Fantasy MVP TEAM (1st Quarter)

[artvandelay]

MVP Fantasy Hockey (1st Quarter)

As we reach the quarter pole of the fantasy hockey season I thought it would be a good idea to take a look at some of the most valuable performers at their respective positions. The criteria here is players that are outperforming beyond there preseason expectations. I mean we all expect to see Daniel Sedin's name near or around the scoring lead so I am neglecting those types. (Also, keep in mind this is a point-only League perspective)

Lets begin between the pipes where it is one of the most volatile positions.

Kari Lehtonen: (11-3-0, 2.47 GAA, .925 Save %)

To this point one of the clear-cut suprises of the season have been the Dallas Stars. Many before the season did not even see them as a playoff team. But, led by there masked man Kari has been nothing short of spectacular. Take away his 6-0 loss to the Panther on Tuesday and his numbers would be that much more impressive. Continued success will certainly lead to a Vezina nomination.

Honourable Mentions: Quick (8-4-3, 1.89 GAA, .934%), Elliott (7-1-0, 1.43 GAA, .947%) , Khabibulin (7-2-2, 1.54 GAA, .945%) , M. Smith (8-2-3, 2.19 GAA, .933%)

Defence:

Brian Campbell (1-16-17, +6, 11 PPP)

Known as Soupy to his teammates, Campbell has been nothing short of a points Nazi so far. In fact he is tied for the league lead in points with 17 in 17 games. Not to mention he has been an impressive +6 on a quickly rising Florida Panthers team. One caveat for Roto players, 0 Pims.

Sheldon Souray (4-9-13, +8, 4 PPP, 33 PIMs)

Back In 2006 when Justin Timberlake was bringing 'SexyBack', Souray was leading an explosive Habs powerplay with a league leading 64pts. Fast forward 5 years and the Stars were hoping to bring 'SourayBack'. Never did they or fantasy owners alike expect the kind of production they are getting from Sheldon. Enjoy the ride while Goligoski is out for the next 4 weeks.

Honourable Mentions: Karlsson (1-16-17, 9 PPP), Kulikov (1-12-13, 4 PPP, +4), Wideman (3-9-12, 5 PPP)

Left Wingers:

James Neal (12-8-20, 9 PPP, 2 GWG)

When Neal first arrived in Pittsburgh many labelled him as a 35 goal , 70 point guy. We were salivating at the thought of him playing next to either Crosby or Malkin. But, when he had only 1 goal and 6 points in a Penguins uniform our perceptions quickly changed on Fantasy Draft Day. Well, 18 games into the season he has been one of the NHL's pleasant surprises. Neal owners cant wait for the arrival of Crosby. There power play should become one of the best in the league.

Honourable Mentions: Fleischmann (7-10-17, +13), Lupul (10-9-19, +7), R. Smyth (10-7-17, 2 GWG)

Centres:

Tyler Seguin (11-9-20, +15, 4 PPP)

No doubt about it one of the more surprsing players this year has been Tyler Seguin. I mean we all knew he had superstar written all over him the day he was drafted. But, no one really expected to arrive on the scene this soon. Highlighted by a hat trick on HNIC at the Air Canada Centre, Seguin has quickly established himself as a dominant scoring threat. To this point in the season he has already matched his goal total of a year ago and is only 2 points short of last years totals.

Honourable mentions: Legwand (5-9-14, +5, 5 PPP), Benn (5-14-19, 7 PPP, 2 GWG), Pavelski (9-8-17 +5)

Right Wingers:

Jason Pominville (7-15-22, +2, 9 PPP)

Before the season started not many would have believed Pominville would be ahead of Iginla, St. Louis, Perry, and Carter with respect to point totals. But, that is exactly where he stands. Pominville quickly forged an instant chemistry with Sabre veteran Thomas Vanek and rookie Luke Adam to start the season.

