On The Radar

The 2nd installment of On The Radar.

Well In case you didn't know the Capitals are the most fun team to watch and the best in the league. They have raped 14 teams/games in a row. And give me wood numerous times nightly. Especially there comeback from 4-1 to win 5-4 in OT. Brooks Orpik, Semin is not a baby if he can run your show that well... Just saying

Last week I told you to check out Zubrus, Brouwer, and Filppula. Lets see what they did last week.

Zubrus: 3GP, 2G, 0A, -1 . Thats pretty damn good for a quick pick up
Brouwer: 3GP 0G, 1A, +1 . Not bad, But taken off the Kane-Toews line so beware...
Filppula:3 GP, 1G, 2A, -3. Great stats except for the -3.... Now that Franzen is back lets hope something picks up even more.

This week I am gunna pick a couple more guys to take a peek at if they are available or if you wanna try and hit a cheap trade and ditch some dying player.

Tyler Bozak: If you have some room at Centre pick up this guy. 15 games, 11 points(3G,8A) on the top line and leafs powerplay. He is a plus 2 and is developing so much faster than expected. This is a relief considering the leafs draft blunders etc. This being an undrafted pick up. ( Yea cheung, congrats on a good little pick up here..) ( 2% owned in yahoo leagues)

Manny Legace: On the 2nd last place team in the East, and now with Ward injured look for Legace & Justin Peters to take all the goal post time and possibly play a couple great games. As of late the canes have turned around their dismal start to the season but are already out of the picture and are looking to next year. However, if you need starts or a lucky game look to pick up this guy. He could impress like he had before for Detroit and a bit of St.Louis... ( 3% owned in yahoo leagues)

Mark Giordano: Now that Phaneuf is gone and although when he was here this guy was logging big minutes. Look for him to snag more points and time than he already was. In 59 games he has gotten 25 points and remained a plus 4 to be the flames leading blueliner over j-bouw and regeher. He is doing great in the new year and is catching my eye as i try and ditch 2 players like mad. If you aren't sold check this gino out

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBTs28ZMGcw

( 35% owned in yahoo leagues)

Lastly, one more d-man

Ryan Whitney: Since niedermayer is terrible this year and pronger is gone. Whitney is stepping out like he should and like he did in pittsburgh. In the past 3 games he has 5 points ( 1G, 4A). Although he only has 27 points and is a -5 he gets some decent PIMS and is showing that his 59 point season in 06-07 isnt a fluke. Look at him. ( 38% owned in yahoo leagues)

For now thats all i got. Lets hope this olympic break is a good one for Canada and every other athlete/ player and that every injured hockey player recovers cause fuck its killing me now... And in case you all didnt know Ryan Getzlaf has joined the fallen after a big ankle wipeout.... Great...

Fuck Injuries

Goose

Underachiever swap

After nearly 24 hours of speculation and reports from TSN and other web sites, the sources confirm the New York Rangers and Calgary Flames swap headaches, an expiring contract, some bad contracts, and some underachieving/ over rated players . This trade sees Calgary GM Darryl Sutter letting his team know that no one isn't expendable by first removing blueline cornerstone Dion Phaneuf and now last year's trade deadline acquisiton Olli Jokinen, including Brandon Prust.

The rangers once again get lucky by removing more bad mistakes by sather on Kotalik and Higgins.

This trade confuses me because I do not know who Iginla will play with consistently or who the centre's will be on this team, although they are pretty deep on the wings. Newyork now gets another player who has not played up to their potential and then a bruiser. If Jokinen is to be placed on Gaborik's line with Prospal I see an increase in his value and point production ( 56 GP, 11G 24A, +2) . He use to be a 90 point player when he had heart on the Panthers. Definitely better than the one season wonders Higgins and Kotalik, both have been scratches several times this year and just locker room problems for the dissapointing rangers.

But hey in other news congrats to Jonas Hiller on the first day on the starting job potting the shutout. 33 saves in blanking the panthers. Sidney Crosby dismantled Miller(Hat-trick in the 2nd period) as the pens got 4 unanswered goals to win 5-4.

Dishonorable Mention to all Cam Ward owners as he let in 4 goals in the battle of the last place spots in the NHL. Also dishonorable mention if you attended that game ( season record low attendance in Edmonton)

Be sure to check out Phaneuf and Giguere debut tonight.




Goose

Brian Burke Does Hard Drugs

What kind of "blogger" would I be if I didnt talk about these trades!

