Just Fantasy Hockey - Week 4 Forecaster

This week starts off surprisingly slow, especially coming from an NHL off day on Sunday Oct 18th. Week 4 starts with 3 games on Monday, followed by 6 games on Tuesday and 6 on Wednesday. Fantasy owners shouldn’t put themselves in a frenzy in weekly head-to-head leagues since everyone is in the same boat.

Columbus, Edmonton, L.A, San Jose and Vancouver play 4 games this week. Both the Sharks and the Blue Jackets are on the road for all four games. The Maple Leafs on the other hand, play once during this fantasy week and that is on a very busy Saturday tonight.

Nashville: Neither Rinne nor Ellis looked spectacular in the first three games last week, but we will see who has the upper hand with the Predators playing three road games in four nights.

Fantasy Spin: Upper hand seems to go to Rinne by default. Look for Rinne to get starts on Wed and Sat while Ellis on Thursday.

San Jose: With east coast tilts against the Rangers, Lightning, Thrashers and Flyers on the schedule this week, look for Thornton and company to post some pretty solid numbers.

Fantasy Spin: Look for back up Thomas Greiss to get the start against Atlanta on Saturday giving Nabokov his first rest of the season.

Los Angeles: The Kings look to have the easiest schedule of the week, but it might end up being a tough one. The week starts with home and home tilts against an improved Stars squad, followed by a tilt with Phoenix (who already beat them 6-3 earlier this year) and then flying to Columbus to play the next day.

Fantasy Spin: Kopitar and company started off strong, but have lost the last two. Play them, but don’t expect great numbers from the Kings this week.

Toronto: The Leafs play their lone game Saturday night in Vancouver. They should have plenty of time to prepare physically and mentally to try and get their first win of the season.

Fantasy Spin: The only real Leaf name that is worth something right now is Ponikarovsky(4pts in 6 games with a +4) and even he needs to be benched on any fantasy squad this week.

Washington: A slow week for the Capitals with two away games in Atlanta and Long Island, but that shouldn’t stop AO from keeping his 2 points a game pace.

Fantasy Spin: While Backstrom, Ovechkin, Semin and Green should put up decent numbers, the bigger story is in net for the Capitals. Varlamov will likely start both games and has a chance to distance himself from Theodore who is nursing a sore back. While no goalie controversy is ever cleared up in the first month or so, this may be Varlamov's last chance to put in his claim as the front runner.

Chicago: After 4 games last week, the Hawks play only two this week. Sharp is leading the pack in scoring, but Toews and Campbell have picked it up the last couple of games. With the 2 games spread out on Wednesday and Saturday, Huet “should” get both starts.

Fantasy spin: If Huet and Niemi split time this week, there is an unofficial goalie controversy in the windy city.

Edmonton: The Oilers play 4 times this week starting with two on the road against Vancouver and Columbus, then finishing up with two at home against Calgary and Vancouver.

Fantasy spin: The Bulin wall will get 3 starts and should post better than decent numbers this week. Edmonton's offence seems to be scoring by committee this year so no one jumps out for leagues that allow weekly roster changes. Opt for quality over quantity in this case.

Brian

Just Fantasy Hockey - Saturday Night Round-Up

With Saturday seeing the majority of action in the NHL, each Sunday JFH will take a look at each game and how it may have impacted your fantasy pool.


Washington vs Detroit
J Theodore (WAS) stopped 34 shots and looks to be in the lead as the number 1 goalie.
D Cleary (DET) played over 18 minutes, had 5 shots and 1 assist. Pick him up on your waiver wire.

New Jersey vs Florida
T Zajac (NJD) has 5 points in 4 games and playing more than 20 minutes a game. Good option for a depth center.
D Clarkson (NJD) has 4 points in 4 games and 6 PIMs. He is a good depth guy in a roto league.
T Vokoun (FLA) stopped 38 shots and was stellar but will struggle to put up decent numbers.

