ASK SLAM!
By CHRIS NICHOLS -- SLAM! Sports
Hey Chris: Your insight has been great. My team is very deep now and starting to roll. I traded Guerin for Thornton. Then noticed Samsonov and Bergeron are hurt. Mistake?
I don't think so. Thornton will produce points regardless and Glen Murray has been extremely hot for quite awhile now. Guerin has picked up his production lately and had a four-point game on Sunday, but I'd still rather have Thornton overall.
Chris: Would you pick up Gionta and drop Gaborik? Also, if I had to drop one to allow for Cujo's return, would you drop O'Neill, Bondra, Gaborik, or Gionta?
Jeff
Long term, I'd rather have Gabby than Gionta. I'd wait until the trade deadline passes before deciding anything regarding O'Neill, but if you managed to have both Gabby and Gionta on your roster... I'd drop Gionta to make way for Cujo.
Hey Chris: Thanks as always for all the great advice. Yahoo league w/ all the basic categories. My defense is Aucoin, Zidlicky, Chara, and Gonchar. I am right on track with my games used. Aucoin has been cold lately. Should I be using someone else instead of him? Available are Markov, Brisebois, and Slegr along with others? I am in second, and my only chance to take first is to have a great +/- down the stretch. Is Comrie about done, now that Pho has so many problems?
Thanks, Joe
Slegr has been doing well and he could be used for now. I'm not sure I'd drop Aucoin outright though, but you've got to gauge how badly you need production right now in your stretch run.
Comrie still has a decent chance to put up some points, but again - it just depends on the options you have available to you. I wouldn't hesitate to cut Comrie for someone hotter.
Chris: I picked up Scott Gomez and intend to put him in my lineup for next week.....who would you put on the bench out of the group I have now: Naslund, Tanguay, Iginla, Fedorov, Doan, Heatley, or Zetterberg? Or do u think I should stick with what I have?
Thx -J
Unless Zetterberg gets dropped off the top two lines for an extended period of time, which I don't see happening, I'd stick with what you have. Lang opened the Detroit/ Philly game on Sunday playing with Steve Yzerman and Ray Whitney and it seems likely that Detroit is going to see if Datsyuk/ Zetterberg and Hull can recreate their second half magic of last season.
Hey Chris: Basic Yahoo! H2H, and I need to pick up a 4th dman, here's the available: Robidas, Jackman, Eriksson, Brisebois, Sutton, Sydor, Zizka, Stuart, and Spacek. I'm dropping either Tommy Salo or Jiggy (picked them up as replacements for Esche and Belfour, but since they're back I have an excess of G) I like Eriksson in his expanded role, and he seems to have hit his stride ever since the Sydor trade, plus he gets more PP time with Klesla out. But the rest have also played well of late...what do you think?
Thanks
It's a toss-up between Eriksson and Sydor for me. Look at their stats aside from points and go with the guy that does the best for what you need. The good thing, I suppose, is that Eriksson actually has a decent +/- too - which is a decent feat for a Columbus player.
Hey Chris: I picked up Berard to go with Pronger last week to replace Souray while he is out. Now I am wondering if I should drop Berard for Andrei Markov. What is the timeline for Souray to comeback? Thanks a lot.
Joe Morris, Sacramento
Berard has been producing even after the big trades, so I'd hang onto him. Souray should be back right before the playoffs start.
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.
