CLARKSON MIGHT JUST BE FOR REAL
We’re approaching the point where it’s only fair to list David Clarkson in that rare group of power forwards who are almost as likely to light up the scoreboard as they are to provide delicious peripherals like PIM.
Clarkson had a great game for New Jersey on Tuesday, factoring into all three goals (two tallies, one assist) to help the Devils continue to defy reason and on-paper expectations. Overall, he has a highly impressive 12 points in nine games, including seven goals - for of which on the power play, two of which were GWG. His 38 shots indicate that he's far from shy about firing pucks at the net and his 16 hits lead the team.
My only concern is what got Clarkson into the fantasy discussion in the first place: PIM. While his 11 PIM are nice, they all came in two games (nine against Pittsburgh on Jan. 22). It's quite reasonable to assume that the team has asked him to cool it because he's becoming increasingly important offensively, but it would be nice piece of mind to see him pile up more penalty trips.
His 18.4 shooting percentage is quite a bit higher than his 10 percent career average, although most owners would gladly accept a 10 percent success rate if he continues to fire about four SOG per game.
Obviously add him if you're lucky enough to be in a league where he's available, but cross your fingers that he can multi-task scoring and agitating.
INJURY NOTES (full list) and QUICK HITS
Quite the scare in the Pittsburgh Penguins’ win against the New York Islanders last night, as Sidney Crosby took a puck to the face. He returned to action so it’s probably A-OK, but considering his background, any time he takes one anywhere near his mug it’s good reason to at least keep your eyes peeled … Miikka Kiprusoff appeared to suffer some kind of lower-body injury last night and will be re-evaluated today or soon. Beware and ponder Leland Irving, who seems due for a chance or two at the big time anyway … James van Riemsdyk seems like one of - if not the - Toronto Maple Leafs to own. He scored goals five and six last night, so give JVR a spin if you’re winger-needy and he’s available … Martin Erat returned to action with a three-point game on Tuesday ... Thomas Vanek’s absurd scoring streak finally came to an end, but who are you to complain? … With Brian Elliott getting the hook on Tuesday, maybe Jake Allen will get a start? I wouldn’t make too many sacrifices to see if that pans out, honestly … Christian Ehrhoff is day-to-day with a mystery issue … Daniel Girardi also seems to have a case of the undisclosed injuries … Victor Hedman is day-to-day with a lower-body injury of his own … Carl Gunnarsson’s groin problem leaves him day-to-day, too.
There are only a few go-to rules in fantasy hockey - and by extension, the Daily Dose - but practicing patience is one of them. (Of course, one of the other strategies I advise following is sort of the opposite: it’s often profitable to manipulate the lack of patience from others by acquiring struggling players in buy-low trades.)
Now, that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t sting to sit there watching one of your top picks flail in the wind. Especially in a shortened season that’s already rapidly approaching the quarter-mark.
To me, two players represent some of the most angst-filled situations, even if they’re probably damaging their fantasy teams a bit less than really high picks like Alex Ovechkin and Ilya Kovalchuk: Phil Kessel and Shea Weber.
Before we break down their similar struggles, please note that you can purchase the Season Pass by clicking here and that it’s not too late to join and play Yahoo! hockey.
PHIL THE FACILITATOR?
Say what you will about Phil Kessel, it’s not like the embattled American winger is dogging it. (Despite what your local red-faced pundit will say.)
To some, nothing he does will make up for the fact that he stunningly still lacks his first goal of the season, but you’d have to have a coal-plated heart not to feel for the guy. Most importantly, all signs still point to relief on the horizon.
Also on the bright side, he contributed nicely to the Toronto Maple Leafs’ 3-2 win over the Washington Capitals on Tuesday. Sure, he didn’t find the net, but he assisted on two of the Buds’ tallies. That gives him six assists in 10 games, which makes his twine-shyness a lot easier to stomach.
Studying the stark zeroes for Kessel and Weber made me wonder if shots on goal are a good enough measure of their frustrations. To better illustrate those frustrations, I thought I’d also list the pucks they sent on a wayward journey from the net (also known as missed shots).
Phil Kessel - 42 shots and 16 missed shots
Shea Weber - 22 shots and 13 missed shots
Kessel’s 42 shots lead the NHL while those 16 missed ones is tied for third overall. The guy is obviously frantically sending rubber at goalies and it just isn’t working out. Unless he has some weird curse on him, he’s bound to figure it out.
But yes, I understand why you might be getting antsy right about now.
