This week the Eastern Edge ranks his top 15 fantasy losers

Following up last week’s list of fantasy winners, this week will be dedicated to the killers of fantasy titles. Players who were likely drafted fairly high and who to a man failed to deliver on those expectations. There are very few injured stars on this list, such as Steven Stamkos, Evgeni Malkin or John Tavares as long as their points-per game ratio’s were around where we expected them to be. Injuries happen.  I was initially going to go with a top 10, but there were simply too many. We’ll start at 15 and work our way up to number one.

15. Braden Holtby, Washington Capitals (23-15-4)

Holtby played well last year, recording a 23-12-1 record, along with a 2.58 goals-against average and 0.920 save percentage, but it was his playoff performance that had people believing; a goals-against average of 2.22 and a 0.922 save percentage in seven games was reason for hope. This season, his numbers (along with the rest of the team) fell off enough so that the team felt like they had to bring in Jaroslav Halak in an ill-fated attempt to make the post season. Now that Halak is going to test the free agent waters, will the team again look towards Holtby?

14. Eric Staal, Carolina Hurricanes (79-21-40-61)

If we include last season’s lockout numbers (53 points in 48 games), this was the first time since his rookie year that the elder Staal failed to reach at least 70 points in a season. Clearly that 100 point season back in 2005-06 was an anomaly, however, he had settled into a very consistent 70-75 point guy.

13. Alexander Semin, Carolina Hurricanes (65-22-20-42)

Just okay numbers, but when you are being paid an average of $7-million per season, expectations are higher. Played the lockout campaign on a one year deal with the Canes, scored 44 points in 44 games, earning him a five year, $35M dollar contract with Carolina. With Semin, we have come to count on him missing a handful of games every year, but regardless, at least 65 points are still expected.

12. Stephen Weiss, Detroit Red Wings (26-2-2-4)

Another case of injuries compounding a bad or in Weiss’ case, back-to-back horrible seasons. Injuries aside, he was on pace for a 13 point full season. Many predicted him for at least a 55 point campaign as the Red Wings number two center. That said, looking at his numbers from last year, he logged the same four points in 17 games during the lockout year. In his previous four seasons, the 31-year-old averaged 57 points per year. A darkhorse/sleeper for the coming season.

11. Vincent Lecavalier, Philadelphia Flyers (69-20-17-37)

More was expected from the former Tampa Bay superstar. During the lockout season last year, Vinny scored at a 67 point pace. The 34-year-old only scored at a 44 point pace this year, when 50-55 points was forecast by many.

10. Lars Eller, Montreal Canadiens (77-12-14-26)

Another player who seemingly turned the corner, only to disappoint with a sub-par showing. He scored at a 53-point pace last year and it was anticipated that he hit for somewhere between 40 and 50 points this year. The 24-year-old is showing his potential with a nice playoff so far.

9. Rick Nash, New York Rangers (65-26-13-39)

Sure his 26 goals in 65 games (33 goals pro-rated) look decent, but his 39 points were brutal for nearly all of his fantasy owners. He scored 42 per cent of his goals (11) during an 11 game pre-Olympic push. This is a seven-time 30 goal scorer, who twice potted 40 and was expected to challenge 40 goals and 75 points this year. A salary cap fail as well.

8. Kris Letang, Pittsburgh Penguins (37-11-11-22)

Okay, I know I said that injuries shouldn’t factor in, but after setting the table in last season’s playoffs with 16 points in 15 games and 38 points in 35 regular season contests, even his pro-rated 49 points this year was well off his expected production, health problems notwithstanding. This guy was likely a top-three selection amongst defensemen in any fantasy format. The good news is that he is back in business in this year’s playoffs, however, could the Pens deal him this off-season? Niskanen seems to have taken a big step forward and Olli Maatta looks like he can play and the team is awash in defensive prospects with offensive upside.

7. Steve Downie, Philadephia Flyers (62-4-20-24)

Started the year in Colorado and then was quickly traded for Max Talbot in what many thought was too little return for a player of Downie’s ilk. My guess is that Downie was dealt for the good of the team; something happened and the team wanted to get him out of a dressing room full of young impressionable players. He has twice eclipsed the 40-point mark and had 32 points in 57 games (46 points pro-rated). Downie was playing well in stretches with Sean Couturier and Matt Read, but outside of a 12 point, 18 game stretch starting mid-November, it was a brutal season for Downie.

