The Broad Street Bullies are back and will not only contend for the Stanley Cup, but also provide the fantasy world with ten legit impact fantasy players.Ray Emery will be well insulated with Pronger and Coburn clearing the front of the net and should put up strong fantasy numbers, but another Cechmanek like meltdown is likely. As teams become more evenly matched, goaltending becomes a bigger factor and Emery although capable, is not a huge upgrade on Biron. The Flyers achilles heel has been their goaltending since the days of Bernie Parent and it will continue to be in 2010.
I believe it is safe to say that John Stevens is not a defensive guru as he has failed to produce any elite goaltenders in his three years of NHL service. He has shown the ability to maximize the talent he has been provided. When provided with great offensive talent, he loosens the reigns, when he has the defensive horses his teams have shown the ability to shut things down.
I believe it is safe to say that John Stevens is not a defensive guru as he has failed to produce any elite goaltenders in his three years of NHL service. He has shown the ability to maximize the talent he has been provided. When provided with great offensive talent, he loosens the reigns, when he has the defensive horses his teams have shown the ability to shut things down.Entering 2010 with a bevy of skilled offensive players to compliment a pair of defensive monsters (Pronger, Coburn) on the defensive end, I would be shocked if Stevens had a negative coaching impact.
Nobody represents the conservative nature of predictions better than Jeff Carter. Entering the 2008-09 season coming off a career best 53-point season, the Score Forecaster went out on a limb and predicted Carter would finish with 52 pts. McKeen's hockey was even more aggressive calling for an improvement of 5 pts to 58! Why couldn't I find this in the first 70 pages of their guide? Better to miss low and claim ignorance, then to miss high and have you remember it. Carter is one of the elite young goal scorers in the game and another assault on 50 goals is realistic.
Plenty of owners are wary of Richards entering 2010 because of off-season surgery to repair torn labrums in both shoulders. If anybody can battle through the pain, it is Mike Richards. Richards still managed to produce 80 pts in 2009 nursing numerous injuries. Richards strong two-way play and competitive nature make him one of the most productive rotisserie players in the NHL, as he finished last season 13th overall in the final fantasysense/dobber rankings. I don't expect much of a regression if any.
It is easy to look at Simon Gagne's progression charts and see a player who has significantly regressed since 2005-06, but I think his breakout season was a glimpse into the future that arrived early because of the brilliance of Peter Forsberg. Gagne's decision making, puck carrying and patience have improved allowing him to become less dependent on teammates and more dangerous on his own. He has had some injury concerns over the last couple of seasons (concussion and hip), but remains a dynamic offensive force. With an abundance of PP weapons in the Flyers arsenal, Gagne may be able to match his Forsberg numbers on his own. Now if only we can get him to wear this Lindros endorsed helmet his concussion issues will be a thing of the past.
Chris Pronger was born to wear a Flyers jersey. He is mean, nasty and the dirtiest player in the NHL, Philly fans are going to love him. Pronger is valuable as he provides the powerplay with a heavy low shot that will create opportunities for the talented Philly forward, as well as the way he flawlessly handles pressure to begin the transition game. He is no longer the offensive horse of 2007, but at 35 is still capable of a five-category impact. His presence on the Flyers defense will also make Ray Emery a valuable fantasy option.
Was it so much to ask the Flyers to demand that Ray Emery wear jersey number 27? Would anybody have complained if Ron Hextall adorned the sides of his mask? Can somebody make this happen? Emery is an intense, athletic hybrid goaltender whose aggression and impatience make him prone to overpursue. His 2010 campaign has wonderbra effect written all over it. He is a system goaltender who is going to put up big numbers with Pronger and Coburn clearing the crease during the regular season, but unfortunately wonderbra's contain a clasp at the back and when it is undone in the playoffs, Emery will sag like a cougar.
I don't know if I have ever seen a player who has produced 192 pts over his last 185 games be drafted in the last three rounds of a fantasy draft. Once again Briere is not a victim of his actual production, but his perceived value. Since 2006 Briere at worst has hugged the point per game line, but the expectations that were thrust upon him in Philly have devalued his stock. With is ability to play on the wing and the expectation of first unit powerplay minutes, Briere should bounce back from an injury-plagued season to provide light sleeper value.
Scott Hartnell is the fantasy equivalent to the fat chick at the bar that is surrounded by 5-6 supermodel friends. After all 6 of the models are off the board and you are disappointed to be left with the fat chick, you realize she was only fat in relation to her model friends. Hartnell doesn't dominate any category, but his combined contribution in all six categories landed him a top 30 roto finish. As long as he plays with Jeff Carter and is able to produce offensively, his erratic temper and lack of discipline will make him a PIM horse and maintain his roto value. So next time you are at the bar, give the big girl some love.
