The NHL trade deadline (real and fantasy) is upon us shortly. I've taken a day off for my day gig to wait for hydro, which means I've had time to do an extensive study of the NHL schedule for the rest of the season. Here are some observations I've made for each team and corresponding transactions that should be considered as of consequence.
In the most recent edition of #stlblues
— Andy Strickland (@andystrickland) February 23, 2015Tampa Bay Lightning (0.48 nERD)
Games on Off-Days: 4
Games on Busy Days: 14
Back-to-Backs: 1
Game Distribution: 1 two-game week, 4 three-game weeks, 1 four-game week
Recommendations: Only one back-to-back set means Ben Bishop will be able to continue to frustrate owners who invested in him early in the draft. Fortunately for the Lightning, their scoring attack, led by Steven Stamkos, is one of the deepest in the league. Whoever is playing with Stamkos is worth a look; right now, it is Ryan Callahan and Alex Killorn.
Small note on the Lightning' s schedule: like the Canadiens and Washington Capitals, Tampa plays only two games in the final week of the season. If you are relying on some sort of combination of players from these three teams as the nucleus of your team, you're likely to come up short in the finals.
Toronto Maple Leafs (-0.26 nERD)
Games on Off-Days: 8
Games on Busy Days: 11
Back-to-Backs: 4
Game Distribution: 1 two-game week, 3 three-game weeks, 2 four-game weeks
Recommendations: Well that blew up quickly. The Leafs were one of the leagues top scoring teams in December; now, ugh, it isn't much fun to be a Leafs fan. Out of pure frustration, hatred, and disappointment I can't recommend anyone on the team, unless they get traded. Except maybe Nazem Kadri. If you have a chance to grab him, you could do worse; Kadri is averaging 0.59 points per game in the past 30 days. That puts him on the edge of productive.
Vancouver Canucks (0.18 nERD)
Games on Off-Days: 4
Games on Busy Days: 16
Back-to-Backs: 2
Game Distribution: 4 three-game weeks, 2 four-game weeks
Recommendations: Ryan Miller is probably out until the playoffs (if the Canucks make it that far), so Eddie Lack will run the show from here until the end of the season. Be wary of depth forwards on Vancouver since the team has only four games on "Off-Days." In shallow leagues, find your supporting cast elsewhere.
Washington Capitals (0.36 nERD)
Games on Off-Days: 7
Games on Busy Days: 11
Back-to-Backs: 3
Game Distribution: 1 two-game week, 4 three-game weeks, 1 four-game week
Recommendations: As i mentioned already, the Capitals play only two games in the final week of the season. Be careful when making your final transactions of the year, and make sure you don't back yourself into a corner.
Winnipeg Jets (0.05 nERD)
Games on Off-Days: 4
Games on Busy Days: 14
Back-to-Backs: 2
Game Distribution: 2 two-game weeks, 1 three-game week, 3 four-game weeks
Recommendations: Finally, the last team. Tyler Myers is playing well with his new team and has contributed with two goals and four assists in eight games for the Jets while being owned in only 35% of Yahoo! leagues. Two two-game weeks is discouraging, but the three four-game weeks make up for that. Sometimes the bad comes with the good.