Over the next few weeks, I’ll attempt to give you the Eastern Conference low-down on fantasy players broken down by position and team (similar to my Western counterpart's "Fantasy Indicators of Success" series). I’ll begin with the goaltenders because I believe, as in real life, that it’s very difficult to win your fantasy league without exceptional goaltending.
Every December, the best young hockey players in the world gather to take part in one of the most prestigious and exciting hockey tournaments in the world (and my personal favourite) – the World Junior Hockey Championships. Legends are born, just ask “Double Dion” Phaneuf. Unheralded players steal the spotlight, like Swiss goaltender Reto Berra did a few years’ back. Looking back, there have been a lot big names as well as a lot of big busts. For the next few weeks leading up to the tournament, I will report on what has happened to many of the young players who have starred at this tournament over the years. This weeks’ article covers Sweden and Finland.
Check out how the participants are doing in the Expert, Pro and Entry Leagues...
I apologize. This was supposed to coincide with the release of the new Bond movie, but I wanted to finish the previous series before taking on something new. We’ll take a look back at the past Bond films, but with a Western Conference fantasy twist.
Like giant glowing moons, the two ominous I’s of goaltending linger and sulk in the night sky. One of them, Injury, represents the physical component of the position, along with the notion that anyone can fall victim to the dreaded IR list. The other is Inconsistency, representing the mental toughness component, along with the notion that “hot streaks” or “crease takeovers” don’t last very long. And sometimes they don’t even last for an entire week.
Après un départ brouillon, la recrue Patrick Berglund a grimpé au classement des recrues et est devenu un candidat légitime au Trophée Calder.
( cliquez ici pour la version française )
After a sluggish start, rookie Patrik Berglund has shot up the rookie scoring charts and emerged as a legitimate contender for the Calder Trophy.
Christmas may be nineteen days away, but here's an early present: a look at the 2009 Entry Draft and its risers and fallers through the month of November.
Week 1: +13 bananas
Week 2: -2 bananas
Week 3: +8 bananas
Week 4: -2 bananas
Total: +17 bananas
I see a pattern. This should be a good week. I’m going by gut feeling this week and I’ll give you my predictions in Pro-Line format also.
Starting today, December 5, the St. Louis Blues play five games in seven nights including two sets of back to back games. The first three games are at home starting with the Flames and Coyotes in back-to-back games. They get one day's rest before the Predators visit and then they play back-to-back games on the road in Anaheim and Los Angeles. Playing five games in a one week time doesn't happen very often - only twelve times during the regular season although it happens to the Blues twice.
