Hockey Guide

FANTASYHOCKEY.
COM – DRAFT GUIDE 2006-07

Table of Contents
1-2 Table of Contents

3-4 Ice Kings: Who Should You Build Your Team Around?
5-7 How to Play Fantasy Hockey
8-10 Draft Strategies
11-17 THT, A New Tool to Measure Offensive Production
18-30 Z-transformations: Using Last Year’s Stats More Effectively
31-32 Fantasy Points vs. Rotisserie Scoring
33-37 2006 Draft Review
38-41 Top 20 Impact Rookies in 2006-07
42-44 Players Who Get No Respect
45-52 Hidden Gems; The Sleepers
53-58 Cold as Ice; The Snoozers
59-60 Enforcers: To Draft or Not To Draft, That is the Question!
61-65 The Power Forward; A Drafters Best Friend
66-73 The Forgotten Men; The Back Up Goalies
74-77 BIT; The Brownstein Index Theorem
78-80 The NHL's Rule Changes, a Year Later
81-84 The World’s All-Stars: Who Would Win?
85-91 FantasyHockey.com Experts Mock Draft
92-93 FantasyHockey.com Staff Prognostication; Award Voting
94-100 NHL Player Movement: Old Faces in New Places
101-103 TOP 300 OVERALL PLAYERS
104-105 Forward Position Rankings
106-107 Defensemen Position Rankings
108-109 Goalie Position Rankings
110-160 FORWARD PLAYER CAPSULES
161-186 DEFENSEMEN PLAYER CAPSULES
187-199 GOALIE PLAYER CAPSULES
200 Team Reports: Western Conference
201-202 Anaheim Ducks
203-204 Calgary Flames
205-206 Chicago Blackhawks
207-208 Colorado Avalanche
209-210 Columbus Blue Jackets
211-212 Dallas Stars
213-214 Detroit Red Wings
215-216 Edmonton Oilers
217-218 Los Angeles Kings
219-220 Minnesota Wild
221-222 Nashville Predators
223-224 Phoenix Coyotes
225-226 San Jose Sharks
227-228 St. Louis Blues
229-230 Vancouver Canucks
231 Team Reports: Eastern Conference
232-233 Atlanta Thrashers
234-235 Boston Bruins
236-237 Buffalo Sabres
238-239 Carolina Hurricanes
240-241 Florida Panthers
242-243 Montreal Canadiens
244-245 New Jersey Devils
246-247 New York Islanders
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248-249 New York Rangers

250-251 Ottawa Senators
252-253 Philadelphia Flyers
254-255 Pittsburgh Penguins
256-257 Tampa Bay Lightning
258-259 Toronto Maple Leafs
260-261 Washington Capitals
262-269 Line Combinations
270-272 The NHL's Rule Changes, a Year Later
273-274 The State of Canadian Hockey
275-290 2005-06 Statistical Recap
291-299 2006-07 Statistical Projections
300-301 By The Numbers
The positional rankings shown in this Guide are the result of staff voting for the various positions. Therefore,
the rankings that you will find are a consensus of the FantasyHockey.com staff and were not generated by
any single person.
Players who are free-agents at the time of publication are listed with the team they played for last season in
the player capsules.
2006 – 2007 Fantasy Hockey Draft Guide Presented By: FantasyHockey.com

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Ice Kings: 10 Players for Fantasy Success

Contributed By: Ray Flowers
A simple maxim often repeated is that you can’t win your league in the first round but you can
lose it. Whether or not this statement is true, it can rightly be stated that the foundation of your
team is laid with your first selection and we at FantasyHockey.com would like to help you in
selecting the player whom you will count on so heavily in the upcoming season. Before listing
these 10 men, let us briefly explain the criteria we will be using.
Our list of Ice Kings aren’t necessarily the 10 best players in hockey. If that was the case players
like Peter Forsberg and Chris Pronger might have made the list. What the Ice Kings list does
present are the top 10 cornerstones to build your fantasy team around in 2006-07. These players
are at the top of the heap when it comes to fantasy performance and most of the skaters
contribute in many if not all of the categories that most leagues track. Only one defenseman
made our list, while two goalies earned their way on to the list. The other 7 spots are manned by
forwards who are all household names except for one winger who toils in relative anonymity in
Atlanta (and no we don’t mean Ilya Kovalchuk though he is on the list too).
One team deserves special mention, and that is the Ottawa Senators. With two skaters on the
list, and two on the honorable mention category, when in doubt, draft a Senator in your fantasy
league.
And with that, let’s take a look at the 10 men who we feel will truly perform at a level above all
others in 2006-07, the Ice Kings of fantasy hockey.
Honorable mention: Daniel Alfredsson, Jason Spezza, Eric Staal, Bryan McCabe, Nicklas Lidstrom and
Roberto Luongo.

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Martin Brodeur Sidney Crosby Dany Heatley Marian Hossa Jaromir Jagr
G, New Jersey Devils C, Pittsburgh Penguins LW, Ottawa Senators RW, Atlanta Thrashers RW, New York Rangers
Brodeur has won at As an 18-year-old Heatley was one of two Often overshadowed, After years of middling
least 34 games in each rookie Crosby tallied skaters to score 50 Hossa scored 7 GW performances, Jagr
of the last 10 seasons, 102 points and 110 goals, 100 points and goals, 7 SH goals, 39 returned to the summit
and last year’s GAA of PIMs making him the post a plus/minus of PP points, 92 points of NHL skaters finishing
nd
2.57 was the highest only skater to reach over +25 (Jagr). After overall and recorded a 2 in the league in
rd
mark of his career (2.21 triple digits in both his career almost ended +17 marking him as goals (54), 3 in assists
nd
career). Only 105 wins categories. While his due to personal tragedy, arguably the most (69) and 2 in points
behind Patrick Roy’s all- PIMs will likely Heatley returned to the complete skater on ice. (123). Jagr has scored
time mark of 551 decrease his 39 goals all-star level he flashed Hossa has scored at an average of 106
victories, Brodeur is the will likely increase while previously. Only 25, least 30 goals in each of points per 82 games in
steadiest goalie in the he looks to maintain his Heatley is one of the the past 5 seasons with his career and has
game and a sure fire pace on the PP where most devastating an average of 12 PPG tallied at least 70 points
HOFamer when he he tallied 47 points. offensive weapons on per season during that in 13 straight seasons.
retires. ice. span.
Miikka Kiprusoff Ilya Kovalchuk Alexander Ovechkin Wade Redden Joe Thornton
G, Calgary Flames LW, Atlanta Thrashers LW, Washington Capitals D, Ottawa Senators C, San Joe Sharks
Kipper led the NHL in Ilya is the most lethal As a 19-year-old, AO Other defensemen are Thornton led the NHL in
GAA (2.07), was 2nd in sniper in the NHL with became just the second more flashy, but none assists (96) and points
rd
wins (42), 3 in SV% the man advantage rookie in NHL history to are more consistently (125) on his way to
(.923) and 1st in after leading the NHL score 50 goals and excellent in all areas of being named the winner
shutouts (10) to win the with 27 PP goals and 56 record 100 points (the the game. Registering a of the Hart Trophy
Vezina Trophy as the PP points. Kovalchuk other was T. Selanne in +20 for the fifth straight (MVP). In 58 games on
leagues best goalie. scored 50 goals for the 92-93). Ovechkin led season, Redden scored the Sharks, Thornton
Since arriving in first time (52) after the NHL with 425 shots, a career-high 50 points posted a +31 with 40
Calgary Kipper has threatening to play the but far from being only with 30 coming on the points on the PP.
posted a .926 SV% with season in Russia. Only concerned with offense PP in just 65 games Thornton won the 2nd
a 1.93 GAA in the last 23, Ilya posses a he paid attention to the played. Redden might most face-offs in the
year and a half when he wicked shot and his details of the game. have less upside than NHL and turned RW
has been the NHL’s offensive skills are Could be an all-time others, but few offer as J. Cheechoo into the
best goaltender. unparalleled. great. much consistency. NHL’s leading scorer.

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How to Play Fantasy Hockey

Contributed by: Ian Gooding
When I meet or get to know people for the first time, I tell them that one of my interests is playing fantasy
sports, one of which is fantasy hockey. Although some people know what I’m talking about, many still ask,
“just what is fantasy hockey?” I would like to answer that question as well as explain what is involved in
participating in a fantasy hockey league.
Fantasy hockey is an evolution, or perhaps a continuation of, a sport which is as much of a tradition in
Canada as hockey itself - the hockey pool. The basic idea is that you pick players for your team and keep
track of their point total (goals and assists), plus any other categories that make it interesting, such as
plus/minus, penalty minutes, or goaltender statistics. The winning team is the one that has the highest total,
determined by the scoring system of the league. A leader of the group, or “commissioner”, will keep track of
the statistics and handle the monetary contributions (if the winner(s) receive money). However, due to the
statistical work involved on the part of the commissioner, many are now switching the various online leagues
that now exist, although many continue to play fantasy hockey offline if that is how they have traditionally
done so.
Hockey Pools – The Old-Fashioned Way

Hockey pools involve a group of friends or co-workers meeting at the end of September or beginning of
October, perhaps over a beer or two, to draft players for their hockey pool team. Possible locations for a
draft can range from someone’s basement, to an office meeting or lunchroom, to a local watering hole,
where hockey pools are available for those who cannot find a league to play in. Even local newspapers in
Canada have hockey pools, where one can choose from groups of players and stats are updated each week
in the paper.
A minimum of six people is suggested for a league to make things interesting. The league commissioner will
determine the scoring system, usually with some input from the other players (see the “Terminology” section
below for possible statistical categories). A newspaper or hockey magazine, preferably one with hockey pool
information, should be provided at the draft for easy access of a list of all players. A suggestion, though, is to
purchase your own in order to determine your own rankings (perhaps this guide will be that tool for you). For
live drafts, a draft board should also be created by the commissioner, so that everyone can see who has
been drafted and who is still available. A time limit should be set for each pick so that the draft can end
quickly (usually no longer than 90 seconds per pick). The commissioner must also determine beforehand if
trades are allowed, as well as whether any players can be added or dropped due to injury or poor play
during the season.
Some other draft day tips and suggestions for each player include the following:
• Be prepared with your rankings. Color-coding a ranking system of players in different tiers is a
great idea so that you make the right pick when it is your turn, especially if your publication does
not have a ranking system.

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• Avoid the overuse of alcohol, especially if it is a draft at a local pub. Alcohol never leads to good
decisions, and having an injury-prone player or a goon (in a non-penalty minutes league) taking up
space on your roster for seven months because you made a choice under the influence is only a
good decision if you don’t plan on winning your league.
• Respect the time limit by staying on track and not using everyone’s time to chitchat. The draft is
supposed to be fun, but conflict may arise due to the varying levels of seriousness of the players
there. A little trash talking is fine, but stay focused on the task at hand.
Online Leagues – The Evolution of the Hockey Pool

If you cannot find a group of people to organize a hockey pool, or you live in a region where hockey is about
as popular as professional bowling or table tennis, you can go online to find a fantasy hockey league. Many
sites offer services that will allow you to draft players, set a starting lineup each day or week, make trades
with other players, and add and drop players. The added benefit to the user is that the site keeps track of the
standings and the necessary player information, making it much easier for everyone. Many groups who have
used hockey pools in the past are now reaping the benefits of the Internet in starting their own private
leagues as well.
There are three basic types of scoring systems used in online fantasy hockey. Rotisserie scoring places
teams from first to worst in terms of their ranking in each statistical category and then renders a total point
ranking of all categories to determine the overall ranking of each team. For example, in a 12-team league,
the team in first place in goals would receive 12 points with the team in last place earning but a single point.
Fantasy point scoring is similar to rotisserie scoring, except that each category is weighted based on its
perceived value to a team (e.g. goals are worth more than assists). Head-to-head scoring ranks teams on a
win-loss record, which is based on matchups each week. The scoring is the same as used in standard
rotisserie leagues, it’s just that the stats only count for one week versus the whole year. In the last few
weeks of the NHL regular season, the top six teams compete with each other in the fantasy hockey playoffs
to determine the league winner.
Terminology – Forward/Defenseman Statistics

G Goals
A Assists
P Points (Goals + Assists)
+/- Plus/minus – if a player is on the ice during when his team scores an even-strength or
shorthanded goal, +1 is added to his plus/minus rating; likewise, if a player is on the ice
when the other team scores an even-strength or shorthanded goal, -1 is added.
PIM Penalty Minutes (the more penalty minutes your team accumulates, the better)
PPG Power-play Goals
PPA Power-play Assists
PPP Power-play Points (Power-play Goals + Power-play Assists)
SHG Shorthanded Goals
SHA Shorthanded Assists
SHP Shorthanded Points (Shorthanded Goals + Shorthanded Assists)
GWG Game Winning Goals
GWA Game Winning Assists
GWP Game Winning Points (Game Winning Goals + Game Winning Assists)
GTG Game Tying Goals
GTA Game Tying Assists
GTP Game Tying Points (Game Tying Goals + Game Tying Assists)
HMP Home Points
RDP Road Points
ODVP Other Division Points
DVP Own Division Points
FW Faceoffs Won
FL Faceoffs Lost
FO% Faceoff Percentage (Faceoffs Won / Faceoffs Lost)
SOG Shots On Goal
S% Shooting Percentage (Goals / Shots On Goal)
SHFT Shifts
TOI Time On Ice

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Terminology – Goalie Statistics

GP Games Played
GS Games Started
MIN Minutes Played
W Wins
L Losses
T Ties
OTL Overtime Losses
GA Goals Allowed
GAA Goals Against Average ([Goals Allowed * 60] / Minutes Played)
EV GA Even Strength Goals Against
PP GA Power-play Goals Against
SH GA Shorthanded Goals Against
SA Shots Against
SV Saves Made
SV% Save Percentage ([Shots Against – Goals Allowed] / Shots Against)
SO Shutouts
Terminology – Team Statistics

GP Games Played
W Wins (worth 2 points)
L Losses (worth 0 points)
OTL Overtime or Shootout Losses (worth 1 point)
PTS Points
GF Goals For
GA Goals Against
HOME Home Record
AWAY Away Record
L10 Record in last 10 games
PP Power-play Opportunities
PPG Power-play Goals
PP% Power-play Percentage (Power-play Goals / Power-play Opportunities)
TS Times Shorthanded
PPGA Power-play Goals Against
PK% Penalty Killing Percentage (Power-play Goals Against / Times Shorthanded)
SF Shots For
SA Shots Against

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Draft Strategies
So now that we have covered how to conduct a fantasy hockey draft, just what strategies go into drafting a
winning team? The most obvious one is to do your homework and determine which players will be the most
successful based on past statistics and future projections. If you are on a website or using an offline
publication that uses player rankings, it is always recommended that you create your own rankings. Because
of the changes made to the game in the post-lockout era (the new NHL), many fringe players or players who
had seen better days have now become fantasy superstars. Proven players such as Alexei Kovalev and
Sergei Zubov managed to fall through the cracks due to injuries or inconsistent play and made great
sleeper picks in ’05-’06. Who will you find deep beneath the top picks in this year’s draft that will turn into
fantasy gold (don’t forget to read Jason Schwartz’s article on Sleepers and Ian Gooding's article on which
players to avoid to help you out as well in this guide)?
In what follows we will lay out a few different blueprints that you could choose to follow in your draft this
season. The following tips are based upon a standard starting lineup which includes: 2 Centers, 2 right
wings, 2 left wings, 4 defensemen and 2 goalies.
Strategy 1: Build From the Net Out

A well-known hockey principle is that a team will never win the Stanley Cup without standout goaltending.
Many fantasy hockey players will concur with this theory when building their roster. Let’s run through how
one league transpired last season to illustrate how this strategy might play out. Here is a listing of first and
second round draft picks last year in a league in which I participated.
Martin Brodeur provided the rock that was needed in net for this team to win.
Miikka Kiprusoff won the Vezina Trophy.
Marty Turco had a high win total but his .898 SV% not impressive
Roberto Luongo had first round caliber numbers despite a poor team.
Jose Theodore traded after poor start, never put it together.
Dan Cloutier wasn’t a good second-round pick due to injury.
Ed Belfour had his season marred by injury and inconsistency
Evgeni Nabokov played poorly and eventually became a backup.
Based on these findings, if you draft a goalie early you can expect, on average, mixed results. In a 10 to 12-
category league, it is not uncommon for goalie stats to cover about 4 categories (wins, goals-against
average, save percentage, shutouts). Usually there are two goalie spots per team, so it is important to have
the right guy filling at least one of these spots. It’s not a bad idea to pick a goalie in the first two rounds if he
is a proven stopper on a proven team and his numbers are not on the decline. In fact, drafting goalies like
Kiprusoff, Brodeur and Luongo will give your team a competitive advantage over your opponents who don’t
have a marquee goalie. Be careful not to draft goalies in the first couple rounds if they have an injury-prone
label (i.e. Cloutier) or are above the age of 40 (i.e. Belfour, Dominik Hasek) since they will often become
injury-prone after starting a lot of games. If the right goalie is not there in the first or second round, many
starting goalies that are solidified in their roles can still be had by the fifth or sixth rounds. Don’t wait any
longer than that to select your first goalie though as you may be facing a goalie with a potential timeshare
situation or one who plays for a bad team (i.e. Olaf Kolzig).

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Strategy 2: Defense Wins Championships

When first-round picks start flying off the board, it is rare to see any defenseman among the ranks. Oh, how
we long for the days of Bobby Orr and Paul Coffey and their 100-plus point seasons. Still, a key to success
may not be to treat d-men as the weak sisters of fantasy hockey. It is not a good idea to draft a top-notch
defenseman earlier than say a 50-goal or 100-point scorer, but after drafting a couple “franchise” players it
may be wise to start looking for a D-man. On average, leagues will have four defense spots per team, so if
you fill your defense with proven point producers, then you will have another competitive advantage over
your opponents.
When choosing a defenseman, keep in mind that a D-man’s value goes well beyond goals and assists. Look
for defensemen that have a high plus/minus, as defensemen quite often lead the NHL in this category
because of the greater ice time that they receive over forwards (four of the top five plus/minus players in the
’05-’06 season were defensemen). Also look at power-play time, as a defenseman that is known as the
quarterback for their team’s power play will contribute not only in goals and assists, but also power-play
points. It doesn’t hurt to draft a defenseman with a bit of edge to his game as he will help your team in
penalty minutes (remember, the more the better). Because of the drop-off in production between top
forwards and top defensemen, a good D-man should wait until at least the third round, but at least two
should be picked between the third and eleventh rounds so that they are not forgotten about in the relentless
pursuit of scoring.
Strategy 3: Score to Win

In the old-fashioned hockey pool, one stat and only one stat is counted: points. So it is natural for the vast
majority of the picks in any round of fantasy hockey to be forwards. Besides, many leagues use one or two
forward positions even after the center, left wing, and right wing positions have been filled. If there is a utility
position that can be filled by any skater, it is also usually filled by a forward because of their ability to score.
Forwards are the bread and butter of fantasy hockey, and no team wins without good scoring. Think of the
categories that are affected when a player scores a goal: goals, assists, plus/minus, power-play points (you
may use one to three categories just for the power-play), and shorthanded points. All of these categories are
positively correlated to one another, so drafting top scorers is imperative. But the nice thing is that it’s easy
to do. If you don’t happen to draft one of the 100-point guys (i.e. Joe Thornton, Jaromir Jagr, Alexander
Ovechkin, or Sidney Crosby) then you can still fill your roster with scoring depth. Look deep in the draft
rankings for potential sleeper players. There could be proven scorers who missed significant time due to
major injuries, players switching to more skilled teams or more skilled linemates, players who stand to see
increased ice time or even a player you saw play that you just have a good feeling about.
The forward position will require different strategies for different positions, so we have subdivided this
category into each forward position. In addition, we will describe how to approach forwards who can play
more than one position.
Center
During the heyday of Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, and Steve Yzerman, center was easily the highest-
scoring position in hockey and the objective was to get your hands on as many as possible. Today, talent
seems to be spread more evenly between the three forward positions, but one must keep in mind the
additional value that a center iceman has. If your league uses “face-offs won” as a category, you will want to
draft as many centers as you possibly can to insert into the Forward or Utility positions. As long as you are
not sacrificing scoring, then use that strategy to your advantage, especially in head-to-head leagues. Other
leagues will use a “face-offs lost” category as well as a “face-offs won” category, so the key is to find
centermen that have high positive face-off differentials (face-offs won minus face-offs lost). Veterans whose
scoring has dropped in recent years such as Kris Draper, Mike Peca, and Joe Nieuwendyk now take on
additional value in this league because of their ability to win face-offs. Centers are plentiful, so there are
always talented ones on the waiver wire after the season starts.
Left Wing
At one time Luc Robitaille was the only elite scorer at left wing, but times have changed and so has the
depth at this position. The talent pool at left wing is still thinner than that of center and right wing, but now
snipers who skate down the left side such as Alexander Ovechkin, Dany Heatley, Ilya Kovalchuk, and
Henrik Zetterberg make excellent quality first and second-round picks. Even Markus Naslund, a player
whose value has dropped in the last couple years, is still a potentially high pick because of his LW position.
It is still a proven fact that there are fewer top-scoring left wingers than scorers at the other two forward
positions, so be sure that you don’t leave this position thin on draft day.

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Right Wing
An argument could be made that this position is thinner now than it has been in recent years, but you can
still find top-notch talent at this position. Lester B. Pearson Award winner Jaromir Jagr and Maurice Richard
Trophy winner Jonathan Cheechoo man the right side, so you will still find lots of talent on this side.
Forward Position Flexibility

Players such as Patrik Elias, Marian Gaborik, Pavol Demitra, and Shane Doan all receive additional
fantasy value because of their eligibility at more than one forward position. If you cannot draft a multi-
positional forward of this caliber early in your draft, then there are still plenty of mid to late-round forwards
available who can fill more than one position slot if needed (Pierre-Marc Bouchard is a great example of a
quality scorer who can play at all three forward positions).
Strategy 4 – Drafting with All Positions in Mind

Drafting a top-quality fantasy hockey team takes a lot of skill but anyone who is a first-timer in the game will
find out that there is a little bit of luck involved as well. Following your draft, always pay attention to your
league’s waiver wire. Many impatient owners will drop quality players too quickly who are not performing,
and there are always surprise players who no one expected to make valuable fantasy contributions. The
bottom line though is that drafting well ensures that you have the foundation in place to be a contender in
your league. Not drafting well will likely put your team behind early on, which will force you to make changes
through keeping up-to-date on the waiver wire and making shrewd trades.
Understand where your needs are at all positions. Don’t wait too long to draft at any one position. The
temptation may be to look for pure scorers, or to fill a position where the relative talent level is thin. If you
find you have too much depth at one position, swing a trade with another owner that has depth at another
position that you need. This kind of trade will be a no-brainer for both of you. Fantasy hockey is somewhat
different compared to other fantasy sports such as baseball, where players who contribute mainly in one
category such as saves and stolen bases come at a premium. Your best players will be your best players in
almost every category in fantasy hockey. Remember, if you can score more points and stop more pucks
than the other team(s), then you will win at this game.

