HockeyObserver Mailbag for January
Updated : January 4
Please send all hockey questions , fantasy related or otherwise to hockeyobserver@aol.com . I answer all queries within 12 hours and often much quicker than that . Check this page often as we'll put a selection of each months content here . Thanks as always for reading .
Q: Eric asks What do you think of John Tavares as a keeper prospect ?
A: I've had a chance to see Tavares once in person, and of course at the WJC this year . Barring something crazy happening , he'll be the #1 pick in the June 09 NHL Draft and will have a Crosby type impact in fantasy/roto .
Q: VC asks do you see Marc Staal ever producing enough offense to be fantasy worthy .
A: An excellent question ....Marc will turn 22 in mid January and will already have about 120 NHL games under his belt at that time . I think eventually he'll be productive enough (12 goals, 40-45 points maybe?) to be draftable .
Q: Steve asks where should the next Winter Classic be ?
A: It's certainly here to stay as a January 1 staple I would think . I'll selfishly say I'd love to see my Rangers involved next maybe at the new Yankee stadium . As a Cubs fan, Wrigley was pretty sweet this year though .
Q: TwoFly asks Would you trade Dion Phaneuf for Shea Weber in a dynasty league ?
A: I would not . Their both the same age and Phaneuf had success in the NHL at 20 years old . Both guys are legit, but there isn't any edge there to making that trade .
Q: Teddy asks Who's the Rookie of the Year to this point ?
A: The two names that jump out right now are Kris Versteeg of the Hawks, and Steve Mason the goalie in Columbus . There's still better than half a season left though so no doubt other young players will emerge as they get more comfortable playing at the NHL level .
Q: Dicky D asks if you were starting a team with one of these players which would it be Crosby, Malkin, or Ovechkin ?
A: I'm taking Ovechkin but it's not like you could go wrong with any of the three . It'll be fun to see what will separate the group in the coming years .
Q: Pete asks who is the biggest disappointment thus far in the 08/09 .
A: If we're talking about a single player I'd probably have to say Marian Gaborik . It's starting to look like he's got a chronic injury and those that drafted him early for this season have no way of replacing that kind of talent .
Q: PA asks What's wrong with the Pens Powerplay ? They're loaded with talent but have been in the bottom half of the league on the PP much of the year ?
A: The biggest problem I think to this point from what I can see has been the absence of their top 2 offensive d-men . They asked Kris Letang to assume a role that Sergei Gonchar, and Ryan Whitney usually handle and that was too much to expect of the young player . Whitney is back, and Gonchar could return in early February and I would guess you'll see their play with the man advantage improve moving forward .