| Top Shelf Eastern Talent – Part 3 of 3 | Tweet |
 |
 |
 |
| Written by Russ Miller | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Thursday, 30 July 2009 09:27 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
In this final installment, I’ll take a look at the last five Eastern Conference team’s top six talent and guys that might challenge for a spot this season.
With a top six forward or top four defence role comes ice time and often power play minutes, two things that are the crucial to fantasy success. Instead of trying to play coach and guess at who is playing on which line, something that can change from period to period, I will list each team’s top six forwards and four defensemen.
Set as favorite
Bookmark
Email this
Write comment
Comments (31)
The Comish
said:
|
Subscribe to this comment's feed |
Schultzie Don't get me wrong Lanky, I totally respect your opinion regarding the Caps because I know they are the team you watch the most. The numbers point to a top four NHL defenseman. Averaging nearly 20 minutes a game, back to back seasons of +13 and +12 certainly look like a top four guy on paper. With that much ice time, Boudreau seems to trust him enough to play top four minutes. This kid had 40 points in 68 games in his final junior year, so as you say he's not a pure offensive talent, but he has some offensive abilities. One factor for me is that Schultz is 6'6" and those big guys tend to take a little longer adjusting to the speed of the NHL. Anyway, should be fun to watch and I hope for his sake and the Caps, that Schultz turns into that top four defenseman at such an early age. |
lanky522
said:
 |
... gosh i hope youre right about schultz and that he does turn out to be better than he has been... because having watched the vast majority of caps games last year, i can honestly say that he doesn't fit in well... or at least didn't last year. He's not a pure offensive guy, so he doesn't have that really going for him... and he blows it frequently on defense and just looks slow and immobile most times, so he's not a pure defensive guy either. So the best that i can say about him is that he's passable in both zones of the ice. That's not usually what you look for in a top 4 guy imo. I mean i'm all for young guys that can play in their own end... but i don't really think he satisfies both of those conditions... at least in my opinion from watching 60+ caps games last year. So yeah. Hopefully you are right, and he does turn out to be decent enough to bolster the caps blueline as a whole... but i've got my own opinions on him... and i'm not holding my breath. Especially with very capable alternatives (including pothier who missed the first half of last season). |
The Comish
said:
|
A Less Than Stellar Effort So this is what a learning experience looks like!? Criticism is necessary for growth. I was going away for a one week holiday and hurried this article sending it in a week before it was to be posted. Next time around I will not rush an article to get it in on time. I naively thought that this one would pass muster, but I was wrong. I certainly should have picked up on the Fedotenko signing, but I there were rumblings that Pesonen would re-sign with the Pens and I thought that with his offensive talents, he would stick with the big club this time around. As Dobber mentioned, the Stralman trade and Prospal buyout happened after I submitted my article. Thanks for setting the record straight Dobber. I know you are extremely busy this time of year and I appreciate the kind words regarding the editing. This next piece is for Lanky and those who think Schultz isn't a top four defenseman in Washington. Schultz played 64 regular season games and garnered the third most average ice time (19:45) of all Caps defensemen. Morrisonn averaged 17:59; even Alzner averaged 19:25 in 30 games. Of course it's no slam dunk that either Schultz or Alzner will be in the top four this year, that's just my opinion. Sure Schultz only played in one playoff game last year, but that seems likely to be from a back injury. This season will be Schultz's fourth, so I think he will solidify his position on this team. Anyway Dobber Nation, rest assured I have taken away a valuable lesson from this experience.  |
donpaulo
said:
 |
... I think there is no need to apologize. we are all free to read what we like and to draw our own conclusions. We are also free to disagree, but to blindly follow what someone else says is methinks a tad like a lemming. |
metaldude26
said:
 |
... Now I haven't read the comments/criticism about this article but I can only assume that it was partly driven by the level of excellence that we are accustomed to from Russ and all the writers here at Dobberhockey. Obviously it's tough to take criticism as a compliment but in this case I think it's possible. Think of it as a pro hockey player missing a penalty shot, you still have to go back out there and play even if you get booed. And I think you can take solice knowing that you've given us such high quality stuff in the past to the point we hold you to a higher standard. And don't fret, us readers will be back! |
doulos
said:
 |
Nice... You guys are like vultures. A bit of a braincramp happens and everyone jumps all over the guy and then it turns out that it was an editing mistake. I wonder how many of you have taken the time to put yourselves out on the line and write in front of people. it's not easy. Russ has done a ton of great stuff and then a bunch of people throw him under the bus for one bad article. Brutal. |
Dobber
said:
 |
... I apologize to Russel and my readers. Russ sent me this article on Friday, July 23 and then went away on holidays. I posted the article without reading it. Do I make a habit of this? No, but 1) Russ is my one writer who requires the least editing and 2) The article went up 48 hours before the release of the Guide. So I was busy. Too busy to spend five minutes reviewing an article? No...I can always spend five minutes. But due to Point 1, as well as my own laziness, I did not read the article through. I apologize for Russ for this embarrassment. He doesn't deserve your criticism. I would have caught the Pesonen, Fedotenko and Stralman errors. (although, Lanky, you are wrong about Schultz! He's young and has potential) |
lanky522
said:
|
