With the departure of Jay Bouwmeester the Florida Panthers will once again be on the outside looking in. How long would it take to put together this expert opinion? 5 seconds? 10? Why is it that every season magazines predict the next years standing on variables that happened the season before? Nobody has the testicular fortitude to project internal improvement. Instead the easy way to determine things is to look at the free agents who signed/left of course. Bouwmeester gone, Florida worse, no playoffs.Nevermind that Peter Doboer has only missed the playoffs ONCE in his head coaching career (last season when they tied for 8th and lost the tiebreaker), that the Panthers have emerging talents in Frolik, Booth, Horton and Ballard, or that their coach has been a defensive success yearly. They can't possibly have a chance without a player who only made the playoffs once since he was sixteen.
I will paddle out to the island on my own, because I like the Panthers to make the playoffs in 2010.
Peter Doboer has exactly the type of resume you are looking for when searching for a fantasy edge. Last season when I was looking into Craig Anderson's dramatic rise, I looked into Doboer's history and discovered a coach who had led the league in defense 4 of the last 10 years and registered a top 5 finish in 8 of those seasons. Needless to say, my first recommendation was to pick up Vokoun.
Peter Doboer has exactly the type of resume you are looking for when searching for a fantasy edge. Last season when I was looking into Craig Anderson's dramatic rise, I looked into Doboer's history and discovered a coach who had led the league in defense 4 of the last 10 years and registered a top 5 finish in 8 of those seasons. Needless to say, my first recommendation was to pick up Vokoun.In a keeper league, the name Jacob Markstrom should be an immediate add. The top rated junior goaltender combined with a defensive minded coach could lead to the next Price/Mason/Rask. Even with the loss of Bouwmeester, the Panthers should adjust and allow Vokoun the insulation he requires to remain at the top of the league. His history also provides no reason to be concerned about the offensive output of the Panthers emerging offensive stars.
Tomas Vokoun has been one of the most consistent fantasy goaltenders over the last five seasons. Since 2003, Vokoun has averaged 30 wins, a 2.50 GAA, .917 SV% and 4 shutouts. Yet every season he is usually the 9th or 10th goaltender drafted. Vokoun finished the 2009 season as the number two goaltender overall in the fantasysense efficiency rankings, on the strength of a blazing middle two quarters. Between Dec 21st and Feb 21st he registered a 14-7-2 record with a 2.06 GAA and a .937 SV%. He is still only 33 years old and with Anderson gone will continue to be a workhorse, with Doboer's system maturation, expect a big season from Vokoun in 2010. (note. How fitting is it that with Vokoun's NHL success, Microsoft Word's spell check mistakes his name for Vacuum? Almost as fitting as Emery coming up as Ebony and Osgood coming up as Shit)
Michael Frolik (aka Baby Jagr) had a very impressive rookie campaign that strangely fell of the radar. Making the jump direct from Rimouski of the QMJHL, Frolik took 20 games before adjusting to the NHL. After a slow first quarter where he only produced 4 points, Frolik 's ascension coincided with Nathan Horton's injury and he was able to maintain a 59 pt pace to finish out the season, no small feat for a 20 year old. Frolik has the ability to play a power game as well as the hands and vision to execute like a finesse player. His defensive commitment and his and work ethic insure future success and he looks like a future offensive catalyst for the Panthers.
Nathan Horton is the posterboy for fantasy frustration, but is an example of how long power forwards can take to round into dominant form. It is amazing to think that Horton is in his 6th NHL season and is still only 24 years old. A yearly inclusion on the fantasy breakout list, Horton suffered several nagging injuries that helped derail his 2009 campaign. Horton has elite finishing skills and is unstoppable when he commits to the power game, but his intensity and lack of defensive commitment render him invisible at times. One wonders if the switch will ever go on, but his tantalizing skillset should buy him another season or two from fantasy owners willing to gamble.
David Booth enjoyed a breakout season in 2009 with 31 goals despite missing 10 games. Looking at his splits his inconsistency becomes apparent. He was extremely streaky and there is no better indication of that then his 2 goals and 3 assists on the final night of the regular season. His inconsistency is surprising given his tenacious work ethic and willingness to head to the dirty areas of the ice. Booth is a solid mid-round selection who may have another gear.
Re-united with his junior coach, Stephen Weiss enjoyed his best professional season, registering a career high in points and games played. Weiss is a creative playmaker, but has suffered durability issues because he is undersized, his lack of size and strength can also lead to him being taken advantage of defensively. Weiss is till relatively young at 26 and improved offensively as the year progressed. Because of his injury history and the glut of available 50-60 pt centers, I would stay away. Although not a terrible late add in a deep league because of his offensive upside.
