The guide has now been updated to include some of the more recent signings that have taken place in the last week (Torres, Mitchell, Jones, MacArthur are all in there).
Also, some tidbits regarding the recoveries of such players as Jordan Staal, Pierre-Marc Bouchard, Alex Burrows, and Daymond Langkow have also been provided.
There still hasn't been any word on the Ilya Kovalchuk contract in terms of an acceptance or a rejection. Considering the way this whole saga has unfolded the last two months, should any of us really be surprised that we don't have an answer?
Expect some more signings to trickle through in the next week or so, as teams get ready to get underway at training camp, and some players will be making decisions regarding their new homes.
Also, we still haven't seen some prominent RFA's get locked up yet either. Bobby Ryan, Peter Mueller, and James Neal are all still waiting on new deals.
The Oilers were able to lock up Gagner, leaving just Andrew Cogliano as the lone player left to sign on the dotted line. Expect him to get locked up pretty soon as well.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Thursday, March 18, 2010
5 Goalies Not to Bother Owning in Fantasy Leagues Anymore
This season, more than any other year, we are witnessing a changing of the guard, as numerous young stoppers are starting to make a name for themselves. However, there are only 30 possible starting jobs available in the league, so that means that some veterans will be losing their jobs, and have to settle for platoon situations, be relegated to back-up duty, and in the case of some, maybe not even a contract will be offered.
Here are 5 goaltenders that have seen their value change, and won’t be a factor in your fantasy leagues anymore come next year.
Marty Turco, Dallas: Yes, the veteran is still a Star after the trade deadline, and yes, he’s had some stellar games in the last few weeks including that outstanding effort against Washington. However, his numbers have been deteriorating for a couple of seasons now, and he isn’t getting any younger. It is possible that a team like Philadelphia might take a flier on him for next season, but chances are he’ll most likely land in a platoon situation somewhere.
Tim Thomas, Boston: It’s hard to believe that Thomas won the Vezina just last season, and now is toiling on the bench for the Bruins this season. At the same time, when your backup is one of the best goaltending prospects in the league, it shouldn’t come as a surprise. The development of Tuukka Rask has made Thomas expendable, and it’s hard to see another team take a chance on that kind of contract and money. Similar to Turco, he has an outside shot of still starting on a team that is desperate for goaltending, but otherwise, Timmy T will be just a back-up going forward.
Jose Theodore, Washington: Despite the fact that he’s been the main man between the pipes for the last couple of seasons on one of the best teams in the league, the writing is on the wall for the former Hart trophy winner, who will be an unrestricted free agent come July 1st. He probably would already be the back-up this season if Semyon Varlamov hadn’t got hurt earlier in the year. Theodore hasn’t produced great numbers for several seasons now, but still had value in terms of wins. Those will all go out the window come July.
Cristobal Huet, Chicago: Similar to Theodore, another goaltender that is considered mediocre for one of the best teams in the NHL. The main difference between Huet and Theodore is that Huet has greater periphery numbers than Jose does in Cap-Land. Despite posting quite solid numbers this season, Huet is considered the Achilles heel of a strong Hawks team, that doesn’t want to see its’ Cup dreams come crashing to a halt with Huet letting a weak goal in. He will be the go-to guy this postseason, but even if he delivers the Cup, there’s a good chance that Huet will be send out of here.
Jose Theodore, Washington: Despite the fact that he’s been the main man between the pipes for the last couple of seasons on one of the best teams in the league, the writing is on the wall for the former Hart trophy winner, who will be an unrestricted free agent come July 1st. He probably would already be the back-up this season if Semyon Varlamov hadn’t got hurt earlier in the year. Theodore hasn’t produced great numbers for several seasons now, but still had value in terms of wins. Those will all go out the window come July.
