October 17, 2005
Striking Gold – Thanks to Linemates
By Darryl Dobbs, TheFourthPeriod.com
Heading into Sunday's matches, the NHL scoring parade was headed by Simon Gagne and Peter Forsberg of the Philadelphia Flyers. Gagne has seven goals and three assists, and Forsberg has ten assists. The two play on the same line together, and this is quite clear when you look at the fact that Forsberg has assisted on all seven of Gagne's goals.
While two points per game is a little much to expect from any player over the course of an entire season, you can nevertheless expect a strong performance out of these two.
Health permitting, Forsberg will take a run at the scoring title, while Gagne can transform himself from a 65-point guy to an 80+ point guy and possible top ten NHL scorer. He can thank Forsberg.
So who will win the lottery in Philadelphia? By that I mean – who gets to play on the right side of this line?
Eighty-two games playing with these two would give a defensive specialist at least 50-points. Someone with any kind of offensive talent would garner 65 or more.
So far this year, the winner has been Mike Knuble, and he has four points in five games. Possible candidates down the road could be Patrick Sharp, Brian Savage, or possibly moving Jeff Carter to the wing (a move that was tried in pre-season with poor results).
For now, Knuble is a cheap fantasy pickup, and he'll continue to get the points. He's won this type of lottery before, by the way – he played with Joe Thornton while in Boston and had a career year.
Meanwhile...
...New Jersey's Scott Gomez has just two points (neither of them goals) and is a minus-5 in five games so far. He is traditionally a slow starter, compounded by the fact that Patrick Elias is on the shelf (looking at Christmas at the very earliest for a return) and Alexander Mogilny's wonky hip. If there are better options out there for you, take it, and come back to Gomez again around game 25 or 30...
...Marcel Hossa is only playing 13-minutes a game in New York, but he has five points in six games...
...Owners that have this guy should be a little concerned – Mike Comrie has no goals and two assists in six games and is a minus-6. Coach Wayne Gretzky won't put up with that for much longer. Watch is ice time drop if he doesn't turn things around by game nine or ten.
Oct. 10, 2005 - A Surprise Fantasy Asset
Oct. 03, 2005 - Last of the Late Picks to Put You Over the Top
Sept. 26, 2005 - More Late Picks to Put You Over the Top
Sept. 19, 2005 - Late Picks to Make or Break Your Pool Team
Dobber's Fantasy Tips
exclusively appear Monday's at TheFourthPeriod.com.
Comments/Concerns/Criticisms/Compliments: rotohockey@rogers.com
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