Pa-tient [pey-shuhnt] adj - not hasty or impetuous
What has been impressive is that the Hurricanes seem to regress every season while Cam Ward improves. With early success has come great expectations for Ward, but his critics need to keep things in perspective. He is still only 24 years old and only 6 months older than Marc Andre Fleury, a player who the media has handled with kid gloves. When Fleury struggles the media questions whether the Pens brought him up to early, when he shows signs of living up to his potential they trumpet Fleury's arrival as an elite goalie. Ward has had nowhere to go but down from a fans perspective, but while opinion's have been lowered his performance has risen.
If Carolina can surround him with a championship calibre club he has the ability to join the fantasy elite. if you are a Ward owner, remain patient, he is progressing. It is a slow progression and if not for a Conn Smythe trophy on his mantle he probably would have been marked as a breakout candidate for 2009.
Patience in fantasy hockey is essential to future success, especially in a keeper league. Impetuous decisions can cost you future superstars and in turn make it difficult for you to maintain your success. Patience must enter into the equation when it involves Cam Ward. There have been plenty of times over the last 2-3 years where I wondered if he was a one year wonder, but I trusted my initial instincts and I believe it is beginning to pay off.
Ward registered the initial blip on my fantasy radar when he dominated the WHL for the Red Deer Rebels. I generally take junior success with a grain of salt as I have seen many goaltenders with zero NHL future light up the stat sheet. You need look no further back than Carey Price's final season and the goalies with better statistics. Tyson Sexsmith, Derek Yeomans, Taylor Dakers and Matt Keetley all had more productive seasons than the future Calder Cup MVP. So although Ward had entered my line of vision, I was not sold on his future potential.
During the 2005 lockout the only alternative to NHL hockey was poker, so I invested time in watching the AHL and Canadian Major Junior. A 27-17-3 pro debut for the Lock Monsters and a 1.99 GAA with a .937 SV% helped Cam Ward pass through my periphery and allowed me to tako note of him as a potential undervalued sleeper for the 2006 season.
When he made the Hurricanes early in the 2006 campaign I recommended a keeper stash and wait. He was less than impressive during the majority of his rookie year but had moments of brilliance, this inconsistency was to be expected from a 21 year old goaltender. When the playoffs began with the Canadiens up 2-0 on the Canes and Martin Gerber playing like Martin Gerber I feared a move to the streaky youngster. 4 games later and I was cursing the name Cam Ward. What followed next was one of the best performances by a rookie goaltender in Stanley Cup history as Ward lead a solid Hurricanes team to a Stanley Cup championship.
Now after personally watching Patrick Roy seriously regress in 1987 and 1988 I was prepared for the ups and downs that were sure to follow Ward. Ward suffered a Stanley Cup hangover in 2007 but has slowly improved over the last 3 seasons.
What has been impressive is that the Hurricanes seem to regress every season while Cam Ward improves. With early success has come great expectations for Ward, but his critics need to keep things in perspective. He is still only 24 years old and only 6 months older than Marc Andre Fleury, a player who the media has handled with kid gloves. When Fleury struggles the media questions whether the Pens brought him up to early, when he shows signs of living up to his potential they trumpet Fleury's arrival as an elite goalie. Ward has had nowhere to go but down from a fans perspective, but while opinion's have been lowered his performance has risen.
If Carolina can surround him with a championship calibre club he has the ability to join the fantasy elite. if you are a Ward owner, remain patient, he is progressing. It is a slow progression and if not for a Conn Smythe trophy on his mantle he probably would have been marked as a breakout candidate for 2009.
note: The Hurricanes placed goaltender Ward on injured reserve Sunday with a groin problem. It's unclear how long he'll be out.
With thanks to the Goalie Post. On to Tonight's games
With thanks to the Goalie Post. On to Tonight's games
Washington Capitals @ Carolina Hurricanes
J. Theodore - probable @ M. Leighton - probable
4,4,5,4,5 is either a full house in poker or what you get when you look at Jose Theodore's recent game logs. Sometimes it pays to be lucky as a GM, because if the Capitals had not won the 2004 Draft Lottery leapfrogging the Pens and the Hawks and McPhee had drafted Cam Barker or Andrew Ladd, he would not have been in charge to make the stupid decision to toss 4M + at Jose Theodore. This will not end well for the Caps.
Phoenix Coyotes @ Chicago Blackhawks
M. Telqvist - probable @ C. Crawford - probable
I am willing to bet that if Cristobal Huet took the money he stole from the Hawks and offered it to Coyotes owner Jerry Moyes that Cristobal Huet would be the new owner of the Phoenix Coyotes. But Jim Balsillie would not make a good owner in the NHL right Gary Bettman?
Calgary Flames @ NY Rangers
M. Kiprusoff - probable @ H. Lundqvist - probable
King Henrik has been less than stellar over the last 2-3 weeks sporting a 3.50 GAA. No need to panic, just mentioning it.
Vancouver Canucks @ Colorado Avalanche
When I look at the Colorado Avalanche I wonder if the fans view their goaltending like I view the Pixies (one of the greatest bands of all-time). I know they aren't what they were in 1990, but I would still rather place $75 on a ticket to watch a 300 lb Frank Black stagger around the stage in 2008 then watch Nickleback for free. You have to believe that the majority of Avs fans would rather watch all 280 lbs of Patrick Roy strap them on then be subject to the artist formerly known as Raycroft. I am right on this, I know I am.
Columbus Blue Jackets @ Anaheim Mighty Ducks
P. Leclaire - firm @ JS Giguere - probable
How come nobody mentions the Hitchcock effect when they talk about Pascal Leclaire. I mean they don't really believe that he just improved that much over one year do they? The only other explanation I can think of is that the pucks are scared of his face. You know you are ugly when I wouldn't switch places with you and you have my dream job and are rich.
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