SportsJudge's Colligan Joins Forbes; Daily News's Spector Promoted to Rangers Beat Reporter; Coslov to Lead SJ Hockey

This was a big week for SportsJudge alumni and friends in the world of hockey:

Michael Colligan, who wrote SportsJudge's heralded hockey column from 2008-2009 and also writes a column on sports business at The Hockey Writers, will soon be joining Forbes SportsMoney. We look forward to seeing Mike "on the cover of Forbes Magazine, smiling next to Oprah and the Queen."

Also, Jesse Spector -- a long-time baseball reporter with the New York Daily News, who competed in the 2009 SportsJudge.com Fantasy Baseball Classic -- has been promoted to the Daily News's new New York Rangers beat reporter. We will be reading Jesse's work from the blue seats.

Finally, over at SportsJudge Blog, our hockey coverage will be led this year by Darren Coslov, who is entering his third season with the blog. While Darren will have some big shoes to fill, he has already written several outstanding hockey features, including this brilliant piece on the Edmonton Oilers. We look forward to Darren's emergence as the face of SportsJudge Hockey.

Fantasy Hockey Pickups: Week 21

Welcome to Week 21 of Fantasy Hockey Pickups. The Olympics have come and gone and the trading deadline has passed. This is the final week in the regular season for fantasy hockey in head-to-head leagues. This could be your last chance to get into the playoffs or move into a better seed. Here are a few players you may want to consider for that extra boost into the playoffs.

Forwards

David Booth - LW - (FLA): David Booth had 2G, 4A, 2PPP, 11SOG, 7PIM, and was a +2 last week. Overall he has 4G, 7A, 5PPP, and 67SOG. Booth had missed much of the season due to a concussion and also fell into a little slump when he returned, but looks to be getting back into the swing of things. Booth could be worth a look, especially in deeper leagues to provide some depth in your lineup. He is available in 45% of Yahoo Leagues.

Chris Stewart - RW - (COL): Chris Stewart had 5G, 4A, 2PPP, 2PIM, 15SOG, and was a +4 last week. Overall he has 51PTS, 57PIM, 11PPP, 172SOG, 4GWG, and is a +13. Stewart has surpassed 50 points in just his second year in the NHL. Stewart is a solid player and consistent producer and would be a good addition to any lineup for the playoffs. He is available in 48% of Yahoo Leagues.

Scott Gomez - C - (MON): Scott Gomez had 1G, 4A, 2PIM, 1PPP, 15SOG, and was a +3 last week. Overall he has 11G, 36A, 50PIM, 14PPP, and 146SOG. Gomez can provide some depth to your lineup and could be that extra boost you need in the playoffs. He is available in 54% of Yahoo Leagues.

Chris Kunitz - LW - (PIT): Chris Kunitz had 2G, 3A, 1PPP, 18SOG, and was a +3 last week. Overall he has 10G, 17A, 35PIM, 7PPP, 1SHG, and is a +6. Kunitz seems to finally be 100% healthy and looks to be getting out of his slump. If Kunitz can keep it up, he could have some value, especially playing on a line with Sidney Crosby. He is available in 57% of Yahoo Leagues.

Tomas Holmstrom - RW - (DET): Tomas Holmstrom had 2G, 2A, 8PIM, 3PPP, and 7SOG last week. Overall he has 17G, 11A, 42PIM, 13PPP, and is a +6. Holmstrom seems to have benefited well from the Olympic break to recover from a knee injury. Holmstrom is having a strong second half and is worth a look. he is available in 73% of Yahoo Leagues.

Alex Steen - C - (STL): Alex Steen had 3G, 3A, 2PIM, 13SOG, and was a +5 last week. Overall he has 18G, 16A, 26PIM, 11PPP, 2SHG, 2GWG, 138 SOG, and is a +4. Steen has really turned it up the second half of the season. He currently has 4G and 8PTS in his last 4 games and has been regularly finding himself on the score sheet. He is available in 92% of Yahoo Leagues.

Defensemen

John-Michael Liles - D - (COL): John-Michael Liles had 1G, 1A, 4PIM, 2PPP, 6SOG, and was a +1 last week. Overall he has 5G, 21A, 24PIM, and 18PPP. Liles is a great assist and PP producer. He is available in 57% of Yahoo Leagues.

Kurtis Foster - D - (TB): Kurtis Foster had 3A, 2PIM, 3PPP, and was a +1 last week. Overall he has 7G, 24A, 34PIM, 19PPP, and is a +1. Foster sees a lot of time on the PP and capitalizes on those opportunities by dishing out those assists. He is available in 68% of Yahoo Leagues.

Kris Letang - D - (PIT): Kris Letang had 3A, 4PIM, 9SOG, and was a +4 last week. Overall he has 3G, 22A, 37PIM, 5PPP, 133SOG, and is a +7. Letang takes plenty of SOG and you can count on him to get at least 30PTS this year. He is available in 74% of Yahoo Leagues.

Goalies

Manny Legace - G - (CAR): Manny Legace had 2W, 0.50GAA, .981SV%, and 1SHO last week. With Cam Ward hurt, Legace looks to be the man in Carolina. He is available in 92% of Yahoo Leagues.

Good Luck with your match-ups this week and hope to see you in the playoffs!

The Exodus of the Oilers

A "For Sale" sign stands tall outside the Rexall Place in Edmonton, Alberta, where General Manager Steve Tambellini is prepared to overhaul the Edmonton Oilers player personnel. The 65-hour window of opportunity began last night at 12 midnight EST when the Olympic trade freeze was lifted.

Speculations and rumors are in full force that the leadership of the Oilers hockey club is about to change. The veterans are on the block and they know who they are. Last place in the National Hockey League with 19 wins in 61 games is certainly not what the Oilers management and coaching staff had in store, and the overall player attitude of this storied franchise has all but worn out it’s welcome.

The Edmonton Oilers under head coach Pat Quinn are relentless on the ice when it comes to hard work and are playing a full sixty minutes of hockey...sometimes. Other times, the end result is due in large part to the bench simply not putting in the type of work needed to outperform their opponent.

One thing that’s apparent however is the attitude that adjusts so quickly when the opposition scores first. It’s almost as if the players at some point expect to be down, and from that point on, the hard work continues to be there, but the right frame of mind to get the two points is not.

Their lack of production and success is paying dividends however for their entry draft layout several months down the road. Forwards Taylor Hall and Tyler Seguin and Defenseman Cam Fowler are the big 3 in this years draft and have the ability to make quite the impact for an NHL franchise. If Edmonton is going to indeed select one of these three, General Manager Steve Tambellini must take necessary steps in preparing for their arrival. Starting primarily with clearing space for not only this years top pick, but for the youth that awaits it’s fate in the Edmonton organization.

If you look at the veteran’s currently on the roster with cap hits beyond this season, the likes of forwards Sean Horcoff, Ethan Moreau, Dustin Penner and defenseman Sheldon Souray, Steve Staios and Lubomir Visnovsky stand out as potential trade chips, as their respective contracts are not only expensive, but will linger on during what should be a re-building mode. Only Dustin Penner should be an exception due in large part to the amount of money a counterpart would have to absorb in any type of trade.

The Edmonton Oilers must move the expensive salaries and open up the books to their promising youth waiting in the wings. Prospect forwards Jordan Eberle, and Ryan O’Marra and defensemen Taylor Chorney, Alex Plante and Theo Peckham are in the big picture, and need to be factored in moving forward.

When Edmonton announces their first overall selection, the chances are greater then ever, that the elite player will put them ahead of the eight-ball during the rebuilding mode. What the return on most veterans will net, that's a whole other issue. If Steve Tambellini moves salary, his best bet is to seek picks and prospects to add to the organizational depth chart.

One thing that is evident right now, Steve Tambellini is working the phones and has a plan in place to begin the overhaul of the Edmonton Oilers. This hockey club is out of excuses, overpaid, and due for a demolition. Pat Quinn and his staff are the right fit in Edmonton to coach this team with a promising future. For right now though, moves need to be made, and the veterans of this current club need to start preparing their goodbyes.

