The Goods: Lame Flames

01/27/2010 2:06 AM -  Ian Gooding

 

 

Olli Jokinen has 32 points in 52 games this season.

Contributed by Ian Gooding

 

There are many theories as to why the Calgary Flames have lost seven consecutive games. For a couple good articles on why, check out Ray Ferraro of TSN’s take, as well as this article from new member Unplucked Sports.

But let’s take inventory of where your fantasy Flames stand with their recent play:

Jarome Iginla: goalless in his last 11 games, (-5) in his past three games.
Olli Jokinen: ten goals this season, 12 points in 26 games over the past two months
Dion Phaneuf: no goals and three assists over his past 17 games
Jay Bouwmeester: two goals in 52 games, one assist over his last 12 games

Personally, I think there are chemistry problems on this team that extend well beyond what a statsheet can say. And Jokinen’s career stats are trending downward (91 points to 71 to 57 to 32 so far this season). But these key studs, who were all likely drafted in the top 100 of standard fantasy leagues, are all currently hurting fantasy teams. There are no easy answers as to what to do with these flickering Flames. On one hand, there could never be a better opportunity to buy low, especially since the Flames can’t lose like this all season. But as Bouwmeester continues to post goose eggs, the argument on keeping him becomes more and more difficult. Could playing in the high-scoring Southeast Division pushed J-Bo’s numbers up, meaning that he is more Mike Komisarek than Mike Green? The final answer rests with the defensive depth on your waiver wire. As for Phaneuf, his standing as one of fantasy hockey’s elite defensemen as early as last season makes him impossible to drop, but he’s at least carrying his weight in peripheral stats (128 SOG, 49 PIM).

Speaking of struggling d-men, Kyle Quincey and Matt Carle have recently become available in the Yahoo Friends and Family league. They seem like solid waiver-wire adds, but Quincey has just two points in 15 games and Carle has been held without a point in 16 of his last 18 games.

Let’s move onto some good player news. Did you know Brian Elliott has five consecutive wins and has allowed just five goals over that span? I’m thinking that even if and when Pascal Leclaire is healthy again (with an injury always not that far away), Elliott should still earn plenty of starts. The Senators are riding high with a seven-game win streak, and Alex Kovalev has points in all seven of those games. Daniel Alfredsson isn’t quite ready to regress either, with ten points in six games since returning from injury. And oh my, even the struggling Jason Spezza has goals in four consecutive games. Time to buy low on these guys? Maybe, although the jury’s still out on how good this Senators team, which is comfortably situated in fifth place in the Eastern Conference, can perform down the stretch.

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