February 04 2015

Dobber

2015-02-04

Anders Lee on the top line; Kevin Connauton at forward? An Alex Semin sighting and more…

***

The end of a legend, finally? Jaromir Jagr has two points in his last seven games and his points-per-game average is 0.57. That’s obviously a career low. He turns 43 in just over a week – but finally the legend is showing signs of it. On pace for 45 points, and he’s done that before – but that was in 46 games back in 2003-04. The 45 points would mean another 18 this year and that would give his career exactly 1800. Would he return for another season if he ends this one with 45 points and a minus-20 rating? Three years on the KHL, two lockout-shortened seasons and one cancelled season – I estimate 400 to 450 more points there.

By many accounts, Adam Henrique is having a pretty good year. After all, he’ll end up leading the team in scoring. But his pace is for just 48 points, which still falls short of his rookie total (51) and it falls well short of expectations. Adam turns 25 on Friday so there’s plenty of room to grow, but he’s a second-line player and will never be anything more. So the Devils need an elite gun and the way things are going in this day and age, they’ll never get one via free agency. And there’s nothing in the pipeline that fits the bill either. For the next five years I think you’ll see defensemen lead this team in scoring in that 50- to 55-point range. Like Weber in Nashville or Yandle with Arizona for much of the past half dozen years.

Kyle Turris has just three points in his last 11 games. And although his upside (and likelihood) is much higher than Henrique’s, Turris’ spot on the first line is clearly just a placeholder until Curtis Lazar is ready.

I’m gaining more and more respect for Jaden Schwartz. Awesome OT goal here:

* <a href="frozenpool_profiler.php?players=1079&sent=go&games=2014-2015%3AR">Patrick Eaves</a> is still quietly putting up points on the big line. That’s four straight now. And yes, of course he’s worth picking up. In fact, I insist on it. But this is one of the most injury-prone players in the league and the only reason he’s not in the <a href="The-Dobotomy/nhl-band-aid-boys-injury-prone">Band-Aid Boy</a> list is because he was hurt too often – I honestly thought he wasn’t getting another NHL contract when I last updated it in the summer. So yes, grab him and enjoy the production. It looks like he’s on that line for the foreseeable future. But be prepared to stick him on IR at some point. * Look at this <a href="frozenpool_profiler.php?players=3917&sent=go&games=2014-2015%3AR">Nathan MacKinnon</a> shootout goal:   <iframe width="560″ height="315″ src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ifyt7aMqAO4″ frameborder="0″ allowfullscreen>

In his second game with the Canucks, Adam Clendening saw another 19 minutes and he picked up his first point with his new team. I expect an early impact for him here, similar to what Connauton did with the Blue Jackets, but then it will fade a little. However, I like him for next year to post some pretty solid numbers – perhaps even surprise you with more than 35 points.

Bad news for Radim Vrbata owners. Good news for Alexandre Burrows owners (those that stuck around):

#1	25.6%	BURROWS,ALEXANDRE–SEDIN,DANIEL–SEDIN,HENRIK
#2	24.8%	BONINO,NICK–MATTHIAS,SHAWN–VRBATA,RADIM
#3	12.8%	HANSEN,JANNIK–HIGGINS,CHRISTOPHER–VEY,LINDEN
#4	11.2%	DORSETT,DEREK–HORVAT,BO–KENINS,RONALDS

Burrows is back on the big line. To stay? I don’t know. But both Burrows and Vrbata posted a point and the Canucks posted a win, so you gotta think these combos remain for next game.

By the way, Ronalds Kenins picked up another goal. Goals in two straight.

Alexander Semin played just his second game in nearly three weeks, but he finally scored. Just his second of the season and first since December 4.

Anton Khudobin is on the ropes a bit. After giving up two goals on three shots and getting the hook three minutes into his last start, he gave up five goals against the Ducks and took the OTL.

And finally, Ryan Malone has been placed on unconditional waivers by the Rangers. He will be released and he’ll retire. This doesn’t save the Rangers any cap space, but it gets a contract off the books (and teams are only allowed 50 contracts).