Week 13 - Mid-Season Line-ups and Happy New Yer

It is looking more dire for the FUNHL as the Severed Heads seems to have co-opted Ra's Al Ghul strength and certainly points as he continues to lead us "boys" who are acting as feeble GMs

Alas, he did NOT take the head...heh...heh

Regardless, there is always hope, the last thing that snuck out of Pandora's Box

Please post your Week 13 Line-ups here...

Thanks and Happy New Year to All!

FUNHL News and Notes

Season's Greetings Everyone!

- It's funny, but this is the weakest feeling 20 point lead I've ever held in the pool. I know the stats say that the Heads are running away with things, but it really doesn't feel that way.

- I mentioned this in my e-mail, but Steve Downie clowning it up to the tune of 50+ points over the first 1/3rd of the season is a huge part of why the Heads are winning, and why the lead doesn't feel at all safe. Sure, he could finish with 40points and 300PIM (maybe the greatest TG season since Bob Probert), but there is no way I am comfortable counting on it.

- I've been really bad in not getting out the team reviews.

- I've been even worse in shepherding the FUNBA and doing team updates and reviews for everyone in it. Please don't kill me.

- I predict that as new young FPs come on line next year, at least two of; Kopitar, Toews, Zetterberg, and Erik Staal will be replaced. None of them are 'bad', but none of them qualify as 1st line Cs either.

- Among the candidates I'd put up to replace the departing Cs; Ryan Johanssen-C Clb, Alex Pieterangelo-D StL, Ryan Suter-D Min, Taylor Hall-L Edm, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins-C Edm, and Johnny Gaudreau-L Cgy.

- Chances of Edmonton catching Calgary in the standings = roughly 0.01%. The tears of Wayne Gretzky never tasted so good.

- Rob's decision to draft Drouin is edging from 'curious, could be a good move' into 'wasted two prime years of Tuuka Rask waiting for Drouin to be remotely productive'. territory.

- I'm going out on a limb and suggesting that Bob's combo of Parise-Lucic is the weakest FP pairing in the league. Despite what I just said about Drouin.

- Of all the teams in the league, the one that scares me the most is Dan's Great Whites. Why? Jagr once lost a scoring title and a goal scoring title to a white hot Joe Thornton blowing up in the 2nd half of a season. His team is thick at C, D, and G, and has nice weapons on the wing. Also, I hate Carey Price.

- The other guy to be scared of is Darrell. It's always f#$%^ing Darrell.

- If there is a more dissapointing pick for a team this year than Corey's selection of Jason Spezza I don't know what it is. Spezza should have been a ppg stalwart rocking the #2C role in Dallas. Instead, he's been invisible.

- The Edge have a terrific RW, a very ice set of pivots (Getzlaf, Johanssen, Little), and a very decent D corps, so why aren't they better? Well, the goaltending has been bad, trending to terrible, but outside of that, I honestly don't understand what the problem is. I think I say this every year about the Edge, but at some point his team should regress to the mean and be at least average, right?

- The Barbarians have a really nice platform to build on moving forward in Seguin and Karlsson. Two of the hardest pieces to find, a top line C, and an offensive D man will make the draft a lot easier moving forwards. Can't think of a time they had better FPs.

- Of all the teams the PV are invested in, having two LW from Winterpeg seems a bit like...overkill.

- Suicide by +/- has hit us in the holiday season. I can't say as I think it's a wise plan, but it is a plan.

- Why aren't the Knights Templar a bigger threat? Take a look at their C position; Pavelski, Backes, Schenn, Santorelli. That lineup scares exactly nobody.

- Chris has a chance (albeit slim) to go from first to worst. If he does he'll join me as the only GMs to complete the feat (and I was tradig ED picks to get it done). Best of luck Chris, I'm pulling for you!

