Winnipeg NHL Trade Rumors

Now that the NHL is back in Winnipeg, trade rumors will be flying around Winnipeg like never before. Many fans expect a flurry of player movements over the next few months.

Here is a list of potential moves straight from Sneezl that the Winnipeg team could consider:

  • Center Nik Antropov to Ottawa for a 2nd round draft pick – At 31 Antropov is a known steady 2nd or 3rd line center. Ottawa is rebuilding and could use Antropov’s help. If Ottawa isn’t interested, this same deal could be completed with almost any other team too, possibly for a lower pick and a prospect.
  • Defense Dustin Byfuglien to Pittsburgh for Jordan Staal – This would give Pittsburgh flexibility at wing and defense, unloading a piece of their logjam at center. This would give Winnipeg a perfect #1 or #2 center for a decade, including a player who grew up just down the road from the ‘peg.
  • UFA rights of Radek Dvorak to San Jose for UFA rights of Ian White – Both new teams could try to sign a deal before July 1st for players who score 25-35 points per season. Ian White hails from Steinbach, Manitoba, which would make him an immediate hometown favorite.
  • LW Evander Kane and Goalie Ondrej Pavelec to Chicago for Jonathan Toews, Nik Hjalmarsson and a draft pick – Getting Winnipeg boy Jonathan Toews into a Winnipeg jersey would be worth almost any price, including the two young Atlanta/Winnipeg players in this deal. From Chicago’s perspective, wouldn’t it be great to market “Kane + Kane”?

Whatever this team ends up being called, today is a good day to chant “Go Jets Go!”

Boyle and Thornton – Good Canadians on the Wrong Team

Say what you will about the NHL having franchises in the Southern USA and how those teams are doomed to perpetual mediocrity, fine.

One thing that no-one can criticize is the way that two Ontario boys performed for their San Jose team in this year’s playoffs.  They carried their team as far as any two players can carry a bag of pucks, but eventually their team lost to a Vancouver bunch that simply wanted to win the series more.

By the time the Sharks were eliminated in the Conference final, Dan Boyle led all defensemen in points in these playoffs by a mile.  With 16 points in 18 games, the next closest defenseman for any team has only 11 points.  Aside from the points, he was a constant presence and everything you’d hope for in a #1 blueliner.

Jumbo Joe Thornton led all Sharks in points with 17, played through injuries, and generally carried the team.  Could he win a series all by himself?  No.  But since hockey is team game, that is not surprising.  Regardless, blame for San Jose’s loss can’t be pinned on their #1 pivot.

Other Canadians like Ryan Clowe from NFLD and rookie Logan Couture from Guelph also did a great job for their team.  Cheers for these Canadians who gave their all for their team, even though their team happens to be far from Canadian soil.

Imagine if these four were playing on a team North of 49…

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins Too Small? No Way.

Oilers fans concerned over the size of potential #1 2011 draft pick Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (RNH) should put things into perspective.

RNH would be drafted to be a top scorer, not a fighter, plumber, or goaltender.  Yes, he would need to be defensively responsible to get ice time, be a good teammate, yada yada yada, but his main function would be to score.  If RNH were being drafted to be an enforcer, a shutdown defenseman, or a mechanic for the team bus, the size requirements might be different.  He might need to be huge and heavy. But as a #1 pick center, his function would be to score and size would only be a secondary issue.

But just for fun, how big are the NHL’s current top scorers?  Wouldn’t that be the best way to answer the question about RNH’s size?  To see if concerns about his size really match up against the players currently leading the league in scoring?

Here are the NHL’s top 10 scorers from the 2010-2011 season along with their height and weight:

  1. Daniel Sedin 6-1 187
  2. Martin St. Louis* 5-9 177
  3. Corey Perry* 6-3 206
  4. Henrik Sedin 6-2 188
  5. Steve Stamkos 6-1 196
  6. Jarome Iginla 6-1 207
  7. Alex Ovechkin 6-2 223
  8. Teemu Selanne* 6-0 196
  9. Henrik Zetterberg* 5-11 195
  10. Brad Richards* 6-0 196

* – has won a Stanley Cup

For the record, RNH’s current size #’s are 6-1 164 as an 18 year old.  At 6-1, he is already taller than St. Louis (a Hart finalist), Selanne (proof that skill and attitude pay off over a career), Zetterberg (premier 2-way player on a premier team), and Richards (2011?s most coveted UFA).

His weight is low, yes, but he is 18 and that’s pretty normal.  If he really does have ‘the best on-ice vision since #99?, who really cares what his weight is anyway?

