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The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
October 20, 2003
Story by: Eric Theis
Welcome back to this week's installment of The
Good, The Bad, and the Ugly, a weekly snapshot
into the week that was in the NHL. In order to
provide loyal readers with the most well rounded
product, I have added a "Honourable Mention"
section to the column. I felt there needed to
be a place for recognition of achievement in spite
of greater failure, that doesn't quite seem to
fit in the top bracket of the ratings. Also I
never won anything as a hockey player, so this
section fills me with a sense of familiarity,
where those who try their best get recognized
too. Anyway here we go:
The Good
Ilya Kovalchuk 3 GP, 3 G, 1 A, 3 PPP (19 SOG),
-1
"If only the Atlanta Thrashers could always
be on the power play" is a sentiment being
repeated by all Ilya Kovalchuk owners so far this
season. Since the lost of Thrashers forward Dany
Heatley to injury, Kovalchuk has assumed quarterbacking
duties at the point anytime Atlanta has the man
advantage. The result? Well there have been nights
like Saturday vs. Chicago, when Kovalchuk came
away with a hat trick; all three goals being scored
with Chicago down a man. There will also be nights
when Kovalchuk and company give up some shorthanded
goals to the opposition, especially with the young
Russian still finding his legs in his new role.
However you cannot argue with results: Kovalchuk
has 4 PPP in 5 total games, with more surely to
come. Be prepared for the correspondingly high
plus/minus though.
Marian Hossa 3 GP, 3 G, 1 A, 1 PPP (10 SOG),
2 PIM, +1
You knew it was just a matter of time didn't
you. Without a goal to show for his efforts in
the first week of the season, many wondered if
the 45 goals Hossa accumulated last season was
an aberration or not. To answer his critics, Hossa
lit the lamp in consecutive games against Anaheim
and San Jose. Without a doubt you can expect more
of the same in following weeks. This is a very
good Senators team, with a dangerous power play
- and Hossa has yet to score with the man advantage.
Something to work on for next week I'm sure.
Lubomir Visnovsky 2 GP, 1 G, 3 A, 3 PPP (4 SOG),
-1
I mention Visnovsky here for several reasons.
First and foremost, he had a great week overall,
providing key points for a Kings team still missing
its two top scoring forwards. Secondly, and of
most interest to fantasy managers is the fact
that Visnovsky is a defenseman in a league bereft
of depth on the blueline (magnified by the loss
of fantasy stud Derian Hatcher earlier this week).
Is he the second coming of Ray Borque? History
says no: Visnovsky's career high for points was
39 in his rookie campaign in 00-01 (7 G, 32 A,
+ 16), and a potential breakout season last year
was marred by injury, limiting the 27 year old
to only 57 games played. This year might be different.
Visnovsky has had his ice time increased this
year, and is seeing more and more time at the
point on the Kings power play, currently ranked
9th in the NHL. The result so far has been a six-point
effort, placing Visnovsky in a tie for 1st in
scoring amongst all NHL defensemen. If he can
stay healthy all season, Visnovsky could have
a significant fantasy impact this year. Keep your
eye on him if you are in need on the blue line.
Honourable Mention:
Todd Marchant 3 GP, 2 G, 3 A, 2 PPP, 1 GWG (9
SOG), 2 PIM, +1
The good news: Marchant has been excellent for
Columbus so far. The bad news: the teams Columbus
has faced so far are a combined 10 - 10 -5. Expect
Marchant to return to earth as the opposition
improves.
Mike Dunham 2 GP, 0 W, 0 L, 2 T, 2 GA, .967 SV%,
1 SO
It is going to be a very long season for Mike
Dunham. In two straight outings, New York Rangers
netminder was brilliant, earning two ties and
a shutout behind an otherwise dreadful Rangers
team that could only manage two goals in both
games combined. Can you still qualify for the
Vezina Trophy if your team record is 0 - 28 -
54 - 0, but you sport a 2.22 GA, and a .913 SV%
in goal? So far, the Rangers seem ready to do
their part for Dunham; the question is whether
Dunham has the staying power to keep his end of
the bargain.
The Bad
Owen Nolan 3 GP, 0 G, 0 A (3 SOG), 0 PIM, -1
I know, I know, this is two weeks in a row that
I have singled out a Maple Leaf player for this
dubious distinction. However something is not
right with the former Sharks captain. There are
always reasons to explain a sudden lack of success
from an otherwise elite player: a clash with management,
an inability to adjust to a new team or city,
or a lack of surrounding talent. Yet none of these
seem to fit as justification for Nolan's current
scoring drought. The only remaining possibility
is that Nolan's back is more of an impediment
then he or the Leafs would have us believe. This
rationale makes more sense if you look at Owen's
penalty minutes: none so far this season. Nolan,
like other big power forwards, utilizes his size
and strength to outfight for position in front
of the net, or to come up with the puck in the
corner. This kind of game usually results in 90
- 100 PIM per year, yet Nolan has yet to spend
alone time in the penalty box. Be wary of his
play over the next few games; if this trend continues,
expect IR time for Nolan, or worse.
Derian Hatcher 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A (1 SOG), 0 PIM,
-1
For all of those who believe that Sabermetrics
(the mathematical and statistical analysis of
baseball) has equal value for hockey, here is
and equation for you:
One $4,200,000-a-season deal + 3 GP = One ACL
tear, with a 4 - 6 month vacation in rehab.
Nuff said.
The Ugly
Anson Carter 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A (1 SOG), 2 PIM, Even
Representing the best of the worst this week
is New York Rangers forward Anson Carter. Carter,
lined up alongside talented veterans Eric Lindros
and Martin Rucinsky this season, managed just
one shot in SEVEN, count them, SEVEN periods of
hockey last week (including 4:18 on the power
play). Not that is linemates have overachieved
in spite of him (tallying just a single point
through 4 games), but Carter simply isn't this
bad. Remember that Carter has posted back to back
60 point campaigns from 2001-2003, and neither
he, Coach and GM Glen Sather, nor what few fans
the Rangers still call their own can be happy
with the product as displayed by the former Oiler
thus far. Maybe it is just another case of the
intangible adversity that seems to come from playing
for the Rangers, but Carter needs to step it up
before his $2,400,000 salary becomes to large
a price to pay for zero production.
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