WEEK 1 of TURKEYS!!!!!!

They are back!  The turkeys are here to throw shame on players who have stunk in the past week.  We dug deep to bring you the three turkeys complete with trimmings err dishonorable mentions.  There are always a bit of controversy mixed in with our choices.  So here comes the warning.  It is time to bring the pain and the gobble.  Turkey time!

These Three Turkeys

Alexei Kovalev (RW) – Ottawa Senators

This guy has no points this season with a -2 and only three shots on goal.  The 37 year old enigma has done NOTHING all year and may be benched in the near future according to reports in Ottawa.  The turkeys have kindly asked if all fantasy owners could boycott Alexei Kovalev for the rest of the season.  Think of how many headaches it would save.  Think of the children who would not have to suffer at the hands of their fantasy hockey GM parent who curses the day they got stuck with him via autopick.  I understand its only week one but until Kovalev does something, there is no point in owning him.  Toss him on waivers if you have to.  There are many other much more viable alternatives out there.

Olli Jokinen, Jarome Iginla, and Alex Tanguay (F) – Calgary Flames

Potential existed for a bad first week and it showed up in spades.  The entire first line has combined for no points and they are all a -1.  Combine this with the fact that they apparently need only “60 good games” to get 100 points which means they can take 20 games off.  Even if they were kidding by that statement (and you have to presume so), these guys did have bust written all over them at the start of the year and they are not disappointing.  Well only to the people who actually drafted them but I digress.  This line just rubs me the wrong way and I just keep thinking a guy like Craig Conroy will be paired with Jarome Iginla sometime soon.  There comes a time when you just have to sit there and admit this thing is not going to work.  Stay away from this trio till further notice.

Marc Andre-Fleury (G) – Pittsburgh Penguins

MAF is a Stanley Cup winning goalie although some will say he is just a bit streaky.  The 3.41 GAA and .853 save percentage are pretty pitiful but what is worse is the zero wins.  Career wise Marc Andre Fleury gets some wins but his GAA and save percentage is very pedestrian and average.  His numbers suggest barely a top 20 or 25 netminder to be generous.  Fleury has delusions of Martin Brodeur but forgets to play consistently well.  Surely, the Penguins and Fleury will turn it around but when your backup netminder has the only win for the team, that just raises some red flags fantasy wise.  We warned owners of Fleury to keep an eye on him and maybe even bench him early.  Who knew we’d be this right?  It will get better but owners will need patience.

DISHONORABLE MENTIONS

Marty Turco — When you are given a few days off early…that’s a bad sign.

Henrik Lundqvist — A little shaky and Toronto comes to town tomorrow.

Goalies in general — Only 3 shutouts so far?  Yes!  GAA up almost a half goal over start of last season.

Sergei Gonchar — Only 1 point so far and looks shaky.

Andy Greene — Not picking up the slack like he did last year for New Jersey

Got one we should have mentioned?  Drop a comment on the blog, twitter or facebook!

They are back as promised once again to bring the second round pain to not only fantasy owners but I am guessing fans as well.  This week the turkeys are ready to wreak vengeance on those who they feel have wronged hockey fans and deprived them of good, solid play.  These are the worst of the worst.  I am sure however our dishonorable mentions will be ones that could have been upgraded to full turkey status.  That is where the debate comes in.

So who made the cut this week?  There were some very tough choices that needed to be made.  I heard lots of grumbling from the turkeys as the voting process was going on.  Okay, trotting out the turkeys now……

These Three Turkeys

Daniel Carcillo (F) — Philadelphia Flyers

A turkey in the most true of senses.  Saying someone bit him without proof.  Add in there was later video that showed no such incident and you have a true turkey.  The 3 pts and 18 PIMS in Round 1 were nice but 0 pts and a -2 in Round 2 just screams TURKEY.  Add in the childish stupidity and it becomes a no brainer.  He has made a difference in both series.  The first one was good and this one obviously very bad.  The Bruins size and grit has been the difference but “the clown” has helped likely do his team in.  Maybe next he will try out for “Swan Lake”?

Vancouver’s Defense

Yes we are not throwing Roberto Luongo under the bus here.  But this team effort has been previously mentioned for all the wrong reasons.  Joel Quennville finally figured out to put the huge Dustin Byfuglien on the first line.  Crashers like him are a great asset in a playoff series.  When Dennis Byfuglien had a hat trick including two PP goals last night, you had to know the questions would turn to Vancouver’s D.  Some will inevitably blame Luongo and that is not fair aside from maybe the Hossa goal perhaps but the bottom lime is guys like Salo, O’Brien, Alberts and company cannot get the job done.  The injury to Willie Mitchell really has killed this team’s defense and Chicago basically is just throwing everything at Luongo and since the 2nd period of Game 2 it is working just like it did last year.  Its your move, Vancouver’s Defense.