Timmonen has been one of fantasy's most reliable defenders, producing seven consecutive 40+ pt seasons. He is exceptionally mobile and is equally adept at slicing up a defense through transition passes and carrying the puck. He compensates for a lack of size with anticipation, positioning and a strong compete level. Although he is no longer the number one defenseman on the Flyers, Timmonen will likely be paired with Pronger and continue to quarterback the Flyers potentially deadly powerplay. The potential is there for a production bump in 2010.
Although Giroux did not break camp with the Flyers in the fall, he dominated the AHL leading the league in scoring before showing flashes of his 90+ pt potential when he was called up to the NHL in December. His special playmaking talents, vision, quickness and surprising resilience were on full display in the 2009 playoffs as the rookie led the Flyers in scoring. Giroux could put up big numbers immediately if he can get away from Aaron Asham and Darryl Powe, but with a lineup top heavy in elite offensive talent, Giroux will have to wait until the Flyers unload Briere's albatross of a contract.
Van Riemsdyk has all the tools to be one of the best power forwards in the NHL. He is a strong playmaker with sneaky 1 on 1 ability, he possesses a quick, heavy release and his anticipation and quickness allow for him to create space for himself and others. He should be a lock for a 90+ point season in his future when he gains some strength, endurance and shows the ability to fight through inconsistent efforts. Generally I am scared off by the word inconsistency, but he isn't Pavel Brendl and his TUP (tremendous upside potential) is to enticing to pass up. He should show flashes of brilliance in his initial NHL foray, but don't expect a large fantasy impact until at least 2011.
Nobody represents the conservative nature of predictions better than Jeff Carter. Entering the 2008-09 season coming off a career best 53-point season, the Score Forecaster went out on a limb and predicted Carter would finish with 52 pts. McKeen's hockey was even more aggressive calling for an improvement of 5 pts to 58! Why couldn't I find this in the first 70 pages of their guide? Better to miss low and claim ignorance, then to miss high and have you remember it. Carter is one of the elite young goal scorers in the game and another assault on 50 goals is realistic.
Plenty of owners are wary of Richards entering 2010 because of off-season surgery to repair torn labrums in both shoulders. If anybody can battle through the pain, it is Mike Richards. Richards still managed to produce 80 pts in 2009 nursing numerous injuries. Richards strong two-way play and competitive nature make him one of the most productive rotisserie players in the NHL, as he finished last season 13th overall in the final fantasysense/dobber rankings. I don't expect much of a regression if any.
It is easy to look at Simon Gagne's progression charts and see a player who has significantly regressed since 2005-06, but I think his breakout season was a glimpse into the future that arrived early because of the brilliance of Peter Forsberg. Gagne's decision making, puck carrying and patience have improved allowing him to become less dependent on teammates and more dangerous on his own. He has had some injury concerns over the last couple of seasons (concussion and hip), but remains a dynamic offensive force. With an abundance of PP weapons in the Flyers arsenal, Gagne may be able to match his Forsberg numbers on his own. Now if only we can get him to wear this Lindros endorsed helmet his concussion issues will be a thing of the past.
Chris Pronger was born to wear a Flyers jersey. He is mean, nasty and the dirtiest player in the NHL, Philly fans are going to love him. Pronger is valuable as he provides the powerplay with a heavy low shot that will create opportunities for the talented Philly forward, as well as the way he flawlessly handles pressure to begin the transition game. He is no longer the offensive horse of 2007, but at 35 is still capable of a five-category impact. His presence on the Flyers defense will also make Ray Emery a valuable fantasy option.
Was it so much to ask the Flyers to demand that Ray Emery wear jersey number 27? Would anybody have complained if Ron Hextall adorned the sides of his mask? Can somebody make this happen? Emery is an intense, athletic hybrid goaltender whose aggression and impatience make him prone to overpursue. His 2010 campaign has wonderbra effect written all over it. He is a system goaltender who is going to put up big numbers with Pronger and Coburn clearing the crease during the regular season, but unfortunately wonderbra's contain a clasp at the back and when it is undone in the playoffs, Emery will sag like a cougar.
