Category: NHL

Gaborik Helped With Richards Signing

The nine year $60 million deal with the New York Rangers slightly boosts Brad Richards’ fantasy value but the real winner is right winger Marian Gaborik.

Analysis: It feels like Brad Richards has been around forever but he is just thirty-one years old and still in his prime. Richards has been a point per game center for the past four years now and was on pace for his third ninety point season, however, a concussion derailed him. Pairing Richards up with Marian Gaborik on the first line and in the power play will certainly boost his assists total. Outside of a boost in assists Richards’ plus/minus may get a slight boost but expect more top notch fantasy play from Richards in the 2011-12 season. The real winner here is Marian Gaborik who will be playing with the best center of his career(sorry Pavol Demitra/Mikko Koivu). The 2010-11 season for Gaborik was most disappointing, netting just 22 goals in 62 games. When it comes to Gaborik, obviously it all comes down to health and if the winger stays healthy expect a return to his 40 goal form if not more.

Projection: Brad Richards remains a top ten fantasy forward and a top five center while Marian Gaborik projects as a top twenty-five forward due to health concerns but could just as easily put up top ten numbers.

Jagr Signs With Flyers

On the first day of free agency in the NHL Jaromir Jagr has signed a one year deal with the Philadelphia Flyers. Jagr has played well the last three seasons in the KHL averaging .94 points per game in 155 games. The KHL is a slower paced league that plays in larger rinks and the scoring is lower. Generally, Alexander Radulov and Alexei Morozov have been considered the best players in the KHL over the past few seasons and Jagr finds himself in a tier just below those two.

Analysis: To put Jagr’s 2010-11 KHL season into perspective on where his offensive/fantasy game is, he scored 19 goals, 32 assists for 51 points in 49 games, good for eighth in the league. An aging Pavol Demitra made the switch from the NHL to the KHL this past year and amassed sixty-one points, tied for third best in the league. In Demitra’s last two NHL seasons he averaged .71 points per game.

Projection: On a strong Flyers squad even without Richards and Carter it is safe to assume Jagr will produce. If Jagr can stay healthy in the more physical NHL at his age and play in at least seventy-five games we should expect 20 goals, 45 assists and a solid plus/minus rating.

Time To Drop Justin Williams

Kings’ winger Justin Williams will be out up to four weeks with a dislocated right shoulder.

Analysis: This news means Justin Williams will be out for the remainder of the regular season and thus needs to be dropped from your fantasy team immediately. Williams is the Kings best winger and was having the second best season of his career with 57 points in just 73 games. Obviously in keeper leagues he’s fine to roll with next year but losing nearly a point per game player who is a plus 14 on the year with over 200 shots on goal hurts and hurts bad. There aren’t too many right wingers widely available in most leagues but there are a few solid options. St. Louis right winger Matt D’Agostini has four goals and five assists in his last six games and is a plus seven in that stretch. D’Agostini is your clear choice for plus/minus and for assists. Nashville’s Martin Erat has five goals and six assists with 28 shots on goal in his last nine games. If you’re in the market for some penalty minutes then Edmonton’s Ryan Jones just may fit the bill. Jones has amassed 13 penalty minutes in his last six games with a very respectable 15 shots on goal in that span. The loss of Justin Williams hurts but there are some right wingers playing very well on the market.

Alex Ovechkin Out With Undisclosed Injury

Alex Ovechkin is out seven to ten days with an undisclosed injury.

Analysis: Caps coach Bruce Boudreau has stated Ovechkin has been playing with this injury for months. While I do not believe the injury to be serious at all, it’s probably just cumulative fatigue and soreness associated with the grueling schedule and physicality of the NHL. The Caps goal is the Stanley Cup and it has been since day one and it can be evidenced by the defensive nature of Washington’s play much to the detriment of Ovechkin’s numbers this year. This is an extremely wise decision on Washington’s part but it really has to sting your fantasy squad. Seven to ten days puts Ovechkin out for four to five out of the Caps remaining nine games. Also, be aware of the possibility that he could sit until some time in early April when he is completely fresh as the Caps last game is April 9th at Florida.

Projection: You cannot drop Ovechkin, that’s fairly obvious. But you can drop a bench player in you’re in need of a left winger. If Andy McDonald of the Blues is available in your league he is a must pick up.  If he isn’t available, Vinny Prospal of the Rangers is still playing extremely well.

Loui Eriksson Out, But For How Long?

Dallas winger Loui Eriksson was knocked out of Tuesday nights game against the San Jose Sharks with an “upper body injury.”

Analysis: Loui Eriksson was hit in the head area by Shark defenseman Douglas Murray and it is now a question of if Loui Eriksson has a concussion or not. As of now the Stars are listing him as day to day, however, we all know how unpredictable concussion injuries can be if that is the case. The 25 year old Eriksson up until this point was having the best season of his career with 63 points in 69 games with a plus 14. Under no circumstances can you drop Eriksson until it is apparent he’ll be out for at least three weeks as the regular season ends in just over three weeks. Closely monitor the situation as to not lose any ground as you head into the last stretch of the fantasy hockey season.

Projection: If all goes well Loui Eriksson will be back within a week, however, if the situation develops and leaves you searching for a new winger you may want to consider the following options. Teammate Jamie Benn is still available in most leagues and he is absolutely lighting up the score sheet with goals in seven of his last eight games. Also, Vinny Prospal is finally starting to pick it up for the Rangers and he is available in the majority of fantasy leagues.