Looking Ahead 2014: Week 15
Mike Schmidt
2015-01-09
Looking Ahead at the best schedules in fantasy hockey for Week 15.
With roughly half of the NHL season in the rear-view mirror, there's no better opportunity than right now for a one-man, one-round, 10-team mini-mock draft. It should be noted that these rankings are based on points-only scoring (and Yahoo position eligibility).
Sidney Crosby, C, Pittsburgh – The next time the 27-year-old Crosby will fail to be a point-per-game player over a full season will be the first time in his 10-year-career in which he will not be a point-per-game player. Actually, forget points per game. Crosby is almost an assist-per-game player, as he has racked up 527 helpers in 587 career contests. With his concussion issues long behind him, Crosby is the safest spectacular player in fantasy hockey.
Evgeni Malkin, C/RW, Pittsburgh – Fantasy owners can expect Malkin to miss some time over the course of the season, but there's no arguing he's an elite all-around playmaker who shares time on Pittsburgh's top power-play unit with a fair number of other high-end offensive weapons, including the aforementioned Crosby, veteran winger Chris Kunitz and defenseman Kris Letang. Few players in the NHL are more talented than Malkin, and virtually no one in the league is afforded a better opportunity to provide production.
Steven Stamkos, C/RW, Tampa Bay – Goals are kind of his thing. Stamkos is virtually peerless when it comes to his ability to maintain a high shooting percentage over a long period of time. Tampa Bay's 24-year-old franchise center has shot .172 over the course of six-plus seasons, and he's someone who averages well above three shots on goal per game for his career. A 45-goal campaign seems like a worst-case scenario for Stamkos in 2014-15. That fact catapults him into the top three.
Florida 4.14 – four games – EDMx2, WPG and COL
Edmonton 4.06 – four games – FLAx2, STL and TBL
Washington 4.00 – four games – COL, PHI, NSH and DAL
Steer Clear
New Jersey 1.66 – two games – both on road
Calgary 1.95 – two games – both on road
Pittsburgh 2.05 – two games – MIN and NYI
Chicago 2.21 – two games – MIN and WPG
New York Islanders 2.85 – three games – NYR, PIT and MTL
Monday, January 12 to Sunday, January 18
Best Bets
Detroit 4.31 – four games – BUFx2, STL and NSH
Philadelphia 4.30 – four games – TBL, WAS, VAN and BUF
Arizona 4.20 – four games – SJS, CGY, MIN and WPG
Winnipeg 4.12 – four games – FLA, DAL, CHI and ARI
Dallas 4.12 – four games – OTT, WPG, WAS and CHI
Steer Clear
Chicago 2.21 – two games – WPG and DAL
New Jersey 1.66 – two games – both on road
New York Islanders 2.85 – three games – NYR, PIT and MTL
Calgary 1.95 – two games – both on road
Edmonton 2.85 – three games – all on road
Tuesday, January 13 to Monday, January 19
Best Bets
San Jose 4.51 – four games – three at home
Florida 4.30 – four games – three at home
St. Louis 4.25 – four games – all at home
Detroit 4.31 – four games – BUF, STL, NSH and BUF
Philadelphia 4.24 – four games – WAS, VAN, BUF and NYI
Steer Clear
Chicago 2.21 – two games – WPG and DAL
New Jersey 2.57 – three games – all on road
Calgary 2.76 – three games – all on road
Edmonton 2.85 – three games – all on road
Tampa Bay 2.96 – three games – BOS, EDM and COL
Wednesday, January 14 to Tuesday, January 20
Best Bets
Philadelphia 5.19 – five games – WAS, VAN, BUF, NYI and PIT
Minnesota 4.24 – four games – BUF, ARI, CBJ and DET
Detroit 4.22 – four games – STL, NSH, BUF and MIN
Montreal 4.11 – four games – CBJ, OTT, NYI and NSH
Washington 4.10 – four games – PHI, NSH, DAL and EDM
Steer Clear
New Jersey 2.57 – three games – all on road
Calgary 2.76 – three games – all on road
Colorado 2.85 – three games – all on road
Winnipeg 2.91 – three games – two on road
Boston 2.95 – three games – NYR, CBJ and DAL
Thursday, January 15 to Wednesday, January 21
Best Bets
San Jose 4.36 – four games – all at home
Minnesota 4.24 – four games -BUF, ARI, CBJ and DET
Philadelphia 4.24 – four games – VAN, BUF, NYI and PIT
Detroit 4.22 – four games – STL, NSH, BUF and MIN
Chicago 4.22 – four games – WPG, DAL, ARI and PIT
Steer Clear
New Jersey 1.76 – two games – both on road
Edmonton 2.99 – three games – all on road
New York Islanders 2.99 – three games – PIT, MTL and PHI
Nashville 3.00 – three games – WAS, DET, and MTL
Buffalo 3.05 – three games – MIN, PHI and DET