Should I keep Kovalchuk?

[Hey Robbie]

I got Kovy at pick 36 last year. I can keep him this year if I want instead of taking a second round pick (pretty sure it's pick #16). Is pick 16 too high for Kovy?

One factor: I will get Crosby in rd 1, and many RW and LW will go in the first/early 2nd (eg last year Daniel Sedin 2, Heatly 4, Parise 8, Ryan 9, Semin 15). I don't want to get stuck with no good wingers at all.

I could lock in one winger with Hartnell instead of my 4th round pick (# 36) but that seems far too high for him.

Thank you for your help!

[lucifer316]

i dont think that 16 is too high for him

i wonder if there isnt more value in hall in the 5th round though

[4T2]

I don't think that 16 is too high to keep Kovy. He's been going on average at 15.2 in Yahoo leagues. You're locking in one of the top wingers available and unless you think there's an obvious upgrade available, I would hang on to him.

Hartnell has supposedly been going at 20.7 so you are getting a steal at 36. Although, I think he's been going a little high. 4th round is probably not a bad spot.

[gainerama]

Kovi is worth a 2nd rd pick since he will still put up 70+ pts despite his crappy team.

[Pengwin7]

I prefer keeping Hartnell.

Hartnell should own Kovalchuk in two categories: PIM & +/-
I think that is significant and gets lost on us all every year.

[joeygmoney]

I prefer keeping Hartnell.

Hartnell should own Kovalchuk in two categories: PIM & +/-
I think that is significant and gets lost on us all every year.

I like Hartnell as well, you will get a higher draft pick and he is playing with one of the best playmakers alive.

[Hey Robbie]

Thanks very much gentlemen!

I can keep four, so maybe Crosby in the 1st, Kovy in the 2nd, try to draft a winger in the third, Hartnell 4th, an maybe keep Campbell in the 10th.

The rankings in the draft are a bit off in my league, however, as peoples' keepers are drafted later than they are worth, which means players re drafted sooner than you think, but that just makes your arguments more valid. For example, Neal, Giroux, Karlsson, Byfuglien, Letang, Quick, Rask, Smith, Seguin, and RNH will all be drafted in the late rounds, Tavares will go at pick 29, and Rinne at #38, so any one who would normally be drafted after them will slide up in the draft order. If my league were to draft in a similar order as the mock draft averages where he's going around #21, he would go around pick 14 at the latest in my league. Wow.

I think my league will be much less high on Hartnell than the averages you cite, but now I see your points that even if my competitors aim for him at DOUBLE that draft position at #42, once you slide down the 10-12 guys above Hartnell's still a bargain, or at worst a fine pick with the advantage of knowing I don't return from Mexico to find I have no LW on my team.

Thanks for helping me noodle that out, all.

[DerekReese]

I would keep both Hartnell and Kovy.

[Hey Robbie]

I prefer keeping Hartnell.

Hartnell should own Kovalchuk in two categories: PIM & +/-
I think that is significant and gets lost on us all every year.

True, but Kovalchuk will significantly best Hartnell in SOG and power play points, the hardest category to fill, I find.

FHG has Kovalchuk ranked higher with my projections, but I agree that the difference is not worth the 20 (probably equivalent to 21-23 because of keepers) or so draft spots between them.