NHL 2010-2011 Breakout/sleeper players Part 2
Posted 11:49 AM ET | Comments 0
In part one of my 2010-2011 fantasy report I looked at 10 forwards who'm I expect to breakt out. In this report I will look at 5 Defencemen and 5 Goaltenders Who are expected to produce and break out. I will give an ion depth analysis on every player. Without further ado.
Defencemen:
1. Eric Johnson (St-Louis Blues) Johnson did not play a sinlge game in 08-09 due to a scary golfing incident. Due to this his developpement had a samll speadbumb so instead of having 3 years experience, hes only gotten 2 years. In the 09-10 campaign he had 39 points in 79 games good for a .49ppg which is quite good considering the Blues team had an off year. This year with the Blues expected to rebound in a big way look for Johnson to be a top defencmen this year with a good 50 points.
2. Cam Barker (Minnesota Wild) Barker has had his recent share of struggles. Since being selected 3rd overall he has had one decent season which came in 08-09 when he had 40 points in 68 games but had a plus minus of -6 which is not very good on a strong hawks team. 09-10 was a totally different stroy for Barker he went from those 40 points to a terrible 21 points in 71 games. This year now that he will be a top 2 d-man in Minny and should get 20 mins a game, should see his number a least double. Look for 45 points.
3.P.K Subban (Montreal Canadiens) Subban became a fan favourite from the first moment he touched the puck in a 2 game call up during mid-season. Subban has tremendous skill and showed he's a top notch prospect at the WJC being named top defenceman and a monster rookie season in Hamilton. (18g,35A,53p,77GP) Subban also had a great playoff with Montreal getting 8 points in 14 games. 2010-2011 should be an instant breakout for Subban with Markov out and SUbban expected to fill his shooes. Look for a great debut with 45-50 points.
4. Eric Karlsson (Ottawa Senators) Carlosson was a defint steal for Ottawa. Karlesson is known as an offensive puck moving defencemne and played a key role in his rookie season with 26 points in 60 games. This season with the signing of UFA Sergei Gonchar, Karlesson is expected to be paired with Gonchar on the PP with the likes of Michalek,Kovlev,Spezza,Alfredsson theres bound to be many goals. Expect karlesson to get a good 45 points.
5. Alex Goligoski (Pittsburgh Penguins) Goligoski has always been known as an offensive defenceman, Last season he had 37 points in 69 games, averaging 21:25 min. The only problem was that he was second to Sergei Gonchar. Now with Gonchar gone via UFA to Ottawa Goligoski is now the number 1 go to PP defenceman in Pittsburgh. The point with Crosby and Malkin smells like a breakout 45-50 ponts.
Goaltenders:
1. Jonathan Bernier (Los Angeles Kings) The reigning AHL golatender of the year had a monster season in the AHL going 30-21-6 with a 2.03gaa and a 936% save percentage to go along with 9so. Bernier is expected to challange Quick for the number one job in LA. Nevertheless Bernier should still see lots of action with the kings and have a good 10-15 wins as a backup and around 30-35 as a number one.
2.Mike Smith (Tampa Bay Lightning) Smith had a pretty good rookie season with Dallas posting solid numbers as a rookie(12-5-2 2.23gaa,912%sp,3so) which is why Tampa really wanted him in the Brad Richards deal. Since then however Smith has struggled and dealt with injuries. Now with Dan Ellis pushing to be number one on whats expected to be a much stronger Lightning team, Smith should have a career year with 30 wins.
3.Antero Niittymaki (San Jose Sharks) Nittimaki has always been known as a backup and not a starter. Now that teams have seen what Niemi and Leighton did, teams are now reluctant to shell out big bucks for a golatender. Niittimaki though was one of the few brightspots for the lightning in 09-10 posting a 21-18-5 record with a 2.87gaa and a .909%PCT and 1SO. Now with a very strong Sharks team and Nitty being their number one expect 40 wins and a definit career year.
4.Semyon Varlamov (Washington Capitals) With no Theodore, Varlamov is now the number one in Washington which boast one of the top 3 teams in the NHL. Varlamov posted solid numbers last season going 15-4-6 with a 2.55gaa and a .909%PCT and 2SO. Varlamov grew to fame with his playoff heroics vs the New York Rangers back in 08-09 and is expected to be a huge piece of this capitals team. Expect great numbers with 40 wins.
5. Carey Price (Montreal Canadiens) Price was a victim of stellar play from Playoff hero Halak and fell to the pressure of Montreal fans. Price has a ton of potential and after being chosen 5th overall in 2005 he's expected to deliver. He has shown flashes of brilliance delevering a calder cup in his first AHL season. He then had a strong rookie seaso and great Sophmore first half. The turning point came back in 08-09 when he got injured just before the all star game. Since then his career has been dropping. 09-10 Just seemed to be a terrible season for price even though he posted decent numbers 2.77gaa and 912%PCT the wins weren't coming as he had a record of 13-20-5. TYhis season with no goaltending contreversies i expect price to rebound in a big way and post 30 wins.
