Chris Nichols

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

Scheduling note: today and Thursday will be your last chance for fantasy hockey Q&A for a bit with the two-week Olympic break coming up. The weekday blogs will continue during that time, but sans Q&A. Stay tuned for a special series on building a keeper league during that time too.

That's a wrap for today's Q&A, but you can give it a shot for Thursday if you missed out here.

Have you got a brief fantasy hockey question? Drop a line to chris.nichols@sportsnet.rogers.com within 24 hours or so of any Q&A (to keep your league info relevant) and your email may be included in the blog, which will begin live at 3pm et/ 12pm pt on Mondays and Thursdays. One per person, please. Don't forget to include your first name and hometown to represent!

Blog: Sunday's recap

Posted at 3:59pm et
VARLAMOV'S STATUS
"Joe" from Ottawa
"Hi Chris,
What's the deal with Varlamov? Will he have to earn the starting job back given that Theodore has been playing well? Will they platoon? I'm thinking he gets the bulk of the starts down the stretch to get him ready for a deep playoff run? What do you think? Thanks."

Chris
I do believe that Varlamov, assuming he can get and stay fully healthy, will win the starting job back on this team. He's missed a few months of hockey now though, so we'll see how rusty he is. Overall though, I agree with you that he'll end up getting most of the starts for the Caps after the break and into the playoffs in what'll hopefully be a long run for this team.

Posted at 3:52pm et
ADD/ DROPS
Mike
"Chris, thanks for the time answering my questions this year and all your help I really appreciate it.
Would you drop either Avery or Setoguchi in standard format for any of these guys: Holmstrom, Okposo, Brandon Yip/Galliardi/O'Reilly, Callahan?"

Chris
Thanks Mike. About the only thing Avery is bringing to the table these days is PIM, so whether or not you should keep him really depends on how badly you need them. There may even be better straight PIM guys if you need that though. Holmstrom or Okposo might be fairly equal as potential adds if you need more points instead of PIM and they'd be my first choices looking longer term.

Setoguchi hasn't had a great season, but his production has picked up in recent weeks. If you felt like swapping him out, I guess I'd be more inclined to add whichever of Holmstrom or Okposo you didn't snag in an Avery swap if you didn't want his PIM.

Posted at 3:46pm et
TRADE OFFER
Mark from Ohio
"Hi Chris,
Looking for advice on the trade I've been offered. I'd be interested on your thoughts. The trade is my D. Sedin & Giguere for his Nabokov and Selanne. H2H league with G, A, GWG, PPG, PPA, SOG, +/-, W, SV%, GAA & SHO as our catagories. 10 team non keeper league. Thanks."

Chris
I guess it really comes down to how badly you need the goaltending vs. the offence Mark. Talent-for-talent, I've got no problem with the deal. Let's say Sedin, with the way that line is playing this year, is pretty fair value for a goalie on one of the best teams in the league in Nabby. JSG's value is still up in the air and I'd still urge more caution with him than anything else, even in the wake of his two shutouts, but it's still a decent swap to get Selanne back as a mid-level winger who can help in several categories.

If your goaltending is fairly good, but not great, now... then I might be more inclined to keep Sedin's offensive production and just see what happens with JSG on your own team.

Posted at 3:39pm et
FIRST PLACE FINE-TUNING?
Loyal Reader in Van City
"Hi Chris,
I'm in a Yahoo H2H league, each roster consisting of: 2 C, 2 RW, 2 LW, 4 D, 2 Goalies, 4 bench and 1 IR spot.
Categories are G, A, +/-, PIM, PP, SOG, W, SV%, GAA and SO

Current roster is:
C - Malkin, H Sedin, Sharp(C,RW)
RW - Chris Stewart, Backes, Ryan(LW, RW), Bourque(LW,RW)
LW - Heatley, Raymond, Ryan, Bourque
D - Pronger, Lidstrom, Keith, Giordano
G - Vokoun, C.Mason, Howard

Notable FA's: Cammalleri, Morrow, Simmonds, Fisher, Roy, Pitkanen, J.Johnson

I'm currently first in the league, just need an assesment and wondering if there are any spots you think I should try to upgrade, or any players I should drop/trade for. Most of my offensive stats are above average, but its the goalies I worry about. Not alot of goalies left out there though, unless i trade for someone. Best goalie in FA list is Conklin, Neuvirth. Bourque's prodection is starting to drop, and I'm wondering if I can package Bourque with someone to get an upgrade at Goalie. Would appreciate your thoughts and comments! Thanks!!"

