A quick skinny was needed here from our Class of 2009. Some of these definitely missed….and badly we may add but some hit big time. That is the nature of the beast. We will be looking back very soon at some of the past posts here.
(Maybe AO is still #1? Interesting.
Our Four Dirty Dozen!!!!!
1. Alex Ovechkin: It would be dumb not to have AO first…the 528 shots is a dead give away and considering he is projected around 110-115 points this year…I am apt to take him #1 by just a little.
2. Evgeni Malkin: Expect Malkin to do about the same as last year…he does not need much help and has an all around game right up there with AO…just does not get the SOG…the only real difference.
3. Sidney Crosby: As good as Crosby is…he has a tendency to get banged up a bit….somewhere around 100-105 points is likely…maybe a hair more depending on health. Bottom line is until he develops a better shot from distance….teams will hit him more near the crease.
4. Ryan Getzlaf: With Bobby Ryan and Corey Perry on his side….100 points is possible…honest.
5. Zach Parise: Parise can produce his own offense as evidenced from last year. He is going to change Lemaire’s thinking one way or the other. Plays hard both ways and should have been nominated for the Hart. Last year was no fluke.
6. Pavel Datsyuk: Datsyuk has to step up after disaster of a playoffs. This will be his chance to prove he can still produce like the elite.
7. Mike Green: He is scary good on this team. Perfect rover player that is even better than Sandis Ozolinsh in his heyday. Could produce 90 points and a ton of shots for Washington this year.
8. Ilya Kovalchuk: Team was over .500 when he was named captain and his point production went up. Nik Antropov will be a nice fit for Kovalchuk. 90-95 points possible.
9. Jarome Iginla: Him and Jokinen will light it up with a rejuvenated Phaneuf and new guy Jay Bouwmeester on the blueline. Teams will have to concentrate on other targets and that will help Iginla.
10. Alexander Semin: The potential is there but will the health be…a bit of a risk late in the first round but his numbers are on the mark if healthy.
11. Joe Thorton: Jumbo Joe still got it going on….still a late first round pick but might be his last year that high.
12. Martin Brodeur: Still the best fantasy goalie out there and no there is no injury risk. Last year’s injury was a fluke.
13. Roberto Luongo: Shutouts may suffer a bit if Vancouver plays a little more wide open and frankly it needs to in the West.
14. Marc Savard: Savard is scary good and will break the 90 point barrier this year. Just think of what he can do on that PP unit.
15. Jeff Carter: A 40-45 goal season we expect and at least 85 points for the talented sniper.
16. Henrik Lundqvist: There is a good chance he will win the Vezina this year.
17. Henrik Zetterberg: Fell of the radar a bit…..but can still produce at Datsyuk level.
18. Evgeni Nabokov: High win total…very high….but save % may be so-so. That GAA too good to pass up.
19. Mike Richards: SCARY is what one GM called him. Imagine if he had a dynamic playmaker with him.
20. Bobby Ryan: Should have won the Calder last year. The sky is the limit for this player and he nearly cracks the top 20. He may be top 10 or 15 at season’s end.
21. Vincent Lecavalier: Not quite as keen on Vincent as most but he will bounce back to around a point a game.
22. Niklas Backstrom: Has the potential to reach 70 assists if his linemates stay clicking. He could hit 90 points no question.
23. Mike Cammalleri: Gomez and Rolston with him will make for lightning but streaky like production….enough to put him late in the 2nd round however.
24. Niklas Backstrom: GAA goes up a bit but wins may go up too. A stud goalie who was Vezina nominated last year.
25. Nicklas Lidstrom: His last year likely as a top elite fantasy d-man. Still what a career!!!!
26. Corey Perry: Perry is gritty but can put points up. That Ryan-Getzlaf-Perry line is frightening for defenses everywhere.
27. Steve Mason: I dropped Mason a bit only because of the sophomore jinx and other players will be better after disappointing years. Watch for injury bug….be careful.
28. Rick Nash: Big money comes with big expectations. Time to shine Rick.
29. Henrik Sedin: The twins will both get about 80 points…Henrik a hair more points.
30. Daniel Sedin: Just give him his 80 points and be done with it.
31. Dan Boyle: Running San Jose’s power play means lots of point opportunities with that offense even without Thornton if he is traded.
32. Marc-Andre Fleury: Fleury is what he is. A goalie who can be brilliant and awful all in the same game. He can put streaks together but he is just that…streaky. Still a solid 2nd goalie for most fantasy teams.
33. Ryan Miller: The injury concerns bother me a bit because when you are tall and weight maybe a buck 70 soaking wet….the numbers can take a bit of a backseat.
34. Jason Spezza: Spezza was down a bit but up he comes again this year without actually having to worry about being traded.
35. Eric Staal: Key year for Staal…..blueliners are there so he can worry more about scoring than years past.
36. Tim Thomas: He proved his worth now he has to earn his keep….err higher salary.
37. Patrick Kane: Bit of a tough sophomore year for Kane, but I’m still buying considering his level of talent and youth.
38. Alex Kovalev: The enigma usually kicks in on the first year of a contract…with who is playing with him….don’t be surprised to see crooked numbers on the PP again.
39. Pekka Rinne: Too good and I think he will fly under the radar a bit still with bigger names still more recognizable.
40. Phil Kessel: Where he goes will not impact his production….expect an up tick just a bit. Breakout potential but has to get head screwed on right!
41. Thomas Vanek: Vanek was a bit Jekyll and Hyde last year with goals and assists…he will be more even keeled this year.
42. Danny Heatley: Will still get near 40 goals but I think will score more after he is traded before the trade deadline.
43. Shea Weber: Weber is a poor man’s Mike Green….has the talent to be a major force….just needs a little more supplemental offensive oomph from his teammates.
44. Andrei Markov: Markov has the chance to hit 65 points with that first PP unit that Montreal possesses. Scary potential.
45. Marian Gaborik: Its risk/reward with Gaborik. Point per game if healthy….a oh crap he’s on the IR again if not.
46. Martin St. Louis: Will stay the same or go down slightly but still dangerous on the power play and from anywhere on the ice.
47. Martin Havlat: A gamble worth taking in Minnesota with a higher tempo. He will be featured more especially on the man advantage.
48. Marian Hossa: Will produce nicely but missing significant time early will hurt his chances at a first round pick. He will drop to a late 4th or even 5th round pick…maybe more depending on your league.
