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Ross Devonport

Fantasy Faceoffs: Will Lightning strike?

By | Senior Fantasy Writer

Editor's note: Our Ross Devonport and Michael Hurcomb read, write and analyze everything Fantasy Hockey on a daily basis for CBSSports.com. They agree and disagree on a variety of subjects on a weekly basis and will share their opinions on Fantasy-relevant topics each Tuesday.

Who will finish the season with the most goals?
Ross Devonport Michael Hurcomb
Ross Devonport While Jarome Iginla has only reached 50 goals twice, and it will likely take about 10-15 more goals than that to take home the Rocket Richard trophy this season, I just think the veteran has all the tools and the right situation to finally top the charts in 2008-09. He plays for a relatively decent offensive team, doesn't have any other studs to take goals away from him and just has that knack of being able to elevate his game to another level when the time calls for it. OK, so Iginla might need some other guys to have sub-par years for this prediction to come true, but stranger things have happened. Michael Hurcomb It has been an interesting start to the NHL season with some unusual suspects among the league's top scorers (i.e. Alexander Semin, Zach Parise, Jeff Carter, Slava Kozlov). However, in the end the cream of the crop should rise to the top. That's why Marian Hossa is my choice to be the NHL's top scorer. At the beginning of the season it was Jarome Iginla, and I still believe he is going to rank in the top five, but Hossa has settled into a groove playing alongside Pavel Datsyuk, who is one of the best passers in the NHL.
Will the Lightning's Fantasy studs come to life under Rick Tocchet?
Ross Devonport Michael Hurcomb
Ross Devonport Things can't get any worse, can they? Vincent Lecavalier, an assist machine, has only five helpers this season, while Martin St. Louis is also off to a tepid start with only 13 points in 17 games. Tocchet did a smart thing on Monday by putting those two studs and No. 1 pick Steven Stamkos on the same line, so now if they fail to produce the fans and media can't blame the coach. I think it will take a while, but things will improve. Michael Hurcomb It's not like it can get any worse. Barry Melrose and Tocchet have two different coaching styles. Melrose has a more of a grind-it-out, defensive-minded approach, while Tocchet is ready to let it fly offensively in his first coaching stint. Martin St. Louis and Vincent Lecavalier will be just fine, but I'm interested to see how guys like Vaclav Prospal, Jussi Jokinen, Andrej Meszaros, Paul Ranger, Ryan Malone, Radim Vrbata and Steven Stamkos respond.
Who has been the single most disappointing player in Fantasy so far in 2008?
Ross Devonport Michael Hurcomb
Ross Devonport It's a bit early to single out one guy, so I'll take a look at some usually stellar goalies that have really struggled so far. Marty Turco (3.58 GAA, .870 save percentage), Miikka Kiprusoff (3.49, .885), Chris Osgood (3.31, .877) and Vesa Toskala (3.24, .878) are not stopping as many shots as their Fantasy owners are used to. Turco has clearly been the most disappointing so far. Michael Hurcomb I'm going to go with Ducks center Brendan Morrison. Despite being on a line with Teemu Selanne, Morrison has just four points and a minus-7 rating in 18 games. The ironman was limited to just 39 games last season with Vancouver after tearing his ACL, but looked strong in the preseason. Morrison has been on the decline the last few seasons, but a move to Anaheim was thought to perhaps bring his 70-point potential back. It has not. He is on pace for just 13 points and a minus-31 rating in 81games.
Who should owners consider selling now before he comes crashing back to earth?
Ross Devonport Michael Hurcomb
Ross Devonport There aren't too many guys near the top of the NHL scoring list who qualify as answers to this question, but one name really sticks out: Zach Parise of the Devils. The winger has 20 points already this season after scoring only 159 in the first 244 games of his career. While he was a decent scorer at the University of North Dakota, Parise didn't light things up in one AHL season and I just think we've seen a fluke month out of him. Michael Hurcomb Out of the top 15 Fantasy scorers among forwards through the first six weeks, Sharks winger Ryane Clowe sticks out like a sore thumb. Clowe went on a scoring tear from Oct. 22-Nov. 9 as he scored nine times in 10 games. Five of those goals came on the power play -- a specialty of coach Todd McLellan. The first year skipper is getting the most out of Clowe, but he has never been an elite scorer during his junior days or in the minors. And with all the other talented scorers in San Jose, Clowe could eventually get lost in the shuffle.

Do you agree with Ross or Michael? Send your thoughts to DMFantasyPucks@cbs.com and we'll post the best responses. Be sure to put Attn: Fantasy Faceoff in the subject field. Include your full name, hometown and state.

