Here are some recent questions our experts have received, along with their responses. If you have a question for one of our experts, you can submit it here. Please limit yourself to no more than two questions per week.
Is Matt Read's ice time going to go down when Jagr comes back, or do you think he's really as good as he's shown in his last few games(6 goals in his last 6 games)? Read is available in one of my leagues and was thinking about adding him. Also, I don't see his name on your cheat sheets.
Read has goals in five straight and 14 points in 17 games. He has taken advantage of the ice time afforded him by Jagr's absence and could end up slotting in the second line at right wing when Jagr returns, so while I don't expect him to score at this pace, he still should have a fine season. He is right now 35th among right wingers on the sheet.
Hey guys, Have been offered perry for malkin.. Would u do it? Concerned about him missing games throughout the season because of the knee, but the dude looks so dominant. Much thanks!
I would take this deal. Games missed due to injury the past three seasons: Malkin 61, Perry 0. Nuff said. Perry hit 98 pts last season and easily has 120 potential. Let Malkin and his wonky knee be somebody else's headache. -Mark McLarney
We need to find a way to send you questions longer than the 550 character limit. Some questions revolve around showing my team roster and that eats alot of room in the message I can send. Why do you limit to 550 and can this be increased? Thanks!
Sorry, but the limit is meant to encourage shorter questions so we don't get tied up in long detailed answers. This is really not a forum for picking apart your roster player by player and providing detailed insight on each guy. It's more for shorter questions like, do you like player A over B and why, etc. -Mark
Who do you like better as a 3rd goalie 'Saves' and 'Shots Against' count as stats, Tuuka Rask or Sergei Bobrovsky? Rask could be #1 if Thomas goes down and should see, what, a game a week? Bobrovsky won't see much time unless Nabokov gets traded. Which one would you bet on? Thanks, Ed Elmore
Hi Ed, just a word of caution - best to throw out any assumptions on injuries (re Thomas) because you can never predict them. Having said that, I do think Rask will be the better play this season, as the B's have said they will try to cut back on Thomas' workload. Rask is the goalie of the future in Boston, so the team is trying to get him more playing time while still allowing Thomas to be the #1 guy. So count on 50-55 starts for Thomas and 25-30 starts for Rask. In comparison, Philly will probably allow Bryz to play his usual 65+ games this year (he might even get 70+), meaning Bobrovsky will not see nearly as much work as Rask. Good luck. Mark
Through this on the forum: Mason and Rask are available in my espn roto league with save%, gaa, and wins as categories. I already have 3 solid goalies but want to stash for trade bait. Who would you pick up?
Not sure if you're talking about Chris or Steve Mason. I'll assume it's Steve since he will probably play the most games of the three. Rask is probably a better goalie and was supposed to start for Boston last season but lost the job thanks to a slow start and then Tim Thomas took over and never looked back. The Bruins have already stated that Rask will play more games this year but Thomas is still the starter there. I view Rask as more of a handcuff who could play more than a normal backup would, possibly 25-30 games (assuming Thomas stays healthy). In your situation in my mind it comes down to two things, one, you can take Rask, but your trade options are limited to the team that owns Thomas until the situation in Boston changes, two, take the goaltender who is the starter and could be dealt as soon as an injury pops up. Mason it is for me, once again assuming it's Steve, if it's Chris, then I would grab Rask. Good luck. George Kurtz RotoWire Beat Writer
how set in stone is this brad boyes news, just trying to decide if I need to abbandon ship? its a medium depth pool there are some players on the waiver projected to hit the 45 to 50 point mark . . . . Thanks Brad
Have to admit I was caught a little bit off guard also hearing the news that Boyes was not a top six forward for the Sabres. Unfortunately it does seem to be the case, at least for now until injuries arise. Remember, Boyes can play wing and center, so an injury anywhere could see him move up the depth chart. George Kurtz RotoWire Beat Writer
every season it seems as if I seek out bargain players by seeing who appears to be the player who will play on the #1 line with top scorers. invariably lines change, little or no power play time is given to this player and the choice is disappointing. nevertheless I still look for this shot in the arm. this year, Michael Backlund in Cgy, Wolski for NYR, Ryan Shannon in TB, Filatov skating with Spezza, M Johansson on the #1 line in Washington. Others that come to mind are Filatov, V Prospel and Peter Mueller. Are any of these choices for real?
The problem is during the pre-season coach's are still fooling around with line combinations, and what works one day may not work the next, and even if it is working with an unproven player on a top line, the coach may decide to hedge his bets and still play a veteran their rather than risk a lesser player falling on his face. Out of the players you mentioned Backlund could certainly have value if he can gel with Iginla and remain his center, Wolski as well, but the Rangers may have constant auditions to see who plays with Richards until both team and player are comfortable, Mueller has the talent but his concussion history should certainly make you war, and I'm a fan of Johansson and believe he could be the best of the bunch, but playing on a line with Ovechkin means you need to get him the puck, as the offense is filtered through him. In the end I certainly wouldn't spend a high draft pick/dollar amount on any of these players, but if I wanted a center late, I like the gamble with Backlund, and I would rank Wolski, Johansson, and Mueller on the winger side in that order. Good Luck. George Kurtz RotoWire Beat Writer