12 votes for Kane, but only 1 comment picking him. Come on guys if you like Kane let's hear your reasoning I and a few others in the thread have our opinion but it doesn't mean we (or especially the OP) don't want to hear yours. This is not a landslide by any means maybe you can change some minds.

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20 Team Dynasty (points per) - G (25, 50 for defense) A (25) PIM (3) +/- (5) PPG (15) SHG (25) OTG (15) GWG (25) HTr (50) GP (2) HIT (1) BLK (1) Use actual NHL salary

F: Malkin, Tavares, E. Kane, Parenteau, Havlat, Tarasenko, Galchenyuk, Brunner, Boyes, Kruger, Helm, M. Martin, Bergenheim, Carcillo, Stajan

D: Green, Ehrhoff, Ekman-Larsson, Coburn, Daley, Postma

G: Fleury, Mason, Montoya

Farm: Grigorenko, Grimaldi, Kucherov, D. Shore, Hartikainen, Stransky, Kerdiles, Joensuu, Pageau, Murphy, Ceci, Klefbom, Thrower, Donovan, Ekholm, Lehner, Dansk, Poulin, Nilsson, Andersen

Haha, I was thinking the same thing, FTD. Bizarre that I've been the only one speaking up for Kane.

As a follow up, it's only 3 games, but Kane already looks like a more complete, multidimensionsl player than a year ago. Last year he would fly down the left side boards every time he touched the puck, and he'd either shoot or drive to the net. Not bad, but it becomes predictable. Impatiently throwing the puck cross-ice in the offensive zone was his version of 'passing.'

This year he is generating plays. He's using the middle of the ice a lot more, he's circling behind the net and around to the right side to find an open teammate, or stopping short and finding the trailer, and he's making passes that he wasn't capable of last year. I'm sure you've all seen it, but his play on Wheeler's goal last night was terrific, and a good indicator that his game is expanding. He's still a shoot first guy, still very physical and he still loves flying down the left wing, but he's adding some exciting tools to his game. I saw glimpses of it last season, but he was still impatient and getting rid of the puck far too soon. So far he's putting it together faster than I expected.

Again, it's early. He's super young, and there could be some growing pains yet, but these first 3 games are very encouraging.

Thanks for saying this I was thinking the exact same thing.

I decided to add some statistics from the last couple years from my league for people to view.

Bobby Ryan:
2013: Goals: 0, Assists:0, PIM:0, SOG:1, Hits:1, BS: 4
2011-12: Goals: 31, Assists,26, PIM:53, SOG: 204, Hits: 113, BS: 24
2010-13: Goals: 34, Assists: 37, PIM: 67, SOG 270, Hits: 156, BS: 34

Evander Kane:
2013: Goals: 1, Assists: 1, PIM, 2, SOG: 11, Hit: 9, BS: 4
2011-12: Goals: 30, Assists: 27, PIM: 53, SOG: 287, Hits: 173, BS: 31
2010-11: Goals 19, Assists: 24, PIM: 68, SOG: 234, Hits: 154, BS: 32

**Note Evander was injured for some of the 2011-12 season.**

Both players are very strong young power forwards, 6'2 and can skate really well. They both have an excellent release on their shot, however Ryan has better hands in my opinion. Also as what was said previously Ryan seems to have a better head on his shoulders and not rocks for brains. Although Kane is still young and has time to mature. In real life hockey I strongly believe Bobby Ryan has the better all around skill set, However Kane has really surprised me with the consistency and the larger numbers he puts up in my H2H fantasy league. However the concussion he had last season still scares me. This is decision is a tough one, doesnt surprise me the poll has been so close in numbers.

Thanks again for the feedback guys!

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12 Team H2H League (4 Keeper Spots)
G, A, PPP, +/-, PIM, SOG, Hits, BS, W, SV%, GAA, SO
(C)P. Marleau (LW),R. Kesler, B. Richards
(LW) G. Landeskog, M. Pacioretty, A. Mcdonald (C)
(RW)A. Ovechkin (LW), J. Iginla, A. Semin (LW)
(D)D. Seidenberg, L. Schenn, M. Fraser, J. Bouwmeester, S. Salo
(G)J. Quick, T. Rask
(IR)

Just thought I'd bump this and see if any opinions have changed about halfway through the shortened season. Ryan is frustrating to own especially considering his lack of PIM. Starting to debate offering him for E. Kane straight up but wanted some feedback first.

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13 Team Yahoo Daily Points Keeper - 6 Keepers + 1 Rookie Keeper
G | A | +/- | PIM | PPP | SHP | GWG | SOG
Wins | Saves | SHO
2 C | 2 LW | 2 RW | 3 D | 1 Util | 1 G

C - Crosby, Seguin (RW)
LW - Ryan, Pacioretty, Leino (C)
RW - Tarasenko, Voracek
D - Karlsson (IR), Faulk (IR), Pitkanen, Bogosian, Carlson, Visnovsky
G - Rinne, Pavelec

This. Noticed it the other day when I was looking at E. Kane's stats and the most games he's played in his 3 full seasons in the league before this one was 74. His other two were 73 and 66. He's had lower body injuries, the mysterious "upper body injuries" and also had a concussion last year that sidelined him for a bit. I love Kane's scoring upside but I'm worried he will end up missing a chunk of games every year due to "maintenance" injuries while Ryan has only missed 1 NHL game in his past 3 seasons. Take the consistency of Ryan here, if only because he'll tend to stay more healthy.

