March 25 2015

Dobber

2015-03-25

Kunitz’s disappearing act; why the twins are killing me; there can never be too much Dubie; and more …

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I often feel like I’m talking about the same guys sometimes, but the fact of the matter is – in fantasy hockey, players go on extended hot streaks and when those players are there unexpectedly, then poolies have questions about them. They can’t get enough opinions on them. Plus, I’m somewhat in awe. So here I am again with the latest on Dubnyk. Up to 33 wins now with eight games to go. He had one win after October and seven wins at Christmas. So since Christmas he is 27-8-1. How hard are the Wild trying to lock him into a contract? With the win last night, the team is safely in the playoffs (the final two spots are down to Calgary, Winnipeg and Los Angeles).

I can’t see Minnesota not making him a contract offer. And I also can’t see him turning down a contract offer unless it’s for just a year or two. So look for him to be in Wild colors next season and he’s joining the team at the perfect time, too. The chemistry has fallen into place – it had taken a bit of a hit after Parise and Suter signed, but that’s all settled in now. And the youngsters have made the adjustment – Granlund, Coyle, Niederreiter, Fontaine, Zucker, Brodin and Dumba. No more slow starts from this team should ensure that Devan Dubnyk becomes a 35-plus win goalie again in 2015-16. I say that, assuming he can pick up two wins in the next eight to reach 35 this year.

Anders Lee may have assisted on the John Tavares goal last night at even strength, but he was not put back on that line. He plays with Tavares and Okposo on the power play and that power play expired the second the goal went in. Lee is still with Strome and Nelson.

Kevin Hayes is on a roll, posting four points in three games now, with eight shots.

With two more points Tuesday, Anze Kopitar has seven in four games. He needs 11 in his last nine to hit 70 for the fifth consecutive 82-game season. And that’s why I love owning him. Can’t put a price on consistent production and health – those are my favorite players. He had 13 points in his first 28 games and poolies were bailing on the idea that he could even salvage 60.

No Malkin again in last night’s game, so I’m toast in my one league. Second prize, no trophy. And as nice as the one or two hundred bucks will be, it’s really just the first-place loser. And that money is mostly pissed away at the pub where I receive the money at the draft in September. Who remembers second place? Hell, I can’t even remember what the exact prize money is for that.

You can read the fantasy scouting report on Fiala <a href="http://prospects.dobbersports.com/Nashville-Predators-Top-Prospects/kevin-fiala">here</a>. * Wow, <a href="frozenpool_profiler.php?players=2536&sent=go&games=2014-2015%3AR">Nick Leddy</a> gets some serious death threats that has the NHL and police stepping in. Puck Daddy gives the details on that <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-puck-daddy/nick-leddy-threatened-by-twitter-user--nhl-security-intervenes-235941956.html">here</a>. * Tomorrow night <a href="frozenpool_profiler.php?players=3897&games=2014-2015%3AR&sent=go">Andrew Hammond</a> goes for his 16th game in which he earns at least a point for his team to start his career. That would tie <a href="frozenpool_profiler.php?players=320&sent=go&games=2014-2015%3AR">Patrick Lalime</a>‘s record. I’ll be looking to draft him this summer for my keeper league, but my expectations will be exceedingly low. Goalies are a fickle group, which is why the stalwarts like Price and Rinne are so valuable. A star goalie one year could be <a href="frozenpool_profiler.php?players=879&sent=go&games=2014-2015%3AR">Dan Ellis</a> <a href="frozenpool_profiler.php?players=2493&sent=go&games=2014-2015%3AR">Ben Scrivens</a> disappearing the next. * Speaking of goalies, <a href="frozenpool_profiler.php?players=1016&sent=go&games=2014-2015%3AR">Henrik Lundqvist</a> is looking to return this weekend. Saturday and Sunday are back-to-back games, so expect <a href="frozenpool_profiler.php?players=2805&sent=go&games=2014-2015%3AR">Cam Talbot</a> to still get one of those. Without Lundqvist, the Rangers are 17-3-3. So…good thing for them he’s returning. * <a href="frozenpool_profiler.php?players=2459&sent=go&games=2014-2015%3AR">Chris Tanev</a> signed a five-year deal worth $4.5 million per. Strikes me as high, given that he’s eighth on the team in SAT% when the teams are within one goal or tied in the third period and he’s fourth among team defensemen. The other SAT numbers show similar results. He is the team’s leading shot blocker (153) though. And apparently he signed his one-year deal on good faith that GM Benning would take care of him long term in exchange for helping out the cap situation this year. And that to me is acceptable for inflating a salary a little. The problem is that in the future, agents will point to that salary with comparable players and comparable stats – but neglect to mention the “IOU” part. * <a href="frozenpool_profiler.php?players=2001&sent=go&games=2014-2015%3AR">Jamie Benn</a> may not play tonight. He missed practice Tuesday after sustaining an undisclosed injury late in the last game. But <a href="frozenpool_profiler.php?players=496&sent=go&games=2014-2015%3AR">Trevor Daley</a> will apparently be back. * Just $3.99 for the <a href="http://www.dobberbaseball.com/">DobberBaseball</a> cheat sheets – updated through Friday. Pick it up <a href="http://www.dobbersports.com/dobbersports-shop/dobberbaseball-products.html">here</a>. It’s worth checking out at that price, you gotta admit! An update is planned for tomorrow morning (Thursday) * <a href="frozenpool_profiler.php?players=2011&sent=go&games=2014-2015%3AR">Max Pacioretty</a> selling his new ‘Max 67’ burger from McDonalds to Boston Bruins fans:   <iframe width="560″ height="315″ src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ssvDhUFkAgw" frameborder="0″ allowfullscreen>

UPCOMING GAMES

Mar 14 - 19:03	CAR	vs	DET
Mar 14 - 19:03	NYI	vs	EDM
Mar 14 - 20:03	WPG	vs	DAL
Mar 14 - 21:03	CGY	vs	COL
Mar 14 - 22:03	ANA	vs	NSH
Mar 14 - 22:03	SEA	vs	UTA