ASK SLAM!

ASK SLAM!

By CHRIS NICHOLS -- SLAM! Sports

Faithful readers: Due to the current email virus that is going around, only emails with a subject line involving something hockey-related will be opened and answered. My inbox has been flooded with those spam/ virus emails and it�s a laborious task to weed out the real emails. If you have not received a response within 48 hours, your email was either not received or not opened.

Hey Chris - I am in the typical Yahoo H2H League and have been offered Sundin for Lalime. Is this a decent deal? My other goalies are Aebischer, Burke, Hasek, & Kiprusoff. What do you think? Thanks & keep up the great job.
-Jim

The deal is fair, although I�d go after more than Sundin. Also, I think you need to keep Lalime and Aebischer, as they are your only two givens in net. Hasek�s groin is a question mark, although he could be back on the ice in a week. Burke is losing starts to Boucher and has no value until he�s dealt. Kipper should beat out Turek, but that�s not for sure.

Chris: great column(s) as always. Quick question: free agent D in my league are sparse. I�m thinking Sydor might have more value now that he just got traded to a team that cannot possibly be as bad as Columbus. Do you think he's worth adding at this point?
Thanks, Rob

He�s worth a look, sure. He�ll get PP time in Tampa and his +/- will obviously be much better.

Hey Chris what do u think of this trade? My Selanne for Morrison??
Thanks

I think that�s a good deal for you. Selanne has been inconsistent and Morrison will always be with Bert and Naslund.

Have you heard anything about Thibault coming back anytime soon?? If so, do you think he is worth a pick up. My current goalies are Aebischer, Burke, Boucher and Salo. I would have to drop one of them. Thanks in advance.

I would drop Salo from that bunch. Thibault will be back around the All Star break.

Chris thanks for your daily advice; I am currently trying to make a run at first, but I need goaltending. I am in a Yahoo! Roto League which counts PIM. I am in a desperate need of a good goalie (I currently have Hasek (IR), Weekes, Burke, Grahame and Kolzig). I was offered Luongo/Lidstrom for my Jovanovski/Zubov; should I take it? Or should I counter Zubov for Luongo straight up? My other D are Blake, Leetch and Morris. I like Jovo, so I am hesitant to pull the trigger and let him go (even thou he is injured.) I am carrying too many goalies because I am hoping that Khabi, Kolzig and/or Burke get traded.
Thank you, Oz from San Jose.

I would actually ride out Weekes and Grahame for now and you should see at least one of those goalies traded to a contender. Luongo has a great SA%, but his GAA isn�t great and he doesn�t win a lot of games.

Hi again, Ill keep it short. 10 team league, keep 5. Everything scored but PIM. With Heatley back...I need to drop a forward and need D help bad. Havelid and V Malakhov are both available and I�m leaning towards Malakhov because of Jagr. We also have Tanabe, Corvo, and Cross out there but I need guys for this year (protected players already set) so again I like the gamble on Malakhov. Your expert opinion??
Thanks as usual, JJ in STL

From those choices, I like Malakhov the most. Havelid is someone to keep an eye on though, because he�s had a few great games lately.

Hi Chris: Were would we all be without your column?? Quick question for you. Standard Yahoo points league that scores everything. I'm in need of fresh goalie help, I only have Esche & Kidd (the W/FA list is bare). I've been offered Biron for Madden & Lidstrom, which even I know is way too much but I�m not sure of his worth and what to offer.
My team is:
C - Madden, Armstrong, Sedin, Francis, Ronning
LW - Calder, Satan (LW/RW), Konowalchuk, Erat (LW/RW), Hecht
RW - Selanne, Bure, Langenbrunner (IR)
D - Lidstrom, Boyle, Zubov, Boucher, Gonchar (IR)
I'm feeling the pinch from players badly underperforming and in mid table.
Looking forward to your help.
JAMES (England)

With Gonchar on the IR, I would not deal any of your D right now. And yes, that is way too much to give up for Biron. Try Langenbrunner or Ronning or something like that for Biron. He�s not necessarily worth much long-term this year, but that�s a starting point to help get you some more games in goal.

Hi Chris: Thank you for your advice so far, it has really helped me. I have been offered Justin Williams and Satan for Morrison. I'm not going to take him up on that but I can see myself parting with Morrison. He got Modano, Weight, Roenick, LeClair, Kariya, Selanne, Amonte, Heatley and Gaborik on his roster. What kind of trade would you recommend me to offer him?
All the best, Rickard

Definitely do not take that deal. I would actually just keep Morrison. Bertuzzi is heating up and Naslund is always great, so I expect very nice stats from Morrison.

Hey Chris, just made a trade and want your thoughts. My Datsyuk and DiPietro for Lalime. Up the middle I still have Roenick, Lindros and Marleau. In goal I have Turco and Salo, so I figured an upgrade was needed. What do ya think?
Todd

Great deal. Lalime will get way more wins and is for sure the #1 guy. Datsyuk will be close to a point-per-game, but is low in the other stats like SOG.

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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