The IR – Concussions, Concussions…
Not only does Harling dig up what little there is to find on injured players, this week he also puts together his "All-Concussion" Team.
December 14, 2011
Jeff Skinner does indeed have a concussion. Ditto for Milan Michalek. So in the past week we have lost the NHL's leader in points, leader in goals and reigning rookie of the year to concussions... on the heels of losing Crosby. I don't believe that concussions are anymore prevalent than they were in the [...]
December 13, 2011
Great Filatov piece from Chesnokov , gives hope that he'll at least be back to try again one more time next year. Jason Arbuthnot did not have time to put together a Frozen Pool Forensics column this week, but he whipped up some quick thoughts which I will put here in blue in case [...]
Terry Murray Fired!
Fantasy Impact: The Los Angeles Kings have fired their head coach Terry Murray. Replacing him - on an interim basis - is former Flyers' coach John Stevens.
December 12, 2011
Nikita Filatov is off to the KHL. From what I read on TSN, there was no hope offered for his return next season. Dump. We've all known the Filatov risks for well over a year now, probably closer to two. I, myself, acquired him just a month ago for the lowest possible price my [...]
Injury troubles. Ugh.
It happens to virtually every fantasy team in every format. Injury issues. It can force some tough decisions.
December 11, 2011
Sam Carchidi from the Philadelphia Inquirer reports that Claude Giroux will be reevaluated Monday morning, but that Flyers GM Paul Holmgren said Giroux "felt better this morning. Holmgren also said that Bryzgalov was doing much better and should be able to play Tuesday. Adam Larsson owners take note: At least for the [...]
Palmieri Powers Up
After making the Anaheim Ducks out of training camp last season, Kyle Palmieri managed just one goal in 10 games before being returned to the AHL Syracuse Crunch.
The 20-year old American prospect must have found a heck of a Krav Maga instructor back in his home state because after scoring 29 goals in 62 AHL games in 2010-11, he has exploded this seaon, pouring in a near-superhuman 17 goals in 18 games – good enough to be leading the AHL.
Are They Worth It?
Some of the toughest decisions you need to make when running a salary cap team come in the earliest rounds of your draft. The best players are paid accordingly and it's in these rounds that you are bound to be well over your average in terms of budget. It's tough to pass over one of the big three if you fall into a top-three draft position (yes, that still includes Ovechkin), but there are very few in the NHL who have a cap hit over $8 million. It's fair to question whether or not it's worth it to carry a monster contract despite the production; in some situations that answer is an easy and resounding yes. A lot depends on your pool's cap limit and the statistics it considers. Carrying an albatross of a contract works if you get the production that should come hand-in-hand with getting paid as a top player, but we know that in most cases production fluctuates year-to-year. A minor drop here and there isn't a team killer and is even expected, but can a team overcome a major drop in production when a player is eating up your cap space like Cookie Monster in the Mr. Christie factory?
The IR – Higgins, van Riemsdyk, Harding and more
Peter Harling makes his columnist debut, digging up whatever information he can from the top secret world of NHL player injuries...