ASK SLAM!
By CHRIS NICHOLS -- SLAM! Sports
In my league, goalie categories are wins, shutouts, save %, and goals against average. This year I have Brodeur, Turco, and Esche (we have 3 roster spots and all start). Next year, we are moving to a two goalie roster spot format (both will start) so I have a dilemma, which two to keep? Brodeur and then Turco or Esche? And is it a clear-cut choice between Turco and Esche or could I be comfortable moving either one if it would help upgrade one of my other holdovers? Your wise counsel would be most appreciated!
Thanks, Sean in Chicago
That's a really nice problem to have Sean. You're likely going to want to keep Brodeur and Turco, but Esche is way more valuable than people give him credit for. Philly really likes him and that makes him a valuable fantasy commodity. Still, he could be playing the rotation game with Burke for another year.
Honestly, if it were my team, I'd gamble and trade Turco for an offensive/ defensive stud and go with Brodeur and Esche. The stud you'd get in return would make up for any platoon system next year.
Guru, I have kipper, Roloson, Aebischer. I can only start 2 goalies weekly. Should I trade 1 or keep them for the rest of the year? If I trade... who and what kind of players should I trade for? Looks like I need someone for Roenick. My pool h2h pim and basic points and trade deadline is the 20th.
Thanks, Jesse in MINNY
Keep all three. It never hurts to have insurance.
I need your advice on fwds. Our league counts 1-g, 1-a, 1/10-pim. There seems to be some good fwds available but I'm not sure who to drop for them, if any. I have: Tanguay, Sakic, Hejduk, Thornton, Sundin, Kariya, Nash, Savard, LeClair, Modano & Heatley. Available: Lecavalier, Zetterberg, Jokinen, Amonte, Selanne, Zhamnov. What are your thoughts on whose available vs. who I have?
Thanks for your help. RJ
In a league like this, I'm guessing there will always be a decent forward available. I'd drop Heatley for Lecavalier and then drop someone else when Heatley heats up.
Hey Chris, I'm stumped...I'm in a H2H (everything but PIMS). I'm rebuilding for next year and I'm thinking about offering Marleau and Sopel for Blake. This is a Keeper league so I'm hesitant to get rid of either of those guys but Blake is one of the best guys out there.
Although Marleau is a talented young player and Sopel is really pretty decent, I'd still make the deal. Blake just turned 34 and should have several great seasons ahead of him.
Chris: Any word on the return of Demitra?
Hopefully this week. If you have a week-to-week lineup, leave him out this week.
Chris: Selanne just became available in my league on the waiver list....my roster is Naslund, Iginla, Fedorov, Tanguay, Heatley, Zetterberg, Doan, Gonchar, Berard, Johnsson(pha), Boyle, Pitkanen, Theodore and Luongo...should I drop anyone to get him?
J
I wouldn't drop anyone there to get him, no.
Hey Chris. I've got Roenick and Souray both injured and just 1 IR spot. I've got a trade pending in which I can hopefully get Scott Niedermayer, but I'm looking to pick up another forward if J.R. is gonna be out for a significant amount of time. Who's the best to drop, if I should at all? J.R. or Souray? Thanks for your advice!
Tough call. Souray will almost certainly miss six weeks. Roenick's situation is more delicate, because with concussions you never know. It's probably safer to cut your losses and drop J.R. Souray has a better chance to come back and contribute.
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