NY Islanders vs Boston
J Tavares (NYI) had 1 goal, 1 assist and 4 shots. With 5 points in 3 games, it’s a great start to the season.
M Hunwick (BOS) scored 1 goal and 1 assist and should be considered as a depth defenceman.
D Krejci (BOS) has 0 points in 4 games. Boston is struggling to find chemistry right now.

Anaheim vs Philadelphia
T Selanne (ANA) scored both Anaheim goals, now has 4 goals in 4 games. He can still snipe.
J Hiller (ANA) stopped 36 shots and looked solid. He still should tandem with Giggy for now.
M Carle (PHI) has 8 points in 4 games and plays on the PP with Pronger, grab him now.
C Giroux (PHI) moved from 3rd line center to playing right wing with Richards and Gagne. Expect more production from him.

Atlanta vs Ottawa
B Little (ATL) as 4 points in 3 games and is the only other Thrasher that is contributing other than Kovalchuk.
M Fisher (OTT) has 4 points and 7 PIMs in 4 games and is finally adding secondary scoring. Keep an eye on him.
A Picard (OTT) has 3 points, 4 PIMs and is +4 in 4 games. He is the only Senator d-man contributing on the score sheet.

Pittsburgh vs Toronto
S Crosby, E Malkin and S Gonchar (PIT) are Leaf killers. They combined for 7 points.
J Staal (PIT) played with wing with Malkin for some shifts. His value could increase slightly if this becomes a regular thing.
V Toskala (TOR) takes another loss and has horrible numbers. He has no fantasy value at this time.

Carolina vs Tampa Bay
C Ward (CAR) had 34 saves in the loss as Carolina struggles to score goals.
J Jokinen (CAR) has 5 points in 5 games. He has limited value and should only be considered in deep leagues.
R Malone (TAM) scored a hat-trick and should only be considered a depth player if available.
P Ranger (TAM) had a goal and an assist. He has offensive tendencies and may help in deeper leagues.

Buffalo vs Nashville
R Miller (BUF) stopped all 25 shots for his first shut-out. He looked extremely sharp.
T Myers (BUF) spent time on the PP and should be the quarter-back before too long. Keep an eye on him if he is available.
P Rinne (NAS) stopped 41 shots and held the Sabres to 1 goal. Look for him to start again soon.

Los Angeles vs St. Louis
J Quick (LAK) stopped 29 shots and is the Kings number 1 goalie. He has a 3-1 record and if he is available should be picked up.
R. Smyth (LAK) and A. Kopitar continue to make a potent scoring tandem. They could have career seasons.
B Boyes (STL) had 8 shots on net but was held off the scoresheet. Keep playing your Blues as they are bound to break-out sooner rather than later.

Colorado vs Chicago
C Anderson (COL) continues to carry the Aves and is making superb saves. If your league rewards GAA and Save %, grad him if he is available.
W Wolski (COL) and K Quincey have 5 points in 4 games. They are deadly on the powerplay and should not be available in any league.
K Versteeg (CHI) now has 6 points in 4 games. He is getting top PP time and playing on the top 2 lines.
C Huet (CHI) continues to struggle, look for Niemi to get a start soon.

Columbus vs Phoenix
M Garon (CLB) gets the shut-out in his first start. He will not displace Mason as the number 1 guy, no worries.
R Klesla (CLB) has 4 points in 4 games and 8 PIMs. Look at him as a depth defenceman in deeper leagues.
R Vrbata (PHO) has 4 points in 4 games and had 5 shots on goal. Keep an eye on him or take a flyer if he is available.

Montreal vs Edmonton
C Price (MON) falls to a 2-2 record and hasn’t played well on the Western roadtrip. Look for Halak to get the call in goal soon.
B Gionta (MON), S Gomez and M Cammalleri continue to produce for the Habs. Other Canadiens are struggling to produce.
M Comrie (EDM) has 4 points in 4 games and is playing the second line center role. Keep an eye on him in deeper leagues.

