March 12, 2012

Dobber Sports

2012-03-12

 

Last week I posted a couple of announcements on the Dobber Sports Facebook page, basically giving you dates and information about upcoming releases. The Interactive Playoff Draft List is now for sale in the shop. The Keeper League Fantasy Pack will be available on April 17th – when I relaunch the sites (including a new site). For now, I have created the Dobber Domination Pack, which combines the above draft list, the prospects report, and the fantasy guide.

 

Justin Schultz could sign with the Ducks and play as early as next game for them. Schultz is ranked 11th on my Fantasy Prospects list and will certainly shoot into the Top 5 if he does indeed sign and play. I think he’ll have an early impact – especially considering the way Visnovsky is sucking it up right now (pointless in 14)…

 

There are three young goalies I am interested in owning next season, though I would guess that none of them will make huge waves next year – more like two. Those goalies are Matt Hackett, Kevin Poulin and Scott Wedgewood. The latter name may surprise you, but I have a feeling that the Devils will look to within. And any goalie prospect they bring up who does well will flourish – it's such an ideal system. Look what it did for Brodeur starting at such an early age. Anyway, while Kinkaid could be their guy, I'm putting my pretend money on Wedgewood.

 

Marty Turco came into the game yesterday and did well, stopping 20 of 22 shots. I get the feeling that this is good enough to get the next start, but we shall see. I suspect that he'll do alright, since Boston plays a solid team system. But he's a weak goaltender at this stage in his career – one of his earlier injuries from a few years ago has made him a shell of what he once was. As such, I don't think he can do anything sustainable. But one good thing to come out of it is – if he gets the start and does "decent", then Tim Thomas will use that as a motivator to turn things back around.

 

Steven Stamkos is such a consistently steady player, whereas it seems as though Malkin will chug along for five games and get four points…and then suddenly explode for five points. This race will go to the wire.

 

The Penguins are off until Thursday, so I would suspect that we'll see Crosby then.

 

When Alexander Radulov, or rather "if", he returns to the Predators, he'll make an immediate impact. He'll also raise the level of production of other players, especially the centermen. One winger who may be hurt from this is Patric Hornqvist. And unless Craig Smith shows chemistry with him (or is even given a chance to), he may find himself scratched more often than not. But keep in mind – Radulov has been battling a knee injury, so if you pick him up, there is that risk however small.

 

Here is a nice piece on the promise that the Red Wings see in Gustav Nyquist. I think he's on the team next year as a third liner who posts in that 40-point neighborhood. He has points in three of his last four NHL games, but will be sent down as soon as Todd Bertuzzi returns – which is within a game or two.

 

After just one point in his last five games, James Neal picked up three Sunday. It was also his first goal in 10 games. His snapping out of a funk bodes well for Malkin, who would obviously pick up more assists if Neal scored like a 40-goal man as opposed to…not at all.

 

There's no blaming Jonas Gustavsson for the last three games. The guy's allowed four goals in that span, but the Leafs have gone 160 minutes without a goal. Their offense is a house of cards, and if you pull out one of the key cards that were standing up on the bottom – in this case the "Lupul" of Hearts – the house comes crashing down.

 

Now here is where I figured the Panthers would put Wolski – with Fleischmann and Weiss, while Versteeg is out. He has five points in nine games with his new team. Not good enough to secure a multi-year deal from the Panthers in my opinion. Need to see more. But getting onto this line is a great start.

 

Strangely enough, the Panthers elected to replace Wolski on that line when they were on the power play. Sean Bergenheim got the call instead.

 

Jose Theodore has allowed just one goal in his last two games. His 0.920 SP is his best since 2001-02 with the Habs.

 

What's up with Eric Staal? What's with all the "20 games, two points, minus-50" followed by "20 games, 60 points, plus-20" followed by "10 games, one point, minus-30" stuff? Seriously, is he filling in for Kristian Huselius this year?

 

For those keeping track, Staal has zero points and is minus-4 in his last three games.

 

Do you remember when Jaroslav Halak was 3-7-2 with a 0.895 SP after 12 games? It took him 28 games to fix all that, but he's now 24-10-5, 0.928 with six shutouts. I was called out on Twitter for that one big time back in early December because I predicted a good season from him in the Guide. Haven't heard from those guys in awhile though for some reason…

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Halak has allowed just a single goal in five of his last six games and he's won eight in a row – never once allowing more than two goals. Hell, even his loss nine games ago he only allowed two goals. As for the Elliott vs. Halak debate – always go with the contract. The Golden Boy. You can doubt for the short-term, but stand firm for the long term. Chances are you'll come out ahead. Halak has started eight of the last 10 games, so you know where this is going for the playoffs.

 

Sven Baertschi scored his first career goal Sunday. He was again, smartly, held to 10 minutes or so of ice time. If the Flames do this right they have a first-line star on their hands..

 

Matt Stajan has seven points in his last nine games and is on a three-game points streak. "What are – words that I never thought I'd say again for 100, Alex?"

 

James Sheppard has been recalled by the Sharks. Seeing as he hasn't played a lot in the last two years, I wouldn't put much stock in that. Also, he was pointless in four AHL games.

 

Look who's snapped out of it – Marek Zidlicky has points in three straight, five in all. And what's more he's a plus-5 in his last four games. Buying into the system. Things are falling into place for the Devils.

 

Bringing back the red line is stupid. Make the easy fixes for reducing concussions first, and if they're still prevalent after that, then look at clogging up the neutral zone again. Easy fixes – no touch icing, cushioned shoulder and elbow pads. Just off the top of my head…

 

The Preds have signed undrafted college free agent Jack MacLellan. He had 30 points in 30 games with Brown University. He was mentioned as a possible NHL signing in my Midseason Guide – sure hope you picked it up! If not, maybe next year?

 

Great 4-on-3 PP by the Rangers in OT against the Isles – Richards, Gaborik, Stepan and Zuccarello were the four. Interesting decision to use Zuccarello. Good sign. He had an assist earlier in the game and if they gave out "third" assists he would have had one on the OT goal. Everyone touched that puck.

 

Hey, there's been a Paul Ranger sighting! He's now a coach in Whitby. So that's that. No more NHL, for whatever reason. Whitby, interestingly enough, is about twenty minutes away from me.

 

The Bruins lost Patrice Bergeron (foot), Adam McQuaid (UBI) and Max Sauve (LBI) to injury Sunday. No further info was disclosed.

 

There is an opening in my keeper league.

 

Ridiculous Claude Giroux shootout goal. RIDICULOUS. Has to be the best shootout goal I've ever seen, certainly Top 3 or 4:

 

 

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