Hi all, I need your help.

I\'m in a simple keeper league, points only. I\'ve got 3 protection spots for forwards. My best 5 forwards are Sakic, Gagne, Brunette, Zherdev, Sykora.

I\'m planning to protect Sakic, Gagne, and the 3rd I can\'t decide.

Brunette has good chemistry with Sakic, and now with Smyth on the team...?
Zherdev is the most risky but he\'s got a lot of years ahead of him
Sykora wasn\'t on this list until he signed with Pittsburgh.

Thanks in advance!

With Sykora now with the Pens, I would go for him. Either he plays with Crosby or with Malkin, pretty simple.

I think that Smyth might take away some of Brunette\'s points. Zherdev will only produce once he\'s traded or back in Russia.

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QHL Stanley Cup champion 2006-07, 2007-08, 2008-09
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braffy wrote:
I agree with Fergie. Sykora will play with Sid or Malkin, and will definitely outpoint Brunette. Nothing is ever written in stone...but out of those 3 Sykora should walk away with this choice.

I agree with Sykora being the choice. I was very disappointed when the CBJ gm said that they were going to hold onto Zherdev. He needs a change of scenery. If you watched the draft and listened to Doug MacLean \'bad mouth\' Zherdev it is no wonder he couldn\'t get it together.

braffy wrote:
This isn\'t as easy a pick as it might appear. Zherdev\'s out until he gets out of Columbus at least. Sykora is up there just because of who his linemates will be.

Brunette is a bit of a wildcard. Top line in Colorado will likely be Smyth-Sakic-Hejduk. Second line will likely be Stastny-Brunette-Wolski. Stastny had a big year last year, and can only get better. Wolski isn\'t quite the stud that Stastny is, but he\'s still quite good and will improve next year. Brunette also had a career year. Playing with those young guns, I\'m going to say that, at least for next season, Brunette and Sykora are even.

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Full Keeper Team, straight points, no PIMs:
C Staal, Datsyuk (LW), Kopitar, Backstrom (IR)
LW Marleau (C), Parise, McDonald (C), Heatley
RW Iginla, Kessel, Gaborik, Giroux (C), Hudler
D Kaberle, Phaneuf, Visnovsky, J. Johnson, Hamhuis
G Kiprusoff, Bryzgalov, Thomas
Farm Tatar, Strome, Radulov, Gerbe, Elliott (Col)

Thanks everyone for your input... it seems that Sykora is the consensus choice thus far.

Chadosaur, what makes you think Brunette would be moved to the 2nd line, considering his chemistry with Sakic last year? Don\'t you think they\'ll play around with the lines and go with what works? If so, I\'d say Brunette\'s got as good of a chance as the rest to stick with Joe.

If that does happen (Brunette lines up with Sakic), how would it impact the comparison between Brunette and Sykora?