Unlike fantasy football, where it’s advantageous to get a stud running back with your first pick, there is no single specific way to draft a successful fantasy hockey team. In a 12 team draft, expect there to be 10 or 11 forwards drafted in the first round, and maybe 1 or 2 goalies.
Here is the strategy that has been successful for me over the years. With your first pick or two, draft scoring forwards. If Martin Brodeur and Roberto Luongo are gone at this point, sit back and wait, putting aside goalies until the mid to late rounds . The 3rd best goalie right now could be any of a number of names, and the 11th or 12th goalie drafted in your pool could end up with better numbers at the end of the season than the 3rd goalie selected. For some reason, defensemen seem to be neglected in most pools until the middle to late rounds. This is where you can make up serious ground on your opponents. An offensive defensemen will put up similar numbers to a late forward pick. The catch is that there are only about 15 defensemen in this elite category. I like to use three or four picks in rounds 2-8 on defensemen as it ensures me a top tier core of defensemen. When my opponents are sifting through unproven, young defensemen in the later rounds, I am comfortably looking through the many talented forwards and goalies that remain.
Above and beyond, the MOST important thing to do when preparing for a hockey pool draft is to analyze the scoring rules. Scoring can vary dramatically from pool to pool. While many pools are offensively oriented, focusing solely on goals and assists, other pools value everything from plus/minus to penalty minutes.
Simply put, if you want to win your pool, grab as many of the guys from the following list as possible, my Top 30 in terms of fantasy value:
| 1. Alexander Ovechkin | 11. Marian Gaborik | 21. Marian Hossa |
| 2. Sidney Crosby | 12. Jarome Iginla | 22. Anze Kopitar |
| 3. Evgeni Malkin | 13. Roberto Luongo | 23. Andrei Markov |
| 4. Dany Heatley | 14. Nicklas Lidstrom | 24. Chris Pronger |
| 5. Vincent Lecavalier | 15. Ilya Kovalchuk | 25. Rick Nash |
| 6. Martin Brodeur | 16. Joe Thornton | 26. Daniel Alfredsson |
| 7. Henrik Zetterberg | 17. Pavel Datsyuk | 27. Marc-Andre Fleury |
| 8. Dion Phaneuf | 18. Ryan Getzlaf | 28. Dan Boyle |
| 9. Mike Green | 19. Brian Campbell | 29. Zdeno Chara |
| 10. Jason Spezza | 20. Eric Staal | 30. Tomas Vanek |
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Interesting list. I wonder if Lecavalier is ranked a little bit high here, still has all the talent in the world, but coming off of shoulder surgery – he may have a bit of a slow start until he gets up to 100%.
I also think Marian Gaborik is very high risk (although high reward). He is now finally scrimmaging, but with his injury history, plus his current contract situation, he is definitely high risk — although if he gets moved to a more offensive oriented team, that could really suit him well.
Also – I like where you have Staal – I’d look for a bounceback year for him.
which forward are better scorer?? lw or rw?? and which scoring catogory?? for forwards?
for yahoo default league. the stat Categories are: G, A, +/-, PIM, PPP, SOG, W, GAA, SV%, SHO
for goalies, center, lw, rw, defencemen which catogory to focus on base on these scoring cats?? and can i ask your opinion on which pos has been scarce the past few seasons for hockey??? thanks.
Had it not been for the surgery I may have even ranked Lecavalier a spot higher. The Lightning are going to do a lot of scoring this year, and Lecavalier is their biggest threat. That being said, if their young defense core can’t get him the puck, they could be in trouble.
Gaborik is a bit of touchy subject for me. I can understand your concern as he seems to have constant, nagging injuries. However, a healthy Gaborik is a top 10 talent; he loves the puck on his stick and can flat out fly. I think the fact that he’s an unrestricted free agent at the end of the year will fuel his desire for a bigger season. Gaborik will be trying to make GMs salivate at the thought of having him in their lineup next year. Nearing 27 years of age, this might be the last highly lucrative contract he’ll sign.
Simon,
There really are not a heck of a lot of great left wingers so try to get a few early. And like I said in the blog, great defensemen can win you a pool, especially in your pool where penalty minutes matter (you may want to go after Phaneuf and Green with your top picks). You won’t have a problem getting solid centres and goalies in the mid to later rounds, so put them aside unless there’s some great talent out there that’s too good to pass up. Good luck, and enjoy the start of the NHL season in less than 12 hours, live from Prague!
ty. may u rate my team i just drafted?? i had 2nd pick. this guy with 1st pick past up ovechkin and picked Crosby Sidney.
Round Pick Player Position
1. (2) Alexander Ovechkin LW
2. (23) Miikka Kiprusoff G
3. (26) Martin St. Louis RW
4. (47) Jason Pominville RW
5. (50) Jose Theodore G
6. (71) Wade Redden D
7. (74) Jay Bouwmeester D
8. (95) Henrik Sedin C
9. (98) Tomas Vokoun G
10. (119) Jason Arnott C
11. (122) Scott Gomez C
12. (143) Wojtek Wolski LW
13. (146) Daymond Langkow C
14. (167) Keith Ballard D
15. (170) Erik Cole LW,RW
16. (191) Michal Rozsival D
i think im weak in rw, and d???
RWs are pretty solid, Cole at 170 is a steal. Room for improvement on defense, not sure how well Ballard will do this year stuck behind Bouwmeester and McCabe. If Keith Yandle or Ville Koistinen are available, scoop one up; they aren’t getting drafted in most leagues and will put up good numbers.
it makes me sad there’s no Maple Leaf players in your top 30 but in the world we live in today such a hope won’t be fulfilled any time soon. I like a columnist who doesn’t let biasness impair one’s judgement – assuming you are a leafs fan of course!
Is this the year Captain of all Captains – MR. LIDSTROM isnt’t deemed the # 1 fantasy defensemen? Yes, unlike fine wine an aging hockey player isnt the key ingredient to a Fantasy Teams success – i see your point. Instead you went with the YOUNG BUCKS in mr. nhl 09′ cover boy Dion Phaneuf, & Mike Green – a very handsome 1 – 2 punch! i like your thought process.
I am with out question using your picks to beat an old friend of mine in this coming wednesday’s hockey draft, so thanks!
do you do football insight for any other websites??????