Chris Nichols

­Chris Nichols is Sportsnet.ca's fantasy hockey writer.

@Nichols_NHLPool on Twitter for timely NHL & poolie info, along with occasionally snarky comments.

Live blogging nightly: line combos, defensive pairings, analysis, statistical trends and more from every game on the NHL docket. Refresh the 'Live NHL Recap' page while the games are on to get new info as it is added.

Send in a brief fantasy hockey question, including all relevant league info, and it may be included in a future Hockey Hearsay blog during the week. One per person, please. Send it via Twitter for a possible response in the blog, or send via email (include your first name and hometown to represent!) if you'd prefer. chris.nichols@sportsnet.rogers.com

Life changes in the blink of an eye.

The older we get, the more we know this to be true. While fantasy hockey might be one of the furthest things away from real life, the two can intersect and it’s a good reminder to every poolie that fate – at its best or worst – can be a fickle thing.

When news broke on Twitter yesterday of Colorado Avalanche forward Tomas Fleischmann suddenly being declared out for the season because of a blood clot found to be in each his lungs, it was downright shocking. Honestly, when I first read the string of tweets between a few reporters I thought they were joking around and playing on the fact that so many Avs had already been injured this season.

You could quickly see that it wasn’t, in fact, a joke and was, naturally, both true and quite serious. My first reaction, aside from a sense of empathy for Fleischmann (the condition is apparently at least treatable with medication and he should be able to resume a normal life, including his hockey career), was pure disbelief at the situation.

You’ll remember that last season the Avs dealt for Peter Mueller and he, like Fleischmann, was instantly dynamite with his new linemates and went from having an unproductive season statistically to becoming a lethal offensive force. Mueller was then sidelined by a concussion and he’s missed an extended period of time. He has yet to play this season.

Now the same team loses ANOTHER guy with eerily similar circumstances, at least in terms of quickly becoming an impact player post-trade and then boom – he’s gone? Seriously? I tweeted as much at the time yesterday and still can't believe it.

Mueller had 9-11-20 in 15 GP with the Avs (albeit later in the season) after having only 17 points in 54 starts with Phoenix.

Fleischmann had 8-13-21 in 20 GP with Colorado following a disappointing start with the Caps that saw only 10 points in 23 GP.

Crazy.

Not to mention that this Fleischmann news broke on the same day that fantasy owners were scrambling to add ex-KHL goalie and former San Jose Shark Evgeny Nabokov. Nabokov eventually signed with the Detroit Red Wings last night and went on waivers today, where he may or may not make it through the next 24 hours without being claimed by another team. Rumblings have several teams interested, but when the rubber hits the road we'll see.

Where Nabokov will end up for the rest of this season – although he’ll be free to sign anywhere for next season – remains to be seen. How effective he can be after this long of a layoff without a game remains to be seen. But when someone who was (just last season) an elite fantasy goalie drops for free from the sky – it’ll generally be too good of an opportunity to pass up.

Whether Nabokov pans out for this season or not, his signing and Fleischmann’s distressing health situation both go to serve a valuable lesson for fantasy hockey owners: at the drop of a hat, fortunes can quickly change – for the better or worse. Just ask Sidney Crosby. The NHL’s leading point-getter was on a tear, then was concussed (twice?) and boom, he hasn’t played the past seven games and his return doesn’t seem to be imminent.

Stuff happens. Fortunes can change at the drop of a hat.

Some things are simply just beyond our control. Learning to accept that is as much a life lesson as it is a way to cope with fantasy hockey results.

But if you’re an active owner that tries to stay on top of the hockey world, you can often seize on breaking news situations and at least try to turn them into a positive for you.

Steve in Michigan: "Chris, with news of Tomas Fleischman being out for the season I find myself in need of a replacement or 2, also have Parise and Hemsky on my team. Currently sit in 1st place in a one year points only league, categories are G(3), A(2), PPG(+1), SHG(+1). We start 6 forwards and my core is strong with Duchene, D. Sedin, St. Louis, L. Eriksson, Giroux, Marleau, Krejci.

Who would be the best replacements for Flash and Parise out of the following free agents(pick 2)? J. Staal, J. Spezza, TJ Oshie, S. Gagne, A. Steen, S. Doan, P. Elias, W. Wolski, D. Cleary, Ray Whitney. Spezza and Cleary are currently on IR but returning shortly.

Should Parise be dropped at this point? Thanks for your thoughts and incite."