SCORING CONCEPTS:
THT, A New Tool to Measure Offensive Production
The Holy Grail of sports is to find one number that encompasses everything a player does. In baseball, the
most stat driven sport around, there have been a few attempts such as Bill James Win Shares, and Pete
Palmers’ Linear Weights. As for hockey, we at FantasyHockey.com are unaware of any such successful
attempt to chronicle the overall skill-level of the men of the frozen pond. So yours-truly will try to find a way
to combine the measurable skills in the game of hockey into one metric which attempts to record a players
overall talents into one defined number. Whether a skater is a goal scorer, a passer, a bruiser or someone
who simply plays solid defense, the current endeavor will attempt to rate all skaters by one objective
standard to present the ultimate fantasy hockey player.
However, I will not try to come up with a metric that covers everything that is accomplished on a 200-foot
sheet of ice. I will endeavor to provide a new way of looking at a hockey players performance on the ice
geared toward understanding and relating the 4 categories that nearly every fantasy hockey league uses:
Goals (G), Assists (A), Penalty Minutes (PIM) and Plus/minus (+/-).
THE ISSUE
The problem in fantasy hockey, as in all sports, is finding a player who is good at all of the categories under
consideration. You can draft Mike Sillinger and watch him score 32 goals as he did in 2005-06 but are those
goals worth his (-17) rating? Or, you could have drafted John Erskine for his 161 PIMs, second in the league
amongst defensemen, but that number was likely balanced out by the measly point he scored last year, a
pathetic number that a few goalies surpass each season.
So what do you do? Well, everyone knows its best to draft players like Bryan McCabe (68 points, 116 PIMs)
or Shane Doan (66 points, 123 PIMs) who offer a combination of points and PIMs. But there are very few of
skaters who are capable of producing 100+ PIM while also scoring more than 50 points. In fact, there were
only ten such players last year. In addition, of the 61 players who managed to be involved in enough
shenanigans to earn 100 PIM, only 26 managed to earn a positive plus/minus (three players also were
even). This meant that in order to rack up the PIM you had to sink your teams plus/minus, so there was
always a need for a balancing act while setting up your lineup each week.
What if I told you that I might have devised a way for you to place all skaters, regardless of position or
playing style, on an even surface by taking into account the four aspects that make up the fantasy hockey
player (G, A, PIM, +/-)? Would you be interested? Thought you would.
PART I - THE SOLUTION

Obviously the best way to address this issue is to come up with some way of statistically measuring the four
categories that all fantasy hockey leagues use. In order to do just that I borrowed an idea from baseball
called normalization. Basically, normalization compares one aspect of something to another by placing the
comparison in context. In hockey this idea can be expressed by comparing what a player has done in a
particular season to the other players in the league during that same season. Back in the 1980’s you had to
score 120+ points to be on the leaderboard in scoring. In the “old” NHL prior to the lockout the past few
seasons, 120 points would have led the league by about 15. Today we are moving back toward the late 80’s

standard. Therefore, how can we compare a season of 120 points in 1985 to a season of 120 points in
2002? Well you cant really, unless you place the numbers in context. Through the process of normalization
You can do just that which enables you to compare a player directly to his competition and not to some
subjective standard that may not speak to the current situation.
STEP I – Determine the “Average” Players Marks

The best way to find a baseline for any season is to find out the basics of what went on in the league during
that season. As it pertains to our current discussion, here are the overall league totals for 2005-06.
GOALS: 7443
ASSISTS: 12878
PIM: 39435
Plus/Minus: (-341)
Before we move on let me address that last number, the (-341) plus/minus rating. Now, I’m sure some of
you out there are reading this and thinking ‘Ray has finally cracked. His poor mind couldn’t handle the stress
of all those spreadsheets and sleepless nights anymore.’ And while that might be true in a grand sense, it
doesn’t apply here. Even though common sense tells us that the NHL’s overall plus/minus mark should be
even, that isn’t the case. Let me spend a moment detailing why the above number is right even though it
seems counterintuitive.
Short-Handed Goals
1. Short-handed goals DO count toward plus/minus.
2. If a short-handed goal is scored, the attacking team, the one on offense, gets a (-5). The shorthanded
team gets a +4, which means a standard 4 on 5 shorthanded goal results in a (-1) overall.
3. A team might score a short-handed goal while two men down, further skewing the results. This could
result in a (-2) overall.
Delayed Penalties
If a team scores on a delayed penalty technically it is NOT a power-play situation yet. Therefore
the resulting 6 on 5, if a goal is scored, results in an uneven plus/minus total of (+1), and an
uneven plus/minus total of (-1) if the team with fewer skaters scores.
Empty Net Goals

1. In a standard situation, 6 on 5, there would be a discrepancy if a goal is scored. If the offense scores a
goal then it would result in an overall (+1), while if the defense scores it would result in an overall (-1) mark.
2. If an empty net situation arises and it is a 6 on 4 or 6 on 3 situation, a short-handed empty net goal would
result in an uneven plus/minus result of either (-2) or (-3). Likewise, the results would flip if the attacking
team scored.
Errors in Scoring
There is a chance that the score keepers occasionally incorrectly record the information from a game.
With that brief explanation of plus/minus, let’s get back to our attempt to render the accomplishments of
each player in one metric.
There were 870 skaters who laced em’ up during the 2005-06 season, give or take a couple of which a
might have skated a handful of shifts all year. Therefore, we will go with the figure of 870 as it pertains to the
present work and use it as our baseline figure. Using the above league totals we are able to establish what
the mythical “average” NHL player did in ‘05-‘06, all you need to do is to divide the leagues overall numbers
by our 870 player baseline. When this is done you will be able to determine what numbers the hypothetical
“average” NHL skater produced last season.
GOALS: 7443 / 870 = 8.6
ASSISTS: 12878 / 870 = 14.8
PIM: 39435 / 870 = 45.3
Plus/Minus: (-341) / 870 = (-.39)

So the “average” NHL skater in 2005-06 scored 8.6 G, dished out 14.8 A, earned 45.3 PIM and
had a +/- mark of (-.39).
STEP II – Adjust the Plus/Minus Totals

In order for the equation to work properly, we need to slightly adjust the +/- mark. Our “average” player
earned a (-.39) plus/minus mark. The reason that we need to adjust this number is that that if you multiply
two negative numbers together you get a positive. As an example Kyle Calder had a (-4) plus/minus rating
last year. If we multiply his plus/minus (-4) times the league “average” (-.39) we would get a positive 1.56,
giving Calder credit for a plus/minus mark below even. To rectify this issue, we will just use the difference
from EVEN that the average NHLer earned in 2005-06. Since (-.39) is actually .39 away from EVEN, we will
use the positive number of .39 for the “average” NHLer for the purpose of our equation.
STEP III – Divide the Players Marks by the “Average”

I will use the above numbers as the baseline to determine the relative value of each fantasy skater. As an
example let’s look at the NHL’s leading point producer and MVP, Joe Thornton.
In 2005-06 Thornton had 29 G, 96 A, 61 PIM and +31.
Let’s divide Thornton’s numbers by the “average” NHL players marks to see what we come up with.
Goals: 29/8.6 = 3.37
Assists: 96/14.8 = 6.49
PIM: 61/45.3 = 1.35
Plus/minus : 31(.39) = 12.09
We then simply add up these four numbers to earn our preliminary “score.”
3.37 + 6.49 + 1.35 + 12.09 = 23.30
However, one more step is necessary in order to make this equation work properly.
STEP IV – Adjust the +/- Totals

Through my attempts to equalize all four measurements in order for them to each provide ¼ of the overall
point total of the metric, I found out that the original formula was weighted too heavily toward +/-. The reason
for this is that the average NHL player produced a (-.39) mark, which means that there was too much
emphasis placed on the plus or minus mark in this four part equation (remember we will be using a positive
.39 for the purpose of our equation). In order to make +/- fit into the equation better, it was determined that
+/- would by divided by the number 4. In Thornton’s case this is how we would therefore figure out his
plus/minus mark for our equation:
Personal PIM / LgAVG PIM
31(.39) = 12.09
Then divide the result by 4.
12.09 / 4 = 3.02
Therefore, here is Thornton’s finally score:
3.37 + 6.49 + 1.35 + 3.02 = 14.23
Thornton’s mark for the 2005-06 season was 14.23.
Here is the formulaic representation of the equation:

(Goals / LgAvg per player) + (Assists / LgAvg per player) + (PIM / LgAvg per
player) + [(PlusMinus x LgAvg per Player) / 4]
*** Please realize that each year the baseline numbers will change. Therefore, all you need to do is go
through the same process I just described each year to formulate the appropriate baseline numbers.
I know it seems a bit complicated but it really isn’t. You just take all of the four categories and divide them by
the league average for each stat for the specific year you are working with.
THE NAME
What to call this new all-inclusive stat was the next question. I thought to myself which player personified
what it meant to be a complete hockey player? The name that came to mind was of course Gordie Howe.
Howe was the ultimate all-around performer and would have been a fantasy players dream pick if he had
played during a time when the fantasy game existed. Howe was famous for the “Gordie Howe Hat Trick”
during his playing days, a play on the traditional hat-trick (where a player scored 3 goals in one game). The
“Gordie Howe Hat-Trick” consisted of a goal an assist and a fight. So in honor of Howe, I decided to call my
all-inclusive stat THE HAT TRICK, or THT.
THE LEADERS
With THT thoroughly explained, let us go about listing for the overall leaders from the 2005-06 season,
regardless of position.
Top 25 Overall G A Pts +/- PIM THT

Jaromir Jagr 54 69 123 34 72 15.85
Joe Thornton 29 96 125 31 61 14.23
Dany Heatley 50 53 103 29 86 14.12
Daniel Alfredsson 43 60 103 29 50 12.99
B. Shanahan 40 41 81 29 105 12.57
J. Cheechoo 56 37 93 23 58 12.53
Brenden Morrow 23 42 65 30 183 12.48
Teemu Selanne 40 50 90 28 44 11.73
Simon Gagne 47 32 79 31 38 11.49
Marian Hossa 39 53 92 17 67 11.25
Olli Jokinen 38 51 89 14 88 11.17
Michael Nylander 23 56 79 31 76 11.16
Henrik Zetterberg 39 46 85 29 30 11.13
Sidney Crosby 39 63 102 -1 110 11.12
Brian Gionta 48 41 89 18 46 11.12
A. Ovechkin 52 54 106 2 52 11.04
Marc Savard 28 69 97 7 100 10.81
Andy McDonald 34 51 85 24 32 10.45
Pavel Datsyuk 28 59 87 26 22 10.26
Mike Knuble 34 31 65 25 80 10.25
Jason Arnott 32 44 76 13 102 10.21
M. Schneider 21 38 59 33 86 10.13
Ilya Kovalchuk 52 46 98 -6 68 10.07
Mike Modano 27 50 77 23 58 10.04
Jason Spezza 19 71 90 23 33 9.98
Only one defensemen made the top 25 overall and that was Mathieu Schneider of the Red Wings who
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finished in 22 place. Schneider was also the lowest scoring player on the list with 59 points, meaning that
his overall games was exemplary to compensate for his offensive shortcomings. Only two players, Sidney
Crosby (#14) and Ilya Kovalchuk (#23) with a negative plus//minus make the list, Crosby because of his
points and PIMs, Kovalchuk because of his goals and points. With 22 penalty minutes, Pavel Datsyuk earns
the 19th spot overall despite having the lowest PIM total of the top 25 skaters. The NHL’s top two regular
season scorers also battled for the top THT spot, though the order here is different with Jaromir Jagr
finishing slightly ahead of Joe Thornton.

Now for the top 25 Forwards from 2005-06. I could just repeat the above table, but really, since only one
player needs to be removed, defensemen Mathieu Schneider, all I need to do is to list the one forward who
didn’t make the top 25 overall list. That skater, the 25th forward overall, is the Hurricanes Eric Staal who
scored 45 goals, had 55 assists, posted a (-8) and recorded 81 PIMs, good for a THT mark of 9.96.
Here are the top 25 defensemen from 2005-06.
Top 25
Defensemen G A Pts +/- PIM THT
M. Schneider 21 38 59 33 86 10.13
Nicklas Lidstrom 16 64 80 21 50 9.34
Wade Redden 10 40 50 35 63 8.67
Sergei Zubov 13 58 71 20 46 8.40
Zdeno Chara 16 27 43 17 135 8.32
Philippe Boucher 16 27 43 28 77 8.11
Bryan McCabe 19 49 68 -1 116 7.98
S. Niedermayer 13 50 63 8 96 7.79
Andrej Meszaros 10 29 39 34 61 7.78
Michal Rozsival 5 25 30 35 90 7.67
Joni Pitkanen 13 33 46 22 78 7.61
L. Visnovsky 17 50 67 7 50 7.14
Dion Phaneuf 20 29 49 5 93 6.83
Brian Pothier 5 30 35 29 59 6.74
Jaroslav Spacek 12 31 43 11 96 6.68
Andy Sutton 8 17 25 13 144 6.53
Andrei Markov 10 36 46 13 74 6.50
Marek Zidlicky 12 37 49 8 82 6.49
Rob Blake 14 37 51 2 94 6.40
Mike Van Ryn 8 29 37 15 90 6.34
Chris Pronger 12 44 56 2 74 6.20
Tomas Kaberle 9 58 67 -1 46 5.88
Joe Corvo 14 26 40 16 38 5.78
Marek Malik 2 16 18 28 78 5.77
Tom Preissing 11 32 43 17 26 5.67
Two players really stand out at the top of the list, leader Schneider and teammate Nicklas Lidstrom, the
only two defensive skaters in the NHL to post a THT of over 9.00 last season. The #3 and 5 spots are also
occupied by teammates, Wade Redden and Zdeno Chara of Ottawa, though they won’t get a chance to
duplicate those numbers this year since Chara signed with Boston. A little further down the list, two other
Senators make an appearance in the top 25, Andrej Meszaros (#9) and Brain Pothier (#14). Like Chara,
Pothier also left this offseason though he chose to sign with Washington. However, in order to replace Chara
and Pothier, the Sens went out and singed the #23 and 25 skaters on the list, Joe Corvo and Tom
Preissing. Maple Leafs teammates Bryan McCabe (#7) and Tomas Kaberle (#22) were the only two
players to make the list with a negative plus/minus (they both recorded a -1 mark). And finally, the lowest
scoring d-man on the list was Marek Malik (#24) who totaled only 18 points on the season.
So there you have it, THT. However, before we leave this idea let me add one more wrinkle to the mix.
PART II- THT per GAME

Now that we have established what THT is, I felt it would be wise to break down the skaters production one
step further. THT records a players overall totals based on his full seasons worth of production, which is
what really matters in the fantasy game. However, what if a top-notch performer was injured and didn’t play
a full compliment of games, someone like Peter Forsberg for example? Obviously if a skater didn’t appear in
the majority of games he has little or no chance to show up on the leaderboard at his position when looking
at overall production. So that’s why I decided to break down THT even further, to THT per Game.
th
As an example, Joni Pitkanen had a THT mark of 7.61, good for 11 amongst all D men. The reason
Pitkanen isn’t higher on the THT list is because an injury limited him to only 58 games last season. However,
if we measure Pitkanen THT per Game, a whole other story emerges.

Pitkanen’s THT mark was 7.61.

He played in 58 games.
Therefore, to determine his THT per Game mark we simply divide 7.61 / 58 = .131
th
A THT per Game of .131 places Pitkanen as the 5 best THT per Game played by a defenseman in the NHL
in 2005-06, a jump of 6 spots above his overall THT mark.
THT per Game = THT / Games Played
With that explanation, here are the top 25 Overall THT per Game Leaders (min. 25 GP).
THT/
Top 25 Overall GP G A Pts +/- PIM THT GAME
Jaromir Jagr 82 54 69 123 34 72 15.85 .193
Joe Thornton 81 29 96 125 31 61 14.23 .176
Dany Heatley 82 50 53 103 29 86 14.12 .172
Daniel Alfredsson 77 43 60 103 29 50 12.99 .169
Simon Gagne 72 47 32 79 31 38 11.49 .160
Brenden Morrow 81 23 42 65 30 183 12.48 .154
B. Shanahan 82 40 41 81 29 105 12.57 .153
J. Cheechoo 82 56 37 93 23 58 12.53 .153
Peter Forsberg 60 19 56 75 21 46 9.06 .151
Jason Spezza 68 19 71 90 23 33 9.98 .147
Teemu Selanne 80 40 50 90 28 44 11.73 .147
Henrik Zetterberg 77 39 46 85 29 30 11.13 .145
Pavol Demitra 58 25 37 62 21 42 8.38 .145
Erik Cole 60 30 29 59 19 54 8.49 .142
M. Schneider 72 21 38 59 33 86 10.13 .141
Marian Hossa 80 39 53 92 17 67 11.25 .141
Patrik Elias 38 16 29 45 11 20 5.33 .140
Michael Nylander 81 23 56 79 31 76 11.16 .138
Sidney Crosby 81 39 63 102 -1 110 11.12 .137
Pavel Datsyuk 75 28 59 87 26 22 10.26 .137
A. Ovechkin 81 52 54 106 2 52 11.04 .136
Olli Jokinen 82 38 51 89 14 88 11.17 .136
Ladislav Nagy 51 15 41 56 8 74 6.93 .136
Brian Gionta 82 48 41 89 18 46 11.12 .136
Daniel Briere 48 25 33 58 3 48 6.49 .135
As you can tell, there are quite a few NHL players who last season performed at a very high level even
though their time on ice was curtailed by injury. The player with the fewest games on the list is #25 man
Daniel Briere of the Sabres. If Briere had played all of last season, 82 games, and produced points at the
same rate he did in his limited action, he would have totaled 99 points. Ladislav Nagy (#23) was similarly
on his way to a career best season before he injured his knee. Patrick Elias (#17), who had all sorts of
health related issues last season, was obviously still performing at a high rate when he was actually on the
ice for the Devils. Other players who played in less than 70 games but make the top 25 THT per Game list
include: Peter Forsberg (#9), Jason Spezza (#10), Pavol Demitra (#13) and Erik Cole (#14). And once
again, Mathieu Schneider was the only defensemen to make the top 25 overall.
Now on to the top 25 forwards.
Again, only one extra player needs to be mentioned since 24 of the top 25 overall in THT per Game were
forwards. That man was an unlikely source indeed considering he skated for the Penguins and was not
named Sidney Crosby. The player who comes in at #25 amongst all forwards in THT per Game is rookie
Colby Armstrong who scored 16 goals, added 24 assists, posted a +15 and massed 58 PIMs in only 47
games, good for a THT per Game of .132 (Armstrong finished mere decimal points ahead of the 26th man
overall Marc Savard by the score of .13245 to .13180, though both round off to .132).

Next, here are the top 25 defensemen from last season.
Top 25 THT/
Defensemen GP G A Pts +/- PIM THT GAME
M. Schneider 72 21 38 59 33 86 10.13 .141
Wade Redden 65 10 40 50 35 63 8.67 .133
Joni Pitkanen 58 13 33 46 22 78 7.61 .131
Philippe Boucher 66 16 27 43 28 77 8.11 .123
Zdeno Chara 71 16 27 43 17 135 8.32 .117
Nicklas Lidstrom 80 16 64 80 21 50 9.34 .117
Bryan McCabe 73 19 49 68 -1 116 7.98 .109
Sergei Zubov 78 13 58 71 20 46 8.40 .108
Andrei Markov 67 10 36 46 13 74 6.50 .097
Marek Zidlicky 67 12 37 49 8 82 6.49 .097
S. Niedermayer 82 13 50 63 8 96 7.79 .095
Andrej Meszaros 82 10 29 39 34 61 7.78 .095
Michal Rozsival 82 5 25 30 35 90 7.67 .094
L. Visnovsky 80 17 50 67 7 50 7.14 .089
Shea Weber 28 2 8 10 8 42 2.48 .089
Jaroslav Spacek 76 12 31 43 11 96 6.68 .088
Brian Pothier 77 5 30 35 29 59 6.74 .088
Niklas Kronwall 27 1 8 9 11 28 2.35 .087
Andy Sutton 76 8 17 25 13 144 6.53 .086
Dion Phaneuf 82 20 29 49 5 93 6.83 .083
Roman Hamrlik 51 7 19 26 8 56 4.11 .081
Mike Van Ryn 80 8 29 37 15 90 6.34 .079
Rob Blake 81 14 37 51 2 94 6.40 .079
Marek Malik 74 2 16 18 28 78 5.77 .078
Aaron Johnson 26 2 6 8 9 23 2.02 .078
Wade Redden moves up to 2nd per game from his #3 overall position. He might not have had the best
overall numbers of any defensemen, but if had performed at that level all year, he certainly could have. The
#3 man on the list, Joni Pitkanen, also had an amazing run in his rather limited playing time. A little further
down the list we have three skaters who all skated in less than 30 contest but nonetheless still participated
in more than 25 games, the number required for inclusion in this study. Shea Weber (#15) skated in relative
anonymity in Nashville and put up some excellent numbers in his rookie season despite being lost behind
big-time point scorers Kimmo Timonen (.067) and Marek Zidlicky (#10). Niklas Kronwall (#18) of the Red
Wings dressed for 27 games and was greatly aided by his +11 rating. And finally Aaron Johnson (#25) of
Columbus also posted nearly identical numbers in his 26 games as Weber and Kronwell. Three men were
tied for 26th overall; Chris Pronger, Alexei Zhitnik and Tom Preissing at .077.
CONCLUSION
So there you have it, my attempt to record the four most universally used hockey statistics in the fantasy
game (goals, assists, PIMs and plus/minus) by one objective standard. Whether or not I was successful will
have to wait for a further discussion but in the least I think we were able to review some of the performances
of last years top fantasy performers. So what is the value of THT in fantasy hockey? Well, honestly, it’s a bit
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limited in that it is not a predictive tool. Just because Mike Modano was the 24 best overall THT performer
last season does not mean he will once again finish in the top 25. All it means is that last year, Modano was
darn good. Now of course THT might help you to rank players as you head into your fantasy draft, and that
would probably be an excellent use of the tool, especially when one looks at the THT per Game scores in
attempting to ferret out some of the possible fantasy bargains of 2006-07. In the end The Hat Trick is but
one more tool to add to your bag o’ tricks. Perhaps it can help give you that extra little bit you need to get
over the hump to win your leagues version of the Stanley Cup. And if its not, well perhaps it’s time for me to
visit a happy place as I try to recapture what was once a formidable intellect before I got wrapped up in all
those spreadsheets and numbers. I wonder if they serve Pina Colada’s in the happy place?

Z-transformations: Using Last Year’s Stats More Effectively

Contributed By: Glenn Thompson
The keys to winning a fantasy championship in a competitive league are (a) luck and (b) accurate player
rankings. We can try to minimize risk by avoiding concussion cases like Eric Lindros, but luck is otherwise
out of our control. Fortunately, we CAN control the way we rank players. Better rankings translate into better
decisions during the draft and during the season. Better decisions lead to a better team and (with luck) a
better result at the end of the season.
Most player rankings are based on past or projected statistical performance. At some point, even vague
‘hunches’ have to be mapped onto some numbers. I wrote this article based on the premise that improved
understanding of these numbers will lead to improved rankings. I believe that this can be achieved by
mastering a few relatively simple ‘statistical’ concepts. These concepts set the stage for discussing a
mathematical procedure known as the Z-transformation. Why should you care about the Z-transformation?
You should care because it allows you to combine “apples and oranges”. I call them ‘appranges’ and they
are delicious.
If someone offers you a trade, then you may want to know if you are getting the better end of the deal ‘on
average’ across all the relevant statistical categories. For instance, someone may offer you Marty Turco
(Good GAA, Relatively Poor SV% in ‘05-‘06) in exchange for Roberto Luongo (Relatively poor GAA, and
good SV% in ‘05-‘06). Using the Z-transformation, it is possible to determine which player is the best across
both categories. First, GAA and SV% are translated into Z-scores and then they are combined. The
combined Z-score for each player can be used to determine which goalie is better across the board (for the
answer, see Table 6). Researchers do this type of thing all the time when analyzing scientific data. Why
can’t you?
Other interesting questions can be answered with Z-transformed statistics as well. For example, you may
wonder if you should draft a star forward before a star goalie in the first round. Believe it or not, it is possible
to directly compare the two based on their past or projected statistical performance. Is Joe Thornton better
at scoring goals (goals) than Miikka Kiprusoff is at keeping the puck out of the net (SV%)? The Z-
transformation lets you answer this question. If you want, you can compute an average Z-score for each
player using relevant categories (e.g. +/-, PIM, shooting percentage for Thornton; GAA, SV%, Winning
Percentage for Kipprusoff). This average Z-statistic allows the global value of Thronton and Kipprusoff to be
compared. Alternatively, you may want to know which statistical category a player contributes to the most.
For example, is Kiprusoff’s GAA better than his SV%? Again, the Z-transformation lets you answer this
question.
Are you interested yet?

