Fantasy Pool Look: Spotlight starting to shine on Clowe

Ryan Clowe is tied for the playoff lead in points with eight. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Darryl Dobbs
2008-04-18 12:19:15

Ryane Clowe was missed in a lot of office pools this time around because he is young, virtually unknown and missed most of the season with a knee injury. Being held to just eight points kept him low on the stats sheets, so the casual fan probably missed him.

If San Jose gets by Calgary in the first round, the odds are pretty slim Clowe will sneak through in your summer draft, though.

With eight points through the first five playoff games, the 25-year-old is proving to be a clutch performer and is starting to look like the offensive ingredient the Sharks has been without all season (aside from Brian Campbell, of course). He is a fixture among the team’s top six and if this carries to next season, there is little reason why he can’t post 65 points. That’s a level only Joe Thornton reached this year.

Although drafted late (sixth round, 175th overall in 2001), Clowe has always shown an offensive flair, having posted 173 points in 145 Quebec League games in junior. He had 96 points in his final 109 American League games before making the jump to San Jose.

From a fantasy standpoint, Clowe offers more than mere points. He also has the potential to give you 250 or more shots and 100-plus penalty minutes. But if he continues this stellar production into a second playoff round, you can forget all about sneaking him past anybody…

Including the post-season, Rangers rookie Brandon Dubinsky has 36 points in his past 49 contests, which is a 60-point pace. That being said, his linemate is Jaromir Jagr, which will not be the case next season. In trade talks over the summer - if you own him - push the former fact and play down the latter.

Farm Report: Phoenix prospect Kevin Porter won the Hobey Baker Award as the top American college player. Porter has since signed an entry-level deal with the Coyotes and, while one season in the American League will do him wonders, I think he has a real shot at a roster spot in the fall. With Phoenix having a cornucopia of riches up the middle (Peter Mueller, Kyle Turris, Martin Hanzal), Porter could sneak in as a winger. He played center through most of college, but he did see a lot of time on the wing, as well. He is a potential 40-goal man on an up-and-coming team.

FPL will return May 2.

Darryl Dobbs’ Fantasy Pool Look is an in-depth presentation of player trends, injuries and much more as it pertains to rotisserie pool leagues. Get the edge in your league - check out the latest scoop every Monday and Friday (only Friday's during the playoffs and off-season). Also, get the top 300 roto-player rankings on the 1st of every month in THN’s Fantasy section.

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