Forsberg Update

"According to the Denver Post, Dr. Bertil Romanus told Swedish newspaper called Expression [it's no Aftonbladet] that Forsberg will test a new brace on his surgically repaired foot by beginning a skating program.

"I can say now that I think we can solve the issues with his foot, so that it won't hinder Peter from playing hockey again," Romanus, who is based in Phoenix, told Expression, according to the Post. "In the beginning of October, Peter's foot was so good that he was able to skate all out, and I definitely believe we can find a way to get him back to that."

-ESPN

Forsberg Update

He's doing a tune-up stint with the Swedish National Team.

Speculation is that he'll be back for mid-November.

Forsberg Update

The Ottawa Sun is reporting that the Senators are still a prime candidate for Foppa.

Also in consideration are; Detroit, Colorado, and Vancouver.

FUNHL News and Notes

Massive trade occurred this weekend between the Wolves and Bladerunners - in what is another deal that could have decade long effects:

---> Bladerunners: Iginla-R Cgy FP, Huselius-L Cgy RFA, Visnovsky-D LA, Giguere-G Ana, Kobasew-R Bos P2 (inj), Legwand-C Nsh, Shadowmen 1st PRD, Bladerunners 3rd.

---> Wolves: Luongo-G Vcr FP, Parise-L NJ P3, Stastny-C Col P1, Cheechoo-R SJ, Martinek-D NYI (inj)

Lots of ramifications here. When I heard this deal had gone down, the following thoughts shotgunned through my consciousness;

- Luongo's fate was effectively sealed with the Kiprusoff trade. Nobody can afford to invest a franchise contract to their backup goaltender for long.

- The Bladerunner's have now collected all the best available Flames (Iginla, Kiprusoff, Huselius), except one, Dion Phaneuf-D Wolves (ok, two - Tanguay FP for the Scourge) As a cup drive strategy, this is intriguing. Is Calgary heading for an offensive explosion that I wasn't aware of?

- In Luongo, I believe the Wolves have now got one of the best 4-5 FP's in the league. And he's only getting better. Vancouver is building their team ala the New Jersey model - from their franchise goaltender out (seriously - watch for the search for Niedermayer/Stevens clones to begin for the blue-line). Luongo is going to be handed 70+ starts a season, a rock-N-roll defense corps (as I say, that's coming) and a team focussed on playing defense first (take a look at Naslund's stats - he's back-checking now). He's going to win hardware. Iggy on the other hand, is arguably not even one of the best 4 RW in the FUNHL (off the top of my head; St Louis, Jagr, Gaborik, Selanne, Hossa, are all playing better. Hejduk though, is definitely playing worse.), and he plays the kind of complete power/checking/defense/offense game that guarantees his points don't remain competitive with the goal sucks and puck hogs. If I were an NHL GM I'd love to build a team around Iggy, but as a FUNHL GM he's a declining asset.

- Does this trade actually improve the Bladerunners anywhere obviously? Defense with the addition of Visnovsky. Cheechoo vs Iginla at RW? Sure, I guess Iggy is marginally more reliable (if less explosive in potential - see Cheechoo's Richard trophy from last year). Luongo to Giguere? A wash - if only because both are backups. Huselius RFA vs Parise P3? Colour me biased, but despite Huselius' hot streak, I prefer Parise. Stastny P1 vs Legwand? Even if Stastny had NO status, I'd prefer him.

- All in all IMO the deal opens up some flexibility for the Bladerunners by unlocking the goaltending position, but doesn't put them over the top. For the Wolves, it's a win, win, win. They add a LW with upside in Parise, a 2nd line centre playing at a ppg to compliment Kopitar, and they secure a franchise goaltender as FP.

Big, I mean BIG, day for the Wolves.

In other news;

-Did anyone else see the goal by Malkin the other night where he drops the hammer and picks the short-side corner from the boards? Oh. My. Goodness. I got so excited by the replay I had to change my pants.

- Crosby's touch for scoring goals seems to have disappeared - which is bad news for the Bladerunners. Why? Because the Highlanders are nose to nose with him and Crosby will undoubtedly eventually recover.

- Recchi is making a mockery of the Severed Heads Omnivore. He's had two of his biggest games since the trade, including a 5 point night today. Ugh.

- Has anyone been hotter than Lecavalier of late? Given he's almost a goal per game - Nope. So, it can't last.

- How many times will Richards and Sakic be traded for each other this season? 4? Can we see it happen twice in a week?