WEBER STUCK
Shea Weber is making just under $8 million per season thanks to that killer contract he was inked to during a turbulent offseason. (It’s hard not to wonder if both the Flyers and Nashville Predators wish that David Poile just took the draft picks instead of matching the offer sheet.)
Like Kessel - and any number of struggling/unlucky guys such as Kovalchuk, Ovechkin, Tyler Seguin and so on - I expect Weber to get things together.
Yet also like Kessel with injured linemate Joffrey Lupul, it’s clear that Weber misses his partner in crime. While one must note the small sample size, it seems as if both Ryan Suter and Weber are better off together than apart.
Either way, Weber’s owners’ frustration must really be building, because he’s not necessarily contributing as much in the peripheral areas that help some defensemen stay afloat.
Those 13 PIM are nice, but seven of them came when he got into a skirmish with Jared Boll on opening night. For a big, rugged blueliner, Weber doesn’t really pile up PIM that much, historically speaking. He only had 46 last season, 56 in 2010-11 and 36 in 09-10. (He did have 80 in 08-09, though.) Generally I'm sure the Predators prefer Weber to be on the ice, but fantasy owners wouldn't mind the variety that would come from a few trips to the box.
Twenty-two shots on goal aren't bad for a defenseman, but he's generally been a little closer to three per game. His +21 rating from last season is likely an anomaly as he's only been in the double digits one other time (+13 in 06-07). I'm not a fan of the plus/minus stat, but when Weber isn't doing much, a +1 is undeniably disappointing. (You could do worse than his 20 hits, however.)
Again, it'll get better. He's had four straight seasons of 16+ goal and 43+ point production. I will say that I'm more confident Kessel will approach his usual output than Weber, who's on a team that's really struggling for scoring.
Hate to twist the knife, but you'd think Weber would have at least gotten a secondary assist in Nashville's 6-1 drubbing of St. Louis, though.
In case you’re wondering, Evander Kane leads the NHL in missed shots with 22, five more than the nearest players and only five less than the 27 SOG he’s collected so far. (Requisite joke: maybe he should buy LASIK surgery with all of that fancy Vegas money.)
More fantasy fun after the jump.
CLARKSON MIGHT JUST BE FOR REAL
We’re approaching the point where it’s only fair to list David Clarkson in that rare group of power forwards who are almost as likely to light up the scoreboard as they are to provide delicious peripherals like PIM.
Clarkson had a great game for New Jersey on Tuesday, factoring into all three goals (two tallies, one assist) to help the Devils continue to defy reason and on-paper expectations. Overall, he has a highly impressive 12 points in nine games, including seven goals - for of which on the power play, two of which were GWG. His 38 shots indicate that he's far from shy about firing pucks at the net and his 16 hits lead the team.
My only concern is what got Clarkson into the fantasy discussion in the first place: PIM. While his 11 PIM are nice, they all came in two games (nine against Pittsburgh on Jan. 22). It's quite reasonable to assume that the team has asked him to cool it because he's becoming increasingly important offensively, but it would be nice piece of mind to see him pile up more penalty trips.
His 18.4 shooting percentage is quite a bit higher than his 10 percent career average, although most owners would gladly accept a 10 percent success rate if he continues to fire about four SOG per game.
Obviously add him if you're lucky enough to be in a league where he's available, but cross your fingers that he can multi-task scoring and agitating.
INJURY NOTES (full list) and QUICK HITS
Quite the scare in the Pittsburgh Penguins’ win against the New York Islanders last night, as Sidney Crosby took a puck to the face. He returned to action so it’s probably A-OK, but considering his background, any time he takes one anywhere near his mug it’s good reason to at least keep your eyes peeled … Miikka Kiprusoff appeared to suffer some kind of lower-body injury last night and will be re-evaluated today or soon. Beware and ponder Leland Irving, who seems due for a chance or two at the big time anyway … James van Riemsdyk seems like one of - if not the - Toronto Maple Leafs to own. He scored goals five and six last night, so give JVR a spin if you’re winger-needy and he’s available … Martin Erat returned to action with a three-point game on Tuesday ... Thomas Vanek’s absurd scoring streak finally came to an end, but who are you to complain? … With Brian Elliott getting the hook on Tuesday, maybe Jake Allen will get a start? I wouldn’t make too many sacrifices to see if that pans out, honestly … Christian Ehrhoff is day-to-day with a mystery issue … Daniel Girardi also seems to have a case of the undisclosed injuries … Victor Hedman is day-to-day with a lower-body injury of his own … Carl Gunnarsson’s groin problem leaves him day-to-day, too.