April 22, 2013
Dobber Sports
2013-04-22
My Playoff Draft List is uploaded and ready for your download. Those of you who miss my Ultimate Fantasy Pack, I have a similar offer for you – if you buy the Keeper League Pack and the Playoff List at the same time, use coupon code ULTIMATE and get $3 off. That means that you can get the Prospects Report, the Fantasy Guide, the Preseason Draft List and the Interactive Playoff Draft List for $22.49
*
So there’s this defenseman Mark Cundari, who’s a bit of a tough guy, albeit a small one. The Flames picked him up in the Jay Bouwmeester trade and he promptly posted three assists in two games for Abbottsford. The Flames called him up and he picked up a goal and an assist in his NHL debut. He logged nearly 25 minutes of ice time. Frankly, I look at him as more of a PIM guy for next year, but this offense is intriguing because he does have a bit of upside – and the Flames need a puck-mover. I compare him to Mark Giordano, another undrafted defenseman.
*
Kyle Palmieri had 10 points in his first 20 games and he has tallied 10 points in his last 20. Love the consistency and if he can stay healthy I think he bumps the production up to 25 in the first half next year, 25 in the second half.
Nick Bonino picked up two assists in his first game back from a lower-body injury. The Ducks have won 18 of the 24 games that he has played, and just 10 of the 21 that he missed.
*
With three points in his prior three games, Blake Comeau earned a promotion to the Cam Atkinson line after Matt Calvert was injured (broken finger). He saw 15:55 of ice time, but was held without a point.
Mark Letestu picked up three points Sunday, carrying the team to an important win. His 26 points are one shy of a career best.
*
I don’t want to see the Rangers in the playoffs. Not because I don’t like the team. I’m indifferent. In fact, preseason I was perfectly fine with them getting in – they were a huge Cup favorite. No, my reason is this – they don’t deserve it. This team was a train wreck for two-thirds of the season. And to see them slink in with a strong final 10 games just grinds my gears. A team that bad for that long during a short season, while other teams that are consistently good but not great will miss – seems wrong. I’ll get over it. And kudos to the Rangers for identifying the issues and fixing them – and I think the biggest issue was moving Gaborik out. Even bigger than adding Zuccarello, Clowe, Brassard and Moore combined.
And Brad Richards, who has been equally terrible, has seven points in his last three games. Too little too late to help most poolies, yet it boosts his final statistics up to a level where he’ll be held in high regard in next year’s fantasy drafts. I hate that too. I won’t forget, and I’ll remind you of it too. He’s been a 45-point player this year, not the 65-point player that he’ll wind up being thanks to a strong five games or so to end it.
*
Andrei Loktionov was a healthy scratch for two games, but was back in the lineup Sunday and played with Ilya Kovalchuk. He played 12 minutes and scored on one of his three shots on net.
*
Carl Soderberg picked up his first NHL point. If the Bruins get eliminated from the playoffs in the first round, he makes a great dark horse for the summer fantasy draft. But if they go deep and he posts a few points, he’ll be on a lot of radars. He seems to be adapting to the NHL faster than Roman Cervenka did.
*
I still have faith in Jacob Markstrom. I still believe he is the best prospect goalie to own, despite the horrible numbers this past month. The Panthers boast one of the best prospect groups in the league and the team will get better – and Markstrom will get better along with them. The Panthers are tanking and they’ll probably get Seth Jones. How good will this team be in four years? Jones, Kulikov, Petrovic, Brennan and Gudbranson on the point. Solid group.
Nick Bjugstad is pointless and minus-6 in his eight NHL games. I still believe in him in terms of what kind of offense he posts – I still think the trajectory will go exactly the way James van Riemsdyk‘s has.
*
In Steve Laidlaw’s recent Cage Match, he touched upon John Tavares vs. Steven Stamkos, but refused to touch it based on the fact that the answer was obvious – Stamkos. In terms of fantasy value, he’s not wrong. Stamkos holds far more value and if you own him you can ask for Tavares plus more.
That being said, I would rather own Tavares.
If I own Tavares, I won’t part with him for Stamkos. If I own Stamkos, I trade him for Tavares (but of course insist that the other GM sweeten the pot – just because you prefer a player doesn’t mean you take less than face value to get that player). To me, Tavares is a future 100-point guy who will make a 60-point player (Matt Moulson) into an 80-point player. Whereas Stamkos is a current 100-point type, who will become an 90-point player the moment Martin St. Louis is gone. Oh, he’ll still get his 55 goals, but 60 will be hard for him to reach.
*
The AHL season is over and not one player managed 80 points. This is because for half the season, NHL players dominated the scoring race, and by the time those players were back in the NHL, the AHLers had a lot of catching up to do.
Chicago’s Brandon Pirri, cursed with being in a deep organization, won the scoring crown with 75 points in 76 games. Tyler Johnson scored 37 goals in just 62 games – most in the AHL. I really like his outlook for Tampa Bay. He is one of just two players in the AHL’s Top 20 to tally more than a point per game.
Gustav Nyquist is the other one.
*
Evgeni Malkin, Sidney Crosby and James Neal did not make the trip to Ottawa and will not play. Kris Letang is reportedly “ill” and may miss the game as well. In other news, when the playoffs begin the Penguins will be surprisingly fresh.
Malkin actually participated in a full practice, and Neal participated in some of the practice. Crosby skated prior to practice.
*
Lupul with the breakaway goal Saturday, seals the deal for the Leafs:
*
Sarich vs. Stoner