The salamehockey.com site administrators, over the course the next few weeks, will be taking a look at each team’s roster and analyzing the likely scenarios for keepers and re-signs for the upcoming 2011-2012 season.
TEAM: MR MOTORBOAT
GM: GENNARO GIARRUSSO
FORWARDS
KEEPERS
1. Alexander Ovechkin, Capitals – Ovechkin was the king of fantasy hockey up until Sidney Crosby’s 2010-2011 season began. At that point, in combination with the Capitals opting for a more responsible, defensive approach, and Sidney “Jesus Christ” Crosby going on a tear on pace for nearly 140 pts (up to his concussion), Ovechkin looked like a shadow of his former self. When you look like a shadow of your former self and still manage to score 85 pts, then you’re good. Ovechkin is the second member of the big two and should never be dealt from a team unless there’s something seriously insane coming the other way. Ovechkin has eclipsed 110 pts in his career and has the talent to push that number to 130+.
2. Steven Stamkos, Lightning – Coming off an incredible sophomore campaign where the young Stamkos scored 95 pts, it looked like Stamkos would compete with Sidney Crosby for the Art Ross trophy in his RFA contract year. Then New Year’s Day came. For some reason, while his counterpart succumbed to a concussion, Stamkos failed to maintain the torrid scoring pace (a roughly 120 pt clip) that had him on track to compete for a lot of NHL hardware, let alone the scoring title. The final four months of the 2011 season saw Stamkos score at a surprising 65 pt clip. Despite this, he finished with a very respectable 91 pts, and remains a phenomenal goal scorer with unlimited upside. As long as he’s surrounded with the never-say-die Martin St. Louis, is a solid bet for anywhere between 90 and 100 pts per season. If there is another level to him once he hits his mid-20’s, Stamkos can definitely eclipse the 100 pt mark.
3. John Tavares, Islanders – The former 1st overall pick (like the two above… WTF Gennaro can you attempt to win the pool already?) built on a strong rookie season with the Islanders to score 67 pts in a rollercoaster sophomore season. There is no doubt in anyone’s mind that Tavares is scary talented and will continue to be the Islanders’ most lethal weapon, however will he ever deliver on the lofty expectations set forward for him prior to his drafting? Only time will tell, but Tavares looks like a lock to become a future 40-50 goal scorer and potentially 90 pt player when he hits his prime.
4. Patrick Marleau, Sharks – A tale of two seasons. Marleau made an early transition to the Magnum hockey club early on in the season, and as the Sharks struggled to score, Marleau would prove no different, as in his first 50 games of the 2010-2011 season, Pat only scored 36 pts, a terrible 59 pt pace. Frustrated with his production, Magnum sold off what looked like a write-off year for Marleau to Mr. Motorboat. What followed was then inexplicable: 37 pts in 32 games, a 95 pt pace, and better yet, the Sharks would go on a tear that not many had predicted, in order to win the Pacific Division. When it was all said and done, Marleau delivered another good year of production. He is a good bet for 70+ pts with upside in the 80’s given the right amount of icetime.
5. Joe Pavelski, Sharks – Similar to Big Joe, Dany Heatley and Patrick Marleau, Pavelski had a rocky start to the season and then pushed for a big finish and scored a total of 66 pts to end 2011. Joe is a smart two-way center that has worked his way into a pivotal role with the Sharks, and has proven to be a valuable asset to any fantasy team as well. He can be counted on for 60 pts and can likely deliver 70+ as he enters his prime and continues to play in the San Jose top six.
6. Patrice Bergeron, Bruins – While Bergeron possesses good talent and plays on a dynamic line with Recchi and Marchand on a deep Bruins forward corps, he has somewhat lost his step since the 2006-2007 season where he completed his second 70 pt season. Having delivered 57 on the year as the Bruins made the playoffs, he is undoubtedly a valuable 2nd line center with good upside, but is not likely going to deliver the same production as he was once pegged for. Expect anywhere from 55-65 pts.
7. Dustin Penner, Kings – Penner was the big winger Dean Lombardi managed to pair with Anze Kopitar (albeit for a short period of time), however the Los Angeles experiment has yet to pay dividends. Penner, after successful 2009-2010 season of 63 pts, was unable to replicate that production into this campaign and only put up 45 pts. His inconsistency is worrisome to many but despite this, if there is chemistry developed over time with the venerable Los Angeles first line star, Penner is capable of reaching his 2010 heights once more. Expect anywhere from 50-65 pts.
