saucerpass.com http://saucerpass.com SaucerPass.com | In-depth fantasy hockey coverage Tue, 06 Jan 2009 22:01:27 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 en ©Kory webmaster@saucerpass.com (Kory) webmaster@saucerpass.com(Kory) Fantasy Hockey 1440 fantasy hockey, fantasy sports, nhl, games, podcast, saucer pass SaucerPass.com Fantasy Hockey Podcast. Your source for in-depth articles, analysis, and other great info on all things fantasy hockey! SaucerPass.com Fantasy Hockey Podcast. Your source for in-depth articles, analysis, and other great info on all things fantasy hockey! Kory Kory webmaster@saucerpass.com No yes http://saucerpass.com/wp-content/themes/saucerpass/images/sp-rss.jpg saucerpass.com http://saucerpass.com 144 144 2352361http://www.feedburner.com Saucerpass on the Weekly Deke Tonight http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/saucerpass/~3/504680162/ http://saucerpass.com/2009/01/saucerpass-on-the-weekly-deke-tonight-5/#comments Tue, 06 Jan 2009 22:01:27 +0000 Schrembs http://saucerpass.com/?p=1404

I will be representing saucerpass.com tonight as a guest on The Weekly Deke hockey show. I will join Bill Brister of The Daily Deke to discuss all things hockey related, so if you have a fantasy question you would like answered, send and email prior to the show and I will address it on air, or join us live at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/nosebleed

The show starts at 9pm. See you there. If you are unable to make the show, you may download it at The Daily Deke website.

]]> http://saucerpass.com/2009/01/saucerpass-on-the-weekly-deke-tonight-5/feed/ http://saucerpass.com/2009/01/saucerpass-on-the-weekly-deke-tonight-5/ Using Yahoo! O-Ranks to Your Advantage (Part 1) http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/saucerpass/~3/504408098/ http://saucerpass.com/2009/01/using-yahoo-o-ranks-to-your-advantage-part-1/#comments Tue, 06 Jan 2009 16:00:55 +0000 Schrembs http://saucerpass.com/?p=1386

For those of you who play Yahoo! Fantasy Hockey, I’m sure that you’ve encountered some notable (perhaps laughable) Yahoo! O-Ranks so far this season. Skewed O-Ranks can certainly help your fantasy hockey team but you have to know how to use the ranks to your advantage.

When offering up a trade, no matter who you are, O-Ranks will linger in the back of your mind as you stare down the computer screen figuring out how to proceed. If you’re considering proposing a trade, it would be in your best interest to utilize these O-Ranks to help “push a trade through.” You may want to consider the following players as having inflated O-Ranks based on the performance they’ve had so far this season:

Players With Inflated O-Ranks:
1. Wade Redden - Rank 65
2. Bryan McCabe - Rank 67
3. Miroslav Satan - Rank 74
4. Brian Rolston - Rank 90
5. Andrei Kostitsyn - Rank 91
6. Jonathan Cheechoo - Rank 97
7. Jason Blake - Rank 110
8. Wojtek Wolski - Rank 111
9. Sam Gagner - Rank 119
10. Patrick O’Sullivan - Rank 122

If you own a player on this list, treating him as a “throw in” could help convince a potential trading partner to pull the trigger on the deal since it appears they are getting more out of the trade with that inflated value player thrown in there.

Throwing in a player like Redden or Cheechoo to make an offer a 2-for-1 or a 3-for-2 would allow managers in shallower leagues to hopefully get the player they desire. They then could then head to the waiver wire to find a decent replacement who, if properly researched, could outplay the throw-in player. Managers in deeper leagues may have to do a little more homework, but with rookies and 2nd half sleepers, they could come out on top.

Players like Wade Redden, Jonathan Cheechoo, and Bryan McCabe carry a reputable name and could help improve the luster of the trade. Make the trade appealing to the person you’re trying to wheel and deal with.

Just something to keep in mind as you finish up the season.

Tomorrow will be Part 2 of this mini series and will deal with 10 players that have a deflated O-Rank that may be worth owning.

