Today's All-Star break fantasy hockey update focuses on the teams in the Northeast Division...
Boston Bruins:
Plus: This one is a slam-dunk because goaltender Tim Thomas has reclaimed his spot among the elite goalies in the entire National Hockey League this year after a down season a year ago. Thomas, who likely was selected in the later rounds of most fantasy hockey drafts---if at all---leads the league with a 1.84 goals against average, .945 save percentage, and seven shutouts to go along with 23 wins. More power to you if you were wise---or lucky---enough to snag Thomas in your draft. You have been well rewarded.
Minus: Marc Savard valiantly returned from a major concussion suffered last season and many fantasy hockey owners jumped at the chance to add him as a free agent when he rejoined the Bruins lineup in December. After scoring just two goals, and adding eight assists, in 25 games (to go with a -7 plus/minus mark), Savard suffered another concussion this past week and most likely is through for the season.
Buffalo Sabres:
Plus: Defenseman Jordan Leopold got off to a fast start and has put together a strong season from a fantasy hockey perspective for the struggling Sabres. With 27 points this season, Leopold has already suprassed his total of 26 from last season and is just six points shy of equaling his career-high set back in 2003-04. Three power play goals is nice extra bonus, though his -6 is far from a plus.
Minus: Last year goaltender Ryan Miller was the top goalie in the league, and an Olympic hero to boot. For those reasons, many fantasy hockey owners selected Miller in the first round---or he at least was among the top one or two goalies chosen regardless of round---yet his numbers this year do not justify that high a pick in fantasy hockey leagues. Miller ranks 24th among league goalies with a .913 save percentage and 27th with a 2.68 goals against average. Watch him, though. Miller has won each of his last four decisions, allowing only eight goals in that span.
Montreal Canadiens:
Plus: After a wildly inconsistent season a year ago, goaltender Carey Price has handled No. 1 duties in Montreal in fine fashion, ranking second in the NHL with 24 wins while posting a career-best 2.34 goals against average with a career-high 4 shutouts. When Jaroslav Halak was traded to St. Louis this past summer, Price could have gone either way with the opportunity to be No. 1. To his credit---and to all fantasy hockey owners who selected him this year---Price has answered the call.
Minus: Defenseman Andrei Markov is a sought-after pick year after year in fantasy hockey drafts. This season, Markov has been limited to seven games due to a pair of injuries, and is currently through for the remainder of the season. Frustrating return on investment.
Ottawa Senators:
Plus: Not a lot of options to choose from on the lowly Sens roster, but rugged defenseman Matt Carkner has been a nice find for fantasy hockey owners in need of penalty minutes and not willing to give up an offensive forward position to get the requisite PIM. Carkner hits the break fifth in the NHL with 128 penalty minutes, and his -3 plus/minus mark isn't going to kill you, though his one goal and five points won't help a fantasy hockey owner that much either. Carkner is all about one category in fantasy leagues, and he's been a big plus in that one category.
Minus: You could list almost the entire Sens roster here from Alex Kovalev and Jason Spezza to Daniel Alfredsson and Chris Phillips, fantasy hockey busts all. But Ottawa's fantasy minus needs to be shared by goaltenders Brian Elliott (37 gp, 12 wins, 3.15 GAA, .897 save %) and Pascal Leclaire (14 gp, 4 wins, 2.83 GAA, .908 save %). Shame on any fantasy hockey owner for wasting a pick on the untrustworthy Leclaire, who can't ever seem to be healthy, and when he is has proved to be just an average goalie anyway.
Toronto Maple Leafs:
Plus: Clarke MacArthur is hands-down the biggest fantasy plus on the Maple Leafs this season, and likely the most successful under-the-radar free agent signing of the past off-season. With 15 goals---6 on the power play---and a career-high 40 points already, MacArthur has been an extremely pleasant surprise for the Leafs, and for fantasy hockey owners who were able to pick him up early in the season.
Minus: When he arrived from Sweden two years ago---along with his "Monster" monicker---Jonas Gustavsson was thought to be the long term answer for Toronto's issues in goal. However Gustavsson has had a very poor season this year, winning just six of his 21 decisions to go along with a 3.29 goals against average and .890 save percentage that are frightfully bad. So poor has his play been that now Gustavsson is losing playing time to rookie James Reimer, a former fourth round pick who recently was playing in the ECHL.