TERRIBLE BUMP FOR TARASENKO
The Daily Dose is being constructed shortly after the Colorado Avalanche’s 1-0 overtime win against the St. Louis Blues, so it’s way too early to know how bad Vladimir Tarasenko’s injury might be after a Mark Olver hit. But it didn’t look good and Tarasenko isn’t that far removed from dealing with a concussion while playing in the KHL.
Tarasenko has been a great asset for the Blues, although he has cooled off lately. The Russian rookie only has a goal and an assist in his last nine games. His overall stats (six goals and 12 points in 17 games) are still more than fine, which is why the Blues must be biting their nails over this one.
VORACEK’S VALUE
Well, if you listened to my urgent advice on Wednesday, Jakub Voracek at least worked out for you in a big way. He collected a hat trick (including the GWG) in the Philadelphia Flyers’ 6-5 win against the Pittsburgh Penguins last night.
That pushes Voracek to 18 points in 18 games (six goals, 12 assists), including a staggering eight in his last three. Fifteen of those points have come in February.
Maybe Scott Hartnell’s return will mess things up a bit for Voracek, so maybe you should consider selling high on Voracek. Honestly, I’m optimistic that the Czech winger could be a useful asset, but if you could net more of a sure thing, go for it.
Another Philly guy who’s on a hot streak is Wayne Simmonds. He’s starting to collect points (12 in 15, four in his last two) to add to his 39 PIM.
INJURY NOTES (full list) and QUICK HITS
It does indeed sound like Jeff Skinner has his second concussion in the second season in a row. Not good … No updates on Marian Hossa yet … Jannik Hansen received a one-game suspension for the Hossa hit, which seems fair enough to me. I would have been OK with no supplementary discipline at all, to be honest, but one is fine … Jarome Iginla got an assist last night, yet his nine shots on goal really stood out. He only has a goal on 57 shots overall in 2013. Even if his skills are waning, you have to think he’ll get better puck luck soon … Jaroslav Halak made his return to the Blues lineup, taking the OT loss. He wasn’t tested often, but stopping 19 out of 20 shots is all you can really ask for … Matt Read suffered an upper-body injury last night … Milan Hejduk left that same contest with a “torso” injury … Artem Anisimov could be back into action soon, but Brandon Dubinsky’s a week or two away … Jonathan Bernier won his third game in a row. Maybe he’ll actually receive some starts?
In one of the earliest Daily Dose columns I’ve written, I expressed some serious optimism that the St. Louis Blues’ coaching change would benefit the team during the 2011-12 season. That ended up being far more accurate than I ever would have guessed, as Ken Hitchcock won a Jack Adams and the Blues nearly won the Presidents' Trophy.
To some extent, there’s a chance that any coaching change can give a team - or even just a few players who were in the doghouse - a little boost. It’s about human nature in much the same way as players making a jump is; when you fear for your job or just your established niche, you’re naturally going to play a little harder. If nothing else, some struggling types might respond better to a different voice barking at them.
Buffalo Sabres players must have had Lindy Ruff’s voice tattooed into their brains at this point. The NHL’s (formerly) longest tenured head coach was let go on Wednesday after the team dropped a boo-soaked 2-1 loss to the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday.
At least at this moment in time, GM Darcy Regier is still in power. One would think that might change in the future, considering it was Regier - not Ruff - who whiffed on big spending sprees featuring the likes of Ville Leino.
(We’ll see about the Derek Roy-Steve Ott swap, although exchanging skill for scrappiness usually isn’t the wisest move.)
Either way, the question for fantasy owners is: who might prosper with a new voice in the room? Honestly, looking at the numbers, I’m not so sure there are many obvious people … unless it’s by coincidence alone.
SAVING SABRES
One guy who might get some extra juice is Ryan Miller. I openly wonder if Miller’s silver medal and Vezina Trophy-winning year was an over-his-head experience and the Miller we’ve seen the last few years is the one we’ll always see. When you look at his career statistics, the anomaly season is that top-of-the-world one, not the ones around that campaign.