Possibly the weirdest thing to wake up to on a sunday morning at the end of January. Except for some, a Drunken Story or situation. And well if you had both, that is just awesome

Phaneuf: Coming off a pretty shart last year, and brutal 09-10 season, and a drama with Avery... Correction the Coach/GM Sutter, Phaneuf lands in the dumbest hockey market.. Toronto. He will get tons of minutes,attention, and opportunities to thrive on this Blueline, yet does he skate it up or pass to Kessel. Is there any other forwards? Not sure how his offensive value will fare .But with better O-threats in Calgary and only getting 22 pts doesnt look too hot(neither does his 6.5 million salary) Definitley a move for the future though

Giguere: Although I hate the leafs I love Giguere. Most wing fans should, considering he robbed one of the best wing teams and gave himself a name on their first cup run, not to mention their second too. Giggy is being reunited with his old goalie coach Francois Allaire. With a disgusting blue line that no longer includes Jeff Finger(moved to fwd), Giguere will have the support on the Blue, and hopefully get his game back too. If your looking for a starting tendy Giguere is probably available (29% owned in Yahoo Leagues). He could become his old self like I hoped. Solid move there by burke ( except for the 6 mill on the cap)

Blake: Onto the cancer of the leafs(cancer survivor that is). 40 goals will never happen again, doubt 30 will too. But hey, playing alongside two great veterans in Selanne and Koivu he might be able to click and that line does sound somewhat legit and deadly... Lets hope he can get something going again. He definitely needed a change of scenery to ignite some sort of higher play in his game. Great play by burke unloading this cap (although on a pay load of 3-4 mill over the next 2years)If you own him or are thinking of trading or adding him, I would hold on a game or two to see what he does. ( Only 26 pts thus far this season)

Hagman,Stajan,White, Mayers: Calgary now has nearly 40% of Toronto's scoring from this year. I like hagman in the future for the flames, He could be a 30 plus goal scorer with the right linemates and playing time. I doubt the flames will keep stajan and mayers as they are expiring contracts and soon to be UFA's that have never proven much in the N. Lastly, the midget-like White who has a moustache suitable for the vintage NHL is a solid puck-mover, shut-down man and has been Toronto's 2nd best D-man all year. I like him and hes got some fantasy value too.Almost More then J-Bouw right now...

Summary: Burke got the best players out of the deal, especially getting prospects Sjostrom and Aulie. Calgary unloaded an underachieving maybe overpaid monster, Anaheim solved their goaltending situation by signing Hiller, ditching Giggy and having to just keep toskala on their bench or in the AHL until he expires this June. As for Jason Blake, I think this is a negative for Anaheim unless he proves me wrong. All in all GREAT moves by Bob Murray and the ducks.

Anaheim: Big Pass
Toronto: Always a fail to me, yet undecided until next year
Calgary: Pass

Until then, air out your thoughts here.

On The Radar

Every week I am going to pick a couple players that I think of before I sleep at night(No homo). These bad boys who are usually not owned are people I got on my watch to have a solid week, month or randomly blow the fuck up and start producing at a fantasy worth pace.

Dainius Zubrus : Currently playing on a line with Travis Zajac and Zach Parise this line got 3 of the devils 5 in a 5-4 OT win against the leafs(yea yea doesnt say much..) Zubrus connected for a 1G,2A , +2 on the night. In the past two games he has 1G 3A +4. He has only played in 24 games this season snagging 11 pts and although out of his prime could make some good weekly relief in some leagues.This line is a tad dirty right now.


Valterri Filppula: He is probably not owned in your league because people dont know hos to spell his name right to search him. And if you did you might not look at him cause he was injured along with the whole red wing team a while ago. In the month of January Val got 11 pts(2G,9A) and a +3 rating in 15 games. Had an unreal move on Gonchar the other afternoon too. With the return of Holmstrom and Franzen soon look for his linemates to improve, as well as his production.

Troy Brouwer: Playing on one of the best teams 1st lines with Kane and Toews, Brouwer is likely to get points by association. And thats what hes doing (7G,4A) in the month of January. Beware of line changes though. His value and scoring could become non-existent if he gets kicked off this line

Lets see how this week goes. And to the people I actually know who will read this. Im going to beat the shit outta you this week Kraig and Connor.

Fantasy Hockey

Puck Life
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Let the puck drop and the blogging begin plugs!

Goose