If scoring in your own net and defensive zone turnovers were fantasy categories, McCabe would be a fantasy superstar, unfortunately his greatest value lies in his blistering slapshot (a weapon that saw him added to the 2006 Olympic team. In retrospect, is it a shock that Canada didn't win?). In leagues that value goals over assists, McCabe is a strong fantasy weapon as he has produced 15+ goals in 5 of the last 7 seasons. Ignore the Toronto centric baggage, outside of +/- his defensive inadequacies are irrelevant in fantasy, he remains a powerplay horse and with the departure of Bouwmeester his patented one-timer could result in a 50-point campaign.
Keith Ballard looked to be on his way to a breakout campaign as he led the Panthers in scoring with 10 pts in his first 10 games. With the return of McCabe to the first unit powerplay, his production dried up. Ballard does possess a strong offensive skill set as well as a bullet point shot, although it is as inaccurate as a movie villain's machine gun. He is a solid puckmover, but lacks imagination. With the departure of Bouwmeester, he is likely to see more ice-time and the likely return to the 40 pt mark.
Stillman is a great example of the importance of position in determining how valuable a player is. He looks at times like he is skating around with a giant fork in his back, but a 63 pt campaign (his 2009 point per game pace) would have provided a top 15 finish among left wingers in 2009. Stillman is still an intelligent playmaker that has continued to remain productive through hard work and capitalizing on his opportunities. Even during his prime he could always be had at a discount, after an injury-plagued season he once again could be had late in a draft. Productive left-wingers in fantasy are as rare as a gracefully aging pornstar, for that reason alone he maintains fantasy value.
Tomas Vokoun has been one of the most consistent fantasy goaltenders over the last five seasons. Since 2003, Vokoun has averaged 30 wins, a 2.50 GAA, .917 SV% and 4 shutouts. Yet every season he is usually the 9th or 10th goaltender drafted. Vokoun finished the 2009 season as the number two goaltender overall in the fantasysense efficiency rankings, on the strength of a blazing middle two quarters. Between Dec 21st and Feb 21st he registered a 14-7-2 record with a 2.06 GAA and a .937 SV%. He is still only 33 years old and with Anderson gone will continue to be a workhorse, with Doboer's system maturation, expect a big season from Vokoun in 2010. (note. How fitting is it that with Vokoun's NHL success, Microsoft Word's spell check mistakes his name for Vacuum? Almost as fitting as Emery coming up as Ebony and Osgood coming up as Shit)
Michael Frolik (aka Baby Jagr) had a very impressive rookie campaign that strangely fell of the radar. Making the jump direct from Rimouski of the QMJHL, Frolik took 20 games before adjusting to the NHL. After a slow first quarter where he only produced 4 points, Frolik 's ascension coincided with Nathan Horton's injury and he was able to maintain a 59 pt pace to finish out the season, no small feat for a 20 year old. Frolik has the ability to play a power game as well as the hands and vision to execute like a finesse player. His defensive commitment and his and work ethic insure future success and he looks like a future offensive catalyst for the Panthers.
Nathan Horton is the posterboy for fantasy frustration, but is an example of how long power forwards can take to round into dominant form. It is amazing to think that Horton is in his 6th NHL season and is still only 24 years old. A yearly inclusion on the fantasy breakout list, Horton suffered several nagging injuries that helped derail his 2009 campaign. Horton has elite finishing skills and is unstoppable when he commits to the power game, but his intensity and lack of defensive commitment render him invisible at times. One wonders if the switch will ever go on, but his tantalizing skillset should buy him another season or two from fantasy owners willing to gamble.
David Booth enjoyed a breakout season in 2009 with 31 goals despite missing 10 games. Looking at his splits his inconsistency becomes apparent. He was extremely streaky and there is no better indication of that then his 2 goals and 3 assists on the final night of the regular season. His inconsistency is surprising given his tenacious work ethic and willingness to head to the dirty areas of the ice. Booth is a solid mid-round selection who may have another gear.
Re-united with his junior coach, Stephen Weiss enjoyed his best professional season, registering a career high in points and games played. Weiss is a creative playmaker, but has suffered durability issues because he is undersized, his lack of size and strength can also lead to him being taken advantage of defensively. Weiss is till relatively young at 26 and improved offensively as the year progressed. Because of his injury history and the glut of available 50-60 pt centers, I would stay away. Although not a terrible late add in a deep league because of his offensive upside.
