z-Archives (other articles)

Here are the individual and averaged predicitions for the first round of the NHL playoffs from Dobber, Angus, Bugg, Ma, Miller, and more! The panel's consensus picks boast an impressive 42-18 record over the past four seasons! But, the panel was a very un-expert-like 8-7 last year, a dissapointing spring after posting a solid 12-3 record the year before. On to the picks...

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The thinking process that goes in to selecting the Prime Cuts roster is similar to Pierre McGuire’s “Monsters” team on TSN (I promise that is the first and only time I will compare my thinking process to Pierre’s). Since this is a fantasy hockey site, the selection process favors players that have had strong seasons on the score sheet, obviously. However, not just goals and assists are weighted – perhaps a player has started to shoot the puck more, or play better defensively. Intangibles like heart, grit, and determination factor in to the selection process as well. It is far and away my favorite article to write each year, and I hope you will all enjoy reading it as much as I have enjoyed writing it.

The first part of the series will focus on the six defensemen.

Each year I write out 10 fearless forecasts (some crazier than others). This past September was no different (check my list for 2010-11 out here). I was right in a few cases, I was close in a few cases, and I was completely off base in a few as well. How did you do with your preseason predictions (preferably those that were a bit out there)?

Fantasy managers must realize that the world of goaltending revolves due to the forces of cause and effect. What one goalie accomplishes over the course of a season plays a major role in the development path of another. With each NHL team averaging at least six goalies in their system, it is impossible to place every prospect in a perfect setting. For as I have explained before, when one goalie plays, another goalie is forced to sit and watch.

It seemed very fitting that a School of Block lesson fell on the same day that Dobber and I announced our partnership and acquisition of Goalie Post. If you didn’t read the Goalie Guild's press release yet, be sure to check it out right here. And just like that, I have made the dive. I am proud to become the poolie’s newest guide to starting goaltenders and I can’t wait to take over a fully-functional platform that will now house my daily fantasy goalie analysis, advice and insight.

DobberHockey teams up with The Goalie Guild to purchase The Goalie Post, announces new partnership with Hockey Pool Geek.

Is there a new number one this year? Read on to find out more…

The first edition of this list was put together last April, and it is something I am going to update at least once each season. I have a few general rules when it comes to building a team in a fantasy hockey keeper league. One of the more important ones is to not plan beyond a two or three year window. You are not building a real NHL club, and too often I see poolies place too much of an emphasis on youth and prospects instead of trying to add players who could help them win now. Using this rule, take a look at your team(s). Can you realistically say you will have a shot at winning the league at some point within the next two or three seasons? If not, time to scrap the rebuild and start adding proven NHL talent.

Shout it from the hills – the playoffs are here! It’s time to polish the trophies, drop your cold hard cash on the table and do whatever it takes to finish first, second or third in your league. If you made it this far, you didn’t get here without solid goaltending. And if that’s true, you’re probably confident with those same goalies heading into the first round. But what if you struggle to start the week and you’re left scrambling for points over the weekend?