Fantasy Top 50
Posted 5:27 PM ET | Comments 0
I absolutely cannot wait for the NHL season to start, and I just might be more excited to draft some fantasy teams. October 4th cannot come soon enough, school is boring during the week nights and homework is just lame, I need the center ice package to deliver me from boredom. I decided to complete a "big board" type of list for a blog on hockeybuzz that I would like to make changes too and post weekly. I think this site has a lot of good readers with some great hockey minds and a top 50 list seems like a great way to get some intelligent feed back and opinions from my fellow readers. I do not mind criticism as I would like the list to create discussion. You will notice however that I am not big on goaltenders because most of the leagues I participate in do not have a heavy emphasis on them, I like leagues that focus more on offense but goaltenders are important so I will probably have a few in there.
1. Alex Ovechkin- Obvious first pick.
2. Sidney Crosby- The kid is 2nd even though I believe he will outscore AO.
3. Jarome Iginla- Pure goal scorer.
4. Henrik Zetterberg- improving numbers each year and no reason to think he won't do it again.
5.Joe Thornton- Big Joe is the leagues best assist man.
6.Evgeni Malkin- I am expecting his numbers to slightly drop with Sid as the top center.
7.Ilya Kovalchuk- scored more then 50 last year, team surroundings are questionable.
8.Dany Heatley- Ottawa big 3 will have a big year.
9.Nicklas Lidstrom- Best defenseman in NHL and in fantasy.
10.Pavel Datsyuk- 3 wings in the top ten not including Hossa.
11.Daniel Alfredsson- see Heatley.
12.Marian Hossa- I think the Wings will repeat championship.
13.Martin Brodeur- guranteed 30+ wins.
14.Dion Phaneuf- young buck is sick nasty.
15.Vincent Lecavalier- Great supporting cast should supply some nice numbers.
16.Olli Jokinen- Phoenix PP should mean Jokinen goals.
17.Marian Gaborik- if Healthy for 2nd straight year could score 60 goals.
18.Rick Nash- Umberger is not the answer IMO but Nash will still produce.
19.Mike Richards- This guy is big time.
20.Evgeni Nabakov- 2 tenders in the top 20.
21.Martin St. Louis- see Lecavalier.
22. Jason Spezza- see Heatley/Alfredsson.
23.Sergei Gonchar- Pitt's PP qb will benefit from healthy Sid.
24.Marc Savard- The poor man's Joe Thornton.
25.Shane Doan- I am feelin' Phoenix.
26.Zdeno Chara- BIIIIG.
27.Alexei Kovalev- Coulda been higher but I'm expectin his numbers to drop slightly.
28.Ryan Getzlaf- Ana offense will rely on him.
29.Brian Campbell- Chicago is good and young.
30.Brian Rafalski- Wings have brought out the best in him.
31.Brendan Morrow- props for grittiness.
32.Roberto Luongo- will start 70+ games.
33. Daniel Briere- Bounce back.
34.Corey Perry- New contract brings some pressure.
35.Henrik Lundqvist- He is just good.
36.Daniel Sedin- Twins will need to score for Van.
37.Paul Stasny- Needs to be healthy, could move up.
38.Chris Pronger- PIMs and points are attractive.
39.Patrick Kane- I expect him to climb the list.
40. Anze Kopitar- LA needs a captain might be a good time to step up.
41.Thomas Vanek- strong finish last year.
42. Teemu Selanne- In MTL or ANA he can help you and will sign somewhere.
43.Mats Sundin- If he was not a UFA would be way up but the chance of retiring makes me not want to draft him just yet.
44.Mike Green- Wash will score plenty of times and he will be in on alot of em.
45.Jonathon Toews- Him and Kane will be fun to watch as sophs.
46.Dan Boyle- plus/minus is painfule but he can put the biscuit in the basket.
47.Nikolai Zherdev- This kid can do amazing things.
48.Andrei Markov- 3rd in D scoring last year and still gets overlooked.
49.Ales Hemsky- Love this guy.
