The Journey

Andrew Schopp profiles two young defensemen with lots of upside.

Two 21-year-old defensive prospects from the 2009 NHL Draft got the call up to The Show this week for Colorado and Toronto. One, Tyson Barrie, saw more time in the NHL with the Colorado Avalanche after an unexpected demotion to the minors. The other, Jesse Blacker, has yet to make his NHL debut after being briefly called-up to the Toronto Maple Leafs from the Marlies earlier this week. Although at different stages of their development, both are solid defensemen with the ability to contribute offensively and have great fantasy upside as top four defensemen.

Scott Wedgewood is one of a few young goalies hoping for a chance to succeed Brodeur in New Jersey.

When a player involved in ‘greatest of all-time’ conversation occupies the No. 1 goaltending spot, it's usually bad news for those below him on the organizational depth chart. Over the past three seasons, New Jersey Devils goaltenders outside the 79-year-old tandem of Martin Brodeur and Johan Hedberg have combined for just four NHL games played.

Which Halifax Moosehead will make a more immediate impact in the NHL? Drouin or MacKinnon?

Before major junior hockey started the 2012-2013 season, all eyes were on Portland Winterhawks blueliner Seth Jones and Halifax Mooseheads center Nathan MacKinnon in a race for the number one pick at the 2013 NHL Draft.

Fast forward to February and both Jones and MacKinnon have taken turns flip-flopping between 1st and 2nd in most experts rankings, including ISS, NHL Central Scouting and TSN. (Note that Russian left-winger Valery Nichuskin has snuck into the no. 2 spot behind Jones in ISS’s February top 30 ranking.)

Heading into the 2011 NHL Draft, hockey pundits loved Dougie Hamilton's size and his skating ability. And 12 goals and 58 points in 67 OHL games for a 17-year old defensemen, was pretty intoxicating too.

After making the Anaheim Ducks out of training camp last season, Kyle Palmieri managed just one goal in 10 games before being returned to the AHL Syracuse Crunch.

The 20-year old American prospect must have found a heck of a Krav Maga instructor back in his home state because after scoring 29 goals in 62 AHL games in 2010-11, he has exploded this seaon, pouring in a near-superhuman 17 goals in 18 games – good enough to be leading the AHL.

After considerable analysis of the 2004-2007 drafts (post lockout)  it appears that on average, six elite fantasy prospects across all positions eventually emerge from each draft. ELITE is defined as a  forward that can likely flirt with a point per game over a few seasons, defensemen that reach 45-50 points over a few seasons and goalies that are  considered Top five to Top 10 for at least four to five seasons.