Week 9 Stats - Post-WD1

Sloppy Seconds

I guess I have a few thoughts on this;

- I understand the NHL wanting to drop the hammer on Avery, but this still seems like a reach, though the fact Elisha Cuthbert (the 'seconds' in question) was once an NHL employee writing a column for their blog may play a role.

- The team should have stepped in on this one first - not second.

- If Derian Hatcher were still the Captain of the Stars there is exactly zero chance this would have occurred. Hatcher would have pulled a Messier-on-Carson routine and left Avery a few chicklets shorter for even thinking this was something he could pull.

- What is the proper suspension for 'embarrasing slur' these days? Is it worse than baseball swing to the face? Or a routine spear to the groin? Is it worse than a match penalty? And if 'yes' to any of those....why?

- For anyone who has been paying attention, this is all part of Avery's schtick that the league needs more 'villains' to market in the game (he was even more specific when he went on to call Iginla 'boring'). In truth, Avery is right about this. Despite being a third line pest he is the first thing marketed about any matchup with the Stars. He gets the jaws wagging and gives journalists a hard-on because he is always a money-quoute. In short, his schtick may be offensive, even tired - but it works.

- Lastly, am I the only one dissapointed that Phaneuf wasn't allowed to sort this guy out on the ice? Who wouldn't pay to see that? (which goes to my point above).

Line-ups for Week 9 - Post-WD Edition

Hi Guys,

Great to touch base with most of you on MSN for the WD. Hope Santa brought you what you were all looking for in terms of WD castoffs and neverweres.

Please post your week 9 line-ups in the comments section.

Week 8 Stats

The Vendetta continue to lead, though by the narrowest of margins, in the Predator Cup and Omnivore races while the Bladerunners remain atop the Challenge Cup leaderboard.

Stats as of Saturday Night's Action

While these are the stats as of last night, the draft order of today's WD is based on the standings as of the end of last week.

DISAPPOINTMENT

I have to say that I am disappointed in the reception that Rob, a long standing and loyal FUNHL GM, has received on his visit to Calgary. Rob lives in Nova Scotia and its likely he won't be here all that often or that his fellow GMs will visit him in Nova Scotia. If ANY one of you was in town from far away, I know that I would make the effort to see you. But hey, maybe its just me over-reacting and really, Rob ain't all that important. Its just a hockey pool right?

Stats as of Friday Night

WD1 Details

"See" everyone at 10am on Sunday. All drops are announced well in advance so we shouldn't need time to figure out stats of those players. To those (cough,cavemen) that need this information - the FUNHL blog has links to several good sources.

Well, it appears I'm having one guest at my place as of right now... I'll make our faraway guest welcome on behalf of the FUNHL and maybe everyone can see him the next time he drops into town (Rob, hope you will be are hungry and thirsty man - the cupboards and bar are loaded). We'll likely be on MSN before 10to chat with anyone around / make 3+ way trades etc. I'll get some booze into Rob before noon (although it will be past noon his time so he might have the upper hand on me).

Anybody else that wants to join us - let me know. My address is #310, 2000 Citadel Meadow Pt. NW. West on country hills past Nosehill drive, right on Citadel Way (at the 7-11) and proceed until you see a school on the right - my condo complex is on the left (across the street), building 2000 (2nd building in).

Please email me in advance if you are going to show up or call me on cell phone at 403-605-4192 as I currently have no landline / can't buzz up (so I need to arrange in advance to come downstairs and let you in - yes, I will be getting a landline again for those of you - i.e. Bob, Doug, Rob - that are annoyed with me ;-)

Happy waiver drafting!

Waiver Draft Official Drop List

Bob, or someone else, when all the drops become official at noon could they be posted in the comments of this entry. I don't expect mine to change - though trade lines are open :-) - so I'm simply going to add mine right now.

Week 8 Stats, Now With Omnivore!!

Hi everyone - here are the stats as of last night - including, for the first time this season, the Omnivore. Pretty clear why I'm not winning and why Darrell is.

Week 8 Stats As Of Wednesday Night's Games

Hi Guys,

Here are the stats as of Wednesday nights games. The Vendetta continue to lead.

Lost Boys Waives

Hello all,

The lost Boys will be waiving their lowest performer as of Friday this week at every position, and the bottom 4 d-men. I'm sure someone will geek out enough to figure out exactly who that is.

Bob will have a list to draft on my behalf.

Have fun.

Richard.

FUNHL News and Notes

- The Leafs deal Steen and Colaiocovo to the Blues for Stempniak. Whoopee Ding Dong.