As an aside, Crosby is 5-11 200, Gretzky 6-0 185, and Datsyuk 5-11 194.  If these guys aren’t proof that “little guys” can really play, then who is?

Whether or not RNH earns his way into the company of the other players listed in this post is yet to be seen, but there is no doubt that size is not a barrier to it happening.

Oilers fans: if RNH ends up in the fold, you’ve got a potential top-10 scorer for years.

Hockey Playoff Pool Picklists

> > Update: 2012 Hockey Playoffs HERE < <

Hockey pool fans, the season is near. Soon we will be surrounded by 7-game series, unexpected playoff heroes, and dark horse teams pushing conference champs deep into overtime.

And we get to win our fantasy drafts, collecting bevy money based on correctly guessing which teams will win 10+ games and which players will head to the World Championships after a first round sweep!

So who do you plan to take as your #1 centerman? Who will be your sleeper pick? Which goalie has the best chance of winning 16 games? These are the questions that NHL fans will be pondering RIGHT ABOUT NOW!

Pulling off a flawless hockey playoff draft is nearly impossible, but what’s the fun in being a hockey fan if you don’t go out on a limb every once in a while?

So without further ado…

2011 Fantasy Hockey Top 5 Picks: Centers

  1. Henrik Sedin – Team bound to play a lot of games = a lot of points.
  2. Ryan Getzlaf – Really hot down the stretch.
  3. Joe Thornton – Jumbo Joe could be #1 if the Sharks finally win games.
  4. Steve Stamkos – Team is iffy, but Stamkos is electric.
  5. Nicklas Backstrom – Playing with A+ wingers doesn’t hurt…

Picking the top center of the team you think will advance furthest is a good strategy here, even if the player isn’t a top 5 scorer. For instance, if you think the Wings will keep winning series, take Datsyuk over Sedin any day. Playoff pool drafts are all about taking the best players from the TEAMS you think will play the most games.

Stanley Cup Fantasy Draft Top 10 Wingers

  1. Martin St. Louis – An ageless assist machine.
  2. Claude Giroux – Haven’t heard of Giroux before? That’ll change…
  3. Alex Ovechkin – Enough said.
  4. Milan Lucic – Possible sleeper pick, Lucic was born to play playoff hockey.
  5. Alex Semin – If the Caps make a run, Semin could pot 15 goals.
  6. Patrick Marleau – Red hot down the stretch
  7. Marian Hossa – If you think the Hawks will win games, a good pick.
  8. Henrik Zetterberg – Like money in the bank.
  9. Bobby Ryan – Sleeper pick on a fringe playoff team.
  10. Daniel Sedin – Oh right, we forgot about the Art Ross trophy winning winger playing on the President’s Cup winning team…

Again, it’s all about picking a winning team. Or, if you’re feeling risky, wait until the 8th place teams settle into place and pick 100% off their rosters.

Fantasy Playoff Top 10 Defensemen

  1. Nick Lidstrom – Possibly his final kick at the can?
  2. Brian Rafalski – Possibly the best #2 d-man in hockey.
  3. Drew Doughty – The Kings could go deep this year.
  4. Zdeno Chara – The East’s top team?
  5. Tomas Kaberle – Could well score a point every time the B’s play.
  6. Chris Pronger – Love him or hate him, he might be the safest bet on this list.
  7. Jack Johnson – Possible sleeper pick.
  8. Alexander Edler – If Vancouver keeps winning, Edler will get points.
  9. Dan Boyle – #1 D on a top contending team.
  10. Christian Ehrhoff – Another solid Canuck option.

Lubomir Visnovsky would be one of the top picks if you liked the Ducks’ chances of winning games, but those are pretty slim odds.

2011 Hockey Pools’ Top 10 Goalies

  1. Roberto Luongo – The West’s #1 safest choice?
  2. Ryan Miller – Great goalie, mediocre team.
  3. Jimmy Howard – Okay goalie, great team.
  4. Carey Price – For Habs fans this is the start of a good era…
  5. Antti Niemi – If the Sharks can score, Niemi will win many games.
  6. Cam Ward – Maybe not his year, but who knows?
  7. Marc-Andre Fleury – Prime Conn Smythe Trophy candidate.
  8. Nichal Neuvirth – Will he play or won’t he? Risky pick.
  9. Ilya Bryzgalov – Great goalie, mediocre team.
  10. Tim Thomas – Likely Vezina winner and possibly the best Eastern Conference playoff choice

Who will win 16 games? That’s the big question.

