Fantasy Pool Look: Analyzing Friday's trades

Tomas Kaberle was traded to Boston for a first round pick and Joe Colborne. (Photo by Phillip MacCallum/Getty Images)

Darryl Dobbs
2011-02-19 13:13:00

Deadline Day 2011 has come and gone, which makes now the perfect time to – what’s that? Deadline Day is still more than a week away? What the…

Well…regardless. Seven deals were done Friday and as many big names changed cities as I’ve ever seen on an actual Deadline Day. The fantasy implications are, in many cases, enormous. Let’s have a look at the key players.

Craig Anderson to Ottawa

I got the impression Anderson wasn’t getting along with management or coaches in Colorado. A losing skid can fray the nerves and strain relations - it happens. He wasn’t getting starts anymore and when he did get them he was losing the games. I think his knee injuries have dogged him all season long and will continue to bother him until he gets the summer off. Conclusion – he’ll get a ton of starts, but probably very few wins to show for it.

Eric Brewer to Tampa Bay

A pretty steady 25-point, 70-PIM defenseman, Brewer was on pace this season to tally more in the latter category and fewer in the former category. That should balance back out again with this move.

Joe Colborne to Toronto

In Boston, Colborne would have to be moved to the wing just to possibly land a roster spot in 2012-13. In Toronto, he’ll get a cup of coffee this season and get a long look in camp in the fall as a third-line centerman. If developed properly, Colborne will be a hulking No. 1 center with soft hands and excellent hockey sense. Although he only had 26 points in 55 games with Providence of the American League, that was still good for third on the team behind two players with more experience.

Brian Elliott to Colorado

Elliott was below average with a bad team in front of him. Colorado was getting horrible goaltending from Petr Budaj and a wonky-kneed Craig Anderson. With below average goaltending (which, on Dobber’s goaltending chart rates higher than “horrible”), the Avs should actually get back to .500 hockey.

Erik Johnson to Colorado

At age 22, Chris Pronger was good for 35 points, 140 penalty minutes and was finally starting to hone his defensive game. Johnson, who is 22 now, is in the same boat, except he missed a crucial year of development after tearing up his knee two years ago. It wasn’t until Pronger was 26 when he became a 60-point, 100-PIM, plus-40 Norris Trophy type of rearguard. So while the Avs gave up a potential Sergei Gonchar in Kevin Shattenkirk, they landed a tough, well-rounded potential Pronger. Next season you should start seeing 35-plus points out of E.J., but don’t write him off. He’ll have big years starting in 2016.

Tomas Kaberle to Boston

Kaberle was on pace for 52 points in Toronto, which translates to 14 more points in 23 games. Now on a team that scores 20 percent more goals, I would expect his projection to jump accordingly. Look for 16 to 17 points in his final 23 games.

Rich Peverley to Boston

I don’t like this deal for Peverley owners at all. He may have the usual new-team adrenalin to start, but he’s entrenched on the third line. As long as the Bruins don’t expect too much out of him, he should be good for a point every two games. But start pushing him too hard and asking for too much and he could be a candidate for the press box. That’s a place he hasn’t frequented since his Nashville days.

Kevin Shattenkirk to St. Louis

I think Shattenkirk will be a 60-plus point defenseman no matter what team he plays for. The move to St. Louis, for the short term, will spark him into a nice little run. But my long-term projection remains the same. A stud to own and he’ll flirt with 50 points next season.

Chris Stewart to St. Louis

I don’t believe Stewart is injury prone. I don’t believe he’ll get into as many fights in the future, either. Had he not missed time this season, he would not have lost his rhythm and we’d be talking about a player with 50 points right now. He’s a 75-point winger for years to come and what team he plays on will not affect this projection. His arrival in St. Louis, however, will hurt the production of both Alex Steen and Matt D’Agostini.

Blake Wheeler to Atlanta

If Andrew Ladd’s move to Atlanta turned him from a 50-pont player into a 65-point player, then Wheeler going to Atlanta should lead to similar results. He leaves a deep team in Boston to join a club with opportunities. In Wheeler’s case, this 35-point player will become a 55-point player.

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 Tuesday and Saturday. Also, get the top 300 roto-player rankings on the first of every month in THN’s Fantasy section.

Do you have a question about fantasy hockey? Send it to the Fantasy Mailbag.

Want more fantasy insider information or to contact The Dobber? Check out dobberhockey.com.