PART I – Will describe why you should bother with Z-scores.
PART II – Will rank the goalies & skaters based on this data.
PART – I
To illustrate the value of Z-transformations, I elected to analyze the ‘05-‘06 performance data for goalies.
Obviously, these data points are relatively poor projections for the ‘06-‘07 season. Ideally, I would analyze
data provided by a reputable source for player projections. However, I couldn’t find any such statistics in
spreadsheet form (for free anyway). The ‘05-‘06 stats will have to do (Source: NHL.com). I wanted to base
my work on reliable data so I excluded goalies with fewer than 27 games played from the analysis.
It will be easier to understand the meaning of Z-scores if I begin with the simplest method for using statistics
to rank players. From there, I will consider various ways of enriching the statistics and therefore the
rankings. Our ultimate destination is the Z-transformed statistic and the composite scores I alluded to above.
How do the players rank?
The simplest way to rank players is to sort them on a relevant statistical category. For example, I can rank
Goalies based on their GAA during the 05-06 season (see Table 1). If I wish, I can compare Thornton and
Kiprusoff by comparing their ranks (e.g. 1st in pts vs 1st in GAA). Of course, if we rely on ranks, we are
ignoring the difference between 1st place and 2nd place, which may be 3 points or 30 points for forwards. In
other words, we lose some information by using this strategy. Simple ‘ranks’ ignore valuable information.
How do they compare to the average?
Another strategy is needed that preserves the size of the difference between player statistics. One possibility
would be to compute a ratio between a player’s GAA and the average GAA for the league (GAA+ = League
GAA / Player GAA). For GAA+, the league average is 1. Anything greater than 1 is better than average and
anything less than 1 is below average (See Table). Obviously, we can compute similar ratios for any kind of
statistic (for e.g. points per game). We could then compare Thornton and Kiprusoff on the basis their ratio
scores.
Consider the following fictional example. Suppose Thornton scored 2 times more points than the average
forward and Kiprusoff maintained a personal GAA that was 1.5 times better than the league average.
According to these numbers, Thornton should be considered the more valuable player. The problem with
this interpretation is that the scale of the two statistics is different. It might be extremely rare for a goalie to
produce a GAA that is 1.5 times lower than average. Conversely, it might be extremely common for skaters
to score 2 times the league average. Should we be impressed if someone is six-times better than average?
The ratio strategy doesn’t provide an answer to this question.
Is the player’s statistic exceptional?
Many players are “above average”. The next logical question might be: How rare is the value? Is it
replaceable? We can try to answer this question by eye-balling the data. However, it is possible to transform
statistical categories like GAA so that this information is captured numerically. The mathematical procedure
that accomplishes this task is called a Z-transformation. I will call the modified GAA statistic Z_GAA (see
Table 1).
Table 1. Top 20 Goaltenders based on GAA (minimum 27 games played)

Rank Name Games GAA GAA + Z_GAA
1 MIIKKA KIPRUSOFF 74 2.07 1.39 -2.02
2 DOMINIK HASEK 43 2.09 1.38 -1.98
3 MANNY LEGACE 51 2.19 1.32 -1.73
4 CRISTOBAL HUET 36 2.2 1.31 -1.71
5 HENRIK LUNDQVIST 53 2.24 1.29 -1.61
6 MANNY FERNANDEZ 58 2.29 1.26 -1.49
7 ILJA BRYZGALOV 31 2.51 1.15 -0.946
8 MARTY TURCO 68 2.55 1.13 -0.847
9 VESA TOSKALA 37 2.56 1.13 -0.823

10 MARTIN BRODEUR 73 2.57 1.12 -0.798

11 RYAN MILLER 48 2.6 1.11 -0.725
12 J GIGUERE 60 2.66 1.08 -0.578
13 CURTIS SANFORD 34 2.66 1.08 -0.578
14 TOMAS VOKOUN 61 2.67 1.08 -0.553
15 DWAYNE ROLOSON 43 2.73 1.06 -0.406
16 CHRIS OSGOOD 32 2.76 1.04 -0.332
17 TIM THOMAS 38 2.77 1.04 -0.308
18 MARTIN GERBER 60 2.78 1.04 -0.283
19 SEAN BURKE 35 2.8 1.03 -0.234
20 RAY EMERY 39 2.82 1.02 -0.185
Explaining Z_GAA
If you examine Table 1 closely, you will notice that the statistics GAA, GAA+, and Z_GAA produce identical
top 20 rankings. The difference lies in the information contained in the numbers. GAA tells you how many
goals a particular goalie allows every game (3 periods). GAA+ tells you how much a goalie’s GAA differs
from average. For example, GAA+ tells us that the average NHL goalie with 27+games in ‘05-‘06 allowed
1.39 times as many goals per game as Miikka Kiprusoff.
GAA+ is more useful than GAA because it captures the league average within each value (above average >
1 < below average). Similarly, Z_GAA is more useful than GAA+ because it captures both (a) the league
average and (b) the average difference between player GAA and league GAA. The average summarizes all
the values in a statistical category (Player GAAs). The ‘average difference’ or ‘Standard Deviation’
summarizes the differences between player GAA and league GAA [ (Player GAAs) – (League GAA) ].
Consider the following sets of numbers. The average score for each set is 6.
Set 1: 5, 6, 7
Set 2: 4, 6, 8
How do these two sets of numbers differ? The answer is: their ‘average difference’ or ‘standard deviation’ is
different. For Set 1, the standard deviation is 1. For Set 2, the standard deviation is 2.
The standard deviation is largest for the set of numbers with the largest differences between numbers.
The larger the ‘average difference’, the more common large differences are. We can apply a general version
of this observation to real hockey data. If large differences between goalie GAA and league GAA are
common, then only extremely large differences should be considered important. Conversely, if large
differences between player GAAs are rare, then even small differences should be considered important.
The ‘extremeness’ of a player statistic can be quantified by translating GAA into a Z score. The Z
transformation standardizes GAA by rescaling the category so that its average is 0 and its average
difference is 1. We can tell if a goalie’s GAA is extreme by comparing his Z_GAA to 1 or -1. If his Z_GAA is
within +1 and -1, then the score is closer to the league average than that of the average player. If Z_GAA is
less than -1 or more than +1, then his GAA score is more extreme than that of the average goalie.
According to Table 1, each goalie in the top 20 has a GAA that is below the average (low being good).
However, only 6 goalies (Kiprusoff, Hasek, Legace, Huet, Lundqvist, Fernandez) are further away from the
league GAA than the average goalie. According to the same Z_GAA statistic, Miikka Kiprusoff’s GAA is
about 2 times further from the league GAA than that of the average player. Obviously, Kiprusoff’s GAA is
exceptional.
Of course, you didn’t need a special statistic to tell you that. The main advantage of the Z-transformation is
that it allows the direct comparison of two variables that are fundamentally different. How is this possible?
Combining Apples and Oranges
The Z-transformation gives all variables the same ‘average’ (i.e. 0) and the same average difference
between player stats and league stats (i.e. 1). If I apply the Z-transformation to GAA and Save Percentage,

then they will be on the same scale, regardless of what the actual statistic measures. Not only will the
averages be identical, but the numbers will also mean the same thing. In this case, the value 1 (+ or -)
represents the average difference between player statistics and the league average. The value 2 (or -2)
represents double the average difference, etc (…). This is true whether we are dealing with Z_GAA or
Z_SV% or any other Z transformed statistic.
Thus, we can directly compare different statistical categories by applying a Z-transformation. Even more
interestingly, we can COMBINE statistical categories that have been Z-transformed. Combining GAA and
SV% would be like combining apples and oranges. In fact, combining GAA+ and SV+ is just as problematic.
However, combining Z_GAA and Z_SV% is fine because the Z scale means the same thing in both cases.
We just have to modify all statistical categories so that high values (+) are good and low (-) values are bad.
Once this is done, we apply the Z-transform and add everything together. The result is a single score that
summarizes a player’s relative standing on all statistical categories. In conjunction with expected playing
time (e.g. games played), this global measure is a fair estimate of a goalie’s overall value.
PART II – Z score Rankings for Goalies, Defenseman, Forwards

Before applying Z-score transformations, we need to (a) select relevant variables, and (b) make sure ‘count’
categories like goals and assists are converted into averages. Some common statistical categories for
goalies in fantasy hockey are GAA, SV%, Wins, and Shutouts. I converted wins and shutouts into
percentages so that comparisons between players are fair. For this reason, you will need the number of
games played to modify your interpretation of the Z_Win% and Z_SO%. Obviously, goalies that play more
will record more wins and shutouts when all other things are equal. In addition, the GAA and SV% of such
goalies are weighted more heavily in the computation of team statistics. In other words, don’t forget to
consider games played when interpreting the statistics.
For skaters (forwards, defensemen), I elected to use the following categories: Goals Per Game (GPG),
Assists Per Game (APG), Plus/Minus Per Game (+/-PG), Penalty Minutes per game (PIMPG), Power Play
Points Per Game (PPGPG), Game Winning Goals per game (GWGG). Obviously, I converted goals, assists,
PIM, etc. into percentages to put these statistics on the same basis for all players. Again, you need to
consider games played when interpreting statistics based on such data.
For Tables 2 through 4 below, I have provided a list for goalies, defensemen, and forwards. In each case,
the players are ranked according to their average Z-score across all the categories used. These Z-scores
were computed separately for all three groups. I have also provided the Z-score value for each statistical
value to allow for maximum flexibility in making comparisons between players. I will provide a few sample
interpretations so that everyone gets a feel for how it works.
Comparing Statistical Values within an Individual Player

Check out Kiprusoff’s Z-score statistics in Table 2. He differs most from the other goalies on the Z_SO%
statistics, 2.20. This means that he is 2.20 times further from the average Shutouts per game than the
average goalie. Kiprusoff’s Z_GAA (-2.02) indicates that his goals-against-average is similarly impressive. In
contrast, the Z_W% indicates that his winning percentage is a pedestrian 1.07 times greater than average.
Thus, most of Kiprusoff’s value lies in his GAA and Shutout production.
Notice that I skipped over Cristobal Huet in the goalie list despite the fact he is ranked first? He only played
36 games so I decided that Kiprusoff’s statistics were more worthy of examination.
Comparing Statistical Values between Players, Within and Across Categories

First, let’s compare the GAA of two goalies: Kiprusoff (Z_GAA = -2.02) and Andrew Raycroft (Z_GAA =
2.00). Both values are about twice as far from the league average than the GAA of the average goalie. In
fact, both statistics are equally rare or exceptional. The difference lies in the fact that Kiprusoff is better than
average and Raycroft is significantly worse than average. In sum, Kiprusoff’s GAA is as good as Raycroft’s
is bad.
Let’s go crazy and compare Kiprusoff’s GAA to Jaromir Jagr’s goal per game production. The Z_GAA for
Kiprusoff is -2.02 and the Z_GPG for Jagr is 3.16. This means that Jagr’s goal per game production is more
rare or exceptional among forwards than Kiprusoff’s GAA is among goalies. Obviously, you still have to
factor in the fact that your fantasy team will have several forwards and only 2 goalies, making the later
intrinsically more valuable. Nevertheless, I think I have made it clear that Z-scores allow you to compare
anything numerically and get a clear interpretation.

Comparing Average Z-scores

Who is the best skater regardless of position based on last year’s statistics? The average Z-scores indicate
that Brian McCabe’s production as a defenseman (Z_average = 2.13) was just as exceptional as that of
Jaromir Jagr as a forward (2.16). Thus, Jagr may have better statistics than McCabe in many categories, but
both players are equally irreplaceable at their respective positions. In other words, you will have just as
difficult a time finding a way to replace McCabe’s production in your lineup as you will by trying to replace
Jagr’s.
Of course, player productivity changes from year to year, but the best predictor of future behavior is past
behavior.
Conclusions
I have presented a way of modifying traditional statistics so as to make them more informative. This
mathematical procedure is called Z-score transformation.
Z-transformed statistics like Z_GAA and Z_SV% can be directly compared and even combined because
they ‘mean’ the same thing (i.e. share the same scale). Possible comparisons include (a) within-player
cross-category comparisons (e.g. Turco’s GAA vs. Turco’s SV%) and (b) between-player cross-category
(e.g. Turco’s GAA vs. Kiprusoff’s SV%; or Brodeur’s GAA vs Thornton’s shooting percentage). All Z
transformed categories may be combined to form composite measures. These composite performance
measures allow players to be ranked and compared based on their overall value.
In closing, I would like to acknowledge that Z transformed statistics don’t tell the whole story. First, you need
to be analyzing reliable statistics. For this analysis, I used ‘05-‘06 data. The usefulness of this data is limited
by the fact productivity changes from season to season, roles change, injuries happen and rookies enter the
league. Second, the Z-scores do not replace hunches concerning breakout performances or dramatic
declines. However, the hunches can be translated into numbers that will either be transformed by the Z-
score (e.g. projected GAA) or modify the interpretation of the Z-score (e.g. Projected Games
played). Finally, Z-scores ignore team schedules as well as hot and cold streaks. This information doesn’t
replace management. It should enhance team management.
Table 2. Z-score values for GAA, SV%, Win%, and Shutout % (SO%) for all goalies with 27+ games played,
ranked according to their average Z-score value.
Z-Rank Name Games Z_GAA Z_SV% Z_W% Z_SO% Z-Average

1 CRISTOBAL HUET 36 -1.71 2.13 0.18 3.63 1.91
2 MIIKKA KIPRUSOFF 74 -2.02 1.66 1.07 2.20 1.74
3 DOMINIK HASEK 43 -1.98 1.82 1.30 1.75 1.71
4 MANNY LEGACE 51 -1.73 1.03 1.64 2.25 1.66
5 HENRIK LUNDQVIST 53 -1.61 1.58 1.23 -0.14 1.07
6 TOMAS VOKOUN 61 -0.55 1.35 0.97 0.53 0.85
7 MARTIN BRODEUR 73 -0.80 0.72 0.80 0.60 0.73
8 MANNY FERNANDEZ 58 -1.49 1.35 0.41 -0.64 0.65
9 VESA TOSKALA 37 -0.82 -0.07 1.18 0.25 0.55
10 CHRIS OSGOOD 32 -0.33 -0.38 1.61 0.45 0.50
11 MARTIN GERBER 60 -0.28 0.33 1.21 0.15 0.49
12 RYAN MILLER 48 -0.73 0.96 0.82 -0.55 0.49
13 RAY EMERY 39 -0.19 0.01 0.87 0.80 0.47
14 J GIGUERE 60 -0.58 0.72 0.79 -0.25 0.46
15 CURTIS SANFORD 34 -0.58 0.48 -0.50 1.07 0.41
16 MARTY TURCO 68 -0.85 -0.30 0.73 0.01 0.32
17 TIM THOMAS 38 -0.31 1.19 -0.09 -0.42 0.25
18 ROBERTO LUONGO 75 0.18 0.96 -0.02 0.23 0.25
19 MARTIN BIRON 35 -0.01 0.25 0.81 -0.36 0.18
20 CURTIS JOSEPH 60 0.04 0.01 -0.05 0.55 0.12
21 PETER BUDAJ 34 -0.09 -0.14 -0.01 0.37 0.08

22 ILJA BRYZGALOV 31 -0.95 0.64 -1.15 -0.27 0.04

23 DAVID AEBISCHER 50 0.48 -0.22 0.26 0.39 -0.01
24 KARI LEHTONEN 38 0.11 0.33 -0.53 0.22 -0.02
25 DWAYNE ROLOSON 43 -0.41 0.48 -1.24 0.07 -0.07
26 ROBERT ESCHE 40 0.18 -0.38 0.72 -0.45 -0.07
27 ANTERO NIITTYMAKI 46 0.18 -0.54 0.35 0.00 -0.09
28 SEAN BURKE 35 -0.23 -0.54 -0.63 0.32 -0.15
29 JOHN GRAHAME 57 0.40 -1.01 -0.53 1.06 -0.22
30 ALEXANDER AULD 67 0.11 0.01 -0.06 -1.05 -0.30
31 MATHIEU GARON 63 0.80 -0.61 -0.42 0.48 -0.34
32 RICK DIPIETRO 63 0.31 -0.14 -0.28 -0.67 -0.35
33 JASON LABARBERA 29 -0.01 -0.14 -1.18 -0.22 -0.38
34 KEVIN WEEKES 32 0.13 -0.54 -0.49 -1.05 -0.55
35 PATRICK LALIME 31 1.83 -1.64 2.09 -1.05 -0.60
36 PASCAL LECLAIRE 33 0.82 0.72 -1.38 -1.05 -0.63
37 MARC DENIS 49 0.87 -0.14 -1.18 -0.56 -0.69
38 EVGENI NABOKOV 45 0.50 -1.32 -0.66 -0.52 -0.75
39 ED BELFOUR 49 0.97 -0.77 -0.49 -1.05 -0.82
40 M-A FLEURY 50 0.87 -0.30 -1.76 -0.57 -0.87
41 JUSSI MARKKANEN 37 0.58 -1.71 -0.18 -1.05 -0.88
42 OLAF KOLZIG 59 1.56 -0.46 -0.54 -1.05 -0.90
43 JOSE THEODORE 43 1.26 -1.56 -0.26 -1.05 -1.03
44 NIKOLAI KHABIBULIN 50 1.12 -1.24 -1.08 -1.05 -1.12
45 CRAIG ANDERSON 29 1.04 -1.24 -2.05 -0.22 -1.14
46 CAM WARD 28 1.92 -1.56 -0.15 -1.05 -1.17
47 ANDREW RAYCROFT 30 2.00 -1.79 -2.15 -1.05 -1.75
Table 3. Defensemen Z-score values for Goals Per Game (GPG), Assists Per Game (APG), Plus/Minus Per
Game (+/-PG), Penalty Minutes per game (PIMPG), Power Play Points Per Game (PPGPG), Game Winning
Goals per game (GWGG), and average overall Z-score rank.
Z-Rank Name GM Z_ Z_ Z_ Z_ Z_ Z_ Z-
GPG APG +/-PG PIMPG PPGPG GWGPG Average
1 BRYAN MCCABE 73 2.53 2.38 -0.26 1.96 2.65 3.51 2.13
2 MATHIEU SCHNEIDER 72 3.04 1.31 2.26 0.82 2.12 2.04 1.93
3 DION PHANEUF 82 2.27 0.02 0.14 0.64 3.01 3.69 1.63
4 WADE REDDEN 65 0.82 1.96 2.69 0.16 1.49 2.37 1.58
5 ZDENO CHARA 71 1.97 0.22 1.09 2.87 1.87 1.3 1.55
6 JONI PITKANEN 58 1.95 1.62 1.84 1.25 0.72 1.83 1.54
7 PHILIPPE BOUCHER 66 2.25 0.43 2.08 0.74 1.46 1.48 1.41
8 NICKLAS LIDSTROM 80 1.56 3.34 1.22 -0.84 1.27 0.35 1.15
9 ED JOVANOVSKI 44 1.27 1.61 -1.16 1.18 1.77 1.48 1.03
10 SCOTT NIEDERMAYER 82 0.89 1.92 0.33 0.75 1.22 0.99 1.02
11 MAREK ZIDLICKY 67 1.22 1.5 0.45 0.9 2.04 -0.21 0.99
12 LUBOMIR VISNOVSKY 80 1.76 2.04 0.28 -0.84 1.54 1.04 0.97
13 BRYAN BERARD 44 2.74 0.77 -3.71 -0.54 4.16 1.48 0.82
14 CHRIS PRONGER 80 0.75 1.48 -0.05 0.03 1.54 1.04 0.8
15 SERGEI GONCHAR 75 0.92 1.95 -1.12 1.22 1.15 0.44 0.76
16 SERGEI ZUBOV 78 1.02 2.92 1.18 -0.94 1.33 -1.03 0.75
17 SAMI SALO 59 1.07 0.29 0.63 -0.78 2.11 0.84 0.69

18 ANDREI MARKOV 67 0.74 1.39 0.85 0.55 0.79 -0.21 0.69

19 ANDY SUTTON 76 0.03 -0.94 0.73 2.85 -0.54 1.15 0.55
20 ROB BLAKE 81 1.12 0.79 -0.06 0.72 0.73 -0.35 0.49
21 KURTIS FOSTER 58 1.12 -0.3 -0.46 0.35 1.08 0.88 0.44
22 DAN BOYLE 79 1.4 0.97 -0.73 -1.26 0.51 1.77 0.44
23 SANDIS OZOLINSH 36 1.02 0.28 -0.49 -0.39 0.08 2.04 0.42
24 ANDREJ MESZAROS 82 0.3 0.02 2.03 -0.49 0.19 0.32 0.39
25 MICHAL ROZSIVAL 82 -0.68 -0.34 2.09 0.53 -0.32 0.99 0.38
26 TOMAS KABERLE 82 0.1 2.65 -0.25 -1.02 0.45 0.32 0.37
27 JOSEPH CORVO 81 1.12 -0.22 0.87 -1.29 0.73 1.02 0.37
28 ERIC DESJARDINS 45 -0.23 0.7 0.17 0.96 0.31 0.2 0.35
29 KIMMO TIMONEN 79 0.58 1.06 -0.39 0.07 1.04 -0.33 0.34
30 MATTIAS OHLUND 78 1.02 -0.7 -0.6 0.77 1.06 0.39 0.32
31 JAROSLAV SPACEK 76 0.88 0.42 0.59 1.02 0.02 -1.03 0.32
32 SHELDON SOURAY 75 0.92 0.07 -0.97 1.84 0.87 -1.03 0.28
33 MIKE VAN RYN 80 -0.05 0.09 0.81 0.61 -0.3 0.35 0.25
34 DEREK MORRIS 53 0.16 0.34 -0.89 0.31 0.5 1.05 0.24
35 PAVEL KUBINA 76 -0.6 0.62 -1.03 1.02 0.02 1.15 0.19
36 FRANCOIS BEAUCHEMIN 72 0.13 0.28 -0.04 -0.56 0.08 1.27 0.19
37 ALEXEI ZHITNIK 59 -0.3 0.42 0.17 1.68 -0.02 -1.03 0.15
38 BRAD STUART 78 0.82 0.35 -0.74 -0.72 0.8 0.39 0.15
39 ROBYN REGEHR 68 -0.24 -0.42 0.28 0.21 0.45 0.59 0.15
40 PAUL MARA 78 1.44 0.44 -1.01 -0.05 1.06 -1.03 0.14
41 JOHN-MICHAEL LILES 82 1.09 0.57 0.14 -1.09 0.45 -0.36 0.13
42 BRIAN CAMPBELL 79 0.79 0.4 -1.14 -2.07 0.24 2.47 0.12
43 TOM PREISSING 74 0.73 0.61 1.04 -1.63 -0.52 0.46 0.11
44 MARC-ANDRE BERGERON 75 1.56 -0.62 0.03 -1.18 1.15 -0.29 0.11
45 FRANTISEK KABERLE 77 -0.41 1.06 0.37 -0.92 -0.82 1.12 0.07
46 ROSTISLAV KLESLA 51 0.23 -0.71 -0.61 1.62 -0.27 0.05 0.05
47 RYAN WHITNEY 68 -0.24 0.89 -0.74 0.98 -0.47 -0.22 0.03
48 ROMAN HAMRLIK 51 0.55 0.16 0.65 0.54 -0.68 -1.03 0.03
49 CRAIG RIVET 82 -0.29 -0.16 -0.51 1.21 0.19 -0.36 0.01
50 JAROSLAV MODRY 79 -0.24 0.31 -0.8 0.14 0.24 0.37 0
51 PATRICE BRISEBOIS 80 0.35 -0.01 -0.12 -0.66 -0.04 0.35 -0.02
52 DAN HAMHUIS 82 -0.29 0.2 0.53 -0.17 -0.06 -0.36 -0.03
53 KIM JOHNSSON 47 0.39 0.4 0.38 -0.55 0.25 -1.03 -0.03
54 BRIAN POTHIER 77 -0.62 0.29 1.83 -0.43 -0.27 -1.03 -0.04
55 BRENT SEABROOK 69 -0.5 0.3 0.2 -0.13 -0.78 0.57 -0.06
56 GREG DE VRIES 82 -0.29 -0.07 -0.12 0.04 -0.32 0.32 -0.07
57 TOM POTI 73 -1 -0.57 0.98 0.13 -0.51 0.48 -0.08
58 DUVIE WESTCOTT 78 -0.42 -0.51 -0.12 2.3 -0.82 -1.03 -0.1
59 MAREK MALIK 74 -1.23 -1 1.84 0.41 -1.09 0.46 -0.1
60 JIM VANDERMEER 76 -0.39 -0.85 -0.33 1.78 -0.54 -0.3 -0.1
61 BRIAN RAFALSKI 82 -0.49 1.29 -0.19 -1.38 -0.32 0.32 -0.13
62 JAMIE HEWARD 71 -0.08 -0.41 -0.56 -0.44 0.09 0.53 -0.15
63 NOLAN BAUMGARTNER 70 -0.51 0.47 0.65 -1.41 0.11 -0.24 -0.15
64 BRETT CLARK 80 0.15 -0.1 0.01 -0.62 -0.04 -0.34 -0.16
65 ZBYNEK MICHALEK 82 0.1 -1.25 0.07 -0.46 0.19 0.32 -0.17
66 CHRISTIAN EHRHOFF 64 -0.41 -0.52 0.65 -1.2 -0.43 0.7 -0.2

