Not sure if my team got the memo, but:
Uh, HELLO FELLAS. The season has started in case you were wondering. Can we get something going here? Like now.
And enough with the it’s early cliches. Well, we’re just getting our legs under us, ya gotta be patient, the points will start coming… I mean, what the heck?
In the two leagues of mine that matter most to me, I’ve maximized my rosters to the max without blowing up my core and still, I’m getting housed (please stay till the end though).
Keeping in mind that this is fantasy hockey and that there are way too many real problems in the world, I still gotta rant a bit. This is supposed to be an escape right?
Anyway, in these two leagues (Yahoo Points- goals, assists, plus minus, shots, blocks, wins, saves, goals against, and shutouts) and the Apples and Ginos Listener League 2 (Yahoo Points- goals, assists, blocks, hits, wins, saves, goals against, and shutouts), I’ve spent the first two weeks chasing my opponents. Like hard. And I hate playing catch up. It just doesn’t suit my over-reactionary personality. I’m blaming the Jersey in me.
I’ve Got a Lot of Problems with You People
Patrick Laine: I’m sorry, but I don’t care if he’s got octagonal eligibility and shoots the puck at 100+ miles per hour. Stop hitting the posts. And now he’s on IR? I know it was a dirty hit, but again? Too much drama. Hello. I’d like to speak to Mr. Jenner. Is Boone there? He’s not? O.k. then, may I please speak to Kirill? Ugh. Seriously though, I do hope you’re ok Patrik. Not that you’re reading this, but I’m still holding on to you. After all, you’re still a unicorn. I just need you to be a goat too.
Edmonton Goalies: Mike Smith, Stuart Skinner, and now Jack Campbell. See ya.
Calgary Streamers when they have a good week: It’s a good thing I added Andrew Mangiapane at the beginning of the week for the-four-game-with-three-games-on-off-nights-nobody-else-has-a-better schedule than Calgary approach.
Evan Bouchard: Stop reading the press clippings brother and play some D. Please, I’m begging you. I’m in a league with plus/minus here.
Jonathan Huberdeau: Tired of waiting for the cows to come home. (By the way, what are these cows doing that they’re so reluctant to come home? And can I get in on it?). How about the minus four on Sunday night? Nice.
O.k, deep breaths. Sorry, but I had to get that off my chest. Look, I’m not suggesting that I’m totally bailing on these guys (except for Mangiapane- cannot wait until 3:00 am Monday morning), but c’mon boys. Let’s go.
Lessons Learned in Week Two:
1. Management Matters: It’s starting to dawn on me that unless both of my teams start to get on track soon, this is going to be a very long year. While I know projections are just that, I can’t help but mention that each of my teams has underperformed by OVER 100 points from their respective weekly projections. That’s not even close folks. Tired of seeing all that red.
2. Be Judicious With Adds: I’ve been burned more often than not on week-long stream and holds. I’m going back to my more usual strategy of trying to hang on to at least one or two adds for the back end of the week. It’s just too unnerving for me to lose that scheduling flexibility late in the week. I didn’t do that this week and it cost me.
3. Quality Control: Adopting a more games played than your opponent strategy (roster maximization) has always been one of the cornerstones of the way I approach fantasy hockey. And while I don’t plan on altering that approach, it’s only as effective as the performances of your players. Sounds like common sense, but…
4. Never give up: This is literally the second straight week that both of my team’s matchups were decided with the last games played on Sunday nights. And in both situations, I was pretty sure that I had no chance of winning. In one matchup, I came up a little short (thanks for not starting Markstrom coach), and in the other, I won basically because Alex DeBrincat had a hat trick and an assist. So, if you’re in a tight one, hang in there. You just never know.
Thanks for reading and good luck in Week Three.
Mike@TheFantasyHockeyProfessor
Apples and Ginos 