January 10, 2015

steve laidlaw

2015-01-10

Bobrovsky’s new contract, Huberdeau hot, Grabovski injured and more…

The Mid-Season Guide comes out in just a couple of days (January 12^th.) Make sure you pick up your copy to help secure that championship bid. I am very proud of the work that I and the other DobberHockey writers have put into this year's edition.

Fat new contract for Sergei Bobrovsky who was extended by the Blue Jackets yesterday for four more years at $7.425 million per year. That makes him higher paid than any goalie but Tuukka Rask or Henrik Lundqvist. It's probably a bit of an overpay but Bobrovsky is capable of playing like the third best goalie in the league. His deal is also shorter than most goalie contracts, which works in the team's favour considering the fungibility of goaltending in the game today. Do you think that the Coyotes wish they'd only extended Mike Smith for four years instead of six? But they probably would have had to pay a bit more money annually, which is why Bobrovsky's deal is so pricey.

The big thing is that the Blue Jackets absolutely had to get this deal done and get it done now. They couldn't go into the summer with uncertainty in goal and they could not allow Bobrovsky to test the free agent market. Someone would have given him more money and more years. I don't think it's hyperbole to say that this is the single most important signing in franchise history. More important than Rick Nash, more important than Ryan Johansen and certainly more important than the fat deal they recently gave Nick Foligno.

I've already said my piece on why I didn't like the Foligno extension so I won't get into that again. I love the Bobrovsky extension for Columbus though. They'd be stuck in a similar situation as Minnesota without him.

Tough night against a motivated Leafs team though getting shredded for four first period goals. That'll happen though. We know how banged up the Blue Jackets still are.

Special mention for David Savard who tossed 10 hits last night. Well done.

After experimenting with Phil Kessel away from Tyler Bozak for a game Peter Horachek reunited the two and got a two-point night out of Bozak. Kessel also went off for two points but his damage was done on the top power play unit with Bozak and James van Riemsdyk, a combination that was not split up in Horachek's debut. Daniel Winnik continued to benefit from skating on the Kessel line with two points of his own. Look for Winnik as a short-term pickup.

But I should acknowledge that it's my bad for just assuming that everyone sees Bennett as a winger. And you certainly don't have to take my word for it either.

It probably isn't a coincidence that the Flames and Panthers consummated this deal on the same night that the two teams faced one another. Sometimes meeting face to face can go a long way to getting a trade done. I know many of us don't have that flexibility in our fantasy leagues but if you do have that chance, take full advantage of it.

Jonas Hiller took a beating from the Panthers allowing six goals on 35 shots. Joni Ortio was up as backup for Hiller with Karri Ramo hurt but the Flames showed no indication that they wanted to give Ortio a shot as they were in the game the whole way despite all the goals allowed.

Aleksander Barkov was a late scratch with the flu leaving him on the outside for another productive night from Jonathan Huberdeau who has five points in the last two games. Vincent Trocheck centered Huberdeau instead but recorded no points.

Not quite a streak yet but Nick Bjugstad has been held off the score sheet for back-to-back games since being separated from Huberdeau. I hate to give Huberdeau credit as the driver of offense for the Panthers given his struggles but evidence is mounting in his favour.

I didn't think Derek Roy had anything left and I haven't necessarily been wrong but after three points last night Roy has five points in six games with the Oilers. The one thing that can't be argued is that Roy is getting a consistent shift in Edmonton something he couldn't bag for the Predators this season or the Blues last season. He may not score a whole bunch with Edmonton but the deal has worked out for him for that reason alone.

It's been a bit since we last checked in on the Jeff Schultz Memorial Trophy power rankings but I haven't forgotten about. As a reminder, the "Schultz" is a made up trophy handed out to the defenseman with the top plus/minus rating who fails to score 30 points to commemorate that one season that Schultz was fantasy relevant simply because of his plus/minus. Here are the quick power rankings:

1. Anton Stralman – Plus-16

As noted above, he's getting top unit power play time again and with 18 points thus far he could very well fluke his way out of eligibility for the "Schultz," which would be a damn shame.

T2. Kevin Klein – Plus-15

Somehow Klein keeps bulging the twine. With eight goals so far Klein is shooting 18%, an absolutely absurd rate for a defenseman.

T2. Christian Ehrhoff – Plus-15

Were I handicapping this affair I'd rate Ehrhoff the #1 contender. Ehrhoff has just 12 points while skating for the high-powered Penguins.

T4. Hampus Lindholm – Plus-14

T4. Alec Martinez – Plus-14

T6. Ryan Ellis – Plus-12

T6. Stephane Robidas – Plus-12

T8. Marc-Edouard Vlasic – Plus-11

T8. Matt Carle – Plus-11

T8. Mattias Ekholm – Plus-11

T8. Robyn Regher – Plus-11

We've all heard the rumours that Antoine Vermette is available for trade but there have been some Shane Doan rumours as well. The Arizona Coyotes shut down those Doan rumours in comical fashion.

You can follow me @SteveLaidlaw.

UPCOMING GAMES

Nov 12 - 19:11	NYR	vs	WPG
Nov 12 - 19:11	TOR	vs	OTT
Nov 12 - 19:11	FLA	vs	N.J
Nov 12 - 20:11	STL	vs	BOS
Nov 12 - 21:11	EDM	vs	NYI
Nov 12 - 22:11	VAN	vs	CGY
Nov 12 - 22:11	SEA	vs	CBJ