]]> http://saucerpass.com/2009/01/using-yahoo-o-ranks-to-your-advantage-part-1/feed/ http://saucerpass.com/2009/01/using-yahoo-o-ranks-to-your-advantage-part-1/ Steve Sullivan Could Set a Date to Return to Action http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/saucerpass/~3/503412267/ http://saucerpass.com/2009/01/steve-sullivan-could-set-a-date-to-return-to-action/#comments Mon, 05 Jan 2009 14:30:57 +0000 Schrembs http://saucerpass.com/?p=1397

The Tennessean is reporting that Steve Sullivan, who has been out of action since the 2006-2007 season, is skating and participating in on-ice contact drills. He is set to meet this week with GM David Poile and head coach Barry Trotz to discuss setting a return date this season.

Fantasy Impact:
Steve Sullivan has had some serious back issues over the past couple of years but when healthy, he’s an extremely dangerous player. He has 6 seasons of 60+ points with Chicago and Nashville and his speed makes him one of the deadliest shorthanded threats in the league. This is your official heads up on Sullivan. We should know in a day or so where he stands on returning this season. He’s on injured reserve so if you have the capacity to stash him, I would suggest doing so if the news is positive. He could prove to be a savvy pickup and help you make the push towards a playoff spot in the second half of the season. Again, wait until official word from the organization, then make the move.

]]> http://saucerpass.com/2009/01/steve-sullivan-could-set-a-date-to-return-to-action/feed/ http://saucerpass.com/2009/01/steve-sullivan-could-set-a-date-to-return-to-action/ Injury Updates: Patrick Kane and Andy McDonald http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/saucerpass/~3/502836635/ http://saucerpass.com/2009/01/injury-updates-patrick-kane-and-andy-mcdonald/#comments Sun, 04 Jan 2009 22:08:13 +0000 Schrembs http://saucerpass.com/?p=1388

The Chicago Tribune is reporting that sophomore sensation Patrick Kane will miss tonight’s game against Calgary due to a lingering ankle injury that was aggravated during the Winter Classic.

Fantasy Impact:
Not having Kane in your fantasy lineup will be significant and it sounds like he’ll be more of a ‘day-to-day’ case which doesn’t allow you to throw him IR and find a replacement. Ankle injuries are certainly tricky to diagnose properly so don’t be surprised if Kane is out a little longer than some are anticipating. While I wouldn’t expect you to go out and drop Kane for a healthier option, it may be in the best interest of those who don’t own Kane to consider a couple players to pick up that could see an increased role in his absence. Look for Kris Versteeg to step up and fill Kane’s role until he returns. If you haven’t bought into him by now, it could be advantageous to do so at this point. He’s an extremely well rounded fantasy option as he can produce both even strength and in shorthanded situations, and can certainly help out your team’s plus/minus rating. Andrew Ladd has picked up his game as of late and could continue to produce with an increased role. He’s a bit of a late bloomer and has been showing quite a bit of promise as of late.

 

USA Today is reporting that St. Louis Blues’ top center Andy McDonald is off his crutches and improving by the day.

Fantasy Impact:
Even though Andy McDonald is still a few weeks away from returning, he certainly is within that time frame for stash consideration. He plays a huge role in the St. Louis offense and if he was dropped in your league, make a play for him as he will assume the top line duties once he returns. Despite what a number of website are reporting, don’t expect the Blues to rush him back for a January 11th contest with Edmonton. The Blues will be cautious with Andy and we should see him in a little over 2 weeks.

]]> http://saucerpass.com/2009/01/injury-updates-patrick-kane-and-andy-mcdonald/feed/ http://saucerpass.com/2009/01/injury-updates-patrick-kane-and-andy-mcdonald/ Marian Gaborik Out 10 Weeks Due To Surgery http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/saucerpass/~3/501323756/ http://saucerpass.com/2009/01/marian-gaborik-out-10-weeks-due-to-surgery/#comments Fri, 02 Jan 2009 23:06:12 +0000 Kory http://saucerpass.com/?p=1382

Michael Russo of the Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune reported on his blog today that Gaborik will have hip surgery and will be set to miss 10-14 weeks. Gaborik has had repeated groin trouble in his career and it is thought that his current hip “deficiency” is the probable root of the problems. Hopefully Gaborik can get this thing fixed for good. The timing sucks for the Wild, though, because the recovery and absence will take Gaborik past the NHL trade deadline of March 4th. Minnesota stands to lose Gaborik for nothing at the end of the season if they cannot re-sign him. Not the best start to the 2009 new year for Gaborik fantasy owners either.

