Amazing huh? Got Kovalev the same way back in the day. Jokinen was drafted, brought up early, and really struggled as a rookie and even in his second season. He got dumped and I picked him up.

This is starting to look a lot like Peter Mueller. I will not drop him anytime soon but it does not look like he will fulfill his promise from two years ago. Actually his rookie season was more than fine but 2nd and 3rd so far have been horrendous.

Mueller is struggling and looks really lost. If you see a better player, I would take the risk and drop him.

It's frustrating seeing him play lately after such an excellent rookie year.

You don't drop him in a deep keeper league.

Bergfors 2 goals tonight and I didn't use him. Actually very glad about that because I want to sign him long term and want him in the last group... 11 goals this season...not... too... shabby...

.

I drafted Torres and actually have an Oiler jersey with his name on it. Finally got rid of him last season...

Wow, Kostitsyn with 2 goals also... he is heating up and I could have used him tonight I guess. He'll earn some playing time now that he is out of his funk it seems.

Team Stats through 40 games. Listed is player, team, and pool points per game average:

Scoring Line #1
1. Henrik Sedin VAN .859
2. Alexander Semin WAS .854
3. Corey Perry ANA .828

Scoring Line #2
4. Anze Kopitar LA .779
5. Ryan Malone TB .693
6. Bobby Ryan ANA .609

Scoring Line #3
7. Nicklas Bergfors NJ .532
8. Olli Jokinen CAL .468
9. Jason Pominville BUF .450

Scoring Line #4
10. Kyle Okposo NYI .435
11. TJ Oshie STL .385
12. Andrei Kostitsyn MON .367

Checking Line
13. Eric Belanger MIN .344
14. Simon Gagne PHI .333
15. Darcy Tucker COL .231

Spare Parts
17. Steve Ott DAL .192
18. Jim Slater ATL .000

#1 Defensive Unit
1. Alex Goligoski PIT .500
2. Scott Niedermayer ANA .344

#2 Defensive Unit
3. John-Michael Liles COL .295
4. Brent Seabrook CHI .286

#3 Defensive Unit
5. Kris Russell CLB .250
6. Cory Murphy NJ .227

Spare Parts
7. Marc-Edouard Vlasic SJ .176
8. Andy Sutton NYI .154
9. Wade Redden NYR .135
10. Tom Poti WAS .111
11. Taylor Chorney EDM .038

GOAL

1. SAN JOSE SHARKS 2.56
2. VANCOUVER CANUCKS 2.62
3. NEW YORK RANGERS 3.00

Negreanu Swings Redden for Yet Another Former Thief

Not too long ago the team gave up a 3rd round pick and 0.50 to acquire Redden to add depth to the blueline that was suffering through some injuries. Well, before Redden could even suit up for the team, he was dealt to the Whalers in return for Roman Hamrlik who's been having a fantastic season with the absence of Andrei Markov in Montreal. Hamrlik has put up 5 goals and 9 assists in 32 games this season, while Redden has just one goal and 5 assists in 26 contests so far this season.

In addition to Redden, the team also had to give up a 2nd round pick along with 0.75 next season. So after combining these two deals you essentially have the following:

Thieves get Roman Hamrlik, MON.

for:

2nd round pick
3rd round pick
1.25

Considering the desperate need the team was in for defensive depth, we are very happy to pay that price for Hamrlik, a member of last years team. Statistically, Hamrlik actually ranks third on the team in pool points per game average so far this season, just ahead of John-Michael Liles. Hamrlik will see action right away, playing Monday.

Thieves Defense:

1. Alex Goligoski PIT
2. Scott Neidermayer ANA
3. D Roman Hamrlik MON
4. John-Michael Liles COL
5. Brent Seabrook CHI
6. Kris Russell CLB
7. Cory Murphy NJ
8. Marc-Edouard Vlasic SJ
9. Andy Sutton NYI
10. Tom Poti WAS
11.Taylor Chorney EDM

Which team wins this game?

1. Alexander Semin, WAS.
2. Ryan Malone TB.
3. Niclas Bergfors, NJ.
4. Henrik Sedin, VAN. OT
5. Jason Pominville, BUF.
6. T.J. Oshie, STL.