Pascal LeClaire, Ottawa: He is only 27 years old, so some might view this as a surprise. However, the astute fantasy owner will realize that the price the Senators paid to acquire the fragile goalie from Columbus last season (forward Antoine Vermette) was not worth it at all. LeClaire has only played one season that could be considered healthy in five years in the league, and that could be considered an aberration as he has failed brutally to show any consistency this year. Brian Elliott has proven that he can carry the load, so LeClaire could really be deemed expendable by the Senators, and should be deemed expendable by you going forward.
AV
Here are 5 goaltenders that have seen their value change, and won’t be a factor in your fantasy leagues anymore come next year.
Marty Turco, Dallas: Yes, the veteran is still a Star after the trade deadline, and yes, he’s had some stellar games in the last few weeks including that outstanding effort against Washington. However, his numbers have been deteriorating for a couple of seasons now, and he isn’t getting any younger. It is possible that a team like Philadelphia might take a flier on him for next season, but chances are he’ll most likely land in a platoon situation somewhere.
Tim Thomas, Boston: It’s hard to believe that Thomas won the Vezina just last season, and now is toiling on the bench for the Bruins this season. At the same time, when your backup is one of the best goaltending prospects in the league, it shouldn’t come as a surprise. The development of Tuukka Rask has made Thomas expendable, and it’s hard to see another team take a chance on that kind of contract and money. Similar to Turco, he has an outside shot of still starting on a team that is desperate for goaltending, but otherwise, Timmy T will be just a back-up going forward.
Jose Theodore, Washington: Despite the fact that he’s been the main man between the pipes for the last couple of seasons on one of the best teams in the league, the writing is on the wall for the former Hart trophy winner, who will be an unrestricted free agent come July 1st. He probably would already be the back-up this season if Semyon Varlamov hadn’t got hurt earlier in the year. Theodore hasn’t produced great numbers for several seasons now, but still had value in terms of wins. Those will all go out the window come July.
Cristobal Huet, Chicago: Similar to Theodore, another goaltender that is considered mediocre for one of the best teams in the NHL. The main difference between Huet and Theodore is that Huet has greater periphery numbers than Jose does in Cap-Land. Despite posting quite solid numbers this season, Huet is considered the Achilles heel of a strong Hawks team, that doesn’t want to see its’ Cup dreams come crashing to a halt with Huet letting a weak goal in. He will be the go-to guy this postseason, but even if he delivers the Cup, there’s a good chance that Huet will be send out of here.
Jose Theodore, Washington: Despite the fact that he’s been the main man between the pipes for the last couple of seasons on one of the best teams in the league, the writing is on the wall for the former Hart trophy winner, who will be an unrestricted free agent come July 1st. He probably would already be the back-up this season if Semyon Varlamov hadn’t got hurt earlier in the year. Theodore hasn’t produced great numbers for several seasons now, but still had value in terms of wins. Those will all go out the window come July.
Pascal LeClaire, Ottawa: He is only 27 years old, so some might view this as a surprise. However, the astute fantasy owner will realize that the price the Senators paid to acquire the fragile goalie from Columbus last season (forward Antoine Vermette) was not worth it at all. LeClaire has only played one season that could be considered healthy in five years in the league, and that could be considered an aberration as he has failed brutally to show any consistency this year. Brian Elliott has proven that he can carry the load, so LeClaire could really be deemed expendable by the Senators, and should be deemed expendable by you going forward.
AV
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Rating The Top Lines For All 30 NHL Teams
An interesting read, although it doesn't pertain as much to fantasy.
Take a look at what my fellow colleague believes are the rankings for the top lines for all 30 teams in the NHL.
The article is available at:
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/362232-ranking-the-top-lines-for-all-30-nhl-teams
RJ
Take a look at what my fellow colleague believes are the rankings for the top lines for all 30 teams in the NHL.
The article is available at:
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/362232-ranking-the-top-lines-for-all-30-nhl-teams
RJ
Friday, February 26, 2010
10 Struggling Players to Target in Keeper Leagues
The NHL trade deadline is just around the corner, and some teams will be loading up to make a run for the Cup, while others will be looking forward to next season. The same would apply to poolies who need to sell and acquire new bodies for next season and beyond. Below are 10 NHL players that are very young, and have really struggled this season, but should bounce back, and have great upside for the future.
