Taking a break from the ‘Summer Sleeper Series’. I want to review some significant fantasy opportunities in the Western Conference. Next week same thing for the East. As you have read many times here, preparation is only half the battle. An opportunity needs to present itself for a player to really break out or produce at a level above what they have shown.
It’s not hard to predict that the first overall pick will be successful at the NHL level and really make a difference in fantasy pools, but many poolies probably didn’t know that historically speaking the average 24th overall pick has quite a bit of fantasy impact as well. This week we’ll delve a little deeper to see what happened/could be in store for all of the recent 24th overall picks with a specific focus on one special individual from the Western Conference.
I hate the dog days of summer. They breed suspicion and skepticism in my mind about even the most elite NHL goalies. I’ve discussed the likes of Turco, Elliott, Mason, Ward and Fleury over the last few months and all I’m left with are even more questions. Sure, some are easier to solve than others, but somehow it’s always you and I getting stuck with the “damned-if-you-do, damned-if-you-don’t” ones.
Despite the recent acquisition of the best goalie coach in the business, the Leafs decided to divest themselves of Justin Pogge, a 23-year-old goalie prospect, once deemed the Buds goalie of the future.
When the Atlanta Thrashers traded for Pavel Kubina in July, I was puzzled. Didn’t they already have three offensive-minded blueliners under contract in Tobias Enstrom, Ron Hainsey and highly regarded rookie Zach Bogosian?
Every Wednesday this summer, I will bring you a sleeper to watch for the 2009-10 season (and potentially beyond). Released in no particular order, I will refrain from picking sleepers that have already shown glimpses of breaking out in the past – the obvious candidates. Time to go beneath the surface for a couple of sleepers from the Detroit Red Wings…
The Red Wings have signed Todd Bertuzzi to a one-year deal pending a physical, according to TSN.
Following my Eastern Conference counterpart, every year there are players who just don’t tickle my fancy. There are a variety of reasons ranging from changes to the team during the off-season, recovery from off-season surgery, and similar to Miller’s list, overvalued rookies/prospects.
Here is my list of players from the Western Conference that you won’t likely find on my fantasy rosters this campaign:
Do you remember the kid in high school that was way too “book smart” for his own good, but because he was never really challenged in class, would just sit there and cause trouble in really ignorant ways? Well, despite being labeled by many as one of the smartest goalies in the world, I kind of see Marty Turco as the NHL’s troubled goalie genius.
The New York Rangers have signed forward Vaclav Prospal to a one-year deal worth $1.1 million.
