Lower Body Fantasy Thoughts

by Ryan

If you don't know about James Mirtle, we can't be friends. Thems the rules around these parts. What makes sites like Mirtle's and Kuklas Korner so useful is that they catch pretty much everything you will need to know about hockey. This is especially helpful when you miss a few days, like I did this weekend.

I'll admit I don't have many thoughts on the Sabres just yet, but I do have quite a few questions about this.

Clubs no longer are required to disclose the specific nature of player injuries. Clubs are, however, required to disclose that a player is expected to miss a game due to injury, or will not return to a game following an injury. Clubs are prohibited from providing untruthful information about the nature of a player injury or otherwise misrepresenting a player’s condition.

I guess that fits the current model, which is Lindy Ruff claiming someone has a "lower body injury" and "will miss some time" while Tim Connolly is wheeled off on a stretcher, clutching his eyeball and screaming in pain. This new rule makes it "playoff time" all the time, and probably will wind up being a better policy than the NFL has. Remember when Tom Brady made the injury report for three straight years? Yeah, I think the NHL is trying to avoid that.

However, here's my question: what impact will this have on fantasy hockey?

You may not be aware of this, but this year the NHL will see a significant shift in attention to the online market. NHL.com is relaunching with more video and online content, and individual teams have been encouraged to develop their site more in order to attract new fans. The Sabres have already stated they would be putting funds into their site and SabresTV, and it will be interesting to see just how committed they are to the product.

However, one of the most interesting moves the league has made is teaming up with Yahoo Sports to offer officially licensed fantasy hockey. This is a major move for a North American sports franchise, and unlike the MLB and MLBPA, which is fighting fantasy baseball at every turn; the league has encouraged fantasy sports as a means of growing fan interest.

How then, does this policy that allows secrecy in player injuries affect a player's status in hockey leagues? Remember last year when Richard Zednick was seriously injured and listed as day to day? There were plenty examples of this kind of absurdity, but that one stands out the most.

So what is going to happen when Shea Weber gets his inevitable injury? Will I have to keep him on my team for three months as he remains day-to-day? Should I drop any player that appears in the injury report? Should waiver wires be reconfigured to allow for "oopsie dropsies" when a player appears to be out long term and instead is dressed the next night?

There are some out there that are more capable of answering these questions than I. Perhaps Mr. Mirtle can shed some more light on it, and let us know how his draft went this past weekend. However, I have a feeling that I'm not overreacting by being concerned about this. There's no way of knowing how far coaches and GMs are going to take this, but if I know anything about this league; it's going to get worse before it gets better.

The Goose's League

by Ryan

For weeks I have been refreshing the fantasy hockey page on Yahoo. That may sound sad to some most, but to me the launch of fantasy hockey means the official start of the hockey season.

Today it happened.

Fantasy hockey is back, and it brought Alexander Ovechkin with it.

Now, over the summer we asked if anyone wanted to play fantasy hockey with us. There was enough of a response that I went ahead and created a separate league for us to fill. Of course, it is called "The Goose's League" and it has a 14 team limit. So far we have 13 spots open, but I'm not sure if any other Roost members will be playing so that number may go down.

My question is this: do you want to play?

If so, send us an email (goosesroost [at] gmail [dot] com) with the following subject line: I want to play fantasy hockey. The body can include whatever you like as long as we know where to send the invite. That seems sort of self explanatory, but you never know.

Please keep in mind that we want serious entries only. Don't take that the wrong way, it's just that we want people who intend on setting their lineup the entire season. This includes setting a roster after December (Jon), so only apply if you can handle that.

Trust me, we aren't the most hardcore of fantasy hockey players, but you have no idea how infuriating it is to see the person with Crosby finish last because they didn't feel like playing anymore.

If you have any questions about format we will be happy to answer them. We plan on doing a live draft, but all that can be set up once everyone joins and we can talk it over. We'd like to do 14 teams, but we are willing to do less if necessary.

Needless to say, I'm excited. Hope to hear from you soon.

A Brief Update on Hockey, Because We Like Hockey and Miss It

by Ryan



My mini pack order is due Friday, which means the hockey season is slowly creeping toward us. Today the Sabres announced pricing for their two home preseason games, and of course we are going to talk about it here because, well, there's nothing to talk about.

Tickets go on sale September 3rd, and are half price for kids like last year. I think it's a smart move by the team, and... God this sucks. I hate August, man.

When you make the playoffs for a few years, you forget how absolutely excruciating the off season is in hockey. The playoffs were like three months long, and then there was all that summer after that. I mean, once July 1st comes and goes, there's just not that much to talk about unless you make crap up like we did.

Let's put it this way, I went to see the Red Sox play in Toronto on the last day of the Sabres' regular season. Four months passed before I saw the Sox in Toronto on Friday, and they still haven't hit the ice at HSBC Arena. Christ, that's a long time.

What I'm getting at here is that at this point any news is good news, and I can't wait for September so we can talk about training camp. Seriously, I want to see some hockey like, right now.

(Also, as soon as Yahoo releases Fantasy Hockey '08 we will have a league ready to go. I think we'll start with 12 teams and see what the supply/demand looks like. Again, that should happen soon, so start coming up with team names now. I have mine ready to go...)

Back in Washington Not the State

by Ryan

Tonight the Sabres travel to Washington to play the Caps at the MCI Center Verizon Center. It will be the first time Buffalo has played in the Phone Booth since clinching the President's Trophy last April. You all remember that game, don't you? Timmy came back, Briere speared a guy, good times all around.

