Dobber Nation - postponed until Thursday. I could post the interviews piecewise, but would rather have it put all together in one nice show. It was the perfect storm of technical difficulties (Andrew's computer crashed), sickness (producer is sick) and timing (I'm moving). By the time it all comes back together it will be Thursday. [...]
My Aunt Betty called me from Long Island and told me to write about Mike Del Zotto because he's so good. If my Aunt Betty knows about Mike Del Zotto then so does everyone in your pool and that is not why I'm here. I'm here to write about prospects that are off the radar and can give you an advantage in your pool. I'm here to tell you about prospects like Jason Demers and to tell you that he's the real deal.
I hate missing guys. I’m not talking about the guys who, after a few years you write off and then they explode from out of nowhere (right, Dustin Penner?). Those guys are players who – at one time or another – I have already formed an idea in my head where their potential is at. Even if I have since changed my mind, like with Penner, I can always change it back.
No, it’s the players who I didn’t see coming in the first place that get to me. The examples that come to mind are Milan Hejduk (I was so blinded by Chris Drury’s impending arrival that I didn’t think much of Hejduk’s upside), Patrice Bergeron (was off my radar when he came to camp as an 18-year-old) and Mike Richards. I knew Richards was coming and I knew he would be good – but only 70-point good. Now we have another one. Colorado forward Ryan O’Reilly.
Whoops - Ryan Vesce is out as well, according to the Mercury. Couture and McGinn are in. In my ramblings a few months ago, after Bobby Ryan's performance in the playoffs, I said: "Bobby Ryan isn't quite ready to be that star just yet. Flashes of brilliance, but occasional cold spells. No longer think [...]
A couple of familiar faces headline this month's look at the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, and as they did even in the early part of the year, one league in particular dominates the top of the class.
Terrific start out of the gate last week, much improved over last season’s finish. My 8-5 record is a nose ahead of Thunder’s 7-6 record from last Saturday. The snowy weather seemed to be pivotal in my first week victory, with more snow on the ground this Saturday morning; could I possibly make it two in a row?? Only one way to find out on the best hockey day of the year (which is really any day all 30 teams are in action) as some poolies will cheer and rejoice in their 15th round selection posting a 3 pt. game and we won’t hear the end of it until Christmas, while others will drown their tears with a multitude of beers.
Flyers lines for tonight: Richards centering Asham and Hartnell, Carter centering JVR and Briere, and Giroux centering Gagne and Laperriere. Ken Hitchcock does some serious line changing for the game tonight. Chimera with Umberger and Nash, Huselius with Vermette and Voracek, and Torres with Pahlsson and Dorsett. The fourth line is Murray with Brassard [...]
The Kings have extended Jon Quick for three years. Bernier may be in a platoon situation next year (best case for him), but Quick is the man for the Kings for at least three years. Some goalie stuff today. Craig Anderson IS starting tonight. There was speculation that Budaj was going to play, but [...]
The team I’m keeping a close eye on this week is Edmonton, in particular Dustin Penner and Patrick O’Sullivan. Penner had six points in three games last week and had five points tonight, playing with Ales Hemsky and Sam Gagner. O’Sullivan has three in his last two games and is a streaky player. Note that the flu is going through the dressing room but I expect to see a productive week from the Oilers potent offense.
Not even ten games in and players with track records are being dropped in many leagues. I am not immune to the impatience of slow starts by some proven players, but I am very reluctant to drop a player who is an established performer. There may come a time to cut your losses, but that time isn’t now. It’s been said that the NHL season is not a sprint, but a marathon. Where you are in the standings right now is irrelevant as long as you are in first place at the END of the season. This week, we’ll go on a whirlwind tour of the Eastern Conference.
