Daoust and Libin discuss the fantasy implications of the deadline-day deals…

From: Doran Libin

Subject: Trade Deadline Discussion

Date: Thu, 5 Mar 2015 02:32

To: Eric Daoust

Hey Eric,

I thought I'd start this with the biggest trade from deadline day Keith Yandle to the Rangers. First, I don't think this helps Yandle all that much. He and OEL were a potent pair on the Arizona power play and with a dearth of talent they were the focal point of that power play. I don't see that being the case in New York. There's too much talent there already for Yandle to be a major focus on that unit. Furthermore, Yandle already saw some pretty plush even strength ice time in Arizona getting all the offensive zone starts he wanted against the easiest of competition. That won't change in New York but his ice time over all will probably drop as New York is so much deeper on the back end than Arizona was. With only one game from which to judge Yandle already appears to be getting four fewer minutes per game. In all I think that if Yandle gets a boost from going to New York it is minimal, maybe 5 points over the course of a season compared to what has traditionally been expected of him. The big questions for me are how does this affect McDonagh and why is Girardi still being power play time for New York.

Over in Detroit, the Wings managed to grab Marek Zidlicky for a pretty cheap price compared to other deadline deals involving blueliners. This came as a surprise to some as the Wings were rumored to be in talks to acquire Dion Phaneuf. But all along the Wings desired a right-handed defenseman and Zidlicky fits the bill. The move may not do much for Zidlicky as his ice time in two games with Detroit is down to 17 minutes as opposed to the nearly 22 he was getting in New Jersey. He is also assigned to the second power play unit which is not an optimal situation for point production. How do you see this unfolding for Zidlickly and the other Red Wings' players? 

From: Doran Libin

Subject: Trade Deadline Discussion

Date: Mon, 9 Mar 2015 00:35

To: Eric Daoust

If the lines in Chicago in the last game hold the big loser is Brad Richards, he goes from second line with Kane to the fourth line with Bickell and Desjardins. That would be a tough line to score from if he was in his prime. Richards was very dependent on Kane for his points his value goes into the tank. I think Vermette's value will largely depend on how Quenneville uses him. With the Toews and Kruger lines already getting the really tough defensive minutes there is the potential for Vermette to get some easier minutes. I don't think this move necessarily hurts his production but I don't think it helps him either. It looks like a push at best. 

As for Arizona, if you have not already sold or waived Doan do so now. With Boedker out for the season and Vermette traded he will struggle to score at even strength. The power play also became less potent with the trade of Yandle. Doan will be lucky to get 10 points the rest of the season. Sam Gagner however may be worth a gamble. He has four points in his last five with eight shots over that span. The ice time at even-strength and the power play is not there yet as he has been under 18 minutes total in all but one game and under two minutes on the power play in all but one game. With Vermette traded and Hanzal out injured there is the opportunity for Gagner to do what he never did in Edmonton, prove that he deserves a top six centre role.

Finally, in Detroit Zidlicky looks like a power play king. He is getting a significant portion of the Wings' power play time with over 2.5 minutes in two of the three games. In the one game he did not see more than 2.5 minutes Kronwall also saw less than two minutes so it is not like the Wings had a ton of power plays. Zidlicky has two goals with the Wings, both on the power play, and five hots in three games. With Zidlicky's arrival someone had to lose power play time and that seems to be Jakub Kindl who has not just lost power play time but has yet to play a game since Zidlicky's arrival. As Detroit tends to go with two four forward/one defenseman units this gives them two bona fide power play quarterbacks on the blue line. At 38 Zidlicky is still an upgrade over any of Kindl, Smith or DeKeyser on the power play. This should even out the production for whichever unit does not get time with Kronwall.