Minnesota vs San Jose
A Brunette (MIN) and E Belanger both have 5 points in 4 games. They are quietly producing as top 6 players.
J Demers (SJS) is playing as the 6th defenceman and has 3 points in 5 games. Keep an eye on him at this point only.
P Marleau (SJS) has 5 goals and 1 assist in 5 games. He looks rejuvenated and must be started in all leagues.

Mark

The Deep Sleeper

So, you’ve scanned through your fantasy magazines and websites to compile a list of sleepers for this upcoming season. Every list you have read may have two or three different players on it, but you’ll notice that there are several players that make each list. Let’s call them the “Trendy Sleepers.”

The “Trendy Sleepers” are easy to call. They are players who have:

* Finished the 08-09 season strong – Rich Peverly, ATL
* Dominated in the AHL or Europe last season - Jonas Gustavsson, TOR
* Should play a bigger role with their club based on their team losing higher depth chart players via free agency or trade – Ville Leino, DET
* Hot shot rookies who could be ready to contribute – Cody Hodgson, VAN

If you have read several fantasy publications, or visited fantasy websites like JFH, these players are already household names. The problem is, every GM in your draft wants these guys and usually drafts them a few rounds too early. So to get them, you end up “reaching” with a pick that should be used on a sure thing.

In this article, we want to give you a list of Deeper Sleepers. These are guys who may fall into any of the four categories above, but they have done it under the fantasy radar. You won’t find these guys in your average sleeper list, but they could end up being just as, if not more, productive this season.

James Wisniewski (D) – ANA - Wisniewski played only 48 games last season, split between Chicago and Anaheim, after recovering from off-season surgery. Wisniewski finished strong with Anaheim and ended up with a total 24 points in 48 games. At 25, he is already part of the Ducks top 4 and contributes with PIMS as well. Grab him in the last few rounds of your draft or quickly snatch him off the FA list.

Fearless Forecast – 75GP, 9G, 28A, 37P, 95PIMS

Vladimir Sobotka (C) – BOS - Sobotka has been a productive player in the AHL the past few seasons but has been buried on the Bruins’ depth chart. With Kessel moved to Toronto and Krejci rehabbing off-season surgery, Sobotka finds himself with a spot in the productive top 9. At 22, Sobotka still has a lot of untapped potential and could be a steal by season’s end.

Fearless Forecast – 74GP, 19G, 20A, 39P

John Moore (D) – CLB - The 21st pick in the June Draft, Moore is looking to make the huge jump straight from the USHL to the NHL. He has been all the talk at the Jackets’ training camp and already has NHL size and speed. Moore is a fantastic skater who is a threat to jump in the rush at any time. He looks like a younger Mike Green at times, including the odd defensive gaffe. If he does make the club he could produce decent numbers, however even if he is sent down, he is a lot closer to the NHL than originally thought. Grab him in keeper leagues and hope he sticks.

Fearless Forecast – 9GP, 1G, 2A, 3P (*Returned to Kitchener after 9 games)

Jamie Benn (LW) – DAL - Benn has been on fire this pre-season and has looked uber-comfortable playing with Mike Ribeiro. His play is forcing the team to give him a longer look on one of the top two lines. Benn was the best player in the WHL last year, scoring 46 goals in just 56 games with Kelowna. The Stars have some great playmakers but don’t have a lot of finish around the net. Benn could immediately take advantage of that and become a go to sniper in Big D. Snatch him up if he is still a FA in your league.

Fearless Forecast – 75GP, 22G, 21A, 43P

Max Pacioretty (LW) – MON - “Patches” looked very good in his 34 game call-up with the big club last night. A speedy, power forward, Max should take advantage of some open roster spots and contribute for the Habs this year. Not a roster lock, he will be an early call-up and will find ways to score. Keep an eye on him as a FA. Target him in keeper leagues.