Fantasy Impact: Impact for Gaborik owners is clearly huge. Gaborik will miss another large chunk of games with this surgery. However, it’s likely that Gaborik owners knew what they were getting into when they drafted him or otherwise acquired him as he’s widely known to be one of the best injury prone players in the league. Gabby is so very talented and is a very consistently explosive scorer when in the lineup but the trouble lately has been that the amount of games he’s missed is huge in relation to the amount he’s played.

Not much should change when it comes to the Wild lineup in terms of the current players and their responsibilities. Gaborik has only played in 6 games total this season and the Wild have been doing fine without him, for the most part. It is possible that the GM may make a move to bolster his lineup in the coming weeks but again the biggest issue is that they will be unable to trade Gabby because he’ll be out of action for so long and past the trade deadline.

If you have Gaborik in a roto league, he’ll still be valuable upon return, as his point-per-game pace is useful for those in leagues where max games are utilized. Players that produce at the same clip that Gaborik does, especially goal-scoring, are few and far between. Stash him on your IR long term; he’s comfortable in that slot anyway.

]]> http://saucerpass.com/2009/01/marian-gaborik-out-10-weeks-due-to-surgery/feed/ http://saucerpass.com/2009/01/marian-gaborik-out-10-weeks-due-to-surgery/ Alex Tanguay Out At Least 6 Weeks http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/saucerpass/~3/500557353/ http://saucerpass.com/2009/01/alex-tanguay-out-at-least-6-weeks/#comments Fri, 02 Jan 2009 00:22:15 +0000 Kory http://saucerpass.com/?p=1376

Alex Tanguay will be out for at least six weeks for the Canadiens with an apparent separated shoulder (TSN.ca). Tanguay said that it could even take up to eight weeks. Either way, he’ll be out for a while and the Habs already have injury troubles up and down the lineup, as a whole.

Fantasy Impact: Tanguay is another injury casualty for the Canadiens which will diminish their overall offense for the next few weeks. Also, Carey Price has had some injury troubles lately for the Canadiens as well, so if he misses more time then look for Halak to fill the void in net and get more starts. Luckily for Montreal Halak is a capable goalie and they can at least rely on him to get some wins even if Price misses more time, if at all. Overall, though, the Canadiens are definitely having injury problems. When a team has a lot of injuries to significant players, the entire roster can dip in production so pay attention to the other Montreal players on your roster, even if you don’t have Tanguay yourself.

The injuries have created opportunities for highly touted Habs prospects Kyle Chipchura and Max Pacioretty. It remains to be seen if either will get good minutes but it’s unlikely that they’ll start off on the top lines so be wary of picking either up right away. They are both talented young players but they’ll have a better shot of making a significant impact in the future, rather than right away. It’s entirely possible, though, that one of them may catch fire for a few games before inevitably cooling off. Pacioretty could be a candidate for that scenario. Again, the caveat being that it’ll be short-lived so timing is important. Both Pacioretty and Chipchura were first round draft picks in their respective draft years and in keeper leagues these guys will be certainly good pieces to watch.

There have been a lot of injuries the past couple weeks to various players across the NHL so if you have Tanguay or any of those other guys, you’re not alone. Make sure to keep tabs on ice time and line combinations for the players that are filling in for the injured guys in order to make decisions about who to pick up in the short term. Short term acquisitions are key in head to head leagues but are less necessary in roto leagues where there are max games to worry about. Also, positions matter when trying to pick up a stopgap. Pacioretty is a winger and Chipchura is a center so make sure who you grab fits your needs.