67 STEVE STAIOS 82 -0.09 -0.79 0.46 0.32 -0.83 -0.36 -0.21

68 FEDOR TYUTIN 77 -0.41 -0.77 -0.12 -0.47 0 0.41 -0.23
69 FREDERICK MEYER 57 0.03 0.13 0.75 -0.97 -0.35 -1.03 -0.24
70 BRET HEDICAN 74 -0.58 -0.4 0.61 -0.38 -0.52 -0.28 -0.26
71 KEITH BALLARD 82 -0.09 0.2 -1.36 0.85 -0.83 -0.36 -0.26
72 JAY BOUWMEESTER 82 -0.68 1.11 -0.12 0.14 -1.09 -1.03 -0.28
73 ADAM FOOTE 65 -0.18 -0.78 -1.5 1.32 -0.44 -0.18 -0.29
74 CHRIS PHILLIPS 69 -1.43 -0.67 1.28 1.14 -1.09 -1.03 -0.3
75 RUSLAN SALEI 78 -1.46 -0.89 0.98 1.59 -1.09 -1.03 -0.32
76 BRYAN ALLEN 77 -0.2 -1.64 0.09 1.68 -0.82 -1.03 -0.32
77 ANDREI ZYUZIN 57 0.32 -1.17 -1.31 -0.11 0.38 -0.06 -0.33
78 DENNIS WIDEMAN 67 0.26 -0.83 -2.66 0.94 0.48 -0.21 -0.34
79 BRYAN MUIR 72 0.13 -0.75 -0.86 0.25 0.08 -1.03 -0.36
80 CHRISTIAN BACKMAN 52 0.2 -0.89 -1.73 0.03 0.12 0.03 -0.37
81 RIC JACKMAN 64 0.1 0.06 -1.86 -0.29 -0.1 -0.17 -0.38
82 DMITRI KALININ 55 -1.08 -0.44 1.17 0.2 -1.09 -1.03 -0.38
83 BRIAN LEETCH 61 -0.34 0.68 -1.06 -0.94 0.29 -1.03 -0.4
84 AARON WARD 71 -0.3 -0.62 -0.04 -0.12 -1.09 -0.25 -0.4
85 FILIP KUBA 65 -0.18 -0.43 -0.19 -0.69 -0.77 -0.18 -0.41
86 MIKE RATHJE 79 -1.05 -0.63 1.3 -0.96 -0.82 -0.33 -0.42
87 JORDAN LEOPOLD 74 -1.23 -0.8 0.25 0.02 -0.52 -0.28 -0.43
88 CHRIS CAMPOLI 80 0.15 -0.28 -1.26 -0.98 -0.56 0.35 -0.43
89 COLIN WHITE 73 -1 -1.18 -0.33 0.97 -0.8 -0.27 -0.44
90 SCOTT HANNAN 81 -0.47 -0.95 0.27 -0.57 -0.57 -0.35 -0.44
91 RON HAINSEY 55 -1.08 -0.58 1.08 -0.38 -0.71 -1.03 -0.45
92 STEPHANE ROBIDAS 75 -0.59 -1.12 0.88 -0.06 -0.81 -1.03 -0.45
93 HENRIK TALLINDER 82 -0.49 -1.25 0.46 -0.03 -1.09 -0.36 -0.46
94 MATHIEU DANDENAULT 82 -0.68 -1.25 0.33 0.29 -1.09 -0.36 -0.46
95 MATTIAS NORSTROM 77 -0.83 -0.39 -0.4 -0.47 -0.54 -0.31 -0.49
96 MARTIN SKOULA 78 -0.63 -1.08 0.22 -0.94 -0.28 -0.32 -0.51
97 NICLAS HAVELID 82 -0.88 -0.07 0.4 -0.95 -0.58 -1.03 -0.52
98 KYLE MCLAREN 77 -1.25 -0.58 0.23 -0.16 -1.09 -0.31 -0.53
99 TEPPO NUMMINEN 75 -1.24 1.16 0.24 -1.26 -1.09 -1.03 -0.54
100 DERIAN HATCHER 77 -0.83 -1.35 -0.05 0.85 -0.82 -1.03 -0.54
101 PAUL MARTIN 80 -0.66 0.37 -0.12 -1.49 -0.3 -1.03 -0.54
102 ANDREW FERENCE 82 -0.88 -0.16 -0.97 0.36 -0.58 -1.03 -0.54
103 BRENT SOPEL 68 -1.19 0.23 -1.21 0.34 -0.47 -1.03 -0.56
104 KEITH CARNEY 79 -1.26 -0.91 0.35 -0.37 -0.82 -0.33 -0.56
105 ANTON VOLCHENKOV 75 -0.81 -1.32 1.31 -0.6 -1.09 -1.03 -0.59
106 STEVE EMINGER 66 -0.44 -1.14 -1.16 0.91 -0.77 -1.03 -0.61
107 FRANCIS BOUILLON 67 -0.94 -0.5 -0.67 -1.18 -0.15 -0.21 -0.61
108 SEAN HILL 78 -1.25 -0.89 0.02 0.33 -0.82 -1.03 -0.61
109 JASON SMITH 76 -0.82 -1.33 -0.12 0.56 -1.09 -1.03 -0.64
110 DUNCAN KEITH 81 0.13 -1.5 -0.91 0.18 -0.83 -1.03 -0.66
Table 4. Top 200 Point-Getting Forwards: Z-score values for GPG, APG, +/-PG, PIMPG, PPGPG, GWGG,
and average overall Z-score rank
Z-Rank Name GM Z_ Z_ Z_ Z_ Z_ Z_ Z-
GPG APG +/-PG PIMPG PPPPG GWGPG Average
1 JAROMIR JAGR 82 3.16 2.52 2.47 0.28 2.39 2.84 2.16

2 DANIEL ALFREDSSON 77 2.36 2.18 2.24 -0.28 2.19 1.65 1.74

3 DANY HEATLEY 82 2.77 1.46 2.10 0.70 1.56 2.67 1.72
4 JOE THORNTON 81 0.75 4.39 2.27 -0.02 1.18 0.64 1.72
5 JONATHAN CHEECHOO 82 3.36 0.40 1.66 -0.14 3.21 2.84 1.70
6 ERIK COLE 60 1.89 0.57 1.88 0.33 3.18 -0.57 1.57
7 PAVOL DEMITRA 58 1.34 1.41 2.15 -0.09 2.76 0.43 1.51
8 SIMON GAGNE 72 3.12 0.36 2.56 -0.57 1.96 1.07 1.49
9 BRENDEN MORROW 81 0.16 0.76 2.20 3.64 0.35 0.12 1.42
10 HENRIK ZETTERBERG 77 1.95 1.19 2.24 -0.91 2.63 1.83 1.42
11 OLLI JOKINEN 82 1.60 1.33 0.99 0.76 2.39 1.13 1.41
12 BRENDAN SHANAHAN 82 1.80 0.66 2.10 1.26 1.15 1.13 1.39
13 BRIAN GIONTA 82 2.58 0.66 1.29 -0.49 2.80 2.84 1.37
14 LADISLAV NAGY 51 0.24 2.32 0.91 1.68 1.33 0.66 1.30
15 MARIAN HOSSA 80 1.79 1.55 1.25 0.18 1.64 1.19 1.28
16 JASON SPEZZA 68 0.12 3.63 2.01 -0.68 1.17 0.18 1.25
17 MARIAN GABORIK 65 2.57 0.29 0.52 0.54 2.32 0.89 1.25
18 DANIEL BRIERE 48 2.06 1.68 0.34 0.58 1.50 1.95 1.23
19 SIDNEY CROSBY 81 1.74 2.18 -0.11 1.45 0.77 1.50 1.20
20 ILYA KOVALCHUK 78 3.23 1.15 -0.50 0.27 1.71 3.59 1.17
21 PATRIK ELIAS 38 1.26 2.10 1.71 -0.58 1.35 0.95 1.17
22 MAREK SVATOS 61 2.09 -0.45 -0.04 0.54 3.66 1.49 1.16
23 TEEMU SELANNE 80 1.89 1.34 2.08 -0.52 0.79 1.89 1.12
24 MARTIN RUCINSKY 52 0.35 2.02 1.12 0.76 1.28 -0.19 1.11
25 PETER FORSBERG 60 0.42 3.02 2.08 0.01 -0.19 0.60 1.07
26 COLBY ARMSTRONG 47 0.61 0.72 1.89 1.15 0.84 0.82 1.04
27 ALEXANDER OVECHKIN 81 3.03 1.57 0.11 -0.29 0.77 2.37 1.04
28 MARC SAVARD 82 0.62 2.52 0.48 1.11 0.33 1.13 1.01
29 ANDY MCDONALD 82 1.21 1.33 1.73 -0.91 1.56 0.96 0.98
30 MICHAEL NYLANDER 81 0.16 1.71 2.27 0.43 0.35 -0.23 0.98
31 RICK NASH 54 2.49 0.26 0.52 0.44 1.18 1.59 0.98
32 JASON ARNOTT 81 1.05 0.90 0.93 1.21 0.77 0.64 0.97
33 MIKE KNUBLE 82 1.21 0.00 1.80 0.52 1.15 0.96 0.94
34 VINCENT LECAVALIER 80 1.39 0.66 -0.04 0.88 1.64 1.01 0.91
35 PAVEL DATSYUK 75 0.88 2.22 2.06 -1.14 0.48 0.79 0.90
36 JOE SAKIC 82 1.01 1.59 0.7 -0.08 1.15 0.44 0.88
37 SEAN AVERY 75 -0.51 -0.32 -0.44 6.49 -0.86 -1.08 0.87
38 BRIAN ROLSTON 82 1.21 0.93 0.99 -0.37 1.56 1.30 0.86
39 MIKE MODANO 78 0.66 1.43 1.74 -0.05 0.41 0.89 0.84
40 ERIC STAAL 82 2.28 1.59 -0.63 0.55 0.33 1.98 0.83
41 TOMAS HOLMSTROM 81 0.75 -0.04 1.01 0.13 2.02 0.64 0.77
42 SHANE DOAN 82 0.82 0.33 -0.70 1.80 1.56 1.64 0.76
43 ALEX TANGUAY 71 1.16 1.70 0.64 -0.28 0.59 0.31 0.76
44 ALEX KOVALEV 69 0.56 1.26 -0.13 0.82 1.13 0.56 0.73
45 SCOTT HARTNELL 81 0.36 -0.51 0.56 1.18 2.02 0.46 0.72
46 JAROME IGINLA 82 1.31 0.07 0.33 0.70 1.15 1.64 0.71
47 STEVE SULLIVAN 69 1.49 0.86 0.14 -0.09 1.13 1.38 0.7
48 ROD BRIND'AMOUR 78 1.07 0.66 0.58 0.27 0.85 2.15 0.69
49 MATS SUNDIN 70 1.43 1.60 0.57 0.16 -0.35 1.94 0.68
50 DAINIUS ZUBRUS 71 0.48 0.55 0.22 1.02 1.06 1.30 0.67

51 ROBERT LANG 72 0.11 1.12 1.39 0.58 0.09 0.29 0.66

52 SCOTT GOMEZ 82 1.11 1.33 0.55 -0.61 0.74 0.27 0.62
53 SHAWN HORCOFF 79 0.12 1.46 -0.04 0.76 0.82 -0.74 0.62
54 MAXIM AFINOGENOV 77 0.17 1.55 0.43 0.80 0.00 0.74 0.59
55 MIKE FISHER 68 0.48 -0.3 2.01 0.43 0.17 -0.86 0.56
56 MARCO STURM 74 1.03 0.15 0.45 -0.28 1.42 0.25 0.55
57 CRAIG CONROY 78 0.14 1.01 0.97 0.58 -0.02 -0.37 0.54
58 ALEXANDER FROLOV 69 0.32 0.55 1.45 -0.45 0.64 -0.46 0.50
59 MARTIN STRAKA 82 0.03 1.53 1.21 -0.61 0.33 -0.58 0.50
60 CHRIS NEIL 79 -0.49 -0.89 0.65 4.43 -1.31 0.15 0.48
61 DAVID LEGWAND 44 -0.84 0.29 0.37 0.02 2.52 -1.27 0.47
62 SAKU KOIVU 72 -0.22 1.34 0.05 0.51 0.56 -0.29 0.45
63 DARCY TUCKER 74 0.92 0.37 -1.02 1.43 0.51 2.15 0.44
64 JUSTIN WILLIAMS 82 0.91 0.93 0.04 -0.08 0.33 0.10 0.43
65 MIKAEL SAMUELSSON 71 0.48 -0.37 2.26 -0.42 0.11 0.12 0.41
66 JARRET STOLL 82 0.03 1.00 0.26 0.34 0.33 0.61 0.39
67 PATRICE BERGERON 81 0.95 0.76 0.19 -1.20 1.18 0.81 0.38
68 ERIC LINDROS 33 0.56 -0.24 -0.59 1.32 0.73 0.43 0.35
69 ZIGMUND PALFFY 42 -0.02 1.96 0.68 -1.16 0.29 -0.60 0.35
70 DAYMOND LANGKOW 82 0.33 0.20 0.11 -0.49 1.56 0.61 0.34
71 JEAN-PIERRE DUMONT 54 0.85 -0.04 -0.15 -0.14 1.18 1.07 0.34
72 TODD BERTUZZI 82 0.33 1.00 -1.29 1.71 -0.08 0.79 0.33
73 MARTIN ST. LOUIS 80 0.99 -0.02 -0.26 -0.70 1.64 0.31 0.33
74 ALES HEMSKY 81 -0.24 1.84 -0.41 0.07 0.35 -0.06 0.32
75 NILS EKMAN 77 0.07 0.49 1.53 -0.15 -0.44 -0.36 0.30
76 RYAN SMYTH 75 1.73 0.12 -0.44 0.03 0.03 2.29 0.29
77 MARTIN GELINAS 82 -0.46 -0.46 1.95 0.52 -0.08 -0.58 0.29
78 CHRIS KUNITZ 69 0.09 -0.32 1.36 0.65 -0.34 -0.25 0.29
79 NATHAN HORTON 71 1.05 -0.60 0.64 1.19 -0.84 -0.68 0.29
80 ANSON CARTER 81 1.15 -0.58 -0.11 -0.62 1.60 1.33 0.29
81 JOE NIEUWENDYK 65 1.09 0.45 -0.22 -0.13 0.24 0.24 0.29
82 BRENDAN MORRISON 82 -0.26 0.40 -0.11 0.64 0.74 0.10 0.28
83 KYLE CALDER 79 0.52 0.22 -0.34 -0.25 1.25 -0.20 0.28
84 FREDRIK MODIN 77 1.11 -0.43 0.35 -0.09 0.44 0.92 0.28
85 JERE LEHTINEN 80 1.19 -0.76 0.64 -0.94 1.21 1.19 0.27
86 VACLAV PROSPAL 81 0.36 1.64 -0.26 -0.35 -0.07 0.46 0.26
87 JOCHEN HECHT 64 0.14 -0.02 0.91 -0.56 0.79 -0.39 0.25
88 PAUL KARIYA 82 0.91 1.53 -0.48 -0.67 -0.08 1.13 0.24
89 ALES KOTALIK 82 0.33 0.40 -0.26 -0.02 0.74 0.44 0.24
90 DANIEL SEDIN 82 0.03 1.20 0.48 -0.85 0.33 0.61 0.24
91 TIM CONNOLLY 63 -0.08 1.31 0.44 -0.78 0.29 0.29 0.24
92 MIKE COMRIE 80 0.89 -0.02 0.11 -0.18 0.37 0.49 0.24
93 BILL GUERIN 70 -0.63 0.04 -0.04 2.14 -0.35 -0.67 0.23
94 IAN LAPERRIERE 82 -0.06 -0.46 0.18 1.59 -0.08 -1.10 0.23
95 DAVID VYBORNY 80 0.09 0.87 -0.72 -0.34 1.21 -0.39 0.22
96 JEFF CARTER 81 0.16 -0.78 0.71 -0.65 1.6 -0.23 0.21
97 STEVE BERNIER 39 0.76 -0.24 0.58 0.33 -0.45 -0.55 0.20
98 BRAD BOYES 82 0.43 0.80 0.77 -0.97 -0.08 0.10 0.19
99 PATRICK MARLEAU 82 1.21 1.39 -0.92 -1.09 0.33 2.16 0.19

100 GLEN MURRAY 64 0.89 0.41 -0.79 0.12 0.27 0.05 0.18
101 TODD FEDORUK 76 -1.70 -0.70 0.44 3.72 -0.87 -1.27 0.18
102 CORY STILLMAN 72 0.22 2.10 -0.79 -0.78 0.09 0.68 0.17
103 DAVE SCATCHARD 63 -0.21 -0.50 -1.28 2.47 0.29 -0.15 0.15
104 RAY WHITNEY 63 0.05 1.23 -0.04 -0.23 -0.24 1.41 0.15
105 CHRIS GRATTON 76 -0.32 -0.48 0.44 1.47 -0.43 -0.53 0.14
106 SCOTTIE UPSHALL 48 -0.78 -0.24 1.72 -0.13 0.09 -0.98 0.13
107 HENRIK SEDIN 82 -0.36 1.73 0.77 -0.19 -1.31 -0.41 0.13
108 MICHAEL RYDER 81 0.85 -0.38 -0.41 -0.65 1.18 1.85 0.12
109 MATT CULLEN 78 0.45 -0.38 0.27 -0.61 0.85 0.17 0.12
110 SLAVA KOZLOV 82 0.33 1.00 0.99 -0.88 -0.90 0.10 0.11
111 MILAN HEJDUK 74 0.48 0.44 1.02 -1.07 -0.40 1.39 0.10
112 ANDREW BRUNETTE 82 0.23 0.53 0.63 -0.43 -0.49 0.61 0.09
113 JASON BLAKE 76 0.84 0.02 -0.04 0.07 -0.43 0.95 0.09
114 BRYAN SMOLINSKI 81 -0.43 0.03 0.56 -0.47 0.77 -0.58 0.09
115 JASON ALLISON 66 -0.05 1.49 -1.69 0.95 -0.29 0.65 0.08
116 MARKUS NASLUND 81 1.05 1.10 -1.46 0.13 -0.48 0.98 0.07
117 BRAD RICHARDS 82 0.13 2.46 -0.04 -0.91 -1.31 -0.07 0.07
118 ANDY HILBERT 47 -0.07 -0.32 0.48 0.11 0.12 -0.37 0.06
119 CHRIS DRURY 81 0.85 0.43 -0.86 -0.90 0.77 1.50 0.06
120 ALEXEI PONIKAROVSKY 81 -0.04 -0.91 1.08 0.19 -0.07 -0.92 0.05
121 PATRICK EAVES 58 0.65 -1.21 0.69 -0.93 1.01 -0.06 0.04
122 ETHAN MOREAU 74 -0.93 -0.88 0.45 1.01 0.51 -0.89 0.03
123 GARY ROBERTS 58 -0.18 0.38 0.38 0.28 -0.73 -0.30 0.03
124 CHRIS CLARK 78 -0.06 -0.73 0.66 1.58 -1.31 -1.09 0.03
125 MIKE JOHNSON 80 -0.51 0.53 0.49 -0.34 -0.05 -0.22 0.02
126 JASON WILLIAMS 80 -0.01 0.46 0.26 -1.07 0.37 -0.22 0.00
127 STEVE OTT 82 -1.63 -0.93 0.04 3.43 -0.90 -1.27 0.00
128 MIROSLAV SATAN 82 1.31 0.00 -0.63 -0.25 -0.49 1.64 -0.01
129 STEVEN REINPRECHT 80 0.09 -0.02 0.79 -0.88 -0.05 0.31 -0.01
130 PETR PRUCHA 68 1.42 -0.70 0.23 -0.71 -0.32 2.03 -0.02
131 NIK ANTROPOV 57 -0.43 -0.24 1.34 0.53 -1.31 -0.78 -0.02
132 SERGEI FEDOROV 67 -0.68 0.54 -0.22 0.54 -0.31 -0.64 -0.02
133 STEVE BEGIN 76 -0.96 -1.20 0.68 1.76 -0.43 -1.08 -0.03
134 RUSLAN FEDOTENKO 80 0.49 -1.04 -0.34 -0.52 1.21 -0.57 -0.04
135 PATRICK SHARP 72 -0.56 -0.77 0.38 -0.3 1.03 -1.07 -0.04
136 PETER SCHAEFER 82 -0.16 -0.07 1.14 -0.67 -0.49 -0.58 -0.05
137 YANIC PERREAULT 69 0.44 0.70 -0.30 -0.80 -0.34 0.77 -0.06
138 ALEXANDER MOGILNY 34 0.71 0.02 -1.28 -1.43 1.66 1.62 -0.06
139 ALEXEI YASHIN 82 0.62 0.47 -1.07 0.16 -0.49 0.44 -0.06
140 KEITH TKACHUK 41 0.82 0.73 -2.25 0.87 -0.49 2.16 -0.06
141 ANTOINE VERMETTE 82 -0.06 -1.26 1.21 -0.55 0.33 -1.10 -0.07
142 THOMAS VANEK 81 0.36 -0.51 -0.86 0.31 0.35 0.64 -0.07
143 MATTHEW BARNABY 82 -1.34 -0.73 -0.85 3.43 -0.90 -1.27 -0.08
144 CHRIS KELLY 82 -1.14 -0.73 1.51 0.40 -0.49 -1.10 -0.09
145 JAN BULIS 73 0.08 -0.57 0.13 -0.19 0.07 -0.12 -0.10
146 P-M BOUCHARD 80 -0.41 0.80 0.19 -1.01 -0.05 -0.04 -0.10
147 MIKE SILLINGER 79 1.13 0.08 -1.34 0.08 -0.46 1.22 -0.10
148 JAMIE LUNDMARK 53 -0.60 -0.11 -0.15 0.99 -0.68 -0.74 -0.11

149 JASON CHIMERA 80 -0.41 -1.17 -0.79 1.03 0.79 -1.09 -0.11
150 J. LANGENBRUNNER 80 -0.21 0.26 -0.11 0.39 -0.89 0.13 -0.11
151 STEVE YZERMAN 61 -0.28 -0.27 0.75 -1.14 0.34 -0.35 -0.12
152 DEREK ROY 70 -0.06 0.12 0.05 0.13 -0.83 -0.27 -0.12
153 SCOTT MELLANBY 71 -0.76 -0.37 0.39 0.03 0.11 -0.68 -0.12
154 JEFF O'NEILL 74 -0.06 -0.66 -1.59 0.25 1.42 1.39 -0.13
155 MICHAEL CAMMALLERI 80 0.49 -0.08 -1.10 -0.34 0.37 1.36 -0.13
156 MARTIN ERAT 80 -0.11 -0.08 -0.04 0.46 -0.89 -0.39 -0.13
157 PETR SYKORA 74 0.38 0.00 0.45 -0.21 -1.31 0.25 -0.14
158 ROB NIEDERMAYER 76 -0.53 -0.34 -0.44 0.99 -0.43 -0.53 -0.15
159 SHAWN BATES 66 -0.29 -0.49 -1.05 0.36 0.73 -1.06 -0.15
160 RICHARD ZEDNIK 67 -0.20 -0.92 -0.22 -0.11 0.70 -0.01 -0.15
161 JONATHAN SIM 72 -0.22 -0.92 -0.63 -0.03 1.03 0.29 -0.16
162 DOUG WEIGHT 70 -0.40 1.21 -1.51 0.75 -0.83 0.54 -0.16
163 PIERRE TURGEON 62 -0.05 0.58 0.06 -0.60 -0.77 0.32 -0.16
164 RAFFI TORRES 82 0.52 -1.13 0.26 -0.37 -0.08 -0.24 -0.16
165 JOZEF STUMPEL 74 -0.49 0.66 0.86 -1.00 -0.86 -0.70 -0.17
166 CHRIS SIMON 72 -1.23 -1.00 -0.04 1.32 0.09 -0.88 -0.17
167 MARK BELL 82 0.33 -0.53 -1.07 1.32 -0.90 0.61 -0.17
168 RYAN GETZLAF 57 -0.15 0.33 0.60 -0.92 -0.72 1.19 -0.17
169 COREY PERRY 56 -0.26 -0.89 0.07 0.32 -0.11 -0.27 -0.17
170 JEFF HALPERN 70 -0.86 0.51 -0.73 0.89 -0.83 -0.07 -0.20
171 MATT STAJAN 80 -0.61 -1.24 0.34 -0.34 0.79 -0.74 -0.21
172 PETER BONDRA 60 0.69 -0.42 -0.34 -0.23 -0.75 0.60 -0.21
173 DEREK ARMSTRONG 62 -0.44 0.40 -0.23 -0.05 -0.77 0.32 -0.22
174 RANDY ROBITAILLE 67 -0.68 0.22 -0.49 0.11 -0.31 0.20 -0.23
175 KRISTIAN HUSELIUS 78 -0.06 -0.17 -0.74 -0.61 0.41 0.17 -0.23
176 ERIC BELANGER 65 -0.02 -0.38 -0.50 0.47 -0.80 -0.19 -0.25
177 ADAM HALL 75 -0.62 -0.97 -0.04 -0.56 0.93 0.60 -0.25
178 JUSSI JOKINEN 81 -0.43 0.50 0.11 -0.96 -0.48 0.12 -0.25
179 TONY AMONTE 80 -0.71 -0.15 0.19 -0.55 -0.05 -0.74 -0.26
180 MATTHEW LOMBARDI 55 -1.24 -0.08 -0.15 0.27 -0.09 -1.01 -0.26
181 JONATHAN HEDSTROM 79 -0.80 -1.09 0.11 -0.38 0.82 -0.91 -0.27
182 STU BARNES 78 -0.58 -0.59 0.66 -0.48 -0.45 -1.27 -0.29
183 ARRON ASHAM 63 -0.97 -0.76 -0.52 2.12 -1.31 -0.82 -0.29
184 VILLE NIEMINEN 70 -1.20 -0.81 0.57 0.33 -0.35 -1.27 -0.29
185 BEN CLYMER 77 -0.45 -0.86 -0.59 0.42 0.00 -0.72 -0.30
186 JAMAL MAYERS 67 -0.32 -1.16 -2.02 2.83 -0.81 -1.27 -0.30
187 ALEX STEEN 75 -0.19 -0.10 -0.76 -0.49 0.03 0.42 -0.30
188 CHUCK KOBASEW 77 -0.03 -1.28 -0.82 0.17 0.44 0.55 -0.31
189 BOBBY HOLIK 64 -0.24 -0.53 -0.60 1.15 -1.31 -0.17 -0.31
190 SERGEI SAMSONOV 74 0.38 0.15 -0.28 -0.94 -0.86 0.63 -0.31
191 RENE BOURQUE 77 -0.45 -0.78 0.20 -0.09 -0.44 -0.54 -0.31
192 R.J. UMBERGER 73 0.08 -0.71 0.71 -1.26 -0.39 -0.31 -0.32
193 JOFFREY LUPUL 81 0.65 -0.38 -1.01 -0.41 -0.48 0.81 -0.33
194 MATT PETTINGER 71 0.14 -0.68 -0.21 -0.52 -0.36 -0.48 -0.33
195 PATRIK STEFAN 64 -0.86 -0.87 0.25 -0.49 0.27 -0.83 -0.34
196 MARK RECCHI 83 0.59 0.30 -2.66 0.14 -0.1 0.93 -0.35
197 JURAJ KOLNIK 77 -0.56 -0.64 0.04 -0.59 0.00 -0.54 -0.35

198 FERNANDO PISANI 80 -0.31 -0.76 0.34 -0.58 -0.47 -0.57 -0.36
199 MIKE RICHARDS 79 -1.00 -0.47 0.42 0.15 -0.89 -1.09 -0.36
200 NIKOLAI ZHERDEV 73 0.85 -0.04 -1.11 -0.19 -1.31 0.65 -0.36
APPENDIX - Technical Details
(1) Standard Deviation (average difference):
SD = Square root of ( (sum of ( Player Stat – League average) 2 ) / (Number of Players – 1))
Example. Player score League Average Difference Difference 2
5 10 -5 25
6 10 -4 16
14 10 +4 16
15 10 +5 25
4 players total Sum of Difference 2: 82
SD = Square root of ( 82 / (4-1))
SD = Square root of ( 82 / 3)
SD = Square root of (27.3)
SD = 5.23
(2) Z-transformation:
Z-score = (Player Stat – League average) / (SD)
Example.
Player score League average Difference SD Z = (Difference / SD)
5 10 +5 5.23 Z = (+5 / 5.23) = +.96
6 10 +4 5.23 Z = (+4 / 5.23) = +.80
14 10 -4 5.23 Z = (-4 / 5.23) = -.80
15 10 -5 5.23 Z = (-5 / 5.23) = -.96
(3) Note: It is possible to setup a spreadsheet in Excel that will perform these calculations
automatically. In fact, Excel has the formula for standard deviation built-in. If you want to update
your Z-scores in season, you just have to ‘paste’ the updated statistics so that they replace the
old ones.
(4) Note: The Z transformation does not take differences in score distribution into account.
Thankfully, the hockey statistics that I have examined so far are all similarly distributed (standard
normal distribution). If you don’t know that I mean by distribution, then don’t worry about it. I’m
just covering my bases.

