Today a fantasy hockey look at who's been good and who hasn't been so good from teams in the Southeast Division...
Atlanta Thrashers
Plus: It's difficult to separate defensemen Dustin Byfuglien and Toby Enstrom, who both have elevated their respective games to become All Stars this season. Both players have 41 points, three shy of the league lead for defensemen, with Byfuglien leading all rearguards with 16 goals. The converted forward also has six power play goals, six game-winners, and 47 penalty minutes, making him a fantasy hockey stud this season. Enstrom is not far behind with 33 assists and five power play goals.
Minus: More was expected from a third member of the Thrashers' young defense corps, Zach Bogosian. After recording 23 points as a 19 year-old last season, Bogosian has just three goals, eight points, and no power play goals in 41 games this season. His -12 almost mirrors his -18 of a year ago, but that's not going to help fantasy hockey owners at all either.
Carolina Hurricanes:
Plus: Rookie Jeff Skinner certainly was projected to be a star in the National Hockey League some day soon, but few thought his ascension would take place this season. The uber-skilled 18 year-old has jumped right from the NHL Draft in June to the NHL and currently leads all rookies with 40 points in 50 games played. He has scored at even strength and on the power play, raising his value even more for fantasy hockey owners. For those fantasy hockey owners who selected Skinner in keeper drafts, well, they found themselves a real keeper.
Minus: Coming off a 21-goal, 40-point sophomore season in the NHL, offensive expectations were raised for Brandon Sutter this season. However he has struggled to find his offensive game much of the season, though certainly his all-around game and leadership has been a boon to the Hurricanes. Sutter has 11 goals, 18 points, and only one power play goal this season, though he might be breaking out as he has netted four goals in his last four games.
Florida Panthers:
Plus: Not a lot to like from a fantasy hockey perspective with the Panthers. The best that can be said is that Dennis Wideman provides decent secondary production as a defenseman. Wideman has 25 points in 49 games, with five of his six goals coming on the power play.
Minus: Michael Frolik scored 21 goals each of the last two seasons. This season he has eight, and only 26 points. While many fantasy hockey owners thought that the 22 year-old former first round pick was set to take off, he instead has gone the other way. Froilik hit the break pointless in his last 11 games and without a goal in 19 straight.
Tampa Bay Lightning:
Plus: Steven Stamkos has been out of this world, leading the NHL with 38 goals and 67 points, but credit should also be given to winger Martin St. Louis, a worthy first-round fantasy pick who likely slipped a round or two in most fantasy hockey drafts. St. Louis is fifth in the league with 60 points, second with 40 assists, and has also scored 20 goals.
Minus: The goaltending tandem of Mike Smith and Dan Ellis has been subpar at best this season. They have picked up wins for their fantasy owners only because the Lightning have been so good as a team, but their other numbers have been poor (both, for example, have goals against averages under 89%). And things won't get any better from a fantasy hockey point of view for either goalie now that Dwayne Roloson has been acquired from the Islanders.
Washington Capitals:
Plus: This is an extremely tough decision because even though Alex Ovechkin has been a point-a-game player, and Nicklas Backstrom and Alexander Semin have put up good numbers, the over-riding feeling is that all three players have underachieved, particularly Ovechkin who has not lived up to his first-overall draft status in many fantasy hockey leagues (51 gp, 19-32-51, 2 PPG). Semin has 35 points in 39 games, but has been sidelined for a long stretch due to injury; and Backstrom has 46 points in 50 games. Hard to pick these guys, but their numbers---though not quite what expected---are still solid for fantasy hockey owners.
Minus: Mike Green is similar to the three players named above---a star expected to put up huge numbers by fantasy hockey owners---except that he hasn't at all approached reaching those lofty expectations. Green notched 70+ points the last two seasons, making him an extremely valuable, first-round-worthy, pick as a defenseman in fantasy hockey drafts. However Green has just eight goals and 22 points, putting him in line for a huge drop-off in production this season.