Editor's note: Our Ross Devonport and Michael Hurcomb read, write and
analyze everything Fantasy Hockey on a daily basis for CBSSports.com.
They agree and disagree on a variety of subjects on a weekly basis and
will share their opinions on Fantasy-relevant topics each week.
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Which goalie would you rather have for the rest of the season: Ray Emery or Carey Price?
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Ross Devonport
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Michael Hurcomb
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I'll take the guy who is in better mental shape. Problem is, both
of these guys are a little nuts. Emery is known as a ticking time
bomb, but you have to think the Flyers did their research before
bringing him back to the NHL. Price, meanwhile, is under some
serious pressure to perform in Montreal and has had some meltdowns
of his own recently. I'd lean towards Emery for now because I
think he knows this could be his last chance to make in the league
and I'm hoping he's matured over the years. Plus, I actually think
the Flyers could end up being better than the Canadiens.
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Taking Emery would be the safe pick after his standout opening
Fantasy week and longer track record. But sometimes Fantasy is all
about potential and Price is a good goalie. He has been off his
game since a second-half ankle injury last season and his
confidence is shot, but I still feel the best is yet to come from
the 2005 first-round pick. He dominated every level he has been at
and don't forget he was an All-Star starter in 2008-09. I would
tell Fantasy owners to buy low on Price because the risk is
definitely worth the potential upside.
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Now that Johan Franzen (knee) is
out for several months, which Detroit forward should Fantasy
owners be adding off waivers?
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Ross Devonport
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Michael Hurcomb
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I picked Ville Leino to win the
Calder Trophy award this season, so I guess I have to go with the
26-year-old here. Leino is old for a rookie, but he held his own
in his only AHL season in 2008-09 and did managed to put up nine
points in his 13 games up with the Red Wings. He played on the
second line with Daniel Cleary and Valtteri Filppula in Saturday's win over the Capitals, but will
need to see some more power play time if he's going to be worth
adding in more than just deeper leagues.
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I've got no problems with Ville Leino.
I have him on a few of my rosters and feel he is a great Fantasy
sleeper. However, I think Fantasy owners need to take a look at Jason Williams. He had his best season with Detroit back in
2005-06 and knows the system well. He is just starting to come
around and scored his first goal in Franzen's first game out of
the lineup. Williams is a power-play specialist and will be able
to help replace Franzen in that capacity, and he also does his
best work on a contender -- which of course Detroit is every year.
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Is it too early to consider John Tavares
a must-start Fantasy option?
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Ross Devonport
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Michael Hurcomb
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Tavares has showed in his brief NHL career that he's the real
deal, and while I don't think he's quite a must-start option in
all leagues just yet, he's certainly got a chance to reach that
status in the next month. He's an elite talent on a poor team, but
he plays alongside another solid youngster in Kyle Okposo, which should keep teams from trying to focus too
much on taking the top pick from this year out of the game. If he
can stay healthy and avoid hitting that rookie wall, Tavares could
certainly be in for a memorable season.
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Absolutely not. I imagine Fantasy owners are a little hesitant
after getting burned by Steven Stamkos
last season, but if you look back at recent rookie classes, there
always seems to at least be one or two elite scorers. It's
obviously a difficult jump from junior hockey to the NHL, but
every now and then a special talent comes around. Tavares is just
that. Ask Wayne Gretzky. Tavares broke his OHL scoring record as a
second-year junior player. Tavares is already centering New York's
top line and is being put in great offensive situations.
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Which player's fast start do you find misleading?
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Ross Devonport
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Michael Hurcomb
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Matt Carle was the top-scoring Fantasy defenseman in Week
1 with eight points in five games, but this is a guy who had just
26 points last season. Granted, he did manage a 42-point campaign
a few years ago in San Jose, but I just think this hot start has
been a bit of a fluke. He hasn't been traded twice for no good
reason. I do like the Flyers this season though, so it wouldn't
surprise me completely if Carle did manage to have a solid
campaign when all is said and done, but there's no way he can keep
up this kind of pace.
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The Kings have had a real offensive outburst to open the season
and third-line center Michal Handzus
has cashed in. Still, I'm a little skeptical that he is as good an
offensive player as his numbers indicate. Handzus has made his
living in the faceoff circle and as a penalty killer. Before his
ACL tear in 2006-07, he was a 20-goal threat and still has that
ability. I just feel he won't continue as a point-per-threat
option in what is primarily a defensive system in Los Angeles.
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Do you agree with Ross or Michael? Send your thoughts to DMFantasyPucks@cbs.com
and we'll post the best responses. Be sure to put Attn: Fantasy
Faceoff in the subject field. Include your full name, hometown and
state.
