Questionable Left Wingers in Keeper Leagues for the 2009-2010 Season (Part 1)
With the fantasy hockey season winding down, managers in keeper leagues need to start considering players to bring over to the 2009-2010 season. This is the fifth segment in a multi-part series exploring keeper options at left wing for keeper leagues.
Sean Avery | New York Rangers
You didn’t think we were going to avoid this one, did you? People in New York love Sean Avery and it seems like the only place Avery is able to play effectively is in New York. A match made in heaven. In his end-of-the-year stint with the Rangers, Avery notched 12 points and 34 penalty minutes in 18 games. He is a well-rounded fantasy option when he is firing on all cylinders and is certainly a source of penalty minutes for managers in keeper leagues that reward heavily for rougher play. Understand, however, that Avery is a loose cannon and there is always the chance he could take on a suspension or two at some point in the regular season. Keep Avery reserved for managers willing to take some chances in deep keeper leagues for now.
Ryane Clowe | San Jose Sharks
Ryane Clowe is a young, developing talent at left wing who showed a ton of promise in the 2008-2009 regular season. He ended the year with 52 points and 51 penalty minutes, and served as a solid 3rd, or perhaps 2nd option at left wing for many fantasy teams. We have stressed getting players from good teams before and managers able to jump on Clowe in the draft or free agency were certainly rewarded. However, Clowe is a RFA this summer and should be expecting an increase in pay from the Sharks. If the Sharks aren’t able to retain Clowe, he’ll find a home somewhere else in the league for sure but may not produce to the level he did this season. He is certainly a player that benefits from his line combinations and may need another season, possibly on another club, to prove his worth in deep keeper leagues.
Jason Blake | Toronto Maple Leafs
Owners certainly felt the frustration this season (and last season as well) of Blake not being able to bury the puck in the back of the net. Blake takes a ton of shots per game, so fantasy leagues that reward for them should consider Blake as a possible option at left wing in a keeper format. Outside of shots, however, Blake may be a player to hold off on until the draft, especially in shallower leagues. He had a slow start to the season but a great 2nd half. Still, managers in fantasy leagues are looking for a little more consistency than Blake may have to offer.
Tuomo Ruutu | Carolina Hurricanes
The Carolina Hurricanes seem to be a perfect fit for Tuomo Ruutu as he had his best season in the league in 2008-2009 with 26 goals, 28 assists and 79 penalty minutes. Savvy managers knew about Ruutu’s potential in Chicago but was never able to get acclimated in the Blackhawk system. He is due for a contract in the off-season, which could have multiple affects on his fantasy value. If he re-ups with Carolina, his fantasy value is sure to improve as he has worked well with his line mates, especially on the power play. If he ends up on another team next season, it will be difficult to gauge his ability to gel with another system. If he does end up in Carolina, he could very well be developing into a more well-rounded fantasy option as he is known for being a physical presence on the ice. Keep a close eye on this situation, especially in deep keeper leagues.
Alexei Ponikarovsky | Toronto Maple Leafs
Jeesh. Another Leaf. Ponikarovsky broke out with the Leafs this season tallying 61 points and a +6 rating with decent power play contributions. Solid numbers for sure, however, it’s ok to be skeptical of how the Leafs will look next season. A promise of a team overhaul could leave fantasy managers scrambling to figure out who will be playing where if significant acquisitions are made over the summer. Keep in mind that Toronto has Jason Blake as their “top” left winger, so managers in deeper fantasy leagues may want to wait until the draft for Ponikarovsky.
Saucerpass is currently running a keeper league series uncovering different levels of players at all 5 positions. We have already looked at goaltenders and their keepability and will continue to breakdown every position until we’ve covered most options for next season:
Keeper Left Wingers for 2009-2010
Top Tier Left Wingers
Solid Left Wingers
Serviceable Left Wingers (Part 1)
Serviceable Left Wingers (Part 2)
Keeper Goaltenders for 2009-2010
Top Tier Goaltenders
Solid Goaltenders
Servicable Goaltenders
Questionable Goaltenders (Part 1)
Questionable Goaltenders (Part 2)
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I totally agree with the statement about Avery. He is a bit of a hot-head but sure can add a lot to a Fantasy team when he focuses on the actual game. He for some reason keeps his head on straight for the most part in New York and has been a catalyst for the Rangers this year, and I think for next season as well.
Thanks for commenting, Carl. What I like about Avery is that he can score 2 power play goals in one game, finish with a +1 rating and 6 penalty minutes. The fans love him and obviously the coach can tolerate him because he plays a pretty significant role in their offense.