Looking At Good Players In Bad Teams
Many fantasy hockey
managers do not consider drafting players from the teams with the worst records
in the NHL. The Colorado Avalanche finished in last place last season meaning
most people will not consider choosing any of their players for their own
teams. Sometimes, there are players on the worst teams that are worth selecting
because they will perform beyond expectations.
Wingers to Add Depth
PA Parenteau was among the
top ten scoring wingers in the NHL during last year's short season. He has been
scoring points quietly for a few years and two years ago he was the league
leader in assists by wingers. If a player wants to add depth to a team, he is a
great option in the third round of the draft for next season.
Goalies
Many goalie tandems leave
fans wondering if the backup goalie is actually better than the starter. JS
Giguere in Colorado is a great example because he managed to outperform Semeon
Varlamov two years in a row even though he played fewer games. If you need to
boost your goalie GAA stats and save%, selecting Giguere is a decent gamble and
he is likely to last until the late rounds. You should not expect him to score
your fantasy hockey square very many wins.
Consider Defensive Players
and Their Time on Ice
Colorado got rid of many of their defensemen last season and that includes Matt Hunwick who had more time on ice than any other player. This means first pick Erik Johnson will have more responsibility and receive more ice time. He will score more points as a result but his plus/minus is likely to suffer. To score more points with your defense, Johnson is a good option but you will need to ensure you have enough plus minus on your fantasy hockey squad to overcome his negatives.
Now that the NHL will get their preseason and full schedule back, fantasy hockey will be much better. People are always going to be looking to make adjustments and having an edge of some sort when playing. The important thing to remember is that you need to make sure you know about all the fringe players who might be out there to draft. Everyone knows the stars, but in order to have success in fantasy hockey, you need to at the end of the day. This means getting some non-marquee players.