Fantasy Hockey Tweet-Off - Nov. 2009

by Cam Collingwood on Nov 24, 2009 9:07 PM EST

We asked the experts eight questions and their answers couldn't be longer than a tweet... aka the Fantasy Hockey Tweet Off.

We welcome Just Fantasy Hockey to the fold. They join Fantasy Hockey 911, Fantasy Sense and Fantasy Hockey Coach on our expert panel. Give them a look... they all offer some great fantasy advice.

This is our 2nd tweet-off, if you're interested what our experts had to say after the beginning of the season check out the October edition.

Now on to the show...


FANTASY HART (so far)	ANZE KOPITAR It took a mental start (14+19=33 in 24 GP) and an injury to Ovie to get Anze the Hart.	RYAN MILLER His stats through Nov 24 projected out over 65 starts: 46-11-8, 1.97 GAA, .932 SV% and 8 shutouts	ANZE KOPITAR All Hail the King, who is dominating the ice this season.	ANZE KOPITAR Fantasy is all about return on investment and owners have to be thrilled with Kopitar’s breakthrough. He has slowed of late but has earned the Hart so far.	SIDNEY CROSBY Despite being right around a point per game, Crosby has 35 PIM’s, 3 GWG, over 80 SOG & no one is close in face off wins. Sid is the complete package in what could appear as subtle form.
FANTASY VEZINA (so far)	RYAN MILLER T2nd in Wins, 2nd in SV% and 1st in GAA. We'd buy that for a dollar... unfortunately he costs a lot more than a dollar in auctions.	RYAN MILLER He’s on fire! For those who grew up in Southern Ontario in the 1980s, the Buffalo fire jokes never get old.	RYAN MILLER Check out his stats they are simply outstanding.	RYAN MILLER Just look at the numbers: 12 wins, 2 SO, 1.97 GAA and SV% of .931. Miller has been dominate so far, getting minimal offensive support.	EVGENI NABOKOV Nabby is 14-3-0 with a .926 SV% and a 2.19 GAA. He could approach an NHL record 50 wins on this Sharks powerhouse.
FANTASY NORRIS (so far)	CHRIS PRONGER He's a few points behind the d-men point leaders but he gets the nod because of what he's done in PIM's (28) and plus/minus (+13).	MIKE GREEN After his initial quarter he has provided FHS with the opportunity to tell Mr. Hockey93 to Tweet Off.	CHRIS PRONGER He brings it every night and gives you stats in every category.	MIKE GREEN Hard to nominate him for any trophy with "Norris" on it as he really is a 4th forward. That said, can’t disputer PPG production from the point.	DREW DOUGHTY With no true clear cut stand away, Doughty gets my vote because of his 6 goals, 20 pts and PP exploits. No D man has more GWG's and he’s even a plus-4.
BIGGEST BREAK OUT	DUSTIN PENNER Should top last's years pathetic 39 points before Christmas. All hail Pat Quinn.	ANZE KOPITAR As much as I love Price, I wanted the Habs to draft Kopitar in 2005. As good as Kopitar has been, I still think I was wrong.	DREW DOUGHTY He will only get better and seems to be on the scoresheet each night; future multiply Norris winner.	JAMES NEAL Neal had a productive rookie year but who saw this coming? He has quickly become one of the league’s top young power forwards..	JAMES NEAL Lots of guys could go here at this point, but Neal has been an absolute force on Brad Richard's left side.
BIGGEST BREAK DOWN	ALEX KOVALEV We're not sure a 40 point pace can even count as a breakdown with this enigma. Oh Dany boy, why did you have to leave so soon?	JASON SPEZZA After producing 269 points in 211 games from 2005-08, Spezza's trying to get another coach fired with 86 pts in his last 101.	MARTIN HAVLAT He is on pace for 32 points, not what Wild fans were hoping for when he signed in Minnesota.	ERIC STAAL Was a machine in last year’s playoff run, but he hasn’t been healthy this year. Started with just five points in 13 games and now he’s on the IR.	JASON SPEZZA I get sick thinking about how bad he's playing. One goal? Shoot the damn puck!
ONE MUST OWN GUY	COREY PERRY On pace 50 goals, 100 points and 100 PIM's... best five tool fantasy player out there. He's good and he keeps getting better.	COREY PERRY The RW position is not as deep as it used to be and 100 pts and 100 PIM’s has not been seen from the wing since Shanahan in 1994.	ALEX OVECHKIN Despite missing a few weeks the Gr8 will still lead the league in goals and shots.	ZACH BOGOSIAN At 19, Bogosian is already a stud. He scores, hits, fights and is getting tons of ice-time in ATL. He won’t be affordable this time next year.	ILYA KOVALCHUK People were staying away on draft day. Not me. Best second round pick with minimal injury risk. Can score from anywhere.
CRAZY FREE AGENT PICKUP	ERIK COLE With only three points he should be available. The Canes are playing much better and his buddy Staal is coming back soon… chemistry galore (15 pts in 17 gms last year).	ANDREI KOSTITSYN 15% owned. Playing on the Canadiens first line with Plekanec and Cammalleri he has awoken from his Vodka induced slumber.	PAUL KARIYA He is finally healthy and has too much skill for this slump to continue.	FRANS NIELSEN Nielsen quietly put up 33 points in 59 games last year. The 25-year-old Dane has nine points in 17 games and is getting up to 20 minutes a night for the Isles.	Not really sure what constitutes as "out on a limb" at this point. How about PATRICE BERGERON? I still say he hits 70 pts and is only 24% owned in Y! leagues.
OUT ON A LIMB PREDICT-ION	RYAN MALONE increases his career high by more than 20 points and finishes with 70-80 points this season.	TUUKKA RASK will be the starter in Boston by the playoffs and the Bruins will be searching for ways to give Palmateer's $4M to Marc Savard.	JOHN TAVARES carries the Islanders into the playoffs.	PHIL KESSEL will score 40 goals in 70 games. Ron Wilson is going to give him all the ice-time he needs to get there.	SIDNEY CROSBY scores 50 goals and passes 100 PIMs this season.