If scoring in your own net and defensive zone turnovers were fantasy categories, McCabe would be a fantasy superstar, unfortunately his greatest value lies in his blistering slapshot (a weapon that saw him added to the 2006 Olympic team. In retrospect, is it a shock that Canada didn't win?). In leagues that value goals over assists, McCabe is a strong fantasy weapon as he has produced 15+ goals in 5 of the last 7 seasons. Ignore the Toronto centric baggage, outside of +/- his defensive inadequacies are irrelevant in fantasy, he remains a powerplay horse and with the departure of Bouwmeester his patented one-timer could result in a 50-point campaign.
Keith Ballard looked to be on his way to a breakout campaign as he led the Panthers in scoring with 10 pts in his first 10 games. With the return of McCabe to the first unit powerplay, his production dried up. Ballard does possess a strong offensive skill set as well as a bullet point shot, although it is as inaccurate as a movie villain's machine gun. He is a solid puckmover, but lacks imagination. With the departure of Bouwmeester, he is likely to see more ice-time and the likely return to the 40 pt mark.
Stillman is a great example of the importance of position in determining how valuable a player is. He looks at times like he is skating around with a giant fork in his back, but a 63 pt campaign (his 2009 point per game pace) would have provided a top 15 finish among left wingers in 2009. Stillman is still an intelligent playmaker that has continued to remain productive through hard work and capitalizing on his opportunities. Even during his prime he could always be had at a discount, after an injury-plagued season he once again could be had late in a draft. Productive left-wingers in fantasy are as rare as a gracefully aging pornstar, for that reason alone he maintains fantasy value.
If you are looking at a team capable of making the leap "out of nowhere", sorry, I am paraphrasing James Duthie from a TSN broadcast in 2011, then look no further than the Florida Panthers. It makes me wonder if Jacques Martin was drunk when he took the call from Bob Gainey. The Panthers have elite young talent at the NHL level, a hungry talented coach and two of the best prospects in the game in Markstrom and Kulikov. Things are really looking up for the future Quebec Nordiques.
Markström was on his way to the SEL's rookie of the year as he was dominant leading in to the 2009 World Juniors. He dominated the Juniors posting a 4-1 record with a 1.61 GAA and a .943 SV%, but a sore knee hampered his second half, allowing Victor Hedam to win the SEL rookie of the year. Markström is a large, skilled goaltender with great mental strength and a calm demeanor. He is a strong positionally sound butterfly goaltender with great agility and the patience to not commit to the ice early. He still needs to work on his rebound control and economy of movement, but if he continues his current rate of progression, he projects out as an NHL star.
After a dominant playoff for Drummondville, I was surprised that Kulikov fell to the Panthers at 14. During his North American debut, Kulikov won the Q award for best defenseman, top rookie and the best pro-prospect. Kulikov possesses superb hockey sense and when his aggression is added to his elite offensive skills he has the potential to be a fantasy beast. With his aggression comes his gambling nature, but as he matures his intelligence should be able to decipher the proper risks. As he gains strength he will be more prepared to deal with net clearing and coverage down low. He has All-Star in his future and Markov/Zubov potential.
Shawn Matthias is a big, strong forward who had unrealistic expectations thrust upon him due to the hyperbolic mouth of Pierre McGuire. Matthias entered the AHL after a dominant final OHL season and a dominant World Juniors and has failed to live up to the hype, becoming the target of disenchanted Rochester fans. He has excellent agility for a man his size, but lacks explosiveness in his skating stride. He likes to carry the puck and dictate the play, but he has had a tendency to play on the selfish side. Like all young power forwards, he is unpolished at this stage of his career and remains a project fantasy pick.
Michal Repik is a small shifty skater with strong acceleration, anticipation and creative puck skills. He had a strong rookie campaign in Rochester leading the Americans in scoring with a modest 49 pts. He does not lack the courage to work in the dirty areas and his intelligent approach allows him to position his body to maximize his size. A speed demon whose future lies on the top two lines in the NHL.
Dadonov is an elusive forward who can skate and dangle with the best of them. Like all KHL prospects, he remains somewhat of a question mark, but the 5'10, 178 lbs winger should be able to compete for a job when he gives up the Borscht and Vodka for Big Macs and Budweiser.
1 comments:
I LITERALLY laughed out loud when I read the 'Osgood coming up as shit' part.
Well done :)
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