Fantasy Points vs. Rotisserie Scoring

Contributed By: Mark Chyz
It is time once again to start reviewing off-season changes and preparing for your draft. There is one
common dilemma in most draft guides and previews; there is no particular method that is widely accepted
on how the players are ranked, and chances are, with the variety of scoring systems available, the rankings
you see may or may not apply to your league. Here are just a few tips on making decisions on where to pick
your players, and what differentiates them in different scoring systems, most notably Fantasy Points vs.
Rotisserie Scoring.
Scoring Systems
To keep this article consistent, the adapted scoring system for Fantasy Points discussed in this article will be
as follows. Keep in mind some scoring systems might use slightly different systems, but these numbers are
fairly consistent in most league.
Forwards receive 1 point for a Goal, and 1 point for an Assist.

Defensemen receive 2 points for a Goal and 1 point for an Assist.
All Skaters receive a bonus for:

PPG (1 point)
SHG (1 point)
GWG (1 point)
Hat Trick (3 points)
Shootout Goal (1 point)
Goalies Receive points as follows:

Wins (3 points)
Losses (-2 points)
Shootout Loss (-1 points)
Shutout (3 points)
Assist (3 points)
We will use the following common Rotisserie Categories to apply to this article:
G, A, PPG, PIM, +/-, SOG, W, SV%, SO, GAA
It is important to recognize the main difference between the two scoring systems. In a Fantasy Points
system, points are awarded when a player earns any of the above listed categories for which a pre-
determined “score” has been worked out (i.e. one point for a goal). In a Fantasy Points league, a player can
also be penalized if he does something wrong (i.e. a goalie can lose points for a loss). In a Roto League,
points are accumulated based solely upon their real world value. This means a Hat Trick is worth three
goals, and there is no artificial bonus of 3 extra points for accomplishing the feat. Most Roto Leagues also
do not subtract points, for example, for goalie loses. Keep that in mind in the discussion that follows.

Drafting Strategies
First things first. In any draft you have to know your competition and their tendencies. Any fantasy participant
has certain players they value over others, players they will not take, and positions they value over others.
Always keep this in mind. Go into your draft with notes on your competitors. Also, make sure you know the
injuries, contract situations and latest news on all potential players.
Now when it comes to differentiating between Fantasy Points and Roto Scoring some obvious things occur
in hockey drafts.
1) Goalies are far more valuable in Roto Scoring as their totals are worth 40% of the overall numbers your
team accumulates. In Fantasy Point scoring, goalies can take a loss and you lose points, and there are a
bunch of middle of the road goalies that will generate you enough points based on the team they play for.
Some of the best goalies in the game do not necessarily give you a huge advantage in a Fantasy Point
league, but are golden in Roto Scoring. Do not draft goalies on name recognition alone, and do not be
baited in to taken them too early in either draft. Wait for someone to take the first and second goalies, as the
top goalies other than Martin Brodeur seldom produce year in and year out.
Although hardly one of the best in the game, Manny Legace was the second best goalie in Fantasy Points
last season, finishing the season with 121 points ranking him almost the equal of the best defenseman and a
top 5 forward. He was very strong in Wins and shutouts in Roto Scoring and his SV% was also excellent.
Although not seen as one of the best, Legace’s draft value was huge last year because he was taken toward
the end of most drafts, yet he doesn’t have a team to play for this year as of yet. One other note. Look for
soft schedules and goalies that will play a lot of games for good teams in trying to come up with potential
breakout performers.
2) Defensemen are tricky, but if you get the best, you will be successful in both types of leagues. Plus/minus
is one of the key stats in Roto scoring, but it often has no place in Fantasy Point scoring. Some of the best
plus/minus defensemen do not contribute much offensively; hence there Fantasy Points value will be next to
nothing (i.e. Chris Chelios who recorded a +22 but notched on 11 points on the season). The drop-off from
the top defensemen to the middle of the road guys is huge. You must get a stud defenseman on your team
in either type of league, but more importantly in Fantasy Point scoring leagues. PPG are key in both
leagues, but in a Fantay Point system a game-winning PPG is worth 4 points, not just the two it would be
worth in roto-scoring (1 point for a goal, 1 point for a game-winning goal). There were only 3 D-Men that had
over 100 Fantasy Points last year, 3 with 90 FPs and only 4 others with more than 80 FPs.
Of the top 10 plus/minus defensemen, only one, Mathieu Schneider, was in the top 10 in Fantasy Point
scoring. Michal Rozsival was a top notch Roto player last year (+ 35, tied for the league lead), yet was a
Free Agent in most FP leagues.
Eight of the top 10 Fantasy Point scoring defensemen were in the top 10 in PPG. Look for the team with the
best power-plays and grab defensemen from them.
3) Forwards have roughly the same value in both systems since both systems use shared statistical
categories. However in Roto scoring the addition of PIM and +/- changes draft strategy enormously. In
Fantasy Point systems top line players on bad teams are incredibly attractive as they get loads of ice-time
especially on the power-play. They will not hurt you in any way when they are getting scored on left and right
by the opposition feeding off of their poor defensive play. Power Forwards are key in Roto scoring as they
can help you in all categories (see Michael Stechschulte article in this guide).
Sydney Crosby and Alexandre Ovechkin are offensive studs who last year both eclipsed the 125 point
mark in Fantasy Points. Their numbers will continue to escalate but their draft value takes a slight dip in
Roto as each hovered around the even mark in the plus/minus department. Other young players on better
teams like Jonathan Cheechoo (+23) and Dany Heatley (+29) are worth bumping up in Roto just based on
their teams defensive play, as well as their power-play potential (41 PP points and 43 respectively). Players
on the move to new teams with high-powered offenses should also be targeted. Mark Bell, now a member
of the San Jose Sharks who is likely to skate on a line with Cheechoo and NHL scoring leader Joe
Thornton, should see his numbers increase this year and his draft stock rise as he moves to a good team
with some capable offensive players.
So don’t forget to tailor your pre-draft rankings to the scoring system used in your league. Draft the players
according to the scoring systems your league employs and not some static model that you can find in
numerous locations.

2006 Entry Draft Review

Contributed By: Scotty Wazz
This year’s NHL Entry Draft had a little bit of a different feel than most. Though many thought that US
Development Program defenseman Erik Johnson was the assured first overall pick, the order in which the
other draftees would be picked was anyone’s guess. The star quality for this year’s class was bright, but not
as bright as the two class before it which included the likes of Alexander Ovechkin, Evgeni Malkin and
Sidney Crosby.
One thing that could put a big damper on how this class stacks up is that most of the top picks are not be
pro ready. Players like Johnson and third overall pick Jonathan Toews will be in the NCAA ranks this season
with Minnesota and North Dakota respectively, while some of the European picks have opted to stay home
for one more season.
Not making the jump right after the player’s draft year isn’t a bad thing however, as it will give the players
more time to mature and get mentally prepared for the next step that is facing them after their amateur
careers are finished.
1. Erik Johnson, D
Age: 18
2005-06 Numbers: 16 Goals-33 Assists-49 Points with 88 PIMs in 47 games
What’s Next: With the Blues rebuilding, Johnson will wait at least another season. Johnson will live out his
childhood dream by playing at the University of Minnesota.
2. Jordan Staal, C
Age: 17
2005-06 Numbers: 28-40-68 with a +16 and 69 PIMs in 68 games
What’s Next: Staal will head to Penguins’ camp this summer and his performance there will determine
whether or not he’s ready. The smart money is on him returning to Peterborough in the OHL for more
development.

3. Jonathan Toews, F
Age: 18
What’s Next: After a brilliant freshman year, Toews will return to North Dakota to build upon his stellar start
to his college career. Toews is a casualty to the Blackhawks spending a lot this off-season since he
apparently would have had no place to play with the big club.
4. Niklas Backstrom, C
Age: 18
2005-06 Numbers: 10-16-26 with 30 PIMs in 46 games
What’s Next: Backstrom should be the center for Alexander Ovechkin for years to come, but first he’ll finish
playing another season in the Swedish Elite League before heading overseas.
5. Phil Kessel, C
Age: 18
What’s Next: Kessel is still undecided if he will make the jump to pro hockey yet, but he could be a steal
with the fifth pick if he could put up the same type of numbers he did at the University of Minnesota.
6. Derick Brassard, C
Age: 18
What’s Next: Brassard will probably head back to Drummondville of the QMJHL for another year of
seasoning, but he will be another young gun for the Blue Jackets arsenal when he eventually makes his
appearance in Columbus.
7. Kyle Okposo, RW
Age: 18
What’s Next: Okposo will be attending the University of Minnesota in the fall, which should help ease the
transition from juniors to pros for this winger.
8. Peter Mueller, C
Age: 18
What’s Next: The 2005-06 WHL Rookie of the Year impressed the staff of the Coyotes at the recent rookie
camp. Whether or not that’s enough to allow him to make the jump remains to be seen.
9. James Sheppard, C
Age: 18
What’s Next: Plans for Sheppard are for him to return to Cape Breton in the QMJHL and see what he can
do on that level before the makes the jump to the pros.

10. Michael Frolik, F

Age: 18
What’s Next: The Panthers will reap the benefits of Frolik falling in the Draft due to his Czech team holding
his offense back. Frolik will attend Panthers camp vying for a spot on the top squad.
11. Jonathan Bernier, G

Age: 18
2005-06 Numbers: 27-26-0 with a 2.70 GAA and .908 SV% in 54 games
What’s Next: With the depth at goaltending in Los Angeles, Bernier will more than likely return to Lewiston
in the QMJHL and fight for a pro spot next season.
12. Bryan Little, C

Age: 18
What’s Next: Little had a break-out season which helped his draft status. The Thrashers will likely have
Little tryout, but ultimately send him back to Barrie of the OHL.
13. Jiri Tlusty, F

Age: 18
What’s Next: Tlusty has signed an entry-level deal with the Leafs and could be joining the Sault St. Marie of
the OHL next season, though Tlusty stated he would likely return to the Czech Republic.
14. Michael Grabner, RW

Age: 18
2005-06 Numbers: 36-14-50 with a (-2) and 28 PIMs in 67 games
What’s Next: The Canucks surprised a lot of pundits by picking Grabner so early. Grabner will probably
head back to Spokane in the WHL to mature more and get more used to the North American game.
15. Riku Helenius, G

Age: 18
2005-06 Numbers: Played in 26 games with a 2.68 GAA and .920 SV%
What’s Next: Helenius could make a jump to North America given the lack of depth in Tampa’s system.
However, don’t be surprised if Helenius remains in his native Finland to get more playing time.
16. Ty Wishart, D
Age: 18
What’s Next: Wishart will more than likely play another season in Prince George in the WHL. With the
Sharks young defense depth, Wishart will be given more time to develop.

17. Trevor Lewis, C

Age: 19
What’s Next: The USHL player of the year has signed an entry-level contract with the Kings. Lewis forfeited
his commitment to the University of Michigan to play for Owen Sound in the OHL for the upcoming season.
18. Chris Stewart, RW

Age: 18
What’s Next: Stewart will try to build off a career best season by staying in Kingston of the OHL this coming
season. With the Avalanche’s lack of affiliates, Colorado will allow Stewart to mature in juniors.
19. Mark Mitera, D

Age: 18
2005-06 Numbers: 0-10-10 with a +5 and 43 PIMs in 41 games.
What’s Next: All indications have Mitera returning to the University of Michigan for another season before
thinking of making the jump to the pros.
20. David Fischer, D

Age: 18
2005-06 Numbers: 8-31-39 in 29 games
What’s Next: The Minnesota High School hockey player of the year will play for Tri-City in the USHL next
season and will be attending the University of Minnesota in the fall of 2007 if he follows his initial plan.
21. Bobby Sanguinetti, D

Age: 18
2005-06 Numbers: 14-51-65 with a (-6) with 44 PIMs in 68 games
What’s Next: Sanguinetti will attend camp but will more than likely be returned to Owen Sound in the OHL.
Sanguinetti will need time to fill out physically and work on improving things in his own end.
22. Claude Giroux, RW

Age: 18
What’s Next: Giroux will be returning to Gatineau in the QMJHL next season to hopefully build off his career
best season last year.
23. Semen Varlamov, G

Age: 18
2005-06 Numbers: Played 1,782 minutes in 33 games with a 1.82 GAA
What’s Next: Varlamov will more than likely stay in Russia while climbing up the ranks for the National
team. Will also gain valuable experience in the Russian Super League.
24. Dennis Persson, D

Age: 18
What’s Next: Persson will play in the first division Swedish Elite League in the upcoming season.

25. Patrik Berglund, C

Age: 18
What’s Next: Berglund did not attend Blues rookie camp, which seems to indicate that he will remain in
Sweden for at least one more season.
26. Leland Irving, G

Age: 18
2005-06 Numbers: 37-25-1 with a 1.91 GAA and .925 SV% in 67 games
What’s Next: Though he attended camp, Irving will return to Everett for at least another year of junior and
could represent Canada in the World Junior Championships this December.
27. Ivan Vishnevskiy, D

Age: 18
What’s Next: Vishnevskiy could be ready to make the jump, a possibility with a good camp. However, if he
doesn’t make it, Rouyn-Noranda in the QMJHL will be glad to have him back.
28. Nick Foligno, LW

Age: 19
What’s Next: With the depth that the Senators have in their system, Foligno could end up going back to
Sudbury in the OHL to mature while allowing him ample playing time to hone his craft.
29. Chris Summers, D

Age: 18
What’s Next: Summers has signed and will attend the University of Michigan in the fall.
30. Matthew Corrente, D

Age: 18
2005-06 Numbers: 6 -24-30 with a +2 and 172 PIMs in 61 games
What’s Next: With the money problems the Devils are going through (salary cap issues), Corrente will be
returned to Saginaw in the OHL to work on his development.
As you can see, there might not be as many hyped names out there as in past year but there could very well
be plenty of diamonds in the rough as these youngster develop throughout their careers. One final note. The
European goalie stats aren’t as widely recorded as here in North America which is why there is little
information for the goalies like Helenius and Varlamov on this list.

Top 20 Impact Rookies in 2006-07

(L to R: Evgeni Malkin, Alexander Radulov, Gilbert Brule)
Last season, the NHL and its fans were blessed with the new generation of hockey players. From Alexander
Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby, to Dion Phaneuf and Henrik Lundqvist, the future for the next set of NHL
superstars is here right before our eyes. It’s quite a tough act to follow.
Yet, this year the skill level is just as high and could provide the same amount of excitement, scoring, speed,
and hard-hitting that was shown last season. With three players hitting over 125-points in their major junior
seasons, as well as some players getting a cup of tea with the big club already, the adjustment will be far
less than some would have expected.
Below is a list of the 20 rookies that should make an impact on the NHL this season. A word of discretion,
however. It is always difficult to know what’s going through a GM or coach’s head during training camp, so
while these are the top 20 players as we went to print, keep an eye on things to see if any new faces
emerge.
1. Evgeni Malkin, C
Age: 20
2005-06 Numbers: 21 Goals-26 Assists-47 Points with 46 PIMs in 46 games.
Analysis: Malkin is an impact player in every sense of the word. His speed, agility, and blistering shot make
him a favorite for Rookie of the Year. The big hurdle is Malkin getting to North America as Russia has yet to
sign-on to a transfer agreement with the NHL and IIHF.
2. Alexander Radulov, RW
Age: 20
Analysis: The Predators will add another scorer to their lineup as Radulov has 93 goals in the past 127
games in the QMJHL, helping to lead Quebec to a league championship.

3. Gilbert Brule, C
Age: 19
Analysis: After seven games, a collarbone injury and a broken leg, the Blue Jackets sent Brule back to his
WHL team in Vancouver. Brule netted 30 points (16g, 14a) in 18 playoff games for Giants.
4. Wojtek Wolski, LW
Age: 20
Analysis: After nine games, Wolski was sent back to Brampton in the OHL where he ended up 3rd in the
scoring race. Wolski returned to Colorado for the playoffs recording a goal and three assists in eight games.
5. Ryan Shannon, C
Age: 23
Analysis: In his first full year in minor pro hockey, Shannon was second in rookie scoring in the AHL in ’05-
’06, and led all rookies in the playoffs with 22 points (11g-11a) in the playoffs for the Portland Pirates.
6. Rob Schremp, C
Age: 20
Analysis: After being one of the last players cut last season, Schremp will likely help out the Oilers power-
play after putting up 77 PPGs in the past three seasons in the OHL.
7. Guillaume Latendresse, RW
Age 19
Analysis: The Habs cut Latendresse after a great pre-season last year, but with his toughness and scoring
ability, the Habs should have a spot for Latendresse this year.
8. Matt Carle, D
Age: 21
Analysis: Carle signed with San Jose after his University of Denver stint (which included the Hobey Baker
award given to the best player in college hokcey). Carle will be the heir to San Jose’s quarterback position
on the power-play.
9. Tomas Fleischmann, LW
Age: 22
Analysis: After being second in playoff scoring in the AHL (11g-21a-32p), Fleischmann could be a great
compliment to Alexander Ovechkin.
10. Braydon Coburn, D

Age: 21
Analysis: Coburn often draws comparisons to Dion Phaneuf with his booming shot and hard-checking style
of play. Coburn should be a cornerstone to add to Atlanta’s young core.

11. Loui Eriksson, LW

Age: 21
Analysis: Although Eriksson is still getting used to the North American game, his ability to see the ice and
his clutch scoring ability should allow him to eventually be a game-breaker for the Stars.
12. Marc Staal, D

Age 19
Analysis: After being named the top defenseman at the Under-20 World Junior Hockey Championships,
Staal’s work ethic could get him a consistent role in the Rangers line-up as early as this season.
13. Jiri Novotny, C

Age: 23
Analysis: With the craziness happening with Buffalo and arbitration hearings, Novotny could be the next big
center in the Sabres line-up, should he be called upon.
14. Cam Barker, D

Age: 20
Analysis: After an injury filled season in the WHL, Barker still matured enough to join the young blue line in
Chicago alongside fellow WHL alums Brent Seabrook and Duncan Keith.
15. Luc Bourdon, D

Age: 19
2005-06 Numbers: 3-25-28 with a (-8) and 62 PIMs in 30 games.
Analysis: Bourdon is going to be a top-6 defenseman in Vancouver this year, barring any unforeseen
circumstances. However, the sky’s the limit for this solid defenseman.
16. Mike Green, D

Age: 20
Analysis: Green spent some time in DC last season recording a goal and two assists in 22 games with the
Caps. Green is a solid defenseman who can take control on and off the ice for the Caps.
17. Konstantin Pushkarev, LW

Age: 21
Analysis: Pushkarev is a grinder forward who will take a hit to make a play. With great speed and a sniper-
like shot, Pushkarev could crack the everyday line-up in LA.

18. Alex Bourret, RW

Age: 19
Analysis: If there’s a sleeper for the Calder, Bourret could be it. His size could be a hindrance in his first pro
year, he stands only 5’9”, but if he can show the Thrashers enough, they will plug him into a top-6 forward
role.
19. Brett Carson, D

Age: 20
Analysis: After having a career-season in Calgary (WHL), Carson is ready to join the lineup of the Stanley
Cup champs this year. With is size (6’5, 210lbs) and leadership, Carson will be invaluable to keeping the
Canes a contender.
20. Bobby Ryan, RW

Age: 19
Analysis: Ryan was the first pick for GM Brian Burke in Anaheim and will continue the youth movement for
the Ducks. With his hockey smarts and passing ability, it will make up for his mediocre speed.
The 2006-07 class is a quite an impressive list of rookies, depending on if they make their respective teams
or not. It should be a multi-horse race of the Calder Cup for Rookie of the Year. The future of hockey is
bright and this class should continue to shine the light brightly upon the fastest

Players Who Get No Respect

Contributed By: Nate Strauch
No Respect. For years, comedian Rodney Dangerfield has used that catch phrase to make millions. But in
the world of fantasy hockey, “No Respect” can cost you dearly. Year after year, the players most directly
correlated to winning records aren’t the superstars; they’re valuable performers who many mangers overlook
on draft day. This article suggests a motley crew of an all-star team, made up of gentlemen who are
overlooked and under-booked. Ignore them at your peril.
Brad Richards, C
2005-06 Stats: 23 Goals-68 Assists-91 Points with an even rating and 32 penalty minutes in 82 games
Analysis: With Vincent Lecalvalier the anointed Golden Boy in Tampa, Richards seems to be the forgotten
son. But despite the fact that he seems, at times, second fiddle, Brad Richards has consistently displayed a
fortissimo performance. He’s increased his point totals in each of the last four seasons, and looks fine-tuned
to continue playing wingman to Vinny’s jets for years to come.
Marek Svatos, RW
2005-06 Stats: 32-18-50 with an even rating and 60 penalty minutes in 61 games
Analysis: When two kids get picked first overall in consecutive drafts, then proceed to light up the league
during their concurrent rookie seasons, each certainly deserves all the praise he receives. But for everything
Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby accomplished last year, 2005’s rookie class was far more than a two-man
show. If the Avs’ Svatos can overcome two shoulder surgeries in as many years, he’ll be an impressive, and
much more ignored, bargain for the most astute of fantasy owners.
Martin Rucinsky, LW
2005-06 Stats: 16-39-55 with a (+10) rating and 56 penalty minutes in 52 games
Analysis: Another players who’s often injured but always valuable is new Blue Martin Rucinsky. He’s only
played more than 75-games in three of his 13 seasons, but when he is in the lineup, he has proven he can
be darn near a point-per-game guy.