In my next blog i shall post 10 sleeper picks along with my 10-11 sleeper team. Fell free to comment/debate/argue! Part 3 should be ready by Sunday max.
Defencemen:
1. Eric Johnson (St-Louis Blues) Johnson did not play a sinlge game in 08-09 due to a scary golfing incident. Due to this his developpement had a samll speadbumb so instead of having 3 years experience, hes only gotten 2 years. In the 09-10 campaign he had 39 points in 79 games good for a .49ppg which is quite good considering the Blues team had an off year. This year with the Blues expected to rebound in a big way look for Johnson to be a top defencmen this year with a good 50 points.
2. Cam Barker (Minnesota Wild) Barker has had his recent share of struggles. Since being selected 3rd overall he has had one decent season which came in 08-09 when he had 40 points in 68 games but had a plus minus of -6 which is not very good on a strong hawks team. 09-10 was a totally different stroy for Barker he went from those 40 points to a terrible 21 points in 71 games. This year now that he will be a top 2 d-man in Minny and should get 20 mins a game, should see his number a least double. Look for 45 points.
3.P.K Subban (Montreal Canadiens) Subban became a fan favourite from the first moment he touched the puck in a 2 game call up during mid-season. Subban has tremendous skill and showed he's a top notch prospect at the WJC being named top defenceman and a monster rookie season in Hamilton. (18g,35A,53p,77GP) Subban also had a great playoff with Montreal getting 8 points in 14 games. 2010-2011 should be an instant breakout for Subban with Markov out and SUbban expected to fill his shooes. Look for a great debut with 45-50 points.
4. Eric Karlsson (Ottawa Senators) Carlosson was a defint steal for Ottawa. Karlesson is known as an offensive puck moving defencemne and played a key role in his rookie season with 26 points in 60 games. This season with the signing of UFA Sergei Gonchar, Karlesson is expected to be paired with Gonchar on the PP with the likes of Michalek,Kovlev,Spezza,Alfredsson theres bound to be many goals. Expect karlesson to get a good 45 points.
5. Alex Goligoski (Pittsburgh Penguins) Goligoski has always been known as an offensive defenceman, Last season he had 37 points in 69 games, averaging 21:25 min. The only problem was that he was second to Sergei Gonchar. Now with Gonchar gone via UFA to Ottawa Goligoski is now the number 1 go to PP defenceman in Pittsburgh. The point with Crosby and Malkin smells like a breakout 45-50 ponts.
Goaltenders:
1. Jonathan Bernier (Los Angeles Kings) The reigning AHL golatender of the year had a monster season in the AHL going 30-21-6 with a 2.03gaa and a 936% save percentage to go along with 9so. Bernier is expected to challange Quick for the number one job in LA. Nevertheless Bernier should still see lots of action with the kings and have a good 10-15 wins as a backup and around 30-35 as a number one.
2.Mike Smith (Tampa Bay Lightning) Smith had a pretty good rookie season with Dallas posting solid numbers as a rookie(12-5-2 2.23gaa,912%sp,3so) which is why Tampa really wanted him in the Brad Richards deal. Since then however Smith has struggled and dealt with injuries. Now with Dan Ellis pushing to be number one on whats expected to be a much stronger Lightning team, Smith should have a career year with 30 wins.
3.Antero Niittymaki (San Jose Sharks) Nittimaki has always been known as a backup and not a starter. Now that teams have seen what Niemi and Leighton did, teams are now reluctant to shell out big bucks for a golatender. Niittimaki though was one of the few brightspots for the lightning in 09-10 posting a 21-18-5 record with a 2.87gaa and a .909%PCT and 1SO. Now with a very strong Sharks team and Nitty being their number one expect 40 wins and a definit career year.
4.Semyon Varlamov (Washington Capitals) With no Theodore, Varlamov is now the number one in Washington which boast one of the top 3 teams in the NHL. Varlamov posted solid numbers last season going 15-4-6 with a 2.55gaa and a .909%PCT and 2SO. Varlamov grew to fame with his playoff heroics vs the New York Rangers back in 08-09 and is expected to be a huge piece of this capitals team. Expect great numbers with 40 wins.
5. Carey Price (Montreal Canadiens) Price was a victim of stellar play from Playoff hero Halak and fell to the pressure of Montreal fans. Price has a ton of potential and after being chosen 5th overall in 2005 he's expected to deliver. He has shown flashes of brilliance delevering a calder cup in his first AHL season. He then had a strong rookie seaso and great Sophmore first half. The turning point came back in 08-09 when he got injured just before the all star game. Since then his career has been dropping. 09-10 Just seemed to be a terrible season for price even though he posted decent numbers 2.77gaa and 912%PCT the wins weren't coming as he had a record of 13-20-5. TYhis season with no goaltending contreversies i expect price to rebound in a big way and post 30 wins.
In my next blog i shall post 10 sleeper picks along with my 10-11 sleeper team. Fell free to comment/debate/argue! Part 3 should be ready by Sunday max.