RESIGNS
8. Matt Moulson, Islanders – Moulson has proven himself over the last two seasons to be a reliable goal scorer and valuable top six forward on a fledgling Islanders team. His current production may continue or even improve over time given his pairing with John Tavares.
9. Matt D’Agostini, Blues – With the litany of injuries succumbing to the Blues in the 2010-2011 season, D’Agostini showed the Canadiens they were wrong for dealing him as he brought an extra scoring punch to a Blues team in need of offense. His presence on the PP and in the top six proved very successful but given the return of several healthy players as well as others via trade (Stewart, Oshie, Perron, etc), the young forwards numbers are likely to remain at the same level or slightly lower.
10. Mike Underwood Fisher, Predators – Mike got married and got traded to Nashville. Everyone knows why. Since then, he has revitalized a super boring offense on a line with Patric Hornqvist and Sergei Kostitsyn, both well-known for their offensive talents (some say SKost could have even surpassed Stamkos!). As long as he is being thrust into the spotlight in a top six role, more of the same can be expected from the scrappy center.
11. Wayne Simmonds, Kings – Wayne experienced a slowdown in his third full NHL season in comparison to his sophomore year, most likely pegged to being utilized on the third line and having struggled offensively as the year progressed. He has top six potential and still remains an integral role player for the Kings going forward.
12. Nino Niederreiter, Islanders – Nino played the customary 9 NHL games in 2010-2011 only to be sent back down to the Portland Winterhawks, where he lit up the league, while being paired with Ryan Johansen, to a solid 70 pts in 55 games. His development will likely require patience but with time, Nino can play an integral goal-scoring role for the Islanders.
13.Brett Connolly, Lightning – The Prince George Cougar and former 6th overall pick, Brett is considered to be a very strong offensive player with excellent upside, and was able to silence the critics that thought less of his injury-shortended 2009-2010 season with the Cougars after the big winger scored 73 pts in 59 games in 2011.
14. Luke Adam, Sabres – The big center is another strong Sabres hopeful for the coming season, having joined the NHL club in 2010-2011. He is projected as a sizeable top six forward.
DEFENSE
KEEPERS
1. Tyler Myers, Sabres – Tyler slowed down after a formidable rookie season with the Sabres, having carried the team’s blueline in a multitude of situations. At 6’8, he is one of the towers of the NHL, and is going to develop into a very solid physical defenseman with great offensive upside. After a 48 pt rookie season followed by a 37 pt sophomore campaign, one can expect another 45-50 pt season from the young defenseman, with his role on the blueline as all-around defenseman very secure.
2. Cody Franson, Predators – Cody is yet another fabrication of the Nashville defenseman-making factory, at 6’5, he is a sizeable threat and possesses excellent offensive talent for his age. After nearly eclipsing 30 pts in 2011, one can expect more improvement as Nashville continues to offer an excellent supply of well-rounded defensemen.
3. Ed Jovanovski, Coyotes – The 34 year old Jovanovski has officially taken the 2nd fiddle to Keith Yandle in the Coyotes powerplay, but has nonetheless proven he can be counted on in all situations. With age, his production has declined from his peak year of 51 pts, and he can now be counted on for 25-30 pts, despite the lack of production in 2011 (14 pts in 50 games).
RESIGNS
4. Anton Stralman, Blue Jackets – the young Swede was thrust into the powerplay role on a Blue Jackets squad lacking a lot of punch on special teams in 2010, and delivered a respectable 34 pts that season. Since then, he has struggled to reach those same levels (only 18 pts in 51 games in 2011) but remains one of the only options on the Columbus blue line with a natural affinity for running the powerplay.
5. Bobby Sanguinetti, Hurricanes – having only played 5 games in the NHL, Sanguinetti is going to have to deliver in the coming season in order to crack the NHL club. His 15 pts in 31 AHL games with the Charlotte Checkers indicate the young defenseman has offensive talent, as he always has, but time is quickly running out for the ex-Ranger.
GOALTENDERS
KEEPERS
1. Miikka Kiprusoff, Flames – another year, another 100 pt season from Kiprusoff. Despite all the struggles the Flames have endured, Kipper has managed to continuously deliver year in and year out. Now at the ripe age of 34, he is still considered a top 10 option in goal for fantasy purposes and is capable of delivering 35 wins and 4-5 shutouts per season.
RESIGNS
(None)