Chris
Given your relative strength at RW, I'd certainly give a Bourque + Mason for a better goalie route a shot. As much as I'd like to see you get a bit "safer" in net though, you're really not too bad off. I'd also consider adding Cammalleri if your IR spot is currently open, which it seems to be.

Raymond and Giordano are likely the two bubble guys that'll get swapped out at some point, but they're each producing now. You may even want to consider dropping Giordano altogether and just adding another forward though, since that extra winger or centre could likely match or beat Giordano's production... even in the few games he may get in behind your other forwards. You have three legit studs on D, so you're definitely in a position to get away with something like that.

Posted at 3:32pm et
TOEWS DEAL
Chris from Belleville
"Hi Chris so I'm looking at next year and have been offered a deal for Toews. I have Perry, Heatley and Hossa as my three protectables for this year and was offered a deal for Toews that would be Hossa and Kessel and a late round pick so the deal works out to be Hossa for Toews is this a good deal? Thanks."

Chris
So I take it that the guy offering you the deal would be using Kessel to help some sort of run for this season? On the face of it, especially with only three keepers per team, I like the deal for you because you're getting much younger by replacing Hossa with Toews as a keeper.

I'm not sure if wingers/ centres are separated in your league, which would devalue Toews a bit given the surplus of quality centres available. Still, I think we're going to see a jump in Toews' value next season as he takes that leap from good player to great player, which we've really seen develop since he came back from his concussion. His offensive game has gone to a new level and he's only going to get more consistent as he ages. He's a real gem.

I don't really know how much of an upgrade Toews is for you as a third keeper vs. Hossa compared with the players you currently have, but looking at the talent comparison and the age reduction accomplished in the trade and it's fine for you.

Posted at 3:24pm et
GOALIE HELP
John
"Hi Chris,
I'm wondering whether Giguere and/or Steve Mason would be an upgrade over Elliot or C.Mason for this season only. League/team details are below. Thanks.
10-team H2H: G, A, PPP, +/-, PIM, SOG, GWG, W, GAA, SV%, SHO
2C: Backstrom, E.Staal, Savard
2LW: Heatley, Smyth, Booth, FleischmannRW
2RW: Hossa, Kessel, Havlat
4D: Chara, Markov, Gonchar, Giordano
2G: Luongo, C.Mason, Elliott"

Chris
Good question John. JSG has started really well, but I still have reservations about him being with the Leafs and all. And Steve Mason almost had back-to-back shutouts as well, so is a new coach the simple solution to get him and the team to realize more of their potential? Or is it just a quick adrenaline thing in both his case and JSG's? Mason has burned so many people this season and I'm sure it'll take more than a pair of starts to consider picking him back up. Can't blame anyone for that.

Elliott and the Sens have been playing really well, but Leclaire will surely get a shot to win back the starting job. I'd still keep him for now over JSG/ Mason though, although by week's end who knows? I'd most likely stand pat now, unless JSG does the unthinkable and blanks the Sharks tonight. That game will be a real test for this Leafs team.

