The time is almost upon us! With the 2019-2020 NHL Regular Season just around the corner, now is the time when most Fantasy League Commissioners are renewing their leagues, or have begun seeking out Team Managers for a brand new league.
For those who are unfamiliar with the different types of fantasy leagues, I will provide some context. Please note that each league requires a bit of a different draft strategy;
"Points-only" requires the Team Manager to draft players who put up a lot of points.
"Rotisserie" awards points to the Team Manager based on their rank in each stat category.
"Head-to-head" pins one Manager's team against another, rotating matchups week-to-week, awarding points to Managers whose team wins the stat matchups over that week.
A "bangers" league is a points only, rotisserie or head-to-head league that requires the Manager to draft players who put up points, but who also lay the body and accrue a lot of penalty minutes (PIMs).
As a Fantasy Hockey veteran of 15 years, this Writer has taken part in online and offline drafts in just about every type of league imaginable. I've finished 1st, I've finished last. What I have learned over my 15 years of Fantasy Hockey experience and the best advice I can offer is this: It's important to know how your league is set up before you begin to draft players. Knowing what type of player or which position to draft at the right time is key to the success of your season. Most of that is due to doing your homework before the draft. Researching players' stats and scoring history can make a world of difference, but if you choose not to do the research ahead of time, you will still be able to see some player stats in the draft window. Just be forewarned, when you're on the clock to make your pick, you only have 30-90 seconds, so that doesn't leave much time for research on the fly.
In addition, taking part in mock-drafts can help you to determine a player's likely draft position through observing opposing Managers' picks, allowing you to pre-plan for your draft by providing some insight into who may be available to draft and in which round. Warning: not all drafts are the same, so try to have a backup plan!
I'm going to skip Connor McDavid, because he seems to be the consensus number one pick, every year. Here are some players to consider ahead of your draft, depending on your draft position this year.
Auston Matthews. With back to back injury shortened seasons, it's likely that Matthews will fall into the latter half of the top 10 in the draft. If you can snag this guy with the 8th or 9th pick, you'll be laughing. Matthews scored 40 goals as a rookie and has maintained a 40-45 goal pace throughout his entire NHL career. A healthy Matthews could easily score 50 goals and eclipse 90 points, making him a valuable asset to your team.
Brad Marchand. Say what you will about Marchand, the guy is a fantasy hockey beast. Show me another player who can put up 100 points and near 100 PIMs. I'll wait. Given the disappointing end to the Bruins' playoff run, I fully expect Marchand to have a chip on his shoulder coming into this season. An excellent addition to your roster. If you're drafting in the middle of the first round, Marchand is definitely deserving of some consideration.
Carey Price. If you're looking for a top notch goalie and you don't want to burn one of your first 2 picks on one, look no further than Carey Price. With a huge bounce-back season last year, look for Price to build on that with a healthy Canadiens blueline. Price had a down year in the 2017-2018 season, but prior to that, he had not posted a sub .923 save percentage in four straight seasons. He was called the best goalie in the game for a reason over that span. He stole games on a nightly basis. I'd put my money on another strong season for Price as the Habs try to push for a playoff spot. If you can snag him in the 3rd or 4th round, it would be a low-risk move.
Matthew Tkachuk. If you missed out on Brad Marchand, Matthew Tkachuck is the next most valuable pest. With 77 points and 62 PIMs in 80 games played last season, Tkachuk would be a solid addition to any team. He's big, he's nasty and he has a nose for the net. Although he is currently an RFA negotiating a new contract, I fully expect that this kid signs before the start of the season. Look for the Flames to be a formidable team again this season and expect Tkachuk to be a big reason for their success.
Cale Makar. Sorry, Jack Hughes, this is my pick for Rookie of the Year. Cale Makar has some serious talent and although young defensemen seem to take awhile to develop and find success at the NHL level, Makar could be an exception. Coming into the lineup fresh for the Avs in the playoffs, Makar posted 6 points in 10 playoff appearances. This kid is going to be an absolute killer on the Avs blueline this season. With Tyson Barrie off to Toronto, Makar will have big shoes to fill. I believe he will be a well-beyond adequate replacement on the right side in Colorado. Makar should be available in the later rounds too, which makes him a huge sleeper pick.
Victor Hedman. Coming off of an injury shortened season where he put up 54 points in 70 games, I expect Victor Hedman to have a huge year. His 12 goals last season may not have been most in the league, but when you consider the firepower in Tampa, he doesn't need to be among the defensive goal scoring leaders to add huge value to your fantasy roster. A strong 60-70 point season with a high +/- rating and 45-60 PIMs puts Hedman among the best all around D-men in fantasy hockey. If this guy is still available in round 5, do not hesitate to hit the draft button.