Peter Mueller
Much has been made of the struggles of the young Phoenix forward, and he has been the subject of trade rumors all season. It’s quite possible that might all come to fruition in the next few days, as it’s possible that the former 1st round pick of the Coyotes could be moved. However, it’s easy to forget that he had 54 points in 81 games in his rookie season, and was always touted as a scoring winger that could play on the first line for any NHL team. After dipping to 36 points in 72 games last season, the 21-year-old Mueller has been downright awful this year, with only 4 goals and 16 points in 53 games. A change of scenery might pay immediate dividends, but even if Phoenix is patient with him, I believe he’ll rebound to be a productive forward in another year or two.
Jakub Voracek
The youngest player on this list, Voracek still is looking to establish himself as a consistent performer for the Jackets. He has mainly played on the second line all season, but has not seen enough minutes to make much of a difference. After registering 34 points in 80 games last season, the 20-year-old has matched that total after 62 games this season. A lot of his struggles could perhaps be tied to Ken Hitchcock, as under Claude Noel, Voracek has been more creative with the puck, and actually headed into the Olympic break with a modest 4-game point streak, tallying 6 points in the process. He could break out with a 60 point campaign as soon as next season.
Bryan Little
After breaking out in his sophomore year, Little came back to earth this season with a thud. He had 31 goals last season, and looked like he was well on his way to being a consistent 30-goal player with the potential to hit 40 a few times. The former 12th overall pick has only 10 goals in 57 games this season, and is not even close to his pace from last season. However, with Ilya Kovalchuk now out of the picture, look for Little to see a bit more ice time, he should return to the 30-goal mark in the future…permanently.
Patrik Berglund
The fourth player from the 2006 draft class on this list, the 21-year-old Swede is also only the second player on this list (along with Little) that wasn’t selected in the 1st round as a top 10 pick. However, that means little as Berglund is one of the most skilled players to come out of that draft class, if not the most skilled. He put up 21 goals and 47 points in his rookie season last year, and bigger and better things were anticipated this season. However, that has not been the case at all. The Blues forward has struggled immensely, and has even been a healthy scratch for a few games. However, he seemed to finally be seeing some ice time since Andy Murray was fired, and should come back strong next season. A 50-point season is a given, and he is capable of much, much more.
Thomas Vanek
The only true established player on this list, Vanek is still only 26, so he hasn’t even hit his prime yet. However, some have already given up on the 2-time 40 goal scorer. Vanek has scored at least 25 goals in all 4 of his seasons in the league. Currently, he is on pace for about 22, and has picked up his play a bit recently, so 25 still seems realistic at the end of the season. He is by no means over the hill, so don’t start peddling him off when his value is at its lowest point. Did I mention that he was only 26?
Carey Price
The 22-year-old Montreal goaltender is an unusual case at this point in his career. He has proven to be a winner in all of his previous levels of play, but had a meltdown last season when the Montreal fans got to him in the playoffs. At the same time, Jaroslav Halak has emerged as a #1 netminder this year, taking valuable starts away from Price and also outperforming him as well. Former GM Bob Gainey did not want to move the former 5th overall pick, as goalies with his ability rarely come along. However, something should be resolved by the summer at the latest, and Price’s value will rebound. Grab him now while you can, as he’ll be valuable whether he plays in Montreal or elsewhere.
Steve Mason
Another young goaltender on this list, the 21-year-old Mason has been even more of an enigma this season than Price. After shattering records as a rookie last season, the Calder winner has been anything but this season, as his numbers have been among the worst in the league for qualified starters. Overall, he’s not as good as he was last season, and definitely not as bad as he has been this season. He’s probably somewhere in the middle, which still makes him a solid top 15 goalie pick. Try grabbing him now before it’s too late. Similar to Voracek, Mason had started to play better under Claude Noel, posting a 3-1 record in his last 4 starts, and has allowed only 5 goals in those 4 games.
