The Fantasy Files: omitted from final home game GT issue

Gallagher said he ran out of room in the last Game Time issue of the year, so he had to scrap the article.  I figured I'd give you folks a special edition "deleted scene" so to speak.  Without further ado, here is the unprinted article:

 (after the jump)

The Fantasy Files

by Dooks

Well, Game Time readers, it's the last home game for the St. Louis Blues, and the season will be over in three days. This page is intended to keep tabs on players that are valuable enough be used in fantasy leagues. Being that the end is near, it would be pointless to keep that routine going. Instead, for this article, I'll be doing a recap of some standout players that aren't the usual top-tier players.

Let's get started with Game Time's own Bob Plager Invitational League. A few GT writers and readers have made up ten teams that played a head-to-head style league with no playoffs. My team, Ulquiorra, is holding firm in the top spot. Reader Tim Cron's team, All Ya Need Is Glove has been a persistant second place team, and even took over first place for a couple weeks last month. Third place mainstay, Mowka's Minions has been making the both of us sweat, biting at our heels most of the year, and if I remember correctly, this team was even leader of the pack in the beginning of the season. Winner of the 'Most Improved' award goes to Pabst Smears, owned by SLGT's trivia mensa Childhood Trauma. Origionally hovering around the lower echelon of the standngs during the first two-thirds of the season, Childhood Trauma made a few key changes to his lineup and was instantly formidable, only losing once in his last seven matchups, and shooting up to 4th place. It's been a great season and I already can't wait to draft for next season.
One big winner this season has been Anaheim's Teemu Selanne. Selanne has missed a total of 26 games this season, but has gave it his all when he was healthy. In 54 games, he has 26 goals (including #600 of his career) and 21 assists for 47 points. He was recently nominated for the Bill

Masterton Trophy, which is given to the player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey.

Last season, a lot of eyes were on Florida Panthers backup goalie Craig Anderson. Western Conference doormat Colorado Avalanche aquired him via free agency that summer, and he has made all the difference. Anderson's 38-25-6 record and 7 shutouts thus far have helped the Avs clinch the final playoff spot earlier this week.

Vancouver Canucks centerman Henrik Sedin broke away from being on par with his right wing brother this season to take the assists crown. He is currently eleven points ahead of second place Joe Thornton of the Sharks.

The Boston Bruins seemed to have turned to rookie Tuukka Rask to take over the starting job. With an impressive 5 shutouts and 21-12-5 record, he is first in the league in save percentage (.931) and goals against average (1.97).

Tampa Bay Lightning forward Steven Stamkos has matured nicely, more or less doubling his totals from his rookie campaign last year. His 48 goals thus far is tied with Alex Ovechkin and trails only by one to Cindy Crosby. He is currently tied for 6th in the league in points with 91.

Washington Capitals defenseman Mike Green should be dominating Norris Trophy voting this year. He must be pissed he got edged out by Boston's Zdeno Chara last season for the award. Green is leading all defensemen in goals (19), assists (55), points (74), and power play goals (10). He is second in plus-minus only to teammate Jeff Schultz (oddly, 4th place in that category is another teammate Tom Poti). Green is also tied for second in overtime goals and game winning goals.

San Jose Shark Patrick Marleau was stripped of his captaincy after four and a half years, and it awoke the sleeping beast within him. Through eleven years in the NHL, he has averaged 25 goals, 28 assists, and 55 points. This season, he has 43 goals, 39 assists, and 82 points, as well as a career high plus-21 rating.

Rookie forwards Matt Duchesne, John Tavares, Niclas Bergfors, Jamie Benn, and James Van Riemsdyk, defensemen Tyler Meyers and Michael Del Zotto, and goalies Jimmy Howard, Tuukka Rask, Semyon Varlamov, Jonas Gustavsson and Jeff Deslauriers have all played pretty well. All of these players either are or were on a team in the Game Time league (and likely several other leagues) at some point this season. Kudos to everyone who anticipated or noticed their progress and snatched them up.