Nick Fruscello: Welcome again to Fantasy Friday! This upcoming Tuesday is the NHL trading deadline and it could impact a lot of teams in the NHL and make a big impact in your fantasy league. Vinnie Prospal, Rob Blake, Mats Sundin, Olli Jokinen, Marian Hossa are just a few of the bigger names getting thrown around. Big names getting traded into better situations can be exactly what you're looking for going into the fantasy hockey playoffs. In 02, Pavel Bure was slumping and was traded to the Rangers. Bure went on a tear scoring 12 goals in 12 games and getting 20 points overall. A huge boost for his owners at this critical part of the season and a huge boost for anyone that had his linemates. Earlier in the week Peter Forsberg's agent said he wasn't coming back this season, but just recently I heard that Forsberg IS still planning on playing this year, so keep your finger on that add button for Forsberg. Onto the questions...

Obama_for_Prez: Hi, Nick. I'm in this fantasy hockey league with 3 of my fellow work associates. One of the guys is a fantasy stud, the other guy is terribly good-looking and knows a bit about hockey (me), and the last guy is a huge tool who knows nothing about hockey and never changes his lineup. Well, the afprementioned tool is handing me and fantasy sports stud our butts. How is this possible? Sure, luck is involved, but are fantasy sports not based largely upon skill?

Nick Fruscello: Fantasy leagues deal with skill and luck. Sometimes you get players that just have an off season, get injured, or just have slow starts. I have seen in cases where someone who knows nothing about the sport gets off to a get start and the people that know the sport get frustrated. But never fear, most of the time the people that know the sport best come out on top.

Nick Fruscello: FORSBERG UPDATE: This just in, Peter Forsberg is now NOT coming back to the NHL. Apparently there was some miscommunication about this when the report about him coming back was published.

stillers: Battle of the Ryans: Ryan Smyth or Ryan Malone?

Nick Fruscello: Right now, I would have to say they're dead even. Both strong LW power forwards that will get a lot of garbage goals. The only difference right now is that Malone is on a hot streak and probably will remain on that streak until the end of the season. Smyth may be the better talent but Malone will get you more points from this point on.

Nick Fruscello: FORSBERG UPDATE: Forsberg has now once again said that he IS coming back. Report about the report being wrong, was wrong. Also Peter has said he won't play for the Penguins, Red wings, Flyers, Blackhawks, Stars or any other team that ends with the letter "S". So that means the Avalanche, Wild and Lighting are still in the running...

stillers: I think I've asked you this before, but what about Brad Richards? Is he worth the pickup?

Nick Fruscello: Yeah, Richards is available in my Yahoo league as well and I'm really wondering if I should go for him myself. Right now, the situation he's in, in Tampa Bay is awful. Prospal is with Vincent Lecavalier and Martin St Louis leaving Richards the odd man out. If he gets traded (and he might) he could be a HUGE pickup at this point in the season. I would wait till Tuesday to see if he lands somewhere else.

Nick Fruscello: FORSBERG UPDATE: Forsberg's return to the ice is once again in jeopardy. Reports are coming out saying that he was involved in a brawl at a post office in Sweden that was not carrying his 1994 Olympics stamp with the picture of him scoring the winning shootout goal against Team Canada goalie, Corey Hirsch. Forberg reportedly sucker punched a postal worker and then complained to the police when the postal worker hit him back.

Obama_for_Prez: When will Ovechkin get hot again? Would you recommend trading him for Crosby (in my Xtra player position) when Sid returns?

Nick Fruscello: I still hold the belief that Ovechkin is the best player in hockey. He was on a unbelievable pace earlier this season and has cooled off, but I wouldn't be quick to drop him in salary cap leagues or trade him in keepers. He's a great player, but he is still human.

stillers: Milan Hejduk just became available in my league. Waiver steal?

Nick Fruscello: Hejduk has been dreadful this season. He has only 2 goals this month and they were both in the same game. Those are also his only points of the month. I would stay away until he starts showing a little more production.

Obama_for_Prez: I just traded Horton for Elias and Dumont for Kovalev. What are your thoughts on those moves?

Nick Fruscello: I would stay those a couple really good trades. Elias has always been known as a good second half player and will easily get more points than Horton. Kovalev is looking like his old self in Montreal these days, so I would say both are good acquisitions.

66_greaterthan_99: I was offered a trade. I'm giving up Prospal and getting Sykora and Emery.

Nick Fruscello: I would do that. Prospal is having a great season, but he could very well get traded and not be on TB's top line anymore. Sykora will most likely stay on Malkin's line for the rest of the season and Emery has started playing more and more over the past month. Owning a goalie for one of the top teams in the league can never be a bad thing.

66_greaterthan_99: I'm also in a cap league. I have Conklin but should I get rid of him now while his stock is up for Fleury?

Nick Fruscello: I would hold off on that. I heard on the Mark Madden show the other day that Conklin is going to be the man even after Fleury comes back. Hang onto Conklin for now and make sure to make the switch for Fleury if Iron Mike puts him back in.

Nick Fruscello: FORSBERG UPDATE: Peter Forsberg has been released however he injured his hand when he got into that fight and his return to the NHL is now doubtful.

SGP: Crosby for Briere...Is this a fair trade?

Nick Fruscello: I wouldn't say that's fair. I would say its great if you're the one getting Crosby though. Sid's injured now but he'll be back for March and April and that's what matters most in fantasy leagues.

Pens_fan: Any word on when Sidney Crosby might be playing again?

Nick Fruscello: I've heard everything to this weekend to Mid March. Its really tough to tell at this point.

Pens_fan: What's your opinion of Malkin? Get Sid back and we can beat any team in the NHL

Nick Fruscello: I think Malkin is showing why he was so highly rated going into the 2004 draft. He's really coming into his own and becoming that 2nd punch to Sid's 1st punch we've been waiting for. Now if we can just get them together at the same time, they'll be a dangerous team.

SGP: I am dying laughing over your Forsberg updates. Thanks for making my Friday so great!!!!!

Nick Fruscello: hehe... you're welcome

Nick Fruscello: Speaking of the Forsberg updates...

Nick Fruscello: FORSBERG UPDATE: In a stunning turn of events, Corey Hirsch has announced he is coming back to the NHL. Shortly thereafter, Peter Forsberg announced that he TOO will be coming back to the NHL as long as Hirsch is the goalie for every team he's playing against.

Pens_fan: Nick, I really enjoy your on line chats, you should think of writing a fantasy column in your newspaper.

Nick Fruscello: Thank you! I really enjoy doing these chats every Friday and hopefully someday it will lead to more, like a blog or column.

skirace217: Dude Man: What do you think about Corey Hart this year? Is my man ready to bust out or what?

Nick Fruscello: Wow, I was just thinking, no baseball questions yet and here we are. As long as he stays at the top of the Brewers lineup, he'll be worth owning. But I would beware of the sophmore slump. He would be a good 3rd OF or bench player early on, just to make sure he'll return to form.

Nick Fruscello: Well that's all the time I have for today. Next week we should have a better idea of what the fantasy hockey and NHL landscape will look like going into March. Plus, we may be closer to finding out whether or not Peter Forsberg is coming back to the NHL or not. Then again.... maybe not. See you next Friday!