Erik Johnson
There are 6 guys on this list that were selected in the 2006 draft, and EJ is the class of that year, going 1st overall. The 21-year-old had a great rookie season, picking up 33 points in 69 games. However, he missed all of the 2008-09 NHL season with a knee injury, and then started off on fire this year, picking up 21 points in his first 30 games. He then went into a horrible slump, which included not scoring a goal for 31 games. Johnson had picked up his play heading into the Olympic break, as he had notched a point in 4 straight games. He’s not in the same league as Mike Green, Drew Doughty or Duncan Keith, but he definitely has the ability and potential to get there very soon. Try to grab him now if you can.
Cam Barker
On the day that a trade freeze was put into effect for the Olympic break, the Chicago Blackhawks traded Barker to the Minnesota Wild in a deal to shore up their blueline depth with a veteran in Kim Johnsson. That was a day that Barker owners should’ve been thrilled with, as the 23-year-old should now have the opportunity to pick up some points and play up to his potential. Only 23, a lot of people forget that Barker was the 3rd overall selection in the 2004 draft, picked behind a few guys you might have heard of in Alexander Ovechkin and Evgeni Malkin. Last season, Barker hit the 40-point plateau, and more was anticipated this year. However, the emergence of Duncan Keith, along with the blueline depth in Brian Campbell and Brent Seabrook, made Barker expendable. He wasn’t really seeing much ice time, and rarely saw any PP time. In Minnesota, he will get ample time with the man-advantage, and should play close to 19-20 minutes every night. He should become a fixture in the 40 point range going forward, starting with next season.
David Krejci
After having a breakout last season by posting 73 points in 82 games, the 23-year-old Krejci has really struggled to get his groove going offensively this season, as he only has 31 points in 57 games at this point. However, he was the best player for the Czechs in Vancouver, and although his upside isn’t as high as others on this list, he does already have his one big season from last year. That means he at least has the capability to repeat those numbers, if not exceed them, down the road.
AV
Peter Mueller
Much has been made of the struggles of the young Phoenix forward, and he has been the subject of trade rumors all season. It’s quite possible that might all come to fruition in the next few days, as it’s possible that the former 1st round pick of the Coyotes could be moved. However, it’s easy to forget that he had 54 points in 81 games in his rookie season, and was always touted as a scoring winger that could play on the first line for any NHL team. After dipping to 36 points in 72 games last season, the 21-year-old Mueller has been downright awful this year, with only 4 goals and 16 points in 53 games. A change of scenery might pay immediate dividends, but even if Phoenix is patient with him, I believe he’ll rebound to be a productive forward in another year or two.
Jakub Voracek
The youngest player on this list, Voracek still is looking to establish himself as a consistent performer for the Jackets. He has mainly played on the second line all season, but has not seen enough minutes to make much of a difference. After registering 34 points in 80 games last season, the 20-year-old has matched that total after 62 games this season. A lot of his struggles could perhaps be tied to Ken Hitchcock, as under Claude Noel, Voracek has been more creative with the puck, and actually headed into the Olympic break with a modest 4-game point streak, tallying 6 points in the process. He could break out with a 60 point campaign as soon as next season.
Bryan Little
After breaking out in his sophomore year, Little came back to earth this season with a thud. He had 31 goals last season, and looked like he was well on his way to being a consistent 30-goal player with the potential to hit 40 a few times. The former 12th overall pick has only 10 goals in 57 games this season, and is not even close to his pace from last season. However, with Ilya Kovalchuk now out of the picture, look for Little to see a bit more ice time, he should return to the 30-goal mark in the future…permanently.
