Sleepers - Defense and Goalies

Unlike forwards, defensemen and goaltenders tend not to burst onto the scene right away, as they need time to fine-tune the defensive responsibilities that they have to their team. But here are some players that you could target in the mid to late rounds of your draft that have the upside to produce beyond their preseason draft ranking.

Tyson Barrie, D, COL

After a 38-point breakout season, Barrie should already be on the fantasy radar. However, keep in mind that his total was over only 64 games. Barrie started the season with a minor role under new coach Patrick Roy’s system, and he even spent some time in the AHL following numerous healthy scratches. Once he was able to find his way back, it was full speed ahead. The only downside is that Barrie is currently an RFA without a contract, which is something to keep in mind when drafting him.

Christian Ehrhoff, D, PIT

During the past three seasons in Buffalo, Ehrhoff was more fantasy bust than fantasy stud. However, that could change with a move to the Penguins. Last season was especially disastrous for Ehrhoff, who recorded a -27 for the visibly rebuilding Sabres. After being “rewarded” with a buyout from the Sabres, Ehrhoff signed a one-year contract with the Pens to provide yet another weapon for a team that already boasted the league’s top power play last season.  

Derrick Pouliot, D, PIT

Pouliot is good enough for the NHL right now, according to Pens’ new coach Mike Johnston (ProHockeyTalk). Pouliot won’t be such a sure thing to crack the Pens’ roster, but it is worth mentioning that Johnston was also Pouliot’s junior coach. It’s not often that a defenseman scores over a point per game in any league, but Pouliot managed to do so for Portland in the WHL last season (70 points in 58 games). Remember Pouliot’s name in keeper leagues if he doesn’t crack the roster this season. Both Pouliot and fellow young defenseman Olli Maatta are recovering from offseason surgery, but the Pens now have offensive firepower from the blueline that is the envy of just about any team. 

Seth Jones, D, NSH

Young defensemen usually need some time before they develop into bona fide NHL stars (anyone drafting Aaron Ekblad this season should keep this in mind). Jones was no different last season, scoring 25 points with a -23 last season. Jones should only improve this season, and there’s no reason he shouldn’t be in the Preds’ top four. Even as a rookie, Jones was able to average nearly 20 minutes of icetime per game. 

Jacob Trouba, D, WPG

In his first NHL season, Trouba demonstrated moments of brilliant play and perhaps would have been a fantasy add if not for an injury that sidelined him for a month. As it was, Trouba scored 29 points in 65 games in 22 minutes of icetime. The Jets aren’t especially deep on the blueline, so expect Trouba to improve on that icetime number this season. Trouba also can provide value in hits and blocked shots.

Jake Muzzin, D, LA

To statheads, old-school writers such as Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun are Public Enemy #1. Simmons is known more for picking on Mikhail Grabovski, but another player he has singled out recently is Muzzin, who he describes as being the “second best Corsi player… who benefits primarily by being Drew Doughty’s partner” (Toronto Sun). You can’t deny that a player’s fantasy value is at least somewhat tied to other players who are on the ice at the same time, though. Muzzin is a viable option in fantasy leagues that count hits (169 last season), and his six goals in 26 playoff games last season mean that he is capable of reaching a double-digit goal total this season. 

John Gibson, G, ANA

Gibson played only three regular-season games for the Ducks last season, yet he may be ready to take over as the team’s starting goalie this season. The Ducks turned to Gibson in Game 4 of the second round of the playoffs, and Gibson delivered with a shutout. With Jonas Hiller off to Calgary, Gibson will battle with Frederik Andersen for the starting goalie job. Expect the two to split time, at least in the beginning, but Gibson’s strong play in the World Juniors would make it seem that he is the Ducks’ goalie of the future. 

Jake Allen, G, STL

As in Gibson’s situation, the exit of an established starting goalie creates an opportunity for Allen. Also like Gibson, Allen starred in the World Juniors and earned a gold medal. Allen was the AHL’s goalie of the year last season, leading the league with 33 wins, a 2.03 goals-against average, a .928 save percentage, and seven shutouts. Unfortunately like Gibson, he may need to split time with another established NHL goalie, which in Allen’s case is Brian Elliott. But as I mentioned in my previous article, I believe Allen is the goalie the Blues turn to come playoff time.

Know Your Scoring System Inside and Out

Hello again. I know that it's been awhile, but I've been focusing on work and family interests for the last little while. But now that fantasy numbers are standing still (but the playoffs are very much alive and well), I now have the opportunity to study the season that was.

As I tweeted last night, I'm going to write about some tips, based on a keeper fantasy league that I finally won this season (and a few others that I didn't win thrown in there too). My first tip is Captain Obvious for those of you who have been playing fantasy leagues for awhile, but it bears repeating because of its importance: Know your scoring system inside and out.

