I mentioned the Jiri Hudler news about three weeks ago, but didn't really get into my thoughts and expectations on the matter. Obviously, with him on board the Red Wings won't need to re-sign Jason Williams or Todd Bertuzzi. Hudler is ready for the next step and barring injury I believe he will clear 65 [...]
Kudos to the Predators for starting the off-season off right - they announced a contract extension with Wade Belak today. My top 10 keeper league left wingers list is now out. Toughest decisions - putting Rick Nash and Alex Semin on the list. I really wanted to include some sleepers and younger guys, but [...]
Here are the individual and averaged predicitions for the second round of the NHL playoffs from Dobber, Angus, Bugg, Ma, Miller, and more! The panel's consensus picks were 12-3 last year, and we boast an impressive 34-11 record over the past three seasons!
The first round featured a trio of upsets in the Eastern Conference. None of the 13 experts predicted the Montreal Canadiens over the Capitals. Only Ryan Ma foresaw the Flyers defeating the Devils, and only Ma, Matt Bugg, and Russ Miller saw the Bruins taking care of Buffalo. I was a horrendous 0-4 in the East, as I took a chance on the Senators, who fell flat in game six. Ryan Ma went 7-for-8 in the first round, and Bugg went 6-for-8. A few (myself included) are looking for redemption in round two! The panel's consensus picks went 5-for-8 in the first round.
I have a few general rules when it comes to building a team in a fantasy hockey keeper league. One of the more important ones is to not plan beyond a two or three year window. You are not building a real NHL club, and too often fantasy hockey poolies place an emphasis on youth and prospects over proven veterans with gas still left in the tank. So using my general rule, take a look at your team(s). Can you realistically say you will have a shot at winning the league at some point within the next two or three seasons? If not, time to scrap the rebuild and start adding proven NHL talent.
Keeping my rule in mind, I have compiled a list of the top ten keeper league left wingers to own (assuming standard keeper league rules and scoring categories). Using the two or three season scope, I had to balance proven production with young players on the verge of breaking out. I hope you enjoy!
Tyler Seguin was named OHL MVP a few days ago, and Taylor Hall is busy leading his Spitfires to an OHL Championship. Hall's 29 points are good for second in league playoff scoring (Kitchener's Jeff Skinner leads the way with 20 goals and 33 points). If you were the Oilers... who would you take? [...]
Dobber jumping on - Jordan Staal, one player I am relying on in a couple of keeper leagues for the playoff title, is out for the postseason after suffering an severed Achilles tendon. This is huge loss for the Penguins as he is their best defensive forward and he is a first-line scoring threat [...]
I had a bit of a Eureka moment the other day as I was sifting through scouting reports and doing some research for the 2010 DobberHockey Prospects Report. I found a prospect that is not drafted in my league, not on my list of assigned players for the prospects report, and – more importantly -- has some decent upside.
Since I’d rather not use this column to profile players who we’ll be featuring in our upcoming Prospects Report, I was pretty happy to find this little nugget in the Anaheim system. His name is Justin Schultz.
Cristobal Huet made his postseason debut last night as he stepped in for Antti Niemi in the third period. Niemi had allowed five goals on 25 shots. Huet faced the big three shots in that period. He stopped them all. I think they will come back with Niemi, but he will be on a shorter [...]
Angus here - it is time for another Q & A topic on the messageboards. Got a fantasy hockey question on your mind? Fire it my way! The Isles have signed defenseman Calvin de Haan to an ELC. de Haan is ranked 24 on my prospect list. I don't expect him to make [...]
Just a couple of days after Jaromir Jagr shot up my Top 300 Keepers list, he announces that he has signed with Omsk of the KHL. Thus ends his NHL career. So there you go. Angus here - BREAKING NEWS: Andrei Markov is out with a torn ACL. It was originally reported by [...]
