The Dobotomy

Darryl Dobbs contributed to much of The Hockey News‘ fantasy content from 2002 through 2014, including nine consecutive issues of The Ultimate Pool Guide. He also contributed significantly to the Score Forecaster(2006-07, 2007-08, 2008-09, 2009-10, 2010-11 and 2011-12 editions), and Pool Expert‘s draft kit, as well as several columns in Canadian newspapers, including the Vancouver Sun. He made several radio appearances (HF Radio, BIG105 in Red Deer, FAN 960, FAN590, 640 Toronto, XM204 and dozens of online podcasts). Today, outside of DobberHockey and DobberProspects, you can find his work on Yahoo! Puck Daddy as well as Sportsnet.ca. Dobber graduated from the University of Guelph with a Degree in Statistics and Minor in Mathematics. Currently, he resides in Pickering, Ontario with his wife Hemwanti and daughters Avery and Mackenzie. Follow him on Twitter (DobberHockey)

Line Combos How Important Are They?

By Dobber Sports|2008-10-12T17:14:23-04:00October 12th, 2008|The Dobotomy|

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Line combinations are interesting. To me, if I see a player who I think has some offensive potential moved up to play on the top line, it justifies my thinking and I see a glimmer of hope.

Rarely does it shape how I feel a player will perform over the course of this season.

In the fickle universe of fantasy hockey, many poolies change their opinions on players as often as coaches change their line combinations. With some coaches, that could mean desperately trying to acquire a player and then desperately trying to unload him – before the end of the first period!

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Ouellet and O’Brien to Vancouver for Krajicek and Simek

By Dobber Sports|2008-10-06T14:22:35-04:00October 6th, 2008|The Dobotomy|

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Vancouver has acquired some scoring help on the wing in Michel Ouellet, as well as some toughness on defense in Shane O'Brien. In exchange, defenseman Lukas Krajicek goes to Tampa Bay, along with prospect Juraj Simek.

How Good is Nikita Filatov?

By Dobber Sports|2008-10-05T19:49:10-04:00October 5th, 2008|The Dobotomy|

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Lost in the fact that the 2008 Entry Draft was filled with a group of high-end defensemen rarely seen in an NHL draft, a very good non-Steven Stamkos forward was available. How good? That remains to be seen.

The Best Damn Fantasy Hockey Guide Out There

By Dobber Sports|2008-09-25T16:15:27-04:00September 25th, 2008|The Dobotomy|

[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bK17Ho1NR4c] BUY THE GUIDE HERE Or, if you insist on more info and examples, see them HERE . Thank you for supporting this free fantasy hockey website.

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The Young D-Man Mentality

By Dobber Sports|2008-09-21T15:56:48-04:00September 21st, 2008|The Dobotomy|

Dion Phaneuf

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You see it happen time and again. An 18-year-old defenseman is hyped in NHL circles and, subsequently, the media and as a result their stature rises in the eyes of fantasy owners. Erik Johnson? Oh, he is going to be a superstar. Ed Jovanovski? Gotta have him. Chris Pronger? I’m taking him first overall!

This is the wrong approach and this statement becomes even more important in fantasy drafts this year, given the high-end defensemen selected at the 2008 NHL draft.

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Hurricane Warning!

By Dobber Sports|2008-09-14T16:59:32-04:00September 14th, 2008|The Dobotomy|

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The may have finished 5th in NHL scoring last season, but the Hurricanes are going to score even more in 2008-09.

Dobber’s Fantasy Guide – Issues and Options

By Dobber Sports|2008-09-14T15:23:22-04:00September 14th, 2008|The Dobotomy|

PROBLEM 1 - I DON'T WANT TO PAY THROUGH PAYPAL. IS THERE ANOTHER WAY?Yes, email Dobber for the DobberHockey address and you can send a check. His email is [email protected] using a credit card...but don't want to register for Paypal? It needs to be this way because it is the only way for the item [...]

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Sakics Ripple Effect on Fantasy Hockey

By Dobber Sports|2008-08-31T15:39:51-04:00August 31st, 2008|The Dobotomy|

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When Joe Sakic signed on with the Avs for another season, some pieces fell into place on a lot of fantasy rosters. When Teemu Selanne and Mats Sundin announcements are made, you will see the same ripple effect.

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The Worst Team in Fantasy Hockey?

By Dobber Sports|2008-08-24T22:12:22-04:00August 24th, 2008|The Dobotomy|

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I often encourage fantasy owners to build their rosters with several players from the same team – especially those in leagues that also have a postseason element. In 2005 and 2006 I pushed the Penguins on you, believing that not only will this team compete deep into the playoffs year in and year out, but they have several great young players who will post big numbers and subsequently boost the numbers of their teammates.

In 2007 I pushed the Los Angeles Kings and this year I have been pretty vocal about the Coyotes and the Blackhawks. These are great young teams that will easily have 10 players who will be highly coveted in fantasy leagues and if you wait too long to acquire them, you will be paying out the yin-yang. But which team is so weak that poolies are going out of their way to not acquire their players? Which team carries such a stigma that the mere mention of a player in that organization immediately shuts down trade talks?

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Ottawa, Philadelphia off-season report

By Dobber Sports|2008-08-22T13:46:25-04:00August 22nd, 2008|The Dobotomy|

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As the number of keeper league hockey pools increase each year, fantasy junkies are becoming more active in the off-season as they prepare for the coming year. Rebuild? Retool? Tweak? Whatever your intentions, it helps to get all the information you can about your players. Fantasy Pool Look will examine at a pair of teams each week and give you the fantasy lowdown. This week, we’ll look through our fantasy hockey goggles at the outlooks for Ottawa and Philadelphia.

(Originally posted by The Hockey News on August 14th - Dobber archives some of his older THN articles here in case you missed them there!)