[Market Buzz] ASG Edition

[GMGates]

GMG's Market Buzz : All Star Game Edition

Following the mock draft that Dean Youngblood and I had last night, it's good to know that Team Staal shares 13 (of 21) players that Team GMG drafted.

Thinking ahead - next time around PG Section's ASG Mock Draft will have two sets of drafts: the customized format (Team GMG) & the official format (rules/influences).

Looking back, maybe I should've taken Ward and Skinner...

Although I still feel confident in Kessel and Fleury.

Besides I can go to sleep tonight knowing I'm already a car and $20,000 (to charity) ahead!

I'm biased though because 1) I own Fleury in the SCHFL and 2) I picked Kessel to have a good week in HIL's ongoing weekly challenge.

I loved how Price commented on Weber's shot, one of the reasons I selected him (Shea)! Too bad that won't be happening Sunday, BUT my Daniel Sedin vs. DY's Hank Sedin will!

Sharp before Toews wasn't that bad of a pick. Based on Roto Stats alone, Sharp beats out not only Toews but Kane as well. Although because Kane and Toews have a huge fanbase, they will be the preferred choice in the majority of (roto) drafts.

I guess Couture's captaincy of Team Lidstrom's rookie team justified me taking him second overall in our ASG Rookie Draft.

An interesting stat: Couture leads the Sharks with plus-11. Why should that matter? Take a look at...

Heatley minus-1
Boyle minus-10
Pavelski minus-14
Thornton minus-14
Marleau minus-19

Good thing Benn Ferriero is plus+7 (sent down) and Jamal Mayers plus+3!

Finally, DY and I set up a point system to settle our draft's score -
Skaters: G/A = 1 point & Goalies minus-.5 for GA.

Put your bets on which team will reign supreme here!

GMG

[Dean Youngblood]

Nice wrap up buddy.

I was amazed at how many similar forwards were getting drafted to Team Staal in the first half of the draft tonight.

The NHL's format definitely influenced the selection process and you could really tell. I am sure ours would have been much different if we were to follow the same rules. I know I would've sniped King Henrik early on.

Looking forward to seeing how each of our teams do on Sunday.

And, don't UNDERESTIMATE the power of Yandle's shot either. He's no Weber but it's a freightening shot as well.

Cheers.

[GMGates]

Team GMG's players will sweep the skills competition!

muahaha...

[GMGates]

Early Predictions for Skills Competitions :

Hardest Shot : Weber (or Chara)
Accuracy : Ovechkin (or Stamkos)
Skating : Ennis (or Duchene)
Breakaway : Giroux (or Skinner)
Relay : Team Lidstrom
Elimination : Team Lidstrom

All Star Game : Team Staal

*May change once participants are revealed but that's my preliminary guess.
Not participating in event

Official predictions with participants revealed

Bridgestone NHL Fastest Skater = Duchene
BlackBerry NHL Breakaway Challenge = Ovechkin
McDonald's NHL Accuracy Shooting = D. Sedin
G Series NHL Skills Challenge Relay = Team Lidstrom, Group 1
XM NHL Hardest Shot = Weber
Discover NHL Elimination Shootout = Team Staal / Giroux will last the longest.

All Star Game = Team Staal

[Dean Youngblood]

Predictions for Skills Competitions :

Hardest Shot : Weber (or Chara)
Accuracy : Ovechkin (or Stamkos)
Skating : Ennis (or Duchene)
Breakaway : Giroux (or Skinner)
Relay : Team Lidstrom
Elimination : Team Lidstrom

All Star Game : Team Staal

*May change once participants are revealed but that's my preliminary guess.

I would like to see my boy Stamkos compete in the Hardest shot as this video is sick (although he did take a good run at the shot).

Please don't let him take part in the Breakaway challenge or the fastest skater (he fell in the OHL competition)

I can't argue with your predictions GMG, I like all of them.

Predictions (subject to change depending on who gets selected)
***These are the guys I think would be favourites to win***


Hardest Shot: Weber
Accuracy: Perry
Skating: Duchene
Breakaway: Skinner (I like Giroux as well )
Relay: Team Lidstrom (OH YA!)
Elimination: Team Lidstrom (OH YA! Again)

[GMGates]

Official predictions with participants revealed

Bridgestone NHL Fastest Skater = Duchene (Close but Grabner was stellar)
BlackBerry NHL Breakaway Challenge = Ovechkin
McDonald's NHL Accuracy Shooting = D. Sedin
G Series NHL Skills Challenge Relay = Team Lidstrom, Group 1
XM NHL Hardest Shot = Weber (2nd)
Discover NHL Elimination Shootout = Team Staal / Giroux will last the longest.

Bolded the predicted winners. Not too shabby... but I really wanted Weber to take the Hardest Shot. Chara is a beast though - 105.9 MPH unreal!

Team GMG faired well too with OV, D. Sedin, Chara and Perry taking the titles

All in all, happy to see Team Staal win the event. They'll be taking the game too!