Fearless Forecast – 56GP, 11G, 16A, 27P

Patrick Hornqvist (LW) – NAS - Hornqvist was a “Trendy Sleeper” last year after scoring goals in bunches in Sweden. The adjustment to North America was not easy for Patrick and he found himself going back and forth from the NHL to the AHL. In 28 NHL games, Hornqvist received limited ice-time and put up a mere 2 goals. Coach Barry Trotz needed Hornqvist to become a more complete player and he has responded well this preseason. Lining up on the Preds top line with Arnott and Dumont, Hornqvist has 6 points in 4 games and looks like a different player. Grab him as an FA and hope he can stick on the Preds top line.

Fearless Forecast – 72GP, 23G, 20A, 43P

Niklas Bergfors (RW) – NJD - Bergfors is another player who has been a “Trendy Sleeper” in the past. A talented prospect, Bergfors struggled to put up big numbers in his first two AHL seasons. Things seemed to come easier for him last year in Lowell however, as he put up 51 points in 66 games. The Devils have been patiently waiting for him to develop to enhance their secondary scoring. Bergfors has has a solid pre-season and looks to have locked down a roster spot. How productive he’ll be on a Jacque Lemaire team is the bigger question though.

Fearless Forecast – 68GP, 13G, 16A, 29P

Artem Anisimov (C) – NYR - If you have followed JFH this pre-season, you know how much we love Anisimov. He dominated the AHL as a 20 year-old, using his great size and hockey smarts. Still developing his speed, the lanky pivot has all the tools to be a top-line centre. He looks to have cracked the Rangers' roster as the team’s 4th line centre. He should quietly move up the depth chart as the season progresses and he could be a very productive player in the second half. Grab him off FA before someone else does.

Fearless Forecast – 74GP, 18G, 19A, 37P

Martin Hanzal (C) – PHO - At 22, Hanzal already has two full NHL seasons under his belt. A complete player, Hanzal still has a lot of untapped offensive potential and should get a chance to show it this season. He struggled coming back from off-season back surgery last year but came to training camp in great shape. He lead the Yotes in ice-time last night, the first game under new coach Dave Tippett. Hanzal is the kind of player a coach loves as he can be played in any situation. Look for an offensive spike this year. If he is available, grab him as a solid depth centre.

Fearless Forecast – 82GP, 18G, 31A, 49P

Torrey Mitchell (C) – SJS -Mitchell scored 10 Goals in his rookie season of 2007-2008, impressing Sharks brass with a strong finish to the year. Mitchell though missed all of last season recovering from a broken leg. He did make a cameo in the playoffs last year and showed that he still has his blazing speed. A skilled, two-way pivot, Mitchell could surprise this year and push Joe Pavelski for 2nd line ice-time. Watch his progress early as he could pay huge dividends if he lands on one of the Sharks scoring lines.

Fearless Forecast – 80GP, 17G, 22A, 39P

Viktor Stalberg (LW) – TOR - Stalberg has been the toast of Toronto this September with his outstanding pre-season. Producing 5 goals and 7 points in 7 games, Stalberg looks to be a lock on one of Toronto’s scoring lines. The Big Swede is amazing to watch as he can hit a high gear like few others. His large frame and lightning speed allows him to track down and recover pucks in all three zones. Stalberg can score too as he was a Hobey Baker finalist after sniping 24 goals for Vermont last year. Viktor is effective in any situation, which means he’ll get lots of ice-time under head coach Ron Wilson. If Stalberg is still on your FA wire, consider yourself lucky and grab him before finishing this article.

Fearless Forecast – 70GP, 20G, 17A, 37P

Michal Neuvirth (G) – WAS - Neuvirth was selected 11 picks after Simeon Varlamov in the 2006 Draft. I guess the Caps were hedging their bets on a future #1. Neuvirth has followed Varlamov up the depth chart and was excellent as the #1 in Hershey following Varlamov’s promotion to the big club late last season. While Simeon is getting all the love in fantasy drafts this year, it wouldn’t surprise us to see Neuvirth end the year as the Caps #1. Simeon had a magical ride last season but it didn’t finish well against the Pens. He showed he has holes in his game, and if NHL teams get the scouting report, Varlamov could get sent back down to Hershey to iron them out. Varlamov’s loss would be Neuvirth’s gain. Keep an eye on Varlamov and handcuff him with Neuvirth in keeper leagues.

