Your 2014/2015 first round picks

[tomastop]

I know it's still too early, but just for fun - who are your first-rounders for the next season?

Let's say it's a 12 team one-year league. I don't think settings and categories matter that much, as even in multi-cat you probably want to draft your elite point scorers first (you wouldn't pick Backes ahead of Tavares). And because there are different goalie strategies, let's leave goalies out of these ranks.

I guess Crosby, Stamkos, Malkin, Ovechkin and Tavares make everyones list, but who's next? Giroux, P.Kane maybe? Getzlaf, Toews, Perry, Kessel? And I'd finish my top12 with the only D-man I'd build my team around- E.Karlsson.

2nd round depends more on the specific league's settings, but mine would include T.Hall, Seguin, Benn, Backstrom, E.Staal, Kopitar, Duchene, PK Subban... (a year ago I'd definitely add R.Nash here)

[newfcollins]

The problem is, settings and categories do matter a lot, especially after the top five. If faceoffs wins are included, as an example, then Giroux, Toews and Kopitar get a huge boost. If you include shots, then Perry, Benn and Seguin get a boost.

[tomastop]

I agree 100%! That's why I didn't rank the players. Even in the top 5, after Crosby I'd have to see the specific league to decide who to rank as nr.2,3... And I understand you can't make a top 12 that fits every setup. It's more who you'd be comfortable with as your 1st round pick in "most" formats. More of a game than anything else.

(And of course, you can't exclude goalies from the 1st round either. I'm sure Rask, Lundy and others will go early in most leagues.)

[StaveOffElimination]

My first 12 picks: Crosby, Ovechkin, Stamkos, Tavares, Malkin, Giroux, Kessel, Perry, Hall, Karlsson, Rask, Lundqvist.

[doulos]

Hall, Duchene, Giroux - all get bumped up a bit this year for me.

[Shoeless]

I think you have them covered - Seguin likely deserves consideration and Duchene is creeping.

[pmorrow]

1. Crosby
2. Stamkos
3. Malkin
T4. Ovechkin
T4. Tavares
6. Rask
7. Giroux
8. P. Kane
9. Price
10. Lundqvist
11. Perry
12. Getzlaf

something like that.

[sharpp87]

Points only ( I only do that )

My top 12

Crosby
Stamkos
Malkin
Tavares
Giroux
Ovechkin
Kessel
Kane
Getzlaf
Hall
Seguin
Perry

I never take a D in first round unless i'm position 10th to 12th... So I know I have a solid F 2-3-4 picks after. So i'd rank Karlsson 10th to 12th.

[habs7079]

In loose order:

Crosby
Stamkos
Ovechkin
Giroux
Malkin
Tavares
Hall
Kessel
Kane
Seguin
Karlsson
Rask/Getzlaf
Lundqvist/Perry

In PIM leagues, Perry makes first round. In 12 team leagues where 40+% of roto cats are goalie stats and/or use ratios instead of cumulative stats, then Rask/Lundqvist make it over Getzlaf. I'd be cautious with ranking Perry/Getzlaf too high this season. Here are Anaheim's team 5on5 Sh% over the past five seasons: 8.23, 7.79, 7.99, 8.59, 9.83. Anaheim's 9.83 Sh% this past season is the second highest team shooting percentage overall since 2007-08 (not including the lockout shortened season). Hard to believe the goals will roll in as easily this time around.

Worth considering that over the past three seasons Claude Giroux leads the league in points (227 pts) and is fourth in points per game (1.10). The elite-level goal scoring isn't there, but he has been consistently underrated the past few seasons. Tavares may have more upside potential, but proven and bankable elite point production should not be discounted.

I think its hard to leave Karlsson off a first round list in most 12 team formats. Karlsson is the only reliable 60+ pt D currently in the league. Outside of the top 2 or 3 forwards in a given season, no player will give you a better point differential relative to the other players in their position than Karlsson. He will net you 10-20 pts over the next group of D below him, which you won't even get with 80-90 pt guys like Kessel, Kane, and Getzlaf compared to the next tier down of 70-80 pt forwards.

[LawMan]

For my league in signature. In the first 2 rounds I want G, PPP and P in that order. Goalies do not have 1st round value.
1. Crosby
2. Stamkos
3. Ovechkin
4. Malkin
5. Tavares
6. Giroux
those 6 are locked in my mind. Next 6 are much closer but I vote:
7. Perry
8. Seguin
9. Kane
10. Kessel
11. Getzlaf
12. Pavelski

[Pengwin7]

For my league in signature. In the first 2 rounds I want G, PPP and P in that order. Goalies do not have 1st round value.
1. Crosby
2. Stamkos
3. Ovechkin
4. Malkin
5. Tavares
6. Giroux
those 6 are locked in my mind. Next 6 are much closer but I vote:
7. Perry
8. Seguin
9. Kane
10. Kessel
11. Getzlaf
12. Pavelski

That's a pretty solid list.
I agree... the top six have formed their own little elite group.

[ztking]

For my league in signature. In the first 2 rounds I want G, PPP and P in that order. Goalies do not have 1st round value.
1. Crosby
2. Stamkos
3. Ovechkin
4. Malkin
5. Tavares
6. Giroux
those 6 are locked in my mind. Next 6 are much closer but I vote:
7. Perry
8. Seguin
9. Kane
10. Kessel
11. Getzlaf
12. Pavelski

I like everything except Pavelski. No way he replicates last year or should even be in top 20 in my opinion. I'd feel much more comfortable with a Hall or Benn, Rask, Price or Lundqvist, or Karlsson.

[pmorrow]

Redoing my list after some thought and taking out the goalies as I didn't see that they weren't to be included.

1. Crosby
2. Stamkos
3. Malkin
4. Tavares
5. Ovechkin
6. Giroux
7. P. Kane
8. Perry
9. Getzlaf
10. Backstrom
11. Toews
12. Seguin

[dooley89]

For my league in signature. In the first 2 rounds I want G, PPP and P in that order. Goalies do not have 1st round value.
1. Crosby
2. Stamkos
3. Ovechkin
4. Malkin
5. Tavares
6. Giroux
those 6 are locked in my mind.

I agree with you!
I would have those guys in the top 6 and moved around depending on settings, same goes for the next 5-6 guys.
For me, in my SOG and HIT league, Ovechkin is #1 and it's not even close, in fact - perry is also on my team and better than the other 5 in that top 6.
Unanimous top 6 though imo!

[2014olympicgold]

Top 6 fluctuate depending on the personal preference of a GM.
1-6
Crosby, Stamkos, Malkin, Ovi, Giroux, Tavares.
7-10
Karlsson, Perry, Rask, Lunqvist
11-15
Kane, Kessel, Seguin, Benn, Getz
16-20
Hall, Toews, Backstrom, Kopitar, Price