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Drafting Players in Their Contract Years

Schrembs — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 19:33:20 +0000

If you’re looking to adopt a unique strategy before you draft your fantasy hockey teams this year, consider taking a look at players who are in a contract season. We tend to see players perform a little better in years where their future with a team is up in the air. Players becoming UFAs and RFAs at the end of this season could potentially be looking for a new home come summer, so what they do this season could impact their pay and location for the 2011-2012 season.

Let’s take a look back in the past to see how certain players upped their performances in a contract year and also take a look at who is worth keeping an eye on this season.

2006-2007 NHL Season

Danny Briere puts in a 95 point performance in Buffalo (career high) before making bank with the Flyers the following season.
Defenseman Sheldon Souray posts 64 points and 135 penalty minutes with Montreal before receiving a handsome contract from the Oilers (to which they are currently still regretting).
Jason Blake records 69 points with the Islanders before grabbing a contract with Leafs.
Injury prone center Michael Nylander pulled it together for 2 seasons in New York posting a career high 83 points with the Rangers before being scooped up by the Caps.

2007-2008 NHL Season

In true Buffalo Sabres fashion, the organization groomed Brian Campbell into an All-Star defender and then traded him in during the best year of his career (for Steve Bernier and a pick – swing and a miss) and Campbell cashed in with the ‘Hawks at the end of the season.
Late bloomer Mark Streit emerged out of nowhere in Montreal to post 62 points in a contract season and has been sitting pretty ever since in Long Island.
Niklas Hagman had a solid season with Dallas and was rewarded (I think) with a nice contract with the Leafs for 2008-2009.
NHL journeyman Radim Vrbata scored a career high 56 points with the ‘Yotes and nabbed himself a nice contract with the Lightning for the following season.
Mike Green exploded on the offensive scene in a contract year with a56 point performance.

2008-2009 NHL Season

Tuomo Ruutu finally pans out for the ‘Canes, and wouldn’t you know it, he has his career year in a contract season.
Backup netminder Craig Anderson contested the starting job in Florida and became a fantasy savior for Vokoun owners.
David Booth emerged as a nice source of offense for Florida in his contract year posting 60 points and 5 game-winning goals.
Injury-prone-wanna-be-superstar-potential-laced wingerMartin Havlat pulled it together and had a career year with the Blackhawks amassing 77 points and a +29 rating.
Inconsistent winger Michael Cammalleri tore it up with the Flames posting career highs in goals and points and was rewarded with a nice contract from the Habs in the off-season.

2009-2010 NHL Season

Inconsistent center Tomas Plekanec decided to show up in a contract year and posted 70 points and 50 penalty minutes.
James Wisniewski had 30 points with the Ducks last season; his most productive season in his career.
Lee Stempniak re-proved himself as a goal scorer in the NHL with the ‘Yotes last season posting a career high 28 goals in a 48 point effort.
Center Matthew Lombardi dazzled Coyote fans last season posting a career high 53 points in his contract year. Should be a number one center in Nashville this season.

Looking ahead to this year, let’s take a look at some players that may be worth going after in fantasy drafts as these players will be expecting contracts this season and may try to step it up to ensure a decent payday in 2011-2012:

Standard League Options

Player: Brad Richards
Team: Dallas Stars

Player: Joe Thornton
Team: San Jose Sharks

Player: Patrice Bergeron
Team: Boston Bruins

Player: Tim Connolly
Team: Buffalo Sabres

Player: Alexander Semin
Team: Washington Capitals

Player: Simon Gagne
Team: Tampa Bay Lightning

Player: Jamie Langenbrunner
Team: New Jersey Devils

Player: Milan Hejduk
Team: Colorado Avalanche

Player: Zdeno Chara
Team: Boston Bruins

Player: Andrei Markov
Team: Montreal Canadiens

Player: Tomas Kaberle
Team: Toronto Maple Leafs

Player: Craig Anderson
Team: Colorado Avalanche

Player: Ilya Bryzgalov
Team: Phoenix Coyotes

Player: Tomas Vokoun
Team: Florida Panthers

Moderately-Deep League Options

Player: Tomas Fleischmann
Team: Washington Capitals

Player: Brooks Laich
Team: Washington Capitals

Player: David Backes
Team: St. Louis Blues

Player: Erik Cole
Team: Carolina Hurricanes

Player: Matt Moulson
Team: New York Islanders

Player: Antti Miettinen
Team: Minnesota Wild

Player: Alex Tanguay
Team: Calgary Flames

Player: Justin Williams
Team: Los Angeles Kings

Player: Radim Vrbata
Team: Phoenix Coyotes

Player: Bryan McCabe
Team: Florida Panthers

Player: Joni Pitkanen
Team: Carolina Hurricanes

Player: Christian Ehrhoff
Team: Vancouver Canucks

Player: Mike Smith
Team: Tampa Bay Lightning

Deep League Options

Player: Jussi Jokinen
Team: Carolina Hurricanes

Player: Ville Leino
Team: Philadelphia Flyers

Player: Scottie Upshall
Team: Phoenix Coyotes

Player: Mark Giordano
Team: Calgary Flames

Player: Chuck Kobasew
Team: Minnesota Wild

Player: Josh Harding
Team: Minnesota Wild

2010-2011 Fantasy Hockey Sleepers: Pacific Division

Schrembs — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 15:27:37 +0000

The final installment in the 2010-2011 Sleeper series targets who’s available to steal in the Pacific Division.