7. Brent Seabrook, CHI.
8. Tom Poti, WAS.
empty
empty

VANCOUVER


VS


F1 TRAVIS ZAJAC NJ OT
F2 TOMAS FLEISCHMAN WSH
F3 TUOMO RUUTU CAR
F4 ALEX BURROWS VAN
F5 VLADIMIR ZHARKOV NJ
F6 JANNIK HANSEN VAN

D1 ANDY GREENE NJ
D2 JOHNNY BOYCHUK BOS
D3 ALEX EDLER VAN
D4 BRYAN RODNEY CAR

GTD WASHINGTON-A

I might not be a huge dog!

I was actually shocked when I saw how good your lineup was for a short night.

Simon Gagne Returns

After a long absence with the team, Simon Gagne is back playing with the Flyers and looks to make his debut with the Thieves sometime this week. The question is, where exactly does Gagne fit it in with the team at this point? The team is so stocked at forward, that the team will likely take the wait and see approach with Gagne, even though he is already getting PP time with the Flyers. Who do you sit?

Henrik Sedin
Alexander Semin
Anze Kopitar
Corey Perry
Bobby Ryan
Ryan Malone
Olli Jokinen
Andrei Kostitsyn
Niclas Bergfors
Jason Pominville
Kyle Okposo
T.J. Oshie

That is as solid a top 12 as you are going to find in the AHL, and with the addition of Gagne, the team is going to boast a solid six forwards every night of the season.

When it's time to insert Gagne (personally, I'd do it sooner rather than later) and depending on match up, I'd sit either Olli Jokinen or T.J. Oshie. Tough problem to have though. ;-)

Can you run any better at fantasy hockey?

Puts up the second lowest score of the night last night, a MINUS 2, and still pulls out the win!

I think he paid Bryan to miss his lineup.

That was incredible! First of all I have had an insane amount of NO GOALIE games, but winning with a -2 is just insane! Sooo lucky.

Congrats on a banner regular season to the Cheap Thieves! This has been, without a doubt, the best season in franchise history as the team ran away with the division as expected.

Here are the numbers from last year to this year in several categories (08-09 one less game was played):

08-09/09-10
Points 105/120
Goals for 233/251
Forwards 252.5/271.5
Defense 52.5/62.0
Goal 200/221 (not bad considering an insane amount of no goalie games. Three goalies all ranked high again)
+/- 205.0/223.0


This is the best team in franchise history and the team appears to be healthy and VERY deep at forward which is key on short game nights.

Thieves vs Underdogs GAME 1

1. Alexander Semin, WAS.
2. Anze Kopitar, LA.
3. Corey Perry, ANA.
4. Bobby Ryan, ANA.
5. Jason Pominville, BUF. A A
6. Olli Jokinen, NYR.

7. Scott Niedermayer, ANA.
8. Alex Goligoski, PIT.
9. Tom Poti, WAS.
10. Cory Murphy, NJ.

NEW YORK RANGERS -1


1- PHIL KESSELL TOR
2- MIKE KNUBLE WSH A
3- MICHAL HANDZUS LA
4- OWEN NOLAN MIN
5- JEAN-PIERRE DUMONT NSH

7- STEVE MONTADOR BUF
8- BROOKS ORPIK PIT

NEW JERSEY -0.5

Thieves: 0
Dogs: 0

Why is Phil Kessel his number OT player, when he isnt even playing

Even on an off-night, Kessel is good for a couple goals.

True..He is just THAT good

HA I just noticed that! Sweet.

Really quiet night for my big guns so far, will need my Anahiem trio to perform as expected at home to Nashville. Down a 1/2 goal at the moment.

Perry, Ryan, Kopitar, and Niedermayer

VS

Dumont and Handzus

If no one scores anything I'd lose in OT.

This has been a creepy, weird night, wow... I should be crushing and my guys are just barely missing. If I lose in OT that will just be sick.

This is SICK!!! Chart the games where Semin, Kopitar, Perry, Ryan, and Jokinen are ALL kept off the score sheet! This is just crazy all I need is an assist.

Yes im shocked.

