Fantasy Hockey Mailbag - January 23rd-26th Edition

[Bubba55]

Hi Angus,

Just wondering what your thoughts are on a couple of guys who many had high expectations for but are off to poor starts: Bobby Ryan and Tyler Ennis?

[MarmotKing]

Hey Angus,
With Elliott sent down and Burns and Spurgeon hurt, should I try to make a move to improve my D now or wait a couple weeks before deciding?
Thanks

[Puckhead]

Angus,

I was shrewd enough to select Marleau at our auction draft in late September, and am obviously thrilled with his super start. The question is, in a keeper league, with salary cap I am faced with the question of trading him while everyone is hot to trot. If I felt my team could compete this season, I would be holding on, but I have had 2 offers made to me in the last couple of days and would love your opinion.

Offer #1:

Marleau

4

Dubinsky
2014 1st round pick (Amateur draft)
Brett Connolly

Offer #2

Marleau

4

Galchenyuk

Although the first offer seems more meaty, the point is Dubinsky would be a position fill, and not value to me going forward, and Connolly has to become an active roster player next season, and he has yet to assert himself at the NHL level.

Whereas Galchenyuk has 3 seasons before having to move to the active roster, and by all accounts will be MTL #1 center before that time.

You opinion is always valued!

Thanks Angus.

Puck

[aMaK]

Hey Angus,

I'm in an 18-team keeper-league with the following scoring system: 16 players, 12 active (6F - 4D - 2G)
G: 3 pts A: 2 pts PPG : 2 pts SHG : 1 pt PIM : 0.25 pts +/-: 1 pt
Special Scoring for Defense
A: 3 pts G: 5 pts
Goalie Scoring
S: 0.2 pts SO: 3 pts W : 5 pts GA : 1 pt
Special Scoring for Goalies
A - 5 pts G - 10 pts

With Justin Faulk out with an upper body injury (whatever that means?) and Jake Gardiner looking a little rusty and being sent down, I'm thin at D. My team:
Eberle, Seguin, Jamie Benn, Huberdeau, Ennis, Stepan, Granlund, Kassian, Nyquist, OEL, Gardiner, Josi, Faulk, Voynov, Rask and Pavelec

I'm considering offering Grandlund for Brendan Smith. What are your thoughts on this? I like Subban, but I'm sure the price would be very high. Any other ideas that could help me at D while remaining young?

Thanks,
aMaK

[cannon]

Rank the following players for the league settings in my sig: Huberdeau, Horton, Roy, Tanguay

It is a keeper league but I am more interested on how you feel about each for this season

Thanks

[ross10019]

Angus, thoughts on Ryan Whitney for this year and going forward, especially given the immediate impact of Schultz. In pre-season I had read some comments that he seemed quicker than his previous years when he was so affected by that foot injury, but since the beginning of the season he's been contributing little despite decent PP time.

[MrQuacky]

Hey Angus,

First off thanks for doing this! Now to my question (sorry for the length).

16 team, full keeper, head to head. Start 6F, 4D and a goalie, 7 on the bench and 10 in the minors. Scoring cats:

G:5
A:3
PIM: 0.5
+/-: 1
And other smaller points for things like SOG (0.3) hits, blocked shots, FOW, etc.
And defence get an extra 2 points for a goal or assist.

I have too many d-men and was offered:
Marleau + Colborne for my Phaneuf and 2013 1st (likely around 10th?) I countered with either a swap of 1st's or my 2nd and 3rd instead.

My other option is to drop Brodie for a guy like Dupuis.

What do you think?

[am78]

In a 13 team pts only I currently Have Marcus Foligno, Johansson, Mueller, Sullivan, Tlusty and little as my bottom feeders

I plan on dropping 1 player for Versteeg once he returns and Currently Mason Raymond, Kassian, Boyes, Boedker are all FA's...worthy of a pickup over my roster guys?

[BlackGold]

Does Alex Burrows get back onto the Sedin line? Can he produce at the 50pt rate without the sedins? It's been the Kassian show so far.... and someone in my league has just dropped Alex Burrows. I'm not sure if I should use my #1 waiver on him

Also ... I would have to drop one of Brunner, Tarasenko, Yakupov for him which probably isn't the best of ideas eh? Reason I am considering it is that I could use the PIMs he provides... or are those PIMs going to dry up too.

Team is in my signature.

[angus]

HI!

Keeper Pts Only 16 teams

8F-3D-1G

(years remaining)

Malkin (1)
Datsyuk (1)
Duchene (2)
Wheeler (3)
Zajac (2)
Turris (3)
Vrbata (2)
Hemsky (3)

Kronwall (2)
J Johnson (1)
Spurgeon (1)

Howard (1)

Back Up

Berglund (2)
Mueller (3)
Kassian (3)
Nyquist (3)

Elliott (3)
Girardi (1)

Schneider (3)

Very very strong league. I'm weak on D and specially with Spurgeon but it's very hard to make trades in this league but possible.

Witch players you think i have to trade to be more competitive this year?

Thanks!!!

Players in bold you should try to upgrade on.

[angus]

Now that it has been a few games...

Galchenyuk...big time or the farm?

I haven't seen a full MTL game so couldn't give a fair analysis - to me, he looks ready, but Montreal may want him to play more.

[angus]

Thinking about making this offer with an eye towards a slight remodel this season. Guy is fighting for first and wants Kovalchuk.

League #1 in signature:

Letang (or S. Weber), P. Bergeron, and a pick

for

Kovalchuk and Giordano

Is this good enough value?

Nope. You can do better.

[angus]

Hey Angus,

League in sig. Finished first last year, think I have a shot again this year. Should I trade my Seguin and Strome for Ovechkin?

Question 2, if you can. How many pts for Sullivan this year? Is he worth me using one of my 2 UFA signings on him? Thanks

hmm..... that is a lot to give up. I'd hold off for a few weeks to see if Ovy starts to get a bit of his game back.

Sullivan... pass.

[angus]

Okay, my last questions:

Question #1: Which D will stand out most this year: Goligoski, Bieksa, Carlson, EJ, Carle, Souray?
Question #2: Would you add any of these guys over players currently on my team: Steen, Zajac, Roy, Filppula, Perron, Hodgson?

Thanks again for doing this!!

Goli probably.

I'd keep an eye on Roy and Filppula for now. See how they produce in the next 10-14 days.

[angus]

Hey Angus,

Team listed in SIG...what position do I need an upgrade the most in hopes of winning this year.

thanks

Team looks pretty balanced... I'd say C, D, G in order.