight despite his terrible numbers. Expect Weight to retire by Christmas if his numbers don't improve.
6. Dwayne Roloson EDM (Mark) 12GP, 3W, 0SO, 0.5 PPts/GP
Roloson looked like a great pick by Mark early in the draft. The signing of Garon combined with Edmonton's struggles and their injuries on defence have made Roloson's numbers look bad. Expect Mark to stick with Rollie as he currently has no alternative in goal. Roloson's numbers will improve after Pitkanen and Souray return from their injuries.
5. Jonathan Cheechoo SJ (Ryan) 14GP, 3G, 3A, 10PIM, 0.6 PPts/GP
While others have worse numbers than Cheechoo, these are not numbers expected from a Joe Thorton linemate and former first round pick and keeper. Ryan is likely receiving many unsolicited offers for Cheechoo, but expect him to weather the storm for this notorious slow starter.
4. Dan Boyle TB (Paul) 4GP, 0G, 0A, 0PIM, 0.0 PPts/GP
Dan Boyle's disappointing season has been punctuated by two surgeries to repair a self inflicted severing of wrist tendons with his skate. This keeper has missed the better part of six weeks with this injury and should miss the next month as a minimum. Expect Paul to trade Boyle within the next two weeks as someone gives him an offer he can't refuse.
3. Patrik Marleau SJ (Ihor) 14 GP, 3G, 2A, 2PIM, 0.4 PPts/GP
Marleau has been a source of heartache for this blogger as he was foolish enough to select Marleau in three pools. Marleau has struggled with San Jose's powerplay and has brought down the numbers of his disappointing linemates Bernier and Michalek. Expect Ihor to hang on to Marleau as he would expect a similar keeper in any deal for Marleau.
2. Kari Lehtonen ATL (Trevor) 5GP, 0W, 0SO, 0.3 PPts/GP
Lehtonen has been traded three times this year in the GDHL. While sometimes this shows a strong value for a player, I expect that in Lehtonen's case it is the disappointment of an oft injured former keeper. Lehtonen has injured his groin which kept him out for the majority of the year two years ago. Expect Trevor to move Lehtonen as he has a stable of better goalies available.
1. Martin Brodeur NJ (Jordan) 12GP, 4W, 0SO, 0.8 PPts/GP
I have selected Brodeur as my #1 disappointment this year not solely based on his numbers, but more based on the expectations his consistent play has created. Brodeur is producing points at 1/3 the pace he did last year. This NJ team is not good. Losing Rafalski and Niedermayer has really hurt the defence of Jersey. The question is, will Brodeur bounce back. I expect that he will, and expect that Jordan will be patient with this franchise goaltender.
Expect to see the 10 least likely stars of the pool in the next couple weeks.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