- My reaction on the Forsberg to Nashville deal? Hand this round to the Flyers, cuz Nashville WAY overpaid. The first and third round picks, I can understand. Scottie Upshall I can understand. Ryan Parent? No chance. Yes, Forsberg gives them a chance to win it all, right now. But a first, a third, Upshall and Parent is simply too much for a guy who is breaking down physically, and an unrestricted free agent at the end of the playoffs.

- What's even sadder? The Predators could well be the best team in the league, and they still wouldn't sell out their Nashville arena. It's like seeing the NJ Devil's put together Cup winning seasons in front of half filled houses. It just makes you say 'what a waste', and wonder why they don't just move NJ to Hartford where at least they would be appreciated. Nashville, Florida, Atlanta, and Anaheim should be moved to Hartford, Quebec, Winnipeg, and Kitchener respectively. If we could get Carolina to relocate back to Hartford and then convince Nashville to play in Regina, we should.

-When the analysis of how the Severed Heads season came apart is completed one of the areas we are sure to reccomend improvements is with team toughness. In most weeks the contribution of goon minutes has been all but non-existent, and the result is the Heads have been pushed around. The Coach recently had words with the GM, and with the playoffs for the Challenge Cup approaching, finding some toughness for the stretch drive is still a possibility.

- As far as the NHL goes it's Lidstrom's Norris to lose. As far as the FUNHL goes, Sheldon Souray has all but locked it up. His play as goon as has been occasionally sporadic, but also devastating.

- My short list for FPs in the next ED looks something like this;

1. Spezza-C Ott

I give him top spot for; being younger, having more play-making abilit, and for having a better gunner as his side-kick in Heatley than Big Vinny.

2. Lecavalier-C TBay

All is going according to prophecy. As per my endless simulations on the X-Box, Lecavalier will now go on to record a 65-65-130pt season and win the scoring title next year.

3. Gaborik-R Min

One of the purest gunners in the league along with Kovalchuk and Ovechkin. Just entering his prime, and his GM seems intent on giving him offensive support.

4. Havlat-L Chi

Havlat has all the tools, warp speed, an imposing shot, and phenomenal stick handling ability. Only concerns are his durability and team mates. In many ways, he's like a youngish version of Elias, or a more consistently offensive Kovalev.

5. Bouwmeester-D Fla

The only defender FP on the horizon as far as I can tell. Blessed with massive frame, terrific skating and all-purpose offensive skills, it's just a matter of time before he is unstoppable, and like Pronger, picking up points just by breathing.

6. Nash-L Clb (Great Whites have right to match)

Was a better candidate two years ago, and has seen his stock slip a little. Mostly, he has just been going through the growing pains of a team in transition. Will eventually take a run at 50 goals in 50 games once the team finds him an elite playmaker.

7. Zetterberg-L Det

He had a horrible start to the year that has been redeemed by an absolutely mental second half. He's the safe late FP gamble when the exciting picks are off the board.

Crosby-Malkin will eventually both be FPs - just not this year.

Ten Worst FP decisions

The Highlander's comments about regretting some trade decisions for a decade got me thinking about what the worst Franchise Player decisions we've had in the pool would be. What follows is my own quick take of the top ten worst moves, but I freely admit that I may have left some bad ones out. Please feel free to contribute to the list in the comments section.



10. Zigmund Palffy - Ramapithicines. Nobody doubted the Zigs talent level, but his inability to stay healthy for a full season made the decision to make him an FP a nightmare. He would keep anticipation high all off-season with periodic displays of jaw-dropping talent, only to float through the regular season on a bubble of indifference until he would be subject to some random devestating injury. All of this inconsistency was made that much more painful because he was the guy asked to replace Mario as Knuckledragger FP. Possibly the most frustrating points tease outside of Zhamnov in the history of the pool.


9. Alexei Yashin - Shadowmen. In the year after they made a blockbuster deal for Jagr only to then deal him away, the Shadowmen had to replace their FP with a pick in the 4th rnd. Yashin looked like a godsend at the time, but after a few seasons it became apparent that he was a dog complete with fleas and an immovable contract. Few players have gone from franchise heartthrob to public enemy #1 faster or with more venom than Yashin. His immense suckitude so bedazzled the Islanders they gave him a comparably absurd franchise contract as well. In the FUNHL, this is but a memory, but in the NHL, the bust that is Yashin as franchise cornerstone, busts onward.