The Highlanders

The Highlanders

L: Kunitz-Pit, Ladd-Wpg, MacArthur-Ott,  Huberdeau-Fla RFA, Hertl-SJ P2, DalColle-NYI P1

Rating; 3

Knuitz has been riding the good fortune of playing with Crosby for a while now, and a run of injuries has derailed the normally productive winger from his ppg form. He's at the age where dings pile up and the partnership with Crosby is less assured. If he (and The Croz) are healthy and playing together he can still be a legit #1 LW. Ladd is a nice complimentary guy who chips in points and PIM at a strong rate for the second line. MacArthur was stolen from the Leafs before they realized the two-way winger with scoring touch they were looking for wasn't named Clarckson and was already on the roster. Huberdeau should have been better than this by year 3, and if I were his owner I would be getting concerned. Hertl rocketed out of the gate of his career, but has had trouble keeping his game pointed in the right direction. Dal Colle is a splending project being a blend of size, skill and scoring ability, and having a team that both covets that skillset, and has a place for him when he is ready.

C: Crosby-Pit FP, Kopitar-LA FP, Weiss-Det RFA, Desharnais-Mtl RFA, Barkov-Fla P3

Rating: 3

Crosby is arguably the best there is. Kopitar is a marvelous two-way Selke guy, but his offensive abilities are cramped by the suffocating game he plays. He's legit as a #2, but underpowered as an FP. Weiss is barely replacement level now. Desharnais is carving out a career as the waterbug energy guy who drives the Canadien`s 3rd line. If Florida could have the Barkov at 2 pick back would they take Jones or Monahan instead? Methinks they would. Still, he`s got wicked skills and size, eventually he'll get it.

R: Iginla-Col, Neal-Nsh, Hudler-Cgy RFA, Williams-LA RFA, Mantha-Det P2, Niederreiter-Min P2

Rating: 3

Iggy is playing out the back-nine is a one touch sniper with fading wheels. He's not a good fit in Colorado as his 'veteran presence' would be more well recieved on a team with legit playoff chances. Neal has proved he still has his scoring touch, and is a threat to displace Iggy on the top line. Hudler has the best numbers of the three, but is not a good bet to maintain his pace over the year. Williams is a fading gunner who can dine out on his Conn Smythe while he weeps for the lost ice-time. Mantha is a future beast, but given it is Detroit, he should arrive fully formed as a 23 year old. Niederreiter has all the tools to be a dominant power forward, but is having trouble staying on a scoring line.

D: Suter-Min, Weber-Nsh, Myers-Buf, Kulikov-Fla RFA, Lindholm.H-Ana RFA, Hjallmarsson-Chi RFA, Martinez-LA RFA, Brodin-Ana RFA, Klefbom-Edm P2

Rating: 2

Suter is a monster on the blue, but has struggled to stay healthy this year. Weber is consistent for 45pts a year and this year should be no different. The remainder of the blue is a mix of regressing monsters (Myers), and plucky up and comers with upside (Brodin, Lindholm, Kulikov). Any of the bottom six could be flogged at a WD without much 2nd thought. Klefbom is a project that still looks to be two years away from productivity.

G: Miller-Vcr, Lack-Vcr RFA

Rating: 2

Miller has been hit and miss so far this year with Vancouver, more miss than hit so far. Open question as to whether he is a starting calibre FUNHL goaltender anymore. Lack is a solid backup if Miller gets hurt. And if you think that the Canucks are going to be stingey defenders moving forward.

Total: 13

Crosby's mumps has hurt, as have the injuries to Suter and Kunitz, mediocre goaltending, and a D-corps too weak to survive any absences.

Week 12 Line-ups - the Holiday Edition

Well, The Joker is Wild during the Holiday Season...

With the passing of the Winter Solstice, the Severed Heads is blazing out in front, steadfast in first.

With Doug away, Stats for Weeks 11-13 may be delayed, but unofficial stats may get posted...we'll see.

Please post your Week 12 line-ups here.

To those who celebrate - Merry Christmas!

WD2 date tentative for Feb 8/15, Sat. at 1300 MST
NHL trade deadline is March 1st making our FUNHL trade deadline 6pm MST on Monday, March 8/15

Thank you

Week 10 Stats - Sorry for the delay

FUNHL Week 11 Line-up

And fighting has begun...Some might call it the"Climb"

Please post your line-ups here

Thank you

Week 10 (Post WD1) Stats as of Thursday Night Games

POST WD1 FUNHL WEEK 10 LINE-UPS

Please post your Week 10 Line-ups here.

Thank you!

Week 9 Stats

Week 8 Stats - WD1 Draft Order

Week 9 Line-ups and WD1 Prov. Drops

Please post your week 9 line-ups here as well as any provisional drops

Thank you!