ASK SLAM!
By CHRIS NICHOLS -- SLAM! Sports
Chris: As a first-time roto hockey player, I need your thought on the following question: At this point in the year, how many accumulated PIM's should I be looking for in a player so that I can improve myself in this category?
Thanks for your response--AND the most entertaining hockey column on the net!
Tom D.
Amsterdam, NY
PIM's is definitely the category that is the easiest in which to quickly make up ground. In terms of the number of PIM's for one player, you just want to grab whoever has the most. Sean Avery and Chris Simon are the most popular this season, because they also are chipping in some points. In terms of how many PIM's you'd need to shoot for by the end of year, that would certainly depend on the number of teams in your league.
One tip I like to give if you want to grab a goon: check out their player card and try to grab guys that contribute steadily; rather than guys that have 19 PIM games every three weeks and zero games the rest of the time.
What up man, I'm in a roto style yahoo league; I started out in goal ok with
Hasek, Osgood and Vokoun. I traded my Osgood and Rick Nash for Theodore. Now I've been offered their Turco and Prospal for my Alfredsson. What do you
think of my Osgood trade and the Turco one that is proposed to me? Oh and
there are no starting goalies available.
Thank you
Justin Rylak
Naples Italy
Turco and the Stars have been cruising, so if you can get by without Alfredsson's offense, I'd make the deal. Once you did that one, I'd try to deal Vokoun and stick with Theodore and Turco as your goalies. If Hasek comes back, it's a bonus. You could also try to deal Hasek to the owner that has Joseph and get something decent... that owner would probably love to know they'd have Detroit's stats no matter what happens.
Hi Chris: I am in a Yahoo head-to-head league where trading are pretty much non existent. Currently I am carrying 4 goalies: Brian Boucher, Robert Esche (injured), Curtis Joseph and Roman Cechmanek. All these goalies have been struggling terribly last month. My team has since dropped from no. 3 to no. 7 in my division! I am considering dropping one of them in exchange for an extra attacker like Vaclav Prospal or for a hot goalie like Martin Biron to improve the team performance. In your opinion, which goalie would you definitely let go?
Thanks.
Jeremy in Taipei
I would be patient with your goalies Jeremy. Cujo and Cechmanek will have nice stats, as will Esche when he gets healthy.
Chris: Thanks for your fantasy advice this season! You do a great job of getting
right back to people and I appreciate it. I read all your articles daily -
keep up the great work!
Mike in CT
Thanks Mike, I appreciate it. The Ask Slam! section has been well-received and we're all looking forward to doing it again next season.
Hi Chris: Starting to look forward to next year, let me know if this is a good trade Lydman, Hemsky & H. Sedin for Arnott, Ohlund, and King. I get the Hemsky package. What is your opinion?
Thanks
Moose
If this is a keeper league and you can protect Hemsky and Sedin, it's not bad. Still, Ohlund is an established defenseman and Arnott is decent. I'd probably try to get more.
If this is a one-year league, I'd pass on that trade.
Hi Chris, Your thoughts on a trade I was offered. Brodeur, C.Pronger, Kariya for/ (my players) Lalime, Heatly, R.Blake, My goaltending has been week so I was going to accept this deal. Problem is the team making the offer is the #1 team in my league. I am in third place. Thanks for your input, Bill
Blake and Pronger are fairly even, but I'd rather have Blake because of the Avs. Kariya for Heatley is fairly even. Brodeur beats Lalime.
It's an ok deal. I don't think either team wins or loses in a big way. I wouldn't get too panicked over the recent five-goal games Lalime has had, because Ottawa will clamp down overall and his stats should be decent.
Hi Chris: I've got 2 questions but I'll try to keep 'em short and sweet!
I'm in a 10 team keeper league with 3 roster Goalies (2 active).
Question 1: Would you trade Marty Turco (last year of contract-not keeper eligible) for Evgeni Nabokov (keeper eligible)? I'm a little worried about Toskala's excellent numbers on the season. I don't want to trade for Nabokov as a keeper only to have Toskala take over as the starter next year. If it makes any difference my other goalies are Raycroft and DiPietro.
Question 2: What is your estimate about Brian Boucher's keeper value for next season and beyond?
Thanks for your continued advice,
Tim
San Jose scares me from a keeper perspective. When they work hard, you can see the excellent results they get. Since they don't have a lot of talent, I'd be scared of having Nabokov as one of my guys - despite his awesome numbers.
Boucher should have decent value. Burke is likely going to be traded by the deadline or during the summer. I'd certainly rather have Nabokov than Boucher.
should I drop Selanne or Heatley for Dvorak?
Nate -Detroit
Definitely not Heatley. I'd be patient with Selanne, at least when it comes to Dvorak.
Have a fantasy hockey question? Drop me a line at
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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