Fearless Forecast – 11GP, 7W, 2.54GAA, .910SV%

Chris

Pacific Division Sleepers

Anaheim – Joffrey Lupul (RW)– With an off-season trade that saw him return to Anaheim, Lupul is poised to have a break-out season. Lining up on the second line with veterans Koivu and Selanne, the 25 year old should see 60 points without breaking a sweat. That’s a 10 point increase from last season.

FEARLESS FORECAST – 81 GP – 30 G – 32 A – 62 PTS

Dallas – Steve Ott (C)– The Dallas Stars suffered some big losses upfront last season with injuries but that allowed some of their young players to emerge and make an impact on the team. Steve Ott was a virtual unknown that contributed in various ways in Dallas. With 46 points in 64 games, Ott also contributes in the penalty minutes department adding 135 PIMs as a great fantasy option.

FEARLESS FORECAST – 72 GP – 20 G – 30 A – 50 PTS

Los Angeles – Jonathan Quick (G)– Another young and talented team heading in the right direction. Quick came on the scene last year in LA and played the majority of games for the team. With a winning record of 21 W and 18 L, he will split time with Ersberg but should come out as the true number one this season.

FEARLESS FORECAST – 27 W – 23 L – 3 OTL – 3 SO

Phoenix – Keith Yandle (D)– With the future unknown in Phoenix, the ownership or lack thereof, has decided to go ahead with a continued youth movement. Yandle is a young defenseman that has the offensive ability to quarterback a powerplay. Benched at times last year for his lack of defensive ability, the 22 year old is just beginning his career. With 30 points in 69 games, Yandle should see regular minutes and time on the powerplay this season.

FEARLESS FORECAST – 80 GP – 6 G – 28 A – 34 PTS

San Jose – Joe Pavelski (C)– With all the high priced talent in San Jose, the little guy often gets lost in the shuffle. Little Joe Pavelski does not get a lot of attention but as the second line center on a power house team, he should. With 59 points in 80 games last year, he was an integral part of the President Trophy win. Little Joe should hit the mid sixty point mark as his responsibilities increase in San Jose.

FEARLESS FORECAST – 81 GP – 26 G – 37 A – 62 PTS

Mark

Do you know the way to San Jose...

Ottawa trades Dany Heatley to San Jose for Milan Michalek, Jonathan Cheechoo and a 2nd round pick in 2010.

The summer-long drama has come to a close, and no, I am not talking about the TV hit Big Brother (Finale this Tueday - my money's on Kevin). Dany Heatley has finally been shipped out of Ottawa after demanding a trade in June. This was no easy task for GM Bryan Murray as the news went public and Heatley carries an albatross of a contract. Murray found a team in Edmonton who had the right assets and most importantly the cap space to bring on Dany, only to have Heater VETO the deal (do you see the Big Brother theme here?).

After a few more long months for Murray, and the Ottawa fanbase, he was finally able to secure a deal with San Jose on the first day of training camp. The timing here was key as Ottawa did not want Heatley coming to camp and becoming a distraction. Considering the elements he was up against, Murray did a great job obtaining some top 6 depth in this deal, something Ottawa hasn't had in years.

Let's break the deal down from a fantasy prospective...

Dany Heatley & Joe Thornton:

Heatley is one of the purest goal-scorers in the game. A couple of seasons ago, he teamed with Centre Jason Spezza to form the most lethal duo in the NHL. Coming out of the lockout, Dany put up two straight seasons of 50 goals and 100 points. Now, he is coming off an "off-year" of 39 goals and 72 points. This was in a season where he didn't see eye-to-eye with Sens interim Head Coach Cory Clouston and was even downgraded to the 2nd powerplay unit. Heatley wasn't happy with the treatment which led to the trade request.

