This article is part of our Frozen Fantasy series.
What constitutes a good trade? Multiple players? Multiple positions? One for one? Three for two?
How about none of the above?
I'm a huge advocate of a categorical approach to trading – it's the smartest way to make a dent on your competitors. And it might be the only effective approach at this point in the season.
It's all about creating distance from the competition.
You know I'm a huge advocate of smart trade proposals – don't offer up something that someone doesn't actually need. Do your homework. Know their needs. But don't restrict that homework to simple positional proposals. And don't offer someone a center when they're already plus-10 games in that position.
You'll make the biggest advances against your nearest competitor by prioritizing categories…especially the ones where you can steal points from someone ahead of you in the standings. But don't pick one where there's only one point to be gained.
Take the Yahoo! Friends and Family league. I'd be wasting my time to try to gain points in the goals category – the four goals I need to gain one point are doable, but 15 goals to draw even to the guy two points ahead? That's almost impossible. It's not worth the effort.
But I could jump 10 points in the standings by focusing exclusively on assists, goalie wins and save percentage. And that might be enough to move me from eighth to fifth, and put me within a small handful of points from fourth. That's
What constitutes a good trade? Multiple players? Multiple positions? One for one? Three for two?
How about none of the above?
I'm a huge advocate of a categorical approach to trading – it's the smartest way to make a dent on your competitors. And it might be the only effective approach at this point in the season.
It's all about creating distance from the competition.
You know I'm a huge advocate of smart trade proposals – don't offer up something that someone doesn't actually need. Do your homework. Know their needs. But don't restrict that homework to simple positional proposals. And don't offer someone a center when they're already plus-10 games in that position.
You'll make the biggest advances against your nearest competitor by prioritizing categories…especially the ones where you can steal points from someone ahead of you in the standings. But don't pick one where there's only one point to be gained.
Take the Yahoo! Friends and Family league. I'd be wasting my time to try to gain points in the goals category – the four goals I need to gain one point are doable, but 15 goals to draw even to the guy two points ahead? That's almost impossible. It's not worth the effort.
But I could jump 10 points in the standings by focusing exclusively on assists, goalie wins and save percentage. And that might be enough to move me from eighth to fifth, and put me within a small handful of points from fourth. That's pretty good for a team that sat 11th of 13 teams early in the season.
Upward mobility – do you know which categories can give you a boost? If not, I suggest you start looking at the full standings.
Now let's take a look at who caught my eye this week.
Cam Atkinson, RW, Columbus (9 percent Yahoo! owned): Big things have been expected every single season for Biebs, but the tiny winger has never been able to produce more than 40 points in any season. He's on pace for a similar finish…unless his four points, including three helpers, is a sign of an uptick. At this point in the season, he might be worth snagging. Where can he help? Assists and SOG.
Aleksander Barkov, C, Florida (6 percent Yahoo! owned): Barkov may have an incredible future ahead of him, but his "right now" has been damn sweet, too. Since missing two games with the flu, Sasha has two goals and five assists in his last six games. His stickhandling and vision are lights-out right now – that cross-ice, thread-the-needle pass to Brad Boyes against the Wings on Tuesday night was flat-out ridiculous. And he and Jonathan Huberdeau have some rom-com chemistry going on right now. Where can he help? Assists and power-play points.
Adam Clendening, D, Vancouver (0 percent Yahoo! owned): As a Hawks fan, I was peeved by Thursday's trade with Vancouver. But as Clendening's owner, I'm ecstatic. Clendening is talented, but he was trapped behind Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook on my favorite team. But in Vancouver, he'll immediately step into the injured Kevin Bieksa's spot on the second power-play, and that's something he's more than talented enough to manage. I've already added him. Where can he help? Assists and power-play points.
Viktor Fasth, G, Edmonton (3 percent Yahoo! owned): Fasth's performance has been atrocious this season. So why is he here? The Oil has actually pulled up their socks a bit since Dallas Eakins left town. And Fasth has looked "decent" in three starts – he's 2-1 with two games where his save percentage was above .930. He's a HUGE risk, but he might help in a spot situation. If you can stomach losing ground in other categories. Where might he help? Save percentage…because that team sure won't restrict the number of shots he takes.
Ryan Garbutt, RW, Dallas (1 percent Yahoo! owned): Garbutt is a repeat offender on the NHL's ding-dong list – remember that slew foot on Dustin Byfuglien back in December? That stupidity cost him $65,853.66. So you and I both know he's a natural to "earn" PIM. But over the last 14 days, he sits tied for sixth in the league with 23 SOG. He's cheap. You can always drop him. Where can he help? SOG and PIM.
Patrick Maroon, LW, Anaheim (11 percent Yahoo! owned): This lumbersexual has established himself as the top-line left winger alongside Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry. That's all you need to know. This bearded boy needs to be owned in a heck of a lot more than one-in-10 leagues. Where can he help? Goals, plus-minus, SOG.
Cedric Paquette, C, Tampa Bay (1 percent Yahoo! owned): Paquette is best known for his courage – he's a fearless forechecker who makes opposing defenders extremely nervous when the puck is dumped in. But lately, he's showing off his hands and has four goals, including a hattie, in his last two games. The production comes hot on the heels of Bolts GM Stevie Y telling him to find an apartment (after Paquette had lived three months in a hotel). This outburst isn't completely foreign ground for the guy – he did have five snipes in his first nine games this season. But it's still pretty special to be the hottest goal scorer in the NHL over the last week. Where can he help? Goals, hits and perhaps plus-minus.
Jordan Staal, LW/C, Carolina (13 percent Yahoo! owned): Jump on little Staal right now. He's been back 12 games after missing months with that broken fibula, so his overall totals don't leap off the page. But playing with his big bro has ignited his game…to the tune of five assists in his last three games. Where can he help? Assists and face-off percentage.
Back to categories.
Now go stalk your opponents' rosters. And prey upon those who have lost a guy to injury that will keep him out for several weeks. Personally, I'd focus on a guy who lost a defender. So maybe the one who is without Dion Phaneuf. Or Kevin Bieksa. Christian Ehrhoff even. That suspected concussion could be a big blow to the Pens, you know?
Defenders don't deliver nearly as much fantasy value as a forward. So, I'm more than happy to trade a quality or borderline star defender if I can get an elite forward or goaltender back. And especially if that player can help me make gains in my priority categories.
Happy trading, everyone.
Until next week.
