Frozen Fantasy: Road rage
By Janet Eagleson Nov 13, 2:38 am EST
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The NHL drives me nuts some days.
It seems they’ve changed their minds on southwestern Ontario – all of a sudden, it looks like it could support another NHL team. And oh yeah – they say the Leafs have no veto clout, either.
Wow.
Then Gary Bettman announced he had reinstated Henry Samueli, the owner of the Ducks who lied to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission about an illegal stock option scheme he’d cooked up.
I just about drove right off the road. Both times.
Some guys get a second chance but some guys don’t? I just don’t get it.
Don’t get me wrong – I’m not a Jim Balsillie apologist. But even a pylon can see they’re putting forward mixed messages. And don’t even get me started on Boots Del Biaggio.
No, this doesn’t have anything to do with fantasy. But you don’t play fantasy hockey if you don’t love hockey. And if you love hockey, you hate being embarrassed by crap like this. You don’t want to have to apologize for loving the game. And that’s just what happens with inconsistencies like these.
Reputation management – every other pro league can do it. Why can’t the NHL? But I digress.
Let’s see who caught my eye this week:
Nicklas Bergfors(notes), RW, New Jersey (7-percent owned) – Bergfors is intensely competitive with a decent offensive touch, but he’s been relatively slow to develop. And he’s kind of small. I’m still not convinced he’s going to be a top-six guy but right now, he has me intrigued. That three-point night Thursday sure helped. But when I checked his stats, I discovered he’s actually been pretty good over his last 10 games – 10 points with half on the PP. I’d nab him if he was available in my league.
Andrew Ebbett(notes), C, Chicago (1-percent owned) – Opportunity is knocking for Ebbett, who looks like the man of the hour now that Dave Bolland(notes) is out following back surgery. Anyone who gets to play between Patrick Kane(notes) and Kris Versteeg(notes) is worth a flyer, regardless of the league-wide depth down the middle.
Tobias Enstrom(notes), D, Atlanta (32-percent owned) – Enstrom is a real squirt – he’s barely 5-foot-10 and 175 pounds. But he knows how to run a PP and his skating is sublime. And his 12 points – including five in his last four – are proof-positive he’s a 50-point producer from the back end. So exactly why is he owned in just 32 percent of leagues? Oh yeah, I forgot – it’s that stupid brown bird on his jersey. It makes him a bit of a pariah. But who cares where he plays if he can deliver the mail for your squad?
Tomas Fleischmann(notes), LW/RW, Washington (21-percent owned) – Sure, he’s a tad skinny. And he has been rapped as inconsistent. But right now, he’s riding a six-game, eight-point scoring streak. He even has five goals in that span, something I sure didn’t expect – he is a playmaker, after all. His dual eligibility makes him an outstanding grab right now. Move swiftly or forever hold your peace.
Cody Franson(notes), D, Nashville (0-percent owned) – Franson is a big puckmoving defender who passes well, owns a big heavy shot, and plays smart. And oh yeah – he’s playing in the blueline capital of the NHL – do the Preds know how to pick them or what? He has three points in his last three games and five in 11 overall this season. His pedigree is sound – he exploded over the second half last year to finish third in the AHL in blueline scoring. He can help, particularly if you’re stinging from injuries.
Antero Niittymaki(notes), G, Tampa Bay (39 percent owned) – Tampa coach Rick Tocchet made it abundantly clear at the beginning of this season – Niitty would get every chance to push starter Mike Smith(notes) for playing time. Competition is good, he said. Niitty has been outstanding lately – heading into play Thursday he was 2-0-2 in his past five games with a 1.48 goals-against average and .956 save percentage. And he entered Wednesday with a league-best .940 save percentage and was second with a 1.95 goals-against average. Bear in mind he’s streaky so it may not last. But he’s keeping his body quiet and that may be the secret to evening out those peaks and valleys in performance. At minimum, Tampa Bay is now a two-goalie town. And that gives Niitty some definite value.
Ryan O’Reilly(notes), C, Colorado (26-percent owned) – O’Reilly has really surprised me. He won’t turn 19 until February but he looks like a grizzled vet. His 14 points in 19 games is impressive enough, particularly for a rookie. But it’s his plus-14 rating that’s really impressive. He won’t help you with special teams play but he will help in other categories.
Stephen Valiquette(notes), G, NY Rangers (3-percent owned) – He’s no savior but he may get some playing time if the rumors that Henrik Lundqvist(notes) is injured are really true. That team is good enough to get at least a few wins with a tree stump between the pipes; Valiquette is bound to be better than that. Nab him as a handcuff.
Ryan Whitney(notes), D, Anaheim (47-percent owned) – Whitney’s minus-3 rating Wednesday night sure doesn’t inspire confidence, does it? But I think that now is the perfect time to use your best pick-up line to see if you can get your claws into this guy. Whitney is very talented and should soon start to produce a lot more on the PP. And right now, his owners are growing weary – pounce.
Back to road rage.
I’m not really the white-knuckle type. And I don’t yell and curse when someone cuts me off.
But I do occasionally talk back – and loudly – to the car radio. Twice this week, in fact. I love the game of hockey. And I love fantasy hockey.
But I don’t suffer fools very well.
Until next week.