The Oilers as a team have scored just six goals in their last six games. Taylor Hall is just what the doctor ordered. If they can have Hall, Eberle and MPS - along with whatever their return is for the firesale you know is coming - this team could potential be a fun team to watch rebuild, not unlike the Penguins, Blackhawks and Kings of the recent past.

If your an Edmonton Oilers fan, today through Wednesday can only mean good things to come for this franchise. You have to believe that at this point; because right now, things can't get any lower. It's all up hill from here, and it's up to Steve Tambellini and Assistant GM Kevin Prendergast to evaluate and make decisions that are going to enhance the look of this club, and get the Oilers back into contention.

Late this afternoon, that process got underway with veteran defensemen Denis Grebeshkov on the move to the Nashville Predators in exchange for a 2010 2nd round pick. This move will be one of many from now till Wednesday at 3pm for the Oilers.

While the for sale sign stands tall and players are packing and saying their goodbyes, the Edmonton Oilers will have a new look to them by Wednesday at 3pm and only time will tell exactly where this club will stand. Hey, it's going to be a better position then where they currently stand, that much we are sure of.

Preparing for the Post-Olympic Frenzy

NHL hockey fans across the USA and Canada are well into a weeks worth of Olympic hockey. There's still plenty more to go in what may be known as some of the greatest hockey games in recent memory. This also means that these same fans are sitting and watching their beloved superstars and itching to return to NHL action.

Furthermore, that same wait time is in effect for the NHL General Managers, who cannot make trades until the NHL trade freeze is lifted following the conclusion of the Olympics. GM’s can talk all they want, but can’t submit a single thing to the league until the clock strikes 12 midnight on March 1st.

I can only imagine what the GM’s are going through right now, because it simply has all NHL fans at the edge of their seat. They might be watching Olympic hockey, but all are wondering where certain players are going to end up as a result of the tight 65-hour window following the Olympics. The anxiety is surely building.

If you’re a Maple Leafs fan, you're wondering if the reports are true of Tomas Kaberle possibly sticking around in Vancouver a little longer then anticipated prior to the Olympics starting.

If you’re an Oilers fan, you’re preparing your goodbyes to maybe a half a dozen players, or more?

Florida Panthers fans are just starting to digest the letter sent from the Panthers ownership group. I think it’s fair to say, this ownership group is refreshingly honest and seems to have a real plan in place now. However, was this letter intended to prepare the Panther fans for a shocking Stephen Weiss or Nathan Horton trade?

Pittsburgh Penguins General Manager Ray Shero’s had the green light from owners Ron Burkle and Mario Lemieux to max out on the salary cap. He has done just that, and has a Stanley Cup ring to show for it. However, the Penguins need a shut-down defenseman and a winger for Evgeni Malkin, but first need a partner to help them clear some room. Who leaves Pittsburgh mid next week for cap purposes? Who is on Ray Shero’s radar? Penguin fans are beyond anxious and ready to find out.

Rumor mills are beginning to explode, reporting every single time two GM’s are seen together sipping coffee in Vancouver. These websites are having an effect apparently, because it has people debating feverishly on team message boards. Some of the most off-the-wall deals are being mentioned as potentially taking place when the freeze is lifted. Funny thing is though, there might actually be legs to some of them. It leaves a handful of people really itching for that 65-hour window to start.

The best way to go about this is to sit back and enjoy what’s about to take place in Vancouver. Herb Brooks is surely looking down and asking everyone to do the same. I can promise you an incredible ending to what has been an outstanding Olympics for NHL and KHL players.

Following that, we will get our answers to so many questions around the National Hockey League in a very short period of time. Deals are going to happen as soon as Monday March 1st.

All of that being said, rumor mills don’t have much longer to entertain the NHL fan base. Fans themselves can start the count down. Big ticket players around the league will need to hurry back from Vancouver to start packing. It’s going to get crazy, and I don’t know about you, but I am looking forward to the breaking news to start coming through.

Enjoy the rest of the Olympics, and may the NHL General Managers bring you what you wish for.

Olympic Hockey Preview

The 2010 Olympic Games from Vancouver are underway and the NHL has entered a two-week hiatus to allow stars from around the world to compete. With competition beginning on Tuesday afternoon, SportsJudge chatted with Olympic hockey expert Timo Seppa to get his take on the Games:

SportsJudge: Typically the Olympic Games are played on a much larger ice surface than what is standard in the NHL. Since these games are being played in Canada, that will not be the case. What impact will the normal NHL-sized ice surface have on the Games?

Timo Seppa: I love international ice and long for it every time it's missing from the tournament. The NHL's done a nice job of opening up the game since the lockout, taking away all the clutching and grabbing--from this point of view, the lockout was actually a great success--but going to international ice in the NHL would make the game even faster and more offensively-oriented.

With less room to move, what teams will this hurt the most? What teams will benefit?

Speed and skill teams like Russia and Sweden would have benefited from international ice. I'd say the US and Finland are two of the winners. Since 1980, the only time the US has medalled in recent history was in Salt Lake City, on the NHL-sized rink.

The NHL has halted league play for Olympic participation since 1998, but hinted it may not for the 2014 Games in Sochi, Russia. Will the outcry from Russian superstars like Alexander Ovechkin and Evgeni Malkin force the owner's to give in?

Bettman and the powers that be would be nuts to forgo the Olympics in the future. It's not like folks rip it like the World Baseball Classic (with injury concerns). The rest of the hockey world sure as heck cares about the Olympics. I can't think of anything better--even Stanley Cup playoffs--than say, Canada vs. the United States, Russia vs. the Czech Republic or especially, Sweden vs. Finland.

In the 1988 Games in Calgary, Team Canada was favored on home ice, yet left with a disappointing 4th place finish. Is this the year Canada finally wins Gold at home?

Canada's clearly one of the four favorites, with Russia, Sweden, and USA. Puck Prospectus has picked Russia as the gold medal favorite. I admit, they are stronger at goaltender (Evgeni Nabokov and Ilya Bryzgalov) and defense (Andrei Markov and Sergei Gonchar) than usual, but I like Sweden to repeat. No team has the kind of crazy quality depth they do with the Sedin twins, Daniel Alfredsson, Nicklas Backstrom, Nicklas Lidstrom, rookie Patric Hornqvist, the wily old Peter Forsberg and of course Henrik Lundqvist in net.

What will it take for USA to knock off Canada?

For Ryan Miller or Tim Thomas to stand on his head, because Team USA's defense is their weakness. Also, with checking-oriented 3rd and 4th lines (shocking choices like Chris Drury and Ryan Callahan over the likes of Bill Guerin and Scott Gomez), those checking lines will need to do their job of shutting down the opposition's stars. But yes, Team USA is capable of beating anyone in the tournament, I'm just not sure they pull off two or three games in a row like that against the big boys.

Besides USA-Canada, what's one game in the preliminary round that fans should be sure to watch?

I'm biased, but Sweden-Finland is a grudge re-match from the 2006 Finals. I don't think the Swedes have so much of a problem with the Finns, but the Finns definitely have a Little Brother complex when it comes to Sweden. That game, along with USA-Canada, should be for secondary round byes, unless someone's faltered in their earlier games. The situation in Group B, with Russia, Czech, and Slovakia is more muddied.

It should be a great, great tournament. I'm really looking forward to it.

______________________________

Timo Seppa is a Finnish-born hockey writer at Puck Prospectus who also runs the statistical website Ice Hockey Metrics. Timo represents Puck Prospectus in the SportsJudge.com Fantasy Hockey Challenge.

Surveying the Aftermath in Atlanta Post-Kovalchuk

When the Atlanta Thrashers traded Marian Hossa to the Pittsburgh Penguins two trade deadlines ago, it was very clear that superstar forward Ilya Kovalchuk was the face of this franchise for many years to come...or not.

Until just days ago, General Manager Don Waddell didn’t realize that not even 100 million dollars would keep the Russian phenom around. Yes, that’s what was offered to Mr. Kovalchuk hours before being dealt to the New Jersey Devils in a 5-player trade.

