Hey all,
This is an article I had prepared for the main site, however there has been so much great content of late, that this won't likely be published in time for most drafts. So instead of letting it go to waste, I thought I would share with all of you! So without further adieu, here they are, some sneaky (and not-so-sneaky) players to help win your pool.
Sneaky Players To Help Win Your Pool
By: Cameron Robinson
When I was just a wee lad, it felt like summer could not get here soon enough. Those last few days of school seemed like an eternity. But then something strange happened; as soon as the calendar rolled over to July, it seemed the days went by far too quickly. Where had my summer gone?! September looms and with it, cold weather, alarm clocks and teacher’s dirty looks. However, it didn’t take long for me to heed my Dad’s advice on the matter. See he would always remind me that as summer closed, with it comes the greatest time of year. Fall brings us a brand new chapter for 30 NHL clubs and all their fans; it brings us MLB playoffs, NFL action and even some basketball highlights to fill in the last five minutes of SportsCentre. And for a lucky few of us, fall also brings our Fantasy Drafts.
If you’re anything like me, draft day is the pinnacle of weekend activities. It’s a time when your closest friends (and fantasy enemies) get together from wherever each individual’s lives have taken them, sit down, talk hockey, chat about life, chirp each other and the laughs are endless. It usually culminates with a headache and a greasy diner breakfast, and if I’m lucky I’ll be doing that every year ’til the day I die.
Now what happens between those welcoming high fives and Flo serving that Eggs Benny… is the pudding. If you have serious aspirations of winning, you need a strong draft. Blow your first round pick? You might as well start selling for next year already. Grab a couple absolute steals in the 7th and 8th rounds? Now we’re talking. With that in mind, here are a few sneaky players that can help you win your pool and the gain the respect, envy and glory that you so callously believe you deserve.
The Big Dogs - Players that are already fantasy studs just waiting to enter into that rare air of cornerstone pieces. Draft early or target them in trades. These guys are the real deal.
Kevin Shattenkirk (STL) - This elite producer will go early, but likely won’t have the same draft day juice of his high-producing counterparts (Karlsson, Subban, Burns). He was on a torrid pace last year before popping his groin. A healthy season should see 60-plus points and some serious Norris discussion. He has been the better of the two Blues defensemen when it comes to fantasy, but after this year he’ll be known as a top three D asset.
2015-16 Prediction: 14 goals 48 assists = 62 points
Tyson Barrie (COL) - Just like the advanced stats crowd predicted, Colorado had a down year. You can only survive on high shooting percentages for so long, eventually you’re going to need to possess the puck more than your opponents if you expect to win in the long haul. And lucky for them, Tyson Barrie is just the type of player who loves to hold onto the puck. He posted 53 points last year, so don’t expect him to be around long come draft day, but with an improved offence for the Avs, he could be in line to join the ever-elusive 60 point club.
2015-16 Prediction: 18 goals 40 assists = 58 points
Risers- These players may or may not be owned in your dynasty league, but they’re set to enter into the conversation as top assets. If they are owned, fret not, they would provide excellent targets to trade for, and you’ll get them cheaper than more established stars who will likely end up with similar points by years end.
Sami Vatanen (ANA)- Anaheim is blessed with an abundance of talented young defensemen and Vatanen is the most offensive of the bunch. Despite never hitting the 40 point mark, this gifted Finn is ready to explode onto the fantasy scene. Top PP minutes with Getzlaf and Perry and a healthy season will see him not only summit the 40 mark, but potentially the 50 mark as well.
2015-16 Prediction: 14 goals 34 assists = 48 points
John Klingberg (DAL) - The 23 year old Swede broke out in a big way last season scoring 40 points in 65 games. While the more astute GM’s will be all over this kid as a potential power play beast lining up on a high-octane Dallas squad, he likely won’t be targeted as a top 15 rearguard. Get your hands on him and don’t be surprised when he finishes with 50 points.
2015-16 Prediction: 11 goals 39 assists = 50 points
Fighting for a Chance- These are the players who should be available to draft in your dynasty league and are set to increase their fantasy values - whether thats from irrelevancy to fringe or fringe to impact player. Deep league should take notice.
Calvin de Haan (NYI) - This smooth skating, puck-moving defenseman has had his ups and downs early in his career. Sidelined for the entire 2012-2013 season with an injured shoulder, he is just now starting to scratch the surface of the potential the Isles saw when they drafted 12th overall in 2009. He hasn’t put up big numbers since his days in the OHL, but you could do a lot worse than taking a flyer on him late in the draft. He may very well find himself on the #1 power play with Johnny T as the season goes on.
2015-16 Prediction: 4 goals 27 assists = 31 points
David Rundblad (CHI) - Rundblad is an interesting player; he was regarded extremely high after a sensational 20 year old year in the SHL where he put up 50(!) points in just 55 games. He was moved from STL to Ottawa in what turned out to be the pick that St. Louis used to draft Vladimir Tarasenko (ouch). He has since bounced from Ottawa to Pheonix and finally to Chicago where he impressed in a bottom pairing role last season, scoring 14 points in 49 games. Rundblad is a puck-mover through and through and will have the opportunity to get second power play minutes this season. Chicago is a cap team, and they will need production from players like D.R. At 24 years of age, this could finally be the year that sees him put up fantasy-relevant points.
2015-16 Prediction: 5 goals 26 assists = 31 points
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So there you have it, an old Bauer duffle bag stuffed with players who could make you a Champion. Be sure to take some of these guys under consideration while your League’s Tacois still trying to draft Temmu Selanne in the sixth round. And speaking of Tacos, what a beauty Eddie Lack is!
Happy drafting folks.