The Red Wings may have a 6-4-1 record, but the team has been absolutely brutal to fantasy owners. Not only are they the sixth-stingiest team in terms of giving up goals (and in the process stopping poolies from picking up significant points), but they have been pretty weak offensively themselves. Currently, only rearguards Nik Lidstrom and Mathieu Schneider are producing to expectations with 10 and nine points respectively.
That, however, is deceptive. Take away Game 3, in which the Red Wings slaughtered the Coyotes 9-2, and Lidstrom would only have seven points, and Schneider just five. In fact, in the eight games since that Phoenix embarrassment, the Red Wings have scored just 17 goals. Barely two per game.
Eight games. That is precisely how many games Henrik Zetterberg has been held pointless. The disturbing fact to Zetterberg owners is that the Wings have a winning record in those eight games. They are 4-3-1 despite only scoring more than three goals just once – they scored four against Dallas.
It would silly to think that Zetterberg, who is coming off an 85-point season, will tally just over 20 points this year (his current pace). However, the fact of the matter is that Detroit is winning hockey games by playing defensively, so even when Zetterberg does get going – improving on last year is out of the question.
The way things are shaping up, the Red Wings will finish in the neighborhood of 42-30-10, with 94 points and a seventh or eighth spot in the Western Conference. Their top scorer will likely be Lidstrom or Pavel Datsyuk with 70-75 points. Zetterberg will finish with 65-70.
This team lost 40-goal-scorer Brendan Shanahan to free agency in the summer, and have brought in coach Mike Babcock’s defensive coaching style. As long as Detroit is winning more than they are losing, do not expect this to change…
Meanwhile…
Despite the fact that Pittsburgh sophomore Colby Armstrong has just three points (and no goals) in nine games, he is still fantasy worthy. He is playing on a line with Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, and those two are producing in a big way. As long as that happens, Armstrong’s job on that line is safe, and as long as he remains on that line, the points will come…
Craig Conroy has one point in 13 games and none in his last 10. His offensive role in Los Angeles has disappeared under a new coach. Expect him to be moved to a team in need of a pivot shortly. He should still garner 55 points, but that trade needs to happen soon…
Five Buffalo Sabres have a point per game or more: Daniel Briere, Maxim Afinogenov, Jason Pominville, Chris Drury, and Tomas Vanek…
After beginning the year with just one point in four games, Carolina superstar Eric Staal has 13 in his last eight. Expect another run at 100 for Staal, who is celebrating his 22nd birthday today…
Unheralded rookie Paul Stastny of the Colorado Avalanche has nine points in his last eight games. He is currently playing on a very productive second line with Wojtek Wolski and Milan Hejduk. Of the three, Stastny is the most underrated, and least heralded. However, he just may be the best fantasy player among them…
**************************** **************************** Have an opinion on Dobber's article? Let us know. Just hit reply below and post your thoughts. Anything goes...but keep it clean. **************************** **************************** PickupHockey.com is your online hockey community. We're always looking for sharp volunteer writers. If you feel that you'd like to contribute articles on a regular basis drop us an email. admin@pickuphockey.com
