I am just learning fantasy hockey, and outside of the Oilers don't know the rest of the league....
My draft is tonight, who is someone in the NHL to absolutely avoid in a fantasy draft, and why? Let's compile a list of players to stay away from in a fantasy draft this season whether it be for sophomore slump reasons, injury, or expected down year.
Hemsky is the #1 do not touch in fantasy hockey. Soft, always hurt, fairly 1 dimensional. Always gets drafted way too high. Although my league settings include hits pims and other things hemsky has 0 value in
Yea I don't know why Heatley and Hemsky were named. Hemsky has been going in the very late rounds... where an injury-prone player should go.
Heatley is going around the 5th round... where you can bargain on him if he gets 35 + goales (more than capable). If he fizzles out... you'll still get about 60 points.
I think Erhroff is gonna suck on Buffalo (in terms of production). I'd draft him as a 3rd or 4th Dman (but he'll likely get picked before that).
I'd say Al Montoya or Nabakov... because Dipietro is bound to be the #1 if he can be healthy... and otherwise i'm not sure who would be backup.
Yandle should be drafted... but I think he drops off this year. He's going to have to play more defense since Bryz is gone. Same goes for Doan... he's getting old, Phoenix is going to suck this year.
Nabokov is very safe to take... As a 3rd string in a 2-goalie league. I have him twice, both times behind Price/Rinne or Hiller/Quick.
As far as actual players I'd never draft.. Jack Johnson. His production last year was entirely powerplay, which was unsustainable (compare first half to second half of year).
Also.. Mike Richards. Centers are so, so deep and Richards has a better name than what he brings to the stat sheet; I find he always goes WAY too early.
Guys who have a propensity for suspensions are a big no-no with Shanahan laying down the Shanaban; I'm sure those who drafted Wiz in Columbus are already facepalming.
Other players I stay away from are guys who might throw down huge points but really don't contribute shots/PIM/goals. It blows me away when Henrik Sedin goes in the first round; he MIGHT get 170 shots, 20 goals.. Your first round pick should do more than contribute a lot of assists and a decent +/-.
This will be my first year in a fantasy hockey league as well (ESPN) and am learning the ropes too.
Would Halak be a decent 2nd/3rd string goalie?
IMO Halak is an EXCELLENT 3rd string, an average to good 2nd, and poor 1st.
If he's your 2nd, I'd feel more confident if your 1st was a top netminder (Rinne/Price/Luongo/Lundqvist/etc), but one of my pools the top goalies all went very early, Malkin fell to me at 16th (no brainer), Parise was available in round 3. (no brainer). Couldn't justify taking an average goalie when those players were available. Just gotta roll with it, and if you end up with 2 goalies like Halak, well, hope your forwards/defense are good enough ^_^
Another to stay away from is Kiprusoff; he's had awful numbers for 3 of the last 4 years. He'll get you wins but likely sink your sv%/GAA.
for the rounds he's draft averaging, you're high. A constant in the top 10... for the past 10 years, is finally listed around 60th? The Devils, as a whole, collectively sucked last year. EVERYONE SUCKED, except maybe Elias.
He's most certainly worthy of 6th round pick. You know who is ranked after him? Kari Lehtonen. Look at how he finished the regular season..
Post all-star break:
21 GP, 13-7 record. 1.84 GAA, .919 Save %... 2 shutouts. Yea "do not touch" those stats - leave 'em for me
Last edited by Mr Bojanglez: 09-28-2011 at 07:01 AM.