]]> http://saucerpass.com/2009/01/alex-tanguay-out-at-least-6-weeks/feed/ http://saucerpass.com/2009/01/alex-tanguay-out-at-least-6-weeks/ Jason LaBarbera Traded To The Vancouver Canucks http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/saucerpass/~3/499438601/ http://saucerpass.com/2008/12/jason-labarbera-traded-to-the-vancouver-canucks/#comments Wed, 31 Dec 2008 12:30:58 +0000 Kory http://saucerpass.com/?p=1369

LaBarbera has been traded by the Kings to the Vancouver Canucks for a 7th round pick in the 2009 draft.
Source: NHL.com

Fantasy Impact: LaBarbera will probably get some starts in while Luongo and Sanford are both injured. He’ll likely split duties with Schneider and then Schneider will get sent down when Sanford and/or Luongo return.

LaBarbera’s short-term value remains similar as he will get starts at least with the Canucks but once Sanford & Luongo return, he will effectively become free agent material in most fantasy leagues. LaBarbera’s numbers thus far have been mediocre and it’s unlikely that he really turns it around in Vancouver either. It could be time to cut him loose as soon as you can.

With LaBarbera’s departure, Jon Quick seems to have been given a good chance of getting and keeping the starter’s job for the Kings. Quick has been very good for Los Angeles the past few games and with LaBarbera gone and Ersberg on the outs, Quick is all of a sudden looking like the #1 goalie for LA. If he’s still available in your league–which is entirely possible–you better grab him fast.

]]> http://saucerpass.com/2008/12/jason-labarbera-traded-to-the-vancouver-canucks/feed/ http://saucerpass.com/2008/12/jason-labarbera-traded-to-the-vancouver-canucks/ UPDATE: Paul Stastny To Have Surgery - Out 6-8 Weeks http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/saucerpass/~3/498094773/ http://saucerpass.com/2008/12/paul-stastny-to-have-surgery-out-6-8-weeks/#comments Mon, 29 Dec 2008 22:17:14 +0000 Kory http://saucerpass.com/?p=1363

Avalanche center Paul Stastny is scheduled to have surgery on Tuesday according to the Rocky Mountain News and will likely have to miss 6-8 weeks.

Fantasy Impact: This at least solidifies the situation for Stastny, Colorado, and fantasy managers out there, rather than wondering what “out indefinitely” means. Stastny is Colorado’s best player right now and with Sakic still out, the Avalanche will really be hurting for a little while. Ryan Smyth and Milan Hejduk, Stastny’s linemates have been clicking recently but now without their best playmaker, the Avalanche as a whole will need to get scoring from more areas.

Look for Wojtek Wolski to be used more from now on. Wolski, another young and talented player, like Stastny, has had a rather disappointing showing so far this season. With two of Colorado’s best players out, guys like Wolski will really need to step it up. As mentioned above, Ryan Smyth has been performing a bit better lately and he’ll need to keep it up. Same goes for Hejduk. However, as a fantasy manager, you should not be surprised if their overall production game in and game out goes down, as Stastny really is the main catalyst for the Avalanche offense. Also, young guys like TJ Hensick may get some more minutes and could possibly see some increased production. Overall, though, expect the Avalanche to struggle offensively for the next few weeks.

]]> http://saucerpass.com/2008/12/paul-stastny-to-have-surgery-out-6-8-weeks/feed/ http://saucerpass.com/2008/12/paul-stastny-to-have-surgery-out-6-8-weeks/ Paul Kariya Could Miss the Remainder of the Regular Season http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/saucerpass/~3/497328398/ http://saucerpass.com/2008/12/paul-kariya-could-miss-the-remainder-of-the-regular-season/#comments Mon, 29 Dec 2008 00:03:54 +0000 Schrembs http://saucerpass.com/?p=1361

TSN is reporting that St. Louis Blues veteran winger Paul Kariya is expected to have hip surgery in the near future and could be out the remainder of the regular season.

Fantasy Impact:
Kariya has been out since November so there’s a good chance that he’s filling your injured reserve spot and you’ve found a replacement for him. However, with the Blues so devastated with injuries this season, there is some fresh young talent, as well as some returning talent, that you may want to consider to help you make a push in the second half of the season.

