Between the Lines – Downie, Hagelin and more
First, I want to wish everyone a Happy New Year! Let's dig into “Between The Lines” once again for Week 12 gems that could spill over into Week 13. It is time to get down to business.
The Midseason Draft: An Endangered Species?
Back in the early days when I was getting my feet wet as a commissioner, the midseason draft was a much-anticipated staple of our annual fantasy hockey calendar.
15 Points to Consider – New Year’s Day
Starting this month, my 15 Points to Consider is going to become a weekly column.
This week: the Minnesota Wild’s top prospects, Chicago’s hunt for a second line center, Cedric Desjardins, Matt Frattin, and how Crosby should be valued. Enjoy!
Saturday’s Picks – December 31st
Happy Holidays Folks!
It’s been an enjoyable week of hockey during the Christmas break to say the least. From an eventful NHL schedule to the World Juniors and of course, HBO’s 24/7 the lead-up to this weekend’s Winter Classic, I’m loving it, and I’m sure many of you are as well!
Anyhow, onto a quick recap of my last card. I followed up my perfect week with nearly another, as I headed into the late games undefeated. However, I ended up missing the final two results by a single goal, yet remain with an above 80% run dating back to late November. Here’s to keeping the hot streak alive.
WJC Day 3- Canada-Czech Republic
(Team Canada celebrates one of five goals. Photo courtesy IIHF)
DobberHockey senior prospects writer Matt Bugg is covering the 2012 World Junior Championships live from Edmonton and Calgary. He’ll be posting updates throughout the week.
“Were they full measure for the win?” CTV News Channel’s Dan Matheson asked me on AM Express the morning after Team Canada's 5-0 victory over the Czech Republic.
A day later, and I’m still not sure.
WJC Day 4- Russia-Latvia
(Yevgeni Kuznetsov was dialed in- but not until the second period. Photo courtesy IIHF)
DobberHockey senior prospects writer Matt Bugg is covering the 2012 World Junior Championships live from Edmonton and Calgary. He’ll be posting updates throughout the week.
Two goals, three assists. Five points. Not bad for a game’s worth of work- never mind a single period.
But the most incredible thing about Yevgeni Kuznetsov’s nine-point night- one off the World Juniors tournament record- was how easy he made it look.
Looking Ahead – Week 13
A tough decision can be made easier with these charts showing you the best five and worst five schedules for upcoming seven-day periods. Some of you used them last year but for the benefit of new readers here is a refresher. The number next to the team indicates the 'multiplier' to use on a player's point-per-game pace to give you an idea how many points to expect for that week.
Why You Heff to be Bad?
Ilya Bryzgalov, Ilya Bryzgalov, everyone’s talking about Ilya Bryzgalov. The world’s favorite character on HBO’s hit show 24/7 is giving us plenty to laugh about, and for good reason. His quips on tigers and outlook on life and the universe are a perfect example of what makes goalies so dynamic. I’ve seen the, “Bryzgalov is proof that all goalies are crazy…” line more in the past three weeks than I can handle, and I was just in Costa Rica for seven days.
The IR – Weber, Liles, Gagne and more
This week's Injury Report looks at new additions and updates on injured players, as well as who has made an impact since returning.
Dion Phaneuf vs. Dustin Byfuglien
Happy Festivus everyone! It truly is a Festivus miracle that every year the NHL shuts down for two days around the holidays. It is the perfect time to gather your fantasy squad around the aluminum pole and take part in the airing of grievances. Here is an excerpt from my Festivus dinner this past Friday evening: