Sleepers for 2011-2012

[kenzle1r]

Josh Bailey = 50+ pts (in his 4th season)
Mike Fisher = 50+ pts
Derek Brassard = 55+ pts (has progressed every year and enters his 4th season)
David Perron = 60+ pts
Joffrey Lupul = 60+ pts
Steve Mason = can he get worse?
Rick Dipietro = can he get worse?
Devan Dubnyk = should take over as #1 in EDM
David Runblad = 35+ pts
MA Gragnani = 30+ pts

Tavares = won't be a sleeper but I think he takes a big step this year.

As you can tell I focused on guys from my teams so I hope my estimates aren't just wishful thinking.

[STONE.]

Fleischmann shold be an automatic late round flier pick as playing with Stastny or Duchene and both on PP will get him 70 points at least next year, but long term I expect COL to get something better than him on the wing so he's more a good short term guy than long.

I really hope for a rebound, and think he is a good sleeper -- I just hope he re-signs there. Blood clots = bad luck for the guy in a contract season.

[The Hockey Hitman]

I fully expect a big bounce back season from Paul Stastny.

Also, while there is nothing certain at this point, theres always the chance that Paul Kariya could return to the NHL next season. If he comes back, it'll only be because he feels 100% recovered from post-concussion syndrome and I think he'll make a nice "free" player for those of you in keeper leagues to add.

other sleepers:

Bobby Butler (OTW - RW)
Luke Adam (BUF - C/LW)
Ryan O'Reilly (COL - C)
Lauri Korpikoski (PHX -LW)
Teddy Purcell (TB - RW)
Andrej Sekera (BUF - D)
Justin Faulk (CAR - D)
Matt Martin (NYI - LW) *in leagues w/ PIM + Hits as category, will be very valuable from this point on.

[Shoeless]

Scott Gomez should have a bounce-back season getting back to 40 points and raising his total to 3 successful back-checks.

ROTFL - too funny

[Shoeless]

Well after 2 back to back 57 point seasons... Even if he "only" gets 80points... I would still call that a solid sleeper. I bet he doesnt carry the value of an 80 point player in a lot of leagues right now.

Man, trying to get him in a couple of my leagues and guys still have a hefty price tag on him.

[newfcollins]

Man, trying to get him in a couple of my leagues and guys still have a hefty price tag on him.

Same with Spezza in my league. Most people still think he can get back to 90 points.

I think he tops out at 70 points this year though. He may be skilled, but who's he going to pass the puck to? Michalek? Foligno? Winchester?

Yes, I know all about the youth movement. But once those kids (many from college, who haven't played more than 40 games a season in years), start playing four games in seven nights with NHL guys always hitting them, they'll start to wear down.

[Big Ev]

Same with Spezza in my league. Most people still think he can get back to 90 points.

I think he tops out at 70 points this year though. He may be skilled, but who's he going to pass the puck to? Michalek? Foligno? Winchester?

Yes, I know all about the youth movement. But once those kids (many from college, who haven't played more than 40 games a season in years), start playing four games in seven nights with NHL guys always hitting them, they'll start to wear down.

He scored at a 100-point pace since February, playing with those same guys. I think he elevated their game more than they had an affect on his point totals.

Plus, these "college kids" have played 80+ games this year. I doubt they start wearing down any time soon. Players like that are already more mature and more ready than other rookies coming into the league.

[STONE.]

He scored at a 100-point pace since February, playing with those same guys. I think he elevated their game more than they had an affect on his point totals.

Plus, these "college kids" have played 80+ games this year. I doubt they start wearing down any time soon. Players like that are already more mature and more ready than other rookies coming into the league.

He did the same the year before after a very poor start -- I wonder if it Spezz isn't a guy that you wait until Christmas to make a bid on. Seems to take awhile to get going the last couple years. Maybe he's tired after those long playoff runs...oh wait....

