Atlanta Thrashers -
Adds or Resigns: D - Ron Hainsey, F - Jason Williams, F - Eric Boulton, F - Marty Reasnor
Subtractions: Alexei Zhitnik, Bobby Holik
Fantasy Imapct:
As a poolie looks at the depth of talent for the Thrashers, one has to be left with there is very little help for the Thrashers. Jason Williams will be an under-rated winger for the Thrashers, but he won’t make anyone forget about Marian Hossa. Williams will likely be on the top-line for the Thrashers – almost via default. Hainsey gives the Thrashers their best overall defenceman, in the team’s franchise history. Hainsey isn’t the best offensive defenceman, but he will log a lot of minutes. Reasoner is a 3rd liner at best, and Eric Boulton will out up lots of PIMS but little else.
Boston Bruins -
Adds or Resigns: F-Michael Ryder.
Subtractions: no one of fantasy impact
Fantasy Impact:
It’s been a pretty lean UFA signing period for the Bruins. Management of the team is banking on the return to health of Patrice Bergeron and the continued development of young players like: Kessel and Lucic. In Ryder, the Bruins shucked out a lot of dollars for a guy who is as streaky as they come and at times, so poor defensively that the offensive starved Habs couldn’t have him in the line-up. Come draft time, he might be a worth a flyer, particularly if the Bruins move Murray prior to the start of training camp.
Buffalo Sabres -
Adds or Resigns: D-Craig Rivet, G-Patrick Lalime, F-Paul Gaustad (resign), F-Dan Paille (resign), G-Ryan Miller (resign).
Subtractions: Steve Bernier
Fantasy Impact:
For the low budget Sabres, being able to keep the core of the team still in tack year to date has been pretty good. Rivet should help for the loss of Bernier - but he's not Brian Campbell. The team has got to move some your talent, and the stock pile of draft picks they now have, for proven scoring or they'll likely be on the outside looking in come playoff time.
Carolina Hurricanes -
Adds or Resigns: D-Joni Pitkanen, G-Michael Leighton, D-Tim Gleason (resign), F-Tuomo Ruutu (resign), D-Josef Melichar, D-Dennis Seidenberg, F-Chad Larose.
Subtractions: D-Bret Hedican, D-David Tanabe, F-Jeff Hamilton, F-Erik Hamilton.
Fantasy Impact:
The Hurricanes traded for and then signed enigmatic Joni Pitkanen to play a critical role for the ‘Canes and in particular, their power play. The issue is that Pitkanen hasn’t been that type of consistent defencemen since 2002. He’s a risky selection to be sure. Resigning Ruutu and Gleason are solid depth moves for the club. Losing Erik Cole to Edmonton means Andrew Ladd get a serious chance at a top 6 forward position.
Florida Panthers -
Adds or Resigns: F-Cory Stillman, F-Rostislav Olesz (resign), F-Gregory Campbell, D-Keith Ballard, D-Nick Boynton.
Subtractions: F-Olli Jokinen
Fantasy Impact:
There is no denying that losing the teams captain and main offensive threat in Jokinen is going to be a tough hole to fill. Stillman still has some offensive clout, and he’ll see top 6 forward action for sure. Ballard and Boynton were traded together and are very likely to be paired together and log a huge amount of minutes for the offensively starved Panthers. Olesz’s resigning will help but he’ll be challenged to be better than what he’s been to date. Nathan Horton and Stephen Weiss are going to have to grow mightily for the Panthers to get better.
Montreal Canadiens –
Adds or Resigns: F-Alex Tanguay, F-Georges Laraque, Maxim Lapierre (resign), G-Jaroslav Halak, D-Shawn Belle.