Three years ago the Leafs bailed on a deal for Chris Pronger because the GM (Ferguson) didn't want to include Steen in the deal.

My how times have changed.

Instead of dealing the useful third line center for an all-star defenseman they wait a few years and trade him for an undersized speed winger - it's Jason Blake, the sequel!

- There was an excellent analysis of how far the Senators have fallen in the Globe, here's the money quote;

"Chara, Redden, Havlat, Corvo, Eaves. For these players, the Senators have nothing to show today. No team so mismanaged can remain competitive. Coming up empty for these five, coupled with indifferent draft picks, plus those end-of-season Muckler trades, meant that past mistakes suddenly caught up with the Senators."

Couple this with the Bob Clarkeian way they have handled their goaltending situation and it's just a mess.

I don't see the solution being Steve Yzerman, but Muckler has probably run out of time.

- The Brian Burke watch is in full swing now, and I have to admit, he's probably the best guy for the job. If nothing else he and Wilson will have a field day with the rabid cool-aid drinking Leafs Nation reporters.

- Edge fans have probably noticed that Ovechkin seems to have gotten over his early season funk as he has averaged over 2ppg the last 11. Can a Thornton renaissance be far behind?

- No doubt that Finheads have noticed the corresponding decline in scoring by Alexander Semin.

- Last year Evgeni Nabokov and Sergei Gonchar played huge roles for the Severed Heads cup victory. Both were subsequently first round picks (to the Edge and Bladerunners respectively) and both have been almost total duds.

Which just goes to prove that past performance predicts future performance ...until it doesn't.

- For the record; Ty Conklin is making Heads mgt very, very angry. He sucks up all the 'easy' starts as the Red Wings backup ensuring that Osgood has both plenty of rest and the toughest competition. Hate isn't a strong enough word. Heads mgt thought for sure we were over this kind of drama with the departure of the Dominator for Czech pastures.

- Immediately following the 'year of the goaltender'; Nabokov, Luongo, Brodeur, inflated stats, etc., we see something of a market correction taking place. None of last years top three franchise netminders is currently in the top 10, and only Lundqvist of the FP goaltenders is having a followup season worthy of last years numbers.

So who is the 'new guard'? Tim Thomas, Nik Backstrom, Alex Auld and Erik Ersberg are currently producing WAY above normal numbers (actually Backstrom is probably not a surprise). All of which leads me to think another market correction is probably coming that will restore Luongo etc. back to their rightful place in the netminder firmament.

- In 2003 Calgary used the 9th pick to select Dion Phaneuf, and then in the 2nd round selected Swiss league defender Tim Ramholt (now since traded to Philly for bubble gum and a box of pucks). But what if we had grabbed this guy instead?

- 'O Brother, where art thou'? The Wolves picked both the Sedins to play key roles for them, and the Shadowmen drafted both the Kostitsyn boys for their squads. Neither team is enjoying the results all that much. The Shadowmen are in 8th and the Wolves are five points out of last place.

- The comparison of Johan Franzen to Thomas Holmstrom is apt. Both have identical point values so far this season. Also they are both so slow they couldn't beat each other in a foot race.

- Speaking of the Red Wings, Jiri Hudler has one of the best nicknames - 'The Hobbit'.

I for one, will always remember Hudler thusly, in which Phaneuf says 'hello' to the Hobbit;



Every year there are players who despite our advanced scouting systems nevertheless manage to slip through the fingers of crack GMs. Here are five rooks we blew it on this year;

Kris Versteeg-D Chi, leads all rookies in scoring!
Mikhal Grabovsky-L Tor, #3 in rookie scoring!
Janik Hansen-L Vcr
Oscar Moller-R LA
Nikolai Kulemin-L Tor

Grabovsky has the most upside in terms of talent(+ potential PIM as he is an irritating SOB on the ice). Of the five only Kulemin was on my list as a possible prospect draft candidate, while Moller had made the list as a deep, deep, deep long shot.

Unfortunately, Versteeg was nowhere in my scouting report.

- Last but not least, the trade rumours involving Marian Gaborik are everywhere. Personally, I like one of two options; to Pittsburgh for Whitney, picks and prospects, or to Vancouver for....?

The key problem is that unless you rework his contract upon arrival all you get is a rental.

Wendel Clark Honoured

So Wendel Clark was honoured by Leafs fans and Mgt for his years of service working in the center of the universe for the team that God hates most. My favourite Wendel memory is the above clip of him destroying defenseman Bruce Bell (who? exactly). After seeing him deliver the goods I was permanently a fan.

