The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
December 8, 2003


Story by: Eric Theis

Well, here we are at week 10, and the intrigue just gets better and better. I read many pre-season predictions about who would win what in the NHL this year - only one had the Toronto Maple Leafs finishing in first place atop the Eastern Conference, and none had the Flames, San Jose, Nashville or Atlanta in the playoff picture. So much for the experts. It is still a long way to April, but this week's GBU outlines some of those players who have helped their teams get into the hunt, and aided fantasy teams with key weekly contributions (yeah Shean Donovan!!!). There are also many teams seemingly ready to self-destruct - the resulting fallout potentially saturating the fantasy market with new blood, as teams look to cut salary, get younger, or simply change their chemistry. That's good though - mostly because it keeps people like me employed. Good luck this week, and look for the newest edition of the Fantasy Shopping List later this week.

The Good

Marc Savard 4 GP, 4 G, 4 A, 3 PPP, 2 PIM, -1
C - Atlanta Thrashers

The Thrashers currently sit atop the Southeast Conference due largely to their ability to score goals with great frequency - 88 in total, 2nd highest in the NHL. While much of the accolades have fallen onto the shoulders of phenom Ilya Kovalchuk, Savard has been integral to Atlanta's continued success. Consider that Savard's play has given Atlanta three legitimate scoring lines on the ice every night; teams do not have the ability to match up against the Kovalchuk line if it was the Thrashers' only offensive tool. As well, and of undoubtedly greater fantasy significance, Savard has a better point-per-game ratio than Kovalchuk - 1.26 versus 1.17. Let the buyer beware however: Atlanta may be at the top in offense, but they are at the bottom in defense, having allowed only 4 fewer goals then they have scored; hence why Savard can accumulate 8 points over a week, and yet still sit at a -1 when all is said and done.

Shean Donovan 4 GP, 6 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 3 GWG, 6 PIM, +6
RW - Calgary Flames

Who is this guy? A career journeyman in the NHL, who has never played above the 4th line on any of his 5 NHL teams, Donovan managed 6 goals last week (including a hat trick on Sunday night versus Pittsburgh). For those keeping track at home, that bested his goal totals from 4 of his 9 NHL seasons - in just one week! For those of you who read the signs and grabbed Donovan during his run, praise to you, but be cautioned. Donovan is on a 6 game point streak, which followed a 9 game pointless streak, which followed a two game point streak, which followed a 6 game pointless streak. Get the picture. Make sure he is on the waiver wire and not your team, when the next cold streak blows in.

Slava Kozlov 4 GP, 3 G, 4 A, 2 PPP, 1 GWG, Even
RW/LW - Atlanta Thrashers

As the only other Thrasher (after Kovalchuk and Savard) into double digits in goals, and only one of 4 Atlanta players with more than 20 points, Kozlov has clearly had an impact; for both his team and yours if he's on it. Once thought to be on his way out of hockey after some injury problems a few years back, Kozlov had a remarkable year last season (70 points). After a tentative dip into the free agent market, Kozlov re-signed with the Thrashers, and thus far has maintained the same scoring pace he posted last year. This is great news for fantasy leagues, as consistency, rather than talent has always been an issue for Kozlov.

Miikka Kiprusoff 4 GP, 4 W, 1.00 GAA, .957 SV%
G - Calgary Flames

Think Roman Turek is worried about having a job when he returns sometime in January? I would be. On a Calgary team that has not had its entire starting roster in a game lineup all season, Kiprusoff has been rock solid on the suddenly resurgent Flames. In fact, Kiprusoff is undefeated in regulation, since coming to Calgary from the San Jose Sharks: 6-0-1-1 in 7 games, having not allowed more than 1 goal in all but one start. Oh yeah, and his salary is $3,200,000 less a year, than Mr. Turek's. Logic has that Kiprusoff will continue to get the nod in net for Calgary, but remember that Kiprusoff has never played more than 22 games in a season, so keep an eye on him for signs of fatigue as the season rolls on.

Joe Nieuwendyk 3 GP, 3 G, 3 A, 3 PPP, 1 GWG, +1
C - Toronto Maple Leafs

Looks like the rest did Joe good. Since returning to the Leafs lineup for good on November 29th, Nieuwendyk has 8 points in 5 games, including 3 powerplay goals. He has looked particularly good when paired with the Sundin line, regularly going to the net and causing traffic for the opposition's defense. For sure Nieuwendyk has benefited from the stability of playing on the same line night in, night out, rather than the juggling that took place earlier on in the season. It certainly is reflected in his 0.82 points-per-game, his highest total since 98-99 with Dallas - the same year he amassed 28 goals, and oh yes, a Stanley Cup.

