In marketing, they call it brand recognition. You aren't going to the drug store to buy Kleenex, you're going to buy facial tissues. Your loving girlfriend isn't bringing you Tylenol to cure the beer-induced headache from last night, she's bringing you acetaminophen. The value these names hold are worth far more than the actual product is. The same can be applied to players in fantasy hockey.
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)?
Why the shutout is overrated, defensemen to watch for 2011-12, the most underrated player in the league, and more.
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.
Eight years ago, NHL GMs consulted with their scouts and chose from a talent in pool in what is now considered one of the deepest drafts of all time. One player chosen in that 2003 draft (26th overall) is often overlooked. Brian Boyle is taking longer than expected, but many forget that he was drafted just two spots behind Philadelphia’s Mike Richards and three spots behind Vancouver’s Ryan Kesler.
In this special edition of PROSPECT PRESCRIPTION, DobberHockey spoke with the coaches of two players who made big news this week, namely 15-year old phenom Aaron Ekblad and free agent French national and Merrimack College standout Stephane Da Costa.
Almost a perfect game for Anthony last week! Unfortunately he was trying to give the Leafs a pity point, by calling the game a tie with the Wings winning the shootout. Oh well, I’ve been burned by the pity point before. That’s why this week I’m giving the Leafs two of them, haha. Last time I only managed two winners, however it was close to being a perfect week. Just had the wrong team scoring in a shootout/overtime in three of the losses and I was 34 seconds away from the tie I had called in the CLB-MIN game. Oh well, Thunder managed to capitalize picking four winners and improving her record to 11-13, while mine drops to 9-15. Time for redemption and a perfect week could pull me to .500 to end the season. Here goes:
With the end of the 2010-11 season in sight, it's time to gauge who's going to be amongst your keeper selections heading into next season. Of course which players end up staying on your rosters depends greatly on your league make up, number of keepers and your own personal risk tolerance. I’ve compiled a list of players that may have some question marks as protectable players in limited keeper leagues heading into next season.
Let me get this out of the way right now, I hate fishing. The score card is simple here; Fish means I find the player in a favourable light as a keeper for next season. Cut Bait means I'd rather throw this one back into the water and hope for a bigger catch. Be aware that I tend to be quite conservative with my protected players, preferring the vast majority of my keepers to come down on the proven side of the ledger. Here is Part 2:
Twenty five weeks down, one more to go in the NHL season. I found a bunch of sites that list who every team plays over the remainder of the season (like TSN has), but none actually show what days teams play on. Since that is key information in the fantasy world, I have put together a chart with every team’s remaining schedule.
So how many did I sucker - even for just 30 seconds - this year?
Alexander Radulov’s decision to return to the NHL beginning in 2011-12 caught everyone by surprise, and not just fantasy owners. Yesterday’s surprise announcement completely changes the offensive landscape of the Nashville Predators. Let's break it down.