Chris: Steve, as hot as Steen and Doan have been I think I'd be most inclined to go with Staal and Spezza. Staal is beginning to find his stride offensively and should only be better once both Malkin and Crosby are in the line-up full-time. Spezza was so strong after coming back from last year's extended injury and there's no reason to think he'll do anything but this time around.

In single-season leagues, especially when space is tight, there's probably not much of a need to have Parise because it's an unknown as to whether he'll even get a single game in before the regular season ends. Originally his timeline was a little better than that.

Darren in St. Louis: "hey chris, im contemplating some moves in my 20 team h2h keeper. keep ten 1c 1lw 1rw 2d 1g and 4 at any position. g a +- ppg shg gwg sog pim hit fw, gs w gaa sv sv% sho. goalies are at a premium as everyone is constantly scrambling for the latest backup to be called up. 3 starts per week and 20 teams... holding on to bernier and poulin to keep them off of other teams but currently trying to trade them. there are free agents that i would like to add but i dont know who to drop.(i have a feeling galiardi will come back strong after the demotion) thanks chris

c stamkos couture berglund horcoff seguin lw ryan e kane galiardi pacioretty rw giroux justin williams okposo parenteau knuble clarkson armstrong d gonchar kaberle karlsson fowler shattenkirk empty g luongo brodeur bernier poulin ir prospal lw

fa rolston lw gerbe lw PMB lw clitsome kampfer mcquaid kobasew rw dumont rw"

Chris: With an empty D slot Darren, I'd try Clitsome or Kampfer. If the reference is that it's only empty because you have an extra forward, then I'd drop Armstrong to add the D. Keep an eye on Galiardi and we'll see how he does.

With two heavy-start studs in net (Brodeur is coming around with the Devils now) and this being an H2H format where nightly points are at a premium, it'd be in your best interests to deal Poulin to free up an extra offensive spot. If you can get a fair return for Bernier given the keeper league format, I could see potentially dealing him too. Brodeur's age is the factor there, naturally, so you'd have to decide if you wanted to keep Bernier with your 10th spot or not.

Serena (St. John's, NL): "Hey, Currently sitting 4th in 12 team H2H but getting killed between the pipes. Currently have Khabibulin, Rask, Nitttymaki and Roloson. Have tried trading Malkin, Byfuglien and Havlet as well as a 'tender in different packages but to no avail. Who would you drop and add out of Schneider, Garon, Clemmensen, Dubnyk, Karlsson, Leclaire or Nabokov if he signs? Thanks."

Chris: Rask definitely has to remain on the team, as does Roloson. Those two will at least meet your minimum start requirements per week and their peripherals should be fairly competitive on the whole. You may not have enough wins, but overall your goaltending should be ahead. Niittymaki at least can be IRd for now.

How valuable Nabokov might be depends on where he is by the time this waiver period is over. He'll also likely need a few starts to get his timing back. If you had to drop one of those goalies to add him, then Khabibulin would be the guy.

Lenny: "Chris! I really appreciate your daily blogs and tweets. I believe MAB has only scored 1 point since Tampa sent him down and he just missed the last game with an apparent knee issue. If he is recalled in a week or so, is he worth picking up in hopes of generating some PP points?

My other D are Byfuglien, Weber, Shattenkirk, MacDonald, Edler and Yandle. I am not wild about tying up my Head to Head 19-player roster with 7D (although Byfuglien is also RW) but we start 4 def. nightly and the extra points from full slots could help. Or swap MAB for Shattenkirk or MacDonald even though they are each PP no. 1 options? Best."

Chris: Thanks and yep, one assist after six starts for Marc-Andre Bergeron. I still think that MAB could become some source of value if he takes over the PP1 D slot on TB's power play down the road, but your current line-up of defencemen is really strong and there's no way I'd swap any of them out with MAB. Byfuglien, Weber, Edler and Yandle are automatics and both MacDonald (great over the last month) and Shattenkirk (cooled off, but still playing an important role) are better bets as of today. I'd definitely stand pat for the time being.

Andy: Hey Chris, if Nabokov returns to the NHL in Detroit or with any other team, is he worth a top 3 waiver claim in a 14 team H2H? No playoffs in our league, season ends when the NHL regular season does. Thanks!"

Chris: We'll know by noon et tomorrow just how valuable he might be, but as of now I'd gamble a third waiver pick on him. On average there aren't many guys dropped who'll will have his kind of upside, so I'd actually be surprised if the No. 1 or No. 2 claims weren't used ahead of you.

Naturally, all of this depends on your current goaltending quality too. Generally speaking though, I'd be willing to use the pick on him.