... I agree with you to a certain extent Gotlaid and Shoeless, in that the bashing comments aren't really necessary and aren't really constructive. As someone who's written a couple of things for this site before too (as Ryan can speak to), there is sometimes stuff that happens that "dates" your article after it's submitted to dobber, but before it gets posted. With that said, I still have a problem with a couple of the predictions (that weren't the effect of timeline issues). Jeff Schultz is not... has not been... and doesn't have the talent to be a top four defender even on the capitals shallow back end. This is just poor poor study if you ask me. Schultz was by far the most expendable of the capitals regulars last year and he only played about half as many shifts as Morrisonn did. Then, he blew a tire in terrible fashion in the playoffs... so what has he done to warrant the top four spot in ANYONE's mind? Like i said in my last post. With Jurcina and Carlson and Pothier, Schultz will be lucky if he's even in the starting lineup on a regular basis next year. There were a few other things that i felt were a bit off (based on my opinions) through the rest of the articles... but nothing worth actually mentioning (because "to each his own" right?) until this Schultz writeup. So i don't fault anyone for timeline errors, but this particular beef is not that sort of steak. |
bluejays
said:
 |
... Whatever, its a hard article to write. There will be criticism with any article yet alone a "top 6"! Probably just missed it or it was a late article. I've been very happy with the past one's, so no big deal IMO. Let's remember we're not curing Cancer here, its a fantasy hockey article in the middle of summer! |
Shoeless
said:
 |
... Can't agree with you less Gotlaid. I have tremendous respect for Russ and his body of work on this site, but someone fumbled the ball badly here. I think the user comments are reasonable in light of the standards this site has set for itself and performed at over the last few years. But let's put it in perspective - it was a fumble not bad crafting. |
Gotlaid
said:
 |
... Whoa whoa whoa ease up guys... my guess is that Russ probably sent this in as a 3 part package early to Dobber and didn't adjust them for the news that happened this week. During the off-season Dobber usually has us put an article up once every 2-3 weeks, so for Russ and I to be putting up articles weekly really is going above and beyond what was expected of us. Russ has given plenty of great advice throughout the season, up to and including this article, so I don't think blasting him over just one is justified... especially with the "worst article ever", "pretty weak work" comments, I mean c'mon guys, it takes time to writeup and research some of this stuff, and considering you didn't have to pay a dime for the article, you really want to blast someone for offering their advice free of charge? |
gmw
said:
 |
.. This is a terrible write up. absolutely terrible. come on dobber. this site is better than this. |
bluejays
said:
 |
... This was written today! Stralman gone, Prospal bought out. Re: Pitts: How Janne Pesonen is rated top 6? He is still a UFA and even if signed who knows whether Pit gives him a shot, there's a good chance he gets barried in the "A" again. The writting's on the wall for Caputi. Tang is hurt and won't be ready, plus he's more a power frwd and will need time. Its Caputi's to loose. Kennedy is nothing more that a 3rd liner. Re: TB I see them getting someone in that top 6 and Downie replaced by Karsums. Re: Tlusty should be a top 6 now, move Stempniak down. Re: If Wsh ever gives the 2nd line C job to Morrison they are doomed. He is by far the biggest underachiever. No idea why they signed him. Even when Centering Naslund & Bert at their best, it was difficult to get 70 pts. He's brutal and Laich is much better. That was a poor signing IMO. |
Princeton
said:
 |
horrible Worst evaluation I have read on this site ever. Stralman.....already traded Prospal........bought out The Fire hydrant?????????????????? Schultz.........April 1st? |
phaneuf_fan_3
said:
 |
... pretty weak amount of work went into that writeup I would say. Fedotenko clearly is top 6 for the Pens. Pesonen likely if he is back which is a huge if, will either start out in the AHL or be in a huge battle...he's anything but a lock to be back or in the top 6 for the Pens. |
Ron`
said:
 |
... I agree with Scribe, no indication of Pesonen returning to the Pens. Last I knew he would likely be back overseas. |
SirKnight
said:
 |
... Two guys somewhere in the world just drafted Fred Hydrant in their fantasy leagues... When questioned by their peers both proclaimed they had a solid source that told them he was Malkin's LW unless one of the kids stepped up. Too Funny. Prospal's spot goes to whomever the Bolts have lined up off of the UFA list. So just think of Prospal as a place holder for the next headline out of TB. |
lanky522
said:
|
... Jeff Schultz is absolutely terrible. He's lucky if he's top 6. He was a "healthy" (as far as i'm concerned - the team and media can report what they like) scratch in the playoffs after tripping over himself and allowing a goal against the rangers in the first round... I'd expect to see Morrisonn playing with Mike Green again (as was the case for the vast majority of the season). Even so, when Morrisonn wasn't playing with Green, he played with Poti (those two partners accounted for close to 70% of Morrisonn's even strength shits last season). If you have Green and Poti in the top 4, then Morrisonn should be too. Not Schultz... he's just terrible. |
kevinsrangers
said:
 |
nylander ? poor Nylander doesnt even get a mention, ill bet he misses Jagr. hehehe. |
Scribe
said:
 |
Possible linemate for Hydrant Maybe Pittsburgh will lure Rich Pylon out of retirement and convert him to the wing. |
Rad64
said:
 |
... My take was that F. Hydrant was a play on words for fire Hydrant as even even a fire hydrant could pot 20 goals on Malkins wing.  |
Rollie1967
said:
 |
... on washingtons d: other than Green,Poti- not much fantasy value, maybe Alzner one day-even still he and Shultz fall behind Jurcina and a healthy Pothier in ice time for this year. Eaton in Pittsburgh has no fantasy value- I'd rather take a chance on Goligoski on that roster. |
Scribe
said:
|
Fedotenko Forgot to mention Ruslan Fedotenko in previous post. He's re-signed with Penguins. |
Scribe
said:
|
Pesonen with Pens? Really? Janne Pesonen is a UFA and I'd be shocked if he re-signed with the Penguins. |
Guinnies_Moustache
said:
 |
... I am new to this site so i am going to assume that FRED HYDRANT means any player? No mention of Fedotenko making the top 6 as he found chemistry in the playoffs with Malkin and Talbot. Once Talbot is back, will he be put back on Malkin's line or is he back to his usual 4th line minutes? Also, Is Pesonen set to resign (i don't believe he has yet)?? |
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