Honorable mentions: Kessel (13-12-25, 3 GWG), Hossa (8-13-21, +14), Versteeg (9-11-20, +11)

Kudos to all of you that have taken a risk on these players and best of luck the rest of the way!!

2011 1st Quarter MVP Team

Goalies

Lehtonen
M.Smith
Khabibulin

Defenceman

Campbell - Karlsson
Edler - Andre-Bergeron
Souray - Quincey

Forwards

Vanek - Giroux - Pominville
J. Neal - Benn - Kessel
Fleischmann -Seguin - Versteeg
Michalek - Legwand - Lupul

[notoriousjim]

Karlsson is a big minus this season, and has been for his career. i own him and it is frustrating to get all of those points and lose out on +/- every week from him. He was also a higher pick in most leagues so 50points was where everyone expected him to land.

[Princeton]

Cool thread:

As for Karlsson. He is gold in my league where +/- isn't used because it is more of a team stat. (which is the way I think it should be).

Also I would like to submit:

Jason Garrison
Corey Potter
Steve Montador
Craig Smith

[Czechline]

Of course anything can be debated, but I think this is a nice solid post allround.

[jeffl97]

kris versteeg

[Pengwin7]

Karlsson is a big minus this season, and has been for his career. i own him and it is frustrating to get all of those points and lose out on +/- every week from him.

You should get rid of him then.
I mean that -3... what a killer... that's -1 for each H2H week that's gone by.
Those three straight weeks where you lost +/- by -1... all Karlsson's fault... terrible.

{This first paragraph is smothered with sarcasm, for the record}

Onto the stats:
17pts, tied for 1st among defensemen.
9PPP, tied for 3rd among defensemen.
And with 16 PIM, that's the most of the 5 defensemen with 14+ points.

Oh... and one more thing... 65 SOG.
Tied with Byfuglien for 1st among defensemen.
And Karlsson & Buff are well ahead of 3rd place with only 53 SOG.
http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/stats/by...fied=1&sort=11

Karlsson has been dynamite this year in H2H multi-cat.
Definitely deserves a spot on the all-star 1/4 team.

[keytolife]

The fellow German( a.k.a me) on this message board wants to know what the heck is a point Nazi?

[artvandelay]

The fellow German( a.k.a me) on this message board wants to know what the heck is a point Nazi?

Hmmmm....soup nazi....point nazi...how do I explain, someone that hogs all of the points maybe. Campbell seems to be doing a good job at that. By the way I read your Panther thread, amazing work. I have Huberdeau in a keeper, where do you see him fitting in next year??

[keytolife]

Hmmmm....soup nazi....point nazi...how do I explain, someone that hogs all of the points maybe. Campbell seems to be doing a good job at that. By the way I read your Panther thread, amazing work. I have Huberdeau in a keeper, where do you see him fitting in next year??

Ah didn´t knew this was a term in the english language never heard it. But well i´m no native speaker.

Great that you are reading About Hubs, this depends a lot how the season moves on. Tallon promised to bring in an elite winger next season. So what i could see is a move for Flash to line two, since he is creative on his own.

Making the top 6 look like that:

New Winger- Weiss- Versteeg
Flash - Santorelli - Huberdeau

But better ask me again when the offseason is done. He certainly will be in the top 6. He was already the best forward in the preseason by miles.

[Princeton]

Ah didn´t knew this was a term in the english language never heard it. But well i´m no native speaker.

Great that you are reading About Hubs, this depends a lot how the season moves on. Tallon promised to bring in an elite winger next season. So what i could see is a move for Flash to line two, since he is creative on his own.

Making the top 6 look like that:

New Winger- Weiss- Versteeg
Flash - Santorelli - Huberdeau

But better ask me again when the offseason is done. He certainly will be in the top 6. He was already the best forward in the preseason by miles.

Isn't Huberdeau a true center?

[keytolife]

Isn't Huberdeau a true center?

He is but he has played quite some time on the wings in the presasons. Tallon stated he needs to earn his C spot first and will have looks at the wing early on.