Patrik Berglund
The fourth player from the 2006 draft class on this list, the 21-year-old Swede is also only the second player on this list (along with Little) that wasn’t selected in the 1st round as a top 10 pick. However, that means little as Berglund is one of the most skilled players to come out of that draft class, if not the most skilled. He put up 21 goals and 47 points in his rookie season last year, and bigger and better things were anticipated this season. However, that has not been the case at all. The Blues forward has struggled immensely, and has even been a healthy scratch for a few games. However, he seemed to finally be seeing some ice time since Andy Murray was fired, and should come back strong next season. A 50-point season is a given, and he is capable of much, much more.
Thomas Vanek
The only true established player on this list, Vanek is still only 26, so he hasn’t even hit his prime yet. However, some have already given up on the 2-time 40 goal scorer. Vanek has scored at least 25 goals in all 4 of his seasons in the league. Currently, he is on pace for about 22, and has picked up his play a bit recently, so 25 still seems realistic at the end of the season. He is by no means over the hill, so don’t start peddling him off when his value is at its lowest point. Did I mention that he was only 26?
Carey Price
The 22-year-old Montreal goaltender is an unusual case at this point in his career. He has proven to be a winner in all of his previous levels of play, but had a meltdown last season when the Montreal fans got to him in the playoffs. At the same time, Jaroslav Halak has emerged as a #1 netminder this year, taking valuable starts away from Price and also outperforming him as well. Former GM Bob Gainey did not want to move the former 5th overall pick, as goalies with his ability rarely come along. However, something should be resolved by the summer at the latest, and Price’s value will rebound. Grab him now while you can, as he’ll be valuable whether he plays in Montreal or elsewhere.
Steve Mason
Another young goaltender on this list, the 21-year-old Mason has been even more of an enigma this season than Price. After shattering records as a rookie last season, the Calder winner has been anything but this season, as his numbers have been among the worst in the league for qualified starters. Overall, he’s not as good as he was last season, and definitely not as bad as he has been this season. He’s probably somewhere in the middle, which still makes him a solid top 15 goalie pick. Try grabbing him now before it’s too late. Similar to Voracek, Mason had started to play better under Claude Noel, posting a 3-1 record in his last 4 starts, and has allowed only 5 goals in those 4 games.
Erik Johnson
There are 6 guys on this list that were selected in the 2006 draft, and EJ is the class of that year, going 1st overall. The 21-year-old had a great rookie season, picking up 33 points in 69 games. However, he missed all of the 2008-09 NHL season with a knee injury, and then started off on fire this year, picking up 21 points in his first 30 games. He then went into a horrible slump, which included not scoring a goal for 31 games. Johnson had picked up his play heading into the Olympic break, as he had notched a point in 4 straight games. He’s not in the same league as Mike Green, Drew Doughty or Duncan Keith, but he definitely has the ability and potential to get there very soon. Try to grab him now if you can.
Cam Barker
On the day that a trade freeze was put into effect for the Olympic break, the Chicago Blackhawks traded Barker to the Minnesota Wild in a deal to shore up their blueline depth with a veteran in Kim Johnsson. That was a day that Barker owners should’ve been thrilled with, as the 23-year-old should now have the opportunity to pick up some points and play up to his potential. Only 23, a lot of people forget that Barker was the 3rd overall selection in the 2004 draft, picked behind a few guys you might have heard of in Alexander Ovechkin and Evgeni Malkin. Last season, Barker hit the 40-point plateau, and more was anticipated this year. However, the emergence of Duncan Keith, along with the blueline depth in Brian Campbell and Brent Seabrook, made Barker expendable. He wasn’t really seeing much ice time, and rarely saw any PP time. In Minnesota, he will get ample time with the man-advantage, and should play close to 19-20 minutes every night. He should become a fixture in the 40 point range going forward, starting with next season.
David Krejci
After having a breakout last season by posting 73 points in 82 games, the 23-year-old Krejci has really struggled to get his groove going offensively this season, as he only has 31 points in 57 games at this point. However, he was the best player for the Czechs in Vancouver, and although his upside isn’t as high as others on this list, he does already have his one big season from last year. That means he at least has the capability to repeat those numbers, if not exceed them, down the road.