2011 NHL Stanley Cup Team Predictions

This is an intriguing year in the Eastern Conference. The Penguins have key injuries in Crosby and Malkin, the Flyers have struggled of late, the Caps have goaltending questions, and there are several hot goalies in the lower seeded teams that could steal series all by themselves. The Bruins are the clear #1 pick for the Eastern Conference because they constantly outmatch their opponents in goal and defense. Their scoring is just good enough, plus deep throughout the lineup, making them the odds-on favourite to emerge out of the East. If you believe in odds when it comes to playoffs, that is…

The West is more of a question mark. Yes, the Canucks are #1 and seem relentless, but do they have the passion to win games 5, 6 and 7? Really?

The Sharks are highly motivated, led by former Captain Marleau who has once again proven why he was chosen Captain in the first place. Of all the Western teams, their desire to win it all may be the highest.

The Red Wings are always good, so barring major injuries, they could easily again emerge as the Cup finalist.

The remaining teams all have pros and cons. Pekka Rinne could win the playoffs all by himself, and the defending champ Blackhawks might not even show up for the party.

Sneezl is predicting a final series between the San Jose Sharks and the Boston Bruins, with the Sharks winning the series in 7 games. I sure don’t like the Sharks, but their chances to win are as good as anyone’s!

 


(Remember: have fun and don’t gamble!)

 

Good luck with your drafts!

> > Update: 2012 Hockey Playoffs HERE < <

Fantasy Hockey Draft Picklist 2010-2011

For hockey pool fans who come to their fantasy drafts prepared, ’tis the season for pre-draft homework.

 

Who would you take if you get the #1 pick? Who will be your #3 defenseman? Who’s the top available goalie?

Since every pool has its own scoring system and guessing the future is impossible, we can’t give a perfect picklist. But, that won’t stop Sneezl from trying anyway…

2010-2011 Fantasy Hockey Top 10 Picks: Forwards

  1. Alex Ovechkin
  2. Sidney Crosby
  3. Joe Thornton
  4. Steven Stamkos
  5. Henrik Sedin
  6. Daniel Sedin
  7. Nicklas Backstrom
  8. Martin St. Louis
  9. Evgeni Malkin
  10. Dany Heatley

People will sit around and debate the order of this list more than any other, but Ovechkin has to be near the top of nearly everyone’s list. Rather than debate it here, just be happy if you get any 3 of these guys on your team.

Fantasy Draft Top 10 Defensemen

  1. Mike Green
  2. Dan Boyle
  3. Drew Doughty
  4. Sergei Gonchar
  5. Tomas Kaberle
  6. Chris Pronger
  7. Duncan Keith
  8. Mark Streit
  9. Zdeno Chara
  10. Dion Phaneuf

With the offensive powerhouse in Washington, Mike Green again should go #1 among D-men.

2010-11 Hockey Pool Top 10 Goalies

  1. Roberto Luongo
  2. Ryan Miller
  3. Jimmy Howard
  4. Marty Turco
  5. Mikka Kiprusoff
  6. Cam Ward
  7. Marc-Andre Fleury
  8. Martin Brodeur
  9. Ilya Bryzgalov
  10. Jonas Hiller

Goaltending skill is not the right question when picking a fantasy draft goalie – its all about the # of games they’re going to play and how many games the team will win. Not many goalies regularly play over 65 games, and not all of them are on teams that win 65% of their games.

2010-2011 Fantasy Hockey Top 10 Picks: Enforcers

  1. Colton Orr
  2. Ian Laperriere
  3. Zenon Konopka
  4. Matt Carkner
  5. Jared Boll
  6. George Parros
  7. Cam Janssen
  8. Zack Stortini
  9. Dan Carcillo
  10. Steve Downie

As a dark horse to win this category, Zack Stortini of Edmonton will have the most work to do protecting 3 rookies at once. He may not be the biggest heavyweight, but he’ll have to drop the gloves every night if no-one else on the Oilers does.

2010-2011 NHL Rookies Top 10

  1. Jordan Eberle
  2. Taylor Hall
  3. Magnus Paajarvi-Svensson
  4. P.K. Subban
  5. Tyler Seguin
  6. Nazem Kadri
  7. Brayden Schenn
  8. Tyler Ennis
  9. John Carlson
  10. Mikael Backlund

Aside from being highly talented, the reason 3 Oilers top this list is that they’ll all be getting powerplay opportunity and top-6 forward minutes. The only real question is, “which will finish 1-2-3?”

John Carlson could score 50 points if Washington’s goalies play well enough that they can gamble on his untested defensive abilities.