[STONE.]

other sleepers:

Bobby Butler (OTW - RW)
Luke Adam (BUF - C/LW)
Ryan O'Reilly (COL - C)
Lauri Korpikoski (PHX -LW)
Teddy Purcell (TB - RW)
Andrej Sekera (BUF - D)
Justin Faulk (CAR - D)
Matt Martin (NYI - LW) *in leagues w/ PIM + Hits as category, will be very valuable from this point on.

I'm actually thinking Sekera and Purcell might be guys to sell high on. Gragnani is starting to look like he'll fight for PP time with Myers and Rej. If you take away Sekera's run of 10 points in 5 games, he had a pretty piss-poor season.

Purcell has played really well, but I just don't know if he's gonna take another step -- I'd be quick to move him for someone who thinks he's on pace for bigger and better things.

[Big Ev]

He did the same the year before after a very poor start -- I wonder if it Spezz isn't a guy that you wait until Christmas to make a bid on. Seems to take awhile to get going the last couple years. Maybe he's tired after those long playoff runs...oh wait....

I think he'll start strong next season because he has a much bigger role now. He's the guy that will be looked at to lead the team, not Alfredsson anymore. But like I said, I don't see him getting 90..ppg for whatever he plays. I don't consider him a sleeper though, everyone knows who is he is and what he can do.

[BladesOfSteel]

3 young wingers that I will be reaching for in every draft:

James van Riemsdyk
Tyler Ennis
Kyle Okposo

[iamlilc]

Nik Antropov
Mikael Backlund
Brad Boyes
Bobby Butler
Tomas Fleischmann
Sam Gagner
Patric Hornqvist
Marcus Johansson
Kyle Okposo
T.J. Oshie
Mason Raymond
Wayne Simmonds
Jordan Staal
Kyle Turris
Blake Wheeler

[newfcollins]

He scored at a 100-point pace since February, playing with those same guys. I think he elevated their game more than they had an affect on his point totals.

Plus, these "college kids" have played 80+ games this year. I doubt they start wearing down any time soon. Players like that are already more mature and more ready than other rookies coming into the league.

Re: Spezza on the 100-point pace: That's over his last 30 games. His first 30 games, he was on a 54-point pace. What's more believable: Spezza averaging just under a point-per-game average, which he has done the majority of his career? Or Spezza can only get a point-per-game when he's playing with an elite player like Heatley? Heatley has gotten a point-per-game pace in two different places without Spezza, so history is leaning toward the latter.

As for the college kids, yes, they played 80 games this year, and they faded down the stretch. Butler had six points in 16 games in March, as an example. How can Spezza be expected to keep up a point-per-game pace when there is no one else there to help him?

[Big Ev]

Re: Spezza on the 100-point pace: That's over his last 30 games. His first 30 games, he was on a 54-point pace. What's more believable: Spezza averaging just under a point-per-game average, which he has done the majority of his career? Or Spezza can only get a point-per-game when he's playing with an elite player like Heatley? Heatley has gotten a point-per-game pace in two different places without Spezza, so history is leaning toward the latter.

As for the college kids, yes, they played 80 games this year, and they faded down the stretch. Butler had six points in 16 games in March, as an example. How can Spezza be expected to keep up a point-per-game pace when there is no one else there to help him?

In the first 30 games every single player on the team was garbage. Spezza will produce with whoever he plays with...obviously he will never get 100 points. Heatley, on average over the last 2 years, has struggled and is not playing elite hockey. He misses Spezza and you can see it.

Butler is still going strong scoring goals in the AHL playoffs. He was also fantastic in April. He is going to be Spezza's trigger-man most likely.

There will be plenty of support for Spezza and he will produce. I am confident in that. If you put up a 100-point pace in the last 30 games playing with college players and young guys, you can easily put up a point-per-game the next season. He will also score more goals knowing he is the guy to lead his team now.

My prediction is 74 games, 75 points.

[Cloghaun]

my picks-

Derek Stepan 70+

Magnus Paajarvi 60+

Alexander Edler 50+