In the weekly piece “Eastern Edge”, TJ Branson breaks down the latest fantasy information from the standpoint of the Eastern Conference – the streaks, the slumps, the line combinations and much more.
This week I was going to take a look at Eastern Conference teams player acquisitions and losses via the trade route and analyze some of the fantasy fallout, but that's been done to death. Instead I'll present my ramblings on a six pack of teams and a shot.
The Ottawa Senators are in an enviable position. At least that's how I view their situation at this point in the season. Listening to some of the radio stations in the city, I hear fans and on-air personalities saying that they hope the Sens can turn it around this year. No, no, no, a nice winning streak is one of the WORST things that could happen to the team right now. I would call that "pulling a Toronto"; being out of contention most of the year and then winning just enough games to finish ninth or tenth in the Conference. That only provides false hope and gives the team the worst possible draft position without the reward of playoff games/experience.
With the 2011 NHL trade deadline approaching quickly, many fantasy GMs run into their own dilemmas at their deadline, especially if it's a deep keeper league. Is it time to sell the veterans for some youth? Is it better to move a few young pieces and bring in that proven veteran with a few years left in hopes of winning a league title? What type of player should I be investing in? While these might sound like relatively easy decisions, most will concur they are not.
Let's take a closer look at the hottest player in the league over the past calendar month. He had 15 goals and 21 points in that span, more points than the next best Olli Jokinen (17 points) and a whopping six more goals than the next best - a three way tie between Drew Stafford, Ryan Kesler and Curtis Glencross.
With the recent flurry of trades in the NHL, many have offered their opinions and insight, flooding the market with a substantial amount of surface level detail. Prior to Kris Versteeg's recent trade to Philadelphia, I've always been a skeptic. This trade forced me to take a closer look though and determine some realistic expectations.
There are times during the season when certain players are given an opportunity to shake a season long funk or step up when a team mate succumbs to an injury. All fantasy owners know to watch out for this, but we are often too busy to recognize it before it is too later and a competitor swoops in and claims the glory.
Time to look ahead to the final 30 games or so and see what might be in store for the balance of the season. I'll pick one player from each Eastern Conference team that should be in for a sweet finish and one whose production over the last stanza may leave a sour taste in their owners mouth. I'll try my very best to avoid being Captain Obvious.
Heading into last night's match (which of course they lost), the New Jersey Devils were 6-0-1. They look like they have turned it around, but considering how poorly they performed over the first 40 games, the playoffs are only theoretically possible. The Devils obviously had some issues (a mild understatement!) adjusting to a new coach and system. Now that Lemaire is back, the turnaround shouldn't have come as a complete surprise.
Simon Gagne and Vincent Lecavalier have provided their fair share of frustration to fantasy owners. Is Lecavalier merely a 70-point player now? Is Gagne washed up? Short-sighted fantasy managers will say yes on both accounts and only shop for TB players with the last name St. Louis or Stamkos, but if you can get them cheap, you might want to take a consider Gagne and Lecavalier.
How easy is it to give up on a player anywhere from 21-26 years old? Pretty damn easy. From a fantasy standpoint, if someone doesn't produce quickly enough, they're not welcome on your roster. And once you cut a guy like that, the breakup is for real. You don't ever want him again. At least that's how most of us think.