That all said, seeing that hit did remind me of something else...



Curiously, there was no 'controversy' over Clark's hammer job on Bell.

Week Seven Stats - Draft Order for WD1

Congrats to the Personal Vendetta who earn the distinction of picking last in WD1 and best of luck to the Lost Boys in avoiding their fate of picking first come the next WD.

Week 8 Lineups

Put em in the comments section along with an indication of your (preliminary) drops!

Week Seven Stats - As of Saturday Night

Hi Guys,

My trial is done and I'm exhausted - but we do need stats to determine our WD draft order. These stats do not include Sunday's two games - which I think have a boatload of pts for Cam helping him win his game this week and perhaps move down a slot in the draft order. I'll try and get those out by tomorrow.

One quick note, I think I have everyone's stats correct now (and have improved my spreadsheet by including a new "double-check" mechanism that should indicate when I have a simple error). One, different, simple error turned up when I was inputting this week's line-ups that had an impact on the Challenge Cup standings. In week 5 I had Dan playing 4 right-wingers (I had him dressing the Waived Langenbrunner in addition to his regular trio). Those extra two pts gave Dan a win in his Challenge Cup game against the Highlanders instead of a tie. The standings have been altered to reflect what actually happened - sorry that I didn't catch this earlier.

See you all online on Sunday.

Waiver Draft Reminder

Hi all,

Remember all final WD drops must be submitted by noon Friday, after which there are no changes (and consequently no trades involving dropped players) as in effect they are no longer on your team after Friday noon...

Dan

Wolves - Bladerunners trade (pre week 7 line-up)

Wolves get: Salo-D VAN (RFA), Leclaire-G CBS (RFA), Bladerunners 2nd PrD pick

Bladerunners get: D.Murray-D SJ (RFA), Theodore-G WSH (RFA), Wolves 2nd PrD pick

both parties have sent out email confirmation of trade

Week 7 Line-ups

Knights Templar week 7

Knights management is looking to step up the ladder.

LW
Tanguay Mtl FP
Lucic Bos RFA TG
Kunitz Ana TG
Bench Cole Edm

C
Ribiero Dal
Arnott Nsh
Kopitar LA P4
Bench Lang Mtl RFA

RW
Hejduk Col FP
Zherdev NYR
Kane Chi P2
Bench Stortini Edm RFA

D
A. Markov Mtl
Rafalski Det
Burns Min
Weber Nsh RFA
Koistinen Nsh RFA
Krajicek TB RFA
Bench Salei Col RFA
Bench Klesla Cbs RFA

G
Bryzgalov Pho RFA
Bench Biron Phi P4

TG
Lucic
Kunitz

+/- NONE

Week Six Stats

Congrats to Brian on his win and moving into first. Good news for Highlander fans that inspite of weak performance from Mikka - we had our best week of the season.

FUNHL Trade!

The Severed Heads are pleased to announce they have reached the following deal with the Shadowmen;

--> Severed Heads: Derek Roy-C Buf

--> Shadowmen: Rod Brind'Amour-C Car RFA

Shadowmen to confirm in comments

Finally...

Yes it is true Barry Melrose is the 2nd coach to be FIRED [yay!] this year...

Week 6 Stats As Of Thursday Night

Hi gang,

Thanks for your patience.

I discoverd that the same problem I was finding with Darrel's stats was showing up with almost everyone's (the weekly totals were correct but the overall totals would miss promoted/traded/ww pick-up players. I hope that is now corrected.

As always, if your numbers differ from mine - let me know.

Goal of the Year Candidate

Personal Vendetta vs Bladerunners Barn Burner

The H to H game of the week - at least from this author's perspective and probably GM Mann too ;-) - was looking pretty good for the Bladerunners after amassing a large lead during the first 3 days of the week, but the PV had a great Thursday night and have tied up the game (my stats indicate BR 29 and PV 28.5 thru Thur).

Hossa is outmatched by Datsyuk, Zetterberg and Lidstrom so we'll see how htings look after Friday night.

This exciting blog posting brought to you by the Nexux.

p.s. Darrell - what's the name of your building again?? was going to say Barnburner at the xxxxx but couldn't remember.

Top Excuses for Stats Delays

#1 My daughter cut off her hair and the family is in trauma

#2 I'm preparing for a big court case

#3 My daughter was awake all night so I'm tired

#4 Screw you all - you don't need stats every day!


Hmmm, anybody know a good lawyer to help make Doug's case?? ;-)

Details on WD1

Hey guys,

Can I please get some concrete details posted about WD1 and how it's going to work. I know I will not be available for it if you are still planning for Nov 30.

Richard.

Blog Look Update

Here are some questions I have for poolies re: look of the blog. Cut loose in the comment sections with your thoughts on the following options;


- I can very easily return us to the 'original' look the blog has had since it first got set up. Blue background, small header font, Verdant typeface, tan body/black lettering, the works.

Personally, I'm over the generic blog look and want to find something else, but am agnostic about changing it. If the pool really likes the old look, I get it I'll stop messing around. Lets consider this to be the default position.

- As far as colour schemes and themes go, I'm wide open to suggestions, and would like your feedback to the following;

A. A rather serious technical issue; to video or not to video? I can add a gadget in the sidebar that searches for NHL highlights on YouTube, or for a top player from the top FUNHL team for the week (which spreads the wealth more evenly, even the bottom dwellers can win a week once a while). The issue is going to be for those with slower connections speeds, and to be frank, simpler may be best here because if even one GM finds loading the blog to be a horror show we shouldn't do it. However, how cool would it be to check the standings and find random highlights of your Fp waiting for you?

B. The pool originates in Calgary and I am personally a Flames fan, but we are no longer all Calgarians by nature or location. I've been using Iggy and Phaneuf as banner guys, but I think I have a solution that is fair to everyone. Especially me. Should the banner player - and to some extent colour scheme reflect an FP from the Predator Cup winning team?

In my case then Heatley or Malkin would be my nominations - I'd modify the colours to make use of whatever picture I find of the player that makes a good banner (ie. the current scheme with a Heatley home jersey picture wouldn't be terrible)

C. The alternative to this is to continue to feature a Flames player feature (Iggy, Phaneuf, Kipper, Bertuzzi, etc) and colour scheme.

Red isn't my favourite blog colour (I liked the calm tory blue but it clashed badly with Phaneuf), but the latest look is probably the best I've come up with. I've had too many people object to the black background white text, so whatever scheme we use is, it won't be the black background one I experimented with earlier.

D. I could go super bland. White background, black text, few gadgets, trim the blogroll etc, and go with a plain text title. Call it the minimalist option.

E. Screw it lets return to the 'original layout'.

Don't forget to add comments to the post as feedback along with the poll, and I think you can vote more than once if you want to say add video AND have the look of a Flames blog;

Blog Look Questions
	Gimme Video
	Put the League Champions FP on the banner
	I have no problem being mistaken for a Flames blog
	Minimalism, the Ikea furniture of philosophy, and blogs alike
	We fear change. Original look please.
	I've got something completely different to suggest!
pollcode.com free polls

More Dreck hits the Waiver Wire

Doug, Gm of the Highlanders finally gives up on Vrbata-TAM RW RFA and drops him without a parachute to the wire....

He promotes Setoguchi-SJ P2 RW in his place...

Those who dare can bid on Vrbata with Week 7 Line-Ups...

Week 5 Stats

Congrats to the Vendetta as they remain atop the standings. Congrats too to the Black Hawks/Great Whites who managed to beat up on Kipper and my Highlanders to snatch a win away from on the last night.

As always, if my stats do not look like yours - let me know.

Darrelly, not sure if I've fixed that TG question yet or not, Sophia was up a few times last night so I'm pretty zonked today and clear thinking is not a strong suit today. Let me know where we sit on your stats as of the end of week 5.

blog look

I like the blue change over the previous black version.

Week 6 Line-ups

Thanks to all who have been posting (or re-posting) the line-ups in one, convenient spot. Much appreciated.

- Stats Guy

Week Five Stats, As Of Saturday's Games

Hi Guys,

As I've been saying, I'm in the midst of some rather busy files at work so my appologies for not keeping up with the stats as per my regular habit. The good news is that once we are out of November it looks like much clearer sailing.

That said, here are the stats as of last night's (Saturday) games.

I know that a couple of you have noted some differences with your stats. I'm trying to keep up but if I drop the ball on responding to you - keep at it, it's nothing personal just trying to keep up with the torrent of e-mail (a distressing amount of which has little or no relevance to the pool).

I am noting that my attempt to "reverse engineer" the goalie stats to accomodate the NHL's new stats package (die Gary Bettman die) being used by CBS Sportsline, among others, is already starting to generate minor discrepancies - which will only grow with time. Yahoo appears to be generating the correct stats, and producing them as same, but I have yet to convert the current spreadsheet to use the Yahoo stats and, unfortunately, don't believe I will be able to make that conversion until early December at the earliest. Please keep an eye on things, particularly if there are very close Challenge Cup games, so we don't lose sight of things.

