More Friday Q&A...


WINGER LOGJAM
Ross in Toronto
"Hi Doc,

Got myself a logjam at LW and can't decide who to drop. Yahoo Rotisserie with G,A,+/-,PIM,PPP,GWG,W,GAA,Sv%,SO.
Just snared Zetterberg since I'm dead last in G and GWG but I'm jammed up at LW now with Nash, Erat, and Frolov in tow. Would you still keep the faith that Nash can compete in +/- and G with the other two the rest of the way?"

Chris
Ross, I'd keep Nash over Erat despite the production differences this season. That said, I'd look to keep them all and drop someone else (bench player from a different position). Then you could deal Frolov for help elsewhere.

KEEPER D
Greg in ALB
"Hey Chris,

Huge keeper league question for you. Would you do a deal of his Marc Staal and Jack. Johnson for my Ryan Miller? I already have Vokoun (league needs two goalies) but my defense is horrible. I was gonna try and draft Howard, and just wait till he starts. Is this is a bad plan?"

Chris
Greg, Howard may well start for Detroit at some point but I don't think it's a lock. I'd be more inclined to keep Miller and Vokoun since they should be great fantasy goalies for years to come. Vokoun is only 30 and Nashville has built such a strong team. I'm really high on Johnson in particular for fantasy keeper leagues, but I'd be looking to move a different asset to get him.

DROP BIEKSA?
Christian in Jersey
"Hey Chris, love the column but I am in a cat league with G, Pts, PPG, GWG, PPP and +/- but no Shots or PIM and need pickup advice. Should I drop Bieksa and grab T.Kaberle or just run with Mini-Jovo?"

Chris
Hey Christian, nice to hear from you again. I'd easily rather have T. Kaberle than Bieksa, even if Bieksa wasn't in an oh-for-five game slump.

WHY THE VETO?
Shane in Cold Lake
"This trade keeps getting veto'ed in our yahoo custom league which includes standard stats:
My J. Thortnon, Brian Gionta and Jason Blake for S. Crosby and A.Semin. Is it really that uneven? I currently sit in second and I am trying to shore up my team for the stretch run. Of course the biggest gripes are from 1 and 3 place. Your take?"

Chris
Shane, all I know is the info you're giving me here and based on this alone I see absolutely no reason why this should get vetoed.

TKACHUK AVAILABLE
Steve in Medicine Hat
"Hey Chris, need some advice. Tkachuk has just been dropped and I'm in desperate need of goals/PIMS. Decent pickup...yes/no? Currently have Erat/Kunitz/Michalek at LW so I may have to drop a D-man (Timonen/Campbell/Hamrlik/Belak). Thanks!"

Chris
Steve, I'd drop Belak since Tkachuk's PIM's will help fill that void. If you have to cut a winger I'd cut Kunitz, despite pretty decent production from him this season.

KEEPER LEAGUES
John in Denver
"Hey Chris, any idea where I can go to get into a good keeper league? I know you don't promote other websites, but thought you might be able to point me in a general direction or help connect me with other readers who are looking the same thing. Thanks man!"

Chris
Any readers who want to put their email address out there to spark interest from other readers who are also looking to get into a new keeper league are welcome to do so. There are a lot of dedicated poolies who read this blog every day and I'd imagine you'll have no problem getting more people interested. Someone may have an opening or may be looking to create a brand new league.

TRADE OFFER
Christopher in Orlando, FL
"Chris. Need some help. I've been offered Gagne/Boyle/Lang for my Heater. I already have Knuble and Forsberg. I traded Sullivan for Forsberg thinking Foppi will be traded to a better team. But I don't want another Flyer. Any ideas?

I want to counter with my Heater/Kovalev/Lehtonen for his Andre-Fleury/Elias/Lang/Preissing.

Is that a good move? Do you think Lang will be traded.

Thanks, Chris."

Chris
Christopher, it's generally never a good idea to trade for someone based on a possible trade. And why deal Heatley when he's one of the best fantasy guys out there? I'd stand pat if those are your best options.

SHALLOW D POOL
Rob in Toronto
"Hey Doc Hoc. Looking for the right prescription for my squad. Very deep 20 team league and needless it is slim pickings on the waiver wire. I am looking to add an extra D for backup/insurance purposes. Who do you like out of these names: Streit, Keith, Hainsey or Stuart (rumoured to be headed out of Boston)? Or can you think of any other D out there who might be a "diamond in the rough" for my squad? Thanks and keep up the great work!"

