It’s been so long since the end of the regular season, you may have thought that I had forgotten about writing a summary of what transpired in Dobber’s top tier of his three-tiered pools.  Not so.  I don’t take losing well and just received clearance from my doctor to finally take a look back and analyze what went so horribly wrong.

EXPERTS DIVISION

After winning the inaugural three-tiered pool, I thought I had the winning formula. One thing I didn’t consider; this year’s group was stronger than the previous edition’s. We had the top two finishers from the Pro division last year and they were like hungry wolves.

The draft was typical with such a knowledgeable group. Plenty of cursing as the players you had pegged as potentially your next pick just kept getting taken right in front of you.  

The most interesting story in this tier was by far where Ovechkin was traded away by Maaaasquito Bites and he subsequently went from second last to third overall at the finish line.  This was in spite of trading away the best fantasy player in a package deal (see trade log below for details) for among others, Brenden Morrow, who was injured just as the trade was accepted and never played a game for his new owner.

As you can see in the table below, it was a close affair.  The two teams that came up from the Pro division, Doulos-Hockey Robot and RepentTokyo, both acquitted themselves well and have earned the right to compete in this group next season.  The top two finishers from the Pro division this season will also join this group next season.

We’ll have to wait and see if Status Faction and The Kvass Guild will accept the challenge awaiting them in the Pro division.  

Trades:

Nov. 7
To Lanky522:  Plekanec Mtl, St.Louis TB, Fleury Pit & Gerber Ott
To The Kvass Guild:  Modano Dal, Zherdev NYR, Theodore Wsh & LaBarbera LA

Nov. 21
To Lanky522:  Ovechkin Wsh, Ryder Bos, Chara Bos & Ellis,D Nsh
To Maaaasquito Bites: Morrow Dal, St.Louis TB, Wideman Bos & Turco Dal

Nov. 24
To Legion of Dobber:  Staal,Jo. Pit
To Doulos-Hockey Robot:  Brassard Clb

Nov. 26
To Doulos-Hockey Robot:  Carter,J Phi & Gagner Edm
To Status Faction:  Horton Fla & Stamkos TB

Dec. 14
To Fantasy Frog:  Stastny,P Col, Zetterberg Det, Corvo Car, Gaborik Min & Conklin Det
To Angus Unleashed:
Bouchard,PM Min, Ryan Ana, Girardi NYR, Briere Phi, Sundin Van & Nabokov SJ

Jan. 9
To RepentTokyo:  Krejci Bos & Pitkanen Car
To Angus Unleashed:  Dumont Nsh & Whitney,Rn Pit

Jan. 24
To Maaaasquito Bites: Setoguchi SJ & Gagne Phi
To Fantasy Frog:  St.Louis TB & Roloson Edm

Feb. 10
To Expert’s Audit: Franzen Det, Eriksson,L Dal & Visnovsky Edm
To Doulos-Hockey Robot:  Sedin,H Van, Niskanen Dal & Penner Edm

Feb. 25
To Status Faction: Horcoff Edm, Selanne Ana, Letang Pit, Bertuzzi Cgy & Osgood Det
To Legion of Dobber: Umberger Clb, Svatos Col, Jones,R Phi, Voracek Clb & Price Mtl

Mar. 4
To Fantasy Frog:  Crosby Pit, Kovalev Mtl & Pronger Ana
To Fire On Ice:  Spezza Ott, Booth Fla, Kessel Bos, Jokinen,O Cgy & Kiprusoff Cgy

Mar. 7
To Fire On Ice:  Campoli Ott
Doulos-Hockey Robot:  Prospal TB

Mar. 9
To Maaaasquito Bites:  Hartnell Phi & Kopitar LA
To Fire On Ice:  Smyth,R Col & Setoguchi SJ

Mar. 13
To Doulos-Hockey Robot:  Koivu,M Min
To Angus Unleashed:  Antropov NYR & Biron Phi

Mar. 14
To Angus Unleashed:  Ladd Chi & Montador Bos
To Lanky522:  Byfuglien Chi

PRO DIVISION

It’s time to take a look at what happened in the very competitive middle tier of Dobber’s three-tiered pool, the Pro Division.  This one was a tight affair until February and then it was a two horse race to the finish.  As of Halloween, ten of the top 12 teams were separated by only 15 points.  By the end of November, eight of the 12 teams were within 9.5 points of first place.

Youth Injection gained 28 points from December to February and never looked back.  He and the Grizzlies (hoopej2 in the Dobberhockey forums) waged a two team battle that resulted in both of them earning a promotion to the Dobber Experts Division next season.

It should be noted that Youth Injection came from the Entry Division two years ago as one of the top two finishers and now he tops the Pro Division. How will he fare against Dobber’s Experts?  Should be fun following this hard chargers progress next season.

