With the 2007-08 fantasy hockey season getting underway, I decided to focus two columns specifically on players in the Eastern Conference and players in the Western Conference. Furthermore, I’ll be focusing specifically on players that do more than just get points.

As DobberHockey readers, many of you already know a great deal about point potentials of various players, but for those of you in leagues that include non-standard scoring categories, pay attention. These two columns are for you.

This first column focuses on some of the guys in the East whom you can consistently rely on to give you more than just goals and assists.

***The following statistics are accurate heading into Monday’s games, October 15, 2007***

Martin St. Louis has had 36 short-handed points in his previous six seasons with the Tampa Bay Lightning. He’s averaged six shorthanded points per year during that span. In the last three seasons, he’s been the most consistent man-down threat, scoring at least four short handed points each year, and scoring 11 shorthanded points in 2003-04 and 2006-07. 

Darcy Tucker has had 33 powerplay goals during the 2005-06 and 2006-07 seasons despite only having 52 total goals during that time. He has had more powerplay goals during that span than the likes of Sidney Crosby, Martin St. Louis, Tomas Vanek, Joe Sakic, Marion Hossa, Simone Gagne, Mark Recchi, Danny Sedin, and Brendan Shanahan. Leagues that count ppg and penalty minutes take note. He also totaled 181 penalty minutes in these two seasons. That is more penalty minutes than the likes of Sidney Crosby, Martin St. Louis, Tomas Vanek, Joe Sakic,…

Since Rick DiPietro became the full time starting goalie for the NY Islanders in the 2003-04 season, he’s had 74 total penalty minutes. He leads all starting NHL goalies in penalty minutes over the last three seasons, and can be relied upon for not only solid goaltending stats, but also penalty minutes in leagues that use goalies and count PIMs.

Olli Jokinen has only missed seven of Florida’s last 497 regular season games. He has only missed one of Florida’s last 333 games. In addition to being the single best goal-scoring center since the lockout, he also excels in the art of penalizing his team (averaging 1.27 penalty minutes per game since the joining Florida in 2000-01), and shooting the puck (he’s finished in the top three in shots on goal in the 2005-06 and 2006-07 seasons). With two goals, six points, six penalty minutes, and 22 shots on goal in just 5 games this season, he once again looks to be a top center in any fantasy league (especially those that reward penalty minutes and shots on goal).

Rod Brind’Amour tops all forwards in average ice time per game over the last two seasons. Not only is he playing the time, but his 23:48 a game comes from all situations (penalty kill, power play, closing minutes of the game). It is no wonder that he has been revitalized these last two years posting close to career numbers. With six points in six games so far this season, and averaging over 20 minutes a game once again, nothing points to this 37 year old slowing down or playing less any time soon. Oh yeah, and did I mention that Brind’Amour has won 4386 face offs in his last 288 games played? He wins an average 15.2 face offs per game. Needless to say, he’s the best in the league in this stat as well.

Martin Brodeur has recorded 17 shutouts in the since the beginning of the 2005-06 season. He has been the best eastern conference goalie (by far) in this category, and although he’s 35 years old, it’s likely that he’s got quite a few more shut outs left in him before he retires. With 92 shutouts in his 14-year career with the New Jersey Devils, he’s averaged 6.5 shutouts per season over the course of his career.