J.P. Dumont, RW
2005-06 Stats: 20-20-40 with a (-1) rating and 38 penalty minutes in 54 games
Analysis: If you ever play a dynasty in any of EA Sports’ NHL simulations from the early 2000’s, you’ll soon
find that, according to the fine programmers at Electronic Arts, J.P. is the next Gretzky. The game projects
him out to ridiculous levels of scoring. Although Dumont has yet to achieve those rather ambitious
predictions of his potential, he’s a forward who finally looks to be coming into his own. Numerous Sabres’
had breakout years last year, and JP’s continued maturation seemed to get lost in the shuffle. Regardless,
don’t fold this ace on draft day.
Martin Havlat, RW
Analysis: All indications suggest that Martin Havlat is a jerk. Judging from his tumultuous seasons past,
Havlat makes enemies like he makes plays. But the beautiful thing about fantasy sports is there’s no scoring
category for character. Like Terrell Owens’ on the gridiron, Havlat is an enormously talented player whom a
lot of people don’t like. You don’t have like the guy to like the goals he scores.
Olli Jokinen, C
Analysis: The thick Florida air seems to slow the osmosis of information from Sunrise. At least that’s the
only explanation I can come up with to explain why this young Finn remains one of the League’s best-kept
secrets. The last three seasons, Jokinen has exploded, only missing one game while solidifying himself as
the best player remaining at the BankAtlantic Center. You can put your money on big points from this big
kid.
Brian Rafalski, D
2005-06 Stats: 4-43-49 with an even rating and 36 penalty minutes in 82 games
Analysis: They say Rafalski sold cigarettes before making it with the Devils. He must have paid attention
during those early years, because although he’s never on fire, Brian Rafalski is almost always smoking. This
former Wisconsin Badger has a penchant for putting the puck in play. The devil’s in the details, but this
Devil’s a detail to whom you should pay close attention.

Wade Redden, D
Analysis: Wade Redden is everything you want in a defenseman. He’s got a scorer’s touch, knows how to
get his nose dirty when needed, and consistently ranks among the NHL’s plus/minus leaders. In fact, he’s
only registered a negative rating during one season (-1, in 2000), and he has averaged better than (+20)
over the last five season. He’s a prototypical fantasy defenseman that somehow never gets mentioned in
conversations on prototypical fantasy defensemen.
Derek Morris, D
Analysis: Morris has never quite fulfilled his billing as ‘The Next Great Defenseman,’ but he consistently
puts up better-than-average offensive numbers. Staying healthy has always been a challenge for Calgary’s
number one pick in 1996, but there’s no question that he possess the necessary skill to put up quality points
no matter who plays in front of him.
Brad Stuart, D
Analysis: I’ve heard the trade that sent Stuart and kin packing for Beantown in exchange for MVP Joe
Thornton as “three quarters for a dollar.” But if Stuart keeps up his progression as an offensive guru from the
blueline, he could a fifty-cent piece in no time. He easily set career bests in mostly every statistical category
last year, and skating in the footsteps of Bobby Orr and Ray Bourque in Boston could make him just what
the doctor ordered for a healthy fantasy portfolio.
Manny Legace, G
2005-06 Stats: Went 37-8-3 with a 2.19 GAA, seven shutouts, and a .915% save percentage
Analysis: Just Manny being Manny. Legace was the number one goalie for a team that’s among the
league’s elite, year in and year out. With Dominik Hasek back in Hockey Town, the Wings decided to let
Manny leave via free-agency and he signed on with the Blues to be the team’s #1 goaltender. Though he
may not be able to duplicate his numbers of the previous three seasons in St. Louis, Legace will still be a
solid mid-to-late round draft choice when the other top goalies have been taken.
Robert Esche, G
2005-06 Stats: Went 22-11-5 with a 2.97 GAA, one shutout, and a .897% save percentage
Analysis: MC Escher drew a piece I affectionately refer to as “Crazy Stairs.” The only crazy stares Robert
Esche gets are focused on his Kid Rock goalie helmet. But the artist and the netminder share more than just
five letters in their surnames. They share an affinity for the ups and downs of life. Robert Esche is a good
goalie who puts good numbers for a better-than-good team. He’s no Martin Brodeur, but if you can survive
the ebbs and flows, the crazy stares and crazy stairs, he’s a solid investment.

Hidden Gems; The Sleepers

Contributed By: Jason Schwartz
When thinking about picking your fantasy hockey team one of the most fun parts, in my opinion, is picking
the sleepers. Anyone could have had the brains to pick Joe Thornton or Jaromir Jagr last year, but not even
an NHL scout would have probably picked a guy like Brian Gionta at the start of the 2005-06 NHL season to
be your scoring stud. I am not going to promise any of these picks will be the next Brian Gionta, but I can
promise that these players were chosen after hours of personally sifting through statistics as well as
personally watching these players first hand. Stats do not always provide answers to picking sleepers,
which is why I like to make mental notes about lesser-known players who impress me during the year, and
then follow it up by analyzing their teams moves during the offseason (to see where the player stands in the
lineup). There are a ton of potential sleeper picks out there, so in order to pare the list down, I have chosen
to focus on the top sleeper picks for each NHL team. After reading this hopefully you might discover your
own list of sleeper picks as well.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Dustin Penner, W,
Age: 23
2005-06 Stats: 4 Goals-3 Assists-7 Points, with a +3 and 14 PIM
This gigantic forward stands 6-foot-4, weighs 245 lbs., and uses his long reach and size to buy time with the
puck and setup scoring opportunities. His regular season stats were not impressive, he played 19 games
with the Ducks, and found himself in the AHL for the majority of the season. In the minors Penner led his
team in scoring with 84 points in just 57 games along with a league-leading +41 rating. Desperate for
offense, Anaheim recalled Penner for the playoffs. Penner responded with 9 points in 13 playoff games,
second best among rookies, and he also led all rookies in playoff plus/minus with a +10 (the next closest
was +4). Oh yeah, and he only played 13 minutes a game. With wingers Joffrey Lupul and Jeff Friesen
gone, Penner should find himself with more ice-time next season. Look for him to pickup where he left off in
the playoffs.

Kristian Huselius, W,
Age: 27
2005-06 Stats: 20-27-47, with a (-9) and 40 PIM
After a brutal start to the season in Florida where Huselius found himself with just 8 points in 24 games, he
was shipped to the Calgary Flames. Huselius’ has great playmaking ability, along with tremendous offensive
vision found himself alongside one of the leagues top forwards, Jarome Iginla, on some shifts. Huselius was
an instant breath of fresh air for the offensively challenged Flames, as he scored 14 points in 12 games
during his first month with the team. By the end of the season Huselius had made a huge impact impact, as
he potted 39 points in 54 games with the Flames. Huselius will at least play on the Flames’ second scoring
line next season, and should still see time on their first power-play unit.
Radim Vrbata, W
Age: 25
2005-06 Stats: 15-24-39, with a +4 and 22 PIM
Vrbata has all the tools to become a dangerous offensive weapon, but throughout his career he never lived
up to the hype. After a dismal start to his season with Carolina, he was shipped off to the Chicago
Blackhawks early in the 2005-06 season. Oddly enough it was with the Blackhawks that Vrbata really
showcased his offensive talent, and was one of the few pleasant surprises for the Blackhawks overall. With
his great stickhandling skills and willingness to take the body, Vrbata chalked up 34 points in 45 games with
the Blackhawks. Vrbata quietly accumulated 20 points in the final 2 months of the season (25 games), and
with the Blackhawks low on offensive talent, he should continue to get time on the top two scoring lines.
Brett Clark, D
Age: 29
2005-06 Stats: 9-27-36, with a +3 and 56 PIM
Going into the 2005-06 season Brett Clark was probably viewed as more of a reserve defenseman. But
instead he found himself having a career-year. Clark fit perfectly into the Avalanche run-and-gun offensive
style, he is great in transition, and he knows when to jump into the rush. With Rob Blake re-joining the Los
Angeles Kings there could be some increased power-play time available for Clark, as the Avalanche only
added Jordan Leopold to their defense during the offseason.
Pascal Leclaire, G
Age: 23
2005-06 Stats: 11-15-3, 3.23 GAA, .911 SV% with 0 SO
Pascal Leclaire has always been deemed as the future franchise goaltender for the Blue Jackets ever since
he was drafted in 2001. After a lengthy development process he is ready to become an NHL starting goalie.
He got some decent playing time as Marc Denis’ backup last season and did pretty well, while finishing 3rd in
SV% among rookie goaltenders. Leclaire is known to have great agility, and is very patient against shooters.
Most importantly Leclaire improved as the season progressed (he posted a.925 SV% and 2.64 GAA in the
12 games he played after the Olympic break). Columbus also played well during the stretch run, going 12-8-
1-1, and proved they are a decent team when healthy.

Jussi Jokinen, W
Age: 23
2005-06 Stats: 17-38-55 with a +2 and 30 PIM
In his rookie year Jussi Jokinen is already known as the most dangerous player come shootout time. By
scoring on a league-leading 10 of 13 shootout attempts Jokinen has proven he knows where the back of the
net is. He has plenty of tricks in his bag when it comes to handling the puck, and is a Finnish star in the
making. Jokinen also scored on 16% of his shots, a very impressive rate that reflects his ability to find the
holes that opposing goaltenders are not aware of. With Bill Guerin and Jason Arnott gone, Jokinen should
definitely get more responsibility, and will be relied on more heavily to contribute to the Stars’ offense.
Kris Draper, C
Age: 35
Draper had a great year before the lockout season, chalking up a career-high 24 goals, and was awarded
the Frank J. Selke award (defensive player of the year). Draper decided not to play overseas during the
lockout, and it probably cost him, as he struggled with 8 points during the first half of the season. However
he seemed to get his offensive game back after the Olympics, with 16 points in the final 23 regular season
games. With Draper’s speed and energy he brings to every shift he can be dangerous in the new NHL, with
Brendan Shanahan gone, Draper should get opportunities to have a career-year.
Marc-Andre Bergeron, D
Age: 25
Bergeron is known for being a pretty good puck handler, and more importantly he has a rocket from the
point. His defensive play is a huge liability at times because of his small stature, and ultimately cost him ice-
th
time in the playoffs that led to a decrease in his performance. Bergeron was tied for 10 in goals among
defenseman during the regular season, and has the potential to be a power-play specialist. What makes
Bergeron so valuable now is simply the fact that the Oilers unexpectedly lost their best defenseman, and
power-play quarterback, Chris Pronger. The Oilers do not have a replacement for him and will most likely
look to a guy like Bergeron to take over Pronger’s role on their power-play.
Derek Armstrong, C
Age: 33
2005-06 Stats: 13-28-41 with a (-2) and 46 PIM
Armstrong, a former AHL MVP (2000-01 AHL season), was on the brink of a breakout year in 2005-06 but
small injuries kept getting in the way while he was limited to 62 games. Armstrong showed in the AHL that
he has good offensive instincts, and great playmaking skills. After playing countless seasons in the minors
he finally proved he can play in the NHL full-time. With all the forwards that the Kings lost over the
offseason, their offense will mostly be filled with young players, and this should give Armstrong some extra
power-play time. Being a good playmaker, Armstrong will be able to setup pucks to two elite power-play
blueliners in Rob Blake and Lubomir Visnovsky.

Kurtis Foster, D
Age: 26
After being shipped around a bit since his draft year in 2000, Foster has finally found a home in Minnesota.
He led all Wild defensemen in scoring last year, and might I add, it was his rookie year. His 100-mph slap
shot made him one of the Wild’s most dangerous defensemen on the power-play last season. Foster’s 28
points in 58 games mostly came on the power-play (18 PP points), and he should put up good numbers next
year as the Wild have added an excellent set up man in Pavol Demitra. Combine these factors with having a
young group of talent forwards that should improve their offensive game overall, and Foster is one to keep
an eye on from the blueline.
Dan Hamhuis, D
Age: 23
2005-06: 7-31-38 with a +11 and 70 PIM
Dan Hamhuis is a defenseman who has loads of offensive potential. He was developed perfectly by the
Nashville Predators, and managed to improve on his rookie numbers (26 points) last year. Hamhuis is great
at moving the puck, and is capable of setting up opportunities for those speedy Predator forwards. Hamhuis
will be playing a lot of minutes (he played 22 minutes per game last season) for a Nashville team that will be
contending for the Central Division this year, and Hamhuis should be able to improve on his numbers as he
is still progressing at the tender age of 23.
Steve Reinprecht, C
Age: 30
I am going to be honest. This guy is probably one of the best sleepers on this list. He has great speed, a
good shot, is responsible defensively, and is a perfect fit for the new NHL. After putting up decent numbers
with the offensively-challenged Calgary Flames, the Coyotes got him in a trade-deadline deal with the
Flames last season. Reinprecht turned into an elite threat offensively the rest of the season with the Coyotes
catching fire after the Olympic break scoring 22 points in 23 games. His numbers last season were not really
that surprising though, he put up pretty good numbers with all the teams he played for, but injuries limited his
games played. However, it looks like he got rid of the injury bug since he played 80 games last season.
Christian Ehrhoff, D
Age: 25
Ehrhoff is better than his season stats showed in the 62 games he played during the regular season. He was
practically invisible during the first quarter of the season, but when Joe Thornton came to San Jose, Ehrhoff
improved his offensive game (like multiple players on the team). Ehrhoff started to emerge offensively in the
playoff, where he led all Sharks Defensemen in scoring with 8 points in 11 games. With San Jose shipping
off their top offensive defenseman (Tom Preissing), Ehrhoff should take over the spot as the number one
defenseman on a Sharks power-play that includes Joe Thornton and Jonathan Cheecho.

Jason Bacashihua, G
Age: 23
The record and GAA were both pretty brutal last season for Bacashihua. However he did play for the worst
team in the league. Bacashihua has been slated as a top goaltending prospect for quite some time,
impressing scouts with his quick reflexes. His first NHL season was filled with injury problems like most of
the Blues. Upon his return from the injured list however, he sported a 2.56 GAA and an impressive .930
SV% in his final 7 games. Bacashihua will probably battle with Curtis Sanford for the backup role due to the
late addition Manny Legace and may not have any value until later in the year if the Blues decide to move
one of their other two netminders.
Sami Salo, D
Age: 31
Sami Salo has become well-known in the league for not only his solid defensive play, but for also having one
of the hardest shots in the league. In fact, some players have nicknamed the Finland native the “Finnish (Al)
Macinnis”. With 33 points in just 59 games, Salo was on his way to a breakout season before an injury in the
Olympics stalled him. Even though he missed over 20 games due to injury, he still led all Canuck
defensemen in power-play goals with 9. Now that Ed Jovonovski has joined the Phoenix Coyotes, it puts
Salo in as the number 2 defenseman behind Mattias Ohlund. The NHL is a special teams game these days,
and with the point shot Salo has, he could have a 20-goal season.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Steve McCarthy, D
Age: 25
McCarthy, a former first-round draft pick, possesses great offensive potential and is an exceptional passer,
though his offensive game has been invisible in his first couple of seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks.
McCarthy was traded to Vancouver prior to last season, and with limited playing time he produced a measly
6 points in 51 games. Near the trade deadline he was shipped off to the Thrashers, and with increased ice-
time he caught fire, scoring 7 goals and 10 points in 16 games with Atlanta. Considering Atlanta does not
really have any standout offensive defensemen, McCarthy should get his opportunities to play on their solid
power-play
Hannu Toivonen, G
Age: 22
2005-06 Stats: 9-5-4, 2.63 GAA, .914 SV% and 1 SO
Toivonen’s rookie season was going just fine before he was faced with a season-ending ankle injury in
January. Toivonen was coming came off an outstanding December before his injury, with a 2.22 GAA and a
.926 SV%. Although Tim Thomas played surprisingly well as the Bruins starter from January on, Toivonen
was the main reason the Bruins had the confidence to deal Andrew Raycroft to Toronto. Toivonen has
franchise goalie potential, and should see lots of action next season.

Derek Roy, C/LW

Age: 23
Derek Roy was a force in his junior days when he won numerous awards, but no one knew if he could excel
in the NHL with his small size (5’9”, 185 lbs.). Well, he answered those questions last year when he
displayed his great work ethic and energetic playing style in his 2nd season. Roy is a stud offensively, he can
finish or setup plays, and he can grind it out along the boards with the big boys. Roy really looked his best in
the playoffs forming great chemistry with linemate Chris Drury. Roy notched 15 points in 18 playoff games
rd
(3 best on the team) along with a +7. Roy has the potential to rack up around 70-80 points next season
given the right amount of ice-time.
John Grahame, G
Age: 30
John Grahame is coming off a dreadful season in Tampa Bay, and he has now signed on to play second
fiddle to Mr. Conn Smythe, Cam Ward. Although Cam Ward was able to handle the starting role in the
playoffs, he was a rookie last year, and has not proven he can be a consistent #1 goalie for a whole NHL
season. As a result of this, he may not play a ton of games, he only played 28 regular seasons last year,
which is where Grahame comes in. Recall that Grahame was one of the best backup goalies in the league
during his time in Tampa Bay. In his two seasons as the Lightning’s backup goalie he had a record of 24-14-
6, and a SV% of .915. If Cam Ward does not perform to the level he flashed in the playoffs, John Grahame
could see himself splitting starting duties with the youngster. If not, he could still start around 30 games for
the Stanley Cup Champs.
Juraj Kolnik, W
Age: 25
Kolnik put up career-highs last season in just about every offensive category, and has the potential to
produce way more. He has the tools to put up a solid goal total with his superb shot and good work ethic.
His strong play to end the 2005-06 season, 21 points in 29 games during the last 3 months of the year,
earned him another year with the Panthers as General Manager Mike Keenan was happy to re-sign him.
Mike Johnson, W
Age: 31
Johnson is a player with good instincts at both ends of the ice, and Bob Gainey was obviously well are of it
as he traded for him during the offseason. Johnson has averaged about 50 points-per-year in his 9 NHL
seasons. Why is he overlooked a lot? Mainly because he has been playing for sub-par hockey teams for a
good chunk of his career. He is not going to light the lamp too often, but will rack up lots of helpers. Johnson
has great wheels, and speed will continue to kill in the new NHL. Expect Johnson to thrive on a competitive
hockey club like Montreal.

Zach Parise, C/W

Age: 21
Parise did pretty well in his rookie year for a Devils team that relies mainly on its defense to win games. He
was tied for second on the Devils in Game-winning goals with 5, and found a place on a line with top scorers
Scott Gomez and Brian Gionta near the end of the season. The 2003 first-rounder has great offensive
potential, along with great leadership qualities that were displayed in his NCAA days. Like a lot of the young
sleeper picks, this guy did not receive a great deal of ice-time as a rookie during the regular season. Expect
him to improve on his rookie numbers as the Devils plan to use Parise on one of their top two scoring lines.
Chris Campoli, D
Age: 22
Although things do not look too good in Long Island right now, they have to be happy with the way Chris
Campoli played in first NHL season. Not only is Campoli a sleeper for this season, it turns out he was a
sleeper in the 2004 draft. Very rarely do you see a player drafted in the seventh round playing in the NHL
the next season. Campoli is a very mobile defenseman, and has good puck possession skills. After leading
all Islanders defensemen in scoring last year, look for him to have a pretty good year regardless of how the
Islanders play.
Matt Cullen, C/W

Age: 29
Cullen was one of the most underrated players on the Carolina Hurricanes Stanley Cup team last year. He
had a breakthrough year reaching the 20-goal plateau for the first time. Cullen also scored key goals, he had
5 game-winners (second on the team), and was an amazing 6 for 9 in shootouts. Every shift he brings
energy on the ice, trying to do everything to create scoring chances. Cullen has all the tools to becoming an
elite player, he is very creative with the puck, forechecks hard, and has an underrated shot. Another upside
to Cullen is his ability to play the point on the power-play, as he helped the Hurricanes have the second best
power-play during the playoffs. Cullen will have a chance to most likely play on the Rangers’ second line,
and it wouldn’t be surprising to see him man the point on their power-play.
Joe Corvo, D
Age: 29
Corvo plays well at both ends of the ice and as a result was signed by the Senators during the offseason.
Coming off a year in which he was second in scoring among Los Angeles Kings defensemen, Corovo also
managed half of his points last season on the Kings’ weak power-play (second worst in the league), which
means he could do a lot of damage with the Senators power-play. Ottawa has one of the best power-plays
in the league, and Corvo loves to wire it from the point. Corvo should also have an excellent plus/minus
rating with the Senators.

Freddy Meyer, D
Age: 25
Meyer did an exceptional job filling in for an injury-depleted Flyers’ lineup last season in the 57 games he
skated in. Meyer was called up from the minors in December and never went back as he earned a spot on
the Flyers’ roster with his defensive play and his ability to jump into the rush. Meyer also received some
decent time on their power-play, where he racked up 16 points. Believe it or not, Meyer was actually the
leading scorer for Flyers defensemen in the second half of the season, and with the fragile defensemen they
have on their roster, he should continue to get opportunities on the ice.
Colby Armstrong, W
Age: 23
When Armstrong was called up from the minors halfway through the season, few were expecting him to
make a huge impact. Armstrong did make a huge splash in his rookie year however, and he played
exceptionally well when he was put on a line with Sidney Crosby. Armstrong plays well at both ends of the
ice, and besides his impressive stats in the 47 games he suited up for the Penguins last season, he also had
an unbelievable +15 on one of the worst teams in the league. Armstrong proved he had good chemistry with
Crosby last year, and should put up strong numbers in a full season this year.
Ruslan Fedotenko, W
Age: 27
Fedotenko did manage a career-high in goals and points last year, but still has not had a real breakout year
yet. Fedotenko has improved in each of the 3 seasons he played with the Lightning. He has great hands, a
good wrist shot, and is known to be a clutch goal scorer (and no, not just because of his cup-winning goal
against the Flames). With the loss of Fredrik Modin, Fedotenko should be relied on to produce more
offense and he should play on one of Tampa Bay’s top two scoring lines.
Kyle Wellwood, C
Age: 23
2005-06 Stats: 11-34-45 with an even rating and 14 PIM
In his rookie year, Wellwood amazed people with his creative stickhandling skills. He finished the last month
of the season with 9 points in 10 games, and helped the Leafs power-play tremendously. With the loss of
forwards Jason Allison and Eric Lindros during the offseason (and no replacements signed), Wellwood
should be bumped up to the Leafs second scoring line. His ice-time will increase drastically, and could give
him a 60+ point season.
Richard Zednik, W
Age: 30
After 5 seasons with the Montreal Canadiens, Zednik was traded back to his original NHL team during the
offseason. Zednik is coming off an awful year, but he should bounce back in a less-pressured environment
in Washington. Zednik averaged 25 goals-per-year with the Montreal, and his speed could find himself as a
worthy candidate to play alongside Alexander Ovechkin. Zednik’s ice-time will definitely increase in
Washington, as they are razor-thin on offence.

Cold as Ice; The Snoozers

Some days I am out of bed before my alarm goes off, yet some days I wake up only after hitting the snooze
button a few times. The odd morning every once in a while I feel like snoozing and missing an entire day, but
what if I snoozed and missed the entire NHL season? Which players would I draft lower or avoid entirely if I
could pull a “Groundhog Day” and do it all over again? Or to put it another way, which players are most likely
to miss the call of the alarm and snooze through the entire season? Here is a list of popular draft picks that
you should consider downgrading for the 2006-07 season.
Sean Avery, C
Age: 26
2005-06 Stats: 15 Goals-24 Assists-39 Points with a (-5) and 257 PIM
Avery was booted off the Kings last year after behaving in a manner that would make Terrell Owens proud.
Yet in a surprising turn of events, the Kings decided that his childish behavior both on and off the ice could
be forgiven. Without unleashing into a tirade about Avery as a player or a person, it is important to note that
he was a one-category wonder last season in penalty minutes, racking up an impressive 257 PIM while
holding his own scoring-wise with 39 points. Because of his history he is not a guy that should be relied
upon to stay in the lineup full-time, as league-imposed suspensions will no doubt be a part of his game.
New Kings coach Marc Crawford will certainly give his two cents worth to Avery about the number of
penalties that he takes. If that PIM number happens to dip, so will Avery’s fantasy value. What do you think
of him now, Elisha Cuthbert?
Ed Belfour, G
Age: 41
2005-06 Stats: 22-22-4, with a 3.29 GAA, .892 SV% and 0 SO
Many of you out there must remember when the Chicago Blackhawks were actually a contender, and you
might have this picture etched in your mind: Mike Keenan playing Captain Hook in pulling Eddie the Eagle
out of a game, then grabbing Belfour by the mask and scolding him like a young child. Somehow, many
years later, these two have reunited in the Sunshine State. At 42 years of age expect Eddie to make like
many of the residents out that way and play more dominos and canasta than hockey next season. Alex Auld
has proven himself to be a #1 goalie that can handle a large workload like he did in Vancouver last season
when he played 67 games, so expect Auld to receive the majority of the playing time for the Panthers. Don’t
let past success fool you, it’s mildly surprising that Belfour didn’t retire three seasons ago after the Dallas
Stars cut him loose.