8. Bryan Berard - Personal Vendetta. After his Calder year everybody was jealous of the Personal Vendetta for their expiring prospect asset of Bryan Berard - perfect for making an FP. A puck rushing defender with a booming shot and more than a little physical edge, he had the leagues GMs drooling at the highlights and deeply envious of the Personal Vendetta. Unfortunately his rookie season was actually his best, and a steady regression by Berard would eventually see him unceremoniously released. Berard upset at being dumped by the Personal Vendetta, would later almost lose an eye, and get disqualified from the Olympics for using steroids. Funny, but I actually like him better now than when he was 'the next Brian Leetch'.


7. Janne Niinimaa - The Collective (now The Lost Boys). Easily the worst case of a GM falling in love with a player outside of any rational assessment of their abilities. Niinimaa rarely played at the level of a #1 defenseman, and never cracked the top 10 in D-man scoring, but was an FP for over 2 and half years. That said, his contributions, while marginal for an FP were still better than the guy at #6.


6. Valeri Bure - The Barbarians (now the Scourge). Deceptive break-out year was to be the clear peak of Bure's abilities, and his over a ppg stats unfortunately convinced the nascent Barbarian franchise to offer him an FP contract. This disastrous FP selection was to rip a massive hole in the team's talent base for years.


5. Jim Carey - The Severed Heads and the Shadowmen. Having the 12-13 picks to take my FPs meant that Jagr, Kariya, Forsberg, etc. were already gone when I picked. I went for the best goalie on my board under 25 (the other was Brodeur, but sadly, somebody else took him). This epically bad pick was mitigated by the near immediate trade of Carey to the Shadowmen for Paul Kariya. Carey was eventually released at the end of his first year, and for all intents and purposes vanished from the multi-verse thereafter.


4. Brendan Shanahan unexpectedly released to take Jason Allison - The Knights Templar. Its interesting to look back and think that maybe this was one of those moments where a different choice might have made all the difference for a franchise. To the shock of many, the Templar GM kicked consistent power winger FP Shanahan to the curb in favour of pokey playmaker Jason Allison. You know the rest of the story, Allison had a good year and a half or so before injuries eventually destroyed his ability to contribute to a team at an elite level. Last seen Allison was a glacially paced skater who would have trouble tracking down Brett Hull without a head start. Meanwhile, Shanahan just seems to get better, having a 40+ season last year, and having climbed among the leagues top gunners for most of the this year as well.


3. Brian 'Waterboy' Boucher - The Shadowmen. In an era when the trading of your early Entry Draft picks was common, the Shadowmen were forced to reach deep into the draft to find a new FP. As you can see if you check out Boucher's career numbers, they missed.


2. Patrick Roy - Nobody. Easily the most criminal omission from the pantheon of FUNHL franchise players (ahead of both Dominik Hasek and Mike Modano in this regard), is the ultimate goaltending weapon - Patrick Roy. The NHL moved into full blown trap hockey just as Roy exited the prime years of his athleticism (as well as entering the era of oversized pads), and the result is his numbers actually continued to improve as he got older. He has been the goaltender on more Predator Cup winning teams than any other, yet never got any love from anyone as FP. Osgood, Carey, and Boucher all got nods to be franchise goaltenders ahead of him.

1. There is an old saying in the FUNHL, that every once in a while you are going to make a trade that has the potential to 'make you sick for a very long time' should it go bad.

When the Highlanders Traded Jagr to the Shadowmen for Petr Nedved and the Shadowmen's top three entry draft picks the following year, we have the signature case of that occurring.

Having been awarded the pick that secured the next decades top talent in the league's first ever Franchise player draft, the Highlanders selected a highlight reel dominating, offensively gifted stud in Jaromir Jagr - only to turn around and trade him away.

However, the true torture for the Highlanders franchise wouldn't begin until the Shadowmen deal Jagr to the Highlanders arch-rival Severed Heads.

The Severed Heads would cheerfully ride Jagr's gaudy offensive totals to a Triple Crown victory and back to back Predator Cup wins. Nedved would have to be traded at a loss and eventually replaced. Ouch. Ouch. Ouch.

The explosive points machine with the bad mullet and legendary indifference to back-checking would never hit the open market again, and the Highlanders, with their Cup drought now extending past ten years, have been mutilating their self-esteem as a franchise ever since, coldly eating their hearts out as Jagr piles highlight onto highlight in his now surely hall of fame bound career, every 'Fear My Wingspan' move another dagger to the chest...

...Well, I'm sure you get the picture...

