ASK SLAM!
By CHRIS NICHOLS -- SLAM! Sports
Hey Chris: I want to ask you whether I should keep Teemu Selanne or drop him for some free players like Berard, Walker, Gaborik, Handzus, Prospal, Arnott, Smyth, Rolston, Holik, etc.. I've been holding onto Selanne since the start of the season and I must say he is quite a disappointment... When I bench him, he gets points but when I play him he doesn't so it's very frustrating... I'm afraid of dropping him because I know people in my league will pick him up in 2 seconds... And since he plays with all-star teammates, I'm hesitant to drop him... I thought that keeping him along with my Kariya and Tanguay would be good, but Kariya isn't doing his best and Tanguay is doing well...The end of the season's nearly over and there's only 20 games left.. What would you do about the Flash?
As painful as it is to drop a talent like that, you pretty much have to when there is good free agent talent available. You have several great choices available and depending on your needs, I'd look at Gaborik, Walker and Berard to start with. The others also have value.
Chris: I have Cujo and Naslund currently on IR, but when they come back I would need to drop a couple players to make room for them. I have lots of RW: Heatley, Guerin, O'Neill, Bondra, Gaborik, Mogilny, and Hossa. My LW are Naslund, Nash, Turgeon, and Satan. I was thinking of trading/dropping some of my RW's. Who would I drop out of this list? Or if I were to make a trade to cut down on my roster size, which are players you would consider dealing and for what in return? (Yahoo league)
Turgeon is the first guy I'd boot, despite the fact that he's finally scoring. Each of your RW's has value, so I'd look to deal from your strength there. In terms of what you should get, it's all going to depend on the other owner and who he likes. I'd keep Hossa and Heatley for sure and then pick one of the others to keep as insurance (Assuming you only need two at that position).
Hey Chris: Two quickies... I'm looking to acquire Kiprusoff and was thinking of this proposition. My Lidstrom and Weight for his Forsberg and Kiprusoff. I already have Sundin at centre and don't have many games left to use at C. Am I giving up too much? If my counterpart doesn't go for it I was thinking of offering Sundin instead of Weight. However, I'm afraid that's way too much to give up? Also, any news on Jovo's return?
Cheers, Jamie
I'd go for the deal. Forsberg is a day-to-day injury risk for the rest of his career, but his numbers are monstrous and his injury doesn't seem too severe so far.
Jovo is probably going to be a few more weeks at a minimum, but it's really hard to pinpoint any return date at this time.
Hey Chris, great information. I am in a typical Yahoo H2H league. I was looking at adding Turgeon or Zetterberg because they are on fire right now. My forwards are Sakic, H. Sedin, Prospal, Satan, Kariya, Ribeiro, Savard, Hull, & Hossa. Should I pick up Turgeon or Zetterberg? And if so who should I drop?
Thanks -Jim
Turgeon has been hot, but he's not exactly a favorite of mine and he's not a great candidate to sustain his production. I'd leave him alone. Grab Zetterberg and drop Sedin.
Hi Chris: on Satellite Hotstove Saturday night it was mentioned Lindros is improving and there would be a possibility that he would be traded before the deadline. Right now, I have Bonk on IR. Should I take the chance and drop Bonk for Lindros? It's for my Points League. By the way, partly due to reading your column, I'm very close to catching the guy in first. He's making changes daily and is obviously really sweating it out. Thanks to you, my pick up's seem to be always that much better than his. Even if I don't beat him though, thanks for the great fun in making it close.
Matt
Thanks Matt. I would add Lindros instead of Bonk, but that's only because I don't think Bonk is that great in fantasy leagues. Lindros may or may not come back -- I wouldn't hold my breath for anything great this year. However, if I'm weighing the upside of both players, I still like Lindros over Bonk.
Great advice as usual. I have Aebischer and Raycroft as my only 2 goalies in Yahoo HTH league. My centers are Langkow, Koivu, and Datsyuk. Should I trade my Pronger, Langkow, Raycroft for his Forsberg, Kaberle (Toronto), and Osgood? Forsberg always being hurt scares me as does the change in save % and goals against that Raycroft provides.
As much as Forsberg would help your team offensively, I think you'd be cutting off your team's nose to spite its face. Try to land Forsberg while he's still injured with a two-for-one forward deal where you give up some quality and leave Pronger and Raycroft alone.
As always... Great column! I've been trying to deal a RW to shore up my weak defense and/or left side. I've got Hejduk, Iginla, Walker and Gaborik. Standard H2H yahoo league, counting everything except SOG. Was offered Pronger for Hejduk (none of his LW are better than mine to sweeten the deal) what do you think? I can start 2 RW, plus 1 utility spot. Thanks
It's certainly a fair offer, but I think you'd be better served paying less for a cheaper defenseman. Walker has been hot and may be able to land you a Zidlicky-level defenseman, which would allow you to keep Hejduk.
I am in a keeper pool that counts goal and assists, unfortunately I am dead last (even with your help). We can keep 6 players. My team consist of ; Tanguay, Datsyuk, Lecavalier, Marleau, Briere, Gaborik, Gagne, Zetterberg, Selanne, O'Neil, Drury, Demitra, Skoula, Lidstrom, Mara, Poti and Rachunek (with Hasek and Potvin in net). I have been offered a traded of; Datsyuk and Poti for Koivu and Pronger. What do you think?
Thanks, Dan
It comes down to Datsyuk for Pronger. Datsyuk is a point-per-game player and has more value in those points-only leagues you're in than ones that count PIM's and SOG. Pronger is a stud defenseman though and would make a great keeper. Having Pronger and Lidstrom plus four forwards (Lecavalier, Tanguay, Demitra and either Gabby, Marleau or Z) would be pretty nice. I'd probably make the deal, depending on the overall value of defensemen in your league.
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