Player: Logan Couture
Team: San Jose Sharks
Position: Center
Impact: Deeper Fantasy Leagues
Analysis: We know the offensive potential that this guy brings, and in a market like San Jose that has finished near the top of the league in scoring for the past couple of years, one would think that Couture could prosper. He’s reserved for the deepest of fantasy leagues now as a depth center, but if an injury occurs in San Jose, he could work his way up the depth charts on any fantasy team. Take him with one of the final picks in your draft and hope that his minor league scoring ability translates well to the NHL.

Player: Jason Demers
Team: San Jose Sharks
Position: Defense
Impact: Deeper Fantasy Leagues
Analysis: Demers was a pleasant surprise for the Sharks, as well as fantasy owners, last season. This former 7th rounder has a rock solid offensive upside and should see time on the power play this season. He will make an excellent addition as a depth defender for any fantasy hockey team in a bigger format. Keep an eye on this guy.

Player: Thomas Greiss
Team: San Jose Sharks
Position: Goaltender
Impact: Moderately Deep to Deeper Fantasy Leagues
Analysis: Unless San Jose goes out and signs Niemi here in the next couple of weeks, do yourself a favor and keep an eye on Thomas Greiss this season. His numbers weren’t off the charts last season (mainly because he was playing behind one of the best goaltenders in the league) but with Nabokov out of the picture now, he has every opportunity to earn a starting spot if Antero Niittymaki falters this season. I don’t foresee this goaltending situation being set in stone, so if you’re unsure of your goaltender core and want an insurance policy, keep Greiss in the back of your mind.

Player: Kyle Turris
Team: Phoenix Coyotes
Position: Center
Impact: Deeper Fantasy Leagues, as well as Keeper Leagues
Analysis: Could this be the season we finally get to see Kyle Turris in the bigs? Possibly. There’s a very small window of opportunity for Turris to make the squad this season and if he does find his way to the NHL, he may be a worthwhile addition to your fantasy team as a bench stash until we can see if he’s NHL material. Follow Turris’ situation closely this fall.

Player: Oliver Ekman-Larsson
Team: Phoenix Coyotes
Position: Defense
Impact: Deeper Fantasy Leagues
Analysis: Oliver Ekman-Larsson is one of the more highly touted defensemen coming into the league this season and while his offensive numbers in Sweden don’t jump off the page, he has enough hockey instinct to make him an interesting candidate on draft day. Leave him reserved for the absolute deepest of leagues and snag him in the final stages of your draft. If he’s as well-rounded as the scouts are saying, he should see some decent ice time this season.

Player: Scottie Upshall
Team: Phoenix Coyotes
Position: Wing
Impact: Moderately Deep to Deep Fantasy Leagues
Analysis: Upshall may go overlooked this season because of the injury that ended his season 27 games out in 2009-2010. He was on pace to have his most productive NHL season; perhaps because of an increase roll in the ‘Yotes offense. Keep him in mind, especially in roto leagues as he has found his niche in Phoenix and is always a good source for penalty minutes.

Player: Justin Williams
Team: Los Angeles Kings
Position: Right Wing
Impact: Moderately Deep to Deeper Fantasy Leagues
Analysis: Williams is a serious high risk, high reward player. His fall from grace over the past couple of seasons is due to the fact that he just can’t stay healthy. He has shown us that he has the potential to be a 60-70 point player when healthy, but those moments have been few and far between. Still, at an ultra-thin right wing position, he could be a respectable mid to late round add that could pay off if he stays healthy.

Player: Jonathan Bernier
Team: Los Angeles Kings
Position: Goaltender
Impact: Moderately Deep to Deeper Fantasy Leagues, as well as Keeper Leagues
Analysis: Many people are calling for the early demise of Jonathan Quick this season and are projecting big things for elite goaltending prospect Jonathan Bernier. This could very well be the opportunity that Bernier has been looking for to finally break into the league for good, so if Quick is a flash in the pan in your eyes, Consider taking on Bernier as a bench option behind two solid goaltenders.

Player: Brayden Schenn
Team: Los Angeles Kings
Position: Center
Impact: Deeper Fantasy Leagues, as well as Keeper Leagues
Analysis: If given the opportunity, Schenn could easily work his way up to being a top-6 forward by the end of the season. There is quite a bit of room for movement at the center position in Los Angeles, and with Schenn’s proven offensive ability, it leaves the door open for a great rookie campaign, as well as Calder bid. Well worth a reach, especially in keeper league drafts.

Player: Joffrey Lupul
Team: Anaheim Ducks
Position: Wing
Impact: Moderately Deep to Deeper Fantasy Leagues
Analysis: It appears that Lupul will be ready to go for the season opener after missing 52 games last season due to back surgery. He had his best offensive year with Anaheim back in 2005-2006 and was well on his way to another great season again last year before the injury. He’ll easily be forgotten in deeper leagues, so make sure to keep him in the back of your head in the middle to late rounds as he’s capable of putting up 50-60 points with the right company.

Player: Jamie Benn
Team: Dallas Stars
Position: Wing
Impact: Deeper Fantasy Leagues
Analysis: Benn had an extremely successful rookie campaign for Dallas and should be back in the bigs this season bolstering a wing position on the 2nd line. He’ll fall to the middle rounds in the deepest of leagues, so don’t be afraid to snag him as a 3rd/4th option at wing as he has a solid offensive upside.

Player: Philip Larsen
Team: Dallas Stars
Position: Defense
Impact: Waiver Wire Addition (Injury)
Analysis: Not sure if we’ll see Larsen to start the season, but he possesses an offensive upside that Dallas needs on the back end, so it wouldn’t be surprising if he was of top consideration if an injury occurs on the back end. Matt Niskanen hasn’t panned out quite the way the Stars’ organization had hoped, and Robidas’ performance last season may be a product of being over-used as he was far and away Dallas’ busiest defender. The Stars haven’t acquired a power play quarterback this off-season, so perhaps they use Larsen at some point this season for a 1-2 punch from the back end with the man advantage. Don’t draft him; flag him and wait until he makes his way to the NHL.