AV
Thursday, February 25, 2010
5 Players That Have Seen Their Fantasy Value Change at the Olympics
The Olympic tournament has been quite a treat for hockey fans all around the world, but it will all be coming to an end, and most of the players will return to their respective leagues and continue on their journey toward a league title. The same could be said for poolies that have had a few weeks off. Fantasy leagues will be kicking into high gear again next week for the NHL, and there were some players that have seen their values either increase or decrease because of their performances at the game. Here are five that come to mind:
5. Ryan Miller
The 29-year-old has been a strong contender for the Vezina all season, as he has been solid for the Buffalo Sabres. He has taken his game to new heights in the Olympics, winning all the contests he has played in, and having his big moment come through against Canada in round-robin play. Carrying the Americans to the semi-finals is a big accomplishment, because the offense hasn’t scored a whole heck of a lot. He’s in his prime, and is a solid keeper going forward for the next 4-5 years at least.
4. Evgeni Nabokov
The loss to Canada wasn’t entirely his fault, but it didn’t help the veteran’s cause for support going forward, especially since he’ll be 35 later this year. San Jose is again a Stanley Cup contender, and the blame of past playoff failures has been on the shoulders of Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau and Nabokov. Whether that is fair or not isn’t the question, as in another month, Nabokov will again be the main man between the pipes. The Sharks are riding their playoffs hopes again on Nabby, and unless he carries the club to the Finals, he could possibly be wearing a new uniform come July 1st.
3. Drew Doughty
We already knew his value to the Los Angeles Kings, and what the youngster has accomplished in his second season in the NHL so far. However, a lot of people across Canada were scratching their heads when the 20-year-old was named to Team Canada on New Year’s Eve. Not too much credit was given to what Doughty would be able to do as a member of the team, as it was anticipated by most that he would only see limited minutes as the 7th defenseman. Instead, he has been anything but, as most have already made the call that he has been Canada’s #1 blueliner at the tournament. His already high keeper value just keeps rising. He isn’t on the same level as Mike Green in terms of fantasy, but it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him get there eventually.
2. Jonas Hiller
It didn’t come as a surprise last month when the Swiss netminder was signed to a 4-year contract extension and Jean-Sebastien Giguere was shipped off to Toronto. However, after a couple of mediocre months at the start of the season, Hiller really picked up his game when the calendar year hit 2010. He is 14-6 in 20 starts in January and February, and has allowed 3 goals or less in 17 of those 20 starts. Now, with Anaheim on the brink of the playoffs, expect the just-turned-28 netminder’s play to kick into high gear after a phenomenal display at the Olympics. He will not have a letdown after taking on Canada and the States, and might even make the difference in if the Ducks make the playoffs or not.
1. Jaroslav Halak
No player in these Olympics has seen his value increase as much as Halak, who has been the #1 goaltender for Slovakia at these Olympics. Some will argue that he hasn’t been in the same class as Hiller, Miller, or even Vokoun and Kiprusoff, but unlike most of those elite goaltenders, the 24-year-old doesn’t have an established resume. Miller, Kipper, and Vokoun have put up solid numbers for a number of seasons, while Hiller also did well last season in a fair number of games. Halak has had to deal with the pressure of the Montreal media, and the goaltending controversy with Carey Price also there. There are a lot of supporters for Price, and there have also been a lot of supporters for Halak this season, as he is one of the reasons that the Canadiens are even in playoff contention. Since taking control of the #1 job in mid-December, the youngster has gone 11-5-2 in his last 18 starts, with a GAA of 2.35. That includes a few duds against the Rangers and Flyers, but he also has 3 shutouts in that span as well. At the Olympics, he has gone 4-1 in 5 starts, with a GAA of 1.97 and a solid save percentage (.923). He has two victories over international powerhouses in Russia and Sweden, and has made key saves when needed. Both Price and Halak will be restricted free agents this summer, so it will be interesting to see how things play out in Montreal, but one thing is certain. For those fantasy owners unsure of having Halak on their rosters: he is a definite #1 starter in the National Hockey League, and is on the verge of being a stud.