Posted at 3:15pm et
ACQUIRING A FORWARD
Steve
"Hey Chris,
Another guy in my league says he is willing to part with Parise, Mike Richards, Kopitar, or Datsyuk he needs a goalie, or he would take 2 forwards for 1, Maybe a Wolski/Carcillo for Daytsuk, or I was thinking
of trying to get 2 of the above for Luongo and Carcillo (maybe Datsyuk & Richards - both under a pt per game)

My team

F: Miko Koivu, Lecavlier, Gaborik, Stamkos, Clowe, Downie, Gagne, Stewart, Versteeg, Carcillo, Erat, Wolksi (play 9 weekly)
D: Erik Johnson, Lidstrom, Rafalski, Salo, Wisneiwski, Valabik, (Ply
5 weekly)
G Nabakov, Luongo, Rinne (Play 2 weekly)

Do not know how he will respond, but I am in 4th place out of 10, but am 1st in Wins and near the top of GAA and SV% but kind of low in scoring categories. He would also have to drop a goalie, so I could
add a 3rd player to the deal.

His team:

F: Bertuzzi, Datsyuk, Erikkson, kessler, Kopitar, Okposo, Pominville,
Richards, Parise, Cammaleri, Ribiero
D: Acoin, Bogosian, Letang, Streit, White, Kronwall, Boynton
G: Turco, Thomas, Chris Mason

Notable FA Elias, Huselius, Steve Mason, Niemi

Maybe if I can get Elias (Now with Kovy) I could make a move in the standings and keep Luongo.

What do you think?"

Chris
Steve, the first thing I'd do is punt Versteeg to add Elias for the exact reason you noted. I also would NOT want you to consider dealing Luongo if you really want to take a run at this thing this year. He and Nabby are rocks for you, so you can make changes elsewhere.

If you can get Datsyuk or Richards for Carcillo/ Wolski, do it immediately. Aside from being an immediate offensive upgrade, you'll also clear up a spot for another bench player. If you need to include a goalie and if it'll help you get both Datsyuk and Richards while they're bargains, then do that for sure.

Don't deal Luongo or Nabby, but work your magic and get one or both of those "struggling" forwards and make that strong push down the stretch.

Posted at 3:08pm et
TAVARES VS. STAMKOS
Derek in NS
"Hi Chris,
In your opinion, how would you compare Tavares and Stamkos' potential next year and the years following in a league that counts G, A, +/-, and PIM? Thanks!"

Chris
Stud and stud long-term Derek, clearly, so in the long run it's a no-lose proposition.

Stamkos probably has the edge for now in points as we look toward '10-11, but there's no reason to think Tavares won't make a strong push next season like Stamkos did this year in the rookie vs. sophomore comparison.

They each had pretty decent PIM totals in junior that haven't really translated to the NHL level yet and I don't really think one has the edge over the other in that department. In terms of +/-, the Isles and Lightning are probably on fairly equal footing in the coming years.

Posted at 3pm et
GOALIE MOVES
Jason from Ottawa
"Hi Chris,
I'm in an 8 team roto league with no keepers. We start 2 goaltenders, but I like to rotate 3 which is working out so far. Our categories are Wins, Save%, GAA and SO. Currently I have Lundqvist, Thomas and Ward. Would you drop any of these for some of the the FA's out there: Hiller, Howard, Rask, Halak
I'm not sure the extent of War's back injury and if it will affect his play the rest of the year. And Thomas and the Bruins just do not look the same as last year. I'd love to know your thoughts."

Chris
With Ward's health status uncertain Jason, I'd really like to see you swap him out with Howard. Howard has done really well this season and I fully expect a strong push from the Wings after the break.

Halak has been really effective and it'd be tempting to add him over Thomas. All things being equal though, I think I'd rather see you dump a fringe bench forward/ D to add Rask to pair with your Thomas and ensure Boston starts... hoping for better play from them. Rask's stats are still good and he may sneak out more starts from Thomas if Rask gets the team winning. If Rask doesn't get more starts, it'll be because Thomas is playing well.

In an H2H format I wouldn't necessarily recommend adding a fourth goalie because you can always use more offence on the bench, but in roto you can't really play your extra forwards. I think Lundqvist/ Howard should be a dynamite tandem regardless, but the Boston duo could add some wins without, ideally, sacrificing your peripherals.