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 The fantasy hockey roundtable has returned to FantasyPros911.com this week with the following question:Which three players have beent he most disappointing so far this year? (Ed. Note - responses are as January 29th, however, due to server issues, we were unable to post them until today. Niklas Backstrom tops my list of 2009-10 disappointments. Steve Mason has taken a huge dive this season too, but he’s a 21-year-old sophomore so his struggles weren’t entirely unforeseen. By contrast, Backstrom is a 31-year-old and has posted a GAA between 1.97 and 2.33 and save percentage between .920 and .929 in each of his last three seasons. Backstrom manage to play like his old self in October, but his numbers have sunk since then. He has a 2.74 GAA and .923 save percentage in 43 games this season, including a horrid 3.65 GAA and .869 save percentage in his first nine January games. Marc Savard has been another big disappointment, but for very different reasons. When he’s been healthy, he’s been decent. However, after playing in 320 of a possible 328 games between 2005-06 and 2008-09, Savard has been hit hard by the injury bug this season. He missed five weeks due to a broken foot and just returned after missing three weeks due to a partially torn right MCL. Speaking of Boston players, blueliner Dennis Wideman has collapsed after scoring 50 points with a plus-32 plus/minus this season. He has just three goals and 15 points in 45 games to go along with a team-worst minus-12 plus/minus rating. His play has been so bad lately that it’s even gotten on coach Claude Julien’s nerves and he might start seeing less ice time. Ryan Dadoun, Rotoworld.com It's hard to pick just three players who have disappointed me this season. I've been let down by so many, so many times. But if I had to pick just three, I would go with: 1. Evgeni Malkin. He finished last season with 35 goals. This year, he had just 18 in his first 47. And just five goals so far in all of January. He finished last season so strong, looking like nothing could stop him. He had 50 goals in his eyes after he lifted the Cup. By the time Christmas rolled around, he looked like he would be grateful to score just 20 goals. 2. Alex Kovalev. His disappearance isn't surprising, but it is disappointing. His last two seasons in Montreal were great. But with 13 goals in 51 games for Ottawa, he hasn't lived up to anyone's expectations. Ottawa had to know Kovalev is one of the game's streakiest players, but for whatever reason, they chose to throw their lot in with him. A lot of fantasy owners made the same mistake. 3. Christopher Higgins. He's never had huge numbers. In fact, his best season was just 27 goals. But coming to the offense-minded Rangers, it seemed he would finally have that breakout season he always seemed to be flirting with. The idea was that he would just hang out in front of opposing nets and collect goals. For whatever reason, that hasn't happened in New York. And when Higgins does have the rare scoring chance, he can't cash in. He's snake-bitten, as you can see with his six goals on the season. Steven Ovadia, RotoRob.com Devin Setoguchi – After a 31-goal, 65-point sophomore season, Setoguchi looked to be on the verge of big things alongside Joe Thornton. Unfortunately for Setoguchi, the Dany Heatley trade happened and the Patrick Marleau trade didn’t happen, meaning that his time on the first line was up. Seto should at least reach the 20-goal mark this season, but scoring just 20 points in 41 games has meant that many fantasy owners have gone in another direction for scoring help this season. Dion Phaneuf – Phaneuf has performed better than Setoguchi this season, but just barely. As the Flames continue to freefall in the standings, so does Phaneuf’s fantasy value. Once considered an elite defenseman, Phaneuf is barely worth a roster spot with 21 points in 53 games. Dishonorable mention to Phaneuf’s teammate Jay Bouwmeester, who has a paltry two goals this season. Steve Mason – After being one of fantasy hockey’s top goalies in his Calder Trophy season, Mason has provided further proof that there is such a thing as a sophomore slump. Mason’s goals-against average is a full goal higher than last season (3.26 to 2.29), and he won’t come anywhere close to his 33 wins from last season. The Blue Jackets decided to focus on a more offensive-minded approach this season, but the move aimed at taking a step ahead has resulted in the team taking two steps back, killing Mason’s numbers in the process. Ian Gooding, FantasyHockey.com Like Ian and Ryan, I have to agree with Steve Mason. Every fantasy hockey owner expected him to be one of the best goaltenders in the league fresh off of a Calder Trophy season, however, he's been a completely different stopper since. Sophomore slump, freshman fluke, call it what you want, the fact of the matter is that Mason has been bad this year. Playing for the Blue Jackets doesn't provide much of an advantage, but they could make a move at the deadline to help him out. Since no one has mentioned Peter Mueller yet, I feel obligated to do so. While he's not too far off of last season's numbers, he has been on a constant downfall and it has continued this season. The former eight overall pick was expected to get better as his career advanced, as do many, however, he has just gotten worse. Another player who Ian and Ryan didn't cover, that I would like to touch on includes Sheldon Souray. The big Oiler's defenseman has been a big let down in 2009-2010 with a -19 rating and only 13 points in 37 games. In his last two full seasons, 2006-2007 and 2008-2009, he has posted 64 and 53 points in each respectively. Nothing has gone right so far, and he recently injured his wrist which could have an even bigger effect long term this season. Kevin Orris, FantasyPros911.com Trackback(0)
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Where is Steve O.'s portion?