Many have argued since the breaking news hit just about every single website related to the sport of hockey a couple weeks ago, that GM Don Waddell simply didn’t get enough assets in return for a hockey player who was supposed to be the key to not only winning hockey games, but keeping the Thrashers in Georgia for years to come. I have to agree with a large population of bloggers and NHL media, that Waddell didn’t get enough assets in return, and their future success plans hit a snag; but I can also guarantee one thing, Don Waddell had no other choice but to make this deal and somehow add pieces to the puzzle that may just work.

Forwards Nicklas Berfors, prospect Patrice Cormier, and defenseman Johnny Oduya along with a 1st round pick in 2010 were acquired for Ilya Kovalchuk. I think everyone was shocked at first, expecting to see the likes of promising, proven prospects like Wayne Simmonds or Jack Johnson. Hey, maybe even Scott Hartnell or Simon Gagne. Listen, those deals simply were not going to happen. Period, end of story. There were deals supposedly in the works for weeks, but in the end, a large percentage of those deals were merely the fantasies of fans and the media.

This is reality hockey fans, and this is what Don Waddell was faced with and had to do.

Bergfors, a 2005 draft pick from Sweden, has 28 points in his rookie season and had to be a part of any deal involving NJ.

The Captain of Team Canada in the 2010 World Junior Championship, Patrice Cormier, has been suspended the rest of the 2009-2010 season for the elbow to the head of an opposing player, but let’s not let that blind us from the fact that this player has a great skill set, a physical presence, and great size at 6’1 205.

Defensemen Johnny Oduya was a popular player in New Jersey, but hardly a top 3 guy on the blueline. What Oduya will provide Atlanta with is a solid defenseman with great shutdown instincts. He has skating ability, but will never be mistaken for an offensive type player. Oduya is a great teammate and leader, and will make an impact almost immediately in Atlanta.

The 1st round pick will fall in the range of 25th-30th. There are no guarantees here. Waddell has no idea how the chips may fall, but it’s a 1st round pick nonetheless, and it needs to be picked wisely.

If you briefly look back at the Atlanta-Pittsburgh blockbuster trade involving Marian Hossa, only thrashers forward Colby Armstrong plays regularly. Forward Eric Christiansen has bounced around the league and is currently a New York Ranger, and prospect Angelo Esposito is constantly injured. This deal was difficult to accept at the time and still haunts the Thrashers today. This deal also contributes to the irate reaction from fans in Atlanta over the Kovalchuk deal. Rightfully so.

However, the Thrashers have a better mix of players now than they did two years ago. The only problem is, they still aren't winning enough hockey games. Even with Kovie in the lineup, the same problem still exists.

So where do you go from here?

Don Waddell must continue to overhaul this roster. There is a good mix in Atlanta right now, but other moves must be made to improve this roster from top to bottom. The Kovalchuk deal needs to be one of many that will deepen a questionable depth chart.

Kari Lehtonen's days were numbered as he conditioned with Chicago of the AHL, and now they are over. Lehtonen is officially a Dallas Star after a trade that sent the terribly injury-prone, yet still promising goaltender to the Stars in exchange for a 4th round pick in 2010 and up-and-coming defenseman IvanVishnevskiy.

Ondrej Pavelec and Johan Hedberg are by no means the long-term tandem moving forward between the pipes. At this point however, Waddell needs to continue to deepen the talent pool in Atlanta, and the two goaltenders he has now, well let's just say it's worked for so far this season.

The Atlanta Thrashers are a game over.500. They are four points removed from the 8th and final playoff spot. With 24 games remaining in the 2009-10 season, the Thrashers ultimate goal is to make the playoffs. It's certainly reachable, and it's not totally far fetched at this point.

Don Waddell will need to continue to find trading partners, and add more pieces to the puzzle in Atlanta. He has learned from past mistakes, and can't afford to make new ones. As this hockey club battles for a playoff spot, players will come and go from now until the March 3rd trade deadline. One thing we can assume at this point, they have a better variety of players now then ever before. That list will grow larger as Don Waddell continues to get the big picture.

Fantasy Hockey Pickups: Week 19

Welcome to Week 19 of Fantasy Hockey Pickups. This is the last week for games in the NHL before the Olympic break. With only 3 weeks left in the regular season, it's down to the wire to secure that playoff spot and prepare for the playoffs. Here are some players you may want to consider to give you that extra boost in your lineup.

Forwards

Mike Knuble - RW - (WAS): Mike Knuble had 3G, 3A, 19PIM, 2PPP, 1GWG, and was a +7 last week. Overall he has 21G, 18A, 49PIM, 9PPP, 5GWG, and is a +22. Knuble is on fire as of late and playing on the high-powered offensive Capitals team doesn't hurt either. Knuble should surpass his career point high of 55 points this year and is worth a look, especially in deeper leagues. He is available in 26% of Yahoo Leagues.

Jussi Jokinen - LW - (CAR): Jussi Jokinen had 3G, 2A, 2PPP, 1GWG, and 12SOG, and was a +2 last week. Overall he had 20G, 24A, 26PIM, 17PPP, 4GWG, 110SOG, and is a +4. Jokinen is currently riding a 6 game point streak and is one of the hottest players in the league right now. Jokinen is definitely worth a look if available while hot. He is available in 55% of Yahoo Leagues.

Jason Arnott - C - (NSH): Jason Arnott had 1G, 3A, 2PIM, 3PPP, 15SOG, and was a +1 last week. Overall he has 14G, 19A, 24PIM, 11PPP, 2GWG, 163SOG, and is a +7. Arnott had a big week last week and has been a consistent contributor so far this season. He is available in 64% of Yahoo Leagues.

Guillaume Latendresse - LW,RW - (MIN): Guillaume Latendresse had 2G, 1A, 1PPP, 1GWG, 12SOG, and was a +1 last week. Overall he has 16G, 8A, 3PPP, 3GWG, and 85SOG in 33 games since joining the Wild. Latendresse continues to be a producer since joining Minnesota and is a decent option to have on your team. He is available in 71% of Yahoo leagues.

Matt Duchene - C - (COL): Matt Duchene had 1G, 2A, 2PIM, 1PPP, and was a +5 last week. Overall he has 18G, 21A, 10PIM, 14PPP, 1SHG, 1GWG, and 115 SOG. This rookie leads the Avs with 18G and also leads all rookies with 38 points. He is available in 76% of Yahoo Leagues.

Curtis Glencross - LW - (CGY): Curtis Glencross had 3G, 1A, 2PIM, 1PPP, and was a +2 last week. Oveall he has 14G, 14A, 49PIM, 4PPP, 2SHG, 2GWG, 103SOG, and is a +7. Glencross got his first career hat trick last week and has been able to turn it up a notch lately. He is worth some consideration, especially in deeper leagues, as he has the potential to score in every scoring category. He is available in 92% of Yahoo Leagues.

Michal Handzus - C - (LA): Michal Handzus had 3G, 3A, 2PPP, 1GWG, and was a +2 last week. Overall he has 15G, 18A, 34PIM, 7PPP, 2SHP, 6GWG, and is a +5. Handzus has had 2 straight 3 point games, and as had 4G and 4A in the last 5 games. Handzus would be a great pick-up right now while riding on this hot streak. He is available in 93% of Yahoo Leagues.

Jamie Benn - LW - (DAL): Jamie Benn had 3G, 1A, 2PIM, 1PPP, 10SOG, and and was a +3 last week. Overall he has 13G, 14A, 34PIM, 6PPP, 1GWG, and 127SOG so far in his first year in the NHL. Benn seems to be an up and coming player for the Stars and if he can keep it up is worth some consideration. He is available in 95% of Yahoo Leagues.

Defensemen

Joni Pitkanen - D - (CAR): Joni Pitkanen had 1G, 2A, 12PIM, 1PPP, and 10SOG last week. Overall he has 3G, 30A, 64PIM, 15PPP, and 123SOG. Pitakanen, although a +/- risk, does provide a lot of offensive potential on the blue-line. He is available in 45% of Yahoo Leagues.

Mark Giordano - D - (CGY): Mark Giordano had 2G, 2PIM, 2PPP, and 1GWG last week. Overall he has 10G, 15A, 61PIM, 12PPP, 77SOG, and is a +4. Giordano sees alot of time on the PP and that is where most of his points are scored. He is a decent option on defense. He is available in 66% of Yahoo Leagues.