First,Andy MacDonald should be making his return in the next couple of weeks and if you happen to see him on your waiver wire, stash him until he returns to action. Have a look at David Perron and David Backes in the second half of the season as well; Backes especially since he’s an extremely well rounded fantasy player. Patrik Berglund continues to make a case for the Calder with his solid play and T.J. Oshie should be getting back on his feet in a week or so as well.

Have a look into these players and see which players satisfy your specific fantasy needs, then make a play and stay solid throughout the second half of the season. Good luck.

]]> http://saucerpass.com/2008/12/paul-kariya-could-miss-the-remainder-of-the-regular-season/feed/ http://saucerpass.com/2008/12/paul-kariya-could-miss-the-remainder-of-the-regular-season/ Fantasy Hockey Team Names http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/saucerpass/~3/494821237/ http://saucerpass.com/2008/12/fantasy-hockey-team-names/#comments Thu, 25 Dec 2008 13:00:48 +0000 Schrembs http://saucerpass.com/?p=1334

Happy holidays from The Sauce

The Sauce wants to wish all of our visitors happy holidays and to show our appreciation to you for making Saucerpass.com a routine stop in your fantasy hockey rotation, we have compiled a list of fantasy hockey names that you can use in future endeavors. There are not that many websites devoted to fantasy hockey team names, so we hope you find this article beneficial and fun. Some of these names we have come across in our fantasy adventures but most are names we really put on our thinking caps for. We’ve gone old school and new school with our player choices so hopefully we’ve covered a big enough spectrum. There is also an explanation along with the team name because nothing is worse than having a clever fantasy hockey team name, having someone ask you what it means and you not having a clue. Don’t be that guy.

Big thanks to Saucerpass user JR for his help with this project. Please feel free to add your own contributions in a comment at the bottom of the post.

Fantasy Name: : Theoreo Mcfleury
Explanation: A cross between former Calgary Flame Theo Fleury and a tasty treat from McDonald’s.

Fantasy Name: : Timonen Pumba
Explanation: A play on words with Kimmo Timonen and “The Lion King” movie.

Fantasy Name: : Pasta Primeauvera
Explanation: A cross between former NHL’er Keith Primeau and one of my favorite pasta dishes.

Fantasy Name: : You’re Darn Tyutin!
Explanation: One of my favorite lines from the movie “Fargo” which actually didn’t star Fedor Tyutin.

Fantasy Name: : Two To Tanguay
Explanation: It takes two…

Fantasy Name: : Crash Test Domis
Explanation: A cross between former bad boy Tie Domi and Canadian heartthrobs Crash Test Dummies.

Fantasy Name: Jaromir Jagrbombs
Explanation: A cross between Jaromir Jagr and a shot of Jagermeister and Red Bull.

Fantasy Name: Hate The Yake!
Explanation: A cross between former Anaheim Mighty Ducks star Terry Yake and a famous Seinfeld one-liner.

Fantasy Name: Fear The Grier
Explanation: A clever phrase given to current Sharks winger Mike Grier.

Fantasy Name: Woolley Bully
Explanation: I doubt that Jason Woolley was in Sam the Sham & the Pharaohs.

Fantasy Name: The Brothers Grimson
Explanation: A cross between former NHL goon Stu Grimson and folk tale writers Wilhelm & Jakob Grimm.

Fantasy Name: Stinkin’ Rut Beer
Explanation: From the movie ‘Slapshot.’

Fantasy Name: De Vries Technical Institute
Explanation: Does anyone actually go to DeVry?

Fantasy Name: The Big Letowski
Explanation: A little play on a cult classic.

Fantasy Name: Quaker Oates
Explanation: A cross between former NHL’er Adam Oates and the delicious breakfast cereal.

Fantasy Name: On Bended Neely
Explanation: A cross between former NHL’er/cameo actor Cam Neely and that delightful Boyz II Men song from 1994.

