ASK SLAM!
By CHRIS NICHOLS -- SLAM! Sports
Hi Chris: I currently have both Ottawa goalies and Robert Esche I was wondering if I'd be better off dropping Prusek for Burke now that he's been traded.
Thanks, Phil
I would drop Prusek to add Burke for sure. If you can carry four goalies, do it. Prusek will still get some starts, likely including Thursday's game against Boston.
Hey Chris: Thanks again for all the good advice. I've been offered Mellanby and Sean Burke for my Raycroft. I don't really need Mellanby, so if I take this I'll try for another add-on, but what do you think? I'm tempted by what Burke might do in Philly...
I would not do that deal. Burke will start until Esche gets healthy, but odds are that Esche will get his starting job back. Raycroft is not getting much competition from Felix Potvin in Boston, so he's a safer bet to stay the starter.
Hey Chris. I really enjoy your suggestions. I am in a keeper league, and I have a young team. I have been offered this deal the other day... Let me know what you think Horton, Zetterberg, Parise and a 2nd rnd for Datsyuk, York, Calder (or Torres) and a 3rd rnd pick. Need your help quick! Thanks man... You are a Pool god! Cheers!
Jay
Datsyuk and Zetterberg are fairly close in talent when you look two years down the road. Horton has more upside than York, but it will take a few years to get there. York is a consistent producer in the meantime. I'd rather have Torres than Calder. Parise is at least several years away from being a decent fantasy player.
I'm not sure which side of the deal is yours, but my advice is to simply go after either Datsyuk or Zetterberg (Whichever one you don't have) so that you can have both players.
Hey Chris: Thanks again for your column and advice. I have both Burke and Esche, having picked up Burke weeks ago in anticipation of the trade. Dropping Hackett leaves an open spot, though. The guys available (not much) are: Fernandez, Salo, Dunham, Legace, Noronen, Nurminen... and as of this morning, Giguere (still on waivers). While Giguere seems to be the best of the group, I'm not in a keeper league... so is he the guy I should try to grab? Do you like any of the others? Are they all worthless and the only way I can survive is via trade?
Thanks again.
Under those circumstances, I would not grab any of them. Just start the Philly goalies. If you can get someone else via trade, then great. You'll lose out on wins a little, but the GAA and SA% should be pretty good.
Chris: Carrying five, yes 5 goalies now. I acted quickly and grabbed both Burke and Kiprusoff. So now my goalies are those two plus Esche, Turco and Lalime. I want to keep three. Categories are Wins, GA, Save%. Which combo is the best, keeping in mind I want to trade away the others for offense? Also, is (my) Guerin for Ribeiro a good trade?
Thanks Chris!
I would hold off on any deals for two weeks. Let's see how Kipper does and let's make sure Lalime rebounds from his bad past few weeks. I would likely keep the Philly goalies and Turco or Kipper and deal Lalime and the one you don't trade. Lalime has low value right now though, so it would not be a good idea to trade him and not get fair value. I'd rather have Guerin in the other deal.
Chris -- Thanks for your always spot-on advice. I discovered that Gaborik and Lecavalier are on the waiver wire in my Yahoo points pool. Questions: should I drop Spezza for Vinnie and/or Kovalev for Gabby for the stretch run? My other centers are Sakic and Modano; my other RWs are Jagr and Iginla. Also, what is your opinion of DiPietro vs. Biron for the rest of this season?
Jim, Columbus, OH
I'm a huge Spezza fan, but I would drop him for Lecavalier since Vinnie has picked up his play big time. Gaborik isn't worth picking up given your depth at the position.
Goaltenders: Both guys are gambles. DiPietro has lost out to Snow before and could again. Biron has not had a sustained effort very often and seems to go through red-hot and ice-cold streaks too often. I'd hate to pin my hopes to either guy and would be prepared to drop either with a couple of bad starts.
Thanks again for your wisdom -- I couldn't imagine winning without your advice. I have Esche and would like to get Burke to complete the pair -- is it worth Weekes to get Burke at this point? I also have the other guy considering a boost in defense instead... should I be more willing to give up Slegr or Pitkanen? I'm getting Gonchar back soon (about another week you think?)... I need either a drop, or to just throw another guy into that trade... who gets the axe (?) Zetterberg, White, or Heatley... Thanks!
-Mike, from the "Devils fans not welcome here" side of Jersey
I would not give up a proven starter in Weekes for Burke, who could be riding the pine in March. If you can get it done for Slegr, I'd do that. If you have to drop someone of those three, make it White. I still have faith in Zetterberg for a big run and he may be in the middle of one now.
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chris_nichols@canoemail.com. I do my best to answer all questions within 24 hours, depending on the volume of emails. Please keep the questions short. Your fantasy questions may be answered in our Ask Slam! section.
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