We let Ian Gooding take the wheels today while we work on some research. Pick Six takes over the Fantasy Hockey ONE with a little extra info.
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Can coaching changes impact fantasy leagues? Sure! For starters, all players on the team begin with a clean slate as they attempt to make a solid first impression with the new bench boss. As well, a new coach provides a fresh set of eyes to look at some of the problems that the old coach couldn’t handle, meaning possible improved results for struggling players.
With that in mind, it was a bad day for coaches of struggling Southeast Division teams, as Bruce Boudreau and Paul Maurice were both handed their walking papers on Monday. Dale Hunter and Kirk Muller will both make their NHL head coaching debuts on Tuesday, which should make the St. Louis/Washington and Florida/Carolina matchups two to watch. This version of the Pick Six includes players who could be positively impacted by Monday’s coaching changes.
Tuesday November 29
Alex Ovechkin, LW, WAS, and Alexander Semin, RW, WAS – start
In a moment of amazing foresight a few days ago, I hinted that the situation in Washington would be coming to a head in short order. Sure enough, the Capitals weren’t going to fire the two Alexes, so Boudreau was not going to win this standoff. Hunter is known for a wide-open style as the long-time coach of the OHL’s London Knights, so you should be able to put 2 and 2 together in this one. The coaching change is more likely to turn these two back into elite scorers than it is to make the Caps the team to beat in the Eastern Conference in this year’s playoffs.
Cam Ward, G, CAR – start
Just as Hunter should bring the Caps back to a good ol’ Southeast run-and-gun style, Muller will probably attempt to head in the opposite direction with a club in serious need of a style makeover. A more significant commitment to defensive responsibility should at the very least mean that Ward’s disappointing numbers (8-10-1, 3.10 GAA) improve. The Canes led the league in shots on goal allowed last season (2725), and they also lead the league in that total this season (794). Do the math, and that means that Ward faces an average of nearly 32 shots per night. Do the math, and a .900 SV% means that he will allow an average of three goals – right where he stands now. Those numbers stand to improve under Muller.
Cory Schneider, G, VAN – start
Is there officially a goaltending controversy in Vancouver? Roberto Luongo owners have to be impatient right now, as the now-healthy starter is currently taking a backseat to the red-hot redhead. How hot has Schneider been? Four consecutive wins, including two shutouts and only three goals allowed. Schneider has been named the starter again for Tuesday’s home game against Columbus. Don’t worry, Luongo owners, he’ll get his turn. But the tea leaves suggest that Schneider should post yet another effective outing, perhaps even bailing the Canucks out if they play to the level of their competition as they have a time or two during the win streak.
Wednesday November 30
Magnus Paajarvi, RW, EDM – add
The Oilers haven’t officially released MRI results on Taylor Hall, but don’t assume that the news will be positive. Any extended Hall absence should mean that fellow young gun Paajarvi will draw back into the lineup. Paajarvi’s stat line this season is hardly big league (one assist in 19 games), but deeper leaguers may wish to make a speculative grab in case he catches fire with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins.
Bobby Ryan, LW, ANA – watch
If I employed Ryan on one of my fantasy teams (which I don’t), I would continue to play him as I normally would. However, I would also watch his production like a hawk. Ryan, who was listed in the top 10 in Yahoo pre-draft rankings (which I didn’t agree with), has just 11 points (7g-4a) and a (-6) in 23 games – numbers hardly worthy of where he was probably drafted. The Ducks’ recent struggles have the rumormongers suggesting that they need to trade Ryan in order to make it work as a contender. To keep our earlier theme of coaching changes, perhaps the Ducks will be the next team to go in a different direction behind the bench. I have a feeling this won’t be the last time I mention Ryan’s name in this article this season.
Jonas Hiller, G, ANA – bench
If Ward’s numbers are bad this season, then Hiller’s numbers are even worse (5-10-4, 3.22 GAA, .897 GAA). This month, Hiller has just one win in 11 tries with a goals-against average that is pushing 4.00, so perhaps he’ll be glad to ditch the Movember mask in December. However, the Ducks simply don’t look like a team that will turn it around by then. In fact, the downtrodden Columbus Blue Jackets are now only one point in arrears for the race for 14th in the conference. If you are willing to sit Steve Mason, then you should surely be willing to sit Hiller right now.
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SCHEDULE TIME:
Tuesday, November 29, 2011 |
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| Teams | Notes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NY Islanders | at | Buffalo | 7:00 PM | Gameday | ||
| St. Louis | at | Washington | 7:00 PM | Gameday | ||
| Florida | at | Carolina | 7:00 PM | Gameday | ||
| Pittsburgh | at | NY Rangers | 7:30 PM | Gameday | ||
| Ottawa | at | Winnipeg | 8:30 PM | Gameday | ||
| Phoenix | at | Chicago | 8:30 PM | Gameday | ||
| Nashville | at | Calgary | 9:30 PM | Gameday | ||
| Columbus | at | Vancouver | 10:00 PM | Gameday | ||
There are some very tough matchups highlighted by the big one in Gotham between a streaking New York Rangers and the Pittsburgh Penguins with some guy named Sidney Crosby. Besides that, Kirk Muller (Carolina) and Dale Hunter (Washington) get their tenures underway at home with two very tough opponents.
Just an aside on the Rangers-Penguins matchup, it almost seems as if everyone is forgetting about the goaltending. Henrik Lundqvist versus Marc-Andre Fleury is going to be a considerable amount of fun to watch from a fantasy perspective. There will be plenty of scoring chances as both teams this year clearly know how to put shots on net. The big key is home ice advantage which is something the GAS Line enjoys in Gotham to the tune of a 6-1-1 record. Pittsburgh is one of the better road teams and Crosby comes off a nine point week where he was named our Fantasy POTW (Player Of The Week). What people may have to ultimately watch out for is the secondary scoring. Guys like Sean Avery, Brandon Dubinsky, Steve Sullivan, Jordan Staal, etc. expect to figure in huge in this tilt. It always seems to between these two squads.
Another question is will Bobby Ryan be traded? We do not have an honest answer here but know that he is being actively scouted by several different teams. His point every other game production is unfathomable but not all that suprising if you listened to several fantasy experts in the pre-season previews. An Eastern Conference team seems to be the best destination for Ryan who would be featured in key situations which he is not in Anaheim because of Teemu Selanne. No one wants to say there is a little animosity there but the body language says otherwise. Keep a close eye on how Ryan plays in the next few.
How long will Cory Schneider be the “starter” in Vancouver. Sure Alain Vigenault says he is riding the hot hand but look Schneider keeps outplaying Luongo much like Jhonas Enroth has outplayed Ryan Miller for the most part in Buffalo (though the numbers are evening out now). Personally I think Schneider has to be given a full run (10-12 games) at least. While Luongo may privately sulk a bit, this is for the best going forward. The better option may be the youngster but time will tell how Vancouver dances around this one.
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Do not forget the Weekly Slapshot is on tonight at 9:30pm ET where we talk about some of the latest fantasy happenings and dole out some live updates as well. Something tells me there will be a good deal of fireworks tonight in the NHL. As always you can follow us on Twitter via @TheProgramBTR. Good luck!
