Roto Exclusive : Guest Contributions and Featured Articles

y “Bomm Bastic” Will
This is do-or-die for both Darcy Regier and Lindy Ruff. Their year to make their mark. In short, there are
no more excuses remaining in the tank for another lackluster, underachieving season for Ruff’s crew.
Regier has gone out of his way to throw his unconditional support behind his head coach - as if Ruff
goes, so goes Regier.
So what does this mean? Well, fantasy GMs can rest assured that R&R, Inc. will do everything in their
power to create an environment that breeds opportunity for success. And THAT, my dear poolies, is
reason to rejoice. Why? Because an environment such as this breeds confidence, and with confidence
comes improved production. What follows is a list of players who will benefit most from this newly
bolstered team, one to avoid, and a couple to keep on your radar.
MUST HAVES
• Steve Ott, LW/C
What’s not to like about Ott, if you are a Roto GM? This thirty year-old wily veteran comes from Dallas
with enough experience to lead a team in dire need of leadership, and enough versatility to earn himself
all the ice time necessary to make fantasy GMs rejoice.
In Dallas, Ott earned his stripes by mixing just the right blend of tenacity with an ability to create scoring
chances. In Buffalo, Ott will be counted on to continue his mean streak while ratcheting up his offensive
production. He is at the forefront of a team desperately trying to change their image from a passive,
post-lockout, emotional lot to that of a gritty sandpaper, take-no-prisoners crew. Consequently, Ott gets
the biggest bump in value. You’re not picking Ott for his plus/minus, however, he will more than make
up with 46 points, 170 PIMs, 280 Hits, and 120 SOG.
He may not play a full 82 games due to the occasional one or two game suspension, but his
contributions to your stat line are well worth any potential short-term absence.
• Tyler Myers, D
Comparisons to Zdneo Chara continue to shadow
the 6’8”, 227lb Myers, and they go beyond the
obvious physical similarities. While Myers
experienced a drop-off in offensive productivity in
the 2011-12 season - due in large part to injury and
a honing of his defensive acumen - fantasy GMs
need to remember that Chara failed break through
the 40-point barrier until his seventh season.
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