We’re basically a week into the season and already some players have seen their fantasy value fluctuate, either positively thanks to a great start to the season or on the down side because of early struggles. So let’s separate the Frogs from the Princes as we take a look at the hot and the not after a week of play.
All poolies are aware of the dreaded sophomore slump. Talented second year players for whatever reason cannot rekindle the magic of their rookie seasons. They struggle with consistency, and over the years have killed many fantasy teams. Many second year players are often overlooked because of this perceived slump, which may allow some talented youngsters to slip down the depth chart.
The first week of the season was full of competitive games and some really wild results. The Blackhawks coming back to defeat the Red Wings in a shootout, Columbus shutting out Anaheim and Washington doing the same to Carolina were just three of many impressive games that transpired in the last five days.
And while some team managers are reaping the rewards of having goalies like Chris Mason, Martin Gerber and Pascal Leclaire in their lineup, others are left feeling like a homicidal maniac perched high atop a bell tower with a trembling and itchy trigger finger, just waiting to drop or trade some of their top two goalies.
Has Ted Nolan done it again? Has he taken a mishmash cast of underachievers and molded them together to form a cohesive, productive unit?
What’s in a name? Plenty I say.
There are several NHL players with two first names. Players like Duncan Keith, Chris Simon, Bill Thomas, Bryan Allen, Chris Kelly, Tom Gilbert and Ryan Craig. You would think their parents might have noticed that and given them a unique first name.
Throughout training camp, all eyes in Minnesota were on four youngsters battling for two roster spots. James Sheppard, Benoit Pouliot, Matt Foy and Petr Kalus arrived in camp with one goal in mind: get on that roster.
The NHL season has finally started. Are you ready to get down and dirty? It’s an exciting time for fantasy hockey fans. As you have fun looking at box scores and following your players try to incorporate these...traditionally 'dirty' terms with a fantasy hockey twist.
There’s something primitive and personal that lives, nay, grows inside every single fantasy hockey manager. For as each day of the National Hockey League season turns into night, we slowly morph into a primal animal and become consumed by personal superstitions that wreak havoc on our hockey souls. This creature – this animal – is known as the freedom of choice.
Marian Hossa is an offensive star, but what about brother Marcel?
(Originally published by thehockeynews.com and msn.ca on Sept. 19)
As you might have read about in Dobber’s daily ramblings or on Burnsy’s Keepin’ it real blog, I organize an industry wide fantasy hockey experts’ league. Scott Cullen from TSN.ca is the league’s defending champion and there are 15 experts participating this season.
