Armchair GM Round 12 and A Trade
September 3rd, 2009 | by Vance |If you haven’t noticed, I’ve been keeping the Armchair GM links on the banner up to date, but haven’t been really doing a great job writing posts on the results or roster changes. Hopefully this post rectifies that.
Yesterday saw my 12th round pick, number 335, arrive. With that pick I selected Gregory Campbell to center the 2nd line on this here fantasy roster. In 77 games last season with the Florida Panthers, Campbell had 13 goals and 19 assists for 32 points. However his value lies in his tenacity, forechecking, and willingness to lay the body. Campbell led all Panthers forwards in hits, blocked shots, had the 3rd most time on ice.
That physical presence in the middle will open up space for the smaller Kane on his wing and help put together a dynamic 2nd line. But about his LW, which was to be Henrik Zetterberg, well, that’s changed. I traded Daniel Briere, Claude Giroux, and a 14th pick to the Philadelphia Flyers for Kimmo Timonen, a 12th round pick, and a 20th rounder.
The rationale behind this trade was pretty simple. I’m stacked on offense, I’m weak on defense. The Flyers GM has been after Giroux since about the 6th round, I finally gave in, and pulled the trigger on this deal. Timonen really shores up the defense, adds another puck mover, and will provide another element to the offense.
This does however force Zetterberg back to the top line to play Center, while the pick I obtained, pick #350, was on the clock when we struck the deal. So with that pick I took one of the fastest players in the game (and rated so on NHL10/NHL2K10) in Mason Raymond of the Vancouver Canucks.
The young gun started off last season with a blur, leading the Canucks in points through October while earning playing time with the Sedins, but the sophomore slump took it’s toll, and Raymond finished the season with 11 goals and 12 assists. He garnered 2nd line PP and PK time, but still has room to grow. At 21 years old, he’ll have time to do that.
So check out the new lines, tell me what you think. What would you change up?
Tags: Armchair GM, Claude Giroux, Daniel Briere, Kimmo Timonen, Mason Raymond