Back to the current stats. Congrats to the Personal Vendetta who seem to be holding on to a very narrow lead at the moment and to the Bladerunners who have had a phenomenal week thus far to threaten our leader.

I'll try and make sure that the final stats for the week get out tomorrow as well. Until then, trade-lines are open.

BTW, thanks to Bob and others for posting the line-ups on the blog - it is so much faster to go through one blog post to find the line-ups as opposed to multiple e-mails. Very, very helpful.

IGGY IGGY IGGY!!

Bladerunners war chant! More crazy games like last night please!! And our friend Doug is happy too because Kipper gets the win. Wait, we didn't make that rule change. Oh well. Not so good that my archenemy of the week got points from Bertuzzi but hey - as a Flames fan, I'm happy that the guy is helping replace offence of Huselius + Tanguay (and he even had a +2 rating last night!)

Waiver Wire after Week 5.

Well no one bid on Langenbrunner and Morris...They are lost to the abyss and are now without status!

The Bladerunners promoted Voracek and dropped Backes-STL RW RFA to the Waiver Wire for bids on Week 6 line-ups...

Bad to Worse

Well ain't this fun. Currently in last place and both FPs now out with long-term injuries.

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/2008/11/04/devils_brodeur/

Trade offers welcome.

How do you like the new look of the FUNHL blog?
	My eyes! They burn! Gaaaaagh!
	We have a FUNHL blog? Since when?
	Cameron isn'tjust a genius and the top GM in the pool, he's also an artist!
	Eh.
	I hate Dion Phaneuf, kittens and Canada. Can we have the old look back?
pollcode.com free polls

Much Delayed Week 4 Stats

Again, sorry for the delay - it has been a very rough week at work and November looks like a nightmare. To cap it off my lovely daughter decided to go to town on her hair with a pair of scissors. No, this was not a little trim, rather think Sinead O'Conner. As soon-to-be President Obama would say, it was a "teaching moment" and when the shock finally wears off her horrified father, it will become a wedding day story I look forward to tell.

That said, congrats to the Vendetta for moving into first place. I have tried to correct a couple of mistakes from past weeks that I only just noticed but if your numbers differ from mine (Mr. Mann, please double check as I don't know if my quick review caught the problem you were noting) please let me know and, if possible, try and give me a detailed breakdown as that makes it easier to pin-point the potential problem.

Anyhow, tradelines - however strained - are open.

Waiver Wire

Were there any bids with week 4 lineups that need to be settled for everyone to submit accurate week 5 lineups? ie anyone to be "awarded"?

FUNHL Master

I've updated the link to the left, let me know if you have trouble opening it.

Week Five Lineups

I've also copied the GW's and Edge into the comments section.

I need an articulated spine...

...the better to blow my own horn.

Ch.ch.ch.changes...

I've adjusted the look of the blog (again). Let me know what you think...

Sorry for the delay in Stats, Doug busy, busy, busy

Waiver wire updates

Unbelievably, there were Two bids on D-man rfa Staios' services, by the Shadowmen and the Bladerunnners... Well, the bladerunners crushed the Shadowmen [again] on the week and continue to trash them in the standings.

ERGO...Staios is awarded to the Shadowmen [for now] They drop Morris-PHX D RFA INJ to the Waiver wire for Week 5 bids.

Meanwhile, P3 RW Kessel-BST was brought up by the Great Whites and RW from NJ Langenbrunner RFA was deep sixed to the Waiver wire for Week 5 bids.

Therefore 2 rfas for the bidding on the Waiver wire for Week 5 bids with line-ups:

RW Langenbrunner-NJ
D Morris-PHX inj

Chose wisely...

Gainey's got it right

Once upon a time Craig Ludwig was an anomaly. He wore extra padding under his shin guards, and his legs looked like the lower body equivalent of Popeye's forearms.

Why? Because as a defensive specialist he had made himself into the teams designated shot blocker.

Sure enough late in games you could count on Ludwig to throw himself in front of some MacInnis cannon drive that no other sentient being would even consider trying to stop. And an otherwise medium grade defenseman made himself invaluable.

Nowadays of course even the rawest rookie is expected to hurl his armor coated body in front of every shot. When Edmonton marched unexpectedly to the Cup finals a couple years back one thing everyone remarked on was how few shots were getting through to Roloson. The reason was simple, every member of the Oilers blocked every shot every time they could. They flooped worse then the GM of the Ramapithicines playing soccer.

