ASK SLAM!
By CHRIS NICHOLS -- SLAM! Sports
Chris - thanks again for your great column. I, like many others read it as often as it is out there. I also agree there's got to be a niche on one of the sports channels / shows for NHL fantasy show and you're it. My question. I commish a Rotis Yahoo FHL league. It's a very active league which makes it so much fun. A lot of trading, smart coaching, etc. Anyway, it's the first year and we plan to make it an annual thing...I want to start turn it into a "keeper" league. Can you giving me some advice on methods to run a keeper league. Yahoo doesn't offer it but I figured with a live draft and some agreement w/in the league I could manually turn next year's league into a keeper league by setting the draft order and inputting each team's players. Also, we're thinking of new/different categories. Currently we have the typical G, A, PPP, +/-, PIM's, GWG, GAA, SV%, W, SHO. Any that you really like that we don't use?
Thanks a lot! Joe
Hmm. I think I like this TV angle more and more. We'll see. Maybe one day.
Anyway, I personally run my keeper league within the ESPN system. The categories, which you can't change, are: G, A, +/-, PP+SH, PIM, SOG and GAA, SA % and wins for goalies. I prefer that system to any I've seen.
Specific keeper recommendations: 1) Keep between 10 and 15 players per season, depending on how many teams are in your league. If you want to get crazy, my league keeps 17 active and 20 farm players. 2) If you know everyone in the league, turn off trade review. As long as there's no collusion going on, let the owners trade who they want. 3) If an owner becomes inactive, kick them out of the league in the summer. It drives me nuts when people take a week to get back to you on a trade offer.
Just wondering if you want to revisit your latest comment on Bondra after his trade to Ottawa? Also, is Kariya worth keeping around? He's been underperforming since his return. I've kept him benched most of the time lately, but I keep thinking he's going to start to turn things around. Thanks for all your advice and pointers this season, you always manage to bring up factors that I hadn't considered!
Cindy
Bondra has more value now in an Ottawa uniform than he would have last week in an Ottawa uniform. With the loss of Bonk and White to injury, Bondra will get more ice time. We'll know more after he plays his first game, which should be against Atlanta, but he should be a pretty decent fantasy choice.
Kariya has certainly been disappointing. I thought he would have been producing more points by now, but there's not much you can do but keep him around and hope for better.
Hi Chris: Great column - keep up the good work! Question: Would you trade Selanne for Mogilny in a keeper league? Thanks in advance for your reply.
I think I'd rather have Mogilny. Aside from this year, Mogilny has outperformed Selanne in recent seasons anyway.
With the Hawks dumping players (Sullivan and probably others), is Berard still a better pick up than Slegr? My pool is Yahoo head to head with +- but no pen mins.
Wk
I think Berard will still find ways to score points, although Slegr is going to have more talent to work with. Berard has a better track record though, which makes it a pretty even choice.
Hey Chris: Fantasy hockey advice is hard to come by. Your ESPN & SLAM columns are definitely the best out there. I've managed to climb out of the cellar, and now I'm tied for 2nd place in my league w/ only 3 weeks to go until the fantasy hockey playoffs start. I greatly appreciate all of your help thus far. I could really use some more of your advice: Gaborik MIGHT be heating up based on his overall play in his last few games (including the hat trick). He's on the waiver wire right now in my league. I need an extra offensive spark for the playoffs. Would you release either Ryan Smyth OR Gary Roberts for Gaborik?
Thanks again, Sanjeev
I'd cut Smyth. Gaborik has done well since coming back from his last injury and may finally be on track. It's worth a shot, anyway.
Hi Chris: Thanks in advance for all the advice. I hear the Rangers might be looking for a GM soon, do you think you will accept that mess or wait for something better to come along??? I am in a regular yahoo fantasy roto league counting G, A, PIM, +/-, PPP, GWG, I have just offered my Gary Roberts for his Brett Hull, I have an abundance of LW's (Roberts, Zetterberg, Kariya, D. Sedin, and Forsberg) and a shortage of RW's (Heatley, Iginla, and Lindros IR) I can only start two players at each wing and really need an extra RW. Just wondering what you think of the deal?
Thanks Again, Rob, London Ont.
Ha. Yeah, I somehow don't think the Rangers will be calling me to replace Slats. I like the weather in Southern California better anyway.
That deal is fine. No worries.
Hi Chris, I was wondering what you thought about Derian Hatcher... thanks,
Adam
It depends on the league, but generally he's pretty overrated in fantasy. He's obviously a stud on D in real life, but I think people make too much of his numbers in fantasy leagues. He should be back in early-to-mid March.
I am in a keeper league and have s. burke as a goalie and for the next month he's going to get playing time it looks like... but he's been moved to be a backup to Esche if I'm correct... since he's going to be a backup and I'm looking for a starter... burke for who? (Starter-anywhere)
Well, it really depends who is interested in Burke in your league - or who has Esche right now. In a keeper league, I'd target Kipper by offering Burke and a good forward or D. Kipper has the chance to be a really nice fantasy goalie in Darryl Sutter's system.
Chris: I've been proposed this trade. My Bertuzzi, Pitkanen, D.Sedin for his Jagr, A. Kovalev, S.Niedermayer. I'm saying no, what do you say?
Thanks for the help. Kevin, Mpls
You are correct. Bert is the best player in the deal and I don't feel you get enough back.
Chris: Your insight is always appreciated. I'm first in an 8-man Yahoo roto league that counts PIM. I recently dropped Mark Bell to coincide with the Sullivan trade. I picked up Giguere off waivers. Other goalies are Aebischer, Lalime and Cechmanek. I also just dropped Kovalev for Mogilny. Good decisions?
Thanks for the great advice. Jared
I would drop JSG back to waivers. Your goaltending is fine and he'll just hurt your numbers.
Chris: I've been offered Kiprusoff for my Boyle and Zetterberg....my current goalies are Theodore and Luongo...Theodore has been killing me lately....do u think I need help in goal?...Boyle is on my bench and Langkow, who has the same points per game ratio as Zetterberg, is available as a FA...what do think?
Thx -J
Do it. Absolutely.
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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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