Fantasy Name: Sandis Cassels
Explanation: A cross between Andrew Cassels and Sandis Ozolinsh makes a great beach activity.

Fantasy Name: Balls Of Fuhry
Explanation: A cross between former NHL goaltender Grant Fuhr and a funny table tennis movie.

Fantasy Name: Malkin In The Middle
Explanation: Malkin plus one of the most underrated prime time television shows of the 90s.

Fantasy Name: Hrudey Ruettiger
Explanation: Mixing Kelly Hrudey and Rudy Ruettiger from one of my least favorite football films ‘Rudy.’

Fantasy Name: 3rd Laraque From The Sun
Explanation: Most underrated television show of the 90s and our good buddy Georges.

Fantasy Name: Exelby Takes The Square
Explanation: A play on the classic game show Hollywood Squares.

Fantasy Name: Kiss From LaRose
Explanation: Chad LaRose and a sweet song by Seal.

Fantasy Name: AM SO! ARNOTT!
Explanation: Jason Arnott in a childish game.

Fantasy Name: Honey Nut Chelios
Explanation: I hope Chris Chelios plays hockey until he’s 75. Mix him with my favorite breakfast cereal and you have a winning team name.

Fantasy Name: I’M BRIAN BELLOWS!
Explanation: A cross between former NHL’er Brian Bellows and a Saturday Night Live skit starring Tracy Morgan.

Fantasy Name: The Probert Report
Explanation: A cross between former fist fighting expert Bob Probert and a funny television show on Comedy Central.

Fantasy Name: Pootie Letang
Explanation: A cross between Penguin defender Kristopher Letang and some awful movie I have never seen called ‘Pootie Tang.’

Fantasy Name: Backes That Ass Up
Explanation: David Backes, please meet Juvenile.

Fantasy Name: Watermellanby
Explanation: A cross between Scott Mellanby and a summertime treat.

Fantasy Name: Hamburger Halpern
Explanation: What you would get if Jeff Halpern and Hamburger Helper collided.

Fantasy Name: Somebody Horcoff’d Our Clothes
Explanation: Combining Shawn Horcoff with the cult classic ‘Strange Brew’ in which Bob and Doug are blackmailed by someone who ‘harked their clothes.’

Fantasy Name: Good Moreau, Abbot
Explanation: Inserting Ethan Moreau’s name in to a classic quote from ‘Robin Hood: Men in Tights.’

Fantasy Name: Kuba Missle Crisis
Explanation: This one is for you history buffs out there.

Fantasy Name: Always Room For Gelinas
Explanation: A cross between Martin Gelinas and the slogan for Jell-O.

Fantasy Name: Roloffson Farms
Explanation: What would happen if Dwayne Roloson starred in “Little People, Big World.”

Fantasy Name: Don’t Toews Me, Bro!
Explanation: A cross between Jonathan Toews and that unforgettable student from Florida.

Fantasy Name: Allison Chains
Explanation: Apparently Jason Allison was NOT a grunge rocker

Fantasy Name: Porno For Parros
Explanation: A cross between George Parros and some alternative rockers.

Fantasy Name: That’s Brind’Amoure!
Explanation: Making Dean Martin proud for sure.

Fantasy Name: Hanzal And Gretel
Explanation: Martin Hanzal collides with a famous children’s story.

Fantasy Name: Ferraro Testarossa
Explanation: A pretty nice car with an ageless wonder.

Fantasy Name: Turkey, Hold DiMaio
Explanation: My very favorite sandwich order starring Rob DiMaio.

Fantasy Name: Do You Smell What Laraque Is Cookin’?
Explanation: I know it exceeds most name formats, but it you can make it work, more power to you.

Fantasy Name: Crosby, Stillman & Nash
Explanation: Classic rockers David, Stephen and Graham meet Sidney, Cory, and Rick.

Fantasy Name: Stempniak The Schwab
Explanation: Lee Stempniak and Corey Schwab in a play on an ESPN game show.

Fantasy Name: I Know What Boyes Like
Explanation: …I know what guys want.

Fantasy Name: Ridley’s Believe It Or Not
Explanation: Paying homage to one of my favorite Caps.