2010-2011 Fantasy Hockey Sleepers: Northwest Division

Schrembs — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 20:00:55 +0000

The fifth installment in the 2010-2011 Sleeper series targets who’s available to steal in the Northwest Division.

Player: Kevin Porter
Team: Colorado Avalanche
Position: Wing
Impact: Deeper Fantasy Leagues
Analysis: Not sure if we’ll see Porter with the ‘Lanche to start the season, but if he makes an appearance with the organization at any point in 2010-2011, he’s worth flagging to see if Colorado gives him a worthy shot to try and make an impact in the scoring department. Keep an eye on him and only use if you see fit in the absolute deepest of leagues.

Player: Mikael Backlund
Team: Calgary Flames
Position: Center
Impact: Deeper Fantasy Leagues, as well as Keeper Fantasy Leagues
Analysis: While Backlund may be ready to go, he’ll start the season behind Jokinen, Langkow and Stajan in the Flames’ depth chart. As a long those players are healthy, his role may be limited. However, he’s a stud and deserves long term consideration in keeper leagues.

Player: Alex Tanguay
Team: Calgary Flames
Position: Left Wing
Impact: Deeper Fantasy Leagues, as well as Keeper Fantasy Leagues
Analysis: There’s a good chance that Tanguay’s ranking in your service has taken a significant tumble after last season’s performance. If he racks up 50-60 points, consider it a success. Have a look in the early middle rounds as he should be a top-6 option for the Flames this season.

Player: Ales Hemsky
Team: Edmonton Oilers
Position: Right Wing
Impact: Average Fantasy Leagues
Analysis: This is more of a reminder that Hemsky’s rank may be somewhat lower this season because of last season’s injury, so he may be an oversight for some managers. If he slips past the 4th or 5th round in standard leagues, pounce all over him as he’s a stud at an extremely thin right wing position.

Player: Taylor Hall & Jordan Eberle
Team: Edmonton Oilers
Position: Wing and Center Respectably
Impact: Moderately Deep to Deeper Fantasy Leagues, as well as Keeper Leagues
Analysis: There’s a very good chance you’ll see both on at least the 2nd line in Edmonton this season. They are both long term keeper options with tremendous upside. Drafting Eberle and Hall will depend on your league style and type, so adjust and plan accordingly. In standard 12-team leagues, early middle rounds (usually when you’re filling up utility spots) is when it would be ideal to make a play for a rookie, such as Eberle or Hall.

Player: Magnus Paajarvi-Svensson
Team: Edmonton Oilers
Position: Left Wing
Impact: Deeper Fantasy Leagues
Analysis: Amidst all the hype of Taylor Hall and Jordan Eberle, lies Magnus Paajarvi-Svensson. Paajarvi-Svensson will be one of the fastest skaters in the league this season, and if he can find his groove with the Oilers, perhaps he can find his way up into top-6 territory. Oilers fans have plenty to be excited about this season, so if you’re a believer, take Paajarvi-Svensson with one of your last picks and see if he develops. He’ll have every opportunity to make an impact as there is very little set in stone outside the top line in Edmonton.

Player: Pierre-Marc Bouchard
Team: Minnesota Wild
Position: Depends on Service
Impact: Moderatley Deep to Deeper Fantasy Leagues
Analysis: Bouchard will be another oversight by most managers this season because of a concussion, Bouchard should be ready to start the season and could provide decent scoring depth to managers in deep fantasy hockey leagues.

Player: Chuck Kobasew
Team: Minnesota Wild
Position: Wing
Impact: Moderatley Deep to Deeper Fantasy Leagues
Analysis: If you’re in a league that rewards heavily for goal scoring, consider making a play for Kobasew at some point this season as he usually has a pretty slick scoring touch. Again, middle to later rounds as a utility winger should service your team just fine.

2010-2011 Fantasy Hockey Sleepers: Central Division

Schrembs — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 12:00:24 +0000

The fourth installment in the 2010-2011 Sleeper series targets who’s available to steal in the Central Division.

Player: Kyle Beach
Team: Chicago Blackhawks
Position: Left Wing
Impact: Moderately Deep to Deep Fantasy Leagues
Analysis: Roto managers rejoice. This could be the year for Kyle Beach to try his hand in the bigs. If he’s with the Hawks this season, please please please keep this guy at the top of your lists. He can score, he can fight; total package deal here folks. A lot will depend on his attitude on the ice. Sean Avery-esque, if you will. Chicago’s left side isn’t looking very promising right now, so the opportunity is ripe for him to make an impact with the ‘Hawks this season. When it comes down to it, Beach is one bad mickey fickey.

Player: Ivan Vishnevskiy
Team: Chicago Blackhawks
Position: Defense
Impact: Deep Fantasy Leagues
Analysis: Vishnevskiy has been bounced around the league a bit over the past couple of seasons, but may have an opportunity to get playing time in the bigs this season with Chicago. He has an excellent offensive skill set for a defenseman and could bring a nice one-two punch from the point if he’s paired with Keith on the power play. If you’re drafting before camp, keep Vishnevskiy flagged. If your league is drafting later and you notice he cracked the Hawks’ lineup, snag him with one of your last picks.

