Roto Exclusive : Guest Contributions and Featured Articles
Roto Exclusive : Guest Contributions and Featured Articles
Roto Exclusive : Guest Contributions and Featured Articles
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TRENDING DOWN<br />
Andrew Shaw –<br />
Shaw came out of nowhere halfway through last season <strong>and</strong> posted reasonably fantasy worthy numbers<br />
for a player who was on the waiver wire in over 99.9% of leagues just last December. Nearly a year later<br />
everyone expects for him to build on last season’s 23 points in 37 games but I think he goes the other<br />
direction. He is a fine player but he is really a third-liner <strong>and</strong> will likely lose the second unit power play<br />
time he was receiving to a more dynamic player.<br />
Viktor Stalberg –<br />
All signs are pointing in the right direction. In three NHL seasons Stalberg has improved his scoring each<br />
year culminating in the 22-goal, 43-point season he just submitted. The next step is seemingly the 60-<br />
point barrier, which would make him very fantasy friendly. The problem is he has to earn more minutes.<br />
Stalberg skated in just over 14 minutes per game last season, while receiving next to no power play<br />
time. It would be wonderful for Stalberg owners if the Blackhawks found some space for him on even<br />
the second power play unit but the team has a ton of depth on the wings <strong>and</strong> have no real room to<br />
experiment with Stalberg, especially not with more intriguing prospects on the way up.<br />
Corey Crawford –<br />
Crawford stunk last season. Or rather he was numbingly mediocre. Just a season prior, Crawford<br />
submitted a wonderful fantasy line that came seemingly out of nowhere. Which Crawford will show up<br />
for 2012-13? How about none of the above. The Blackhawks are eerily well under the cap for 2012-13<br />
<strong>and</strong> while no team has been exactly willing to press right up against the new cap given the current<br />
situation with the collective bargaining agreement, there still remains a ton of room for the Blackhawks<br />
to resolve their weakest link – goaltending. With Crawford signed for less than $3 million a season <strong>and</strong><br />
only one year left on Emery’s deal the Blackhawks have the flexibility to go after a proven starter. They<br />
also have the prospect depth to swing such a deal. It’s no secret the Blackhawks want to make an<br />
upgrade here <strong>and</strong> that would relegate Crawford to the bench <strong>and</strong> your waiver wire. It’s always a gamble<br />
betting on a trade but the Blackhawks can’t consider themselves Cup contenders until they upgrade<br />
between the pipes.<br />
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