Fantasy Name: Maracle On Ice
Explanation: Does any else remember Norm Maracle besides me?

Fantasy Name: PyongyAngotti, South Kariya
Explanation: This one is for you old school Flyer fans and geography buffs.

Fantasy Name: Chocolate LeClair
Explanation: Too easy, John. Too easy.

Fantasy Name: The Three Weiss Men
Explanation: Getting in the holiday spirit with this Florida center.

Fantasy Name: Hull and Oates
Explanation: Classic rockers Daryl and John meet Brett and Adam.

Fantasy Name: Mr. Odgers Neighborhood
Explanation: My tribute to Atlanta’s greatest goon.

Fantasy Name: Dude, you’re getting a Delmore
Explanation: A cross between a fairly mediocre computer brand and a fairly mediocre defenseman.

]]> http://saucerpass.com/2008/12/fantasy-hockey-team-names/feed/ http://saucerpass.com/2008/12/fantasy-hockey-team-names/ Paul Stastny Out Indefinitely with a Fractured Forearm http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/saucerpass/~3/494191169/ http://saucerpass.com/2008/12/paul-stastny-out-indefinitely-with-a-fractured-forearm/#comments Wed, 24 Dec 2008 17:13:55 +0000 Schrembs http://saucerpass.com/?p=1354

The Denver Post is reporting that up and coming Avalanche forward Paul Stastny will be out indefinitely with a fractured forearm.

Fantasy Impact:
First Sakic, now Stastny? Happy holidays fantasy owners. The bare minimum that Stastny will be lost is 4 weeks. If the injury ends up being more severe than originally thought, he could miss up to 12 weeks at the very, very most. So what to do now? First thing to take into consideration is that centers are extremely plentiful in fantasy hockey, so unless you’re in the deepest of leagues, you should be able to find a decent center to hold down the fort until Stastny returns.

For those managers in deeper leagues, you may have a more difficult time filling the void. If you’re looking to stay within the Avalanche organization, I’d make yourself very familiar with T.J. Hensick as he could take over the duties of the top center position. The problem with the current situation at center in Colorado is that beyond Sakic and Stastny, Colorado has nothing but low level fantasy flyers to fill that void on your roster. You could look the way of Tyler Arnason in hopes of him picking up his game with increased responsibility.

Don’t rule out Colorado making a small deal to acquire a center to get them over the hump, either. Keep an eye on the situation over the next couple of days. The NHL Trade Freeze is in effect right now, so don’t expect anything to take place until after December 27th.

That should cover just about every fantasy option you have with this injury, so good luck to you.

]]> http://saucerpass.com/2008/12/paul-stastny-out-indefinitely-with-a-fractured-forearm/feed/ http://saucerpass.com/2008/12/paul-stastny-out-indefinitely-with-a-fractured-forearm/ 10 Questionable Keepers For Upcoming Fantasy Seasons http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/saucerpass/~3/493430383/ http://saucerpass.com/2008/12/10-questionable-keepers-for-upcoming-fantasy-seasons/#comments Tue, 23 Dec 2008 20:19:29 +0000 Schrembs http://saucerpass.com/?p=1345

When dealing with keeper leagues, it’s always important to ensure that you’re going to get a certain sense of longevity out of your keeper players. There are certain “marquee” players out there that can be categorized as ‘risky’ when it comes to long term keeper situations and if you’re an owner now with the intent to keep, you may want to re-consider and make a move to acquire a more reliable option:

Player: Nicklas Lidstrom
Situation: Use Caution
Keeper Liability: Age
Analysis:
With Lids turning 39 at the end of the regular season, some are beginning to wonder about the output we’ll see from him over the remaining two years of his stint in Detroit. Certainly he’s in a good place and as Kory mentioned last week, it’s always advantageous to have players from good teams. The only downfall is that we may see his production drop off a little as he gets older. He certainly has the name and the numbers to sell, so if you’re feeling uncomfortable about Lidstrom, it might not be a bad idea to look into making a trade.