Player: Colin Wilson
Team: Nashville Predators
Position: Center/Left Wing
Impact: Deeper Fantasy Leagues
Analysis: Wilson will give the Preds some nice scoring depth in the 2010-2011 season and, depending on his position eligibility, should give a manager in deeper fantasy leagues some nice scoring depth too. If he’s listed at left wing in your service, you might need to step up a round or two earlier than you’d anticipate just because of the relative thinness of the position.

Player: Matthew Lombardi
Team: Nashville Predators
Position: Center
Impact: Average to Deep Fantasy Leagues
Analysis: Lombardi has landed himself in Nashville after a very successful season with Phoenix Coyotes in 2009-2010. He’ll likely take over top line duties at center, so snag him in the early-middle rounds of your draft. If you’re a manager who waits on centers, he is a very serviceable No. 2 guy, potentially a No. 1 if you are really keen on waiting on passing them up.

Player: Patric Hornqvist
Team: Nashville Predators
Position: Right Wing
Impact: Moderately Deep to Deep Fantasy Leagues
Analysis: One of the nicer stories that flew under the radar last season. Hornqvist was a 7th round draft pick who made a gigantic splash with the Preds last season scoring 51 points in 80 games. He has certainly solidified himself a roster spot this season and should be hovering around that 2nd line to start the year. Perhaps a repeat performance is in store for Hornqvist and if so, he could offer your fantasy squad some rock solid scoring depth at a relatively thin right wing position.

Player: Chet Pickard
Team: Nashville Predators
Position: Goaltender
Impact: Deep Fantasy Leagues (to start)
Analysis: It’s not quite clear who will be backing up Pekka Rinne this season in Nashville, but if it happens to be Chet Pickard, throw him on your watch list purely based on the astronomically high goaltender turnover rate there over the past several years. I mean, he’s got the right stuff, so he could be a starter one day in the NHL, but depending on what happens with Rinne this year, it could be much sooner than later.

Player: Jiri Hudler
Team: Detroit Red Wings
Position: Wing
Impact: Average to Deep Fantasy Leagues
Analysis: Depending on how your service ranks him, Hudler could be one of the biggest sleepers in fantasy drafts this season. He disappeared overseas last season but is back with the Wings and will play a prominent role in their offense in 2010-2011. Based on his relatively low projected rank, you should be able to steal in him the latter rounds of a standard draft, and in the middle-to-late rounds of a deeper draft.

Player: Patrick Berglund
Team: St. Louis Blues
Position: Center
Impact: Deeper Fantasy Leagues
Analysis: Berglund’s sophomore slump might mask his value a bit this year in most fantasy services, but don’t be afraid to take him on in the latter stages of your draft as he should be a top-6 player for the Blues this season.

Player: Nikita Filatov
Team: Columbus Blue Jackets
Position: Left Wing
Impact: Moderately Deep to Deeper Fantasy Leagues
Analysis: He’s back from the KHL and should have a decent shot at making the opening day squad in Columbus. He’s got a slick skill set but wasn’t given the ice time to strut his stuff in the past couple of seasons. The only thing he’s got going against him in terms of fantasy hockey is that his name is out there, so people may be prone to reach for him. He’ll start the season appealing to managers in deeper fantasy leagues, but could very well make a big enough splash to warrant standard sized league adds.

Player: Kris Russell
Team: Columbus Blue Jackets
Position: Defense
Impact: Deeper Fantasy Leagues
Analysis: This is my ’shot in the dark’ this year. The Jackets don’t have a true power play quarterback. Yes, Stralman was serviceable last season, but they need someone else to step up and take the reigns. Don’t go drafting him, but flag him and monitor his role with Columbus in the first couple weeks of the season.

Player: Chad Kolarik
Team: Columbus Blue Jackets
Position: Wing
Impact: Mid-season add in the deepest of fantasy leagues
Analysis: Kolarik won’t start the season with Columbus, but should be one of the first call-ups in case of injury. He’s got a nice skill set on him and should be with the Jackets permanently in the next couple of years. If he’s replacing a player with a long term injury (Chris Clark is the first player coming to mind) he might get a shot in 2010-2011. Until then, flag him to start the season and see if he makes an appearance in the NHL at any point.

2010-2011 Fantasy Hockey Sleepers: Southeast Division

Schrembs — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 14:20:33 +0000

The third installment in the 2010-2011 Sleeper series targets who’s available to steal in the Southeast Division.

Player: Eric Fehr
Team: Washington Capitals
Position: Right Wing
Impact: Moderately Deep to Deeper Fantasy Leagues
Analysis: Fehr emerged as a surprise option for fantasy managers in 2009-2010. Despite the team being overloaded on the first two lines, Washington’s offensive ability could allow him to hit 45-50 points this season. He’s a real nice depth option to acquire in the later rounds of your draft.

Player: Mathieu Perreault
Team: Washington Capitals
Position: Center
Impact: Deeper Fantasy Leagues
Analysis: Boy, the offensive fire power just keeps coming in Washington, doesn’t it? Despite Perreault’s size, he has the ability to make a splash in Washington this season. He has certainly shown his ability to rack up the points for Acadie-Bathurst and Hershey, so we’ll have to see if that translates to the NHL this season. Take a chance on him with one of your last picks in the draft and sit on him until he starts contributing. It’s always worthwhile owning players on good teams.

Player: Niclas Bergfors
Team: Atlanta Thrashers
Position: Right Wing
Impact: Moderately Deep to Deeper Fantasy Leagues
Analysis: Bergfors had 17 points in 27 games after joining the Thrashers last season. The top line right wing spot could be up for grabs between him and Byfuglien, maybe even Bryan Little too, so take note in your drafts as this position in fantasy hockey can become extremely thin in the middle rounds of a draft. He’ll get power play time for sure this season, so a savvy manager in a standard capacity league should consider making a play starting in the 15th round or so. Big potential here.

