November 15, 2009
As we approach the 20-game mark of the season, I thought it would be interesting to see how many players who led their respective teams in scoring last season were doing the same this season. To my surprise, only 12 players are currently in that position: Zach Parise, Rick Nash, Henrik Sedin, Anze Kopitar, Sidney Crosby, Jeff Carter, Daniel Alfredsson, Mikko Koivu, Shane Doan, J.P. Dumont and Ray Whitney.
Who are the most unlikely team points leaders so far this campaign? I would have to say that I did not expect Dustin Penner, Rick Peverley, Rene Bourque, Tomas Plekanec, Steve Reinprecht, Andy McDonald and Patrice Bergeron to be leading their respective clubs in scoring.
Of course, things will change. I do believe Bourque will relinquish his lead to Jarome Iginla and Peverley will give way to Ilya Kovalchuk. But it certainly spices up fantasy hockey a bit when 67% of the players leading their teams offensively were not expected to do so.
November 14, 2009
By: Ryan Dadoun
Paul Kariya is a player to watch closely over the next few games. He’s on a nine-game pointless streak, been taken off the Blues' top two scoring lines and off the power-play units. To add to the drama, yesterday the Blues owner Dave Checketts attacked the team over it’s slow start. It’s time to see how Kariya responds.
Personally, I don’t think his time has past, but he needs to prove he’s still the impact player we’ve come to know. The Blues are getting impatient with the team’s slow start, as evidence by them sticking Kariya on the third line. If he breaks out over the next few games than all will be forgiven and he might start getting ice time with the man advantage. If he continues to struggle, than this will become the new reality and fantasy owners will be forced to move on.
Like Checketts said on Friday in reference to his team, the wait is over. That applies to Kariya too. It’s time for him to show us what he can do, for better or worse.
On a different subject, if you're interested in the business side of the NHL, you may be interested to know that the Forbes' 2009 list of NHL's team value have been released. Not surprisingly, the Toronto Maple Leafs top the list despite their continued struggles on the ice. The average NHL franchise's net worth is now at $223 million, $3 million higher than it was a year ago.
November 08, 2009
This weekend the eyes of the hockey world, normally fixed on the NHL, were focused on a seemingly meaningless four-team tournament (The Karjala Cup) involving the Czech Republic, Russia, Sweden and Finland. The reason for the interest in this competition was that former NHL MVP Peter Forsberg was suiting up for Sweden. Foppa is still very much in demand and at least six teams sent scouts to take a look at him.
Upon researching the Karjala Cup, what struck me was how many prominent former NHLers played in the tournament. The Russian roster featured Sergei Zubov, Oleg Tverdovsky, Vitali Vishnevsky, Alexander Radulov and Viktor Kozlov. Ossi Vaananen, Lasse Kukkonen and Ville Peltonen played for Finland, while Jiri Hudler, Jan Hlavac, Pavel Brendl, Jan Bulis and Josef Melichar were on the Czech Republic roster. In addition to Forsberg, the Swedes iced a team with P.J. Axelsson, Mikael Tellqvist, Marcus Ragnarsson, Christian Backman, Dick Tarnstrom, Daniel Tjarnqvist, Mattias Weinhandl and Marcus Nilsson.
Hockey pool enthusiasts are generally focused on European players who come over to play in North America. However, they rarely give a thought to how many former NHL players go home to play in Europe. To be successful in your hockey pool it might be worthwhile to have a world view that includes studying some of the European leagues. Many of these players (Forsberg is a prime example) may return to the NHL and be eligible for future fantasy drafts. Although many of my colleagues criticized me, I drafted both Forsberg and Jaromir Jagr in my farm system. If you are in a keeper league, I suggest that you at least consider the benefit of selecting some of the aforementioned players for your reserve lists in upcoming drafts.
November 07, 2009
By: Ryan Dadoun
There's been plenty of attention given to the struggling US hockey markets, from Phoenix to Columbus. But there may be some light at the end of the tunnel for hockey in non-traditional US markets. TV ratings in the US are up and the reason might be affordable HDTVs.
HD TV might be helping hockey more than any of the other big four sports because the crisp picture is making it easier for a new wave of US viewers to follow the puck in the fast-paced sport. The Versus network posted a 33% increase in viewership over the first couple weeks of the season while Anaheim and Florida saw triple-digit increases in their local ratings.
It's too early to read too much into those numbers, but it'll be interesting to see if the theory holds true.
November 01, 2009
This Friday Peter Forsberg will compete in a European tournament in front of dozens of NHL scouts. Word on the street is that Foppa is as healthy as he has been in a number of years and wants to play again in the NHL. Before he was beset with chronic ankle problems, Forsberg was the best all-around player in the world. The questions scouts and fans alike want answered are:
1. Is he finally healthy?
2. To what extent have his elite-level skills eroded?
3. Where will he sign?
With respect to his health, Forsberg’s foot (hairline fracture) is completely healed and his ankle problems seem under control. How long he can remain healthy is another question entirely.
With respect to his skills, those who have watched Foppa playing for Modo say that he is vintage Forsberg. Of course, he has been playing in games with talent far inferior to that in the NHL. But even so, he seems to have lost little.
So if he is fit, fabulous and anxious to play in the NHL, where will he sign? Many believe the Flyers and Caps are the frontrunners. The Avs seemed to have turned the page and will not enter the Forsberg sweepstakes. I’m going to put my money on the Wings. Detroit has six Swedish players on its roster, including Foppa’s good friends Henrik Zetterberg, Tomas Holmstrom and Nicklas Lidstrom. The Wings could use the boost Forsberg would provide, having lost Johan Franzen and Valtteri Filppula to injuries.
I know we’ve been down this road before--hoping that Foppa can stay healthy and play at a high level--only to be disappointed. I have a good feeling about his comeback this time. And believe me when I tell you it has nothing to do with the fact that Mike Finewax and I drafted him in our hockey pool. Honest!
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