Zdeno Chara, D
Age: 29
Chara signed a nice fat contract with the Bruins in the off-season for $37.5 million over five seasons. That
alone gives one the gut feeling that his value will decrease. The more rational reason would be that he is
moving from a Stanley Cup contender to a team that appears to be in a rebuilding mode. The Bruins had a
goal differential of (-30) last season, whereas the Senators had a goal differential of a staggering +107.
What that will add up to is Chara’s plus/minus dropping. Add to that no Daniel Alfredsson or Dany Heatley or
Jason Spezza and Chara is no longer the plus/minus stud he used to be. You can still count on him to get
the penalty minutes, though and put up solid overall numbers.
Mathieu Garon, G
Age: 28
At times last season as the starting goalie for the Kings Garon looked less than impressive. In his last 16
games, Garon compiled a 5-11 win-loss record to go with an .869 save percentage, which are not the kind of
goaltending numbers that would help your team win in the fantasy playoffs. To decrease Garon’s value even
further, the Kings have added former Canuck Dan Cloutier, who was a favorite of new Kings coach Marc
Crawford when the two were in Vancouver. At best, this looks like a time-share, but believe that Crawford
will give Cloutier every chance to succeed now that both are out of the hockey pressure cooker in
Vancouver. Despite being the NHL Defensive Player of the Month in December with a 9-3 record and 3 or
fewer goals allowed in 11 of 12 starts, the numbers simply don’t work out for Garon in this upcoming season.
Look elsewhere for a #2 goalie for your team.
Jean-Sebastien Giguere, G
Age: 29
2005-06 Stats: 30-15-11, with a 2.66 GAA, .911SV% and 2 SO
As we know, whenever a story that is not supposed to reach the public gets to the public and is denied
afterward, there’s some truth to it. The latest hot gossip has Ducks goaltender and playoff hero Ilya
Bryzgalov suggesting to a Russian newspaper that he is the new #1 in Anaheim and the team is trying to
trade previous playoff hero J.S. Giguere even though no team wants him. Really, though, if no NHL team
wants Giguere, do you really want him for your fantasy team? Think about it. There are 30 NHL teams and
likely around 8 to 16 fantasy teams in your league. Even though Jiggy played 60 games last season and
sported a 2.66 GAA and .911 SV%, let someone else succumb to the black hole of the default rankings in
drafting him this season.
Brian Gionta, RW
Age: 27
Gionta’s ’05-’06 total of 48 goals and 89 points is merely an outlier if you compare it to his past point totals
(29, 25, and 11 points for his previous three seasons.) Granted, the only other complete season that he
played was ’03-’04 where he sported the 29 point effort, but it is a mystery how a guy with those previous
career numbers managed 48 goals. Perhaps the Devils are playing more of a run-and-gun offense with
Gionta, Patrik Elias and Scott Gomez as the Devils have always been known as a very conservative
offensive outfit. However, not to pick on the little guy, but Gionta’s small frame (5’7”, 175 lbs.) and tendency
to rush up the middle does him no favors in an NHL where the players getting drafted each year keep
getting bigger and bigger. In all likelihood Gionta's point and goal totals will drop this season after last year's
huge output which so greatly dwarfed his previous level of production.

Cristobal Huet, G
Age: 31
Quick, raise your hand if you know how many NHL players are from France? OK, so not many of you
guessed Huet. A player from France taking the NHL by storm is like a Canadian taking the NBA by storm. Or
course a Canadian is now the two-time NBA MVP and Canada is not a basketball power. At any rate, this
30-year-old late bloomer excelled with the Habs last season with a remarkable 7 shutouts (in only 36
games). The presence of David Aebischer will affect the amount of playing time for Huet, who only has 89
NHL games under his belt. Unless we are witnessing the second coming of Johnny Bower, don’t expect
Huet’s stock to rise any further than it has, and Huet doesn’t have anywhere near the skills of Johnny Bower.
Ric Jackman, D
Age: 28
Tricky Ric posted offensive totals of 7 goals and 23 assists in only 64 games last season. Those are decent
offensive totals, comparable numbers to defensive stalwarts such as Robyn Regher, Alexei Zhitnik, Derek
Morris, and Roman Hamrlik, all defensemen that were likely on fantasy rosters in your league at one time or
another last season. However, unlike these defensemen who missed their time due to injury, Jackman was
a healthy scratch for Pittsburgh and Florida because of defensive shortcomings. Add to that the (-20)
plus/minus and Jackman is as much of a headache to have on your fantasy team as he is in his own zone
for the teams that he has played for. Avoid drafting this guy unless you enjoy roller coasters.
Eric Lindros, C
Age: 33
As soon as Lindros had signed a one-year contract with the Dallas Stars, his name jumped out as an
obvious pick for this list. Lindros played in only 33 games last season due to a wrist injury and only 39 in the
year before (’03-‘04). Over his career he has played an average of 55 games per season, which includes the
entire ’00-’01 season missed due to the hard hit from Scott Stevens in the playoffs. If you are still scoring at
home, Lindros now only needs two more concussions to catch up to Troy Aikman, who finally put his career
to a screeching halt after ten concussions. The Stars may be hoping that Lindros will replace the departed
Jason Arnott and Bill Guerin, but don’t be like the Stars and be the one waiting for the Kerry Wood of hockey
to suffer his next concussion.
Andy McDonald, C/LW

Age: 29
2005-06 Stats: 34-51-85 with a a+24 and 32 PIM
McDonald is another player from the “where did this guy come from” category. His career point totals follow
a similar pattern to Gionta’s with an 85-point season in ’05-’06 besting his career-high of 30 set in ’03-’04. If
you managed to draft this guy in ’05-’06, you were plentifully rewarded. However, if you choose to draft him
based on last year’s point totals this year, you will be asking a lot from a player who was not even on the
fantasy landscape prior to ’05-’06. McDonald is not at all bad for a guy who was projected to be a career
third-line center, but let someone else draft him high instead because expecting the same point total as last
season is expecting an awful lot.

Tom Preissing, D
Age: 27
Preissing was the power-play horse in San Jose last season, with 22 power-play points from the point. A
trade to Ottawa, however, will force Preissing to wait in line for power-play time as Wade Redden is the
leader of the blueline and will receive the power play time on the first unit. After that, Preissing will need to
battle former King Joe Corvo and rookie sensation Andrej Meszaros, both of whom received significant
power play time for their clubs last year. Preissing’s only other NHL experience was in ’03-’04, when he
managed 19 points in 69 games for the Sharks. Don’t expect to see the same amount of power-play points
this season if that is one of your criteria for d-men.
Vaclav Prospal, C/LW

Age: 31
Prospal had some big numbers last season for the disappointing Tampa Bay Lightning with 80 points in 81
games. One look at his career stats, though, will tell you that you cannot pencil this player in for 80 points
every year. His previous three seasons yielded totals of 54, 79 and 55 points. Which Prospal will show up
this year? If you believe in the good year/bad year theory, he will lean toward the bad this year. This is a
likely scenario for this intense yet inconsistent player.
Petr Prucha, C/RW

Age: 24
The Rangers were a team that snuck up on many people last season. Given up for dead in the new salary
cap NHL, they surprised many with their top placing in the Atlantic Division for much of ’05-’06. One player
that surprised many was Petr Prucha who managed 30 goals but only 17 assists in his rookie season.
Prucha is a young player who will be given time to develop, but he is a smurf when you compare him to the
gargantuan-sized defensemen who are called on to cover him (5’10”, 160 lbs.). Prucha is truly a talented
player but he still has a lot to learn about the pro game and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him go through
some growing pains this season.
Jeremy Roenick, C
Age: 36
J.R. is hoping to resuscitate his career with a second stint with the Coyotes. After his first stint, he played
three decent seasons with Philadelphia where he averaged 58 points before one truly awful season with Los
Angeles where he managed a paltry 22 points in 58 games last year. Don’t bank on a return to old form in
the desert as J.R.’s point totals have declined from the previous season in each of the last five seasons from
78 in ’99-’00 to the meager 22 point effort in ’05-’06. Add to that his injury history from the last two seasons
(fractured finger, broken jaw) and you would probably be better advised to let the flamboyant J.R. reside on
another team’s roster.

Dwayne Roloson, G
Age: 36
Roloson will now and forever be known as the goalie that led a #8 seeded Oilers team to within one game of
winning the Stanley Cup. Want to know what his previous legacy was? How about backup goaltender?
Although he played admirably in Minnesota, he could never seem to shake off Manny Fernandez to be the
true #1. If you wanted to make the argument that Roloson was the #1 in Minnesota since the ’01-’02 season,
you cannot refute the fact that he was nothing more than a backup in Buffalo and Calgary prior to that. Add
to that the fact that he is now 36-years-old and you have the makings of a goalie that is not likely to play
more than 50 games for the Oil. Was it worth it for the Oil to trade a first round and conditional third round
pick for him? Definitely. Would you want to make Roloson even a first, third, or even fifth-round pick for your
team? Don’t do it.
Michal Rozsival, D
Age: 28
Rozsival was yet another surprise for the Rangers last season after he tied for the NHL lead in plus/minus at
+35 with Wade Redden. Plus/minus is a statistic that can raise a defenseman’s value to your team, so it
should come as no surprise that Rozsival was a nice fantasy surprise to anyone who was able to claim him
off the waiver wire. It should come as no surprise either that Rozsival is not in the same league as Redden
when it comes to his all-around game. A career-high of 30 points last season is what defines Rozsival after
the plus/minus with a meager 11 points on the power play that isn’t going to help your team that much. Add
to that the fact that in his previous three full seasons he only played an average of 54 games and he has
had some major injuries and you could be drafting a player who has a strong probability to disappoint.
Marc Savard, C
Age: 29
Savard and Ilya Kovalchuk looked like they would be a great line pairing in Atlanta for years to come.
Because of the salary cap, Savard was not resigned in Atlanta (we’re going to see more players switching
teams like this). Unfortunately, this was not a signing that will boost Savard’s fantasy value, as the
offensively challenged Bruins will likely play him with up-and-comers like Brad Boyes and Patrice Bergeron,
decent players but not superstars. Add to that the fact that prior to the ’05-’06 season, Savard had played an
average of 56 games in the last three seasons due to injuries, and you have a guy whose value will be
inflated by the 97 point season of ’05-’06. This is a player who has not proven that he can stay healthy over
the long haul and has been known as a player who doesn’t show 100% all the time. Either of these
possibilities may occur at some point this year, and with no Kovalchuk, Savard heads the list of the all-
snoozer team.
Teemu Selanne, RW
Age: 36
Selanne was an obvious choice for Comeback Player of the Year in ’05-’06 with a 90-point season that
provided inspiration for the Ducks’ playoff run. Before you get too excited about his prospects for next
season, keep in mind that Selanne’s average for the previous three seasons was 50 points, which included
a disappointing 32-point effort in his ’03-’04 reunion with former Duck Paul Kariya. Selanne is also now 36-
years-old and clearly a player who has lost a step or two from his days as a high-flying Winnipeg Jet or his
first stint with the team formerly known as the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. The Ducks will be even stronger
next season with the signing of Chris Pronger, but expecting another 90-point effort from Selanne is setting
yourself up for disappointment.

Mike Sillinger, C
Age: 35
If you guessed that a 35-year-old who is now with his twelfth team could muster a career-high of 63 points
last season, then you must also have been accurately able to predict that the Oilers and Hurricanes would
meet in the Stanley Cup finals. Sillinger is joining the (hack, cough) New York Islanders, an organization that
seems to find fresh new ways to screw up every season (hiring your backup goalie to be the GM?). It won’t
just be the latest move that will screw up Sillinger’s fantasy value, it will also be regression to the mean (and
maybe yet another trade), as Sillinger was only able to muster 24 points in ’03-’04. Keep Sillinger in mind
though if you play in a league that counts faceoffs won and faceoffs lost: he won an average of 9.5 faceoffs
per game and won 748 faceoffs compared to 591 lost on the season.
Martin Straka, C/LW (22-54-76, +17 with 42 PIM)

Age: 33
2005-06 Stats:
Straka had a renaissance year in ’05-’06 with 76 points in 82 games, many of which were by riding Jaromir
Jagr’s coattails. Straka is a good bet to repeat those point totals if and only if he can stay healthy. That is a
big if however since he has only played an average of 42 games in the previous three seasons that he spent
with Pittsburgh and Los Angeles. Like Gionta, McDonald and Prucha he has a small frame for the rigors of
the NHL at 5’9” and 178 lbs. and tends to shy away from the physical game. Draft him if you must, but a
better idea would be to knock him down a few spots due to the high probability of injury.
Lubomir Visnovsky, D
Age: 30
2005-06 Stats: 17-50-67, +7 with 50 PIM
Visnovsky had a career year last year with 67 points in 80 games. He did not, however, play near 80 games
in the previous two years with seasons of 57 and 58 games. His biggest challenge has never been scoring,
rather it has been staying healthy. At 5’10” and 188 lbs., it is no secret that he will probably lose more
physical battles than he wins. Lubomir scored 53 points in 2002-2003 so the 67 points he scored last year
are a bit curious and therefore his follow-up season is certainly not guaranteed to match his performance for
the Kings last year.
Enforcers: To Draft or Not To Draft, That is the Question!

Contributed By: Tory Olson
A year ago I was ready to order a tombstone to honor the end of enforcers in the modern day NHL. While
fighting has taken a slide, I see the opportunity for the enforcer to step up and become a more useful player
who can contribute with more than fists. The enforcer role has begun a rebirth. Gone are the dinosaurs who
just fought. Enter the 4th liners that can skate a regular shift and are contributing on defense and
occasionally at the offensive end of the ice. Therefore, they can ultimately be a useful member of your
fantasy team as well.
Last year we saw a few things change with enforcers. First, entered a new class of NHL Rookie enforcers
led by Derek Boogaard, Brian McGrattan and Colton Orr. The young guns were tops among Fighting
Majors and PIMs last season and still managed to ice 5+ minutes of Ice Time per game. Second, seasoned
NHL enforcers like Georges Laraque and Chris Simon cut back on fighting and only fought when needed.
Last, we said good bye to former NHL enforcer locks like Sandy McCarthy, Andrei Nazarov, and Krystoff
Oliwa.
So, what role does the enforcer have in the NHL and fantasy hockey moving forward? As NHL teams draft
less “enforcer” type players, how does this translate to the fantasy hockey draft and rosters?
In an interview by Adam Waughwith noted NHL enforcer Jim Vandameer, Adam asked Jim how much the
role of grit and intimidation come into play in today’s NHL. “…there are still a lot of guys that you can scare.
If you hit hard, and back it up it goes along way, showing your teammates that your there for them, and also
makes it harder on opponents to do what they want to do. It isn't the same as it used to be when the big
boys would come out and lay down the law but it is still there. “
I recently asked Minnesota Wild Enforcer Prospect Matt Kassian, where he saw the future of NHL
enforcers. He responded “Like everything in the NHL, enforcing has changed. It’s not about being the
biggest or strongest, you have to be able to play the game, and play it smart as well. Enforcers will always
have a part in hockey, despite the efforts of some to eliminate it. The amount of fights might go down, but
the amount of intimidation, trash talk, and mental games that enforcers use and play will rise because of the
drop of fighting. “ Matt also commented that he saw skating as a key component to the new NHL enforcer “If
you can't keep up with everyone, you can't expect to play. “
As with any change in pro sports, the ripple effect in the fantasy world has begun to occur. As NHL teams
stop or limit the selection of enforcer players (see Detroit Red Wings), where do you as a fantasy owner go?
Are leagues phasing out the enforcer position, opting for points based on any type of PIM?
This brings up the value of the pest or antagonist. Does a player like Sean Avery or Tyson Nash become
more or less valuable in fantasy hockey because of how your league’s rules are set up? What value do you
put on an enforcer? Do you take a young gun, a seasoned vet, or do you opt for the pest? Do you draft that
role or look to free agency or the waiver wire?
This can only be answered by the format of your league and the points assigned to the PIM category. If you
only get points for majors, then the obvious choice is the enforcer, and one that is going to get you 15-20
fighting majors. If the points are awarded based on any penalty minute earned, then the pest is the best
choice as those 10-Minute Misconducts will add up to nice points for your team. Just as NHL teams
“smarten up” and evaluate talent in the enforcer role, so must fantasy owners.
For those of you who are in leagues that count fighting majors, here are the top 10 players in fighting majors
from the 2005-06 season.

Brian McGrattan 23
George Parros 18
Derek Boogaard 16
Steve Ott 16
Todd Fedoruk 15
Jamal Mayers 15
John Erskine 13
Eric Godard 13
Jody Shelley 13
Matthew Barnaby 12
Of the top 10 NHL Leaders in Fighting Majors (FM) only 6 were what can be considered true heavyweights,
while four others are what are commonly referred to as pests: Parros, Ott, Mayers, and Barnaby.
The next list displays the overall penalty minute leaders in the 2005-06 season regardless of how the PIMs
were recorded.
Sean Avery 257

Brendan Witt 209
Chris Neil 204
Brendan Morrow 183
Steve Ott 178
Matthew Barnaby 178
Todd Fedoruk 174
Donald Brashear 166
Jody Shelley 163
Darcy Hordichuk 163
A good fantasy owner needs to review both the FM leader board and PIM leader board to get a clear picture
of what type of player will best fit your league’s rules and your team’s makeup. A player that appears on both
Top 10 lists may be worthy of taking with a draft pick rather than trying to pick up on waivers during free
agency. But again, this all depends on the way your league is structured.
I know how I will draft my team. My league the enforcer is given points based on Fighting Majors, and there
is a separate point for general PIMs. But the enforcer is a position in my league that you need to fill. It is not
optional. So to prepare for my draft, I took the number of FM’s and divided it by the number of games played
to give me an average fights per game number and did the same for PIMs. I then rank my players by that
number.
For example, Georges Laraque racked up 73 PIMs in 72 games and had 9 FMs, so he earned 1.01 PIMs
per game he had a one fight for every 8 games played. Derek Boogaard was the undisputed champ of my
league last year racked up 158 PIMs in 65 games and had 16 FMs for an average of 2.43 PIMs per game
and one fight every 4 games. Pests can be ranked using the same formula.
While the NHL cuts back on fighting, we fantasy owners need to march forward to meet the new rules and
changes to the game. From the comments of players listed above the enforcer role appears not to be dead,
it is just being refined, and to that we must also refine how we draft and what value we put upon those
players. Draft wisely and remember to rank your players the way you are most comfortable. In the end you
have to run the team you draft, not me.

The Power Forward; A Drafters Best Friend

Contributed By: Michael Stechschulte
When it comes to the fantasy game, there is rarely a better early round draft pick than a big, hard-hitting,
high-scoring power forward. Although they are a dwindling breed they are the players that have the ability to
single-handedly change a game with a bone-crunching hit, a timely goal, or both. While, like almost anything
in sports, the definition of a power forward varies from person to person, this list focuses mainly on two
aspects that are crucial to the fantasy side of hockey: points and PIMs. Both are critical in defining a player’s
value to his (fantasy) team, and for a player to make this list, he must demonstrate not only a tough, physical
style of play, but also the soft hands that make for a proven scorer. But this list isn’t just about past
performance; it’s also about future projections…after all, if stats were all that mattered, what would you need
us analysts for?
1. Todd Bertuzzi, LW
Age: 31
2005-06 Numbers: 25 Goals-46 Assists-71 Points with a (-17) and 120 PIM in 82 games
Hits: 129 Majors: 2
Although any of the top three on this list could be considered #1 for various reasons, Todd Bertuzzi is still
pound-for-pound the best power forward in the game. Although his performance last season with the
Canucks was sub par, due in part to off-ice issues, Bertuzzi should have a bounce-back year in South
Florida where he will be reunited with Mike Keenan. Bertuzzi, who will likely be playing on a line with Florida
captain Olli Jokinen (#13 on the list), can put up points with the best of them. At 6’3”, 245 lbs., Big Bert is a
monster of a hockey player who has committed over 100 PIM in 5 of his last 6 seasons. If not for his
average performance last year, there would be no other choice for #1 on this list, yet he remains the
definition of a power forward.

2. Brendan Morrow, LW
Age: 27
2005-06 Numbers: 23-42-65 with a +30 and 183 PIM in 81 games
Hits: 234 Majors: 7
Based on his meanness alone, Morrow could challenge for the #1 spot. Morrow led the NHL with 234 hits
last season, and his 183 PIM were the 4th most in the league and the highest total of his NHL career.
Morrow, who began his career as a role player in Dallas, has increased his point totals in each of the last 4
seasons, and is developing into one of the best packages of skill and toughness in the league. At 5’11”, 210
lbs., he may not be as big as players like Bertuzzi, but Morrow knows how to battle and is almost impossible
to knock off the puck. With the departure of Bill Guerin (#20) to St. Louis, the former 1st rounder will shoulder
even more responsibility for the Stars, and his point totals could continue to rise.
3. Alexander Ovechkin, LW
Age: 20
Hits: 172 Majors: 0
If this weren’t a list geared toward the fantasy game, Ovechkin would undoubtedly run away as the best
power forward in hockey. The 6’2”, 212 lbs., Russian superstar is one of the most imposing players in the
league, and at just 20 years of age, his scariest days are yet to come. In his rookie season with the Capitals,
Ovechkin found the twine 52 times, assisted on 54 more, recorded 69 takeaways and dished out 172 bone-
crushing hits. Add to this his relative knack for staying out of the penalty box (52 PIM) and the Washington
Capitals have themselves virtually the perfect player. However, it is precisely this saint-like quality that keeps
Ovechkin at #3 on this list.
4. Jarome Iginla, RW
Age: 29
Hits: 105 Majors: 4
No one is quite sure why a player of Jarome Iginla’s stature would have such difficulty scoring in the new
NHL, but if not for his sub-Jarome season in 2005-06, even he could challenge for the top spot on this list. At
29, Iginla is still very capable of reaching and even surpassing his 96-point total of 2001-02, and with the
opportunity to play alongside budding superstar Alex Tanguay next season, Iginla could challenge that mark
again. Besides his natural scoring abilities, Iginla plays a very physical game and isn’t afraid to mix it up
every once in a while to defend a teammate or send a message to the opposition. He is the unquestioned
leader of the Calgary Flames both by example and in the locker room, and it’s difficult to imagine him not
snapping out of his ‘slump’ this year.
5. Brendan Shanahan, LW
Age: 37
Hits: 74 Majors: 3
At 37 years of age, Shanahan is still considered one of the best power forwards in the game, and for good
reason. Coming off his best season since 1996-97, some might consider Shanny one of the last remaining
true power forwards in the game. He’s big, he fights, he scores, he hits and he sits (in the penalty box); all
good things if you are a fantasy owner. This season will definitely be a test for Shanahan after spending the
last decade with the Detroit Red Wings. Although there’s no telling just how much longer the big Irish man
can continue to perform at a high level, for now, Shanahan seems to be a safe bet to continue to score and
hit making him a top power forward.

6. Dany Heatley, RW
Age: 25
Hits: 62 Majors: 0
Since his arrival in Canada’s capital, Dany Heatley has been nothing short of spectacular for the Senators.
Starting the season with a 22-game point streak, Heatley has proven time and time again that he can get it
done at both ends of the ice. Although by some standards Heatley might not be considered a power forward,
103 points and 86 PIM definitely merit his inclusion on this list. Although the big winger is no pushover (62
hits), he rarely (if ever) gets involved in fights, but from a fantasy perspective, as long as he’s putting up the
PIMs, no one will really care.
7. Shane Doan, RW
Age: 29
2005-06 Numbers: 30-36-66 with a (-9) and 123 PIM in 82 games
Hits: 164 Majors: 5
Always one to fly well beneath the radar, Shane Doan has quietly developed into a very quality player out in
the desert. A lifetime Winnipeg/Phoenix guy, Doan isn’t afraid to use his size to his advantage to battle for
loose pucks, throw a jaw-rattling hit in the corners, or even drop the gloves every now and then. Last
season’s 30 goals were the highest total of his career so far, as were his 123 PIM. Although his (-9) rating
last season could be considered a knock on him, under the direction of head coach Wayne Gretzky, Doan’s
scoring numbers could continue to increase, and it wouldn’t be a bad guess to figure his best days are still
ahead of him.
8. Rick Nash, LW
Age: 22
Hits: 43 Majors: 1
Since the Columbus Blue Jackets have never really made much of a splash in their short NHL existence, the
casual NHL fan might have no idea who Rick Nash is. With all the focus and attention being paid to players
like Alexander Ovechkin, Sidney Crosby, Ilya Kovalchuk and Dany Heatley, Nash is often overlooked as one
of the game’s brightest young stars. At only 22 years of age, Nash has already established himself as one of
the best power forwards in the NHL. After spending the early part of last season on Injured Reserve, Nash
came back to finish strong scoring at a point-per-game pace on the season. Although slightly skinny for his
height at 6’4”, 206 lbs., there isn’t a player in the league who wants to face the former Rocket Richard
trophy-winner one-on-one.
9. Erik Cole, RW
Age: 27
Hits: 123 Majors: 0
If anyone ever doubted Erik Cole’s importance to the Carolina Hurricanes, they don’t anymore after his
dramatic Game 6 return sparked the ‘Canes to their first Stanley Cup title in history. The former 3rd-round
draft pick has developed nicely into one of the premier power forwards in the game with his combination of
skill and grit. Although many would rank teammate Eric Staal (#11) higher for his point production, Cole has
shown a better all-around game and isn’t afraid to go into the corners and pay a price (and he did, that neck
brace wasn’t just for fashion). However, it will be interesting to see how he responds next year after
recovering from an injury that could have cost him his career. Proceed with caution.