Player: Evander Kane
Team: Atlanta Thrashers
Position: Left Wing
Impact: Moderately Deep to Deeper Fantasy Leagues
Analysis: Kane didn’t have statistics that jump off the page at you in his first NHL season, but that may not be a terrible thing for the upcoming fantasy season. While Kane has the name we recall from the Entry Draft a few years ago, he’ll likely go overlooked (depending on his rank) in the middle rounds this upcoming year. Be the savvy manager who adds him towards the end of your draft; you’ll be glad you did. Also, don’t forget that he’ll be a sophomore slump slump candidate this season too. I wouldn’t usually stress it, but I’ve been burned by Chris Coghlan, Dexter Fowler AND Pablo Sandoval this season in the same fantasy baseball league. Don’t tell me it’s not real.

Player: Zach Boychuk
Team: Carolina Hurricanes
Position: Depends on Service
Impact: Deeper Fantasy Leagues
Analysis: This versatile forward will certainly fly under the radar in a lot of drafts this year as he only had 9 points in 31 games with the ‘Canes last season. Carolina’s lineup this season, however, is wide open. The only sure thing is that Eric Staal will be centering that top line. Boychuk has a real opportunity to sneak up to the first line, and with his ability to play center and wing, he has just as good a shot as anyone else on the ice. He’s got a nice scoring touch, so be aware of his position before you draft this season.

Player: Jamie McBain
Team: Carolina Hurricanes
Position: Defense
Impact: Deeper Fantasy Leagues
Analysis: McBain may have only played 14 games with Carolina last season, but he amassed 10 points in his big league effort and stands to get power play time this season, even with Corvo back in town. Managers in deeper fantasy leagues who wait to fill out their defensive core may want to keep McBain in mind in the latter stages of the draft.

Player: Teddy Purcell
Team: Tampa Bay Lightning
Position: Wing
Impact: Deeper Fantasy Leagues
Analysis: Purcell has a real opportunity to live up to potential this season in Tampa Bay. Being able to play either wing should give him a chance to start the season on the 2nd line, and in good company. He’s usually listed as a right winger, which could offer some relief to fantasy managers at a seriously thin position.

Player: Steve Reinprecht
Team: Florida Panthers
Position: Center
Impact: Deeper Fantasy Leagues
Analysis: Honestly, how can you not like this guy? A journeyman who is good for 35-45 points in a season. Classy player who is a prefect addition to a fantasy team in deeper leagues that is looking for reliable scoring depth.

Player: Michael Grabner
Team: Florida Panthers
Position: Wing
Impact: Deeper Fantasy Leagues and Keeper Leagues
Analysis: Grabner gave us a small snippet of what to expect from him offensively last season in Vancouver. Now he has moved on to warmer pastures and could really provide the Panthers with some much needed offense in the next couple of years. I’m not sure there is a spot on the roster for him to start the season, however, if he does make it, he should be able to work his way up to the 2nd line if he produces at last year’s clip. If anything, he might be a worthwhile grab for managers in keeper leagues.

2010-2011 Fantasy Hockey Sleepers: Northeast Division

Schrembs — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 20:03:34 +0000

The second installment in the 2010-2011 Sleeper series targets who’s available to steal in the Northeast Division.

Player: Tyler Ennis
Team: Buffalo Sabres
Position: Center/Wing
Impact: Deeper Fantasy Leagues
Analysis: For any Sabres fan that was able to stomach the playoff series against Boston last season, you would probably agree that one of the bright spots in that shortened Cup run was the play of Tyler Ennis. He has a great work ethic and a knack for racking up the points. The service that you play in may have him listed at center or wing, or potentially both, so keep an eye out for that on draft day. The Buffalo coaching staff has already come out and stated Ennis’ spot on the team this fall is not gueranteed, but chances are he’ll make the squad as a 4th liner who has the potential to work his way up the depth charts quickly. Make sure to flag this feisty forward and make a play in the last couple of rounds as a nice depth move.

Player: Peter Regin
Team: Ottawa Senators
Position: Center/Wing
Impact: Deeper Fantasy Leagues
Analysis: If you’re a believer in the depth of the Ottawa Senators, Peter Regin may be of some interest to you in the later rounds of a deep fantasy hockey draft. He amassed 29 points in his first full season with the Sens in 2009-2010 and they have re-upped with him for 2 more seasons. Regin may have a shot at playing the 2nd line this season with Fisher and Kovalev, and has the potential to hit the 40-50 point mark if he remains in that position. A nice depth pick-up on draft day for sure.

Player: Erik Karlsson
Team: Ottawa Senators
Position: Defense
Impact: Deeper Fantasy and Keeper Leagues
Analysis: Karlsson’s value this season might be a tossup because of the acquisition of Sergei Gonchar, but in terms of a long term option, he might be a savvy acquisition for managers in keeper leagues. Karlsson had a decent rookie campaign and there is still plenty of room for improvement. He’ll be battling Filip Kuba for a spot on the top power play unit, and there’s a good chance he’ll end up splitting time in the end, but in terms of youthfulness and the future for the Sens blue line, Karlsson is your guy.

