Backstrom is back between Ovechkin and Semin. I don't think Morrison has centered those two wingers at even-strength this season, though he has centered Ovechkin and Knuble a bit.
Don't have a superstitious bone in my body. And Luongo IS settling in nicely, rebounding from a rough start to begin bringing down his numbers for a Canucks team that is beginning to improve. One loss does not make a season.
Don't have a superstitious bone in my body. And Luongo IS settling in nicely, rebounding from a rough start to begin bringing down his numbers for a Canucks team that is beginning to improve. One loss does not make a season.
Neither do I. But it's pretty funny that he's hurt now, at least from a Drake v. Fate perspective.
Laich has been awesome. Consistently putting up PPG numbers, a bit later into the season than the typical fast start would indicate. He gets PP time, usually second unit, and usually second-line ice time now. He's rugged, durable, and gritty. Leadership material. From a fantasy point of view, something of a sleeper so far.
What could happen? Well, if they are rid of Nylander and sign another Swede to replace him, some of the second-line ice time currently going to Laich could be siphoned away.
curious about brooks laich... is he really playing as well as the stats indicate? can you guys give some feedback?
I've always been a bit skeptical of him in a primary scoring role, but given the right linemates, he produces. He keeps getting better, too. Is he a point-per-game player for the year? I wouldn't expect it. But he's definitely turning into a legit fantasy play at LW.
His production will probably go down once Ovie gets back, especially if Flash stays hot (and keeps a top 6 spot), but not by a ton. He's always going to be a bigger PP threat than at ES, and that icetime is pretty secure for him most likely.
(1) How many points will Flash put up this year?
(2) What the fack is wrong with Semin?! Does he really miss Ovy that badly?
1. Who knows. Once Ovechkin gets back, he won't be on the top line..but he doesn't really produce even-strength there anyway. As long as he's getting top PP-time, I'd guess he'd end up at around a 25- or 30-goal, 60-point pace (over a full season, not his shortened one).
2. He's playing brain-dead hockey lately. Either he'll figure it out and play lights-out like he did last year, or this will go on for a while longer. Either way, he's guaranteed at least one or two inferno-hot streaks (offensively), barring injury.
If Knuble is put on LTIR (which by my cap math, needed to occur if the Nylander situation was not resolved before the call-ups of Neuvirth and Beagle)
Knuble - last game played 11/13; 24 days is 12/7 (11 games will have been played incl. 12/7 game) so he would be eligible to return for the December 9th game at Buffalo