The kessel thing was a drag and drop mistake .
I picked up his name on the drag and paste and didnt notice he was there i was in a rush.
AND i thought i get crushed anyway.

Cheap Thieves vs Underdogs GAME 2 (Underdogs up 1-0)

CHEAP THIEVES

1. Henrik Sedin, VAN.
2. Simon Gagne, PHI. G
3. Benoit Pouliot, MON.
4. Kyle Okposo, NYI.
5. Jason Pominville, BUF.
6. T.J. Oshie, STL.

7. Kris Russell, CLB.
8. Brent Seabrook, CHI.
9. Andy Sutton, OTT.
10. Taylor Chorney, EDM.

SAN JOSE

UNDERDOGS

1- PHIL KESSELL TOR
2- RAY WHITNEY CAR
3- MANNY MALHOLTRA SJ
4- PAVOL DEMITRA VAN
5- STEPHEN WEISS FLA
6- LEE STEMPNIAK PHX

7- CHRISTIAN EHRHOFF VAN
8- CHRIS PRONGER PHI
9- DENNIS SEIDENBERG BOS
10- TOM GILBERT EDM

NEW JERSEY

SCORE
Thieves: 1
Dogs: 0

Wow...the huge upset is almost complete.

The underdogs could have put Granny Garbanzo in the lineup and she would have score a point or two

are the Underdogs winning again? I thought Daniel was having a good night (Pominville, Jokinen...).

wow has Semin ever disappeared for him.

too bad no ticker tonight, i was too busy.

I haven't tallied the score but Daniel's goalies (NYR) gave up four while John's team (NAS) pitched a shutout. Underdogs got goals from Whitney and Phillips plus assists from Pronger, Ehrhoff and Demitra.

Kessel and Stempniak

Yes! Was going on memory...knew I was forgetting a couple. What an upset!

You got to believe......... and be real lucky

Bobby Ryan first signing this summer

No surprise here, but with AHL rules changing and this being the last season players can be signed for 5 years, Bobby Ryan was a no-brainer signing at $3.00 with a peak at $5.00 in year 5. The Thieves have always been in good shape in terms of cap space, but with some of the younger players getting up there in age, it's close to becoming an issue. NHL leading scorer Henrik Sedin is in a contract year and chances are that he will be in the top salary group demanding big bucks and that will force Negreanu's hand down the road, and some decisions will need to be made. There is also talk of the salary structures changes as well, adding yet another category group. All that is being talked about internally, but it's clear that a player finishing 35th should be paid more than players in the low 90's. Sweeping changes could take place next season.

Players to Sign
D Andy Sutton, ANA. 0.50 Sign 1 year
F Nicklas Bergfors, ATL. 0.75 0.75 0.75 0.75 0.75 Sign 5 years
F Ryan Malone, TB. 1.50 1.75 2.00 Sign 3 years
F T.J. Oshie, STL. 1.25 1.25 1.25 1.25 1.25 Sign 5 years
F Steve Ott, DAL. 0.75 Sign 1 year
F Bobby Ryan, ANA. 3.00 3.50 4.00 4.50 5.00 Sign 5 years


Already Signed
D John-Michael Liles, COL.2.25
D Tom Poti, WAS. 1.50 1.50
D Brent Seabrook, CHI. 1.75 1.75 1.75
D Alex Goligoski, PIT. 1.75 2.00 2.25 2.50
D Kris Russell, CLB. 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50
D Marc-Edouard Vlasic, SJ. 1.25 1.25 1.25 1.25
F Eric Belanger, PHO. 0.50
F Henrik Sedin, VAN. 5.25
F Simon Gagne, TB. 6.00 7.25
F Olli Jokinen, CAL. 3.50 4.00
F Anze Kopitar, LA. 2.50 2.50
F Corey Perry, ANA. 1.25 1.25
F Jason Pominville, BUF. 2.25 2.50
F Alexander Semin, WAS. 4.50 5.00
F Alexander Kostritsyn, MON. 2.50 2.50 2.50 2.50
F Kyle Okposo, NYI. 2.50 2.50 2.50 2.50
G VANCOUVER CANUCKS 4.50 5.00
G NEW YORK RANGERS 2.50 2.50


