TJ Streett

Forsberg Suddenly Retires, Replace With Saku Koivu

Peter Forsberg retired from the NHL again Monday just two games into his comeback. This does hurt fantasy owners banking on Forsberg putting up monster numbers, however, Saku Koivu is owned in just forty percent of fantasy leagues and should help ease the loss of Forsberg’s expectations.

Analysis: Saku Koivu is certainly under the radar and is playing some great hockey lately. Koivu has 2 goals, 6 assists, 3 power play points and seven games with over 20 minutes of ice time in his last seven games. There are very few available fantasy centers getting the ice time or putting up the numbers like Koivu has these past few weeks. Obviously, the loss of Peter Forsberg hurts but Koivu is a consistent force.

Projection: There are only twenty-five games left on the Ducks schedule and expect Koivu to amass about 15 points, over 5 power play points with an average time on ice over 20 minutes. He isn’t going to go on a streak and leave the league on fire but he won’t let you down either.

Jodie Meeks Is On Fire

Jodie Meeks has knocked down 22 threes his last nine games and is a must add in deeper leagues.

Analysis: Jodie Meeks is one of the more streaky players in the NBA but when he’s hitting his jumpers the fantasy world takes notice. He’s available in over ninety-five percent of leagues and he’s going fast. Meeks is shooting over fifty percent from the field in Febuary and is a career 86% free throw shooter. Add in 8 steals and five 14 plus point games in his last seven contests and you have a solid under the radar shooting guard playing on a mediocre team. Jodie Meeks is on fire and we don’t know how long it will last but we do know if you need threes he supplies them in bunches.

Projection: Even if Meeks cools down a bit he’s still going to knock down 2 threes a game and he won’t hurt you in field goal percentage or points either. Expect 25-30 minutes a game from here on out with about a steal per game.

Tracy McGrady Isn’t T-Mac Anymore

Despite only one 20 point game in his last nine contests, Tracy McGrady is still owned in about forty percent of fantasy leagues nationwide.

Analysis: McGrady’s minutes are certainly up over the last month and a half to about thirty per game but his three point percentage is below thirty percent and his steals are below one per game in this stretch. All McGrady provides is unreliable points production with below average rebounds, assists and steals at the SG/PG position, especially over the last two weeks. Tracy McGrady is owned in leagues on name only, not performance and it’s time to drop the dead weight.

Projection: Expect McGrady to get 25-30 minutes a game with 12 PPG, 4 APG and 3 RPG. His shooting percentage is alright but he’s not hitting the three ball at all. Time for a change.

Why Do You Trust Mike Knuble?

Mike Knuble was held scoreless for the tenth time in his last thirteen games Saturday against the Kings.

Analysis: Knuble has only 22 points in 52 games this year after 53 points in just 69 games last year. His age, 38, has apparently caught up to him. This is his worst season in ten years and he’s still owned in over sixty percent of fantasy leagues. Knuble’s ice time and power play minutes have dropped a bit over the past few weeks and don’t expect anything more than he’s shown this year. Knuble is minus 5 in his current thirteen game three point stretch and it’s time to cut your losses and move on.

Projection: Knuble isn’t worth keeping unless you’re in a deeper league where I would expect a maximum of ten points in his remaining games. Consider the red hot Michael Grabner who has 6 goals his last four games at right wing instead of Knuble.

Mike Fisher To Nashville Boosts Value

Mike Fisher goes from Ottawa who are minus 62 in goal differential to the Nashville Predators who are plus 15 in goal differential. Mike Fisher owners rejoice, the best is yet to come.

Analysis: Mike Fisher leaves an awful team and hopefully for fantasy owners his minus 19 rating on the year as well. He is available in about forty percent of leagues and if your in need of a center and Peter Forsberg is not available you need to strongly consider what Fisher brings to the table. The only thing that has prevented him from being owned in every league is the Ottawa defense and goaltending which have allowed the second most goals in the NHL.

Projection: It’s still too early to pinpoint how well Fisher will fit into Nashville’s system but we do know he shoots a ton, get a lot of ice time and won’t hurt you in the plus/minus category anymore. Expect about 15-20 points the rest of the season as Fisher will help the Preds try to chase down Detroit for the central division crown.