Comments for Fish or Cut Bait Part 2 at http://hockey.dobbersports.com , comment 1 to 9 out of 9 comments http://hockey.dobbersports.com Mon, 20 May 2013 18:32:31 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.3 http://hockey.dobbersports.com/index.php/russ-miller/3589-fish-or-cut-bait-part-2#comment-13064 Russ...what I liked about this piece was that even if you are not in a keeper league the comments have value for drafting next year. Few places do any year end analysis of players that you can carry over...good work, great article. - mike hess Sat, 02 Apr 2011 06:43:52 +0100 http://hockey.dobbersports.com/index.php/russ-miller/3589-fish-or-cut-bait-part-2#comment-13050 Oh man, with limited keepers, he who gets the best player wins 98% of the time. If you can snag Backstrom for Seguin/E.Kane, I'd be all over that. I know in a couple of leagues I play in, we would be able to keep Seguin as a rookie protection, which would make sense if the guy needed a good rookie protection and you have other options. Seriously, when I look at Backstrom's previous seasons in the NHL, I drool at the potential...it's not like he's old or anything! Some people will always put potential ahead of current points, but those guys rarely win. - Russ Miller Fri, 01 Apr 2011 16:49:20 +0100 http://hockey.dobbersports.com/index.php/russ-miller/3589-fish-or-cut-bait-part-2#comment-13048 Russ: Fair enough. Its always hard to draw the line on say Backstrom vs Green or Letang. I'm mostly interested because I have my Seguin and Evander Kane for his Backstrom on the table. I think I have to pull trigger. - frozenpools Fri, 01 Apr 2011 13:48:12 +0100 http://hockey.dobbersports.com/index.php/russ-miller/3589-fish-or-cut-bait-part-2#comment-13047 Thanks for all the comments guys - appreciate the feedback. frozenpools - I had a blurb written for Backstrom and decided to delete it because he is such an obvious keeper. I agree wholeheartedly with your 90 pts for next year. In making my Fish or Cut Bait calls, I used primarily next season as my benchmark. Rask will likely not play a big role next year for the Bruins (barring injury to Thomas). He will likely play somewhere between what he did this year to a 50/50 split at best. That's not going to cut it in most 10-12 team fantasy leagues. I LOVE Rask's upside and if there was any way to keep him on my roster without killing my chances at winning next year, I'd definitely keep him. He's going to be a top ten fantasy goalie. Same really for Seguin. How many years do you hang on to a talented young player getting 12 minutes of ice time per game? Two years? Three? With limited keepers, these players become a burden and negatively affect your current season. Now if you are allowed a farm team or more protections, then the answer is obvious. I really see MDZ as a 40 point defenseman next year, that's how I justify putting him ahead of a 40-45 pt Seguin for next year. When Del Zotto played, he got the top PP TOI, he's that type of offensive player. This year was a step back, a learning year and I think it will be beneficial in helping him grow. He had a 37 pt rookie season with 22 PPP. I'm concerned about Hedman's lack of offensive numbers. He's 12th on the team in PPTOI per game. Until he gets more opportunities, he won't be a factor in fantasy hockey. He's a big guy, it's possible that in 2-3 years we'll start seeing the numbers. I like Kulikov's game. I think he is simply put, a player. When I saw him fight, I was sold. I like this guy. The offence will come, but he's still so young and raw, plus he's on a crap offensive team. Pass for next year on both he and Hedman for me. Depending on your league make up, Seguin COULD bring you value in return for his potential, but you better have a buyer. I would definitely not keep Seguin over Burrows or Callahan. I'd keep Seguin over Filppula for sure. Keeping a guy just so you can trade him is a risky proposition in my opinion. Obviously your league make up and rosters will affect how players are valued as keepers. If your league is points only, players like Downie and Burrows become less valuable. If one of your categories in your roto league is plus/minus, then most players from losing teams become much less valuable. Just remember, this is only my opinion, it doesn't make me right! Again, I appreciate all the feedback. - Russ Miller Fri, 01 Apr 2011 13:24:18 +0100 http://hockey.dobbersports.com/index.php/russ-miller/3589-fish-or-cut-bait-part-2#comment-13046 Hey should be a fish no? I think he'd get 90 pts again next year anyone else? - frozenpools Fri, 01 Apr 2011 12:40:42 +0100 http://hockey.dobbersports.com/index.php/russ-miller/3589-fish-or-cut-bait-part-2#comment-13042 I agree with Cory, I feel like 90% of what's said in both articles is on target, but somehow wonder how you could suggest to cut on Seguin (who holds value as a future star) or Leino (a 50 pts guy) over MDZ who struggled to remain on a NYR blueline that features no real stars here. I would definitely cut bait on MDZ, and as a Seguin owner in one of my keeper league, I'll keep him ahead of Burrows, Callahan and Filppula, just for the sake of his potential and reward he could bring in a trade to a non-contending team if he doesn't produce up to par. My two cents. - lusshouse Fri, 01 Apr 2011 10:37:44 +0100 http://hockey.dobbersports.com/index.php/russ-miller/3589-fish-or-cut-bait-part-2#comment-13041 My expectations for those players for next year: Seguin (F): 80 games, 42 points. Del Zotto (D): 70 games, 27 points. Maybe you do want the 27 point d-man over the 42 point forward, but is it worth giving up Tyler Seguin?? That seems crazy. Are my expectations off? (There's a bigger AHL risk with Del Zotto than Seguin, that's why I have him at 70 games) - Cory Fri, 01 Apr 2011 09:47:11 +0100 http://hockey.dobbersports.com/index.php/russ-miller/3589-fish-or-cut-bait-part-2#comment-13039 I disagree, even though it's a keeper league doesn't mean you have to look 4/5 years down the road. You still want to win each year or at least the next year. Having said that, Rask's future is muddled for the next couple of years. Same for Seguin. He's gonna be behind some guys in Boston and not scoring 70+ points. Leino, same thing..too much depth in Philly, plus, he's only good in a few categories. Remember, you want near future success and for that I think he's been accurate. - shaun burchell Fri, 01 Apr 2011 09:28:19 +0100 http://hockey.dobbersports.com/index.php/russ-miller/3589-fish-or-cut-bait-part-2#comment-13036 You've evaluated 25 players, and I'm going to pick on just one of them, but I think you're way overvaluing Michael Del Zotto. He played poorly for the Rangers this year, and is trying to fix things in the AHL. You've suggested cutting bait on players like Seguin, Rask, Leino, Sekera, Kulikov and Hedman. In a keeper league, Seguin and Rask are gold. Del Zotto is bronze. (Yes, depending on how many keeper spots you have. Maybe you have a case with Rask, but not with Seguin.) And, for next year, I would rather have a talented defenceman like Hedman or Kulikov, who I know will be pulling big minutes in the NHL, rather than a guy like Del Zotto who is going to first have to make the team. - Cory Fri, 01 Apr 2011 08:59:13 +0100