Subtractions: Bryan Smolinski, Patrice Brisebois., Michael Ryder
Fantasy Impact:
After failing to land any of the big higher profile free agents in Hossa or Campbell, the Habs finally swung a deal for long sought after Alex Tanguay. Tanguay is a pass first winger with soft hands, starts slow and does have confidence issues. In Montreal the spotlight will be firmly shining upon him to produce and he’ll see top 6 forward time for sure. Locking up Halak gives the Habs excellent young net-minding when paired with Carey Price. Laraque will supply the much needed muscle for the smurf like Habs.
New Jersey Devils –
Adds or Resigns: F-Brian Rolston, F-Bobby Holik, F-Bryce Salvador (resign), F-Jay Pandolfo (resign), F-David Clarkson (resign), D-Bryce Salvador (resign).
Subtractions: none of fantasy value
Fantasy Impact:
The signings of Holik and Rolston actually brings the Devils full-circle as they re-sign two players that they originally drafted. Rolston will likely be the premiere center for the team while Holik will anchor the teams 3rd line. Without losing Elias, Parise or Zajac the most recent signings should help them on the offensive side of the game.
Monday, July 21, 2008
Monday, July 07, 2008
Free Agent Frenzy (cont.) - Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh Penguins:
Adds or Resigns – F Pascual Dupuis (resign), G - M.A. Fleury (resign) , F – Evgeni Malkin (resign), D – Brooks Orpik (resign), F - Ruslan Fedentenko, F - Miro Satan, F - Eric Goddard, F - Matt Cooke, D- Mark Eaton.
Subtractions – F - Ryan Malone, F- Gary Roberts, F- Marian Hossa, F - Georges Laraque, F - Jarkko Ruutu, G - Ty Conklin
Fantasy Impact:
With Malkin and Fleury still having to be resigned to long term deals as RFAs, it looked like Pens GM Shero was caught between a rock and hard place when trying to sign Marian Hossa. That said, Malkin gives the Pens the best 1-2 punch in the league down the middle and getting Fleury under-contract long term was crucial to the teams success. While still prone to the odd “bad goal” Fleury was very good in the playoffs and should elevate his game this year.
Fedetenko and Satan should together provide the grit and the scoring prowess of the departed Malone. In fact, Satan is in an excellent position to receive passes from either Crosby and Malkin. He’s a better scorer than Malone and looks more like a Petr Sykora type of player. If Fedetenko cracks the top 6, he might break 50 points. Eric Goddard assumes Laraque's role as the peace keeper for the Pens, while Matt Cooke is a better fit both on the ice and in the room than Jarkko Ruutu, but likely sees only 3rd line time.
Adds or Resigns – F Pascual Dupuis (resign), G - M.A. Fleury (resign) , F – Evgeni Malkin (resign), D – Brooks Orpik (resign), F - Ruslan Fedentenko, F - Miro Satan, F - Eric Goddard, F - Matt Cooke, D- Mark Eaton.
Subtractions – F - Ryan Malone, F- Gary Roberts, F- Marian Hossa, F - Georges Laraque, F - Jarkko Ruutu, G - Ty Conklin
Fantasy Impact:
With Malkin and Fleury still having to be resigned to long term deals as RFAs, it looked like Pens GM Shero was caught between a rock and hard place when trying to sign Marian Hossa. That said, Malkin gives the Pens the best 1-2 punch in the league down the middle and getting Fleury under-contract long term was crucial to the teams success. While still prone to the odd “bad goal” Fleury was very good in the playoffs and should elevate his game this year.
Fedetenko and Satan should together provide the grit and the scoring prowess of the departed Malone. In fact, Satan is in an excellent position to receive passes from either Crosby and Malkin. He’s a better scorer than Malone and looks more like a Petr Sykora type of player. If Fedetenko cracks the top 6, he might break 50 points. Eric Goddard assumes Laraque's role as the peace keeper for the Pens, while Matt Cooke is a better fit both on the ice and in the room than Jarkko Ruutu, but likely sees only 3rd line time.
Sunday, July 06, 2008
Free Agent Frenzy and More...