Tom Poti - D - (WAS): Tom Poti had 1G, 3A, 2PIM, 1PPP, and was a +4 last week. Overall he has 3G, 18A, 30PIM, 6PPP, was is a +21. Poti is a good source for +/- points playing for the high powered offense of the Washington Capitals. Poti would be a good fill-in for fone of your injured blue-liners. He is available in 76% of Yahoo Leagues.

Sami Salo - D - (VAN): Sami Salo had 3A, 2PPP, 10SOG, and was a +1 last week. Overall he has 5G, 13A, 10PIM, 8PPP, 1GWG, 82SOG, and is a +16. Salo seems to have turned things around after an early season slump and is a nice option on defense. He is available in 84% of Yahoo Leagues.

Goalies

Jean-Sebastien Giguere - G - (TOR): J.S. Giguere after being traded from the Ducks, started 2 games for the Leafs last week and had 2W, 0.00GAA, 1.00SV%, and 2SHO. Giguere will now get more than his fair share of starts in Toronto and looks to be quite comfortable between the pipes for the Leafs. He is definitely worth a pickup is availble in your league. He is available in 51% of Yahoo Leagues.

Notable Injuries

Marc-Andre Bergeron -D - (MTL): Lower Body - IR as of 2/5.

Rene Bourque - RW - (CGY): Shoulder - DTD as of 2/6.

Tomas Holmstrom - RW - (DET): Left Leg - DTD as of 2/6.

Niklas Kronwall - D - (DET): Lower Body - DTD as of 2/3.

Cam Ward - G - (CAR): Upper Body - DTD as of 2/5.

Good Luck with your match-ups this week and enjoy the Olympics!

What is Brewing in Beantown?

Head Coach Claude Julian’s job in Beantown is safe...

...for now.

Meeting with the media on Wednesday morning at the Ristuccia Arena prior to the Bruins taking the ice, General Manager Peter Chiarelli was adamant about the fact that results have to come from the players, coaches, and upper management. A sincere top to bottom effort.

According to Chiarelli, the entire hockey club is responsible for finding a way out of this current 2-7-1 slide that has moved the Bruins from a comfortable position in the standings to merely a point away from the 8th and final playoff spot in the East.

Wasn't this essentially the same roster that dominated the Eastern Conference last year?

The real question Bruins fans have to be wondering is whether this current group is good enough to not only lock up a top eight spot in the Eastern Conference, but finally make a serious run at a Stanley Cup. At this point in the season, it's hard to argue the Bruins really pose a serious threat to the Penguins, Capitals, and Devils teams they would likely have to beat along the way.

On one hand, the Bruins injury woes have been terrible this year. The return of top line superstar center Marc Savard should give the Bruins the lift they desperately need moving forward. He's appeared in only 21 games this season, and his most recent injury, a partial MCL tear in his right knee, will require him to wear a brace. But his presence on and off the ice cannot be discounted.

On the flip side, Savard is not your clutch scorer. He's not the guy who's going to put the team on his shoulders like a Malkin, Crosby, or Ovechkin in the playoffs and mount the comeback on his own. He's a great playmaker, possibly the best in the game right now, but great playmakers need to be paired with dynamic scorers to truly thrive. With this fall's trade of Phil Kessel to the Toronto Maple Leafs, right now that scorer is not on the Bruins roster. It's probably safe to say until they find him, this team will not win a Cup.

With that in mind, how does does Peter Chiarelli approach the next few weeks leading up to the NHL trade deadline? He's drafted exceptionally well and locked up a great core of young talent. The depth of this year's draft crop is outstanding and with the poor season Toronto is having, the picks acquired in the Kessel trade will be very valuable. There may be an opportunity to build a package around those picks to acquire an impact player like Ilya Kovalchuk at the deadline. If that chance arises, does Chiarelli go all in and pull the trigger, or does he hold off and enhance the depth chart of the organization?

This week, the group was starting to look whole again, but it didn't stop Chiarelli, Assistant GM Benning and Vice President Cam Neely from attending practice to evaluate the current group and get a feel for what they are up against a little over a month from now. When the Bruins enter the war room on the morning of March 3rd, they will have a clear understanding of where they stand with regards to post-season play. For now though, they must find ways to collect valuable points before it becomes too late.

The current roster is in place for the 2010-11 season on paper, but on the ice, if they aren't good enough to win the Stanley Cup this season, don't try and fix something that isn't necessarily broken. Peter Chiarelli knows what he has in terms of depth on the big club and assets currently in Providence, but the most important thing is the future of this team. Don't sacrifice for short term solutions, especially if June hockey is not in the fold.

Fantasy Hockey Pickups: Week 17

Welcome to Week 17 of Fantasy Hockey Pickups. Here are a few players you may want to consider if you are looking to pick someone up for your team.

Forwards

Tim Connolly - C - (BUF): Tim Connolly had 2G, 6A, 2PPP, 11SOG, and was a +1 last week. Overall he has 13G, 34A, 20PPP, 2SHP, 4GWG, 134SOG, and is a +11. Connolly is currently on a 15 game scoring streak and has 24PTS during that span. Connolly is definitely worth some consideration, especially in deeper leagues. He is available in 34% of Yahoo Leagues.

Ryane Clowe - LW - (SJ): Ryan Clowe had 3G, 2A, 9PIM, 1PPP, 8SOG, and was a +4 last week. Overall he has 13G, 23A, 77PIM, 9PPP, 114SOG, and is a +3. Clowe has found himself on the score sheet recently and could add some depth for your team. He is available in 37% of Yahoo Leagues.

Kyle Okposo - RW - (NYI): Kyle Okposo had 1G, 2A, 2PIM, 3PPP, and 15SOG last week. Overall he has 11G, 24A, 20PIM, 17PPP, 4GWG, and 164SOG. Okposo leads the Islanders with 35 points and is the type of player that will find his name on the score sheet on a nightly basis. Okposo is a +/- risk, but does provide numbers for all the other fantasy categories. He is available in 62% of Yahoo Leagues.

Chris Stewart - RW - (COL): Chris Stewart had 2G, 2A, 2PPP, 14SOG, and was a +3 last week. Overall he has 17G, 18A, 48PIM, 8PPP, 115SOG, 3GWG, and is a +9. Stewart leads the Avalanche with 17G and has scored 4G in his last 5 games. Stewart has been a consistent producer so far this year and would be a good addition to any team. He is available in 63% of Yahoo Leagues.

Niklas Hagman - LW - (TOR): Niklas Hagman had 2G, 2A, 1PPP, 11SOG, and was a +3 last week. Overall he has 18G, 13A, 21PIM, 6PPP, 1GWG, and 138SOG. Hagman seems to be turing things around and getting back into the swing of things. Keep an eye on him and if he continues to produce, may be a good pickup. He is available in 76% of Yahoo Leagues.

Matt Duchene - C - (COL): Matt Duchene had 3G, 1A, 2PPP, 13SOG, and was a +2 last week. Overall he has 16G, 18A, 13PPP, 1GWG, and 106SOG. Duchene leads all rookies in scoring with 34 points and is worth a look, especially in deeper leagues. He is available in 78% of Yahoo Leagues.

Jussi Jokinen - LW - (CAR): Jussi Jokinen had 2G, 5A, 4PPP, 1GWG, and was a +2 last week. Overall he has 15G, 22A, 15PPP, and 3GWG. Jokinen has been on fire lately scoring 13 points in his last 8 games. Jokinen is worth a look, especially to fill in for an injured player while on this hot streak. He is available in 81% of Yahoo Leagues.

Antti Miettinen - RW - (MIN): Antti Miettinen had 2G, 2A, 2PIM, 1PPP, and was a +3 last week. Overall he has 13G, 14A, 28PIM, 6PPP, 4GWG, and 108SOG. Miettinen has been able to find himself on the score sheet on a regular basis recently and could be a nice option if he continues to do so. He is available in 95% of Yahoo Leagues.

