Frozen Fantasy: Fantasy Fear

I'm angry. I've been offered perfectly fine trade options in the Yahoo! Friends and Family league. But for the very first time in my fantasy career, I'm paralyzed to make a trade.

Damn you, Ben Bishop.

This is virgin territory for me and I have to say, it's unsettling. Every fantasy owner gets to a place like this at one point or another, but this early in the season? And to me? The dispassionate owner who plays by the numbers, not the names?

Admittedly, I'm more than a little shaken.

Every year or two, I try a totally new approach to test -- no, challenge -- my preconceived notions of how to build and manage a successful team. Last year, I threw out my philosophy that I needed to build around stud blueliners in order to win. That was tough. You know how much I love Shea Weber? Instead, I went with no-name defenders. And I won. So what gives now?

Two words: Ben Bishop.

The NHL has become goalie dependent. And so has fantasy hockey. Or at least that's what we tell ourselves. And while I have two other perfectly fine starting goalies and a solid 30-game number two in this league, my heart is screaming, keep Bishop. I need to use my head. I'm sinking like a stone in this league because my forwards suck. But I also finished fourth-last in a big league last season because my goalies were my weakest link.

Head, not heart. Head, not heart.

I really am angry with myself. How can I give you good advice if I'm not prepared to test every theory and push every limit? I need to be prepared to move any and every guy, from Ben Bishop to Steven Stamkos. And even Sidney Crosby and Erik Karlsson. I need to get over my fear. And I cannot be emotional.

I'll never win based on emotion.

Fantasy fear is real. But right now, I'm as bad as the most indecisive owner in your league. You know, the one you keep sending trade offers to and they never do anything about it. And sometimes they don't even reply…

Don't be that owner. I need to stop being that owner.

Now, let's take a look at who caught my eye.

Lars Eller, C, Montreal (2 percent Yahoo! owned): The Great Dane has shown flashes of talent in the past -- remember that hot start last year? Those five goals and seven points in his first five games to begin last season got everyone gooey about a breakout. But that hot start fizzled into just 19 more points over his next 72 games. He's on a rip again right now -- he has a goal in three straight games and five total points. The talent is there; so is the work ethic. I'm not convinced this is the breakout we've been expecting, but I'm willing to use and abuse him while he's pouring it on. You?

Troy Grosenick, G, San Jose (1 percent Yahoo! owned): Grosenick was leading the AHL in wins when he was called up after Alex Stalock's injury forced the Sharks to make the call. He's best described as a battler, which really is code for unorthodox, structurally unsound (a least a titch) and out of both shape and position. But Tim Thomas had a solid run as a battling twinetender, so Grosenick might do the same. Don't get me wrong -- Grosenick is no Tiny Tim. But he's athletic and his compete is off the charts. And his glove hand saves him more than it fails him. He'll be well-protected inside the Sharks' structure, so he could be a league-average play when he hits the blue paint. I like him in spot-start duty in win-focused formats.

Jimmy Hayes, RW, Florida (0 percent Yahoo! owned): Don't look now, but this 6-foot-6, 220-pound monster has delivered five points, including three goals, on his current four-game point streak. You and I both know it always takes the big ones a lot longer to grow some consistency into their games. So there's a chance that this soon-to-be 25-year-old power winger is finally getting his game together. Then again, I'm not ready to declare him consistent just yet. But I'm also not passing judgment, either. He seems to have real chemistry with Vincent Trocheck (0 percent Yahoo! owned) and Jussi Jokinen (25 percent Yahoo! owned), and the trio will deliver underrated fantasy value in a lot of formats.

Peter Holland, C, Toronto (2 percent Yahoo! owned): This Holland has found his Opus on the Leafs' third line. He put up a goal in three straight games heading into Friday's tilt with the Pens, and had five total points in that span. And a plus-4 rating, too. His confidence is sky-high and he's delivering like a second-line center. But wait -- the Leafs have Nazem Kadri, he of bad giveaways at the opposing team's blue line and disengaged play. It's hard to imagine Holland shifting into that role, but it's clear his game is taking a big step forward. Center is deep, but the wire is painfully thin at all offensive positions, especially in leagues with lots of teams. He's worth a sniff.

Boone Jenner, LW/C, Columbus (8 percent Yahoo! owned): Check the wire and grab this guy NOW. Jenner is an offensive beast who plays a hard-nosed game that makes him an ideal wing man -- he really doesn't mind the heavy lifting along the wall to get the puck to his linemates. He has been an ideal fit with Cam Atkinson and Scott Hartnell since his return from injury, and he's delivered four points in his last three games. And better yet, he's the kind of guy that will infuse life into the listless Blue Jackets on the ice. There will come a day (and soon) that his name will be mentioned as one of the very best players to debut in 2013-14. Yes, he's that good.

David Jones, RW, Calgary (0 percent Yahoo! owned): I've never been into treasures and trinkets -- delicate things have just never appealed to me. And that's why I'm a bit reluctant to own Jones, who's more delicate than one of those girly-girl Swarovski crystal figurines. This guy has great hands and came close to 30 goals one season. But he's never actually played a full 82 games in a season. Last year's 48 games are the third-most he's played in a single season in his eight-year career. Gulp. He does have fantasy value at times and he's in one of those periods right now. He's on a three-game, four-point streak heading into play Saturday and that streak includes a goal a game. And he has five points in his last five. Use caution -- he's the epitome of you break it, you bought it. But at least you can walk away from him when he shatters to pieces.

Leo Komarov, LW/C, Toronto (10 percent Yahoo! owned): Need points and hits? This irritating tick has been an offensive revelation this season. He was on a three-game, four-point scoring streak heading into Friday's game and he had seven points in his last 10 games. Not bad for a third-line pest. But his real value is in leagues that have added hits as a counting stat -- he might end up with 350 this season. Yes, you read that right. He's been a catalyst for the Leafs on the ice and he might just do the same for your fantasy squad.

Jason LaBarbera, G, Anaheim (4 percent Yahoo! owned): He's back. And yes, he's the same guy he was the last time he played in the NHL -- nothing special, but not butt ugly, either. The soon-to-be 35-year-old twintender is with his fifth pro team since the start of 2013-14. He can hold the fort in a good system, and that's pretty much all he'll be asked to do in Anaheim. He'll be the Quackers' backup for about six weeks while John Gibson is sidelined with a tweaked groin. And who knows after that? If LaBarbara is solid, the Ducks might decide to let Gibson grow his game in the AHL. Do you have a roster spot designated for speculative adds? Maybe you should.

Benoit Pouliot, LW, Edmonton (2 percent Yahoo! owned): Pouliot is like the year's top fall fashion trend -- everyone buys it, but it never really looks that good (or fits that well) once you get it home. Maybe that's why he's on his sixth NHL team in the last six seasons. He's been pretty quiet in his new Albertan home…until this past week. That's when he, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Jordan Eberle suddenly found chemistry at even strength. Take advantage -- it won't last. But the production is better in your lineup than on someone else's. Right?

Back to fantasy fear.

As fantasy owners, we get hung up on getting the right value for our trade chips. We think we need to come out on top, rather than be happy with balancing out weak categories. We fear being "the loser" in a deal.

Fantasy fear is real. Ben Bishop is an elite twinetender on one of the early-season favorites for the Eastern Conference. But he's just a guy.

Maybe the fantasy world doesn't revolve around goalies. I guess I'll let you know soon.

Until next week.