Still, merely watching a typical Sabres game should give you the feeling that he’s being hung out to dry. Maybe it will be subtle or pronounced, but better team defense might help Miller post better numbers.
I wouldn’t expect him to decline, since things couldn’t get a whole lot worse - at least if his effort remains apparent.
THE BIG BUFFS
If you’re anticipating even more greatness from Thomas Vanek, you’re nuts. Hopefully you’re a more reasonable individual than not. Vanek’s numbers will likely decline a bit just by the law of averages/decreasing luck.
As you look at Buffalo’s other big scorers, it doesn’t seem like effort is in short order, at least if you judge that based on shots on goal. Vanek has 58 shots on goal, yet Jason Pominville (seven goals, 15 points, 44 SOG), Cody Hodgson (seven goals, 15 points, 50 SOG), Tyler Ennis (five goals, 13 points, 48 SOG) and even Christian Ehrhoff (two goals, 10 points, 33 SOG) are also piling up chances.
Maybe guys like Drew Stafford (one goal on just 48 SOG) will just get luckier, but the sad fact is that this team isn’t loaded with underachievers, it’s low on talent. (Again, why Regier probably deserved to be canned instead of or with Ruff.)
Perhaps Ron Rolston can reach in the injury basement and dust off Ville Leino or something, though? (Seriously, what happened to that guy? I haven’t heard a substantial update about him since late January.)
More fantasy fun after the jump.
TERRIBLE BUMP FOR TARASENKO
The Daily Dose is being constructed shortly after the Colorado Avalanche’s 1-0 overtime win against the St. Louis Blues, so it’s way too early to know how bad Vladimir Tarasenko’s injury might be after a Mark Olver hit. But it didn’t look good and Tarasenko isn’t that far removed from dealing with a concussion while playing in the KHL.
Tarasenko has been a great asset for the Blues, although he has cooled off lately. The Russian rookie only has a goal and an assist in his last nine games. His overall stats (six goals and 12 points in 17 games) are still more than fine, which is why the Blues must be biting their nails over this one.
VORACEK’S VALUE
Well, if you listened to my urgent advice on Wednesday, Jakub Voracek at least worked out for you in a big way. He collected a hat trick (including the GWG) in the Philadelphia Flyers’ 6-5 win against the Pittsburgh Penguins last night.
That pushes Voracek to 18 points in 18 games (six goals, 12 assists), including a staggering eight in his last three. Fifteen of those points have come in February.
Maybe Scott Hartnell’s return will mess things up a bit for Voracek, so maybe you should consider selling high on Voracek. Honestly, I’m optimistic that the Czech winger could be a useful asset, but if you could net more of a sure thing, go for it.
Another Philly guy who’s on a hot streak is Wayne Simmonds. He’s starting to collect points (12 in 15, four in his last two) to add to his 39 PIM.
INJURY NOTES (full list) and QUICK HITS
It does indeed sound like Jeff Skinner has his second concussion in the second season in a row. Not good … No updates on Marian Hossa yet … Jannik Hansen received a one-game suspension for the Hossa hit, which seems fair enough to me. I would have been OK with no supplementary discipline at all, to be honest, but one is fine … Jarome Iginla got an assist last night, yet his nine shots on goal really stood out. He only has a goal on 57 shots overall in 2013. Even if his skills are waning, you have to think he’ll get better puck luck soon … Jaroslav Halak made his return to the Blues lineup, taking the OT loss. He wasn’t tested often, but stopping 19 out of 20 shots is all you can really ask for … Matt Read suffered an upper-body injury last night … Milan Hejduk left that same contest with a “torso” injury … Artem Anisimov could be back into action soon, but Brandon Dubinsky’s a week or two away … Jonathan Bernier won his third game in a row. Maybe he’ll actually receive some starts?