Which combo would you choose?

[Two On One]

I\'m picking my team in a salary cap one-year, non carry-over style league... And I\'m having a hard time mulling over this one. Who makes a better combo to have:

M. Nylander & S. Gagne
or
J. Spezza & P. Sykora

Thoughts? B)

[joos]

I would prefer Nylander/Gagne. Reasons why.

I am not completely sold on Sykora. Spezza is a band-aid boy but probably will put up 90+ points if healthy.

I loveeeeee Gagne this year, I really see him breaking the 50 goal season. I personally think he did pretty good last year on a horrible Flyers team. I really have no opinion on Nylander other than he will be feeding AO the puck, that has to be worth something. I see him hovering around 75-80 points but could be higher if AO and himself click.

[Duff]

Same thing here, the first combo. But it\'s a tough one.

Nylander will get at least 80 points and Gagné is good for 45 goals and 80 points minimum. He could get hurt but i think that Spezza is gonna fall before him. And Sykora, well, it\'s a big gamble. Yes he could find good chemistry with Crosby but he could also end up on the second line.. Wait a minute, he would then be with Malkin !! Just like Armstrong, Malone, etc...

[smoothfun]

nylander and gagne for me as well.

[Two On One]

Thanks guys for your thoughts...

Yeah, I want to believe the Sykora hype too, but I don\'t know if he\'ll totally blow up - unlike some other previous Crosby linemates.

It seems like Spezza (as good as he is) never quite makes it to the 70 game mark. If he played all 82 games, 100 points is within reach, especially next to Heatley playing his @ss off for his next contract... But yeah, I think Gagne and Nylander the \"safer bet\".

Cheers!

[Shoeless]

Sorry guys - ain\'t buying this one.

Give Gagne and Nylander their 80 points each. From the posts here it would seem that those numbers are pretty solid (remember Gagne got to the high 70\'s once in his career - beside Forsberg and otherwise never out of the 60\'s - AND he does have trouble playing a full season - but not as bad as Spezza).

Give Spezza his 70 games and 90 points. Sykora has averaged a little under 60 points for his 10 years - did better on the Devils when they were winning though and worse when he was in crap situations. Sykora is durable and talented and 31 years old - he is about to play with one of 2 whiz kids who both will top 100 points in a cakewalk - let\'s be conservative and give him 70 - (his best has been a couple of seasons around 80) oh did I forget to mention what he was doing last season before Hemsky went down and Smyth got traded? Remember trying to scoop him because he was so frigging hot?

Someone care to tell me where the upside comparison will take us? I understand the safe line here and can\'t fault it too much but you go that route and you wanna pray the Spezza doesn\'t play 75 games (1.3 points every game boys) and God forbid he should stay healthy and you might also pray that Sykora poops his pants playing with Crosby and Malkin - he sure didn\'t when he played with Hemsky and some with Smyth. Because if that happens you will be saying at the end of the season - \"how did I get that so wrong?\"

If your fears about Spezza and Sykora come true it will be close - if they don\'t, you get slam dunked baby. Safe money is not always smart money - it\'s just safe - no risk.

This guy by the name of Dobber, who makes his living at doing this fantasy hockey stuff, has Spezza and Sykora by 10 points this year over Nylander and Gagne. :blink: Oh yeah you know that 4th season stuff he grinds on about? Well Spezza is doing year 4 and his projected long term top end? Ahh you don\'t want to know - it will make your nose bleed.

Anyway - if you can afford one of these two sets - I am encouraging you to .... well you know.

I love these forums - almost as good as having sex :woohoo:

[joos]

We can assume these projection are moderate and minimums

Spezza 35-55-90 points
-probably play 70ish games
-full season , easily over 100 points

Sykora 30-40-70 points
-could somewhat \"flop\" end up with 60-65 points
-ceiling this year, maybe 80+ points which would be career high, probably of that happening 10-15%.

Gagne 45-35-80 points
-probably play 75ish games
-potentially get 50+ goals which I think is not that crazy

Nylander 25-55-80 points
-full season playing beside AO, probably has the best potential.
-could easily see 90+ points from him


This being said, I like the odds of the good things happening to Gagne/Nylander than Spezza/Sykora. The odds are pretty good in my opinion that Gagne will score 50+ goals but probably play 75 games. The odds of Spezza playing 70ish games is pretty good so it would be hard to see him hit over 90+ points. The odds of Nylander putting up big number (90+ points) on the 1st line and 1st PP unit with AO for more or less a full season, pretty good. Sykora I think will most likely hit 70-80 points regardless. I don\'t see him putting up more points since he probably won\'t have 1st line time that Nylander and Gagne will have.

p.s I am j2kim from Hockey Utopia if you didn\'t know. I saw your name and it looked familiar and I am thinking, how many other ppl would have the name Shoeless on a fantasy hockey league forum. Don\'t see you much on HU anymore.

Post edited by: joos, at: 2007/09/05 14:42

[Shoeless]

Hey J2 how\'s things back there. School going well? I seem to only be able to be active on one site given my schedule. HU was great - this one gives me a little more depth in one place.

Take care buddy - hope Gagne rings up 58 dingers for you this year. I am liking his situation too.

[Two On One]

Thanks for the spirited banter Shoeless... Good food for thought.

[Dobber]

Spezza/Sykora

Spezza plays 70 games, he\'s still taking a run at 100...imagine if he can play 75? 80? Besides, if Spezza is the Prince of Band-aids...Gagne is the Duke!

Sykora - I love gambles and this is an easy one.

Nylander/Gagne - 140 to 175 (considering Gagne could get hurt)
Spezza/Sykora - 140 to 180 (assuming Spezza misses at least 10)


Spezza also makes better trade bait midseason.