Fantasy Hockey News: Thrashers Heading to Winnipeg
True North Sports and Entertainment announced on Tuesday the purchase of the Atlanta Thrashers, with the plan to move the team to Winnipeg for the 2011-12 season--pending likely approval from the NHL Board of Governors.
After going 15 years without a National Hockey League team, fans in Winnipeg would be excited no matter who was on the team. But it just so turns out that the 'Peg is going to see a string of exciting, talented young players on the rise.
While the fantasy values of these players will not increase because they are relocating to a new city, the values of several ex-Thrashers will be on the rise because their collective star is also on the rise.
Start with defensemen Dustin Byfuglien and Tobias Enstrom. Byfuglien was the league's fourth-leading scorer among defensemen this past season with 53 points. He also notched 20 goals, 8 on the power play, and 93 penalty minutes, making him an extremely valuable fantasy hockey commodity.
Enstrom was tied for fifth in defense scoring with 51 points, with 41 assists and 6 power play goals in his mix. Still a youngster, Enstrom should improve upon those numbers moving forward.
Former first round pick Zach Bogosian may have totaled only 17 points and was a -29 during this past disastrous season for him, but he is also a youngster. If the Jets---or whatever the new Winnipeg team will be called---can get him straightened out, he could turn into a decent second-tier fantasy hockey defenseman.
Up front Evander Kane is the real deal. Set to enter his third season, Kane is poised for big things ahead---he is not far from being a 30-goal, 70-point producer after posting 19-24-43 numbers this past season. He,too, will contribute power plays goals and could grab 100 penalty minutes or so, which would make Kane an extremely valuable fantasy hockey asset.
And let's not forget Alexander Burmistrov, who recorded 20 points in 74 games as an 18-year old rookie last season. Anyone who has watched Burmistrov play can see that he has a tremendous skill set, and likely will join Kane in the near future as a high-scoring player, who will be a valued fantasy hockey performer.
Send your fantasy hockey questions and comments to jimcerny@gmail.com
After going 15 years without a National Hockey League team, fans in Winnipeg would be excited no matter who was on the team. But it just so turns out that the 'Peg is going to see a string of exciting, talented young players on the rise.
While the fantasy values of these players will not increase because they are relocating to a new city, the values of several ex-Thrashers will be on the rise because their collective star is also on the rise.
Start with defensemen Dustin Byfuglien and Tobias Enstrom. Byfuglien was the league's fourth-leading scorer among defensemen this past season with 53 points. He also notched 20 goals, 8 on the power play, and 93 penalty minutes, making him an extremely valuable fantasy hockey commodity.
Enstrom was tied for fifth in defense scoring with 51 points, with 41 assists and 6 power play goals in his mix. Still a youngster, Enstrom should improve upon those numbers moving forward.
Former first round pick Zach Bogosian may have totaled only 17 points and was a -29 during this past disastrous season for him, but he is also a youngster. If the Jets---or whatever the new Winnipeg team will be called---can get him straightened out, he could turn into a decent second-tier fantasy hockey defenseman.
Up front Evander Kane is the real deal. Set to enter his third season, Kane is poised for big things ahead---he is not far from being a 30-goal, 70-point producer after posting 19-24-43 numbers this past season. He,too, will contribute power plays goals and could grab 100 penalty minutes or so, which would make Kane an extremely valuable fantasy hockey asset.
And let's not forget Alexander Burmistrov, who recorded 20 points in 74 games as an 18-year old rookie last season. Anyone who has watched Burmistrov play can see that he has a tremendous skill set, and likely will join Kane in the near future as a high-scoring player, who will be a valued fantasy hockey performer.
Send your fantasy hockey questions and comments to jimcerny@gmail.com
