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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!
Posted at 3:32pm et
GOALIE CHOICES
Pete
“Hey Chris,
In a goalie only pool, non keeper, that counts wins (3) shutouts (8) and losses (-1), which goalie would you rather have from here on out:
Jon Quick, Steve Mason, Chris Mason, Niklas Backstrom, Jonas Hiller, Cam Ward, Jimmy Howard or Semyon Varlamov.
Would you say that there are a couple goalies that present equal value from here on out, so choosing one out of a group of three (for example) would be fine? Or is there one guy who has clear cut potential above the others.
Thanks Chris, the blog has once again been outstanding this year.”
Chris
Thanks Pete. I wouldn’t necessarily say that one stands out above the others, but I’m really expecting a strong finish from the Wings and Jimmy Howard should help that cause. That said, Jonathan Quick is still tied with Nabby and one ahead of Brodeur today league-wide for wins on a Kings team that just won’t go away. So in that regard, I really can’t give you a single good reason to avoid picking Quick if you can only take one guy.
As a total wildcard – and not one I’d recommend going with – Steve Mason presents an interesting scenario. He has basically come very, very close to having three shutouts in his past six starts, although he only has two. He could make up for the wins he’ s not getting by posting a few more of those down the stretch since they count for eight points in your format.
Posted at 3:24pm et
CAPS’ GOALIES
Chris in Vancouver
“Hey Chris, do you think Jose Theodore has any realistic chance of being re-signed by the Caps for next season? I’ve been planning on Varlamov/ Neuvirth as two of my 14 keepers, but Theodore could muddy things up. What say you, oh wise one?”
Chris
Short of a Stanley Cup-winning run, I really don’t think there’s much of a chance that Theodore will be re-upped by the Caps Chris. Even with a Cup run I can’t see it, honestly.
Neuvirth will be an RFA this summer and won’t cost much. Varlamov has one year left for pennies a year. Theodore is counting $4.5M against the cap now and although he’s a veteran with plenty of experience, the organization really seems to believe in those two kids. I do as well and they’ve also got Braden Holtby having a strong year for Hershey, so there’s no shortage of young talent with the franchise.
Theodore will get signed by someone this summer and the Caps will free up more space for Nicklas Backstrom’s new contract and to hopefully get Alexander Semin signed to a longer-term deal.
Posted at 3:16pm et
LW SLIM PICKINGS
Alex in Toronto
“Thanks as always for your blogging. It is now the home stretch in my hockey pool and I’m clinging to first place. Your past help has been great and I’m still reaping the reward of your draft day advice. I’m in a roto league G, A, PPG, PPA, +/-, GWG, SHP, and PIM. Hagman is my weakest link and has not had much success since his move to Calgary with 10 games and 4 points. Only 1 assist in Calgary’s last two games, both were 5 goal efforts by the Flames.
My LW: Ovechkin, Laich, Brunette, and Hagman
Options on the wire are: Kariya, T. Ruutu, van Riemsdyk (has been cold since January), Moulson, Carcillo, Chimera, Sturm (Savard unfortunately suffered a concussion), M. Cooke (Likely to be suspended) Kunitz, J. Benn, Tanguay, Chimera, and J. Ruutu. What would you suggest? Do any these players have a history of stepping up at the end of the season? Thanks.”
Chris
Thanks Alex. If you could use a boost in PIM along with the potential for a few points, you could try Daniel Carcillo as long as the L1 assignment lasts. He’s trying to stay away from those huge PIM games in an effort to help the team, but the opportunity to skate with Mike Richards and Simon Gagne while providing some muscle on the forecheck is a good fantasy chance for Carcillo.
If you want a bit of an emphasis on points with some PIM as well, then try Chris Kunitz. He’s starting to get back in the groove and clearly playing with Sidney Crosby isn’t a bad thing. He’s much more likely to stick in a top six role (generally always with Sid) than is Carcillo over the next month.
Posted at 3:08pm et
STRETCH RUN HELP
Steve in NYC
Chris,
I am currently in 3rd will need a strong finish to win. My team is hot right now, but still think a tweak or 2 might help.
Weekly moves, G/A/PTS/Shorties/+/-PIMS W/GAA/SV%
My squad:
F – Gabby, Stamkos, Lecavlier, Mikko Koivu, Downie, Carcillo, Gagne,
Stewart, Clowe, Latendresse, Wolski (Play 9)
D – Lidstrom, Rafalski, E Johnson, Jack Johnson, Salo, Wiesniewski,
Stralman
G – Nabby, Luongo, Rinne (Play 2)
FA I like – Demitra, Kariya, Mueller, Hedjuk, Duchene, Brunette, Bieksa, Letang, Grebeshkov
Latendresse and Wolski were on my bench and are hot so I was thinking of dropping Wiesniewski and Stralman and trying to grab either Bieksa/Letang and one of the forwards, I am leaning towards Bieksa for the Pims and that he will be off everyone’s radar because he is still out. What do you think?”
Chris
I’m on board with those two drops Steve and I think adding Bieksa now is a good idea too. A guy like Downie can be left in your active line-up indefinitely since he’s getting points and PIM, but Carcillo is day-to-day in terms of being on L1. That means having some PIM depth on D would really help. Of those FA forwards, I think I’d lean toward Duchene slightly.
Posted at 3pm et
TOO MANY RWS?
Calvin in Vancouver
“Hi Chris,
I am currently 5th out of 12 in my H2H league and should make the playoffs.
12 team H2H Yahoo 1 year
G, A, P, +/-, PIM, PPP, SOG, W, GAA, SHO
Current roster is:
C: Kopitar, M.Richards, Spezza
RW: Kane, Knuble, Downie
LW: Heatley, Morrow, Ponikarovsky, Sullivan
D: Doughty, E. Johnson, Letang, empty
G: Brodeur, Hiller
IR: Pouliot
I have a trade of my Brodeur + Morrow for his Perry + Quick going through unless it gets vetoed.
A couple teams trying to make the playoffs are adding/dropping players like mad.
I have the first waiver wire priority, and am considering putting in a waiver for Chris Stewart as he gets goals, pims and has been quite hot etc. However I am pretty set at RW with Kane, Knuble, Downie (and potentially Perry).
I just went thru my lineups for the rest of the month, and up until start of the playoff finals week (mar 29-apr 4) there is only 1 game night where I actually have to bench one of the RW’s. Most nights I can use my 2 RW roster spots and my 1 utility spot to play them.
So I am leaning toward picking Stewart up even though it gives me potenitally 5 RW’s. Or should I try to wait for another bigger name to be dropped?
It would help since my potential playoff opponents have Stastny, Stamkos, Backstrom, etc and so I can help offset that by having their linemates. Thanks.
p.s. I have to drop a player now that Pouliot is active off the IR – weighing him or Sullivan.”
Chris
I’m fine with dropping Sullivan to active Pouliot Calvin and yeah, it’s hard to pass up Stewart. Too many RWs? Maybe for now, although you could have someone hurt anytime. Plus, as you more or less noted by examining the schedule the rest of the season – with the compressed Olympic late, there are a lot of games most nights. That means you’ll be able to keep that slot full and hopefully maximize your pointage every single evening.