Top 10 NHL Postseason Sleeper Picks
Tom Collins
2015-04-13
Top 10 players who could have a great playoff run
Now that we've completed our quest for championships, we're only a few scant days away from a new season, which also means new hockey pools.
Unlike the regular season, where you have months to prepare for your draft, you have only days to research and figure out who is going to be the Cup winner.
Everyone knows who the best choices are: You can expect Alexander Ovechkin, Steven Stamkos and Ryan Getzlaf to be chosen early, but the fun part of a playoff draft is choosing those one or two players that are going to break through.
Here are 10 players that could break through have a great playoff run. Technically, anyone could have a great run. But these are guys who may be under the radar, but have a reason or two why they could be a sneaky good pick.
4. Thomas Vanek
The line of Charlie Coyle, Justin Fontaine and Thomas Vanek has been one of the best in the NHL over the past 30 days, and that line the fourth most amount of points in that time frame of any line. With just 52 points, Vanek has had one of his worst offensive years, but he is proven in the playoffs. He's got 18 points in his last 27 postseason games, and even last year with the Habs when he was relegated to fourth line duties and spot power play time, he managed to put up 10 points in 17 games. On one of the hottest lines on a team that won't be getting rid of him this summer and plenty of ice time, I expect big things out of Vanek.
Is Brassard the most surprising 60-point guy in the league? He certainly broke through in a big way this year, and was helped by linemates Rick Nash and Mats Zuccarello, all who had great seasons. This will be a big line for the Rangers in the playoffs, and Brassard will be given lots of big minutes. He does have some history on his side: Brassard has 12 points in each of the last two playoff seasons, and has a total of 24 points in 35 postseason games.
Trading Evander Kane may have been the best thing to ever happen to the Jets since their move back to Winnipeg. Not only did they get rid of a locker room distraction, but they got Tyler Myers (who has been excellent with 15 points in 24 games), and maybe more importantly, Drew Stafford. Stafford had found instant chemistry with Mark Scheifele and Blake Wheeler, and the trio has formed one of the hottest lines in the past month as Stafford has 19 points in 26 games since the trade.
Kuznetsov may have had a disappointing rookie year, but he seems to have earned the trust of coach Barry Trotz. Nicklas Backstrom is now on the second line, and Kuznetsov has been centring the top line with Alexander Ovechkin for the last seven games, and it's been paying off. Ovi scored six goals and nine points, while Kuznetsov has one goal and five points in that timeframe, and the team went 5-1-1 (for the record, Joel Ward makes up the third part of that trio). Although Kuznetsov doesn't play the power play with Ovi, if that line can stay together this postseason even strength, that's great news for Kuznetsov owners.
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UPCOMING GAMES
| Jan 22 - 19:01 |
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| Jan 22 - 19:01 |
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| Jan 22 - 21:01 |
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| Jan 22 - 22:01 |
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Starting Goalies
Top Skater Views
| Players | Team | |
|---|---|---|
| DARREN RADDYSH |
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| LANE HUTSON |
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| MIKE LUNDIN |
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| KAAPO KAKKO |
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| PAVEL DOROFEYEV |
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Top Goalie Profile Views
DAL
WSH
OTT
NYR
LINE COMBOS
| Frequency |
 MIN Players
| |
|---|---|---|
| 37.4 | MATS ZUCCARELLO JOEL ERIKSSON EK MATT BOLDY | |
| 16.3 | MARCO ROSSI RYAN HARTMAN MARCUS FOLIGNO | |
| 13.1 | DEVIN SHORE JAKUB LAUKO MARAT KHUSNUTDINOV | |
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