50. Henrik Sedin- see twin brother Daniel.
Honorable Mention- Tomas Kaberle, Ed Jovanovski, Jason Arnott, Chris Osgood, Carey Price, Thomas Holmstrom, Nicklas Kronwall, Scott Niedermayer, Jason Pominville, Phillipe Boucher, Shawn Horcoff, Nicklas Backstrom(s), Marcus Naslund, Alexander Frolov.
Bold Prediction- Patrice Bergeron will crack the top 50 before December.
1. Alex Ovechkin- Obvious first pick.
2. Sidney Crosby- The kid is 2nd even though I believe he will outscore AO.
3. Jarome Iginla- Pure goal scorer.
4. Henrik Zetterberg- improving numbers each year and no reason to think he won't do it again.
5.Joe Thornton- Big Joe is the leagues best assist man.
6.Evgeni Malkin- I am expecting his numbers to slightly drop with Sid as the top center.
7.Ilya Kovalchuk- scored more then 50 last year, team surroundings are questionable.
8.Dany Heatley- Ottawa big 3 will have a big year.
9.Nicklas Lidstrom- Best defenseman in NHL and in fantasy.
10.Pavel Datsyuk- 3 wings in the top ten not including Hossa.
11.Daniel Alfredsson- see Heatley.
12.Marian Hossa- I think the Wings will repeat championship.
13.Martin Brodeur- guranteed 30+ wins.
14.Dion Phaneuf- young buck is sick nasty.
15.Vincent Lecavalier- Great supporting cast should supply some nice numbers.
16.Olli Jokinen- Phoenix PP should mean Jokinen goals.
17.Marian Gaborik- if Healthy for 2nd straight year could score 60 goals.
18.Rick Nash- Umberger is not the answer IMO but Nash will still produce.
19.Mike Richards- This guy is big time.
20.Evgeni Nabakov- 2 tenders in the top 20.
21.Martin St. Louis- see Lecavalier.
22. Jason Spezza- see Heatley/Alfredsson.
23.Sergei Gonchar- Pitt's PP qb will benefit from healthy Sid.
24.Marc Savard- The poor man's Joe Thornton.
25.Shane Doan- I am feelin' Phoenix.
26.Zdeno Chara- BIIIIG.
27.Alexei Kovalev- Coulda been higher but I'm expectin his numbers to drop slightly.
28.Ryan Getzlaf- Ana offense will rely on him.
29.Brian Campbell- Chicago is good and young.
30.Brian Rafalski- Wings have brought out the best in him.
31.Brendan Morrow- props for grittiness.
32.Roberto Luongo- will start 70+ games.
33. Daniel Briere- Bounce back.
34.Corey Perry- New contract brings some pressure.
35.Henrik Lundqvist- He is just good.
36.Daniel Sedin- Twins will need to score for Van.
37.Paul Stasny- Needs to be healthy, could move up.
38.Chris Pronger- PIMs and points are attractive.
39.Patrick Kane- I expect him to climb the list.
40. Anze Kopitar- LA needs a captain might be a good time to step up.
41.Thomas Vanek- strong finish last year.
42. Teemu Selanne- In MTL or ANA he can help you and will sign somewhere.
43.Mats Sundin- If he was not a UFA would be way up but the chance of retiring makes me not want to draft him just yet.
44.Mike Green- Wash will score plenty of times and he will be in on alot of em.
45.Jonathon Toews- Him and Kane will be fun to watch as sophs.
46.Dan Boyle- plus/minus is painfule but he can put the biscuit in the basket.
47.Nikolai Zherdev- This kid can do amazing things.
48.Andrei Markov- 3rd in D scoring last year and still gets overlooked.
49.Ales Hemsky- Love this guy.
50. Henrik Sedin- see twin brother Daniel.
Honorable Mention- Tomas Kaberle, Ed Jovanovski, Jason Arnott, Chris Osgood, Carey Price, Thomas Holmstrom, Nicklas Kronwall, Scott Niedermayer, Jason Pominville, Phillipe Boucher, Shawn Horcoff, Nicklas Backstrom(s), Marcus Naslund, Alexander Frolov.
Bold Prediction- Patrice Bergeron will crack the top 50 before December.