For example, this particular league awards more points for defensemen than forwards in goals and assists. Having a defenseman like Kris Letang absent for over half the season would normally be crippling, but you can absorb the loss when you receive a somewhat expected 50-point season from Alex Pietrangelo and an completely unexpected 50-point season from James Wisniewski. Applying this particular scoring system, Pietrangelo and Wisnewski were the two players that earned me the most points this season. With goals being worth even more than assists, super sleeper Tyson Barrie and his 13 goals paid significant dividends, especially during the second half of the season.

Another interesting scoring observation was at the position of goaltender. Because this particular scoring system subtracts points for goals allowed and losses, there is arguably less benefit from owning a starting goalie on a bad team than there is from owning a backup on a good team. Would any of us have expected Frederik Andersen to be better than Cam Ward at the start of the season? As it turned out, both goalies played about the same number of games and recorded around the same number of saves, but Andersen earned over double the number of points because he recorded twice as many wins and allowed just under one fewer goal per game. Interestingly enough, Andersen's fantasy stock should continue to rise the longer he and the Ducks manage to stick around during the playoffs.

Another great example is in leagues that count non-standard stats, such as hits and blocked shots (not this particular league). If you have to fill up, say six defense slots on a team, like I did in an experts league, it wouldn't hurt to add someone like Radko Gudas (273 hits, third in NHL) or Andrew MacDonald (242 blocked shots, first in NHL). Both of these d-men were owned in less than one-third of Yahoo leagues. If your league counts both hits and blocked shots, the little-owned Ben Lovejoy, Mark Stuart, and Mike Weber makes sense to use, as each recorded at least 200 hits and 150 blocked shots.

In a time period in which there is a website for just about anything, there are seemingly limitless fantasy hockey articles that will provide you with useful information and great advice. However, these articles are usually written based on standard scoring systems. Same goes with the player rating systems that are usually used, although you may be able to find stats customizable to your scoring system in a few different places. Ultimately, though, it is up to you to understand your scoring system, both inside and out, to maximize the potential of your fantasy roster.

Players I Have Dropped Since the Start of the Season (Or At Least Am Thinking About Dropping)

Similar to the list of players that I have added since the start of the season, this is by no means a comprehensive list of droppable players. Who to drop depends on a host of factors, including the depth of your league and other players available. At the very least, here are a few players who have stumbled out of the gate, clearly not meeting expectations in some way, shape, or form.

Tim Thomas, G, FLA
I had added Timmy in the late rounds of one of my drafts, thinking there was a chance that he could recreate his 2011 magic. However, the Panthers are not even ten games into the season and already Thomas has been injured twice. It's not as if Thomas' numbers have been great anyway (2-3, 3.36 GAA, .901 SV%). Granted, it was just two short seasons ago that Thomas had one of the finest seasons that a goaltender can have, and there was no way that the Bruins would have won the Stanley Cup that season without him. However, taking a year off is not advisable for a 39-year-old goalie, and now we are seeing why. Moving from Boston to Florida isn't helping the cause either.

Tyson Barrie, D, COL
I haven't dropped Barrie, based on the league format that I employ him in. However, his league ownership in many leagues has to be sinking like a stone based on how Patrick Roy is using him (in other words, not using him). Barrie, a trendy blueline sleeper pick, has not seen action for the past five games dating back to October 10. As long as the surprising 8-1-0 Avs keep winning, Roy won't see any need to change his lineup, which means that relative unknowns Andre Benoit and Nate Guenin will continue to suit up instead of Barrie. I mean, how long can the Avs continue to dominate with Jan Hejda as the kingpin of their blueline?

Matt Read, RW, PHI
We go from a team on the top of the world to a team that has seen nothing go right this season. On a team that often draws attention to itself because of underachieving personnel, Read has quietly provided modest fantasy totals that can help you fill out your lineup. However, Read has yet to hit the scoresheet and is a -6 in eight games this season. Things have to improve; after all, Read is still averaging nearly 20 minutes of icetime per game. But playing on the Flyers' top 6 isn't holding the same value that it used to, given the Flyers' lack of scoring depth this season. By the way, over those eight games, the now Craig Berube-led Flyers have scored just 11 goals - that's right, ELEVEN goals - this season. That is tied for dead last in the NHL with the now Alain Vigneault-led Rangers.

Mikhail Grigorenko, C, BUF
The Sabres don't have a whole lot to laugh about themselves this season, having scored just one more goal than each of the Flyers and Rangers. In fact, the Sabres appear to be a serious contender for the first overall pick in the 2014 entry draft. So when you're a fourth-line player averaging ten minutes of icetime per game on a team headed nowhere, your fantasy prospects might appear dim. In the Experts League, I haven't dropped the pointless Grigorenko... yet. But come March when the Sabres trade Thomas Vanek and Ryan Miller and start playing for pride and jobs next season, don't be surprised to see the Sabres hand Grigorenko a little more icetime to see what they have.

Are there any players that you are ecstatic about kicking to the curb? Did I miss anyone obvious? Let us know in the comments below.