6. Cam Ward, Carolina Hurricanes (10-12-6)

Cam Ward’s numbers look pretty bad this year, but when you compare them to Anton Khudobin, they are downright disgraceful. The good news for Hurricane fans is that Khudobin is now signed for the next two seasons at a respectful $2.25M cap hit. That means no more golden child treatment for Ward. If the team can find a buyer, Ward will be gone this off-season.

5. Jiri Tlusty, Carolina Hurricanes (68-16-14-30)

He appeared to turn the corner last year when he recorded 23 goals and 38 points in 48 games. That translates to a 39 goal, 65 point pro-rated full-season. After recording a 36 point season the year before that, Tlusty seemed to be trending upward.  Even though he continued to spend the majority of his even-strength shifts with Alexander Semin and Eric Staal, his 30 points were about half of what was expected from his fantasy owners.

4. Jonathan Huberdeau, Florida Panthers (69-9-19-28)

After copping the Calder trophy as the league’s top rookie last season, Huberdeau struggled in his second season. Last year, he scored at a 53 point pace and most pegged him for around 50-60 points this season. Chalk this one up to a sophomore slump. He’ll be better next year.

3. Bobby Ryan, Ottawa Senators (70-23-25-48)

Expectations were high in Ottawa following their trade for the 27-year-old sniper and for good reason; not including last year’s lockout mini-season, Ryan had recorded four consecutive 30 goal seasons, averaging 62 points over the four campaigns. A 35 goal, 70-plus point season was anticipated.

2. Craig Anderson, Ottawa Senators (25-16-8)

This one is more of a team effort in my opinion. This season, the team was minus-29 and fell short of the playoffs by five points. Last year, the Sens were a plus-12 and qualified for the post-season dance. Anderson’s 3.00 goals-against average and 0.911 save percentage were well below last season’s sizzling 1.69 and 0.941 numbers respectively.

1. David Clarkson, Toronto Maple Leafs (60-5-6-11)

The much sought after unrestricted free agent eventually signed with his hometown for seven years and  more than $36-million dollars (hometown discount!). It was an ominous start to his Maple Leaf tenure, a 10-game suspension to start his time with the team. Most expected at least 20 goals and 40-45 points for the former Devil. Clarkson didn’t have much of a track record, recording one 30 goal season and followed it up with last year’s shortened campaign by scoring 15 goals, or a pro-rated 26 goals. Prior to that, he recorded seasons of 12, 11, 17 and nine goals, while in his best AHL season, he hit for 20 goals. In his final year of junior, he scored 33 goals in 51 games. He’s definitely a guy everyone would want on their team, but not at a cap hit of $5.25M for seven years. Third liner with a little upside.

Dishonourable Mentions:

Alex Galchenyuk, Montreal Canadiens (65-13-18-31)

Another sophomore slump special. The Habs future suffered a power outage. Last year, he scored at a 46 point pace and this year a disappointing 39 point pace when 50-55 points was predicted. Give him another year of experience and he’ll be fine.

Aleksander Barkov, Florida Panthers (54-8-16-24)

A top candidate for Rookie of the Year before the season began, some predicted the big Finn to record a 50-plus point year. The reasoning was sound; he was dominant in tournaments amongst his peers and in the previous season, he recorded 48 points in 53 games in Finland’s top circuit. Just one more example against taking highly-touted rookies in one year leagues.

Martin Brodeur, New Jersey Devils (19-14-6)

So the Devils pull off some draft day magic, securing Vancouver’s their goaltender of the future. The problem is how much do you owe your franchise player and how do you let a very proud man down easy? The numbers in the table below speak for themselves. Your future is now, so long Marty, thanks for the memories.

Jason Spezza, Ottawa Senators (75-23-43-66)

Ottawa fans favourite whipping boy, Spezza wasn’t really all that far off his 70-75 point forecast. Over his career, he is a legitimate point-per game player and is only one season removed from an 84 point campaign (2011-12). Excluding last year and his rookie season, the 30-year-old has averaged 72.8 games per season. Are the Sens better off without Spezza, as many fans believe? We may find out this off-season.

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