ASK SLAM!
By CHRIS NICHOLS -- SLAM! Sports
Fantastic column -- I'm in first. With all of the Kinguries in LA, does Frolov now see an expanded role and is he worth consideration?
Thanks, Frank in Denver
Absolutely. Frolov's production had tapered off, but he'll get even more ice time now and will be counted on for more scoring. If I were Frolov, I'd run and hide under a concrete table... because you never know when the next piano is going to fall on a Los Angeles forward.
Chris: Finally, someone to ask regarding fantasy hockey! What in the world is going on with Glen Murray? 2 points in the last 10 games! It looks like he's been demoted from the Thornton line. Do you think he'll rebound in the second half or is it an off year? Help!
Mike in CT
I think he'll eventually get back on the Thornton line. Ideally for fantasy leaguers, it'll be the Sammy, Joe and Murray show again. He's not shooting the puck nearly as much as he did last season, which is likely part of the reason in his drop in goals. He's still talented; although he was probably a bit overrated going into most fantasy leagues this year.
Chris: Need your advice. I'm in a Yahoo league that counts everything. I have been offered Thornton and Tkachuk for my Bertuzzi and Sheldon Souray? Normally I would jump on this, but I'm heavy on LW with L.Robitaille, D.Sedin, D,Tucker(LW/RW), and B.Morrow and only have Bertuzzi and St.Louis as RW. My Centers are B.Morrison, M.Comrie, and M.Modano(IR). This would also weaken my defense as I have Pitkanen, Pronger, Souray, and P.Boucher. He also has Hejduk, Guerin, Lidstrom, and Visnovsky. Should I try to mix in some of those guys to better balance my lineup, or should I take the offer and try to make some side deals with Sedin, Tucker and Morrow to balance it out?
Thanks, Kevin Minneapolis
Tough call. It's a lot of talent coming your way, but since you can only play so many people at one position, it's not so cut and dried. You have to weight where you are in the standings with what the new guys will get you. Also factor in how easy it is to trade with other guys in your league. If most guys are open to trades, then go ahead and take it. If not, you may want to stand pat.
Hey Chris: Just a quick question, now that Straka is injured I have to pick up someone off waivers. Pickings are rather slim and I wanted to pick up someone who is presently hot and might have a good 2nd half. My options are Todd White, Jan Hrdina, Scott Gomez and Brian Gionta. Witch one of these players would you pick up right now?
I'd take White from that group, although Hrdina and Gomez have certainly been great lately. I think White is the better option since he's closer to the start of his streak.
Hey Chris: what's do you think about Scott Walker and Dmitri Kalinin?
Thanks, Niko
They're both worth adding now, certainly. Walker's hot run likely has no more than a week or two left in it, but we'll see.
Hi Chris: In my pool, we get 1point for each goal and assists. I'm thinking of dropping Straka, due to all the injuries in LA and his recent knee sprain. Is it a good move? Yzerman, Satan, Marleau and Holik are still available, should I drop Straka for one of them? Which one do you think will have the best 2nd half of the season. Thanks for you great expertise!
Alex.
Each of those guys is a better choice than Straka right now. For points, Satan should get the most in the second half. Each of those guys can bring a little something different to the table, so weigh that with the stats your league counts and what your team needs.
Hello: I was wondering if I should continue to hold onto Jamie Langenbrunner or drop him in favor of Zednick or Kvasha. I need points bad...and am not sure what the heck to do. Your article is by far the best for Fantasy Hockey.
Cheers, Chris
Thanks. I'd go with Zednik and then see how Langenbrunner's knee is when he comes back. Zednik probably isn't a guy you'll want to keep the rest of the way, but he's fine for now.
Hello Chris, Great job on your column, its amazing and time saving at the same time. I'm in a Yahoo league which counts pretty much everything except for PIM, I have Knuble; any chance of him playing with Thornton again?? Time to unload?? Also, will Boucher hot (not shutout) streak last??
THANKS A LOT
KEv
I'm sure at some point Knuble will get back with Thornton. However, if you can grab someone hot in your league that might sustain production, go for it.
Boucher's shutout streak itself is obviously over, but I would imagine he'll have good stats for awhile because Phoenix as a team has been playing some really solid hockey. Now they can be confident in dealing Sean Burke if the right deal comes along.
Chris: I'm in an ESPN league. I finally have a good offer to get rid of Kolzig - Kolzig and Kovalchuk for Lang and Theodore. I'm last in goalies, so need big time help and this would give it to me. But I do lose out in SOG. What do you think Kovalchuk will do once Heatley comes back - heat up, or no more than he is now. Do the trade or not? Thanks again!
J
I'd much rather have Kovalchuk than Lang, but to get rid of Kolzig I'd make that deal. Kolzig has been playing much better lately (His past three games, specifically), but I still would not want him on my team. Watch though - you'll deal him and then he'll be excellent the rest of the way. Murphy's Law.
Hey Chris, great service you have going on here. I am sitting in third in my league after a midseason slump. I want to pad my goalie stats a little and I am in need of advice. Right now I have Burke, Osgood, and Broduer playing with Thibault on the IR. Nabokov is available in my league and I am wondering if he would be a good replacement for Burke at least until Thibault gets back. In addition which of these three goalies (Burke, Nabokov, and Thibault) will give me the best results in the second half? My league counts W, GAA, SV%, and SHO
I would leave the goalies the way you have them. Brodeur and Osgood can carry you, while Burke could have some serious value if he gets traded. Nabokov is fine, but you should be good with what you have and Burke's upside is worth hanging onto for now. Once Thibault comes back (All Star break) and plays a week or two, you can re-examine the situation.
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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