ASK SLAM!
By CHRIS NICHOLS -- SLAM! Sports
Chris: Your columns have me right on the tail of 1st place. I'm in a points only pool. I'm looking at an offer of getting Hejduk, Gaborik & Savard in return I'm to give up Thornton, O'Neill and Selanne. I gain a few points right off the bat in making the deal. I'm confident Hejduk will match Thornton; I'm just not sure if Gaborik & Savard will do better than O'Neill & Selanne? Your call?
Cheers, Serge of the Hab-nots
I'd do that. I think Hejduk is a good match for Thornton and Gabby should be able to take Selanne now that Gabby is scoring. Savard should smash O'Neill. Take the deal.
Dear Chris: You truly have a gift, my friend; you can read these players like an open book. Now, my question. I am currently in 4th in a 10 person H2H league. The person in 9th has offered his Satan, Damphousse and Toskala (to go with my Nabokov) for my Nurminen, Hartnell and Legwand. He wants Legwand and Hartnell to go with his Sullivan, making the PP unit for Nashville. I would like to counter, offering Hartnell, Legwand and Nurminen for his Burke and Jagr. I don't mind giving up a 3 for 2, because I have Mogilny waiting to come off IR. Is this a sound counter offer, or is it a lopsided trade one way or another? Hoping Zhamnov fills the shoes left behind.
Martin
Just call me the Rainman of fantasy hockey. I'd give that counter a try, since Jagr would be the best player in the deal by a mile. It also frees up space for Mogilny, which is a good thing.
Hi Chris: Aren't these the dog days for you too? I have a quick question for you. Mike Modano. Whenever I catch a Stars game all they keep saying is how much better Modano has been playing. I watch the game and barely notice him! I have Thornton and Demitra at centre and was thinking about dropping Modano as centre is a relatively easy position to find FA's. Is Modano really worth holding onto? I think not.
Thanks! Bowcat
I'll say this much: Modano hasn't come on as strong as I thought he would in terms of points. That said, I also don't think he should be dropped from most rosters. In your case, I like your first two guys better for production that Modano this year. Injury concerns are a reason to have a reserve guy, but if you can find good centers via free agency all the time then I'd drop Modano and get help at a different position.
Chris: Would you drop McAmmond for Zhamnov now that Alexei is in Philly?
Thanks, Brian
I would, for sure. McAmmond certainly has the ability to get hot, but Zhamnov is a more reliable producer.
Thanks for your feedback, Chris. I've now climbed out of the basement to the middle of the pack because of your recent help! What do you think of this trade: My: Nash, Stuart/ His: Gonchar, Tucker
Thanks again, Chad
If you're hurting for points from the blueline, go ahead and do it. Nash is still a great source of goals and PIM's though.
Big Chris: I have been offered Nash for Shanahan straight up. Points league, no keepers. All things considered (PP Points, Detroit v Columbus) what do you think of this offer?
Joe, Brooklyn NY
Nash will score a few more goals while Shanny will get a few more assists. They're close in points now and since +/- is not a factor, I might lean toward Nash. Shanny will likely get more rest in the final few weeks leading to the playoffs, where Nash has lots of time on the ice and no playoffs to rest for.
Chris: Yahoo Fantasy league; Goals worth 2 points; Assists worth 1 point; +/- worth 1 point. Do I trade Gonchar for Datsyuk?? Thanks.
Datsyuk will obviously score more goals. Defensemen that get as many points as Gonchar are often more valuable than point-per-game forwards, but you'll need to gauge whether Datsyuk's goals are more valuable than Gonchar's assists on D.
Chris, thanks to your help I am now in the semifinals of my weekly head to head league and with another win will be in the money. We have a simple league that is average scoring per game (goals count 3, assists 2) each week for all skaters. My question is should I replace any of my current starting forwards next week (Lang, Iginla, Stillman, Murray, Satan) with either the re-emerging Gaborik or the recently traded Zhamnov?
Tom
Although Gabby has done well lately, I'd keep the guys you have in your lineup.
Here's one I need your help with. I'm willing to offer Rick Nash for a RW. My opponent has Havlat, Bondra, Bertuzzi, and Gaborik. I need a boost in goals and shooting %. What's my best one for one deal?
Thanks!
It's got to be Bertuzzi. Havlat has a great points total but his other stats are not good enough.
Hi, Chris, this is my second time e-mailing you. I'm currently in 3rd place, but my chances of moving into second took a big blow last night with Aebischer getting blown out again. The absence of Forsberg didn't help, either. I was just wondering, with news that Forsberg's groin is acting up again, that if he was going to miss some significant time again. I never considered dropping him when he was out for 19 games earlier in the season, but now that this injury is back, what is your advice? Should I drop him? If so, who would be a quality center I could pick up that possible may not be at the top of other people's usual lists? Thanks!
Benjie
Definitely do not drop him. He's day-to-day because the Avs want him to be at or near 100% when he plays. Considering he gets a couple of points in pretty much every game he does play, I'd say he's worth the headache.
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