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.