Injuries do happen and now our final part as we introduce our “Trail Of Tiers”.
Always in the beginning, there will be bumps and setbacks. Tier systems are often complicated to a point but eliminates this inherent need to always rank players. Drafts that fantasy GM’s are embroiled in should worry less about player rankings and more about what they see. Tiers reflect broader categories that indicate a player’s true value instead of perceived value.
Sure players can unexpectedly break out and we will always reflect those higher upsides but sometimes no one can see those coming. This is an inexact science and that cannot be emphasized enough. It is why we go out of our way for readers and listeners. Going the extra mile is a must for any fantasy hockey site period. If they do not, they do not deserve your time. We also do not charge for our services because there is no need to.
The tiered system we offer you in subsequent weeks will be very simplistic and yet will include forwards, defensemen, and goaltenders. There will be a mix as well. Some tiers will group all the positions together and some will not. It is a very fluid process. Again the goal is to give hockey and fantasy hockey people access to not only what we are thinking but an idea of what to do in a Plan B or C scenario as opposed to the normal Plan A. As everyone knows, Plan A rarely ever pans out in fantasy drafts unless you are extremely fortuitous.
First and foremost, the biggest issue in fantasy circles has been and continues to be just where to draft Sidney Crosby. Crosby suffered a second concussion on January 5th against Tampa Bay after a hit by Viktor Hedman. As everyone knows, the first concussion was at the hands of David Steckel. So what tier would Crosby be placed in? This is an excellent question.
One of the first tiers created and will be expounded on next week more than likely will be players that have suffered significant injury and are on their way back or are they. For example, here is the latest on Crosby and something we have touched on for the past month or two with him. Thanks to Chris Johnston from CP:
“@reporterchris: The local CTV station in Halifax is reporting that Sidney Crosby is unlikely to be ready for the start of #pens camp.”
There you have it. He is not going to be ready for camp more than likely. It is truly a sad day anyway you hear something this official because to be honest the writing was on the wall. Most keeper leagues still have Crosby as your #1 pick or at the very worst second or third. However, in one year leagues, GM’s are clearly very hesitant on what to do. There will be more on that next week. Clearly in said keeper and dynasty leagues, see if you have an IR or LTIR and use it by all means.
Contrast that with a guy like Jonas Hiller. Hiller appears 100% and ready to go after suffering from vertigo symptoms for months. This much can be said. When the Swiss report came out suggesting he was not 100% yet, a few definitely were stunned. But if you delved into that report, one quickly realized it was not time sensitive. Basically it was several weeks old. Again it was a case where some media were putting out a story to just put it out there even if it was late. That is where it becomes hard to gauge some of these players that are trying to come back from long term injuries or have awhile to go yet.
So our tiers will be simple. We will list the players in no particular order and then expound on why Player X ended up in that tier. Sure there will be debate but at this juncture, information is of the essence as well as potential draft position as opposed to he is the 3rd best forward or the sixth best defensemen. Every draft is different which is why tiers can make life easier. This will offer that Plan B or C that most do not include.
Players on the mend will be our first tier coming out next Monday. Basically everyone has been warned and yes we will include guys that obviously are nowhere near ready or not coming back this year at all like Marc Savard. Hopefully this will be a better way of making people aware and then they we will try to project what to expect if and when they come back.
Finally, we do want to thank so many fantasy experts for all their help in this endeavor. Really there are too many to thank. See you next week and let the debating begin in earnest.