The move to San Jose is a good one for Heater. At 28, he is still in the prime of his career. While he loses a soft-handed playmaker in Jason Spezza, he gets a slightly better one in Joe Thornton. Spezza is a great player but he sometimes lacks the ability to create space for himself and his teammates. Thornton thrives on using his huge frame to create space and time. He should instantly connect with Heatley (think of Thornton's play with a "Heatley-like" Rick Nash in the World Championships a few years back). Heatley and Thornton should start making some sweet music together in October and expect them both to have big bounce-back years.

Fearless Forecast:
Dany Heatley
80GP, 51G, 41A, 92 Points

Joe Thornton
82GP, 26G, 67, 94 Points

Milan Michalek & Jonathan Cheechoo:

Ottawa has been searching for reliable second line scoring for what seems like forever and they may have finally addressed it. After adding Alexi Kovalev via Free Agency, the additions of Michalek and Cheechoo provide the Sens with solid secondary scoring.

Milan Michalek has established himself as a 55-60 point guy and still has some upside. At 24, he could turn into a 70 point player if put in the right situation. Expect Michalek to play on the second line with Alfredsson and incumbent centre Mike Fisher. The three should form a dangerous second line with the potential for all 3 to have big seasons.

Jonathan Cheechoo has become a bit of an enigma in the NHL. A pure goal-scorer, he meshed with Joe Thornton coming out of the lockout and won the Maurice Richard trophy with 56 goals. Since then, he has seen his goals total decline each year with 37, 23 and then a mere 12 last year. "Cheech" has struggled to get his confidence back and a change of scenery could be just what the doctor ordered. While Ottawa had to take on Cheechoo's contract to allow San Jose to make the trade, he could end up being a very useful player for the Sens. A passionate player, Cheechoo could thrive under the enhanced microscope of a Canadian team. Watching him last year, he showed he still has great hands and skill but just couldn't finish. Expect Clouston to pair Cheechoo with Jason Spezza and Alexei Kovalev. On that line, Cheech could become the go-to finisher and have a bounceback year.

Fearless Forecast:

Milan Michalek
75GP, 24G, 25A, 59 Points

Jonathan Cheechoo
71G, 31G, 22A, 53 Points

Editor's Note:

On a side note, Mark and I would like to thank our followers for the great comments and feedback on our first annual JFH Forecaster. Mark and I worked very hard over the past month to put this together and we hope you find it as useful as we have in preparing for fantasy hockey drafts.

I would also like to thank Mark for his hard work over the last month. Mark kept posting some great articles while I was MIA. I had been consumed by my recent wedding and honeymoon in late August and appreciate Mark keeping JFH active and responsive during that time. With the wedding over, fantasy hockey once again consumes my life and I look forward to a great season here on JFH.

Chris

Heatley Traded to San Jose

Disgrunted Senators winger Dany Heatley is heading to San Jose for wingers Milan Michalek, Jonathan Cheechoo and a 2nd round draft choice.

Get the Just Fantasy Hockey Forecaster for FREE with the Heatley, Michalek and Cheechoo updated fantasy value and team notes HERE, or click the top right logo for instant download.

Further fantasy analysis coming soon ...

Mark

Canucks Trade for Ehrhoff and Sign Schneider

The Vancouver Canucks have traded and to the San Jose Sharks for defensemen Christian Ehrhoff and Brad Lukowich. The Canucks have also signed veteran defenseman Mathieu Schneider to a 1 year contract.

The Canucks have added a rising defensive star and veteran skill and leadership to their back-end. Building their team from the goaltender out, the Canucks have strengthened the defensive corps to be able to complete with the top teams in the West.

Christian Ehrhoff quietly scored 42 points last season in San Jose while playing 77 games. A factor in 5 on 5 play, Ehrhoff also has the offensive skill to contribute on the powerplay. Ehrhoff will play top 4 minutes in Vancouver and should have similar numbers to last season. Look to draft Ehrhoff in middle rounds of your draft.