Defensemen

Rob Blake - D - (SJ): Rob Blake had 2G, 3A, 2PIM, 2PPP, 8SOG, 1GWG, and was a +4 last week. Overall he has 4G, 12A, 32PIM, 5PPP, 108SOG, and is a +8. Blake is currently riding a 5 game point streak could be a good option for an injury right now. He is available in 37% of Yahoo Leagues.

Marc-Andre Bergeron - D - (MON): Marc-Andre Bergeron had 3A, 3PPP, and was a +1 last week. Overall he has 10G, 18A, 20PPP, 4GWG, and 88SOG. Bergeron has continued to find success on the PP and could be a consideration if you need help in that category. He is available in 51% of Yahoo Leagues.

John-Michael Liles - D - (COL): John-Michael Liles had 1G, 4A, 2PIM, 4PPP, 1GWG, and was a +2 last week. Overall he has 4G, 19A, 16PIM, 15PPP, and 1GWG. Liles has had his struggles but looks to be back on track and producing offensively lately. He is available in 55% of Yahoo Leagues.

Anton Stralman - D - (CLS): Anton Stralman had 4A, 4PIM, 4PPP, and 7SOG last week. Overall he has 4G, 21A, 22PIM, and 18PPP. Stralmann sees a lot of time on the PP, which is where most of his value lies. He will give you plenty of assists from the blue-line as well. He is available in 86% of Yahoo Leagues.

Goalies

Brian Elliott - G - (OTT): Brian Elliott had 4W, 1.25GAA, and a .957SV% last week. With Pascal Leclaire still injuried, Elliott will get the starts in net and is currently on fire. He is available in 71% of Yahoo Leagues.

Notable Injuries

David Backes - RW - (STL): Upper Body - DTD as of 1/21.

Dan Boyle - D - (SJ): Upper Body - DTD as of 1/21.

Nathan Horton - RW - (FLA): Fractured Tibia - DTD as of 1/23.

Paul Mara - D - (MTL): Upper Body - DTD as of 1/23.

Sami Salo - D - (VAN): Groin - DTD as of 1/23.

Jakub Voracek - RW - (CLS): Head - DTD as of 1/23.

Good Luck with your match-ups this week!

Sale of Texas Rangers Puts Stars in Kovalchuk Sweepstakes

Over the weekend, an investment group including Texas Rangers great Nolan Ryan came to an agreement to purchase the Rangers baseball club from Texas businessman Tom Hicks. The sale was nearly ten months in the making after the Hicks Sports Group defaulted on a $525 million loan in late March 2009.

Hicks made billions in the 90's and early 2000's through leveraged buyouts, but was hit hard when the economy turned south last year, forcing him to prioritize his holdings which included the Rangers, Dallas Stars, Mesquite Championship Rodeo, and fifty percent of Liverpool FC, the English football club.

Mike Heika at the Dallas Morning News had an insightful theory on why Hicks chose to unload the Texas Rangers, as opposed to other assets like the Dallas Stars:

Tom Hicks got frustrated trying to chase the Yankees, Red Sox and Angels, because the Rangers would have had to increase their payroll by $50 million or more and still had little guarantee of being better than the other teams.

In hockey, the difference between the lowest spending teams and the highest is only about $12 million.

The salary spread in the NHL is a bit higher than Heika indicates, but his argument is rational. Dallas is the second-fastest growing TV market and despite the popularity of the NFL's Cowboys, success by the Rangers, Mavericks, and Stars captures the city's attention. The additional $50 million necessary to compete with the elite in Major League Baseball is more than the entire Dallas Stars payroll this season. It makes complete sense that Hicks would turn his attention to bringing a Stanley Cup back to Big D as quickly as possible. Heika speculated:

The sale is reported to be for "considerably more than $500 million,'' and it may not be completed until April, so my guess is any kind of help for the Stars would come after that...

.....Do you think the Stars could have ever swung the Brad Richards deal without the ability to take on Richards' $7.8 million contract? The Lightning was trying to dump salary, and the Stars were in position to take advantage of that.

As it stands now, they could not make that same deal at the trade deadline.

I have to disagree here. Not only are the Stars in position to make that same deal, they are now in serious contention for one of the NHL's elite young talents.

As the NHL approaches the February 12th Olympic roster freeze, media attention has circled around the future of Russian superstar Ilya Kovalchuk. He is slated to become an Unrestricted Free Agent on July 1 and the Atlanta Thrashers have yet to come to an agreement on an extension for their franchise player.

Since the summer, rumors have circulated that Kovalchuk would be seeking something in excess of $8 million. Under the current CBA, "No player may be eligible to contract for or receive in excess of 20% of the Club's upper limit in total annual compensation." This would put Kovalchuk's max range at just over $11 million. While this type of money would make it very difficult for most NHL teams to afford supplemental impact players, it's even more of a challenge for a Trashers organization that is struggling to fill their arena.

Atlanta is also no stranger to a situation like this. Two seasons ago, star forward Marian Hossa was approaching free agency and GM Don Waddell knew he couldn't afford to resign him. Hossa was dealt along with Pascal Dupuis in a last-minute deal to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for Colby Armstrong, Eric Christensen, Angelo Esposito, and a 1st round pick. The trade amounted to merely a playoff rental for the Penguins when Hossa bolted to Detroit after the season. Given the similar dynamics, fans and journalists have naturally linked Kovalchuk with Cup contenders like Washington, Chicago, Calgary, Boston, and the New York Rangers.

Yet most of these teams don't fit the mold of a trading partner for the Atlanta Thrashers. Hossa is a great player, but Kovalchuk is the kind of player you can build a franchise around. He's a guy that will put fans in the seats and define a team. These are the reasons Waddell will do everything in his power to keep the superstar in Atlanta. On the open market, the suitors for his services will be many and the price will be high; too high for a rental. Would a team like Chicago really be willing to mortgage a bright future for one shot at a Cup this season? Not a chance. Two characteristics will likely define a team that is truly a long-term solution for Kovalchuk:

1. Team has cap room and financial ability to sign him to an extension: The contenders listed above are up against the cap ceiling and would need to ship high-priced contracts back to Atlanta in order to clear room to resign Kovalchuk. If Waddell isn't willing to pay Kovalchuk $10 million, does he want to pay three role players $10 million? This also eliminates teams like Tampa Bay who are struggling to pay the bills.

2. Trading NHL-ready talent and/or draft picks to Atlanta won't gut the team's roster: Brian Burke would love to bring in Kovalchuk to put his squad in Toronto back on the map, but after trading two first-rounders and a second-round pick for Phil Kessel, he doesn't have enough to make a deal happen.


Prior to this weekend, this made the Los Angeles Kings the sweepstakes favorite in my mind. LA is an organization stocked with expendable young talent, plenty of cap room, and on the verge of becoming a serious contender in the Western Conference. It's in a city with tons of marketing and endorsement potential for Kovalchuk should the Kings make a run at the Cup. This reason alone may be important enough to force Kovalchuk to accept a few million less than he's demanding from Atlanta. He'd also be teamed with center Anze Kopitar who is in the midst of a breakout season alongside veteran Ryan Smyth.

With the sale of the Texas Rangers, it's also time to add Tom Hicks' Dallas Stars into the mix as a serious possibility. Although the Rangers deal may not officially close until the summer, expect the purse strings to loosen immediately for Dallas GM Joe Nieuwendyk. Just because Hicks' defaulted on the March loan, it's tough to speculate that he doesn't have cash sitting around ready to deploy. The Wall St. Journal reported he refused to dip into his own funds to cover the missed payments.

The Stars will likely have a top 15 pick in next year's draft and free agent veterans Mike Modano, Jere Lehtinen, and Marty Turco probably won't be back. Dallas also has young difference makers in the likes of James Neal, Fabian Brunnstrom, and Jamie Benn that Atlanta would love to add to their roster in exchange for Kovalchuk. Come to think of it, a Turco for Kari Lehtonen goalie swap might make a lot of sense for both teams as well.

In the end, I still think Kovalchuk resigns in Atlanta. If not, maybe a championship-starved GM loses patience and guts the future of his franchise for a short-term rental. It wouldn't be the first time. But when it's all said and done, don't be shocked if Hicks and Nieuwendyk pull the trigger on Kovalchuk and push the Stars back into the NHL elite.