Dropped Players
D Taylor Chorney, EDM
D Roman Hamrlik, MON
D Scott Neidermayer, ANA
F Jim Slater, ATL.
F Darcy Tucker, COL.
G SAN JOSE SHARKS

Exempt List
D Cory Murphy, NA. (not on an NHL roster)

$54.50 spent on the team
$5.50 to sign one goalie and one player


FARM

D NICK LEDDY CHI ml $2.00
D STEFAN ELLIOTT COL ml $1.50
D BRANDON BURLON NJ ml $1.50
D JAKE GARDINER ANA ml $2.00
D MARC-ANDRE GRAGNANI BUF ml $0.25
D JAMIE MCBAIN CAR ml $0.50
D MICHAEL RATCHUK PHI ml $0.50
D KEITH SEABROOK CAL ml $0.50
D IVAN VISHNEVSKIY CHI ml $1.50
D JONATHAN BLUM NSH fa $1.50

F JACK SKILLE CHI ml $1.50
F DEREK STEPAN NYR ml $1.50
F ZACH BUDISH NSH ml $1.00
F PHILIPPE PARADIS CAR ml $0.50
F EVGENY GRACHEV NYR ml $1.00
F BENOIT POULIOT MON ml $2.00

Despite losing Scott Niedermayer and Roman Hamrlik in the off season the Thieves defense is off to it's best start in franchise history. The team has always had subpar scoring from the blueline, but this year the D is scoring in bunches:

D Alex Goligoski PIT 6 3 3 6
D John-Michael Liles COL 5 0 7 7
D Brent Seabrook CHI 6 1 2 3
D Jamie McBain CAR 3 0 1 1
D Kris Russell CLB 3 0 1 1

Nick Leddy also scored a goal in 6 games, but he'll spend the season on the farm. McBain will be a last minute decision as to whether he gets to stay with the team at the Oct 31st deadline. At this point, defensive depth is an issue so it's likely McBain will remain with the Thieves. Big things are also expected from Kris Russell this year who is poised to be the BlueJackets PP point man of the future.

thats some huge production. Who's their challenger for the Norris trophy?

let me know when your ready to trade these stiffs.

After a weekend where the Thieves faced the Eagles on Friday night and the M's on Saturday, the Cheap Thieves have officially become the most prolific scoring team in the AHL, destroying the Big M's 9-1 on Saturday night. On Friday it was Semin with the hat trick, and then on Saturday we saw Bobby Ryan lead the way with a hat trick. Team depth will only get stronger in the playoffs when upstart rookie Derek Stepan will get called up. Not to mention Kyle Okposo and T.J. Oshie who will be back from injury in time for the stretch.

Team is currently being led by the top guns:

Alexander Semin
Corey Perry
Bobby Ryan
Henrik Sedin
Anze Kopitar
Andre Kostitsyn

John-Michael Liles
Alex Goligoski
Brent Seabrook
Nick Shultz

VANCOUVER

Hey Daniel,

How about posting once in a while

Or log into MSN

What a day for Cheap Thieves fans! T.J. Oshie, Kyle Okposo return from injury, and Nick Leddy and Marc-Andre Gragnani get the call up on defense. Team depth looking good for the playoff run without having to make any big deals.

I could see the fwds helping you quite a bit, but I doubt your D for the playoffs got any better with those 2.
I think your D could have really used some of the recent pickups....Timonen, Pronger, Weber, Rafalski would all have helped a lot.

Gragnani is a forward now, apparently.

Also, Leddy is going to be a star!

edit - oh, looks like he is just playing forward tonight. Thought I'd read earlier he'd been playing F all season, but that isn't true.

or Buffy

I got Dan Boyle... also McBain is a solid #5 now for me...

ya, good move getting Boyle. Didnt give up too much either imo.

Feel free to trade McBain to the only Hurricanes fan in the AHL. I might even overpay, homer that I am.

Goligoski to Dallas! Despite moving away from a team with a potent power play I fully expect this move to free up Goligoski as the #1 guy in Dallas. There was a log jam in Pit in terms of offensive dmen with Letang leading the way, but this move will mean more opportunities for Goligoski. Great move for the Thieves.

Dallas PP is actually better than Pittsburgh this year statistically.