You might be wondering how a top five scoring defenseman could make this list. The reality is Carlson has overperformed, as evidenced by his forward-like 53.8% IPP at 5×5 and the fact that his PP Ice Time per game (1:34) is far below that of any other productive rearguard. And when – yes, that's when, not an if – he comes back down to earth, we'll again see what happens when a defenseman has outstanding all-around talent but plays for a club which needs him to occupy a shutdown role more than it does for him to produce points. The good news for Carlson and his fantasy owners is Mike Green is an upcoming UFA and will likely head elsewhere. So with any luck, Carlson wouldn't be on this list by 2015-16, when he'll hopefully be occupying a role more like Niklas Kronwall, Alex Pietrangelo or Shea Weber–strong in his own end yet still offensively productive and getting quality PP ice time.

8) Alex Goligoski

Ever since coming to Dallas as part of the James Neal trade with Pittsburgh (spoiler alert – Neal makes the list too), Goligoski has been a square peg trying to fit into Dallas' round hole. Here's a defenseman who showed innate offensive talent in Pittsburgh, yet who this year is somehow averaging over 3:00 per game of shorthanded ice time?! Sure – there's some debate about whether Goligoski has the chops to be a true power play quarterback and top-producing rearguard; but few could disagree that whatever talent he does have is generally being wasted in Dallas.

7) Evander Kane

It's possible that Kane would've been a top three candidate were it not for his actions and attitude likely having dictated his own fate to at least some extent. For all we know he could've been traded by now to a team that would've let him unleash his widely acknowledged talent, were it not for concerns about his head and heart. But the fact remains he's in what might be one of the worst fantasy spots there could be for his kind of game, so he still manages to make the list.

6) P.A. Parenteau

First Parenteau transformed himself from career AHLer to legitimate scoring forward with the Islanders. From there he signed as a UFA with Colorado, where he posted nearly a point per game in 2012-13. Then Patrick Roy became coach of the Avs, and suddenly Parenteau was an afterthought, eventually getting dished to Montreal. And things have continued to spiral downhill for him with the Habs, where he doesn't even rank in the top five among their forwards in average ice time per game. While Parenteau might not be a 65+ point player on Montreal even under the best of circumstances, it's hard to see the wisdom in the Habs wasting scoring talent that Parenteau still would appear to possess.

5) James Neal

It's not surprising to see Neal here given that the player he was essentially traded for – tournament winner Patric Hornqvist – was in Neal's shoes just one season ago. And as Hornqvist has gone from famine to feast, it's the reverse for Neal. The reason he's not closer to #1 is because the Predators' offense is showing signs of life, so things shouldn't be as terrible for him as they were for Hornqvist.

4) Christian Ehrhoff

It's hard to guess who was more overjoyed about Ehrhoff signing a one year deal with Pittsburgh – his fantasy owners, or Ehrhoff himself. Yet here we are halfway through the season and Ehrhoff is a nearly invisible man – on the stat sheet that is. Of course no one was predicting that Ehrhoff would produce like Kris Letang; but by the same token, it's legitimately surprising to see him having been placed in a largely shutdown role. And with things working pretty well for the Pens thus far, look for more of the same for Ehrhoff going forward, making this the fantasy equivalent of "so close, yet so far."

3) Taylor Hall

There were high hopes for Hall going into 2014-15, as he'd put up 130 points in his last 120 games despite the continued failings of the Oilers. But this season is an entirely different story, as it almost looks like Hall has been beaten into submission by the team's continued ineptitude. Losing is the only thing Hall's ever known, so he can't be blamed for being unable to put the team on his shoulders. If he's lucky he'll be traded, since if he stays and the team continues to be mired in terribleness, things could get worse for him before they – hopefully – get better once again.

2) Eric Staal

In fairness, there pretty much was nowhere to go but downhill after Staal posted 100 points and won a Stanley Cup in his second season. But since 2007-08, Staal has been saddled with being the top guy on a poorly producing squad that can't seem to find its identity, let alone consistently win. And while Staal has indeed led the team in scoring for each of the past five full seasons, not once did any other player post more than 65 points, leaving Staal to do nearly all the heavy lifting himself. One can only wonder how well he – and the Hurricanes – would've done of late if he had someone with whom he could truly form a one two scoring punch.

1) Cory Schneider

At first I told myself I had to move Schneider down the list because I was probably focusing too much on his misfortune in Vancouver, where he was second fiddle to Roberto Luongo for several years despite playing better at nearly every turn. But then I realized something – things are just as bad for him now in New Jersey as they were in Vancouver! First he had to sit back and be patient yet again while the Devils kept playing Martin Brodeur; and now that he's a true #1 for the first time in his seven year (yes, you read that right) NHL career, it's for among the worst performing teams in the league and with virtually no back-up to give him any rest. In fact, I'm depressed just having written that – but not nearly as much as those who own Schneider are having lived through it.