Player: Tyler Seguin
Team: Boston Bruins
Position: Center
Impact: Deeper Fantasy and Keeper Leagues
Analysis: There’s little doubt of Seguin’s ability to score. The problem with having Seguin on the roster in 2010-2011 is that the Boston Bruins are knee deep in solid center talent. As of right now, Savard is still a member of the team. Behind him in the depth chart is David Krejci and Patrice Bergeron; hell even Nathan Horton can play center if needed. Don’t make the mistake of biting too early on Seguin this season as his impact may not be felt as much as his Entry Draft counterpart Taylor Hall. Still, he’s going to have a nice future ahead of him in this league, so if you’re a manager drafting in a deep keeper league, or looking to add some youthfulness to the keeper team you currently have, Seguin might be right up your alley.

Player: P.K. Subban
Team: Montreal Canadiens
Position: Defense
Impact: Average to Deep Fantasy League, as well as Keeper Leagues
Analysis: Whether Andrei Markov is ready for the opener or not, P.K. Subban will be factoring into the Habs power play quite heavily this season. He may be a player worth reaching for this season, especially in keeper leagues. Another one of my favorite sleepers for the upcoming season.

Player: Lars Eller
Team: Montreal Canadiens
Position: Center
Impact: Deep Fantasy Leagues
Analysis: Habs fans are eager to see what the return on Jaroslav Halak is. Eller should make an immediate impact this season on Montreal’s 3rd line behind Gomez and Pleks. He’s known as more of a playmaker than anything, and could see some power play time this season. Flag him and monitor his minutes through the first couple of weeks. Perhaps he becomes a decent waiver wire pick-up after the first couple of games or so.

Player: Nikolai Kulemin
Team: Toronto Maple Leafs
Position: Wing
Impact: Deep Fantasy Leagues
Analysis: Kulemin hasn’t quite taken off like many anticipated, but he hasn’t been terrible for the Leafs. It’s hard to gain recognition when you play on the team that is 5th worst in scoring in the NHL. However, the Leafs may have two decent lines this season and Kulemin could hover around 50 points if given the opportunity. Look for him in the later rounds of a deeper fantasy draft as a nice depth option at wing.

Player: Nazem Kadri
Team: Toronto Maple Leafs
Position: Center
Impact: Keeper and Dynasty Leagues
Analysis: Kadri is a workhorse that is going to be a huge contributor to the Leaf organization. I’m on the fence as to whether he is able to crack the lineup this season, so the only situations to draft him before training camp begins are in keeper and dynasty formats. Nonetheless, if he does crack the lineup, draft him in the final rounds of a deep fantasy draft and spend the first couple of weeks seeing how the leafs integrate him into their scheme this season. As for dynasty leagues, if he hasn’t been acquired yet, jump all over him.

Player: Tyler Bozak
Team: Toronto Maple Leafs
Position: Center
Impact: Moderately Deep to Deep Fantasy Leagues
Analysis: Bozak had a rock solid 37 games with the Leafs last season and should fly under the radar in drafts this season. He’ll be battling Mikhail Grabovski for the top line center spot but whether he’s on the first or second line, he should still be a serviceable depth center, even in moderately deep formats.

2010-2011 Fantasy Hockey Sleepers: Atlantic Division

Schrembs — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 02:36:10 +0000

August is fast approaching and an active summer in the NHL has left many fantasy hockey managers wondering what’s in store for the upcoming season. You’ll find that many fantasy hockey services will start opening their games in the upcoming weeks, so it might be good to take a look at who is going to be flying under the radar on draft day.

Player: Jason Arnott
Team: New Jersey Devils
Position: Center
Impact Depth: Average Sized Leagues
Analysis: The soon to be 17-year NHL veteran has made his way back to where he undoubtedly had the most success in his professional career. Managers concerned with Arnott’s age shouldn’t be deterred from considering him as a nice 3rd option at center. For those managers who wait on centers, he should be a suitable 2nd option. Don’t expect him to drop below the 2nd line this season as he should be able to produce 50-60 points with the talent around him.

Player: Andy Greene
Team: New Jersey Devils
Position: Defense
Impact Depth: Average to Moderately Deep Leagues
Analysis: With the departure of Paul Martin, the Devils are going to need Andy Greene’s services on the power play this upcoming season. He contributed 15 points with the man-advantage last season and is line to increase that effort, especially with Kovalchuck (potentially) in town. Regardless, Greene doesn’t have a big enough name just yet to be scooped up as a top pairing option for a fantasy squad. Wait until the middle rounds to take him on.

Player: Mattias Tedenby
Team: New Jersey Devils
Position: Left Wing
Impact: Deeper Formats and Keeper Leagues
Analysis: The success of Mattias Tedenby will depend heavily on what happens with the Kovalchuk fiasco. Unfortunately for Tedenby, he’s a left winger playing behind Kovalchuk, Parise and Elias. Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond will also be fighting for a winger spot as well. Regardless of the variables, even if Kovalchuk is able to stay in New Jersey until 2053, perhaps some line shuffling may be able to give Tedenby an opportunity to showcase his talent. He’s an elite prospect with the ability to put up big numbers in the right system. Flag him to start the season and monitor the minutes he’s getting if he cracks the lineup. He certainly isn’t a 4th liner, but he may get 4th line minutes until he can work his way up. Think Marty St. Louis.

Player: Eric Tangradi
Team: Pittsburgh Penguins
Position: Left Wing
Impact: Deeper Formats and Keeper Leagues
Analysis: Tangradi may be the prospect I’m most looking forward to seeing this season fantasy wise. He has power forward written all over him, and while he may need to work on his defensive game, he’s got one hell of an offensive ability. Pittsburgh’s left hand side is easily their weakest, and with Kunitz’s inconsistencies on the ice, it could be a perfect opportunity for Tangradi to slide up into that 1st or 2nd line position.