The Sabres are coming off a four game winning streak against two of the hottest teams in the league.(well, they were hot before we got to them) The Capitals just fired their coach and have won two straight. Hilarity shall ensue.

At this time I usually express my displeasure for Alex Ovechkin and his prissy demeanor and lack of proper shirts. (see below)



However, my anger towards today's opponent comes directly from their new rookie with bad hair, Nicklas Backstrom.



I don't care how sweet those jerseys look, Nick, I drafted you with high hopes and you did nothing for me. I held on to you with the faith that your inner Mats Sundin would come out and maybe I could keep you on as a fourth center, but you kept on sucking for me, and my team sank into the toilet.

So the moment I drop you, your team drops your coach and you post a three point night on your birthday, capped off by an overtime game winner. Happy Freaking Birthday, man, I hope you are allergic to whipped frosting.

If you as much as touch the puck tonight I'm going to convulse like a Spanish American War soldier with yellow fever. My fantasy team is slowly creeping into playoff contention, and if you actually produce some points I may be temped to pick you up again. I feel like it would be best for the both of us if you just continue to suck.


Slugs vs. Evil "W" Birds
7:00pm Versus

A View From the Roost: Thrashers 10/11

by Ryan

6-0 Final. Not much to criticize this time around...

- This game should keep quiet anyone who says we are ruined without Danny and Dru. Although it was a tired Thrashers team, the Sabres went out and dominated the entire game, finally getting their first win of the year.

- Puck possession, the power play, and overall speed were strengths for Buffalo tonight. The power play looked great, converting on the first three attempts and finishing 4 for 7 on the night. Pominville and Roy combined to score on a 2 on 1 shorthanded, capping off a stellar special teams night overall. The team appeared to be much more disciplined, only taking a few matching penalties and goaltender interference calls. A huge 5-3 PK helped take the wind completely out of Atlanta early.

- Connolly looked good tonight, especially on the power play. I loved him and Kotalik moving the puck around with Campbell, and Goose was a beast in front. We've all heard the stories of Gaustad on the power play in Rochester, and if he can do what he did tonight we won't have any problems converting shots from the point.

- Overall the Sabres looked sharp, with crisp passes and played the majority of the game in Atlanta's end. Either the Thrashers rely on Hossa more than they should, or they are just awful. Judging by their anemic power play and overall disoriented play, I'd say it's the latter.

-Is it possible the Rangers have "killed" Atlanta much like we "killed" Philly two years ago? By that I mean an absolute playoff dismantling that sets the entire franchise back a year or two. I know it's early, but goaltending is already killing the Thrashers, and their best player, Kovalchuk, has been out of sorts since Sean Avery got into his head. He was all over the place tonight, and not in a good way.

With not much else to say about the game, let's talk a bit about "The Wave."

I. Hate. The Wave. It has no place in hockey, distracts fans from the actual game going on, and in reality is the stupidest way to get fans "involved in the game." If you want to get fans involved, make sure they are smart enough that they can do it on their own and make an actual impact on game. Preferably a rooting act of some sort that actually has something to do with the hockey going on below.

Montreal is a perfect example of this. Anytime the Habs start a rush, their fans go bonkers. The roar of the crowd as they cross the neutral zone is both impressive and intimidating, something that shows they are both into the game and actually impacting it. I know the adrenaline rush I would get leading a rush down the ice with a wave of sound following, and I'm sure the players feel it too. Every year the Habs have a significant home field advantage, something that is becoming very rare in the NHL.

Football fans don't need to be told to make noise. (Anyone at the Ralph on Monday can attest to that) They understand what crowd noise can do to an opposing team and try to make an impact. Hockey doesn't work with that same characteristic, but home crowd enthusiasm can help keep a team's momentum going, whether it be a roar when Afinogenov takes the puck in open space, or even a "Let's Go Buff-a-lo" chant during a lull in the action.

Standing up and going "whoooooo!" in rhythm does jack squat.

I mean if you want to look like an emotionless, moon influenced body of water, by all means. Just please don't scream at me to follow when I'm trying to actually watch the game while you look like a fool. I think if we are going to be self crowned as the "New Hockeytown" we should be able to get up for Thursday night games, no matter who the opponent. The Wave shouldn't be necessary, no matter how much gosh darn fun it is to see stuff move in a circular pattern.

If there is a logical explanation for doing the wave at a hockey game, well, that's what we have comments for...

Ramblings...

by Ryan

A few thoughts on today's events:


--Ron Mexico. When I get text messages from people telling me news, I usually ask where they heard it. When I got "Mike Vick tested positive for pot" today, I didn't think twice. These are the things that happen when you are convicted of dogfighting. (Is anyone else waiting for the next Mike Vick episode at KSK?


--I drafted for my fantasy hockey league tonight. I'm okay with my picks, especially that I drafted Chris Drury pretty late. I figure now when he scores I won't openly weep.


--The Sabres killed the Leafs tonight, keeping that preseason tradition alive. I know it means nothing, but it's good to hear Roy and Vanek still know how to light the lamp after their off season windfall. Has anyone noticed the tan on Roy? He looks like he spent a month in Cabo or something...


--Matthew Barnaby did color with RJ tonight. He started slow and stumbled a bit, but he was much more comfortable than I expected. His catch phrase seems to be "he made no mistake" when speaking of a goal scorer. I'm not sure how I feel about that, although it still beats Darren Pang's "HOLY JUMPIN!" Actually, just about anything beats that.


--Why do I even bother going to espn.com anymore? Seriously. I haven't stopped dry heaving. Does anyone know when that will fade?