Fantasy Hockey Ramble – March 22, 2009
Dobber Sports
2009-03-22
I completely missed this unbelievable news this morning. I was so caught up in the ice time of Brad Richards and analyzing the line combos, that I did not know that he BROKE his OTHER wrist. Wow – he is definitely done for the season, and I would suspect the first round of the playoffs as well.
As the site grows, it is becoming insanely difficult to satisfy all the leagues out there with my rankings. Keep in mind that it is impossible to measure a keeper league where goalies get points for wins and shutouts, and have one active per season, points carry over in trades and it keeps 10 players VS. another keeper league where goalies are measured by six categories, three must be active and you keep 30 players. In the first example, Martin Brodeur has little value for this season (because his points carry over, so anyone competing for the top can't use him). In the second example, Brodeur obviously has a ton of value. How can that be measured to satisfy both leagues? It can't. So if your league is unlike the leagues I measure, you have to look at the rankings with a grain of salt.
To clarify the above point, I have re-worded and added to my explanation at the top of my goalie rankings.
The Blackhawks have officially named Nikolai Khabibulin their starter.
Patrick Sharp will return to the lineup for Chicago today. Dustin Byfuglien is looking as though he will move back to the blue line as a result, I don't have to tell you what that means for Byfuglien owners.
Ben Eager has been suspended for three games following a hit to the head incident Friday.
Brad Richards played nearly 16 minutes in his return to the lineup. Mark Parrish was a healthy scratch as a result. Dallas forwards are still seeing the ice time, with the exception of Parrish and Fabian Brunnstrom, who saw less than nine minutes. Begin and Wilson are also getting scratched, but they hold no fantasy value. Neal is still seeing lots of ice time.
DAL line combos: Ribeiro with Ott and Lehtinen; Richards, with Eriksson and Morrison; Modano with Neal and Conner
With two points and plus-3 last night, look for a hot streak from Devin Setoguchi.
He must have been inspired by the birth of his baby. Nikolai Kulemin had a three point game last night. His linemates, Ponikarovsky and the very streaky Grabovski had four each. This line is clicking – Grabovski has eight points in four games, Poni has nine in four and should hit 60 for the first time in his career.
Chris Bourque played just five minutes last night.
Tomas Fleischmann has one point in his last 15 games.
In seven games with Columbus, Antoine Vermette has points in six of them (eight points in all).
Ryan Callahan continues to roll now that he has some more responsibility. He has a five-game points streak and seven points in that span.
Marian Gaborik will play today.
Nathan Horton did not end up playing today and he did not even take the pregame skate. Next game is tomorrow and he is "questionable"
Tuuka Rask showing some…emotion:
[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yshV_P4qB8w]