Player: Paul Martin
Team: Pittsburgh Penguins
Position: Defense
Impact: Average to Moderately Deep Leagues
Analysis: While he’s no Sergei Gonchar, Paul Martin will be the Pens’ go to guy on the point with the man-advantage this season. Martin should benefit from being in such an offensive minded system and will fly under the radar in most drafts because of his injury last season. He finished his 22 game regular season with 11 points, so he was producing fairly well in a Devils system not known for it’s offense. Snag him in the middle to late rounds as a 3rd option at defense and you won’t be disappointed.

Player: James van Riemsdyk
Team: Philadelphia Flyers
Position: Left Wing
Impact: Average to Moderately Deep Leagues, as well as Keeper Leagues
Analysis: The highly touted prospect had a somewhat productive rookie year in a system that was full of offensive talent. The departure of Simon Gagne, however, opens the door for James van Riemsdyk to take on a more proficient offensive role in the Flyers’ lineup this season. For all you skeptics, remember that JVR is in his sophomore year, so The Slump isn’t completely out of the question. Draft him in the middle to late rounds of your draft and make sure to monitor his ice time throughout the first couple weeks of the season. He has keeper potential as well, so those in long-term leagues take note.

Player: Nikolai Zherdev
Team: Philadelphia Flyers
Position: Right Wing
Impact: Average Sized Leagues
Analysis: Heeeeeeeee’s back. While ranks for major fantasy services aren’t out quite yet, he might be in a position where you could steal him around the 10th round. He should be good for 50-60 points this season as Philly will be coming back with the same offensive prowess as last season. Don’t make long term plans with Zherdev, but he should be a nice 2nd option at right wing this season for managers holding off on wingers in favor of other positions.

Player: Ville Leino
Team: Philadelphia Flyers
Position: Wing
Impact: Deeper Fantasy Leagues
Analysis: Swapping Leino and Tollefsen really didn’t make headlines among the fantasy world in February, and it looked as if Leino’s hype was fading away….until the playoffs. Leino was above the point per game mark in the post-season for the Flyers and very well could be a nice steal in one of the last rounds of a draft. It’s unclear as to how the rankings will be, but if are basing their rankings on regular season production, look for Leino at the bottom when it’s time to make the selection. Don’t make any long term plans with him just yet as we have to use this year to see if he’s the real deal.

Player: Mats Zuccarello-Aasen
Team: New York Rangers
Position: Wing
Impact: Keeper Leagues and Dynasty Leagues
Analysis: Not sure we’ll see Mats this season, but it’s worth noting that he could make a huge offensive impact with the Rangers next year. He needs to adjust himself to the North American style of play, but once he’s ready, he should be a good one. The only thing he’s got against him is his size, but do yourself a favor anyway and flag this guy.

Player: Jesse Joensuu
Team: New York Islanders
Position: Left Wing
Impact: Deeper Fantasy Leagues
Analysis: We profiled Joensuu last season but he was only able to rack up 11 games with the Islanders. He should be a staple in their lineup this season and could very well become a top 6 option for New York (depending on how they structure their lines). It may be wise to flag Joensuu before the draft and left him go un-drafted just to see what kind of ice time he’s getting in the first couple weeks of the season. I can see him becoming an early season waiver wire pickup for managers trying to find good depth on their teams, but expect him to start the year on New York’s 3rd line.

Team Canada Wins Gold over USA in Overtime!

Kory — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 00:07:10 +0000

Canada wins the gold medal for the 2010 Vancouver Olympics over the USA in sudden overtime on a quick Sidney Crosby goal vs. Team USA. After Parise tied it up late in the 3rd with just under 25 seconds left to go in the game, Crosby finishes it off on a quick little play on a nice pass off the wall from Iginla and just put it on net as fast as he could and beat Miller to win it for Canada. Miller was named the MVP for the tournament, without question the right choice. It was a good game for both sides with an exciting finish.

Congrats to both Team Canada and Team USA!

NHL play starts back up tomorrow. Expect a good finish to the season.

Consider Taking on Jaroslav Halak or Josh Harding

Schrembs — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 20:06:40 +0000

No matter what kind of fantasy hockey league you are in, there are always people on the lookout for goaltenders. If you fall into this category, take note. Over the past several months, we have heard rumors surrounding goaltenders Jaroslav Halak and Josh Harding.

The Halak rumors are far more intense at this point in time, so fantasy managers, especially in keeper leagues may want to consider making a play for Jaro Halak. Halak has been playing 2nd fiddle to Carey Price in Montreal for the past couple years, however, Price’s inconsistencies has allowed Halak to showcase his talents and prove he could be a number 1 goaltender candidate somewhere in the NHL. Now is the perfect time for fantasy managers (especially in keeper leagues) to make a play for him. Chances are not too many fantasy managers are thinking about the trade deadline at this point, so it may be easier to acquire him before March roles around. You may have to sit on him for a month or so, but remember we have the Olympic break, so it certainly is manageable.

Josh Harding is a lesser known case, which may make him easier to acquire. He is a sound backstop playing behind an all-star caliber goaltender. With Anton Khudobin in the system and Backstrom’s contract far from over, Harding would certainly benefit from going elsewhere rather than riding the pine. Making a pitch for him or plucking him off the waiver wire is low risk since you’re probably not offering up a terrible amount for him, if anything at all; essentially a roster spot if you pluck him off the waiver wire.

Now, if these players don’t get moved during the trade deadline, they could certainly find themselves elsewhere over the summer, so hang onto them if you have the capacity to do so. Managers in keeper leagues may find this more beneficial at this point in time. For those in year-to-year leagues, perhaps you wait until after the Olympics to consider making a move.

