From 1st to Eliminated - Keeper Advice

[joeb323]

So our playoffs started last week, and after finishing 1st in the regular season (8-2), I was eliminated in the first round by the last place team (1-9) with a bad week. Sucks but what can you do.

Struggling with my top 8 for next year. I'm pretty happy with my top 6, but don't know how to round it out. My locks are:

Kane (114 fantasy points)
Parise (95 fp)
Benn (66 fp)
Neal (100 fp)
Pietrangelo (59 fp)
Lundqvist (127 fp)

Now the last 2 will be among:

Simmonds (90 fp)
Leddy (72 fp)
Wheeler (65 fp)
J. Johnson (45 fp)
Faulk (40 fp)
Fowler (17 fp)

Could use some advice on who they best keepers are of this group.

I was thinking Simmonds and Johnson. Simmonds is in the mix because PIMS are so valuable in my league. But maybe Leddy should be considered over JJ?

[4T2]

Simmonds is a given for sure.

Really tough choice after that but I think I would go with Wheeler. He seems to improve every year.

If you think defencemen are going to be hard to come by in the draft, I could justify taking Leddy instead.

[kevinsrangers]

wthout looking at you fanatsy points listed i like em in this order.

wheeler
simmonds
faulk
leddy

with the fantasy points listed, maybe just take the two highest ranked.

[bondon]

I'd be careful about overvaluing Leddy, because +/- is so volatile and a lot of his points are coming from his +15 rating this year. A year ago he was -12. Maybe he proves me wrong and continues to be a plus player, but I wouldn't keep him based on that valuation.

Simmonds to me is a must-keep. The guy is minus-nine and still your most valuable option other than your must keeps (and has even been better than some of your must keeps).

The second spot becomes a bit murkier. You only start 6 forwards, so keeping a sixth forward seems to cause a bit of an imbalance. Jack Johnson is has been a negative defenseman for almost his whole career (large sample size) which hurts his value, but Columbus seems to be a team on the rise.

If I were you, I'd look to try to make a package deal along the way. If I had to choose two now, i'd go with Simmonds and Johnson.

[rataylor22]

I would also take Simmonds and Wheeler. JJ is nothing special, you can redraft him or get someone similar next year

[Pengwin7]

Simmonds and JJ for me.

[forumname]

Simmonds and Wheeler for me. I don't like putting too much faith in middle of the pack dmen. Too much fluctuation from year to year.

[joeb323]

I'd be careful about overvaluing Leddy, because +/- is so volatile and a lot of his points are coming from his +15 rating this year. A year ago he was -12. Maybe he proves me wrong and continues to be a plus player, but I wouldn't keep him based on that valuation.

Simmonds to me is a must-keep. The guy is minus-nine and still your most valuable option other than your must keeps (and has even been better than some of your must keeps).

The second spot becomes a bit murkier. You only start 6 forwards, so keeping a sixth forward seems to cause a bit of an imbalance. Jack Johnson is has been a negative defenseman for almost his whole career (large sample size) which hurts his value, but Columbus seems to be a team on the rise.

If I were you, I'd look to try to make a package deal along the way. If I had to choose two now, i'd go with Simmonds and Johnson.

This is exactly where my head's at. I feel that Simmonds and Wheeler are probaby my best options, but I don't really want 6 forward keepers and only 1 d-keeper. That's why I'm thinking Simmonds and Johnson for now.

But yeah I agree, hopefully in the off season I can offer a package deal that gives me an upgrade for a good D option.

Thanks everyone for the opinions and advice. I will rep where I can.