Cal O’Reilly’s road to the NHL has been nothing short of a struggle. Cal was selected in the fifth round of the 2005 draft after finishing up a strong season with the Windsor Spitfires in the OHL. While Cal posted 73 points in 68 games, the Spitfires most alluring prospect that season was Steve Downie, who posted 73 points of his own in seven fewer games, not to mention the 179 penalty minutes he added. With the focus on Downie, O’Reilly flew well under the radar.
Is there a new number one this year? Read on to find out more…
The first edition of this list was put together last April, and it is something I am going to update at least once each season. 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 I see poolies place too much of an emphasis on youth and prospects instead of trying to add players who could help them win now. Using this 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.
We’re in the stretch run now! Although it may not officially be playoff time just yet, it certainly feels like it with more intense races to get into the dance than we’ve ever seen before, involving more teams still fighting than accustomed to.
Commissioner Bettman wanted parity, and boy did he ever get it. With under three weeks left in the season, by my count, only five teams are legitimately out of the chase. This weekend’s matchups provide plenty of meaningful games, with each passing day intensifying the grind that much more. Come the official 1st puck drop of the 2011 Stanley Cup Playoffs, almost all of the top 16 will be more than ready, having being forced into playoff atmosphere games for the better part of a month already! Now without further ado, let’s get to it.
A tough decision can be made easier with these charts showing you the best five and worst five schedules for upcoming seven-day periods. Some of you used them last year but for the benefit of new readers here is a refresher. The number next to the team indicates the 'multiplier' to use on a player's point-per-game pace to give you an idea how many points to expect for that week.
For your listening pleasure - put it on your Ipod or just listen in on your computer! Dobber Nation appears on the 25th of every month, except December (Christmas). Let's talk some fantasy hockey!
You’ve all read or heard the quote about Washington Capitals’ top prospect defenceman Dmitry Orlov: “I think as far as a 19 or 20-year-old, after just a few games, it’s the best 19 or 20-year-old that I’ve seen in Hershey at this level.”
The man behind the quote is Doug Yingst and after watching the 19-year old native of Novokuznetsk, Russia now for a dozen games in his recently launched professional career, the president and general manager of the AHL’s Hershey Bears isn’t about to change his tune.
This week we'll take a gander at each of the Eastern Conference teams remaining games and opponents and try to identify which players (marks) might give you an added edge down the stretch. The games remaining include Thursday nights games.
Fantasy hockey can be an unpredictable and relatively scary environment to some. Filled with uncertainties and risk, many poolies fall victim to poor fantasy hockey seasons due to insufficient prospect knowledge, poor drafting, and questionable trades. Where most people hurt their season is before the draft, when a lack of preparation comes into play. People will rely on past statistics, name recognition, and their favourite players to fill their team, regardless of their role in the next season. Due to this, some poolies look at their team in March, baffled at what went wrong.
The Toronto Maple Leafs currently sit on the bubble of the Eastern Conference, with just over 30 wins and 70 points. Leaf players are always an important commodity at any draft, with some potential fantasy studs and high-potential prospects that have the ability to greatly improve a fantasy hockey team (as well as maintain high trade value in pools with Leaf fans).
I'm rarely smitten on the first viewing of a prospect but Hurricanes prospect Justin Faulk has me head over heels. He absolutely oozes star potential. He plays the game with the bravado that cannot be taught. It will only take you one look to realize he is a future star.
We’re rounding the final corner of the fantasy season and depending on your league settings you could be heading down a few different paths. Let’s look at those who are gunning for a money spot in Roto leagues, or those entering the playoffs in H2H leagues. If you are in a tight league where every little stat matters, making the smart adds/drops could determine whether you are the league champion or just another one of the nine, 11 or 13 disappointed losers. At this point of the season it’s not about what your players have done for you all season long, it’s all about what your player will do for you in the next four weeks that will determine your fantasy fate.