Fantasy Hockey Pickups: Week 16

Welcome to Week 16 of Fantasy Hockey Pickups. It's now down to the home stretch, the final quarter of the season has begun. You now have to not only stay competitive to obtain a playoff spot, but also look towards the future to make sure your roster has enough depth to help you succeed once in the playoffs. Here are a few players that you may want to consider if you need help in certain areas.

Forwards

Jordan Staal - C - (PIT): Jordan Staal had 5A, 1PPP, and was a +3 last week. Overall he has 13G, 21A, 2PPA, 2SHG, 1GWG, 115SOG, and is a +15. Staal has been a quiet contributor the last few weeks and would be a great addition to any team looking for depth. He is available in 36% of Yahoo Leagues.

Brian Gionta - RW - (MON): Brian Gionta had 3G, 1A, 3PPP, 1GWG, and 13SOG last week. Overall he as 13G, 9A, 8PPP, 2GWG, and 104SOG in only 29 games this year. Gionta is back and healthy and looks to be back as a consistent contributor on a nightly basis. He is available in 41% of Yahoo Leagues.

Patrick O'Sullivan - LW - (EDM): Patrick O'Sullivan had 1G, 3A, 3PPP, and 1SHG last week. Overall he has 10G, 16A, 22PIM, 9PPP, 3GWG, and 126SOG thi year. O'Sullivan is a +/- risk, but playing for a struggling Oilers squad takes most of the blame for that. He seems to be getting his scoring touch back recently. He is available in 69% of Yahoo Leagues.

Guillaume Latendresse - LW,RW - (MIN): Guillaume Latendresse had 4G, 4A, 1PPP, 1GWG, 13SOG, and was a +5 last week. Since joining the Wild, Latendresse has had 13G, 6A, 7PPP, 2GWG, and is a +7 in only 24 games. Latendresse continues to impress and has really found his niche in Minnesota. He is worth a pickup, especially in deeper leagues, as he is on fire right now. He is available in 72% of Yahoo Leagues.

Brandon Dubinsky - C - (NYR): Brandon Dubinsky had 2G, 1A, 2PIM, 1SHG, 1GWG, 11SOG, and was a +1 last week. Overall he has 10G, 16A, 20PIM, 4GWG, and is a +11. Dubinsky seems to be turning things around right now and with the recent promotion to the top line with Gaborik and Prospal, things can only get better. He is available in 78% of Yahoo Leagues.

Cory Stillman - LW - (FLA): Cory Stillman had 3G, 1A, 1PPP, and was a +1 last week. Overall he has 9G, 12A, 4PPP, 2GWG, and is a +3. Stillman seems to be finally turning things around and finding his name on the score sheet on a regular basis. He is available in 93% of Yahoo Leagues.

Defensemen

Lubomir Visnovsky - D - (EDM): Lubomir Visnovsky had 1G, 2A and 3PPP last week. Overall he has 9G, 20A, 15PPP, and is a +6. Visnovsky is a PP machine, which is where all of his points will mostly come from. He is available in 26% of Yahoo Leagues.

Zach Bogosian - D - (ATL): Zach Bogosian had 1G, 1A, 4PIM, and was a +5 last week. Overall he has 9G, 10A, 40PIM and 3PPP so far this year. Bogosian is on pace to get close to 40PTS this year which is pretty good for a blue-liner. He is available in 39% of Yahoo Leagues.

Joni Pitkanen - D - (CAR): Joni Pitkanen had 6A, 3PPP, 6PIM, and 10SOG last week. Overall he has 2G, 25A, 46PIM, and 11PPP. He is a +/- risk with an overall rating of -13, but has had 2 strong weeks and could be a source for assists. He is available in 65% of Yahoo Leagues.

Mark Giordano - D (CGY): Mark Giordano had 2G, 6PIM, 1PPP, and was a +1 last week. Overall he 7G, 13A, 54PIM, 8PPP, and is a +6. Giordano leads all Calgary defensemen with 20 points so far. He has definitely flown under the radar, leading the blue-line in scoring with names like Jay Bouwmeester and Dion Phaneuf on the squad as well.

Goalies

Rick DiPietro - G - (NYI): Rick DiPietro got his 1st win of the season last week and looks to be back and ready to play. IF he can stay healthy, DiPietro would be an asset to any squad. Keep an eye on him and if he begins to play well and gets more starts, he may be worth the pick-up. He is available in 73% of Yahoo Leagues.

Notable Injuries

Steve Bernier - RW - (VAN): Lower Body - DTD as of 1/11.

Patrick Elias - C - (NJ): Head - DTD as of 1/16.

Marc-Andre Fleury - G - (PIT): Finger - DTD as of 1/16.

Brent Johnson - G - (PIT): Lower Body - IR as of 1/11.

Pascal Leclaire - G - (OTT): Upper Body - DTD as of 1/14.

Teemu Selanne - RW - (ANH): Broken Jaw - IR as of 1/15.

Marco Surm - LW - (BOS): Leg - DTD as of 1/17.

Good Luck with your match-ups this week!

Fantasy Hockey Pickups: Week 15

Welcome to Week 15 of Fantasy Hockey Pickups. The fantasy hockey regular season will be 3/4 completed after this week. The final push will be on and now is the time to get your roster set to finish off the season and to try and secure a playoff spot. Here are some of last weeks' best performers that could be a good pickup to help out your roster.

Forwards

Danny Briere - C,RW - (PHI): Danny Briere had 2G, 3A, 2PPP, and was a +1 last week. Overall he has 16G, 14A, 41PIM, 10PPP, 1GWG, and 93SOG. Briere, now completely healthy, seems to be finding himself on the score sheet consistently now and is worth some consideration. He is available in 40% of Yahoo Leagues.

Tim Connolly - C - (BUF): Tim Connolly had 5A, 2PIM, 2PPP, 10SOG, and was a +4 last week. Overall he has 11G, 26A, 16PIM, 17PPP, 2SHP, 4GWG, 119SOG, and is a +9. Connolly currently has a 9 game point streak and doesn't look to be slowing down at all. As long as the Sabres are doing well, Connolly should be able to keep it up. He is available in 51% of Yahoo Leagues.

Tomas Fleischmann - LW,RW - (WAS): Tomas Fleischmann had 1G, 3A, 1PPP, and was a +3 last week. Overall has 15G, 13A, 12PPP, 2GWG, and is a +4. Since moving to center, Fleishmann has kicked it up a notch and looks to be turning up the offensive production. He is available in 60% of Yahoo Leagues.

Blake Wheeler - RW - (BOS): Blake Wheeler had 4G, 3A, 4PIM, 2PPP, and was a +3 last week. Overall he has 11G, 15A, 28PIM, 6PPP, and 2GWG. Wheeler seems to be on pace to match his point total of 45PTS last year in his rookie season, but his +/- numbers have really dropped from his total of +36 last year. Keep an eye on him and if he continues to produce, he would be a nice addition to your team. He is available in 60% of Yahoo Leagues.

Patric Hornqvist - RW - (NSH): Patric Hornqvist had 4G, 1A, 6PIM, 4PPP, and 15SOG last week. Overall he has 17G, 10A, 20PIM, 6PPP, 4GWG, 138SOG, and is a +10. Hornqvist has continued his offensive production and has been able to provide fantasy owners with points in all categories. It's safe to say that Hornqvist will be an everyday contributor and should be considered, especially in deeper leagues. He is available in 71% of Yahoo Leagues.

Antoine Vermette - C - (CLS): Antoine Vermette had 3G, 3A, 2PIM, 1PPP, 1GWG, 14SOG, and was a +2 last week. Overall he has 14G, 22A, 16PIM, and 9PPP. Ever since Vermette has been paired on a line with Raffi Torres and Jakub Voracek, his production has taken off. As long as this line stays intact, Vermette should continue to impress. He is available in 80% of Yahoo Leagues.

Saku Koivu - C - (ANH): Saku Koivu had 2G, 3A, 1SHG, 1GWG, and was a +7 last week. Overall he has 10G, 18A, 22PIM, 8PPP, 3GWG, and is a +8. Koivu has continued his success after being reunited with Teemu Selanne, Koivu has been able to find success. Koivu is most likely available and should be given some consideration while on this hot streak. he is available in 84% of Yahoo Leagues.