 
 
 
Player News
Jacob Markstrom
Florida Sends Markstrom To AHL
Jacob Markstrom, G, FLA
12:51 AM
News: Jacob Markstrom (knee) was assigned to the AHL on Monday, South Florida Sun-Sentinel writer Harvey Fialkov reports.
Analysis: Jacob Markstrom is apparently nearing full health, but it's not clear when he might make a return to the NHL.

Travis Moen
Habs' Moen Still Banged Up
Travis Moen, LW, MON
12:49 AM
News: Travis Moen, who sat out Saturday's game with an upper-body issue, will not play Monday against the Hurricanes, TSN.ca reports.
Analysis: Travis Moen, who has evidently had a setback with his injury, figures to be replaced in the Habs' lineup by either Ryan White or Ian Schultz.

Niklas Hjalmarsson
Hjalmarsson Not Traveling With Blackhawks
Niklas Hjalmarsson, D, CHI
12:44 AM
News: Niklas Hjalmarsson (upper body) will not travel for Wednesday's game against Nashville, CSN Chicago's Chris Boden reports.
Analysis: The team still hasn't addressed the possibility of whether Niklas Hjalmarsson is dealing with a concussion. It's also unclear whether he'll miss the entirety of the three-game road trip or if he might return before its conclusion.

Mike Green
Caps' Green Progressing
Mike Green, D, WAS
12:38 AM
News: Mike Green, who is bouncing back from sports hernia surgery, was on the ice for more than an hour Monday, the Washington Post reports.
Analysis: Mike Green is progressing, but he will need a few days of full practice before he is able to return to game action. A return at or around the end of the month seems plausible for Green at this point.

Ruslan Fedotenko
Fedotenko Travels With Rangers
Ruslan Fedotenko, LW, NYR
12:25 AM
News: Ruslan Fedotenko (undisclosed) traveled with the Rangers to Boston, Bergen Record writer Andrew Gross reports.
Analysis: It's not clear what Ruslan Fedotenko's status is for Tuesday's game, but it's obviously a good sign that he could travel.

Cody McCormick
Sabres' McCormick Misses Practice
Cody McCormick, LW, BUF
12:17 AM
News: Cody McCormick (upper body) did not practice Monday, Sabres.com reports.
Analysis: Cody McCormick is iffy heading into Tuesday's game against New Jersey, but with just two points in 38 games to date, his potential absence only hurts those who rely on his PIMs, of which he has racked up 49.

Mike Smith
Coyotes To Rest Smith Monday
Mike Smith, G, PHO
12:16 AM
News: Mike Smith will get the night off Monday as the Coyotes take on the Canucks, Todd Walsh of FSN Arizona reports.
Analysis: Mike Smith has been unbeatable for the Coyotes on their five-game winning streak, allowing just three goals over his last four starts. Jason LaBarbera will start Monday, and look for Smith to return Feb. 16 in a crucial contest against the Kings.

Mikael Backlund
Calgary's Backlund Out 4-to-6 Weeks
Mikael Backlund, C, CGY
12:16 AM
News: Mikael Backlund (shoulder) will miss 4-to-6 weeks, CalgaryFlames.com reports.
Analysis: A prognosis of this sort was the general expectation for Mikael Backlund. Luckily for fantasy owners, his 11 points in 41 games are replaceable in most leagues.

Jason LaBarbera
LaBarbera In Net For Phoenix Monday
Jason LaBarbera, G, PHO
12:14 AM
News: Jason LaBarbera will start for the Coyotes on Monday as they travel to Vancouver, Todd Walsh of FSN Arizona reports.
Analysis: Mike Smith has been a steel curtain in net for the 'Yotes over their five-game winning streak, allowing three goals in his last four games, but he'll get the night off Monday as the Coyotes head to Vancouver clinging to the eighth spot in the Western Conference playoff race. Jason LaBarbera hasn't played since Jan. 31 when he came in midgame for Smith, and hasn't started since a 4-3 loss to the Blue Jackets on Jan. 13. He will enter Monday night's game with a 3-7-1 record, .909 save percentage, and 2.73 GAA.

Keith Yandle
Goal For Coyotes' Yandle
Keith Yandle, D, PHO
2/13/2012
News: Keith Yandle scored Phoenix's lone goal Monday against Vancouver, his eighth of the season.
Analysis: Keith Yandle now has 31 points in 57 games. He isn't going to replicate the outstanding year he had last season, but he has still been a plenty good blueliner for fantasy teams.

 
 
 
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