AV
5. Ryan Miller
The 29-year-old has been a strong contender for the Vezina all season, as he has been solid for the Buffalo Sabres. He has taken his game to new heights in the Olympics, winning all the contests he has played in, and having his big moment come through against Canada in round-robin play. Carrying the Americans to the semi-finals is a big accomplishment, because the offense hasn’t scored a whole heck of a lot. He’s in his prime, and is a solid keeper going forward for the next 4-5 years at least.
4. Evgeni Nabokov
The loss to Canada wasn’t entirely his fault, but it didn’t help the veteran’s cause for support going forward, especially since he’ll be 35 later this year. San Jose is again a Stanley Cup contender, and the blame of past playoff failures has been on the shoulders of Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau and Nabokov. Whether that is fair or not isn’t the question, as in another month, Nabokov will again be the main man between the pipes. The Sharks are riding their playoffs hopes again on Nabby, and unless he carries the club to the Finals, he could possibly be wearing a new uniform come July 1st.
3. Drew Doughty
We already knew his value to the Los Angeles Kings, and what the youngster has accomplished in his second season in the NHL so far. However, a lot of people across Canada were scratching their heads when the 20-year-old was named to Team Canada on New Year’s Eve. Not too much credit was given to what Doughty would be able to do as a member of the team, as it was anticipated by most that he would only see limited minutes as the 7th defenseman. Instead, he has been anything but, as most have already made the call that he has been Canada’s #1 blueliner at the tournament. His already high keeper value just keeps rising. He isn’t on the same level as Mike Green in terms of fantasy, but it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him get there eventually.
2. Jonas Hiller
It didn’t come as a surprise last month when the Swiss netminder was signed to a 4-year contract extension and Jean-Sebastien Giguere was shipped off to Toronto. However, after a couple of mediocre months at the start of the season, Hiller really picked up his game when the calendar year hit 2010. He is 14-6 in 20 starts in January and February, and has allowed 3 goals or less in 17 of those 20 starts. Now, with Anaheim on the brink of the playoffs, expect the just-turned-28 netminder’s play to kick into high gear after a phenomenal display at the Olympics. He will not have a letdown after taking on Canada and the States, and might even make the difference in if the Ducks make the playoffs or not.
1. Jaroslav Halak
No player in these Olympics has seen his value increase as much as Halak, who has been the #1 goaltender for Slovakia at these Olympics. Some will argue that he hasn’t been in the same class as Hiller, Miller, or even Vokoun and Kiprusoff, but unlike most of those elite goaltenders, the 24-year-old doesn’t have an established resume. Miller, Kipper, and Vokoun have put up solid numbers for a number of seasons, while Hiller also did well last season in a fair number of games. Halak has had to deal with the pressure of the Montreal media, and the goaltending controversy with Carey Price also there. There are a lot of supporters for Price, and there have also been a lot of supporters for Halak this season, as he is one of the reasons that the Canadiens are even in playoff contention. Since taking control of the #1 job in mid-December, the youngster has gone 11-5-2 in his last 18 starts, with a GAA of 2.35. That includes a few duds against the Rangers and Flyers, but he also has 3 shutouts in that span as well. At the Olympics, he has gone 4-1 in 5 starts, with a GAA of 1.97 and a solid save percentage (.923). He has two victories over international powerhouses in Russia and Sweden, and has made key saves when needed. Both Price and Halak will be restricted free agents this summer, so it will be interesting to see how things play out in Montreal, but one thing is certain. For those fantasy owners unsure of having Halak on their rosters: he is a definite #1 starter in the National Hockey League, and is on the verge of being a stud.
AV
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