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Yahoo 12 team Keep 7 League (keepers in bold)
Cats: G, A, PPP, SHP, +/-, PIM, SOG, Hits, W, GAA, SV%, SHO
Start 10F, 4D, 1 Util, 2G, 4 Bench
F: Malkin , Neal, Parise, Benn, Hall, Yakupov, RNH, Tarasenko, Whitney, Silfverberg, Martin, Soderberg, McDonald, Steen, Jussi Jokinen
D: Streit, Hamilton
G: Rask, Holtby, Lehner, Khudobin

You should avoid changing (or forming) opinions of players based on 20 games. The best advice I can give is to watch 2 or 3 full games and make specific notice on the player in question. Use this knowledge and look to see if it matches the stats you can find. If something doesn't sit right with a player's stats, watch another couple full games and see if there is a reason to think the stats may not be telling the whole story. I find you can see a lot about a player when you are actively "scouting" him during the course of a full game.

I like to use stats as my primary method of assessing players, but watching a few games does give you a much better insight into the the type of player you are trying to judge.

Now... despite what I've said above, my opinion here is based on only stats and what I've seen of Ryan's play this year. I dont own Kane, nor am I targeting him for a trade in my league.

For me, I'd rather have Ryan. He has scored 30 goals four years in a row. I think we can feel that is the starting point for him. If he doesn't score 35 next year, you will be entitled to be disappointed. He's got silky hands and a knack for finding the back of the net. I also think he is ready to take the next step in his development, whereas Kane may take another year or so to be at the same level.

One further point that I liked above was RTBP's comment about having a better head on his shoulders. I believe this to be true. Ryan seems to be more grounded and focused which I think will be a better foundation moving forward in their careers.

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O&B Dream Team
Bill Barber - Bobby Clarke - Tim Kerr
Mark Howe - Chris Pronger
Bernie Parent
Farm: Giroux

Why not broaden your scope. 6 weeks ago, I owned Ryan too. But I assessed what my fellow GM's needs where (I pay special attention to their injuries, weaknesses and it helps a ton when they publicly bitch about aspects of their squad).

I was able to approach the owner of Perry and make a large somewhat convoluted offer to him for Perry including Ryan going to him. I weighted it in his favor somewhat which would tell me 3 things:

a) If he has no interest in moving the guy I wanted, even with the offer tilted toward him, I would quit and move on. (Not Bites)
b) if he was interested, and accepted, well, perhaps a slight overpayment but I got the guy I want (Like fly fishing, the bait hit's the water and is snapped up)
c) if he was interested...but perhaps only aspects of my offered bait...(the fish are nibbling..I just need to re-bait or re-jig my hook).

I knew he needed goaltending and I knew he needed strength on LW and was Deep on RW.

Offers and re-offers where tabled, then at just the right time...I said "Let's boil this down to what we really need...You need a LW...I want a RW...you could use Goaltending"...

I offered up Ryan and Theodore(Theo of 6 weeks ago...not the bust he is now) and snapped up Perry and Bernier(the goalie "Prospect" i trully wanted for next season).

While it was perceived as a win/win at the time...I think we can all agree that the scales tipped back toward me.

Moral of the story...I got Perry for Ryan... you could do better than Kane if you're crafty enough. Start big...then boil it down. You'll never get max value but simply offering 1 for 1.

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Team:
C - Tavares, Getzlaf, Ribeiro, (C/R)
L - Hall, Semin, Macdonald(C/L), Healtey(L/R),
R - Perry, Yakupov, Voracek, Voracek, Williams, Boyes
D - Streit, OEL, Edler, Karlsson, B. Smith, Beauchemin, Seidenberg
G - Rinne, Bryzgalov, Anderson, Bernier, Vokoun
10 Team Keeper league with Yahoo

Roster (14 Kept Players): C, C, LW, LW, RW, RW, D, D, D, D, Util, Util, G, G,

(Weighted Category Points: see below).

Skaters -
(Points: G a/o A) 6
(+/-) 3
(PIM) 1
(PPP) 5
(GWG) 5

Goaltenders
(W) 15
(GA) -10
(SV) 1
(SHO) 15

I didn't vote, but I agree w/CascadeFilly. Seems like every year w/have a discussion w/regard to how much better Ryan is going to be...at some point in the future. Ryan is solid enough, but Kane's upside is equal at least, will out hit Ryan every year, will equal if not surpass Ryan's PIM total, and is four years younger w/ no competition for ice time.

Kane's a beast now and is only getting better.

EDIT: lmao I did vote apparently. When was that? Egads my mind is going on me. Hope I voted for Kane...lol...

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Four out of three people have difficulty with fractions

Commish - Twisted Wrister Fantasy Hockey League

12 team, $$$, 24 players, Weekly, H2H, limited keeper (8), multi-cat (G, A, PIMs, Hits, SOG, HT/ W, GA, SV%, SO)

Start: 2C, 2RW, 2LW, 4D, 2G