The top two finishers from the Entry division this season will also join the Pro Division next season.  We’ll have to wait and see if the two bottom teams from the Experts Division, Status Faction and The Kvass Guild, will accept the challenge awaiting them in this division next season. 

Note:  There was one more team in this league, but it was a dummy team in order for yours truly to capture all the action.

Trades:

Oct. 8
To Loki:  Halak Mtl
To rattus rattus:  Afinogenov Buf

Nov. 3
To OrrFans Enigmas:  Ward,C Car
To smoothfun:  Sekera Buf & Huet Chi

Dec. 16
To Chicleteur:  Stastny,P Col & Mueller Phx
To Fergie’s Leafs:  Langkow Cgy, Clowe SJ & Pitkanen Car

Jan. 20
To OrrFans Enigmas:  Crosby Pit, Briere Phi, Malone TB, Burns Min & Vokoun Fla
To Zorro:  Spezza Ott, Stajan Tor, Michalek,M SJ, Weber,S Nsh & Luongo Van

Jan. 23
To Psychotic Bunch:  Sykora Pit & Ehrhoff SJ
To Zorro:  Langenbrunner NJ & Liles Col

Jan. 27
To rattus rattus:  Elliott Ott
To Loki:  Garon Pit

Feb. 4
To rattus rattus:  Clowe SJ, Seabrook Chi, Pitkanen Car, Aucoin,A Cgy & Kaberle,T Tor
To Fergie’s Leafs:
Carcillo Phi, Markov,A Mtl, Redden NYR, Sundin Van & Johnson,B Wsh

Feb. 14
To rattus rattus:  Rivet Buf
To Psychotic Bunch:  Budaj Col

Feb. 23
To Fergie’s Leafs:  Arnott Nsh, Kubina Tor, Miller,R Buf & Niittymaki Phi
To Youth Injection:  Ott Dal, Martin,P NJ, Theodore Wsh & Hiller Ana

Feb. 24
To Chicleteur:  Datsyuk Det & Vermette Clb
To Psychotic Bunch:  Kovalchuk Atl & Franzen Det

Mar. 12
To Chicleteur:  Schneider,M Mtl, Hudler Det & Niittymaki Phi
To Fergie’s Leafs:  Coburn Phi, White,T Atl & Rinne Nsh

To OrrFans Enigmas:  Sundin Van & White,I Tor
To Fergie’s Leafs:  Corvo Car

ENTRY DIVISION

Finally, let’s see what happened in the largest tier of Dobber’s three-tiered pool, the Entry Division.  There were 16 teams in this tier, which gave the pool a different dynamic compared to the other two tiers of 12.

There were only supposed to be 15 teams in this division, but Dobber generously gave a spot to a guy from the forums, coldsquad2002, who posted the following:
 
“I don't know how you can call it a experts fantasy league when you don't invite the best fantasy owners to participate.  I have been a multiple league winner in a keepers league that has run for nearly a decade. Yet can not get a invite to this so called experts league. You should rename it as a pee-wee league for owners with very limited experience.”

The trash-talker finished smack in the middle of this division, although he was very competitive and didn’t finish too far off the mark. It’s certainly not easy to finish in the top two in a league like this.

Due to the large number of participants, there were some serious point swings. The leader at the end of October, the Moosevomit Retards, lost 34.5 points and fell to 11th place over the course of one month.

At the end of December, the top three teams were within 1.5 points of each other. The next month saw an insanely tight grouping at the top of the standings. Three teams were tied for first with 108 points and two more teams only two points back. Now that’s a close race!

February saw a changing of the guard, with the Capitals moving into sole possession of first place with 114 points, followed by the jobbers at 113. They were followed by The Hosers at 106 points, then Pete with 102 and Consensus at 101 points.

Congratulations are in order for the jobbers and Capitals. Their reward for finishing in the top two means that they earn a promotion to the Dobber Pro Division next season.

We’ll have to wait and see if the two bottom teams from the Pro Division, Psychotic Bunch and OrrFans Enigmas, will accept the challenge of competing in the Entry Division next season and a shot at redemption. 

Note:  There was one more team in this league, but it was a dummy team in order for yours truly to capture all the action.

Trades:

Sep. 30
To Cold Squad:  Wolski Col & Gonchar Pit
To Pete:  Setoguchi SJ & DiPietro NYI

Oct. 21
To Cold Squad:  Kuba Ott
To Bish:  Schneider,M Atl

Nov. 5
To Capitals:  Backstrom Wsh
To Team Maniax:  Langenbrunner NJ

Dec. 16
To Consensus:  Hudler Det
To the jobbers:  Tkachuk Stl

Feb. 5
To Grande Prairie Mafia:  Lundqvist,H NYR
To Capitals:  Getzlaf Ana