May 14, 2010
Jeff Angus
2010-05-14
Jordan Eberle today – one goal (I believe he scored another but they haven’t changed it yet), four assists, five points, plus-6. In one game.
Two questions for you guys/gals today: how much does Halak get this summer (presumably from Montreal), and were does Carey Price end up? My guesses? $4-5 million per season, and Chicago.
Claude Julien is going to make a few lineup changes for tonight’s game. Blake Wheeler has been promoted to the top line with Bergeron and Recchi. Brad Marchand may come in and replace Dan Paille on a line with Vladimir Sobotka and Michael Ryder. The Bruins sure have the market cornered on decent second line wingers, don’t they? Sobotka has impressed me this postseason with his physical edge. He isn’t big, but he is very strong on his skates. He doesn’t have any fantasy value on Boston, but if he gets moved to a team willing to give him more than 10-14 minutes per game, he could develop into a 50-60 point player.
In case you live under a rock, the Flyers are hoping to become only the third team to ever come back and win a series after trailing 3-0.
My Top 10 Keeper Centers list is close to being finished. Was away from my computer most of today, so didn’t have time to tidy it up. Lots of honourable mentions…
Some late roster additions for the WHC – Gonchar and Malkin to Russia (joining Ovechkin and company), Backlund to Sweden, and Mason Raymond to Canada. I am hoping to get a good look at Eberle – perhaps he has some magic left up one of his sleeves? With Stamkos and Smyth both out due to injury, it sounds like both Raymond and Eberle will have roster spots.
I’ll have another fantasy hockey mailbag either this Sunday or early next week. Go to the message boards, and my section in particular (Angus Unleashed) to check out past mailbags. Even if you don’t feel like asking a question, there is usually lots of good stuff to gain from reading other people’s questions. Perhaps the guy you are trying to trade with is coming to me for advice… it has happened before (many times)! I’m not even sure where the ‘Unleashed’ part of my name came from… Dobber tossed it on I believe. Angus ‘Unhinged’ doesn’t quite have the same ring to it. Maybe I’ll take requests for a new title next year… like I said earlier, slow news day. You don’t want me to start breaking down NBA games, now do you?
Stop the presses! TSN has some breaking news for us! Sidney Crosby IS in fact moving out of Mario Lemieux's basement. I am never shocked at any Crosby-related news on TSN, as anything he says/does/thinks gets a pregame special. However, I am shocked that he still lives in Lemieux's house! He's been in Pittsburgh for five years now…
The Boston Bruins bested both the Celtics (in the playoffs) and the Red Sox (playing the Yankees) in terms of television ratings a few nights ago. Pretty amazing stuff. Not fantasy relevant, but news is slow today!
Justin Bourne sums of Sergei Gonchar’s play in game seven as “disinterested, pathetic, unfocused, lackadaisical, lolly-gagger.” Well put. Video evidence of Gonchar’s horrific play is up at the bottom of today’s ramblings.
Justin (who has one of the best hockey-related blogs around), is going to be filling in for Puck Daddy, who is stepping aside briefly to tend to more important issues (the birth of his child).
Staying with Gonchar, I don’t see him returning to the Penguins. He was fantastic for them and really helped their young offensive players develop (especially on the power play), but I think he has worn out his welcome in Pittsburgh. Their defense is decent, but they need to use his salary on a winger (or two). Kunitz/Dupuis/Fedotenko/Guerin simply don’t cut it with either Crosby or Malkin. Playing Crosby with a scrub or two (Kunitz is a legitimate offensive player, but he is incredibly streaky) is like filling up a Ferrari with the cheapest gas you can buy.
Kudos to Willie Mitchell for calling a spade (Colin Campbell) a spade (an absolute idiot). Willie hits on every single key point (inconsistency, bias, basing punishment on result and not intent) that most logical fans have been harping on with regards to Colin Campbell. Check out Willie’s honest and emotional interview here.
Gonchar’s feeble attempt at defending Travis Moen: