Jarret Stoll has to earn the trust of poolies again. But those in leagues that track multiple categories are slowly getting back on board.
The Los Angeles Kings’ forward had a career high of 68 points in 2005-06 while with Edmonton. At the time, he was just 23 years old. To tally so many points at such a young age was quite an accomplishment and poolies pegged him as a future 80-point forward.
But then disaster struck. Stoll missed a big chunk of the following season with a concussion and although he returned to play 81 games in 2007-08, he managed just 37 points. In fantasy circles, owners see only the bottom line. The bottom line in this case was a season with 39 points followed by a season with 37.
Now a member of the Los Angeles Kings, Stoll has been a decent fantasy asset in all the categories. He’s a good bet to finish with 50 points, 75 penalty minutes, eight power-play goals and 160 shots. He could do even better than that, however, if you take a look at his last four games.
The Kings are 3-1-0 in their last four and Stoll has seen his ice time increase by about two minutes per contest. The result has been six points, 12 penalty minutes, 13 shots and a plus-5 rating in that span. He has been lining up with Dustin Brown, which isn’t a bad gig given Brown’s leadership and consistency. Kyle Calder is on the other wing.
I don’t think we’ve seen the real Stoll since 2006 and we are starting to now. This guy is a 65-point player with 70 or 75-point upside. More importantly, however, is the fact that he is one of just a handful of players in the NHL who will give you large numbers in a variety of statistics. Assuming his concussion problems are behind him, and there is no reason to believe any different, look for him to flirt with 60 points come April and then get back to that 65-plus range next year…
Meanwhile…
What is going on with Dominic Moore? The hardworking, hustling Leaf pivot has 18 points in his last 19 games. His ice time has jumped from the 15-16 minute range to 17-18 minutes per game. He even managed six shots one contest. Toronto, desperate for offense, is finding it in strange places. If Jason Blake, a similar hustling player, can top 60 points in a season (with the Isles in 2006-07), then Moore should – at the very least – be taken seriously…
I like what the Red Wings are doing with Ville Leino. Rather than thrust him in spotlight of NHL duty on the fourth line, they stick him in the minors. Rather than keep him in the minors, they bring him up and stick him on a line with Marian Hossa and Pavel Datsyuk in his first game Saturday. The Wings waited for the opportune time to bring him up and when they did they did it right. The Pittsburgh Penguins could learn from this. Despite recalling Janne Pesonen, another European star, on several occasions, the Pens have yet to play him on the wing with one of the big guys (you know who I’m talking about). At any rate, the Red Wings have given Leino a taste. Since they are likely going to lose two of Mikael Samuelsson, Johan Franzen and Hossa in the summer, look for Leino to make a big splash next campaign…
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