I don't know if I have ever seen a player who has produced 192 pts over his last 185 games be drafted in the last three rounds of a fantasy draft. Once again Briere is not a victim of his actual production, but his perceived value. Since 2006 Briere at worst has hugged the point per game line, but the expectations that were thrust upon him in Philly have devalued his stock. With is ability to play on the wing and the expectation of first unit powerplay minutes, Briere should bounce back from an injury-plagued season to provide light sleeper value.
Scott Hartnell is the fantasy equivalent to the fat chick at the bar that is surrounded by 5-6 supermodel friends. After all 6 of the models are off the board and you are disappointed to be left with the fat chick, you realize she was only fat in relation to her model friends. Hartnell doesn't dominate any category, but his combined contribution in all six categories landed him a top 30 roto finish. As long as he plays with Jeff Carter and is able to produce offensively, his erratic temper and lack of discipline will make him a PIM horse and maintain his roto value. So next time you are at the bar, give the big girl some love.
Timmonen has been one of fantasy's most reliable defenders, producing seven consecutive 40+ pt seasons. He is exceptionally mobile and is equally adept at slicing up a defense through transition passes and carrying the puck. He compensates for a lack of size with anticipation, positioning and a strong compete level. Although he is no longer the number one defenseman on the Flyers, Timmonen will likely be paired with Pronger and continue to quarterback the Flyers potentially deadly powerplay. The potential is there for a production bump in 2010.
Although Giroux did not break camp with the Flyers in the fall, he dominated the AHL leading the league in scoring before showing flashes of his 90+ pt potential when he was called up to the NHL in December. His special playmaking talents, vision, quickness and surprising resilience were on full display in the 2009 playoffs as the rookie led the Flyers in scoring. Giroux could put up big numbers immediately if he can get away from Aaron Asham and Darryl Powe, but with a lineup top heavy in elite offensive talent, Giroux will have to wait until the Flyers unload Briere's albatross of a contract.
Van Riemsdyk has all the tools to be one of the best power forwards in the NHL. He is a strong playmaker with sneaky 1 on 1 ability, he possesses a quick, heavy release and his anticipation and quickness allow for him to create space for himself and others. He should be a lock for a 90+ point season in his future when he gains some strength, endurance and shows the ability to fight through inconsistent efforts. Generally I am scared off by the word inconsistency, but he isn't Pavel Brendl and his TUP (tremendous upside potential) is to enticing to pass up. He should show flashes of brilliance in his initial NHL foray, but don't expect a large fantasy impact until at least 2011.
The Flyers prospect rankings have been impacted by the graduation of Claude Giroux and James Van Riemsdyk to the NHL. Without the two fantasy studs, the Philadelphia system has plenty of mid-level prospects who may or may not impact the fantasy world. One bright spot for the Flyers is the emergence of Swedish goaltender Joacim Eriksson, with their cap issues he could provide cap relief in a couple of seasons.
Coming off the 2007-08 season where he won the Emile Bouchard trophy as the Q's best defenseman, Marc-Andre Bourdon enjoyed an even better 2008-09 campaign earning a QMJHL first all-star selection and producing a career high 60 pts in 54 games. The 6'0, 206 lbs rearguard is a workhorse who excels in the puck possession game and does not chafe under forechecking pressure, allowing him to intelligently start the transition game. He has work to do on his skating ability and is vulnerable to speed on the outside, but could develop into an All-Star in the best-case scenario.
Eriksson was recently ranked as the second best Swedish born goaltender born in 1990, after Jacob Markström. Eriksson is a skilled goaltender with decent size, quick reflexes and resiliency. He led the Swedish U20 league in GAA and save percentage, as he backstopped Brynas Gavle to the league title. Eriksson is a classic butterfly goaltender with good size and will be best served to stay in Sweden so he can be grossly overrated over the next 2-3 years.
Andreas Nodl has a strong offensive package that uses his powerful stride to create havoc down the wing. His pucks skills when paired with his release and his ability to create space make him an intriguing fantasy prospect. As his defensive game and compete level improve, he should be able to maintain a job on the second line. If he does, the surrounding talent could raise his game to an unexpected level.
Maroon is your prototypical power forward project. A 6'4", 225 lb monster that suffers from a suspect skating stride and conditioning issues. Keep an eye on him as he adjusts to the pro game. If he continues his AHL success (23 goals in his rookie season) he will get an NHL look. He remains a project, and like all projects his impact will not be felt for years to come.
Bertilsson is a smart, skilled and mobile defenseman with strong hockey sense. Bertilsson contributes at both ends, but has a tendency to gamble. He doesn't have an overwhelming fantasy future, but he should become a solid all-around player.
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