Dobber jumping on - Jordan Staal, one player I am relying on in a couple of keeper leagues for the playoff title, is out for the postseason after suffering an severed Achilles tendon. This is huge loss for the Penguins as he is their best defensive forward and he is a first-line scoring threat [...]
Tyler Seguin was named OHL MVP a few days ago, and Taylor Hall is busy leading his Spitfires to an OHL Championship. Hall's 29 points are good for second in league playoff scoring (Kitchener's Jeff Skinner leads the way with 20 goals and 33 points). If you were the Oilers... who would you take? [...]
I have a few general rules when it comes to building a team in a fantasy hockey keeper league. One of the more important ones is to not plan beyond a two or three year window. You are not building a real NHL club, and too often fantasy hockey poolies place an emphasis on youth and prospects over proven veterans with gas still left in the tank. So using my general rule, take a look at your team(s). Can you realistically say you will have a shot at winning the league at some point within the next two or three seasons? If not, time to scrap the rebuild and start adding proven NHL talent.
Keeping my rule in mind, I have compiled a list of the top ten keeper league left wingers to own (assuming standard keeper league rules and scoring categories). Using the two or three season scope, I had to balance proven production with young players on the verge of breaking out. I hope you enjoy!
Here are the individual and averaged predicitions for the second round of the NHL playoffs from Dobber, Angus, Bugg, Ma, Miller, and more! The panel's consensus picks were 12-3 last year, and we boast an impressive 34-11 record over the past three seasons!
The first round featured a trio of upsets in the Eastern Conference. None of the 13 experts predicted the Montreal Canadiens over the Capitals. Only Ryan Ma foresaw the Flyers defeating the Devils, and only Ma, Matt Bugg, and Russ Miller saw the Bruins taking care of Buffalo. I was a horrendous 0-4 in the East, as I took a chance on the Senators, who fell flat in game six. Ryan Ma went 7-for-8 in the first round, and Bugg went 6-for-8. A few (myself included) are looking for redemption in round two! The panel's consensus picks went 5-for-8 in the first round.
Kudos to the Predators for starting the off-season off right - they announced a contract extension with Wade Belak today. My top 10 keeper league left wingers list is now out. Toughest decisions - putting Rick Nash and Alex Semin on the list. I really wanted to include some sleepers and younger guys, but [...]
The third annual Prime Cuts roster is here! Check out the Prime Cuts rosters from 2007-08 and 2008-09. The thinking process that goes in to selecting the team is similar to Pierre McGuire’s “Monsters” for TSN (I promise that is the first and only time I will compare my thinking process to Pierre’s). Since this is a fantasy hockey site, the selection process favours players that have had strong seasons on the score sheet, obviously. However, not just goals and assists are weighted – perhaps a player has started to shoot the puck more, or play better defensively. Intangibles like heart, grit, and determination factor in to the selection process as well. It is far and away my favourite article to write each year, and I hope you will all enjoy reading it as much as I have enjoyed writing it!
Part 4 of the article series will name the top forward line.
Fantasy hockey question on your mind? Fire away! I'll answer as many as I can today. Dobber jumping on quick - Peter Mueller skated for the first time in three weeks yesterday. We probably won't see him tonight, but there is a slim possibility. Extremely doubtful though. However, if the Avs force a [...]
The third annual Prime Cuts roster is here! Check out the Prime Cuts rosters from 2007-08 and 2008-09. The thinking process that goes in to selecting the team is similar to Pierre McGuire’s “Monsters” for TSN (I promise that is the first and only time I will compare my thinking process to Pierre’s). Since this is a fantasy hockey site, the selection process favours players that have had strong seasons on the score sheet, obviously. However, not just goals and assists are weighted – perhaps a player has started to shoot the puck more, or play better defensively. Intangibles like heart, grit, and determination factor in to the selection process as well. It is far and away my favourite article to write each year, and I hope you will all enjoy reading it as much as I have enjoyed writing it!
Part 3 of the article series will name the top defensive pairing and second forward line.
Nate Gerbe is IN tonight for the Sabres. Raffi Torres is a healthy scratch. Norris finalists have just been released - Duncan Keith, Drew Doughty, and Mike Green. Keith is probably the favourite but I have no idea who I'd pick... Green is so polarizing, those who believe the Norris should weigh defensive [...]
I have a few general rules when it comes to building a team in a fantasy hockey keeper league. One of the more important ones is to not build beyond a two or three year scope. You are not building a real NHL club, and too often fantasy hockey poolies place an emphasis on youth and prospects over proven veterans with gas still left in the tank. So using my general rule, take a look at your team(s). Can you realistically say you will have a shot at winning the league at some point within the next two or three seasons? If not, time to scrap the rebuild and start adding proven NHL talent.
Keeping my rule in mind, I compiled a list of my top ten keeper league defensemen to own (assuming standard keeper league rules and scoring categories). Using the two or three season scope, I had to balance proven production with young players on the verge of breaking out. I hope you enjoy!