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Comments

Loving the Rask prediction by Fantasy Sense. Not loving the Crosby pick as the Fantasy Hart by FH911. I want more than a point-a-game from the 3rd overall pick... even if he is racking up the PIM's.

by Jay on Nov 24, 2009 9:55 PM EST reply actions

Well done boys, love that you can't all agree on anything. Wow, those Crazy FA Pickups are officially crazy... I wouldn't go near any of those guys 3 sites robbed Pronger of his deserved Norris, this guy is winning GMs leagues by himself!

by Cam on Nov 25, 2009 1:58 AM EST reply actions

Good stuff guys! I enjoy doing this. Really makes me get out the thinking cap. We seemingly spend most of our time ranting and raving about which guy to add and drop that thinking about who's the best player at each position gets lost in the shuffle. I left the 4 OTL's off Nabby's record by mistake. While I agree that Ryan Miller would win the real life Vezina, right now, I had to go with Nabby because of his stats AFTER playing 5 more games than Miller. If Miller played those 5 more games and went like 3-1-1 or something, Miller would be the fantasy Vezina winner in a land slide. Kopitar has been a beast, but because he lacks in a few fantasy categories, he had to go down several notches. I own Bergeron in 8 leagues. I guess I AM the 24% that owns him? LOL! I drafted him in the late rounds in just about every league. How about this out on a limb prediction? Alexander Radulov returns from the KHL and scored 50 goals in 30 games..lol. I wanted to type that as my answer so bad.

by MH93 on Nov 25, 2009 4:14 AM EST reply actions

Thanks guys, it's great to read everyone's opinions and rationale. Bogosian stands out it the must-own category, but I looked at it more like which player should you go out and get. Guys like AO, Kovalchuk and Perry are probably not getting traded in your pool anytime soon. Bogosian can be had this year, but may be untouchable starting next year. Agree that Pronger wins the Norris if your league reqards PIMS and HITS categories. Agree with Jay on Crosby, he just hasn't met expectations as a top pick. He does, however, have added value in leagues that reward FOW. I expect him to finish strong and still challenge for the Art Ross. Thanks for having us guys. Chris Just Fantasy Hockey

