An Axe to Grind – Oct. 29 Edition

Chris Pudsey

2014-10-29

ryanjohansen

 

The Axeman grinds about Fleury, Johansen, early-season slumps and Edmonton’s turnaround…

 

Another week has come and gone and it's time to dig out the stones and grind the ole Axe again. This week, I am grinding on Marc-Andre Fleury, Ryan Johansen's start to the season, early season slumps and the Oilers find a corner to turn.

 

 – – – Last chance! Get a full refund for the Fantasy Hockey Guide you bought! Details here, expires October 31! – – – 

 

****

Early season slumps are happening all over the place.

Axeman's Grind

To say there are a few worried fantasy owners about some of their key players slow start is an understatement. With key guys like TJ Oshie, Shane Doan, Tomas Vanek, Alexander Semin, David Perron and of course Nathan MacKinnon all still in search of their first goals of the season, there is plenty to start thinking about. Other players like Jordan Eberle, Jarome Iginla, Milan Lucic, Mikko Koivu and Matt Read have just recently found the twine themselves but are still having their own issues. Jacob Trouba is still oh-fer for the season as well. Even Henrik Lundqvist and Semyon Varlamov are off to sluggish starts for their fantasy owners.

Now I am not saying to go and do anything crazy if you own any of these players, but patience is always recommend when it comes to your main cogs on your roster. I am a firm believer that I draft these players for a season, not for a week or two. How many fantasy owners went and traded away Claude Giroux last year after it took him something like 16 games to score his first goal, only to watch him turn his season around and finish up as the leagues third highest scoring player. God knows I tried my hardest to acquire him in every league I am in and buy low. I didn't get him but it wasn't for a lack of trying.

From the players I listed above, now would be the perfect time to go and try and buy low to jittery fantasy owners. MacKinnon will be the hardest to acquire but you wouldn't be doing your due diligence if you didn't at least reach out to the owners and ask. God knows his asking price was ludicrous in the summer, damn near criminal when it came to keeper leagues. Pounce while the getting's good. It's just a matter of time before those listed above turn it around and come back to reality. Any hope of acquiring them at a reduced price will be right out the window. 

If you own any of those players listed above, all I can do is preach patience. Don't do anything foolish at this stage of the season. If you don't own any of them, what are you waiting for? Get on the horn and reach out to their owners and see if they are willing to move them for a slightly reduced price before they turn their season around. You won't get if you don't ask. 

 

****

Oilers manage to turn a corner

Axeman's Grind

Well it was just one short week ago, I was ragging on the Oilers, Ben Scrivens and Dallas Eakins. What a difference a week makes, that and a home stand against the Eastern Conference teams. The then winless Oilers went out and have won four straight games and Ben Scrivens wins the second star of the week award. Sure, one of their wins was against the hapless Carolina Hurricanes but the other three wins were against some quality opponents in Tampa Bay, Washington and the league's top team, the Montreal Canadiens. Scrivens went 3-0 last week, sporting a tidy 2.33 GAA and a 0.920 save % on his way to winning the award. He shut out the Habs on Monday night for his fourth win since I last wrote. He's looking extremely confident and is playing like a legit starter for the Oilers, something they have lacked for years.

Dallas Eakins is still Dallas Eakins. I am still not a fan but it's fair to say he has bought himself some breathing room, and time I suppose. I took some heat from a friend online, who also happens to be a big Oilers fan. He thought I was a bit too harsh on Eakins and the Oilers in last week's column and let me know it. Well Tim, what do ya know, the Oilers managed to turn it around, for now. Here's hoping they can keep this up, or some sort of facsimile to it. 

We Oilers fans will enjoy watching the Leafs fans continue to throw their jerseys on the ice at the ACC for a change. 

****

Well those are my Axes for this week.  As usual, please feel free to comment on anything you like, or don't like.  Good or bad, I read them all.

Also, you can follow me on twitter @chrispudsey and I will follow you!

 

Leave A Comment

UPCOMING GAMES

Mar 18 - 19:03 MTL vs OTT
Mar 18 - 19:03 WSH vs DET
Mar 18 - 19:03 NYR vs CGY
Mar 18 - 19:03 PIT vs NYI
Mar 18 - 20:03 DAL vs ANA
Mar 18 - 20:03 NSH vs STL
Mar 18 - 20:03 CHI vs SEA
Mar 18 - 21:03 EDM vs UTA
Mar 18 - 22:03 VAN vs WPG

Starting Goalies

Top Skater Views

  Players Team
BRANDON CARLO TOR
QUINTON BYFIELD L.A
ARTYOM LEVSHUNOV CHI
DYLAN SAMBERG WPG
MACKIE SAMOSKEVICH FLA

Top Goalie Profile Views

  Players Team
JET GREAVES CBJ
TRISTAN JARRY PIT
ILYA SOROKIN NYI
MACKENZIE BLACKWOOD COL
JOSEPH WOLL TOR

LINE COMBOS

  Frequency STL Players
21.4 NATHAN WALKER ALEXEY TOROPCHENKO RADEK FAKSA
19.9 OSKAR SUNDQVIST MATHIEU JOSEPH ZACK BOLDUC
18.4 ROBERT THOMAS JAKE NEIGHBOURS PAVEL BUCHNEVICH

DobberHockey Podcasts

Keeping Karlsson: Hellllooooooo, Nyman

On this edition of the Keeping Karlsson Fantasy Hockey Podcast mega-show, Elan and Brian are highlighting the teams with the best and worst fantasy playoff schedules, and the players that are worth adding, holding or dropping as you get to the most crucial moments of your fantasy season.

Fantasy Hockey Life: Trade Deadline Prospect Movers

The trade deadline is past us…were any of the prospects traded fantasy-relevant? Victor and Jesse hit them all to get Victor’s analysis. Covered are:  Shane LaChance, Patrick Giles, Kyle Aucoin, Herman Traff, Brendan Brisson, Justin Brazeau, Marat Khusnutdinov, Calum Ritchie, William Dufour, Nikita Grebenkin, William Zellers, Aku Raty, Chase Stillman, Max Graham, Tristen Robins, Zack […]

Keeping Karlsson Short Shift – Potential Playoff Gems

Jeremy and Shams are here to keep you updated with the recent injury news, including a couple of players who may be out for the remainder of the fantasy season. For the remainder of the show, they cover a group of lesser known players that can help you out in your first week of the fantasy playoffs and possibly more.

FIND US ON FACEBOOK