|
 Eating
Crow - Part I
Well, as we reach the quarter pole of the NHL
season there are a few more players actually making impacts on their teams
that we didn’t have on our RADAR screen.
As we close out the first month of the season, we try and give you
an idea of who some of the guys that are playing who, for one reason or
another we didn't have in our cheatsheets. These are mainly guys that we
felt were a year or two away (or in one case, a guy we thought would never
make it) but they are playing and could possibly make an
impact in your fantasy pool. Rather than hide, we thought we should let you
know who these people are and admit that we're not quite perfect. Every
month we'll list a few more players that didn't make it onto our cheatsheets.
Many will be players that will come and go, but it's possible that some will
stick around all year and have a decent impact.
We give you our take on more of these
“surprises” from the start of the season – Part II.
-
Martin
Erat (LW/C) – Nashville: A big surprise out of training
camp, Erat, a native of the Czech Republic, has played better than coach
Barry Trotts could have hoped. Centering the second line in Nashville,
Erat has 11 points in 21 games. Pleasing the Preds even more though has
been his solid two-way play – all this from a 20 year old rookie.
Blessed with soft hands, and quick feet, Erat has the chance to really
develop into a special player. Expect a little lull in Erat’s play as
his reputation will get around the league and he won’t be able to
surprise teams like he has out of the blocks. If you can hide him on a
deep roster – you will benefit in future seasons.
-
Josef
Melichar (D) – Pittsburgh: A bit of surprise to make the
team out of training camp, although the departure of Bob
Boughner and Janne
Laukennen’s injury opened a spot for the 6’2”, 215 lbs Czech
native. Melichar plays a pretty simple game and was the beneficiary of
former Coach Ivan Hlinka’s guidance. Melichar won’t be a big
offensive threat, but being a late bloomer, that part of his game may
come around. At 22, he’ll stick as long as he plays consistent
defense.
-
Krys
Kolanos (C/LW) – Phoenix: The ‘Yotes first pick in the
2000 draft, Kolanos had to be a pleasant surprise coming out of training
camp. The 20 year old had a big year playing for the NCAA Champions,
Boston College, last year, bagging 25 goals and 50 points in 41 games. A
surprise cut from the Canadian National Team, Kolanos has good speed and
decent hands for a big guy. The only question mark is his play away from
the puck, but on a Phoenix team needing offense and size, Kolanos is a
welcome addition. He’s being played on the third line in Phoenix right
now, and if you haven’t picked him up yet, you should.
-
Jeff
Jillson (D) – San Jose: Our only real concern with Jeff
Jillson is the hype that is being heaped his way, kinda out of left
field. One season removed from college and some pundits are comparing
him to other US born defensemen like Brian
Leetch, Chris
Chelios and Derian
Hatcher. An excellent offensive rear-guard for Michigan last year,
Jillson has shown that he can score and be the trigger-man on the PP.
Question is, can he put his big frame to the defensive side of the game
on a consistent basis? Jillson is a work in progress and currently
Sharks coach Darryl
Sutter has him playing exclusively on the PP to break him in. A
possible good thing, or bad depending on your perspective, is that he
gets to tutor under Gary
Suter, Bryan
Marchment and Marcus
Ragnarsson. Try and bury this guy on your roster if you can, or as a
5th or 6th d-man right now he’d be solid. Always remember – young
defensemen that can score are a poolies’ goldmine.
-
Justin
Kurtz (D) – Vancouver: Kurtz is a testament that you should
never give up on a dream. A late walk-on addition to the Manitoba Moose
last year, Kurtz waited in the wings until given a chance and blossomed
into the Moose’s best defensemen. A very smart player, Kurtz seems to
make the right play almost all the time. He moves the puck well, and can
man the point on the PP. Challenge for Kurtz will be handling NHL
caliber and size forwards deep in his own zone. Not huge at 5’10’ ,
190 lbs., Kurtz will have to use all his hockey sense to make it to the
NHL. However, after a surprising training camp, Kurtz was an early call
up this season, and has played well enough that coach Marc
Crawford can’t sit him down. Good hands and a good low shot will
ensure he sees some PP
time with the Canucks.
|