by Chris on Nov 25, 2009 7:56 AM EST reply actions

FOW? How many leagues out there are counting FOW's as one of their stats? Pretty rare I'm guessing... it's definitely not the best evidence of a players value to my fantasy lineup! Having said that I hope The Kid lives up to FH911's prediction... that would make me very happy (in one league in particular)

by Jay on Nov 25, 2009 6:50 PM EST reply actions

Regarding Crosby: Let's play a game of roto, which H2H is based off anyway in Y! leagues as well: Goals Kopitar - 14 Crosby - 12 Assists Kopitar - 19 Crosby - 13 PIMS Crosby - 39 Kopitar - 6 PPP's Kopitar - 14 Crosby - 6 SHP's Crosby - 2 Kopitar - 0 SOG Crosby - 92 Kopitar - 79 GWG Crosby - 3 Kopitar - 0 Plus/minus Kopitar - +6 Crosby - +4 Those categories, which are standard in some way, shape or form, are split. 4 category wins a side. The telling thing to me, regarding Kopitar, is the fact he has doughnuts in 2 key categories. SHP's and GWG's. Plus minus and goals are about a wash, though Kopitar has the edge and Kopitar dwarfs Crosby in PPP's and assists. They are both even with 4 PPG's but Crosby dwarfs Kopitar in PIMs and has a sizable lead in SOG. FW's, which a majority of the leagues I play in count as a category, it's not even close. 302 to 187 favoring Sid. I use a point formula to dictate a players TOTAL fantasy value. I use every offensive category allowed in Y! leagues to come up with this value. Crosby is the leader over all skaters due to his across the board production to date. To be honest, Kopitar is lost in a mix with a slew of players with similar value..Guys like Marleau, Gaborik, Thornton and Iginla, among others. Yeah, I get it. Kopitar came out of no where to be in that group, but he lacks in categories which makes him far from MY fantasy MVP. Fantasy MVP runner up for me is Heater with OV in 3rd. If we were playing in a points only league, Kopitar wins. But fantasy hockey is predicated around much more than simple goals and assists. Crosby is a sneaky little MVP and appears as a sheep in wolf's clothing. Plus, to end, someone using Pronger's peripheral stats to sight him as the best fantasy D man is almost making my Crosby argument for me. An argument I will not argue against as I had Pronger over Lidstrom as fantasy D MVP 2 years ago when Lids appeared head over heels better. I got this same Sid debate going, back then with Pronger. Regardless.. Ovechkin will end up the fantasy MVP regarding skaters. The next time we go through this, we need to ask who, beside AO is the fantasy MVP?

by MH93 on Nov 26, 2009 4:46 AM EST reply actions

Bill, What can I say? You definitely make a very solid argument especially when you bring in GWG's, SOG's and SHP. With Crosby being my 1st rounder this season I've been very frustrated by his slow (for him) start. Still the gap in points and PPP point's is to big for Crosby's peripherals to cover. Anze is still the Hart winner in my eyes.

by Jay on Nov 26, 2009 6:34 AM EST reply actions

Doesn't the SOG category neutralize the PPP category, though? We're basically talking about assists for Kopitar..The PIMs is just a smack down. A reward that keeps giving even when Sid wasn't getting the PIMs we liked. Something Kopitar will never get hindering himself from ever being an across the board, fantasy producer. I know this for a fact. I could take Crosby, and you take any forward in the NHL up to this point, and I would not lose a 1 on 1 battle in a roto league or pts based league using across the board categories completely broken down. It would be close..maybe even tied..but Sid would not lose. If this were Rich freakin Peverley, I'd be making the same argument. This pick has nothing to do with being a fan boy and everything to do with hard results.

by MH93 on Nov 26, 2009 8:00 AM EST reply actions

Yeah I hear ya MH93... I think its a little underappreciated that Sid is on pace to set career highs in goals, shots & PIMs right now, so glad your shedding some light on him. How bout I throw a wrench in there and say that the Hart should go to the most VALUABLE player and I'd say that Kopitar is much more valuable than Crosby based on where they were picked in drafts this year. This one's for everyone... where's the love for Zach Parise??? top 10 in league scoring, 2nd in the league in +/- and shots and #1 in the FHS rankings of best fantasy players (as of Monday).

by Cam on Nov 26, 2009 9:43 AM EST reply actions