The Forsberg Questions

His ankles have been abused, his feet no longer fit comfortably into normal or even exceptionally constructed skates, and he has a history of groin issues, and other physical breakdowns from the hard core way he plays the game.

- If you are the Flyers, do you trade him?

Yes

- What can you get for him?

About what they are asking for; a first round pick and or a decent to awesome prospect.

- Who wants him?

Everybody will consider it, but a Western team in the hunt for the playoffs with cap space - and there are several - will be the obvious contenders.

Calgary: Other Gms don't ask for Phaneuf anymore because they already know the answer. Does Matthew Lombardi + a first get you Forsberg? Maybe. Throw in Brent Krahn-G prospect? Boyd? The Flames don't have a home-run prospect, but they have several who are above average and possess grit - making them ideal trade bait in this situation (ie. Boyd could easily be a Flyer couldn't he? Can't you see Nystrom as a Flyer?) However the deal happens, the Flames would instanty become the prohibitive Cup favourites. Foppa would join fellow Swede Huselius on a slick offensive unit (The Conroy-Iginla affair is back in bloom). Calgary fans would openly plan the parade while Oiler fans would become sucidal. The battle of Alberta would be totally lopsided again, only Calgary would be the dominant driver seat team. Please Cthullu, kill me last so I can see this happen.

Anaheim: Bobby Ryan, a first + change (a defenseman, or later round pick) looks like the winning deal to me. Burke will probably balk at putting Getzlaf or Perry into the mix - but he certainly could. The overall structure will end up depending on the status of Forsberg's wheels and what else might be coming back in the deal to Anaheim (i.e. would the Flyers include Jeff Carter to get Getzlaf+Perry?!?). When all is said and done, Detroit is the obvious choice, but Anaheim is the first place I would start shopping.

Detroit: At first glance this seems obvious. It also does at second. Kronwall and a 1st? That might do it. Grigorenko, Howard, and a 1st? Stefan Liv? Throw in Dan Cleary? Detroit is home to a bunch of elite Swedes who would love to give Mo-town a post-Stevie-Y Cup celebration, and Forsberg may well have included them as one of his preferred destinations to speed things along, but there isn't an obvious deal to make the Flyer braintrust happy in terms of the prospect they are getting back.

Should the Personal Vendetta keep him as an FP?

If they are in the top 4-5 as of Saturday morning, YES. If not, no matter what his decision for next year, or thereafter, it is I think more likely than not that Forsberg is having his PV farewell tour right now.

Will the PV trade Forsberg?

No. Forsberg is simply a love object at this stage. He's below a ppg, constantly hurt, always a threat to return to Sweden, on a crap team, without elite linemates (consider Gagne's stats sans the Forsbergian one), ready to retire, or have a limb fractured. In short, why would anyone want him?

Having said all that, here are 4 possible FUNHL scenarios to contemplate:

Scenario1: Forsberg is dealt to Detroit in real life and his numbers perk up to ppg+. Elias in NJ goes down for the rest of the year, or merely continues to suck, and like last year, the Edge begin to flirt with oblivion. Here's what happens;

---> Edge: Forsberg-C Det FP, Briere-C Buf, and a warm body at left.

---> PV: Elias-L NJ FP, Corey Perry-R P2, Edge 1st PRD in 07-08

The keys here are that Forsberg becomes a shorterm massive improvement on Elias and that the Edge is in danger of taking home bad hardware. It would be the first time Elias has ever played anywhere other than for the Edge.

Scenario 2: Forsberg is dealt to Anaheim and goes nuclear. Doug might think of something like;

---> Highlanders: Forsberg-C ANA FP,

---> Personal Vendetta: Richards-C TBay FP (inj, mysterious suckitude, or simply unexpected sub-superstarness)

....and Darrel might just take it. The key is simply that Forsberg be much hotter than Richards, the natural incentives of the pool will do the rest.

Scenario 3: Injuries to vital players on the Highlanders and Bladerunners put the Great Whites back within striking distance, Forsberg is hot in Calgary, and the previously ppg+ Marleau goes cold. I don't get the sense that the Great Whites are invested heavily in Marleau, and if they felt they had a real shot at the title we could easily see something like;

---> Great Whites: Forsberg-C Cgy FP

---> PV: Marleau-C SJ FP (inj)

The stumbling blocks are that the Great Whites are slipping further away from the leaders rather than closing on them, and that Marleau is both younger and superior to Forsberg at the moment.

Scenario 4: and ultimately - the most likely trade of all;

---> Shadowmen: Forsberg-C Pha

---> PV: an FP + assorted stuff