Another contribution from long-time reader Trevor Bosma:
A few quick thoughts for all of you fantasy hockey lovers to hum and ho over during Christmas.
The Philadelphia Flyers are struggling! Why? This is a team with a huge amount of talent and possibly the most potential of any team in the East, other than Washington. Will the Flyers turn it in the New Year. I think so. Carter has only 12 goals going into Christmas but has taken 159 shots, I am sure everyone knows he will be at 30 goals plus by seasons end.
The Buffalo Sabres are playing well. What team wouldn’t play well and win a load of games with Ryan Miller in net. I smell a Vezina coming his way this season. Vanek is out with an abdominal problem and is DTD but when he comes back I believe he will be scoring a lot more goals. I know I just said this about Carter but Vanek is one of the leagues elite goal scorers and needs only a split second in the slot to pot a goal. Vanek has been playing through injuries all season and maybe this Christmas break came at the perfect time for him and the Sabres. Watch for Buffalo to keep up this strong season and Vanek to take over the team scoring lead by seasons end.
Edmonton Oilers are the exact opposite to the Sabres. The Oilers are dieing without Khabibulin in goal. Deslauriers and Dubnyk have been awful and the Oilers are showing their lack of confidence in front of their goalies. With Hemsky and Khabi out of the Oilers line up, watch for the Oilers to keep struggling. Until the Oilers young players grow into this NHL and play to their potential the Oilers will not be a playoff team. Ganger, Cogliano, Nilsson, Gilbert, Deslauriers and Horcoff have all been disappointments this season. Stay away, far far away from all Oilers players minus Visnovsky, Brule and Penner. Notice I did not add Souray in their, this is because if you watch the Oilers Souray is not hammering the puck like his normal self. Why? I believe Souray is fighting through some soreness. Just a guess though.
Lastly is the San Jose Sharks. All I can say is wow. If you have the chance to grab Marleau, Heatley, Thorton, Setoguchi, Pavelski, Clowe, Boyle, Blake, Demers and/or Nabokov do it now!! The Sharks are going to continue to stay atop the NHL standings. With possibly the top line in the NHL and definitely the best second line in the NHL, who can say they will slow down at all? Nabakov is one of the best keepers in the league and really what else can you say about this but…Lord Stanley are you planning on landing in San Jose this season? The choking Sharks are done and it’s their time to take Lord Stanley home.