Guillaume Latendresse - LW,RW - (MIN): Guillaume Latendresse had 3G, 1A, and 13SOG last week. Overall he has 9G, 2A, 6PIM, 1GWG, and is a +2 since joining the Wild. The change of scenery has done Latendresse good and he doesn't look to be slowing down. Keep an eye on him and if this continues, would be a good pickup. He is available in 97% of Yahoo Leagues.

Defensemen

Matt Carle - D - (PHI): Matt Carle had 1G, 2A, 2PPP, and was a +4 last week. Overall he has 3G, 19A, 14PIM, 9PPP, and is a +16. Carle seems to be getting out of his slump and could be a good option for a team looking for some offensive output on the blue-line. He is available in 33% of Yahoo Leagues.

Tyler Myers - D - (BUF): Tyler Myers had 3G, 1A, 2PIM, 3PPP, 1GWG, and was a +1 last week. Overall he has 6G, 20A, 12PIM, 9PPP, and is a +9. Myers leads all NHL rookies with 20A and will should be able to continue this production consistently for the remainder of the year. He is available in 67% of Yahoo Leagues.

Kurtis Foster - D - (TB): Kurtis Foster had 2A and 2PPP last week. Overall he has 6G, 11A, and 10PPP. Foster sees a lot of time on the PP and can be counted on to produce in those situations. He is available in 86% of Yahoo Leagues.

Derek Morris - D - (BOS): Derek Morris had 2A, 4PIM, 2PPP, and was a +1 last week. Overall he has 3G, 17A, and 10PPP. Morris is a decent option on defense and will provide average numbers, he can be considered if you need a fill-in. He is available in 88% of Yahoo Leagues.

Goalies

Mathieu Garon - G - (CLS): Mathieu Garon had 3W, 1.47GAA, .938SV%, and 1SO last week. Garon has won his last 3 starts and started 5 of the last 6 and has effectively become the starter for the Blue Jackets. Garon is on a hot streak right now and would be a good pickup right now. He is available in 89% of Yahoo Leagues.

Notable Injuries

Nik Antropov - C - (ATL): Lower Body - DTD as of 1/5.

Jason Arnott - C - (NSH): Upper Body - DTD as of 1/9.

Cam Barker - D - (CHI): Upper Body - DTD as of 1/5.

Patrice Bergeron - C - (BOS): Thumb - DTD as of 1/5.

Tomas Holmstrom - RW - (DET): Foot - DTD as of 1/7.

Marian Hossa - RW - (CHI): Lower Body - DTD as of 1/10.

Chris Kunitz - LW - (PIT): Abdominal Surgery - DTD as of 1/5.

Milan Michalek - LW - (OTT): Upper Body - DTD as of 1/9.

Mike Ribeiro - C - (DAL): Throat - IR as of 1/7.

Tuomo Ruutu - LW - (CAR): Upper Body - DTD as of 1/9.

Marc Savard - C - (BOS): MCL - DTD as of 1/7.

Good Luck with your match-ups this week!

Fantasy Hockey Pickups: Week 14

Welcome to Week 14 of Fantasy Hockey Pickups. Happy New Year to all and here are some of last week's overall best performers for you to consider if you need a pickup for your team.

Forwards

Danny Briere - C,RW - (PHI): Danny Briere had 1G, 1A, 2PIM, 1PPP, and was a +2 last week. Overall he had 14G, 11A, 41PIM, 8PIM, and 1GWG. Briere has been on quite a nice streak lately and looks to turning things around. He is available in 44% of Yahoo Leagues.

Todd Bertuzzi - LW,RW - (DET): Todd Bertuzzi had 2A, 4PIM, 1PPP, 10SOG, and was a +3 last week. Overall he has 12G, 13A, 46PIM, 7PPP, 3GWG, and 124SOG. Bertuzzi continues to capitalize on his opportunities while playing on the top line. Bertuzzi now can provide in every scoring category and could be quite valuable while filling-in for the injured Detroit players. He is available in 54% of Yahoo Leagues.

Tim Connolly - C - (BUF): Tim Connolly had 2G, 2A, 1PPP, 1GWG, 2PIM, and was a +3 last week. Overall he has 11G, 21A, 15PPP, 4GWG, and is a +5. Connolly leads the Sabres in points and is a consistent scorer. Connolly is worth a look, especially in deeper leagues. He is available in 66% of Yahoo Leagues.

Daymond Langkow - C - (CGY): Damond Langkow had 5A, 2PIM, 2PPP, and was a +2 last week. Overall he has 10G, 17A, 16PIM, 6PPP, and is a +4. With Rene Bourque on fire as of late, Langkow is reaping the benefits of being the center of that line and racking up the assists. He is available in 72% of Yahoo Leagues.

Andy McDonald - C,LW - (STL): Andy McDonald had 3G, 2A, 2PIM, 2PPP, and 11SOG. Overall he has 13G, 13A, 9PPP, and 101 SOG. McDonald leads the Blues with 13G and is on pace to score around 50PTS this year. McDonald looks to be a sleeper out there and could be available in many leagues and is worth a look. He is available in 75% of Yahoo Leagues.

Dustin Byfuglien - RW - (CHI): Dustin Byfuglien had 5A, 2PPP, 7PIM, 13SOG, and was a +2 last week. Overall he has 11G, 8A, 59PIM, 7PPP, 2GWG, and 97SOG. Byfuglien is always a good source for PIM while also being able to provide some offensive numbers including the PP. Byfuglien should be considered in deeper leagues. He is available in 79% of Yahoo Leagues.

Saku Koivu - C - (ANH): Saku Koivu had 2G, 2A 1PPP, and was a +2 last week. Overall he has 8G, 15A, 22PIM, 8PPP, and 2GWG. Koivu looks to be turning around his mini-slump and it comes at a good time. Temmu Selanne is set to return soon and the two will be reunited and should continue the success they had before Selanne got injured. He is available in 86% of Yahoo Leagues.

Ryan Shannon - RW - (OTT): Ryan Shannon had 3G, 3A, 1PPP, 12SOG, and was a +5 last week. Shannon has been playing on the first line since the injury to Daniel Alfredsson and has capitalized on the increased playing time and opportunities. Shannon is a good pickup for anyone while Alfredsson is out. He is available in 98% of Yahoo Leagues.

Defensemen

Marek Zidlicky - D - (MIN): Marek Zidlicky had 4A, 2PIM, and 3SOG last week. Overall he has 3G, 22A, 31PIM, 10PPP, 2GWG, and 68SOG. Zidlicky is on pace to score over 40 assists this year which is a good point total for any defensemen. He is worth some consideration. He is available in 31% of Yahoo Leagues.

Fedor Tyutin - D - (CLS): Fedor Tyutin had 3A, 1PPP, 13SOG, and was a +2 last week. Overall he has 1G, 19A, 2oPIM, 11PPA, and 83SOG. Tyutin is a great source for assists. He also sees plenty of time on the PP and is able to cash in by being the set-up man. He is available in 59% of Yahoo Leagues.

Joni Pikanen - D - (CAR): Joni Pitkanen had 1G, 1A, 1PPP, and was a +2 last week. Overall he has 2G, 17A, 36PIM, 8PPP, and is a -13 this year. It's hard to suggest a Carolina player but Pikanen does provide good offensive numbers on the blue-line while being a big +/- risk. He is available in 71% of Yahoo Leagues.

Kurtis Foster - D - (TB): Kurtis Foster had 1G, 2A, 4PIM, and 1PPP last week. Overall he has 6G, 9A, 20PIM, 8PPP, and is a +3. Foster continues to be on fire and is racking up the points. He also sees a lot of time on the PP and doesn't look to be slowing down at all. He is worth a good look in any format. He is available in 86% of Yahoo Leagues.

Goalies

Michael Leighton - G - (PHI): Michael Leighton had 1W, 1.83GAA, .926SV%, and 1SO last week. Overall he 4W in 6 games since joining the Flyers. With the Flyers struggling in goal, Leighton will get more than his fair share of starts and so far has been able to capitalize. He is available 85% of Yahoo Leagues.

