By JIMMY D / Fantasy Hockey Report | Jimmy's archive

With the Super Bowl two weeks away and spring training looming after that, hockey is temporarily your sole fantasy focus.

Too bad that it too will cease for a few weeks while NHLers pull on national team jerseys and try to assert global domination at the Turin Olympics.

If the 2005 baseball season will best be remembered for the dearth of quality closers, then 2006’s hockey season will be remembered for the dearth of quality keepers.

The goalie position had been fairly predictable in recent years, with vets slowly be replaced by younger guys (goodbye Felix Potvin), injured guys fading to black (see ya Jeff Hackett, Roman Cechmanek) holdout guys finding it hard to find jobs (where are you Byron Dafoe?) and prospects pushing from the bottom (welcome to the show Antero Niittymaki and Henrik Lundqvist).

But trying to predict whose fantasy production is safe has been a disaster so far.

Boston

Andrew Raycroft was supposed to be a rising young star and the answer to Beantown’s goalie woes. The Calder Trophy winner has struggled with injuries and form, so is he the second coming of Andy Moog or the second coming of Blaine Lacher?

He now has Finn Hannu Toivonen pressing for minutes.

Since both are hurt, you have journeyman Tim Thomas winning minutes and Boston picking up Hawk cast-off Craig Anderson last week. Four goalies, something has to give.

Raycroft has the most trade value and with the rest of the roster – and upper management – in flux, it makes sense that he will be gone to shed payroll and bring in new blood.

But pay attention to the persistent rumours out of Boston that have Ray Bourque being courted to take over the GM chair. Boston is due for a Long Island-style management and coach purge. New bosses brings new ideas.

Edmonton

Whenever a goalie trade rumour pops up, Edmonton is often whispered as a destination. Why? Because of the Triumvirate of Mediocrity holding back Oiler fortunes there now!

Ty Conklin is erratic, Jussi Markkanen is one of those C-grade keepers who should never see serious minutes and Mike Morrison is not the answer.
Expect to see someone like Raycroft or Marty Biron end up here, with the rest scattered to the nether-reaches of Europe or the East Coast league.

Buffalo

Speaking of the Sabres, here is another three-headed monster, but unlike the previous two, all three here have value. Management wants Ryan Miller to be the No. 1 and he deserves it. But when he was hurt, longtime Sabre Biron reeled off an impressive run of wins that kept Buffalo cruising.

Buffalo has preferred to not mess with a good thing, but it only makes sense to peddle Biron and harvest some trade value. Mika Noronen is also solid, but is earmarked as the backup. He has grumbled lately about riding the AHL buses.

Tampa Bay

They couldn’t afford Nik Khabibulin under the new salary-cap rules, but they figured John Grahame was up to the task. Wrong. The son of Ron (who was traded to Los Angeles by Boston for a draft pick that turned out to be the aforementioned Bourque) has struggled and aging Sean Burke is several years removed from being a reliable No. 1. There were Khaby-back-to-Tampa rumours, but he tweaked his groin and knee and is now out until after Turin.

New York Rangers

Henrik Lundqvist came out of nowhere and now carries Ranger – and Swedish – hopes on his shoulders. Kevin Weekes, as he has done at every stop in his career, has managed to play himself out of the No. 1 spot.

But he is still young enough and talented enough to get another shot, perhaps in Edmonton. For now, he goes from the injured list to the backup role. Jimmy is concerned about Henny’s second half, fearful he may burn out.

The Rangers are as well, meaning Weekes is unlikely to move this season, unless the Blueshirts get a reliable veteran back in return.

Phoenix

Curtis Joseph took advantage of a Brian Boucher injury to hog starter minutes in the desert. He is a nice, affordable waiver transaction for you and should log decent wins for your team.

If you saw him interviewed last week, you have to think he is headed back to Toronto next season. It means Boucher will likely stay put and young Dave Leneveu will be asked to develop in the AHL in preparation for No. 1 duty next year.

Colorado

Dave Aebischer’s recent play has removed any uncertainty around the goalie situation in Denver. Peter Budaj is a career backup or worse. Vitaly Kolesnik remains an intriguing option and will eventually boot Budaj. You will hear Kolesnik’s name in Turin as Kazakhstan’s main weapon.

Boston Pizza winner crowned

Jimmy won the inaugural Boston Pizza Pick ‘Em football challenge! OK, so it wasn’t this Jimmy.

Jimmy Cook of Coldbrook managed to go 1-1 Sunday to narrowly hold off Ryan White of Timberlea by a single point. After 18 weeks of picking winners, it came down to a single point and Cook wins the Super Bowl Party with seven friends at Boston Pizza.

Thanks to everyone who played and thanks to the sponsor.

We already have a bunch of improvements scheduled for next year’s version and we will also explore a March Madness game too.

Anyone interested can contact me at Jimmy@ATS411.com or check out the website at www.JimmyDSports.com

In the meantime, stay busy and stay lucky.