Good group of questions for this week's fantasy hockey mailbag. Keep the questions and comments coming by e-mailing me at: jimcerny@gmail.com.
Question from Ryan P. in New York City:
I play in a keeper league where you are allowed to keep one rookie among the six players you can carry over into next season. I have both Taylor Hall and Jeff Skinner and can't decide which one to keep as my rookie. I don't want to screw this one up and get burned by letting the wrong guy go back into the draft. What do you think? Which one would you keep?
Jim's Answer:
Wow, you have one difficult decision to make because both of these players are going to be stars. But I don't think you can "get burned" as you had questioned because no matter which player you keep---barring unforeseen circumstances like injury, of course---you are going to have a terrific offensive player. In retrospect, perhaps your best move was to have traded either Hall or Skinner to gain a more veteran "keeper" player to upgrade one of your other positions. Playing for a far-less competitive team---albeit one full of young talent that should be on the rise soon---Taylor Hall notched 22 goals, added 20 assists, and totaled 42 points in 65 games before having his season cut short by an ankle injury. His 8 power play goals, 4 game-winners, and 186 shots on goal were nice fantasy hockey bonuses, though his -9 plus/minus mark was not. With more skilled players ahead of him on the depth chart in Carolina---like Eric Staal---Jeff Skinner has still played a key role offensively with the 'Canes, one that will only grow next season. Skinner is 24-26-50 in 70 games this season, and has 6 power play goals, 2 game-winners, and 175 shots on goal. He is also a -3. You can't go wrong no matter which player you keep. While I think Skinner should be an 80-point player down the road, Hall may have just a tick more of an upside. If I had to pick only one in a keeper league, I would take Hall.
Question from Cory in St. John's:
Time is running short, but if I can have two good weeks I've got a decent chance to grab first place and win my league. James van Riemsdyk is on my active roster, but he's not really burning it up this year. I've been offered Jarome Iginla in a trade for van Riemsdyk. I might regret this one in 5 years. But is now the time to mortgage the future and go for it? Do you see van Riemsdyk as a big scorer in the future?
Jim's Answer:
To me this is an easy one: go get Iginla. Make that trade ASAP! You have a chance to win first place in your league right now. Do not worry about the future (I am assuming by your comments you play in a keeper league) because there are no guarantees you will be in this same position again down the road. While James van Riemsdyk is a nice complimentary player, I don't foresee him being a fantasy hockey stud down the road. He is 16-16-32 this year and has an upside of 25 goals or so a year, I think. Iginla has 30 goals and 68 points this season, proving that he is not over-the-hill just yet and still capable of strong offensive numbers. Perhaps even more importantly since you have only three weeks left in your season, Iginla is on fire right now helping lead Calgary into the thick of the playoff chase out west. He has ten points in his last eight games and 21 in his last 19 games. Even though van Riesmdyk has been decent down the stretch---4-4-8 in 13 games---his production is nowhere near that of Iginla. No brainer. Make the trade NOW!
Question from Mark in Ontario:
I play in a keeper league and have James Reimer, Marty Turco, and Jaroslav Halak as my three goalies. I can keep one, and had been thinking of keeping Reimer, but he has really struggled of late. Do you think the bloom is off his rose? Which goalie should I keep?
Jim's Answer:
Out of those three goalies I think you have to keep Jaroslav Halak because he is the only legitimate No. 1 of the bunch, and will remain so heading into next season. Reimer is going to get an opportunity in Toronto next year, based on his surprisingly strong play in the second half this season, but there is not going to be a fight to draft Reimer in the early rounds of your fantasy hockey draft next fall. If you want him again, likely you'll be able to get him in the later rounds, and, to be honest, you'll probably be able to get a better goalie on a better NHL team before taking Reimer as your third goalie. Keep Halak.