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Posted - 11/06/2006 : 14:06:18
By Darryl Dobbs
October is now behind us, and fantasy owners are starting to get a handle on where their players sit in terms of value in their hockey pool. It generally takes about a month because every season brings some surprises, and if a player is still surprising after one month, then chances are there is some substance to the player’s trend. Here are the 10 biggest fantasy hockey surprises for October:
Henrik Zetterberg, Detroit. The team in general is not scoring a pile of goals, due in part because of the departure of Brendan Shanahan in the offseason, but also due to coach Mike Babcock’s coaching style. Despite three points in his last two games, Zetterberg should still have more of an offensive impact than he has. Just six points in 14 games this season – more was expected of the slick-skating Swede.
Maxim Afinogenov, Buffalo. Apparent separated shoulder aside, Afinogenov has exploded out of the gates. Prior to Saturday’s contest where the dazzling Russian apparently injured his ‘upper body’, he posted 18 points in his last nine games. All indications are that he will put last season’s career-high of 73 points in jeopardy – even if he misses the next 15 games or so with his shoulder injury.
Brendan Shanahan, N.Y. Rangers. All the so-called experts (yours truly, included) pegged ‘Shanny’ for 35 goals and 70 points this season, give or take a few. At the age of 37, nobody is expecting 40 goals from a player. Shanahan has 12 goals in 13 games this year, so it would take a fairly sizable slump for him to tally 35. He is currently tied for the NHL lead with Marian Hossa, and while he likely will not finish in the Top 5 in NHL goal scoring, expect the veteran to reach 40. Again.
Petr Sykora, Edmonton. All indications out of training camp pointed to a big year for the talented Czech. His chemistry with countryman Ales Hemsky was, and still is, undeniable. That being said, the 29-year-old is currently on pace for over 100 points this season. While it is not likely that Sykora will reach that lofty mark, his career high of 81 points is quite achievable.
Ryan Whitney, Pittsburgh. All the pundits saw breakout years from such rearguards as rookie Matt Carle (San Jose), John-Michael Liles (Colorado), and regularly hyped stars Dion Phaneuf (Calgary), and Jay Bouwmeester (Florida). What the pundits failed to take into account were two things – Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. So while those two superstars take turns bulging the twine on the power play, the player that logs a ton of PP time is bound to rack up assists. Whitney has eight of them, and 10 points in total. Expect the sophomore to tally in the sixties this season, with much more to come in the future.
Radim Vrbata, Chicago. While there is certainly no doubt that the loss of Michal Handzus for the season, and Martin Havlat for a few weeks, has (and will) hurt Vrbata’s numbers, there is no denying what he is doing for this team. He has 12 points in 13 games and is a plus-5. He has just one point in five games since all the injuries struck in Chicago, but the entire team has not been scoring. When they score, chances are Vrbata contributes. With Havlat return in a couple of weeks, Vrbata should have no trouble reaching 65 points this season.
Craig Conroy, Los Angeles. After 16 games, the veteran pivot has just three points and is a minus-8. He is also still searching for that first goal after tallying 22 of them last year. At 35 has he hit a wall? As long as he stays in Los Angeles, the answer is – yes.
Jonathan Cheechoo/Joe Thornton/Mark Bell. This line has not fulfilled its promise as of yet, although with Bell plagued by groin (and legal) problems, perhaps it is not fair to judge so early. That being said, coach Ron Wilson has judged them ‘so early’, and has moved them to different lines. Combined, the three of them are a minus-18 this season.
Gilbert Brule, Columbus. Remember this poll found on hundreds of hockey websites? “Who will challenge Evgeni Malkin for the Calder Trophy? Gilbert Brule, Anze Kopitar, Wojtek Wolski, Alexander Radulov, Matt Carle, or Patrick O’Sullivan?” We can safely assume that Malkin will win this year, with Kopitar and Carle providing the stiffest competition. Brule, on the other hand, has yet to match last season’s production of four points in only seven games. He has just one in 11, and is a minus-6. In fact, Radulov was returned to the minors, called back up, has played just a few minutes in each of six games, and still has more goals (two) than Brule.
Paul Stastny, Colorado. In the aforementioned poll that you saw on several sites in September, did any of them have Stastny listed? Not on your life. With 12 points in 14 games, and garnering more ice time than fellow rookie Wolski or sophomore Marek Svatos, Stastny is a key part of this Colorado team. Behind Malkin, Carle, and Kopitar he is hands down the fourth-best rookie in this year’s crop.
www.dobberhockey.com
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