Frozen Fantasy: Deciding When to Cut Bait

Evgeny Kuznetsov is the bane of my fantasy existence. Seventy-seven points last year. Undroppable status this year.

And one point in his last eight games. Gah.

Maybe it just feels like Kuznetsov is taking the mannequin challenge on the ice. But my Yahoo Friends and Family team is getting a haircut because of him.

How long is too long to hang onto an underperforming player? That was the question asked this week by RotoWire reader, Ethan Sexton. And it's a dang good one.

Kuznetsov is an easy answer – you hold onto him for dear life. But what do you do with other guys who seem frozen in time?

I ask myself several questions before I cut bait or give up on a guy (or a season). It isn't perfect by any means, but it helps me get to a decision point:

1. Is there a track record of success? Is he consistent, year-over-year, or a one-season wonder?

2. Has his role changed?

3. How old is he? Is this the start of the inevitable drop-off?

4. Can I trade him and get value, or did I hold on too long?

5. Is he easily replaceable off the wire? There are lots of 50-point, pass-first centermen out there.

6. How quickly will someone else in my league snap him up?

7. Would I get trashed for stupidity for ditching his butt?

I dropped Robby Fabbri after he scored three points (all assists) in 11 games. Ditto Troy Brouwer after he choked up seven points and just 10 PIM in 16 games.

I got Teuvo Teravainen for Brouwer, so that's a win. TT was third in Yahoo production last week and could be a consistent top-50 overall.

Fabbri? I needed to make room on my roster for a trade, so he was replaced with Kyle Palmieri. Fabbri has rung up a four-point, three-game streak heading into the weekend.

Palmieri? I'm worried last season might have been the exception, not the new rule.

Now, let's look at who caught my eye this week.

Tyler Bozak, C, Toronto (14 percent Yahoo! owned) – Bozak is living large playing with Mitch Marner, the Leafs' version of Patrick Kane. Marner has gotten Bozak and James Van Riemsdyk off to the best paces of their careers. Bozak heads into the weekend with five goals and nine helpers in 13 games. And his on-ice chemistry with Marner is flat-out frightening. Marner isn't available, but you can still reap the rewards of his excellence through his line mate. Grab Bozak and let him ride until Mike Babcock juggles his lines.

Anthony DeAngelo, D, Arizona (2 percent) - DeAngelo is known for two things – big skill and big attitude. The former made him a first-round pick by the Bolts in 2014; the latter got him banished to the desert in a trade last June. DeAngelo comes with baggage – suspensions for on-ice behavior in junior and healthy scratches as a pro. But he might just be the most offensive-minded defense prospect in hockey. I can live with character issues if he performs. DeAngelo is on my team already. Five games and three points, including two on the PP. Yum.

Valtteri Filppula, LW/C, Tampa Bay (12 percent) - Flip is no Steven Stamkos, but the latter's injury opens a gigantic door for this defensive-minded scorer. Filppula 's offensive output has been on the decline since his 66-point performance in Detroit (2011-12). But he's the logical choice to move into the role of second-line center vacated by Tyler Johnson, who's now the new Stamkos. Filppula could return to the 60-point mark in this role – he already has seven points (one goal) in his last eight games and that was without top-six minutes.

Sam Gagner, RW/C, Columbus (4 percent) - Gagner's talent is easily overlooked or even forgotten. His eight-point game in 2012 was the first by any player since the run-and-gun 80s. Gagner loves to streak, but can never seem to chalk up consistent totals over the long term. He's on a four-game, five-point streak heading into the weekend. And over the last three weeks, Gagner has nine points, including seven goals, in nine games. He can help you make up ground fast; just be prepared to drop him once the cold north wind sweeps across Lake Erie.

Chad Johnson, G, Calgary (11 percent) - Johnson heads into weekend play with three-straight starts. Yes, he's wrestled the starting role from Calgary's goalie savior, Brian Elliott, at least in the short term. And in those three games, Johnson delivered two wins, a 1.34 goals-against average, a .944 save percentage and a shutout. Handcuff him to Elliot fast. The situation should re-balance soon enough, but you can't afford to miss this production. Grab him regardless – at minimum, you can twist his owner in a desperation trade and improve your assets somewhere else. You don't win by being nice.

Kevin Klein, D, NY Rangers (3 percent) - Klein has taken some significant offensive strides since his arrival in New York. He was cast as a stay-at-home, shutdown defender in Nashville, but he's delivered two-straight 35-point seasons under the lights of Broadway. Klein got off to a slow start to this season, but has warmed up dramatically with six points in his last seven games. His mates even call him Bobby Kleiner after the great Bobby Orr. That's a stretch, but he's delivering decent production off a thin wire. Go for it.

Denis Malgin, C, Florida (1 percent) - Malgin is a slippery little dude with skill and smarts who is stacking up points – not bad for a fourth-round pick (2015) who was tagged as #toosmall for his own good. Malgin has put up seven points in his last nine games and has been dangerous on every shift. He's also great on the power play, so he's not just a one-category wonder. You can always drop him later.

Vladislav Namestnikov, LW/C, Tampa Bay (13 percent) - Top-line gig? Check. Chemistry with line mate, Nikita Kucherov? Elite playmaking skill? Oh yah. The door is wide open for Namestnikov, who has been a fixture on the Bolts' top line, to continue his current performance (four points in five games heading into the weekend). Yes, the team will juggle lines, but Namestnikov should remain a top-six option after the post-Stammer re-boot. I have him in two of my leagues. Maybe I should have him in more.

Brayden Point, RW/C, Tampa Bay (1 percent) - Point is an offensive whiz that has been biding his time on the team's fourth line. Until now. Steven Stamkos' injury means the Bolts will need to find new chemistries over the next several months. Point has the playmaking skills to move up the ladder to a scoring line. And fast. This is a guy who scored 323 points in 247 junior games, including a whopping 88 in 48 games last season. Point is 5-foot-9, but isn't afraid to drive straight into heavy traffic and that bodes well for a Martin St. Louis-like future. Roll the dice now. Speculate.

Back to Fabbri.

I'm not going to beat myself up over the move – goals come at a premium and Fabbri is more a playmaker than a sniper. Palmieri was one of just 28 guys to score 30 or more goals last season.

It was worth the risk. At least in my eyes.

Don't be afraid to make some tough calls when it comes to cutting guys loose. Be critical in your assessments. And then pull the trigger.

Just keep an eye on who's snagging your drops. And offer a trade if it's the same owner over and over again.

I've noticed, Peter Maingot. I'm coming for you, LOL.

Until next week.