PICK 2: Johnny Gaudreau or Mika Zibanejad / Wright or Slafkovsky

[chorndawg]

​Hey guys,

So I pick at #2 in my fantasy league, and I was looking for some opinions on who to take. I play in a 20 team keeper league where RFA expiry is protected, but UFA expiry players join the draft class, and import players (NCAA, etc.), to make up our draft pool. It is a points league.

Barkov - Taken #1.

Gaudreau: W : 203.75 pts - 2028-2029
Zibanejad: C: 179.55 pts - 2029-2030

Alternatively, I could go for a younger player.

Wright
Slafkovsky
Johnson
Beniers
Power
Askarov
Wallstedt


I would appreciate your opinions on who the best choice would be at #2, the additional information will be about my current roster composition.

Player

C

Nick Suzuki - UFA - 29-30

Trevor Zegras - RFA- 2022-23

Ryan Nugent Hopkins - UFA - 28-29

W

Andrei Svechnikov - UFA - 28-29

Karill Kaprizov - UFA - 25-26

Mathew Tkachuk- UFA - 29-30

Brock Boeser- UFA - 24-25

Taylor Hall - UFA - 24-25

Kaapo Kakko - RFA - 23-24

U

D

Cale Makar- UFA - 26-27

Moritz Sieder- RFA - 23-24

Evan Bouchard - RFA - 22-23

Sam Girard - UFA - 26-27

Erik Karlsson - UFA - 26-27

G

BN

Jesse Puljujarvi - RFA - 22-23

Jake Debrusk - UFA - 23-24

Kailer Yamamoto - RFA - 24-25

Scott Perunovich - RFA - 22-23

NA

Lucas Dostal - RFA - 22-23

Jack Quinn - RFA -24-25

If you've made it this far thank you :)

[Belexus75]

im not 100% sure i understand your set up, however i dont think there is league in the world where i take the 2022 class over those 2 proven guys.

I also think that JG production will drop a bit so Zib may end up with more points. But i would base my selection on do you need a W or a C.

[Feenom]

Yes depending on your need, but it’s hard for me to pass on Ziba.

[Bubba55]

The bottom line here is forget about the rookies, this is about Johnny Hockey or Zibs. In a points only, give me Gaudreau. Dobber's projections, Guadreau 102 pts, Zibs 74. Quite a difference. Dobber will have to have completely whiffed on both these guys if Zibs is the better choice. Maybe, but I'll take my chances with Johnny.

[stevegamer]

I agree with the others, you pick one of the 2 vets.

Format matters here, and not just scoring, but how many you start, since both wings are combined. I'd lean Gaudreau, but it may be close if you look back to a 3 year average.

[chorndawg]

The bottom line here is forget about the rookies, this is about Johnny Hockey or Zibs. In a points only, give me Gaudreau. Dobber's projections, Guadreau 102 pts, Zibs 74. Quite a difference. Dobber will have to have completely whiffed on both these guys if Zibs is the better choice. Maybe, but I'll take my chances with Johnny.

Do you think Johnny will be able to perform as well without a high end C on his line? I could see a scenario where he goes off with Laine on the far wing, but i'm nervous about him playing with Jenner.

[chorndawg]

That makes sense. I'm considering who they play with and I think Zib might be the better option. The Rangers have more line combinations where Zib would be effective. Also Panarin > Laine. And although it could work out, if Gaudreau and Laine don't mesh I'm not sure what other options they've got.