Notable Injuries

Kevin Bieksa - D - (VAN): Leg - DTD as of 12/31. Impact: It is unclear how long he will be out but looks to be several weeks. Look for a replacement.

David Clarkson - RW - (NJ): Right Leg - DTD as of 12/31. Impact: It is unclear how long he will be out, but should be out the rest of this week.

Martin Erat - RW - (MIN): Lower Body - DTD as of 12/30. Impact: Looks to be out the rest of this week and should be ready next week.

Ryan Getzlaf - C - (ANH): Lacerated Right Leg - DTD as of 12/27. Impact: Should be back sometime this week.

Sergei Gonchar - D - (PIT): Right Foot - DTD as of 1/2. Impact: May be back by the end of the week, but keep him on your bench for now.

Mikhail Grabovski - C - (TOR): Wrist - DTD as of 1/3. Impact: Will be out at least 6 weeks

Paul Kariya - LW - (STL): Head - IR as of 12/28. Impact: It is unclear how long he will be out for looks for be for quite a while.

Vaclav Prospal - LW - (NYR): Knee - DTD as of 12/28. Impact: Out 2-3 weeks.

Keith Tkachuck - LW - (STL): Facial Laceration - DTD as of 1/3. Impact: Doesn't look serious and he should be ok.

Justin Willams - RW - (LA): Right Leg - IR as of 12/27. Impact: Place him on your IR.

Good Luck with your match-ups this week!

What Really Puts a Coach on the Hot Seat?

The notion of winning and losing in the National Hockey League is always at the forefront when it comes to the job security of head coaches and their staffs. At the end of the day, when losses pile up, the easiest route to take is to blame the bench boss.

Since the lockout, the advent of the salary cap has essentially handcuffed General Managers when it comes to trades and bringing in new player personnel. Attendance revenues are down across most of the league, which only adds more pressure to win games in a tough economy.

Expectations

This morning, the St. Louis Blues fired head coach Andy Murray. The Blues were 12th in the Western Conference with a record of 17-17-6, but a terrible home record of 6-13-3 and an anemic offense full of young talented players left no choice for President of Hockey Operations John Davidson. Murray and his intense style had simply lost the dressing room in St. Louis.

Last year, the Blues were the feel-good story in the NHL. Murray led this inexperienced squad from last place in February, to the #6 seed in the Western Conference playoffs. With most of the team returning for the '09-10 season, expectations were high and John Davidson exercised an option to keep Andy Murray around for another season.

Last year's improbable run may have been what cost Murray his job this morning. When the team is expected to follow in the footsteps of other young Cup-contending franchises like the Pittsburgh Penguins and Chicago Blackhawks, .500 hockey isn't going to get it done. The demands simply were not being met by the Blues players. Andy Murray said time and time again, these guys know how to get the job done; but when you can't trade away all the players, the coach must take the fall. Today, Andy Murray took the fall.

***

A few weeks ago, Philadelphia Flyers head coach John Stevens got the ax in favor of Peter Laviolette. Are we to assume Stevens hit unemployment for being just several points shy of the 8th spot in the Eastern Conference?

His starting goaltender, Ray Emery, had been reportedly playing with an abdominal injury for weeks. 16-year NHL veteran Chris Pronger was brought in over the summer to lead this team to a Stanley Cup. Yet Pronger isn't sure where he fits in the Flyers locker room, especially when it comes to his relationship with current captain Mike Richards:

"[Richards] hasn’t come to me [to] ask me anything, and it’s delicate because at the end of the day, it’s his team. He’s the captain. He needs to show the rest of the players that it is his team. I don’t want to be the guy that has to stand up every day and tell ourselves to look into the mirror and play better and all this stuff.

"I don’t know if he is ‘rah-rah’ type or talkative type. It is a difficult tightrope to walk. I don’t want to step on his toes. Maybe he is evaluating. You can’t just jump into a situation and ranting and raving without understanding what has gone on here in the past, as well.

The bottom line is this team was expected to challenge the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Eastern Conference elite, and that just wasn't happening. Pronger was brought in to lead, yet doesn't feel comfortable doing it. John Stevens was so well liked by the players, that his forgive and forget approach in the dressing room and behind the bench at Wachovia Center left this team without direction. Ultimately, that led to his termination.

Pittsburgh Penguins

Speaking of the Penguins, their Stanley Cup Championship season last year wasn't all roses. Exactly one year ago, this team was in disarray and free-falling down the Eastern Conference standings. I attended a December 23 game between the Penguins and hapless Tampa Bay Lightning, and saw some of the worst hockey I've ever seen in my life. The Legend of Vincent Trembley echoed these feelings at the time:

Rock Bottom

Zero goals.

Fifteen shots.

Against the godforsaken Tampa Bay Lightning.

If Michel Therrien isn’t peeling paint off the walls right now, consider this season over now.

Michel Therrien was the head coach of the Penguins at the time, and his abrasive, disciplinarian approach was taking it's toll on the young and very talented squad. General Manager Ray Shero gave Therrien as long as he could. Perhaps because he had just signed an extension through 2010-2011. Perhaps because he was a finalist for Coach of the Year in 2006-07. But in the end, Shero felt the time was right to bring in a fresh face and take the team in a new direction.

Enter Dan Bylsma. With Therrien out of the picture and the Penguins searching for direction, Bylsma was brought in to take the reigns on an interim basis. At the ripe age of 38, he was the youngest head coach in the NHL at the time. Fans, management, and players knew it couldn't get worse than it was prior to Therrien's firing, but few could have imagined Bylsma would lead the team to an amazing 18-3-4 record through his first 25 games. As the #4 seed in the playoffs, the Penguins rode the momentum to their 3rd Stanley Cup in franchise history.

That unbelievable turnaround will likely have an effect on the job security of head coaches for years to come. Press the 'Fire Coach' button, win a Stanley Cup. Yet what made the Penguins different was they already had the core in place to win a championship. They were defeated by the Detroit Red Wings in the Finals the year before, and knew what it would take to overcome that final hurdle. The Flyers don't have that kind of experience yet. The Blues definitely don't have it either.


Who's Next?

Head Coach Paul Maurice undoubtedly has his hands full in Carolina as the team continues to battle injuries and face adversity for as long as they have. If you look at their lineup on a day-to-day basis, there are difference makers, but are they on the same page as their coach? Is Paul Maurice's second stint with this lowly club wearing thin? It happened once before and it can happen again. What made Carolina so successful last season after the coaching change, was a familiar voice in the dressing room. Players were quick to adapt to the change, but that was then and this is now. This current lineup should win hockey games, but they are losing not just because of injuries, but a lack of communication. Veterans like Rod Brind'Amour and Ray Whitney aren't getting any younger. It's time to right the ship or dismantle and rebuild.

***

The Columbus Blue Jackets are well on their way to the basement in the Western Conference. In fact, they are just about there. One point from there to be exact. With the talent level currently in Columbus and the numbers to show for, there are no excuses from an offensive standpoint. This was a surprising young playoff team from last year that was very similar to St. Louis.

Defensively and between the pipes, the Blue Jackets are struggling, and a horrible sophomore slump for goaltender Steve Mason has not helped matters much. All of this being said, you still have to wonder if Ken Hitchcock plays any type of role in their embarrassing 14th spot in the conference. The answer is simple, he does.

Ken Hitchcock's intense philosophies work best in the initial years of a coaching tenure. The players quickly buy into his theories, and are pushed out of their comfort zone by a strict disciplinarian. All necessary steps to help a franchise grow. But after a few years, the same chirping voice becomes stale. Young players lose complete confidence in their game, and some are pushed away from the team altogether. Columbus' Russian star Nikita Filatov is currently on loan to the KHL, maybe entirely due to an inability to coexist with Hitchcock.

Ken Hitchcock's approach to coaching in the NHL will never change. It's what makes him so appealing to executives around the NHL, and it's what won him a Stanley Cup in Dallas in '98-99. But if the Blue Jacket players are losing interest, as they seemingly have already, it's a no brainer to add Ken Hitchcock to the hot seat.

- Mike Colligan and Darren Coslov