Ken Klee 3 GP, 0 G, 6 A, 3 PPP, 2 PIM, +5
D - Toronto Maple Leafs

Defensemen are a unique group within the hockey universe. While the rule generally follows that increased age = a gradual erosion of skills, defensemen seem to operate in the opposite fashion - experience lends itself to greater play and more awareness on the ice for these players. Ken Klee stands out in this regard. Considered the classic "stay-at-home" defenseman, Klee never compiled more than 20 points since he broke into the NHL in 1994. Through 28 games this season, Klee has 16 points, including 8 on the powerplay (almost triple his highest season total). Clearly a great deal of responsibility for Klee's offensive ascent, comes from playing for the Maple Leafs this season - he is receiving an average of 4.01 minutes of powerplay time this season, versus the 29 seconds per game he received in Washington last season. However Klee has reinvented his play to match the demands placed on him, something that is a product of the player, not just the team. The results: a potential career offensive year for Klee, and a great blue chip pick-up in your fantasy league.

Honourable Mentions

Mats Sundin 3 GP, 2G, 3 A, 2 PPP, 1 GWG, +2
C - Toronto Maple Leafs

Always a target from fans and media in Toronto for a perceived lack of leadership as Captain of the Maple Leafs, Sundin has finally silenced his critics. Mats has been the vanguard of the Buds' current 8 game win streak, leading the way both off the ice and on.

Daniel Alfredsson 4 GP, 3 G, 2 A, 3 PPP, +1
RW - Ottawa Senators

With his team noticeably sagging, Alfredsson has stepped up his game, recording points in 9 of Ottawa's last 10 games. He remains in the top 10 in the league in points, and will continue to provide the bulk of the Sens scoring this year.

Martin Prussek 4 GP, 3 W, 1 L , 1.00 GAA, .964 SV%, 1 SO
G - Ottawa Senators

True champion athletes always perform at a high level, in spite of circumstances surrounding them (think Derek Jeter for the Yankees). Whether the Sens backup is a champion athlete or not is debatable, but no one can doubt his accomplishments this week: a flu bug knocked Patrick Lalime out of a slumping Ottawa's lineup, only to have Prussek post 3 wins in his place (and just a few minutes away from 4). The only problem is that once Lalime is healthy, the starting job is his, meaning Prussek and his talents are back on the bench.

The Bad

Ed Jovanovski 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 2 PIM, -2
D - Vancouver Canucks

Jovo Cop is mired in a 7 game scoring drought, dating back to the Canucks' November 22nd meeting with the Maple Leafs. In that time, Vancouver has gone 2-3-2-0. A top 5 fantasy defenseman pick, Jovo is playing well below his ability level - you begin to wonder if something is hurting the big blueliner, something not new to a player who has missed a considerable number of games over his career as a result of injury. Nonetheless, if he is healthy, he'll rebound.

J.S. Giguere 2 GP, 0W, 2 L, 7.32 GAA, .827 SV%
G - Anaheim Mighty Ducks

The best thing that can be said about Giguere's week: at least he got some rest - J.S. was yanked in both of his two starts, after allowing 9 goals in 52 shots. The problem for Giguere owners is that his understudy, Martin Gerber, has outperformed him in his place, including a 32 save shutout against Dallas on Sunday night. It's quite possible that Giguere might get even more rest this week, as he could be relegated to backup duties in place of the hotter goalie in Gerber.

Jay Bouwmeister 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 2 PIM, -2
D - Florida Panthers

Everyone mentions what kind of player Bouwmeister will become in the future, and I agree with all of them. However, it might be some years beyond that until the young defenseman has a consistent fantasy impact. While Bouwmeister does get points in streaks, his team is average on the powerplay, and below average in goals scored and goals against. The result: 12 points and a -7 for the year thus far.

The Ugly

Felix Potvin 1 GP, 0 W, 1 L, 6.00 GAA, .793 SV%
G - Boston Bruins

The only thing keeping Potvin on the Bruins roster right now is the glut of goaltending in the NHL right now, meaning there are far more sellers than buyers, making it all but impossible to move a high-priced netminder. With one exception, the last time Potvin allowed less than 3 goals was back on October 30th. In that span, Potvin has posted a 3.83 GAA (4.60 if you exclude his shutout in Columbus), with only a single win to show for his efforts. Especially depressing was the 6 goal pounding Felix took at the hands of his old team, the Leafs, on Thursday (there were honestly times in that game where I thought Potvin was trying to get himself pulled, but no such luck). Andrew Raycroft has all but been declared the starter by Bruins Coach Mike Sullivan, which means that Potvin has about as much fantasy utility as a bag of wet hammers.

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