The Goods: Deal With The Devils

02/05/2010 6:04 PM -  Ian Gooding

Fantasy implications for New Jersey, by David Satriano

The Devils’ surprising move for Ilya Kovalchuk puts them back in the Stanley Cup conversation, but what does it do for your fantasy team?

If you have Kovalchuk, his numbers will not take a hit. He has ten powerplay goals and should help the Devils in that category, who are struggling mightily (just two for their last 33).  Niclas Bergfors has eight powerplay goals, which was the most among any Devil, and now Kovalchuk will inherit that title. Kovalchuk could be on a line with Dainius Zubrus and Patrik Elias at the center position (when he returns from his concussion, probably in the next week. Elias skated with the team on Thursday). Until Elias returns, Jamie Langenbrunner could complete that line, the one Kovalchuk practiced on this morning at the Devils’ skate.

http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/devils/kovalchuk_to_play_tonight_for_devils_AGlbYlqbo4agnZIzf8dLRN

This would be New Jersey’s second line, behind Zach Parise, Travis Zajac and probably Brian Rolston. When Elias gets healthy, the lines will be Elias-Kovalchuk-Zubrus and Zajac-Parise-Langenbrunner, a line which has had great success last season and this season.

I cannot see any downside for any Devils’ forwards owned on fantasy teams. Yes, their minutes might decrease, but the top two lines will score more even-strength and power-play points. And while Johnny Oduya was a good defenseman for the Devils, he has scored only four points, and his departure won’t mean a big hit for the Devils’ blueline or Martin Brodeur.

Fantasy implications for Atlanta, by Ian Gooding

The burning question for the Thrashers is, how much will their offense suffer without Ilya Kovalchuk? Surprising to at least some, the Thrashers’ offense is ranked seventh in the NHL with 162 goals. Kovalchuk’s 31 goals account for nearly one-fifth of the team’s goals, so an offensive dropoff with a trickle-down effect is inevitable.

Who will suffer the most? Probably Rich Peverley and Maxim Afinogenov, who have both benefitted from significant time on Kovalchuk’s line after being dumped for nothing from their previous teams. When all is said and done this season, both Peverley and Afinogenov will post decent point totals, but expect their production over the remainder of the season to drop off sans Kovy.

Will anyone in Atlanta benefit from Kovalchuk moving on? Try rookie Evander Kane, who is one of the future cornerstone players that the Thrashers will now attempt to build around. Kane, like Kovalchuk, plays on the left side, and his icetime should increase as a result. Even Slava Kozlov, who has been a healthy scratch for the past five games, could re-enter the lineup and thus provide something for fantasy owners.

As for the new Thrashers, Johnny Oduya should improve on his four points in 40 games, but the over plus-20 ranking from the previous two seasons will be a thing of the past. He will need to fight for his minutes with offensive-minded defensemen Tobias Enstrom, Pavel Kubina, Zach Bogosian, and Ron Hainsey. Meanwhile, a change of scenery might help Niclas Bergfors break his 13-game pointless slump. Bergfors will need to compete for minutes with Afinogenov, Bryan Little, Colby Armstrong, and even Nik Antropov, all who can play on the right side.

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