Faceoff Factor

Fantasy Preseason Blockbuster Trade

Kevin Dunn | Faceoff Factor News

Oct 3, 09:19 AM | Hype this story!

Faceoff Conference: Preseason Blockbuster Trade

Wow! Before any games were played a blockbuster goes down in the Faceoff Conference. As “I’m the Expert!?!” sends Ryan Getzlaf (Anh –C), Roberto Lungo (Van –G) and Ty Conklin (Det – G) to the “Bad News Birere’s” for Evgeni Malkin (Pit–C) Shane Doan (Pho –RW) and Nikolai Khabibulin (Chi –G).

I’m the Expert

Let’s break it down! Malkin is likely candidate for the Art Ross Trophy and with his countrymen Sergei Gonchar (Pit –D) out 4 to 6 months he may get a lot of time on the PowerPlay, so still look for him to be atop of the heap in scoring and PP goals.

The Expert now has the best pair of Right Wingers in the Faceoff league with Marian Hossa (Det – RW)and Doan. The Experts will have a lot of talented forwards with the Thomas Plekanec (Mon –C), Thomas Vanek (Buf–-LW),and Michael Cammalleri (Cgy –LW) to go along with Malkin, Hossa and Doan.

However, the deal’s success for the Expet likely hinges on what happens to Khabibulin. Does he end up in LA and get a lot of starts? If so it’s a winner for the Expert, but if not the Expert is left with a goaltending trio of Khabibulin, Jose Theodore (Was) and Ilya Bryzgalov (Pho) and may need to start shopping for a third goalie if Khabibulin is playing in the AHL or KHL and if sometimes shaky Theodore falters in Washington.

Bad News Briere’s

On the flip side the Bad News Briere’s have a great 1-2 punch in the nets now with Miikka Kiprusoff (Cgy–C) and Roberto Luongo (Van–C) to go along with two veterans who figure to get some playing time in Olaf Kolzig (TB–C) and Ty Conklin (Det–C). Briere went from Kiprusoff , Khaibulin and Kolzig to a really strong group in the nets.

The Briere’s have goaltending but they lack a bit up front and Getzlaf plays in Anaheim’s defense first system so he may not put up the numbers. The Briere’s forwards are not overly impressive with Daniel Briere (Phl-C), Getzlaf, Daniel Sedin (Van-LW), Brian Rolston (NJ-LW), Milan Hejduk (Col-RW) and Joffrey Lupul (Phi-RW) so a few guys who tend to be streaky (Lupul and Bierere) or who play for defense first teams (Getzlaf and Rolston) will need to put up numbers for this trade to be a blockbuster the pays off big for the Bad New Briere.

Fantasy Trades

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