Chris
Thanks Rob. Since it's just an insurance guy you may as well grab Stuart and wait for a possible trade. If you want to grab guys you'd actually want to use right now, I'd look at specific match-ups against those weaker teams and add guys for one or two games at a time.

POINTS ONLY DEALS
Dexter in Hollywood CA
"Ahhh, Whats' Up Doc?

Would you make any of these trades in a points only league? Trade Clark/Erat for either Spezza, Sakic or Marleau then pick up either Reinprecht, Bertuzzi or Holmstrom. If so what would be the combo you shoot for? I think Spezza/Bertuzzi or Spezza/Reinprecht."

Chris
Of course I'd make one of those deals. I'll take Spezza for sure and the other guy added doesn't really even matter. Give Bertuzzi a try and let's see how he looks when he comes back this weekend or next week.

HEJDUK VS A FREE AGENT
Charles in Scarborough
"Hello Doc,
I have Hejduk on my roster and he's been a bust all season unfortunately.
Would he be worth dropping in favor of any of these FA:
Knuble,
Dumont,
Ouellet,
Svatos,
Nolan,
Lindros,
Eaves

I know slim pickins but Hejduk is drivng me crazy!
Thanks Doc for your help."

Chris
Charles, as much as his overall numbers haven't been great this season he's been doing better lately and he's likely as good a bet as anyone on that list. I'd likely stand pat.

GOMEZ DROPPED
Mike in T.O.
"Hey Chris, more questions! My leagues been active lately.
So someone dropped S. Gomez.
In a 10 team H2H PIMS league, would you pick him up and drop someone from my roster:
Arnott/Demitra
Heatley/Kovalchuk/D. Sedin
Sullivan/Cole/Doan/Hemsky

Thanks....have a good one!"

Chris
Thanks Mike. I'd be tempted to swap Gomez/ Doan. You lose a little in PIM's but points might be a bit safer.

STANDARD LEAGUE RANKS
Kevin in Sprigfield, MA
"non-keeper, roto. G, A, Pts., +/-, PIMs, PPG, PPA, SHG, SHA, GWG, SOG, Faceoff Ws.

For the remainder of this season, please rank these players, first to worst (giving some weight, but not all, that a serendipitious short-handed point or two from here in would have significant impact):

gagne, kopitar, bergeron, richards, o. jokinen, arnott, pominville, zubrus, demeitra, hemesky, tkachuck."

Chris
Kevin, I'd most want to have Jokinen easily over anyone there. Tkachuk's overall game is attractive to my roster style despite the fact that he'll get less points than many of those guys. Richards, Arnott, Kopitar, Hemsky and Demitra would follow. Gagne is gaining steam and so on and so on...

PLAYOFF PUSH
J in Montreal
"Hi Chris,

I'm looking for a last push into the playoffs. I would like your expert take on the following scenarios I would like to try:
- Drop Gionta, pick up Gagne since the(Forsberg, Knuble, Gagne) line seems to be heating up finally
- Drop Bouwmeester and pick up Zidlicky
- Drop Langkow and pick up Zubrus

Thanks"

Chris
Actually, I'd be tempted to stand pat. I think Gionta is a good a bet as Gagne over the next two months. JB could be more valuable depending on categories counted. The last move is actually tempting though. Langkow has done well despite the line change, but Zubrus has a pretty impressive linemate generally.

TEAM EVALS
Al in Chicago
"Just another blog suggestion: eliminate team evaluations. It just seems that guys want to waste space and your/reader time to brag. Ask specific move-related questions as they come up.
Just a thought ..."

Chris
Al, I think for the most part team evals serve a valuable purpose and most times you'll see someone include a list of FA's at the bottom of the question. From my point of view too, I prefer seeing a list of the roster when evaluating FA adds. Sometimes a person will write in asking if they should swap out player A with player B, but when I see player C on the roster I might think they're a better candidate to get dumped.

But, of course, if you're not a fan of those particular questions you've always got the option to skip over those ones. One of my favorite parts of the blog is that assorted readers can get various benefits from reading different questions... not all parts will apply or necessarily be of interest to everyone. I'm continually surprised by how many people actually read each Q&A from top to bottom instead of just reading the answer to their question. Thanks for the input though.

HEMSKY GETS PHYSICAL
Dave Semenko in Edmonton
"Hey Chris,
As leader of Hemsky Nation can you get kevin Lowe to re-activate Semenko, so Ales doesn't have to go cross check guys like Cooke?"

Chris
I'll put in a call...