Does anyone else recall how mechanically timed the Oilers were? How they lay down like bowling pins every time a shot was lined up?

Bob Gainey has the answer - just stop it.

Week Four Line-ups

Hi guys,

With no games on Sunday some of you have already posted line-ups by e-mail. Bob (or others) if you can re-post them collectively here - please do so.

I believe only D S.Staios EDM rfa is available on the waiver wire but if there are others - please correct me.

Week 3 Ends With Scourge On Top, Severed Heads Have Best Week

No games on Sunday so this is it for Week 3.

Scourge 1st to cross 100pts

Big nights by a couple of teams but the lead belongs to the Scourge.

Week Three Stats - Calgary Edition

Sorry there were no stats yesterday. I'm in Calgary for a couple of days on work-related matters but these are updated as of last night's games. It was really good to hook up with Brian last night but, alas, we couldn't come up with a trade :-)

I made a mistake with the last stats I had posted (missing one of Bob's players previous week's points) but it is now corrected. If anyone spots any other problems with the stats - let me know.

Tradelines are open.

Waiver Wire for Week 4 Line-ups

ONLY 1 name due to a Lost Boy Prospect promotion...

D Staios-EDM RFA has been cut adrift with the vain hope he'll be bid on......

Lost Boys Make A Move Up The Standings

The season is early but the Lost Boys had a relatively good night and move up the standings into 5th. Not earth-shattering news but its always better to be in the top-half of the pool as opposed to the bottom half.

In completely self-interested news - M.Kiprusoff had a good night last night allowing only one goal for his best game of the season. If holding the high-octane Caps (of Ovechkin, Semin and Green fame) to a single tally is a sign that Kipper's annual October funk is coming to a close Flame fans, and Highlander fans, couldn't be happier.

As always, let me know if you spot any discrepancies and please, if you can, detail what you think I should be showing you as having as that may go a long way to getting the problem identified.

I am back online

Week Three Underway

I received, by e-mail or on the blog, line-ups from everyone save Dan - who, if I've missed his line-up, needs to let me know.

If anyone notices any discrepencies with their points, again - let me know.

The Scourge are looking to lead for two weeks in a row - and indeed to expand their lead on the pack but remember: "Mr. October is only a compliment in baseball, not hockey."

Week Two Stats - Chris' Cutout Edition

Sorry for the lack of updates on the weekend but time was not my friend.

I noticed a few errors in the goaltending stats, as well as a couple of differences that Brian noticed, but think I have things ironed out for now. Still, if you notice any discrepencies - let me know.

Congrats to Chris and Darrell for monster weeks this past week and congrat so Chris for ending a week atop the standings, for the first time if I'm not mistaken.

Week 3 line-up

Due to our move this weekend, and the fact we will not have internet service until tuesday, here is the Knights week 3 line-up.

LW
Tanguay Mtl FP
Cole Edm
Lucic Bos RFA TG
Bench Kunitz Ana

C
Ribiero Dal
Kopitar LA P4
Lang Mtl RFA
Bench Arnott Nsh

RW
Hejduk Col FP
Kane Chi P2
Zherdev NYR
Bench Stortini Edm RFA

D
Burns Min
Rafalski Det
Weber Nsh P4
A. Markov Mtl
Klesla Cbs RFA
Salei Col RFA TG
Bench Koistonen Nsh RFA
Bench Krajicek Van RFA

G
Biron Phi P4
Bench Bryzgalov Pho

Predator Cup and Challenge Cup Stats

Brian has already noted a couple of possible discrepencies - which we are trying to track down - so please double check your own stats if nothing else. Still, a week and a half in and we are now up and running so I'm pretty pleased. As for the standing of my Highlanders, well that might be a different story.

Challenge Cup Week 1 Results - Neutral Site Game

Will try and get the current week's game up tomorrow - if time permits.

Obviously, I haven't resorted the standings (its a consequence of my efforts to get the rest of the spreadsheet ready).

WW TO CLARIFY; 1ST COACH FIRED

WAIVER WIRE ADDITION: LW RYAN CLOWE SJ RFA

Other notes...Dennis Savard fired after 4 games? WTF?

Scourge Continue To Lead

In Court most of today so it's unlikely I'll be able to get much more done on Challenge Cup, Omnivore or moving to Yahoo as a stats source but I'll keep plugging away. Good omen for the Highlanders - Kipper's trending in the right direction 6 GA, 5 GA, 4 GA and now two straight games against Edmonton!

Waiver Wire Winners!

