ASK SLAM!
By CHRIS NICHOLS -- SLAM! Sports
Numerous deals went down yesterday and several of them will have an impact in your fantasy league. Let's take a look at the big ones:
Geoff Sanderson and Martin Rucinsky to Vancouver: With Todd Bertuzzi's suspension (Number of games not revealed at the writing of this column), a slot is now open on the Naslund/Morrison line. One of the new guys will fill it and the other will likely play with the Sedin twins. Both new guys will have pretty decent fantasy totals with more upside than the situation they were each coming from.
Greg De Vries to Ottawa: De Vries gives the Sens more insurance for the playoffs and is a solid two-way guy that has some use in deeper fantasy leagues. At the very least, he should boost your +/-.
Tommy Salo to Colorado: Salo gets a lot of deserved and undeserved heat for his play, but he is the perfect fit for the Avalanche. He's a great team guy and he gives the Avs peace of mind. If David Aebischer were to hurt or plain out bomb in the playoffs, Salo could step in and provide some solid netminding. Look for the Avs to keep Salo active enough that he could provide some spot starts for you down the stretch. Look for the back-to-back games.
Ron Francis to Toronto: Toronto secures another player that was around when the NHL started in the early 1900's. Seriously though, Francis is a great veteran guy that will be just what the Leafs need. He can play a checking role when needed and if - no, make that when - a top six Leaf forward goes down with an injury, Francis can step in and provide some scoring punch.
Derek Morris to Phoenix and Chris Gratton to Colorado: This can do nothing but boost the fantasy value of Derek Morris. Morris has been underwhelming this year. Coming off a strong season last year. Morris will now get to man the point for the Phoenix power play and while his numbers for the rest of this year may be average; his stock gets a big boost for next year. John-Michael Liles will improve his own numbers with Morris gone. Chris Gratton is just what the Avs were looking for and he should see a few more points on his totals, although don't expect huge numbers unless he gets the number two job with Peter Forsberg out.
Chris I'm in a H2H format and with the announcement of Cujo coming off the IR on Thursday I won't have room on my roster for both him and Legace. Which one should I drop? Should I consider dropping Giguere or Weeks? I also have Aebischer. Thanks for the Help
I'd hang onto Legace as insurance and drop either Weekes or JSG.
Chris: Thanks for the great advice all year; it helped me take first in my league's regular season and a bye in the first round of the playoffs. I have a dilemma though, my league allows for three keepers for next year. Of these players, which three would you keep (each week our league starts 6 forwards, 4 D, and 2 goalies, with 7 skater categories & 4 goalies each week): Hossa, Bertuzzi, Thornton, Iginla, Hejduk, Demitra, Pronger, Brodeur, and Turco. I was thinking of keeping the 2 goalies and 1 forward. What are your thoughts? Thanks,
Paul
That's an All Star team there. I'd keep Brodeur, Pronger and one forward. I also couldn't argue with keeping Bertuzzi and Thornton with Brodeur, assuming your league counts PIM's.
Hey...standard Yahoo H2H league heading into playoffs. Heatley for Tkachuk? Both teams are on outside looking in, but ATL has a favorable sked down the stretch. I can probably survive the loss of PM if Heatley's production is a nice upgrade. Thoughts? Thanks.
Not bad at all. Heatley will get more points, so if you can get by without PIM's do it.
Ok ... I'm in a keeper league ... I can keep 420 points worth of guys ... these are some of my guys and their projected totals on my roster sheet ... who would you keep?
Sakic - 125
Tanguay - 80
St. Louis - 165
Hossa - 100
Sundin - 100
Kovalchuk - 75
McCabe - 60
Chara - 85
Thank you, Rob
Kovalchuk, Chara and Hossa are automatics. That is 260. Tanguay is good for the points, so that's 340. McCabe would be all that's left under the cap.
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.