Remember, these trade scenarios are still rumors, so don’t put all your eggs in one basket. It’s more food for thought than anything, but it’s fun to play with strategies and different types of scenarios.

Take a Chance on Rob Schremp

Schrembs — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 17:40:37 +0000

Fantasy managers savvy to the up and coming talent in the NHL have certainly heard the name Rob Schremp being thrown around over the past several seasons. Perhaps some have seen the video of his crafty “stickmanship” during a Skills Competition in Wilkes-Barre. There’s little doubt in anyone’s mind that he is a crafty player with the potential to put up big numbers, however, his game has not transferred as well to the NHL as some had hoped, so he hasn’t gotten the recognition he may have deserved over the past two seasons.

This season started off similarly for Schremp with the Islanders this year; some playing time followed by a series of healthy scratches. However, at this point of the season, He’s seeing between 13 and 15 minutes of ice time, as well as power play duties. Now, while center is the most plentiful position in hockey in terms of fantasy worthy players, managers in deeper fantasy leagues certainly could use the depth to help them maintain their current status or make a playoff run. There’s a good chance Robbie is out there in your league; if you have a hole to fill, take a chance on him right now. He’s playing extremely well.

Add Backup Goaltenders to Olympic Starters

Schrembs — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 20:35:25 +0000

With the 2010 Winter Olympics fast approaching, it’s time to consider how the games will impact our fantasy rosters. While it certainly won’t have much of an impact if a forward or defenseman misses a game or two, fantasy managers who own an Olympic goaltender should consider adding their backup for the next month of play. It’s not uncommon to see NHL coaches give their Olympic tenders some time off in the weeks leading up to the games. With that being said, it may be worth adding his backup as an insurance policy in case you’re a manager in a league that requires a certain number of appearances per week to qualify the goaltending categories.

Ryan Miller – Buffalo Sabres
With Ryan Miller a strong candidate to get the majority of the workload in Canada for Team USA, we may see backup Patrick Lalime a little more over the next several weeks. He had a shaky start to the season for Buffalo but has come off an injury in stellar form. He is a comparable option that should steal some wins before we head into the break.

Miikka Kiprusoff – Calgary Flames
Kippers is notorious for being an absolute workhorse for the Flames, so perhaps we see him get a bit of a breather over the next couple weeks to try and prepare him for the Bronze medal battle. Curtis McElhinney is a so-so option. His numbers aren’t as bad as we have seen them in the past and looked good in the spot start against the Oilers.

Henrik Lundqvist – New York Rangers
Lundy has also been a workhorse this season as his once reliable backup Stephan Valiquette has been demoted and Chad Johnson continues to ride the pine. Lundy can’t keep up this torrid pace forever, so it may not be a bad idea to add Johnson for the time being to see if they use him more over the next several weeks. And if they don’t, see if he gives Lundy a breather after the Olympic break.

Jonas Hiller – Anaheim Ducks
While it’s unclear if former NHL goaltender Martin Gerber or Jonas Hiller will help the Swiss in Vancouver, it’s certainly worth considering JS Giguere over the next month. A rock solid performance in November unfortunately led to a somewhat shaky showing throughout the month of December, so perhaps view Giggy as a bit of a low buy candidate right now.

Iyla Bryzgalov – Phoenix Coyotes
One of the biggest surprises this season has been the strong play of Ilya Bryzgalov and the Phoenix Coyotes. Bryzgalov is one of the best goalies in the league right now and will see some playing time in Vancouver. He should be playing second fiddle to Evgeny Nabokov but has shown her certainly could offer a strong platooning tandem for Russia if needed, and rumors are swirling that he may see more playing time overall. With Phoenix playing as well as they have been, it may not be a bad move to acquire Jason LaBarbera for a month or so.

Evgeny Nabokov – San Jose Sharks
Thomas Greiss, may find himself between the pipes a little more often over the next month trying to gain as much playing time as possible before he joins Team Germany at the Olympics. He’s a nice prospect on a good team, so consider him one of the better options to pickup to fortify your goaltending situation in January.

Tomas Vokoun – Florida Panthers
With Florida battling about 8 other teams for a playoff spot right now, we may see more of Vokoun over the next month than his counterpart Scott Clemmensen. Clemmy’s 11 starts this season has shown us that last season may have been a bit of a fluke. This “one hit wonder” should be left alone as we prepare for the next month of fantasy play.

Something that’s worth mentioning is that even if you’re a manager that doesn’t own these goaltenders, it’s perfectly acceptable to get in on this action, especially if you’ve suffered some serious hits to your goaltenders this season and are constantly scrambling to deal with injuries. Also, you can certainly add one of these players and peddle them as trade bait to managers in a bit of a bind. It’s all about strategy, my friends. Good luck.

Stash Jason Williams on IR in Deeper Fantasy Hockey Leagues

Schrembs — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 23:35:31 +0000

Photo by: Quadzilla99

Red Wings right winger Jason Williams is probably available in your moderate to deep fantasy league. Do yourself a favor: snatch him up and stash him on IR. He’s at an ultra-thin right wing position and there’s a good chance he’ll jump right into the 2nd line power play unit for Detroit.

Don’t expect Dan Cleary to be floating around on the waiver wire (if he is, certainly snatch him up ahead of Williams). Fantasy hockey managers have become fairly savvy to the production possibilities from the later bloomer, but at least with Williams, he could certainly be of some service to any manager as depth is the name of the game in deeper fantasy hockey leagues.

If you’re in a shallow fantasy hockey league, you can probably find a player with more of an offensive upside than Williams.