So Winners:

Bladerunners get Antropov-C TOR RFA

Personal Vendetta get Knuble-R PHI RFA

Shadowmen get Lehtonen-G ATL RFA

All the other waiver wire guys are flushed to no status in the abyss.

But ready for bidding on with week 3 line-ups:

Fisher-C OTT RFA
Walker-R CAR RFA INJURED
Fernandez-G BST RFA

Have Fun...

Updated Predator Cup Stats - As of October 14th Games

Ok, now I have stats as of last night. As always, please let me know of any errors.

I'll see about getting the Challenge Cup and Omnivore standings up soon.

Week One Stats

Hi Guys,

Sorry for the delay (but remember, last year I didn't get these up until Week 4).

I hope to have up to the minute stats by later in the week - possibly by later today - but here are the stats as of last Sunday.

The NHL has thrown us another stats curve, they are now posting PIM on a different page than they give out pts and +/- (something I noted earlier) and now they are NOT including goalie MinutesPlayed in any of their goalie stats! This has required me to calculate the MinutesPlayed backwards by pulling them out of the GAA using GA. Not ideal.

Bob has pointed out that Yahoo Sports has their stats set out as has traditionally been the case - not sure if they are getting a different stats pack from the NHL or if they are just converting it all in-house, but I have not set up my spreadsheet to use this source just yet - though I am seriously considering it.

Anyhow, thought you would want to know where we are right now.

As always, if you note any diffences with your own calculations - let me know.

I'll leave it to someone else (Bob, if you like) to figure out the Waiver Wire winners.

I hope to have the Challenge Cup and Omnivore standings up soon as well but for now this will have to suffice.

The New Anthem

More bad luck for Templar Prospects

New York Ranger prospect Alexei Cherepanov collapsed on the bench at or near the end of Omsk's Kontinental Hockey League game today.

Medical personnel were attempting to revive him.

No further details are available at this point.

Cherepanov's agent, Jay Grossman told TSN that because of fragmented information he is uncertain of the 19-year-old's condition.

Grossman said that according to an eye witness report, Cherepanov was body checked, got up and skated to the bench where he collapsed and his heart stopped, prompting CPR.

Cherepanov was drafted by the Rangers in the 1st round, 17th overall, in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.


http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=252547&lid=headline&lpos=secStory_main

Week 2 Line-ups Due Today by 6:00

Hi Guys,

Hope to have the stats out in the next day or two - again, sorry for the delay - but they should be out in time to determine all the waiver wire bids.

We still need line-ups in for week 2, though.

Me Heart Jarome

"Mama said Knock You Out"-LL Cool J

IMPORTANT DATES: 2008-09 SEASON

WAIVER DRAFT 1

* Saturday, November 29 (location and start time tbd)
* a rare special appearance being made by the Wolves GM so hopefully we can get a good 'in person' turnout)
* occurring during week 8 of the season

WAIVER DRAFT 2

* date, location, start time tbd
* suggest three possible weekends: Jan 24/25 (all -star weekend and during week 16) OR Jan 31/Feb 1 (during week 17) OR Feb 7/8 (during week 18)

TRADE DEADLINE

* Monday, March 9 at 6 PM MST (NHL trade deadline is Tue, March 2); this is start of week 23 so 5 solid weeks left after our deadline

Waiver Wire -> Bids with Week 2 Line-Ups

The Waiver Wire after DROPS in week 1 are the following:

At Centre the following players are available to bid on:

Krecji-BST RFA
Modano-DAL RFA
Comrie-NYI RFA
Antropov-TOR RFA

At Right Wing the following player is available to bid on:

Knuble-PHI RFA

At Defence the following player is available to bid on:

A.Picard-OTT RFA

At Goal the following player is available to bid on:

Kari Lehtinen-ATL RFA

So If there aWeere no bids on these players they will vanish into the abyss and lose their rfa status! Bid if you wish with your Week 2 Line-up.

NHL Creates Delay In Stats

Hi Guys,

Slaving away on getting the spreadsheet up and running. Things are going well but expect some delays for run of the mill stuff - like entering everyone's line-up (thanks again to Bob for not trading his entire team prior to the start of the season - much appreciated).

One hic-up I was not expecting was that the NHL has, apparently, re-designed their stats package that is sent out to TSN, ESPN, and CBS-Sportsline. They have removed the PIM (and other stats) from the main stats page. This will require me to create a whole new series of stats pages for the spreadsheet devoted to PIM (as I already do for goalie stats). Not difficult in theory, just cumbesome.