Sidney Crosby (F) — Pittsburgh Penguins

Hal Gill is shutting him down for the most part and we are not seeing the production from him and honestly a point a game would be a decent benchmark at this point.  Two points, an even rating, and only three shots on goal in three games is not going to cut it for the wunderkind.  Yes I know part of it is the way Montreal is playing but fantasy players were counting on second round production that was a little better than this.  For as incensed as Crosby has become at times, he has not even incurred a minor in this series.  No one should be surprised by it but in a way I am.  Come on refs, call one. Seriously, Evgeni Malkin will eventually slow down a bit and Crosby does need to step up especially in man advantage situations like he did against Ottawa.  If not, the turkeys could continue to circle around him.

Dishonorable Mentions

1. Mike Richards — not only not producing but taking yourself out of plays….not smart.

2. Brian Boucher — playing deep in your net is a recipe for disaster.

3. Johan Franzen — Still looking for you Mule.

4. Thomas Holmstrom — Goalies not intimidated quite as much anymore.

5. Brian Campbell — Only because he cannot sing.  Turkeys do have a sense of humor.

The turkeys are now exiting stage left.  See you next week with more turkeys from the second round and a look into the third maybe.

Needless to say the turkeys were in some fear this week.  There were so many options but my god, the Coyotes were chasing them and almost got them before the second round.  Fear not, the Coyotes did not catch the turkeys.  One never wants the headliner of a column to literally get gobbled up by a pack of Coyotes.

Now this week may have been the toughest week for turkeys ever.  There were so many good choices as the first round came to a close.  I am sure we will be leaving some people off that maybe should be on said list.  The first round of the playoffs always has an ample amount of goats but the three we selected take the level of goat and raise it exponentially.  We hope you enjoy these and well if you are a fan of one of these players, well sorry but the truth hurts.

These Three Turkeys

Mike Green (D) — Washington Capitals

You may have seen this coming a mile away….okay maybe many miles.  The less visible he was this series it seemed to be better for the Caps.  That sounds weird but it is true.  He only had 2 points in the first 4 games but he was a +2 and actually playing pretty solid as the Caps jumped out to a 3 games to 1 lead.  Then for some reason he wanted to be more assertive.  Maybe it was the Norris nomination perhaps but ten of his twelve penalty minutes came in the last three games.  He had 13 shots in the last 3 games compared to 10 in the first 4.  The writing was on the wall.  The dumb penalties were added insult to the fact that he got plowed over by Scott Gomez.  Let us not confuse Mr. Gomez for physical play like this.  He used to take on players bigger than him but this was unexpected.  Green was clearly not the same player after and the more he pressed, the more mistakes he made.  It almost seemed like a pattern for the entire Washington Capitals team.  It is weird how that works.  A good reason to be given the first turkey and that mistake on that Habs clincher last night….OY!

Alex Semin (F) — Washington Capitals

You could hear the potential money running away from his bank account after this one.  Two points in seven games was just not going to cut it and I do not think the Caps were happy with his performance.  People think Alex Ovechkin was a puck hog?  Semin was pretty darn close with a whopping 44 shots and NO goals.  That is right….ZERO!  For a team who prided itself on the Power Play and yes Alex Semin had 27 points on the man advantage in the regular season.  The oh by the way is this.  Semin had ten more shots on goal this series than Alex Ovechkin (34).  By the way, Ovechkin at least had five goals in this series (nearly 6).  People will want to focus the turkey crosshares straight on him but Semin gets some definite second turkey wrath here.  People really are going to take notice that some Caps players really need to get the heave ho and Semin may just be first on the list as he may be more selfish at times than any (fairly or unfairly).

Jonathan Quick (G) — Los Angeles Kings

The pressure was on him and everyone knew it.  In a series where Roberto Luongo was far from spectacular, all Quick had to do was be pretty solid and the Kings would have a great shot at winning.  The amount of goals he gave up were not as alarming as some of the goals he gave up.  At least two or 3 of Mikael Samuelsson’s 7 goals were of the questionable variety and Quick had a penchant for giving up goals in the third period moreso than even Carey Price.  Now that one has got to hurt some.  The last four games he could not keep his save percentage at or above .900.  Cue up those Jonathan Bernier rumors because I have to tell you come sometime next year, Bernier is going to be the starter for the Kings and then look out.  Jonathan Quick was a feelgood story but it may be one that has run its course unless he rebounds in training camp.

5 For Dishonorable Mention…..

1. Roberto Luongo — his offense bailed him out big time in the last three games of the series.

2. Jamie Langenbrunner — just for still being grumpy.

3. The entire San Jose first line — ten points combined in series against Colorado.  (Joe Pavelski had 8 pts by himself).

4. Buffalo PP outage — 0 for 27 and really that cannot be all blamed on Thomas Vanek’s injury.

5. Caps PP outage — 1 for 33 and never was able to really generate traffic in front of the net.  Crackdown or no crackdown, you must screen the goalie!  The Caps paid the ultimate price….ELIMINATION!

So the turkeys will now take their leave but mind you, they will be looking all next week for more turkeys to put on its list.  If you want to nominate any turkeys for submission, just contact us via email on the blog and we will gladly consider it.  Thanks again.

Sincerely,

Chris Wassel

Director Of The Program