Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Zenon Konopka
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Konopka lost his heavyweight crown in a lockout-shortened season, but he still managed to rattle off 117 PIMs in 39 games while dominating in the face-off circle. He provides more on-ice value than your usual goon, but that prowess at the dot doesn't really translate into fantasy goodness. Expect him to finish as a top-five heavyweight this year, but he may never wear the crown as a league's premier pugilist ever again.
Konopka is a super-heavyweight who isn't a complete liability when he's on the ice. He delivered 193 PIMs in just 55 games last season; that was good for third in the league. He was even more productive for sin bin lovers in the two previous years -- his 307 PIMs in 2010-11 and 265 in 2009-10 led the league both years. We fully expect him to wear that crown again.
Konopka, signed to a one-year contract this off-season, will play fourth line minutes and provide a lot of grit. One of the best face-off men in the game, he'll also be looked upon to take key faceoffs in the defensive zone, especially during penalty kills. With only two goals and seven assists in 2010-11, Konopka should not be a fantasy option for your team unless you're in dire need of penalty minutes. He racked up 307 penalty minutes for the Islanders last year.
Konopka is another bruiser that the Isles will employ this season. Seems the Islanders brass feel like they were pushed around last season, so players like Konopka and Trevor Gillies will play on the fourth line to rectify that situation.
Fifty-seven points in the AHL last season make him interesting. But at 28, he's probably one of those career minor leaguers who'll only get occasional time in the bigs. Avoid.
Gritty forward could still develop into a pesky fourth line NHL center.