OK - it's taken a little time to catch up to the dozens and dozens of deals over the past week and a bit, but we think we've gotten there and are ready to give our two-cents from a fantasy perspective on all the moves. We are going to go team by team, give you an idea of the additions and subtractions and what we think the fantasy impact may be for the players and their respective teams. So, let's get started:
Tampa Bay Lightening:
Adds: F - Vaclav Prospal, F - Ryan Malone, F - Gary Roberts, D - Matt Carle, F - Radim Vrbata, F - Adam Hall, G - Olaf Kolzig, F - Ryan Craig (resigned), D - Janne Niskala, D - Ty Wishart.
Subtractions: D - Dan Boyle, D - Brad Lukowich.
Fantasy Impact: Wow. Where to start. the Lightening are clearly "reloading" and they are doing it right away. The additions to their team should make the team bigger and harder to play against. Vinnie Prospal is back and likely patrolling the wing with St. Louis on Lecavalier's line. Radim Vrbata and Ryan Malone made the best of their opportunities last year. Vrbata had 27 goals last season on a surprising Coyotes team. Malone had a similar goal out put last year in Pittsburgh. Both players will likely see 2nd line duty in Tampa so expect a little less production from him this coming season even with Steve Stamkos centering them. Hall, Roberts and Craig will battle for spots on the 3rd and 4th lines. Moving Dan Boyle to the Sharks creates a pretty big void for the Lightening. Their defence and goaltending were weak links last year, and Matt Carle regressed last year in San Jose. If new coach Barry Melrose can get Carle playing with confidence, the Lightening's impressive offence may turn him into a solid sleeper selection. Olaf Kolzig's contract isn't expensive, but it's loaded with incentives and we wonder what that holds for the future of Mike Smith. With younger goalie prospect Kari Ramo already in the fold, it looks like Smith may be on the outside looking in and is very likely being shopped. There are not very many teams however that may be looking for a #1 unproven goalie, but Colorado has to be a potential. Kolzig will face the same challenges that he had in Washington where the team is very likely to give up alot of scoring chances, but the team's potential for wins could be very high. Another solid sleeper.
Tampa Bay Lightening:
Adds: F - Vaclav Prospal, F - Ryan Malone, F - Gary Roberts, D - Matt Carle, F - Radim Vrbata, F - Adam Hall, G - Olaf Kolzig, F - Ryan Craig (resigned), D - Janne Niskala, D - Ty Wishart.
Subtractions: D - Dan Boyle, D - Brad Lukowich.
Fantasy Impact: Wow. Where to start. the Lightening are clearly "reloading" and they are doing it right away. The additions to their team should make the team bigger and harder to play against. Vinnie Prospal is back and likely patrolling the wing with St. Louis on Lecavalier's line. Radim Vrbata and Ryan Malone made the best of their opportunities last year. Vrbata had 27 goals last season on a surprising Coyotes team. Malone had a similar goal out put last year in Pittsburgh. Both players will likely see 2nd line duty in Tampa so expect a little less production from him this coming season even with Steve Stamkos centering them. Hall, Roberts and Craig will battle for spots on the 3rd and 4th lines. Moving Dan Boyle to the Sharks creates a pretty big void for the Lightening. Their defence and goaltending were weak links last year, and Matt Carle regressed last year in San Jose. If new coach Barry Melrose can get Carle playing with confidence, the Lightening's impressive offence may turn him into a solid sleeper selection. Olaf Kolzig's contract isn't expensive, but it's loaded with incentives and we wonder what that holds for the future of Mike Smith. With younger goalie prospect Kari Ramo already in the fold, it looks like Smith may be on the outside looking in and is very likely being shopped. There are not very many teams however that may be looking for a #1 unproven goalie, but Colorado has to be a potential. Kolzig will face the same challenges that he had in Washington where the team is very likely to give up alot of scoring chances, but the team's potential for wins could be very high. Another solid sleeper.
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