This article is part of our Frozen Fantasy series.
Like you, I was stunned by the September 19 announcement that Brian Boyle was battling leukemia. And like you, I wondered if I'd ever see him back on ice. Or worse.
That's what made Thursday so special.
Boyle drove the net in the first period and then hammered in his own rebound for his first goal as a Devil. His celebration was epic; so were the tears after.
Boyle isn't going to be a fantasy star. He's probably never going to be picked up off the wire. But his story – from diagnosis through perseverance and back to the ice – provides a perspective we all need to heed.
Hockey – on the ice or in the fantasy arena – is just a game. Let's stop whining about imagined collusion between trade partners or rules we don't like. And let's start enjoying the game again, just like Boyle did after his goal Thursday night.
Now, let's take a look at who caught my eye this week.
Oliver Bjorkstrand, RW, Columbus (6 percent Yahoo! owned) – Bjorkstrand has special offensive skills. And he can play a 200-foot game. Cripes, he led his AHL squad to a Calder Cup victory this past spring, delivering 10 goals and six assists in 17 games, after just a mediocre regular season. He started this year slowly, but Bjorkstrand now has five goals and two assists in his last 10 games heading into weekend play. Yes, we all need to temper expectations because of
Like you, I was stunned by the September 19 announcement that Brian Boyle was battling leukemia. And like you, I wondered if I'd ever see him back on ice. Or worse.
That's what made Thursday so special.
Boyle drove the net in the first period and then hammered in his own rebound for his first goal as a Devil. His celebration was epic; so were the tears after.
Boyle isn't going to be a fantasy star. He's probably never going to be picked up off the wire. But his story – from diagnosis through perseverance and back to the ice – provides a perspective we all need to heed.
Hockey – on the ice or in the fantasy arena – is just a game. Let's stop whining about imagined collusion between trade partners or rules we don't like. And let's start enjoying the game again, just like Boyle did after his goal Thursday night.
Now, let's take a look at who caught my eye this week.
Oliver Bjorkstrand, RW, Columbus (6 percent Yahoo! owned) – Bjorkstrand has special offensive skills. And he can play a 200-foot game. Cripes, he led his AHL squad to a Calder Cup victory this past spring, delivering 10 goals and six assists in 17 games, after just a mediocre regular season. He started this year slowly, but Bjorkstrand now has five goals and two assists in his last 10 games heading into weekend play. Yes, we all need to temper expectations because of his youth. But right now, he's delivering goals. And who knows – this Dane could end up being the steal of the 2013 draft.
Connor Brown, RW, Toronto (6 percent Yahoo! owned) – Brown currently sits third on the Leafs in goals scored with seven and he's been particularly prolific in the five games heading into Friday night (four goals, one helper). His combination of smarts, work ethic and coachability have vaulted him near the top of the Mike Babcock love-list and that has meant increased ice time AND responsibility. Downtown Brown is almost always in the right spot at the right time and works his proverbial tail off every second of every shift. You need to capitalize on the Bab's love for Brown. Your fantasy team will thank you.
Connor Carrick, D, Toronto (0 percent Yahoo! owned) – Carrick had been stapled to the comfy chairs in the press box for almost two weeks before the clock struck November. Clearly, the stapling helped. He has a goal, an assist, five shots and a plus-6 rating in the three games heading into Friday. And while he's nowhere near the top of the Buds' D list, Carrick can contribute in deep fantasy formats. The blue line is super thin on the wire, so rolling the dice on a high-risk/high-upside guy like Carrick might be worth a pick.
Martin Frk, RW, Detroit (3 percent Yahoo! owned) – Before the season, the Detroit Free Press published a piece titled: "Red Wings prospect Martin Frk must outscore his mistakes". Well, right now, he's doing just that. He's young and yes, he's a little sketchy in his own zone. But Frk is on a three-game, four-point streak that includes a goal in each game. There's value in him and his legendary shot. Just be ready to pull the chute when the mistakes start to mount or you'll be tied to a guy who's tied to the press box.
Michael Grabner, LW/RW, NY Rangers (13 percent Yahoo! owned) – Every year, Grabner is a sexy play for at least a couple of trips around the sun and right now is one of them. The Rangers have seemingly righted the ship and Grabner is a big part of their success. He's had a couple of two-goal games in his last seven and has seven points, including six goals, during that span. He's tracking toward a 30-goal year, so snap him up if you need help with snipes. They're a precious commodity and his will come cheap for you.
Erik Haula, LW/C, Vegas (5 percent Yahoo! owned) – Hula Hoop arrived in Vegas as an established role player, but now has eight points overall (five goals) in 11 games. And he's a top-20 Yahoo! Fantasy play this week on the back of an impressive five points (three goals, two assists) in his last three games. The Golden Knights continue to play over their individual heads and Haula is no different. But until the tarnish comes off, I am buying Knights.
Charlie Lindgren, G, Montreal (28 percent Yahoo! owned) – Price, Shmice … at least short term. Lindgren burst onto the scene Sunday night with a 38-save shutout of the Blackhawks and has become a revelation in the Habs' blue paint. Lindgren was a free-agent signing after a superb NCAA career. His AHL numbers were middling to start this season, but his NHL performances have been lights-out. In six NHL starts, Lindgren is 5-1-0 with a .953 save percentage and 1.50 GAA, and he hasn't allowed more than two goals in a game. And his fantasy ownership went from 2 percent to 28 seemingly overnight. I missed out. I hope you didn't.
Cody McLeod, LW/RW, Nashville (2 percent Yahoo! owned) – Accumulating penalty minutes seems to be a dying art in the NHL, but not for McLeod. He has accumulated 29 minutes in four games this month and has 60 on the season. McLeod is an energy guy who won't deliver much else, but he won't hurt you the way a pylon might have a few seasons back. And those 60 PIM amortized over a season could make you dominant in that category. Just saying.
Andrew Shaw, RW/C, Montreal (10 percent Yahoo! owned) – I loved him on the Hawks; I hate him on the Habs. But that's how it goes for most ticks –opposing teams and fans just can't stand those who practice the fine art of irritation. Shaw has been at his all-round abrasive best in his last 10 games – seven points, including three goals and three power-play points, 16 PIM and 11 hits. He doesn't rank at center, but he sure can help you at right wing. Especially if he finishes with 35 or more points and 100 or more PIM.
Jason Zucker, LW/RW, Minnesota (29 percent Yahoo! owned) – Zucker sat on top of the player rater in one of my leagues Friday night courtesy of an impressive five-goal run Wednesday and Thursday. Zucker is the hottest guy on the wire – his ownership jumped more than 20 percent in just over a day. His ice time has skyrocketed this season and so has his confidence. At minimum, stash him and then package him in a trade. Or simply take advantage of what might just be another career year.
Back to perspective.
I live within distance of Toronto. Home of my childhood favorite Maple Leafs and my second-favorite baseball team, the Jays (I was an Expos fan first, but I do love the birds).
Roy Halladay's passing this week stunned baseball. Cripes, it stunned all of sports.
It's easy to say life is short. It's equally easy to act outraged or be broken for a few moments, and then go right back to our old ways.
Or, we can choose to take each moment for what it brings, truly cherish those we love and remember a game is just that – a game. Whether it's on the ice or in fantasy.
Kick butt, #BoyleStrong.
RIP Doc.
Until next week.