I'm hoping that this is just a temporary thing until the North American leg opens up but it looks pretty well established on the NHL.com site so we may be stuck with it.

Anyhow, it may delay me a little longer than I thought but I'll keep you posted.

Doug

Line-ups for Week One Due Friday at 6:00 p.m. Mountain

Hi Guys,

Week One starts this weekend with the European games on Saturday October 4th and Sunday October 5th. Week One "resumes" with the North American games on Thursday October 9th and continues until Sunday October 12th.

I would love to say that I'm all ready to go with my stats sheet for this weekend's games but, well, I'm not. I'm hoping that I will be ready to go once the North American puck hits the ice but no guarantees.

That said, the Challenge Cup games are also set to get going with the following Week One Neutral Site Games on tap:

Wk1
Bladerunners vs Shadowmen
Great Whites vs Wolves
Ramapithicines vs Lost Boys
Highlanders vs Edge
Personal Vendetta vs Scourge
Knights Templar vs Severed Heads

Drop the puck!

Gonchar Gonzo

Ouch

Best digested with well aged Scotch

The Highlanders post their take on the FunHL draft.

I'm going to try and be a little more active on my own blog this season, though will still post stuff here. Stuff that I think may be of interest to the wider FunHL I'll post as a link. If your just interested in my babling, well feel free to pop by.

Prospect Draft Rules of Thumb

- With less then a handful of exceptions (Paul Kariya, Ryan Miller and... uh....Toni Hrkac? Tom Kurvers?), avoiding the Hobey Baker winners has been a sound strategy.

- Also be wary of any collegian who played for their whole academic career. The really good ones almost always jump ship after one season.

- It's in the genes. I don't think its an accident that there are multiples of Sutter, Nilsson, Bourque, Hextall, Miller, etc. dotting the NHL statistical landscape, so picking kids and relatives to be NHLers isn't a bad strategy (see; my selection of Paul Stastny). That said, for every Brett Hull you unearth you can dress a line of Keith Gretzky, Blake Geoffrion and Chris Bourque.

- The earlier they show up on the radar the better. Statistically speaking the younger they flash their genius, the more likely they are to maintain that gap against their peers throughout their careers (see; Gretzky Crosby, Lindros, the Bure/Fedorov/Mogilny line, etc). That said, behold Dan Cleary. A scoring prodigy at 15, he nevertheless failed to progress over the next few years and by his draft year had fallen out of contention for top five status. I hate you Dan Cleary.

- Trust the scouts. If their is a lot of positive buzz about a kid, its typically because he is pretty good.

- Never trust the scouts. They want different things than you do. They are looking for kids who will play a role in the NHL - not necessarily kids who will impose overwhelming offensive force on to the opposition. For example, Manny Malhotra. Terrific hockey player, but scoring stat black hole. Luke Schenn and Chris Phillips are also in this category.

- Teams matter. Is Jakub Kindl as sexy a pick if he is on the Bluejackets farm team? Does Janne Pesonen get selected if he is in Florida rather than Pittsburgh?

- Big guys (6'2"+) usually take longer to flash their dominance, but the earlier the better.

- Defensemen always need an extra year or two to adjust to the NHL pace.

- Goaltenders by far take the longest to get their crap together. Netminders frequently don't emerge from their mediocrity till well into their 20's (see: Ryan Miller-G Buf, Kiprusoff-G Cgy. etc.).

- Legitimate goon and +/- prospects are so rare as to be extinct. And then there is Steve Downie.

- Skating is the biggest clue to success. Prospects who have skating concerns should always be considered as a higher risk. The AHL is chock full of guys who have oodles of talent, but lack the ability to gear it up with the big boys.

- Selecting veteran players (25 or over) as prospects is in most cases a losing strategy. Why? Because everyone else is fishing for the exceptional player (say...Phaneuf, or E.Staal), and the result of targeting players who aren't likely to develop into elite players (say Stu Barnes) is to leave more of those potentially elite players for the rest of us. I call this the 'Oleg Teverdovsky Experience' in honour of a certain defenseman prospect pick of mine who I selected in the 2nd rnd. If I had kept to my lists and taken the prospect I should have I'd have a different FP.

- Injury replacement, shminjury replacement. Fear of injury is no excuse for average players selected as prospect picks.

- Scout the World Juniors, especially games that don't feature Canada. Offensive dominance at this level is typically a powerful indicator of future performance. However, don't be too seduced by every kid wearing our jersey, less than a handful of them go on to have solid pro careers.

Don't worry Doug

I'm sure its nothing.