(+/-) Help...suggestions?

[ERudited]

As an absolute \"newb\" to fantasy hockey, I\'m actually off to a decent start thanks to Dobber\'s projections. I\'m in a highly competitive, 10-team roto league. It looks like my biggest problem is in the (+/-) category. Any suggestions on who to grab as a bench guy to help me out?

My roster:

Goalies: Luongo, Fleury, Legace

Forwards: Spezza, E. Staal, B. Richards, Savard, Straka, Savard, Bouchard, Prospal, Arnott, Kariya, Hemsky, Antropov, Toews

Defensemen: Chara, Bieksa, Zhitnik, Pitkanen, McCabe, Hamhuis, Campoli

Thanks for helping out this rookie!

[The Comish]

Welcome newby! I\'ve got pretty much the same problem, I\'m fighting my +/- numbers. Your roster looks decent enough, but you will be in tough with your plus/minus stats with that crew.

Look for players on teams like Ottawa or Detroit. Last year teams like the Rangers, Anaheim and Buffalo had many players with great plus/minus ratings. It\'s more a team thing than individual player thing.

[Shoeless]

Hey ER welcome to the trenches

Comish is right - looking for players from teams that play well at even strength, with shutdown D guys is the way to source the players you need.

One guy who might work for you and could be under the radar is Vermette - I also think Redden is a possible trade target for you - he is presently -3 but he will get much better and his owner might be willing to part with him for the right package.

The tough part of trying to work on your +/- is not sacrificing in other categories. sometimes you have to ride it out a bit to see if your guys improve. Hemsky and Pitkanen will hurt you I think and they might be fodder for trades but you might be giving up points if you do.

Good luck with this.

[ERudited]

Thanks for the input, guys.

Some of us too far south of the border are a little slow to catch on. So, I really appreciate any help.

Now, if someone would just buy the Preds and keep them here in Nashville,....:&gt

[MacLiii]

I agree that Vermette might be a good option. Another could be Eric Belanger. In the past he\'s been a checking line F with decent scoring abilities. Now he\'s one a scoring line in Minnesota, who plays a tight Defense with good goaltending. He\'s also scoring as well.

[johneast]

Id move Zhitnik for another D on a stronger lineup, since the Thrashers look like theyll be in for a long year.