Posts tagged tyler weiman

Today was nothing short of a bust when it came to our beloved goalies during today’s 2010 NHL Trade Deadline frenzy. So I put my idle hands to good use by acting as a panelist for the Dobber Hockey Fantasy Chat and then stuck around through the 11th hour to talk fantasy goalies and prospects!

If you didn’t catch it, click the logo above and check it out! Because I didn’t get a chance to type up anything during the chat, here’s a recap of my reflections of the small but interesting goalie moves that took place today in the NHL.

Vesa Toskala for Curtis McElhinney

It’s amazing just how much a goalie’s expectations and reputation can still change as result of even a meaningless trade. To look at this move on paper, you can’t help but wonder about the point.

It was a deal between two backups that repeatedly failed to deliver this season in Vesa Toskala and Curtis McElhinney. Their weak play was reflected by the many fans that wondered how either goalie was in the NHL in the first place. But look at the trade a little more closely. It gets at least interesting enough to write about.

Now all of a sudden there are no more expectations for either of them. And for Calgary, they have to look at this as a straight up steal in the experience department, which was the one thing McElhinney severely lacked.

Toskala no longer carries the burden of having to live up to an #1 goalie. Now he’s not even expected to challenge or hardly even play. Perfect…that’s where it should be. But at least Calgary knows they have a goalie that they are familiar within a situation where he could maybe turn things around and win games again. It’s not expected, so at least they’ve got a positive situation with a little more comfort in a “tandem” … if you can call it that.

McElhinney was not pushing Kiprusoff in Calgary and didn’t do much to help his cause. Now he’s in Anaheim, a team that has some great prospects coming up quick in Timo Pielmeier and even Russian prospect Igor Bobkov. Although I don’t want this to come off like a total knock on Curtis, but he hasn’t impressed me at the NHL level. He’s a great goalie with success at the NCAA ranks, but hasn’t shown me elite skill or any consistency with the Flames. Of course, that’s not easy to do in Calgary, so a change can ONLY be a good thing moving forward. There’s always a chance the scenery change becomes a good mix and he keeps Jonas Hiller focused and working hard in practice.

What’s interesting about this is Anaheim’s depth chart. They have blown the door wide open for Pielmeier to step up over the summer and fight for Hiller’s backup job. Do not lose sight of that, as Pielmeier has been one of my favorite prospects this year as far as development is concerned. He’s a German goaltender with great experience in the junior ranks and continues to evolve in the ECHL.

Obviously this trade has little to zero fantasy impact, but it’s still interesting to look at from a prospects and depth chart perspective. Same goes for the next move…

Justin Pogge to Carolina

Justin Pogge joins Justin Peters in the Canes’ system. Pick Peters over Pogge. Cam Ward doesn’t need surgery so there’s a chance he comes back this year, but Peters’ patience has paid off as he should get plenty of opportunity to play down the home stretch.

As long as Ward remains out of the lineup, Peters will get the chance to display his skill and puck stopping abilities. This spells another end for the veteran Manny Legace, as Mike Murphy is still under close watch and supervision by the Hurricanes organization.

Because Peters has played really well and has displayed plenty of confidence and ability, you can expect him to continue to compete well and impress the organization. As a result, he should have no problem winning the backup job over the summer and finally graduate to the NHL. That leaves Pogge and Murphy to handle the duties in Albany.

John Grahame to Colorado

Lost in everything today was the fact that Lake Erie had to solve their injury issues between the pipes. Both Tyler Weiman and Trevor Cann have been on the shelf, so the Avalanche signed former Tampa Bay Lightning goalie John Grahame.

John’s father is former NHL goalie Ron Grahame, who now serves as the University of Denver Pioneers Athletic Director. So there was a family connection here in Denver and that could have led to some good talks. Absolutely no fantasy value here, but it’s clear that Cann is still not ready for the AHL and may have been eclipsed by Billy Sauer, who remains healthy.

Chicago’s Goaltending is Fine

It’s just hilarious how people think Cristobal Huet has played so bad that the Blackhawks would have to resort to Antti Niemi as their starter down the stretch. Niemi is not a #1 goaltender yet and Huet simply needs to play games right now so that he has every opportunity to catch fire before the playoffs.

Like I said heading into the day, the Blackhawks are prepared and confident with living and dying by Huet. But unfortunately I don’t have a lot of confidence in Joel Quenneville’s decision-making, so I really worry for Huet’s value moving forward.

But when you come back from an Olympic break and start Niemi in the first game, it doesn’t really help Huet’s chance to get into a rhythm. To me, it’s an odd decision in a situation where Coach Q just can’t afford many more. Huet has a short history of getting hot in March, so hopefully the Hawks will open the door for him to do it again.

Cory Schneider Goes Nowhere

I think the fact that Cory Schneiderwas not moved today is even more proof that the Vancouver Canucks are prepared to give him an opportunity to back up Roberto Luongo. It would be a good move, as Schneider would be worked in slowly and learn a lot from the work ethic and leadership that Luongo displays on a nightly basis.

Although it was pointed out to me by Jeff Angus, one of Dobber’s finest columnists, that Schneider is restricted at the end of the season and would therefore have to sign for right around $1 million, I could only think of Peter Budaj, who is actually making close to $1.3 million this year to back up Craig Anderson.

Anything could happen between now and the start of training camp, but I’m being led to believe that all of the actions, or I guess the lack of actions, that Vancouver has displayed with Schneider means that they want to see what he’s made of before they go out and trade him.

On the flip side, they might have trouble finding a suitor willing to give up enough assets in exchange because of the simple reason he hasn’t played enough at the NHL level to warrant solid looks from other organizations. In that sense, it makes even more sense that Vancouver would give him some NHL minutes next season as Luongo’s backup.

Miika Wiikman to Phoenix

Miika Wiikman has bounced back and forth from Charlotte of the ECHL to Hartford until he was finally traded to Phoenix at the tail end of today’s deadline. Wiikman is 9-2-1-2 with a 2.77 GAA .909 save percentage and one shutout in 16 games ECHL this season and 2-4-0 with a 4.20 GAA and .869 save percentage in seven games with the Hartford Wolf Pack.

Originally signed by the Rangers as a free agent on April 24, 2008, Wiikman now moves to an organization where his value receives a quality boost. The Coyotes have a weak system right now, as the San Antonio Rampage had Pogge on loan from Anaheim until he was sent to the Carolina Hurricanes.

It’s unclear where Phoenix will send Wiikman, but you have to think he backs up Josh Tordjman through this season since Al Montoya is out with an injury.

Joey MacDonald to Anaheim

As if one backup goalie wasn’t enough, Anaheim chose to bring in a replacement for the loss of Pogge and traded a seventh round pick in 2011 for Joey MacDonald. MacDonald has been with the Marliesfor most of the season and is expected to stay there, as the Ducks share an AHL affiliation with the Phoenix Coyotes.

Be sure to check out Dobber Hockey every Monday as Justin posts his weekly column, School of Block, which brings you great insight, analysis and advice on fantasy goaltending.