Player: Marian Gaborik
Situation: Avoid If Possible
Keeper Liability: Injury Prone
Analysis:
There isn’t any doubt in our minds that Marian Gaborik is a superstar. However, he has proven to be a somewhat unreliable fantasy option and is causing managers who decided to take him in the first two rounds of their draft a great deal of grief. If you have Gaborik slotted as one of your keeper forwards/wingers, I would suggest looking elsewhere for a more reliable source of points. Right wing is an extremely thin position this year, so finding someone comparable may cost you but in the long run, I think you’ll be glad you did. Leave Gabby for someone else to deal with.

Player: Simon Gagne
Situation: Use Caution
Keeper Liability: Injury Concern (Concussion)
Analysis:
Gagne being on this list may be a surprise to a few of you but you might get some really solid return for Gagne at this point in the season. There is little doubt that he’s a serious fantasy threat, however, if he takes one more punishing hit, it could be curtains for his career leaving you stranded at left wing. He’s had a great season so far and he could go on to have an injury free career, but it’s certainly something to consider if you’re using him long term.

Player: Sergei Zubov
Situation: Avoid Altogether
Keeper Liability: Age
Analysis:
Zubov has had himself quite a career in the NHL and with the points he has put up, he certainly merits consideration as a number one fantasy defender. However, with injuries shortening his season this year and last year, it would be wise avoid him in 2009-2010 and find another option at defense.

Player: Paul Kariya
Situation: Stick With Him
Keeper Liability: Age?
Analysis:
There are some who avoid Kariya like the plague because of his prolonged NHL career. I’m going to be honest with everyone: he still has a couple years of serious productive play in him and is on an up and coming Blues team where he could really benefit from the younger talent around him. If you’re debating on whether or not to take Kariya with you to next season, consider that up until this season, he has played 10 NHL season of 66 games or more, 7 seasons of which were all 82 games. Not too shabby for the 14 year veteran.

Player: Alexei Kovalev
Situation: Stick With Him
Keeper Liability: Age/Injury?
Analysis:
Last season we saw a serious resurgence from the somewhat forgotten Kovalev and while his health and age are a concern to some, he’s in an extremely advantageous situation in Montreal where he could really make the best of what he has around him. He’s certainly not a top option by any stretch of the imagination. There are better choices out there but for those of you in deeper fantasy leagues, he certainly shouldn’t be overlooked.

Player: Ray Whitney
Situation: Use Caution
Keeper Liability: Age
Analysis:
Whitney is getting up there in age and he has one more year left on his contract in Carolina. You certainly could keep him if you needed to, but you may only have one more year with him until his career becomes a question mark. Does he call it quits after 20 years in the NHL or does he play the “1 year contract game” with several teams until he’s no longer able to keep up? Only time will tell. If you have Whitney as a potential keeper at wing, consider bringing in some younger, fresher talent.

Player: Martin Havlat
Situation: Avoid If Possible
Keeper Liability: Injury Prone
Analysis:
As I have discussed in the past, Martin Havlat is one of the most injury prone players in the NHL. Placing a large amount of stock in him in terms of a keeper league may not be the best idea. If you are enjoying the benefits of his rock solid play this year, you may have the chance to sell him high to bring in a more reliable option at wing/forward. Trust me on this one. Do it now before the unthinkable happens.

Player: Teemu Selanne
Situation: Stick With Him
Keeper Liability: Age
Analysis:
Despite being injured right now, Selanne should have quite a bit of value once he returns to action this season as well as over remaining two years of his contract with Anaheim. He’s still a threat, especially on the power play, so if you’re in a moderate to deep keeper league, it may be worth hanging on to Selanne for at least one more season before you try and find a substitute.

Player: Rod Brind’Amour
Situation: Avoid If Possible
Keeper Liability: Age
Analysis:
With center being such a deep position, it may be in your best interest to leave Brindy out of your keeper lineup and try and nab him again in the draft. He’s an extremely talented yet weathered 20-year veteran who may lose a step or two over the next couple of seasons. Unless your league rewards in heavily for face-off wins, choose another player and try and treat Brind’Amour as a year-to-year option from here on out.

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