Hockey pool help

[Eddie Bronze]

Didn't want to post this in the main forum, but it's an NHL related topic. Mods can move it to a more appropriate section if they feel it should be moved.

I'm looking for a little advice on what some you think I should do this weekend in my hockey pool. I'm in an annual pool with my buddies from back home and every year we do it the same, one transaction for the season. We do it at the all-star break and in order of last to first, drop one guy and pick someone up who wasn't originally picked.

I am currently in second in the pool but injuries are decimating me. Fisher, Liles, Nash & Morrow. Morrow (wrist tendons) appears to be the most serious, they are saying March, but I haven't heard when in March. Of the 18 players I picked, only Samsonov (19) has less points than Morrow (20). Points are the only thing that count in our pool. I'm basically screwed here no matter what I do because everyone else in the pool at least screwed up one pick so they have an easy decision and a guy with not many points they can drop.

I'm just not sure if I should keep Samsonov over Morrow. He's been that bad that I'm actually considering keeping a long-term injury over him. Logically, you would think it makes sense to keep Samsonov because at least he's playing and has a chance to get points by being in the games. But he's only got 8 points in the past 30 games (2 goals in the past 36). He's been so bad, I almost wonder if when Morrow returns, even if it's only for the last ten games, that he could still out-point Samsonov. Should I keep Samsonov and hope that he gets un-tracked, or cut my losses and take a chance Morrow will come back sooner or at least do okay in the games he has when he's back? What do you guys think?

I do still have a chance to win this pool, but it's slimly fading with my injuries and I've got no chance at all if I screw up on who I drop and/or who I pick up.

[JiriHrdina]

Keep Samsonov. Morrow is a great player, but not necessarily a great pool player. If Morrow comes back, he's not the type that will go on a huge point streak, where as Samsonov at least holds that possibility.

Is there anyone else available you could pick up instead?

Yannik Perrault?

[Eddie Bronze]

The list of players I can actually pick up is long. Anyone who wasn't drafted at the beginning is available so I just have to wait to see who will go before I decide who I'm dropping.

The problem is, I can only drop one of the guys I have now. Morrow and Samsonov are guys I have right now. I'm interested to find out what you mean by Morrow not being a good pool player. Morrow had 20 points in 28 games. Samsonov has 19 in 46.

[JiriHrdina]

Hmmmm well maybe he is the guy to keep. Historically I'd take Samsonov, but maybe this season Morrow is better.

[Bench Warmer]

I'd be tempted to drop Samsonov. Morrow will play a tonne more when he gets back than Samsonov will. Almost a ST pain for LT gain thing here...I guess it all depends on how long Morrow is out for...

[Sylvanfan]

Well another thing to keep in mind is that Morrow is coming back from a wrist injury. Thats a bitch of an injury for a hockey player. I once had a wrist injury in November and I played through it, but Even in March I still couldn't take a slap shot because it hurt so damn bad. So Morrow might be able to come back, but his scoring might be severly dampened for the rest of the season. I'd say to keep Samsonov because by year end he shouldn't be any worse than Morrow. Of course Samsonovs played like the last 120 some games without an injury....and thats a bad sign for a guy like him who's made of glass, it's gotta be coming.

[flambers]

Personnally I would drop Morrow, by the time he comes back from his injury your pool will be pretty much finished. Try to look at other NHL teams and find a replacement for example in Ottawa there is a different center playing with Heatley he has been doing well. Has he been selected?

[Eddie Bronze]

That would be Chris Kelly and no he hasn't been selected. There's a lot of players to pick from, it's looking like 9 guys will be dropping and picking one up before me so who knows who I will have a shot at. I'm hoping Perreault, but another name I'm looking at is Pavelski in SJ. He's torn it up since being promoted.

The player I pick up though, is not my biggest concern right now, it's who I decide to get rid of. I may post on here as to who I should pick between if I have time, we'll see.

Thanks for everyone's feedback so far. This pool isn't huge, only 11 guys, but there's money, a trophy and a ton of trash talk/bragging rights on the line. And I'm tired of finishing in second every year, this year to a guy who's never watched hockey before in his life!