Mathieu Schneider was one of the bright spots on a struggling Canadiens team last year. After his trade from Atlanta, Schneider paid huge dividends on the Habs powerplay. Schneider, now 41, still is an effective option in any pool format. As a powerplay specialist, Schneider owns a booming slapshot and accumulates most of his points on the PP. If Schneider is available in later rounds, he is worth taking a flyer on.

Mark

An Ageless Wonder

The San Jose Sharks have

re-signed veteran Rob Blake to a 1 year, $3.5 million dollar contract.


Fantasy Outlook: Blake looked rejuvenated last season helping the Sharks win the President’s trophy. The 39 year old defenceman had 45 points and 110 PIMS in 73 games last season.

Blake will once again help anchor the power-play with partner Dan Boyle and remains an excellent fantasy option as he will contribute in all categories and reward owners heavily. At 39, he may not have many years left and owners of Blake may shy away from drafting him in a keeper pool - opting for younger talent. If given the opportunity, draft him in early mid rounds once the premier, keeper defenders are taken.

Mark

Shark Bait

This was the year the San Jose Sharks were supposed to win the Stanley Cup. Instead this was the year they failed miserably. The Sharks were able to add what seemed to be all the right pieces in the offseason for their run to the Cup. They were outstanding for three-quarters of the regular season and slowed down near the end. Their ousting by the eight seeded Ducks will always be remember as the ultimate insulate, especially when they look up to see their Presidents Trophy Banner.

Joe Thornton – Even though he struggled in the postseason, Big Joe is top 5 in any draft. He is one of the most complete players in any format and should be drafted as such.

Evgeni Nabokov – One of the best goalies in the league, Nabakov had a great regular season but looked terrible in the playoffs. Like Joe, Nabby is a top 5 goalie and should be drafted as such, in the top 2 rounds of any draft.

Patrick Marleau – The Sharks captain had a resurgence this season with close to point per game stats. Look for the Marleau rumors to continue this offseason as he was non-existent in the playoffs. Owners should not be shocked if he is finally moved and his stats may suffer in that case.

Devin Setoguchi – In his second season with the Sharks, Seto had a huge leap forward playing with Thornton and looking good on his wing. If he can stay there Setoguchi should improve on his numbers next season and now has keeper value.

Joe Pavelski – Known as Little Joe, Pavelski anchors the second line and as upped his totals in every year with the club. Look as Pavalski as a depth player and should be drafted in later rounds or stolen as a waiver pickup.

Dan Boyle – In his first season as a Shark, Boyle continued his offensive ways and made the Sharks a favorite all year. Boyle is a top 3 dman and should be drafted in rounds 2 or 3 of a draft. He will continue to put up great numbers and average in the top dmen in the league.

Milan Michalek – It appears as though Michalek as found his offensive ceiling. Bounced between the top 2 lines, Michalek plays the majority of the games and should be looked upon for 60 points per season. For that reason, he should be drafted in the mid rounds of any draft and may have limited keeper value depending on your team.

Ryane Clowe – A streaky scorer, Clowe has the ability to put up good numbers in short bursts. Playing a power-forward type of game, Clowe has settled in nicely on the second line. Look to draft Clowe as a depth guy until he can go over the 60 point mark.

Rob Blake – at 38 years old, Blake has still showed he game can a force on the ice and score sheet. A UFA this season, Blake should return to the Sharks again and continue putting up great numbers. If he comes back, he should be kept or drafted in middle rounds of a draft.

Christian Ehrhoff – A career year last year, Ehrhoff showed he has more value than a depth defenceman. Owners should keep him on their radar after the top tier dmen are gone from their drafts. He has proven he can play an important role on the powerplay.

Marc-Edouard Vlasic – Known as Pickles, Vlasic managed to have a great season playing along with the veterans. More of a fantasy depth guy, Vlasic should be drafted after the top tier dmen are gone.

Jonathan Cheechoo – BUYER BEWARE !!! Cheechoo has officially gone from top line player to sitting in the press box. His fantasy value has hit rock bottom and owners should NOT draft him in any format. If Cheechoo does get traded, as rumors speculate, his value will still be low and you should go after a more consistent player.

Mark