Frozen Fantasy: Dirty Laundry

First it was Nazem Kadri. Now it's Joe Thornton. Everyone has dirty laundry; most of us don't throw it around in public, though.

What's next?

The Leafs are clearly unhappy with Kadri. Ditto the Sharks with Thornton, but for very different reasons. But the hit to each team's reputation is identical. And neither is very good.

For his part, Nazzy has taken the high road. He's taking responsibility for unnamed actions and immaturities. It's Leafs' general manager Brendan Shanahan -- he of never (ever) speaking in public -- who looks a bit petty. Why not just suspend Kadri for three games right from the outset? Why allude to unnamed and unspecified issues in vague and tangential ways, and in a news conference no less?

"We expect a certain level of professionalism. It's time for him to start making better decisions. There's a history here."

And up to now, Jumbo Joe has taken the high road, too ... through a stripped captaincy and misplaced blame for the Sharks' multitude of problems. The high road disappeared this week when his general manager, Doug Wilson, decided to toss him under the bus, suggesting Joe misdirects his frustrations at teammates in emotional and destructive ways.

"He just needs to stop lying ... (and) shut his mouth."

The Leafs are in full meltdown mode; the Sharks are poised to join them. There's a striking similarity to both situations -- management put its foot down in attempt to stop either a real or perceived gong show inside the dressing room. Except Kadri has been made a scapegoat for a much larger problem in Toronto while Thornton has been specifically identified as the cancer at the source of the problem in San Jose.

Ouch. Drama in public is never good ... for the player or the team. But it's great for fantasy. Both Kadri and Thornton will now go out of their way to prove their detractors wrong. And that means their owners will reap the benefits.

Maybe seeing someone's ripped gitch on the line isn't as bad as it sounds.

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

Steve Bernier, RW, New Jersey (0 percent Yahoo! owned) - He's been on this list before, so I won't waste too many pixels on him now. I'll just say this: five assists in last three games, top-six duty, power-play time and a game against Arizona on Saturday. 'Nuf said?

David Booth, LW, Toronto (1 percent Yahoo owned) - I mentioned him last week and all he has done is continue to fire the puck and pick up points (five goals, two assists and 23 shots on a six-game point streak). Just think about what could have been yours had you picked him up a week ago. Do it now. He's playing for next season and desperately wants a contract somewhere. He's one of the only guys loving life in Toronto right now. Too bad the Leafs couldn't bottle that.

Matt Dumba, D, Minnesota (4 percent) - Need plus-minus help? Dumba's your man, at least right now. This guy has a plus-nine rating in seven games and two goals, 15 SOG and 12 hits in the same span. The first-rounder is coming into his own as his ice time goes up and his confidence grows. He's still a work in progress, but he's delivering enough value in deep formats to be rostered in more than four percent of leagues.

Vernon Fiddler, LW/C, Dallas (1 percent) - Fiddler had never scored more than 11 goals in a season ... until Friday night. And I suspect he probably hadn't picked up five goals in a six-game span since peewee hockey, either. But he has managed to do that - and add an assist - in his last half dozen outings. It won't last - he's still getting the tough assignments to check the best opponents and that's bound to take its toll. But that offense makes him worth rostering. He's not sexy, but who freaking cares? You can hang onto your poorly performing stars or roll boring, but productive guys on and off your roster. I know which side of that ledger I'm on - you?

Thomas Greiss, G, Pittsburgh (5 percent) - He doesn't play much, but when he does, he wins. Try four times in his last five starts. He is the most interesting back-up in Pittsburgh (you note, I didn't say Pennsylvania) and he's available in loads of leagues. Reach for him when he gets the call, crack yourself a Dos Equis and sit back and enjoy the win. Stay thirsty, my friend. Stay thirsty.

Brayden McNabb, D, Los Angeles (5 percent) - The Kings are surging and McNabb is reaping the benefits. He's had his struggles this season, but he has five points, including a three-point game, in his last four starts. Sure his feet are slow. But he has a big shot and absolutely pulverizes guys. And he's improved his skating enough to become a mainstay in the Kings' third pairing. He won't be on offensive stud, but he's delivering supplementary scoring right now and that makes him a worthy short-term fantasy add.

David Pastrnak, RW, Boston (8 percent) - Poor kid. He took a beating on Toronto sports radio after he visited Ottawa on Tuesday. It seems the 18-year-old babe didn't realize people would notice that he started to Twitter follow not one, but two, curvaceous Ottawa-based massage therapists. They would apparently not only come to your hotel to rub you down, but also offer "value-added services" should you require them. #CaughtRedHanded. It was almost as embarrassing as the time a pimple-faced Jiri Tlusty posted pics of his manhood on social media ... All that said - and laughed about - this shifty Swede has found a home on Milan Lucic's line and he has seven points, including three goals, in his last seven games. That's solid production and worthy of an add. Or follow. Just not on Twitter.

Victor Rask, C, Carolina (1 percent) - Fits and spurts - that's Rask. I'd hoped for a bit more from him this season, but I think I should go easy on the Canes' babes. That team sucks and the development of their young is sketchy to say the least. He's started to pick things up in his last 25 games (six goals and 11 assists) and has gone on an absolute tear in his last three games (two goals, four assists and a plus-five rating). He's already a good two-way player and has shown glimpses of talent running the power play (second unit, of course, but still). Don't overinvest - he only qualifies at center. But he could deliver short-term value to your squad, particularly if you've absorbed some injuries.

Ryan Spooner, C, Boston (3 percent) - Who knew? Spooner heads into action Saturday on a seven -- yes, SEVEN -- game point streak (three goals, five assists) and he has nine points in just 14 games this season. I knew he was great in possession and that he could juke the jock off opposing defenders with his nifty one-on-one moves. But this streak snuck up on me. Maybe it's because he's on the Bruins and I'd like to seem them fall on their faces. It'd just be nice to see a team like the Panthers test their mettle in the postseason while the B's head south to golf. Spooner is supremely talented with the puck and should be snapped up - he has top-line talent and that's pretty much impossible to find on the wire.

Back to dirty laundry.

Jumbo Joe's response -- telling off his GM -- has been described as refreshing. Nazzy's reaction -- taking all of the responsibility -- is considered admirable and mature.

Win-win.

Doug Wilson and Brendan Shanahan? Not so much. Both seem a bit desperate. And the Sharks and Leafs? Who am I to judge if people -- or teams -- want to embarrass themselves in public?

Still, I agree with the great American golfer, Lee Westwood, who ripped the ill-fated 2014 American Ryder Cup team for airing their grievances in public. "I don't like to see people's great reputations being brought down by something that shouldn't really happen in public. It should all be done behind closed doors and sorted out there, and the analysis should start there, really, and not be done in the press, in the media."

Hey -- I guess there's some consolation they didn't air things out on Facebook or Twitter. Although we all like to gawk and gossip when things like that happen.

I gotta go. Doug Wilson might not stay "shut up." There's real entertainment in that. And I have to make sure I have Thornton active in one of my leagues.

Until next week.