10. Sidney Crosby, C

Age: 19
Hits: 66 Majors: 0
I know that just about every NHL pundit would disagree with this selection. A 5’10”, 193 lbs., 19-year-old
with 66 hits and no fighting majors should never be considered a power forward, especially not the 10th best
in the league. However, this being a fantasy list, we just couldn’t ignore the only player in the league last
season to record over 100 points and 100 PIM. That said, this could be a one-time-only inclusion for the
Penguins’ phenom, as head coach Michel Therrien and his staff will be unhappy with their star player
spending so much time in the box. As his career progresses, Crosby will learn what is and isn’t acceptable,
and his PIM totals could dwindle as a result.
11. Eric Staal, C

Age: 21
Hits: 43 Majors: 1
Staal had a breakout year last season with the Hurricanes and he should continue to excel in the points
department, but the big center doesn’t use his size as well as he could. Still, 82 penalty minutes can’t be
ignored.
12. Marc Savard, C

Age: 29
Hits: 27 Majors: 0
Primarily a set-up man, Savard fed off Ilya Kovalchuk in Atlanta perhaps a little too much last season, and it
would be shocking to see him come close to 97 points again in Boston. Still, Savard is one of only two
players to record 90+ points and 100 PIM last year.
13. Olli Jokinen, C

Age: 27
Hits: 36 Majors: 0
Jokinen’s stock is still on the upswing, and despite having dished out only 33 hits last season, he scores and
takes bad penalties, both pluses for fantasy owners. The addition of Todd Bertuzzi to the Panthers’ lineup
will only help Jokinen’s game.
14. Vincent Lecavalier, C

Age: 26
2005-06 Numbers: 35-40-75 with an even +/- and 90 PIM in 80 games
Hits: 81 Majors: 4
The former 1st overall pick in 1998 has yet to live up to his scoring potential, but 75 points and 90 PIM still
deserves some recognition. Though a 7-year veteran, Lecavalier is just 26-years-old and still has room to
improve.

15. Jason Arnott, C

Age: 31
Hits: 85 Majors: 2
Last year was the first injury-free season of Arnott’s career, and subsequently he recorded his highest point
total as well. With his quick departure from Dallas to Nashville, it’s anyone’s guess as to whether or not
Arnott can come close to a repeat performance.
16. Darcy Tucker, LW

Age: 31
Hits: 127 Majors: 4
They don’t come any tougher than Darcy Tucker. The rock-solid Toronto winger turned in a fine performance
last year including leading the Leafs with 18 power-play goals. Tucker is always a dependable option for any
fantasy team when the draft enters the later rounds.
17. Keith Tkachuk, LW

Age: 34
Hits: 36 Majors: 0
Despite having a nightmare of a season last year Tkachuk owners could see a return to glory for the 34-
year-old who most certainly won’t show up to training camp overweight again after enduring the abuse he
took for it last year.
18. Marian Hossa, RW

Age: 27
Hits: 89 Majors: 1
Although not generally thought of as a power forward, Hossa’s numbers were impressive last year. With 89
hits and 75 takeaways, the talented Slovakian winger keeps showing why he is one of the best all-around
players in the game.
19. Peter Forsberg, C

Age: 33
Hits: 46 Majors: 0
Oh, how the mighty have fallen. Years ago, Forsberg would have been the undisputed king of power
forwards, but injuries continue to severely limit his playing time. Add to that his lack of PIMs and it’s no
surprise to see him all the way down here at #19.
20. Bill Guerin, RW

Age: 35
2005-06 Numbers: 13-27-40 with an even +/- and 115 PIM in 70 games
Hits: 79 Majors: 5
Probably unbeknownst to many hockey people is the fact that Bill Guerin has never scored even 70 points in
a season in his entire NHL career. However, while his offensive abilities might be a bit overrated, Guerin still
has a knack for playing gritty and posting the PIMs.

The Forgotten Men; The Back Up Goalies

Contributed By: Eric Cunningham
WESTERN CONFERENCE
ANAHEIM DUCKS
Starter: Jean-Sebastian Giguere (30-15-0, 2.66 GAA, .911 SV%, 2 SO in 60 games)
Backup: Ilya Bryzgalov (13-12-0, 2.51 GAA, .910, 1 SO in 31 games)
Analysis: Though many believe Giguere is likely to be moved before the start of the 2006-07 season, he
still remains the starting goaltender in Anaheim, but most importantly, he wants to be there. Should he stay,
he’s the favorite to be the starter despite the exceptional play of Bryzgalov in the post season. However,
Bryzgalov has earned more time in net, and if he should maintain the hot hand, don’t be surprised if Giguere
gets shipped out at by the deadline. Either one of these goaltenders could help solidify a fantasy team.
CALGARY FLAMES
Starter: Miikka Kiprusoff (42-20-0, 2.07 GAA, .923 SV%, 10 SO in 74 games)
Backup: Brian Boucher (4-8-0, 4.15 GAA, .871 SV%, 0 SO in 14 games)
Analysis: It’s official, Miikka Kiprusoff is the best goaltender in the league. There isn’t a question about it.
He was the only goaltender to finish in the top three in every fantasy category and he led the league in
games played (so there’s no need to worry if they are going to rest him). Kiprusoff was the only player in the
league to notch double digits in the shutout category and no other netminders came within three of him; in
fact, only 15 netminders were able to even total three on the season. He should be the first goaltender taken
in every draft.
CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS
Starter: Nikolai Khabibulan (17-26-0, 3.35 GAA, .886 SV%, 0 SO in 50 games)
Backup: Patrick Lalime (4-18-0, 3.64 GAA, .881 SV%, 0 SO in 31 games)
Analysis: If Chicago’s focus was to bring in goaltenders that were amazing in the 2002-03 season, then
they succeeded. Unfortunately, both of these goaltenders were unable to prove that they either were able to
adjust to the new rule changes or that they had much of their old talents left. Why on Earth Patrick Lalime
was able to find a job after the season he had, capped off by an ACL tear, is mind boggling. Neither of these
players should be counted on heavily, unless of course you are playing in a retro 2002-03 league.

COLORADO AVALANCHE
Starter: Jose Theodore (18-17-0, 3.41 GAA, .882 SV%, 0 SO in 43 games)
Backup: Peter Budaj (14-11-0, 2.86 GAA, .900 SV%, 2 SO in 34 games)
Analysis: Now fully recovered from his heel injury, Theodore looks to bounce back to his winning ways in
Colorado. After an up and down post season, Theodore is gearing towards his first full season in the
Rockies. Because of the uneven performance his career has taken after his break out year in 2001-02, there
are still questions about what to expect in ‘06-’07. The move to Colorado should be beneficial for him, but
that doesn’t mean he will be a top 10 goalie this season, though the talent is undeniably there. Budaj is one
of the most capable reserves amongst goaltenders and is worth considering if you own Theodore.
COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS

Starter: Pascal Leclaire (11-15-0, 3.23 GAA, .911 SV% 0 SO in 33 games)
Backup: Ty Conklin (8-5-0, 2.80 GAA, .880 SV%, 1 SO in 18 games)
Analysis: The Blue Jackets obviously feel confident enough in Leclaire to move Marc Denis for some
offensive firepower (he went to Tampa Bay for Fredrik Modin). That said, this could be one of the most
highly watched goaltending situations all season. Leclaire is only 23-years-old and Conklin has had success
at the NHL level, despite losing his job in Edmonton. The words “goaltender by committee” seem to fit pretty
well in Columbus unless Leclaire plays significantly better out of the gate.
DALLAS STARS
Starter: Marty Turco (41-19-0, 2.55 GAA, .898 SV%, 3 SO in 68 games)
Backup: To Be Announced
Analysis: Marty Turco is one of the elite goaltenders in the NHL and figures to be again this year, but he’s
not quite the sure thing you get from Brodeur and Kiprusoff. All of Turco’s stats are going in the wrong
direction except wins. While he reached a career-high in wins (41), he suffered career lows in both GAA
(2.55) and SV% (.898). Even his shutouts dropped from nine to three. While still very much worthy of being
one of the top goalies in the league, don’t be surprised if numbers don’t improve much from last years
performance.
DETROIT RED WINGS

Starter: Dominik Hasek (28-10-0, 2.09 GAA, .925 SV%, 5 SO in 43 games)
Backup: Chris Osgood (20-6-0, 2.76 GAA, .897 SV%, 2 SO in 32 games)
Analysis: The Red Wings know what they are getting by signing Hasek for the third time. He is a
dominating goaltender who could be the best in the league, but at this point in his career it’s not if but when
he gets injured that has them concerned.
Locking in Osgood as a backup was a great move since he provides possibly the best veteran presence
from a second string goaltender in the NHL. With both goaltenders signing one year deals, it seems clear
that, eventually, all roads lead to Jimmy Howard (I had the pleasure of watching Howard beat up my team
through college, UNH, he went to U. of Maine). If he adjusts to the NHL level, he will be something special.
Watch for him to get some time this year when Hasek goes down.

EDMONTON OILERS
Starter: Dwayne Roloson (14-24-0, 2.73 GAA, .908 SV%, 2 SO in 43 games)
Backup: Jussi Markkanen (15-12-0, 3.13 GAA, .880 SV%, 0 SO in 37 games)
Analysis: After blazing through the Stanley Cup Playoffs, only to be injured in the Finals, Roloson resigned
with Edmonton where he will try to hold down a full-time starting gig for the first time in his nine year career.
If he plays half as good as he did in the playoffs, he’ll be a solid #2 option in fantasy leagues. Markkanen
won the back up job over the now departed Ty Conklin, and expect him to see at least 25 games with a
ceiling of around 35 unless Roloson suffers another injury. The worst case scenario for fantasy owners (and
don’t be surprised if Roloson struggles early) is the dreaded “goaltender by committee” approach.
LOS ANGELES KINGS

Starter: Mathieu Garon (31-26-0, 3.22 GAA, .894 SV%, 4 SO in 63 games)
Backup: Dan Cloutier (8-3-0, 3.17 GAA, .892 SV%, 0 SO in 13 games)
Analysis: This could be an interesting battle as both of these goaltenders are pretty similar in ability. The
starting edge goes to the younger Garon who has the potential to improve after his first full season in net.
Cloutier is coming off an injury and was jettisoned from Vancouver after they acquired Roberto Luongo.
Don’t take that to mean that Cloutier is done. Before last season, he had recorded three consecutive 30+
win, sub-2.50 GAA, .900+ SV% seasons. Those numbers should put some pressure on Garon to get out to
a good start. He may be on a short leash, especially since the Kings only signed him to a one year deal.
MINNESOTA WILD
Starter: Manny Fernandez (30-18-0, 2.29 GAA, .919 SV%, 1 SO in 58 games)
Backup: Josh Harding (2-1-0, 2.59 GAA, .904 SV%, 1 SO in 3 games)
Analysis: Last season was Fernandez’s coming out party; and this season will likely be the year he joins
the elite. Without Roloson stealing playing time from him, Fernandez can be expected to approach 40 wins
th th
while keeping his GAA (6 in NHL) and SV% (5 in NHL) in the top 10. Josh Harding should back him up to
start the season, but he shouldn’t be much of a factor. Fernandez could be one of the few goaltenders to
approach 70 games played.
NASHVILLE PREDATORS
Starter: Tomas Vokoun (36-18-0, 2.67 GAA, .919 SV%, 4 SO in 61 games)
Backup: Chris Mason (12-5-0, 2.54 GAA, .913 SV%, 2 SO in 23 games)
Analysis: Vokoun is the best goaltender that isn’t considered elite, and there is no good reason to keep him
out of the club. Vokoun is an amazing goaltender who has improved his win total in 4 straight seasons as
Nashville has improved. His GAA and SV% have fluctuated, but not to the extent to knock him out of
goaltending’s cream of the crop. He should be at the top of the list for teams looking to snag a goaltender
early on, especially since his health concerns seem to be over (blood clots). Chris Mason is dependable but
Vokoun will pile up the starts, so there isn’t a lot of playing time in Mason’ future.

PHOENIX COYOTES
Starter: Curtis Joseph (32-21-0, 2.91 GAA, .902 SV%, 4 SO in 60 games)
Backup: David LeNeveu (3-8-0, 3.24 GAA, .886 SV%, 0 SO in 15 games)
Analysis: Joseph’s GAA was his highest since 1996, but he still managed to put up a solid season. At 39,
he was one of only 10 goalies to notch 60 games played. Other owners will be scared off by his rise in GAA
and age, but don’t let him slide too far; he still has great value as a fantasy starter if you can draft him in the
right round. David LeNeveu currently has the inside edge over Philippe Sauve for the back up position, but
don’t be surprised if that changes. The Coyotes dealt away Brian Boucher to get Sauve, so the 26-year-old
may be in the long-term plans.
SAN JOSE SHARKS

Starter: Evgeni Nabokov (16-19-0, 3.10 GAA, .885 SV%, 1 SO in 45 games)
Backup: Vesa Toskala (23-7-0, 2.56 GAA, .901 SV%, 2 SO in 37 games)
Analysis: Nabokov is the starter in name only. It’s just a matter of time before Toskala is handed the reigns.
Nabokov’s contract is the only reason why he still get the majority of the starts. San Jose has explored
options on how to pawn off Nabokov onto another organization but seemingly has gotten few bites. Once the
asking price comes down, probably around the trade deadline, expect a contender with goaltending
problems to come calling.
ST. LOUIS BLUES

Starter: Manny Legace (37-8-3, 2.19 GAA, .915 SV%, 7 SO in 51 games)
Backup: Curtis Sanford (13-13-0, 2.66 GAA, .908 SV%, 3 SO in 34 games)
Analysis: Manny Legace was singed to be the number one goalie, dashing the hopes of Curtis Sanford the
talented but unproven presumptive #1. Legace will no doubt fill the top role, though he will be hard pressed
to replicate his numbers of seasons past with the Red Wings team in front of him.
VANCOUVER CANUCKS
Starter: Roberto Luongo (35-30-0, 2.97 GAA, .914 SV%, 4 SO in 75 games)
Backup: Maxime Ouellet (0-2-0, 3.25 GAA, .894 SV%, 0 SO in 4 games)
Analysis: The world will finally get to see if Roberto Luongo is everything he is purported to be with
Canucks. Luongo has been known as the best goaltender on a bad team for years, and now that he is on a
team that should contend for the playoffs, all eyes will be on him. Expect Luongo to challenge 40 wins this
year and see marked improvement in his GAA. He should be the third goalie taken behind Kiprusoff and
Brodeur.

EASTERN CONFERENCE
ATLANTA THRASHERS
Starter: Kari Lehtonen (20-15-0, 2.94 GAA, .906 SV%, 2 SO in 38 games)
Backup: Johan Hedberg (12-4-0, 2.67 GAA, .898 SV%, 0 SO in 19 games)
Analysis: The Thrashers made sure that they wouldn’t suffer the goaltending woes they did last year when
Lehtonen went down on opening day by signing Johan Hedberg to back him up. If Lehtonen goes down
again, the Thrashers will at least have a dependable goaltender in the wings. Lehtonen could be an
excellent bargain in fantasy drafts. We’ve yet to see what he can do over a full season, but amazingly,
Atlanta’s penalty kill percentage rose from 79% to 89% when Lehtonen was in net. Expect him to approach
35 wins.
BOSTON BRUINS
Starter: Hannu Toivonen (9-5-0, 2.63 GAA, .914 SV%, 1 SO in 20 games)
Backup: Tim Thomas (12-13-0, 2.77 GAA, .917 SV%, 1 SO in 38 games)
Analysis: The Bruins love Toivonen, and he should be the starter from the outset. Both of these goalies will
see a much needed boost of security in front of them as the Bruins landed blueliners Zdeno Chara and Paul
Mara in the offseason. Neither one of these goaltenders can really be counted on to help a fantasy team
until the Bruins can commit to winning, but with a flurry of offseason moves, the winds are changing in
Boston. Toivonen’s upside makes him one of the top high risk/high reward players between the pipes
(emphasis on high risk).
BUFFALO SABRES
Starter: Ryan Miller (30-14-0, 2.60 GAA, .914 SV%, 1 SO in 48 games)
Backup: Martin Biron (21-8-0, 2.88 GAA, .905 SV %, 1 SO in 35 games)
Analysis: Ryan Miller is quickly becoming one of the best goaltenders in the league, though he isn’t getting
th
as much recognition as some of the others. In Miller’s first full season as starting goaltender he finished 9
in the league in SV % and 11th in both wins and GAA. Miller may slide in drafts, but don’t let him get past
you. Why the Sabres retained Biron is a bit of a mystery. It’s not all that common that a goaltender who
loses his starting job opts to resign with his team, but Buffalo pulled it off. Buffalo has one of the most stable
and productive goaltending duos in the league.

CAROLINA HURRICANES
Starter: Cam Ward (14-8-0, 3.68 GAA, .882 SV%, 0 SO in 28 games)
Backup: John Graham (28-22-0, 3.06 GAA, .889 SV%, 5 SO in 57 games)
Analysis: After a dominating performance in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, Cam Ward will have high
expectations on him come draft day. Carolina felt comfortable enough to let Martin Gerber go in the
offseason, he went to Ottawa, and bring in John Graham to back up Ward. Jean-Sebastian Giguere is a
recent example of a goaltender who rode a hot streak through the playoffs only to come back to Earth the
following season. Ward should approach 30 wins with a sub-3.00 GAA, but don’t expect the world from him.
FLORIDA PANTHERS
Starter: Alexander Auld (33-26-0, 2.94 GAA, .902 SV%, 0 SO in 67 games)
Backup: Ed Belfour (22-22-0, 3.29 GAA, .892 SV%, 0 SO in 49 games)
Analysis: Belfour probably wont be getting much playing time being that he is in the twilight of his career,
but he adds some nice insurance should the #1 man get hurt or struggle. Alexander Auld played solid goal
for Vancouver last season and should step right in for the Panthers. While he might in a few games less
than a year ago, Auld will likely produce similar ratios. He’ll be able to contribute as a #2 or #3 option, but if
you expect him to contribute all-around numbers equal to last season, you might be disappointed.
MONTREAL CANADIENS
Starter: Cristobal Huet (18-11-0, 2.20 GAA, .929 SV%, 7 SO in 33 games)
Backup: David Aebischer (29-17-0, 3.09 GAA, .899 SV%, 3 SO in 50 games)
Analysis: Huet, who was last year’s shocking save percentage leader, played 14 games against teams that
made the playoffs once he took over the starting job for good. In those games, he managed a less than
glamorous 4-6-0 record. He’s still a very viable option and will most like crack the top 15 overall, but it would
be surprising to see him approach last season’s numbers. Aebischer seemingly has lost his touch and
should land in fantasy free agency, though keep an eye on him.
NEW JERSEY DEVILS

Starter: Martin Brodeur (43-23-0, 2.57 GAA, .911 SV%, 5 SO in 73 games)
Backup: Scott Clemmensen (3-4-0, 3.35 GAA, .881 SV%, 0 SO in 13 games)
Analysis: The most dominating goaltender of the past 10 seasons, Martin Brodeur is a lock to be a first
round fantasy pick at age 34. Until proven otherwise, Brodeur will continue to carry the Devils, and any
fantasy team he is part of into the playoffs. Clemmensen is one of the most unknown goaltenders in the
league because he routinely gets no playing time. Don’t expect that to change this season.
NEW YORK ISLANDERS

Starter: Rick DiPietro (30-24-0, 3.02 GAA, .900 SV%, 1 SO in 63 games)
Backup: Wade Dubielewicz (2-3-0, 2.90 GAA, .897 SV%, 0 SO in 7 games)
Analysis: DiPietro is an interesting selection, while he was only able to rank 24th in the NHL in SV% and
st
31 in GAA last season, he has also shown streaks of brilliance. He had an 8 game streak in the middle of
the season where he went 7-1-0, with a 1.38 GAA and a .957 SV%. He also had a very respectable showing
after the Olympics posting a 11-8-1 record with a 2.29 GAA and .918 SV% in 20 games. Wade Dubielewicz
moves into the back up role after Garth Snow was “promoted” to become the newest New York Islanders
GM. At least Dubielewicz knows that he has a career in front of him if this whole goaltending gig doesn’t
work out.

NEW YORK RANGERS

Starter: Henrik Lundqvist (30-12-0, 2.24 GAA, .922 SV%, 2 SO in 53 games)
Backup: Kevin Weekes (14-14-0, 2.95 GAA, .895 SV%, 0 SO in 32 games)
Analysis: Lundqvist was one of the most pleasant surprises of the 2005-06 season, and you shouldn’t be
surprised if he continues his winning ways. After suffering some bumps in the playoffs, Lundqvist should be
able to learn from his mistakes and make his way back toward the summit of NHL goaltenders. Weekes is a
decent back up option for New York, but has limited value in fantasy leagues as it’s apparent the Rangers
will be leaning on the youngster.
OTTAWA SENATORS
Starter: Martin Gerber (38-14-0, 2.78 GAA, .906 SV%, 3 SO in 60 games)
Backup: Ray Emery (23-11-0, 2.82 GAA, .902 SV%, 3 SO in 39 games)
Analysis: Finally rid of Dominik Hasek and his drama, the Senators will turn to Martin Gerber, formerly of
the Stanley Cup Champions, to right the ship. After Emery’s poor playoff performance, it was clear that new
blood was needed to bring Ottawa to the next level. Gerber fits the mold perfectly after lost his job to a red
hot Cam Ward in the playoffs. Gerber had an amazing season posting a career-high 38 wins, more than
three times his previous best. With solid GAA and SV% numbers (both expected to improve in Ottawa),
Gerber should be a top option come fantasy drafts.
PHILADELPHIA FLYERS
Starter: Antero Niittymaki (23-15-0, 2.97 GAA, .895 SV% 2 SO in 46 games)
Backup: Robert Esche (22-11-0, 2.97 GAA, .897 SV%, 1 SO in 40 games)
Analysis: This is as even a pairing as you can find in the NHL today. After resigning Niittymaki, you can be
sure that he’ll be the starter. Both of these goaltenders will see significant time again, but if you own one of
them, make sure you keep an eye on the pre game reports. You don’t want to be stuck leaving someone
useful on the bench because Philadelphia decided to play the goaltender you don’t own. Neither one will
really help any more than a second stringer unless they name a starter.
PITTSBURGH PENGUINS
Starter: Marc-Andre Fluery (13-27-0, 3.25 GAA, .898 SV%, 1 SO in 50 games)
Backup: Sebastian Caron (8-9-0, 3.98, .881 SV%, 1 SO in 26 games)
Analysis: Neither of these two should be on any fantasy team to start the season. That said, Fleury is going
to be something special. He’s just learning to take his lumps with one of the worst teams in the league. If you
are willing to role the dice on Fleury, make sure he’s no better than your third goaltender. If the Penguins
can pull off the near impossible and compete for a playoff spot, he’ll be the one reaping the benefits.
TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING

Starter: Marc Denis (21-25-0, 3.25 GAA, .900 SV%, 1 SO in 49 games)
Backup: Sean Burke (14-10-0, 2.80 GAA, .895 SV%, 2 SO in 35 games)
Analysis: Whether you can consider Denis a sleeper pick or not is up to you, but Denis will likely flourish in
Tampa Bay. He’ll finally be on a team that has enough fire power to keep the puck out of the defensive zone
long enough for him to catch his breath. Playing for Columbus gave him some great experience, but now
Denis should be ready to be the final piece for what could be a championship team. Sean Burke proved last
year that he was decent at best, and he’s not reliable enough for the Lightening to count on him much.

TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS

Starter: Andrew Raycroft (8-19-0, 3.71 GAA, .879 SV%, 0 SO in 30 games)
Backup: Mikael Tellqvist (10-11-0, 3.13 GAA, .895 SV%, 2 SO in 26 games)
Analysis: This could be a roller coaster ride all year long as Toronto is going to give Bruins’ cast off Andrew
Raycroft a chance to regain his past glory. In 2003-04, Raycroft posted a minuscule 2.05 GAA and .926
SV%, and if he can come even close to those numbers, Toronto will be thrilled. Tellqvist has limited value as
a backup, but it Raycroft falters, he’s solid enough to hold down the job.
WASHINGTON CAPITALS
Starter: Olaf Kolzig (20-28-0, 3.53 GAA, .896 SV%, 0 SO in 59 games)
Backup: Brent Johnson (9-12-0, 3.44 GAA, .905 SV%, 1 SO in 26 games)
Analysis: Olaf Kolzig has just flat out lost a step. He’s now 36-years-old and has recorded 39 wins in the
last two seasons breaking a streak of four consecutive 31+ win seasons. Kolzig’s GAA has been on a steady
increase since the turn of the millennium, and now he’s been relegated to being a fantasy third stringer.
Johnson is a mediocre replacement in real life, let alone for your fantasy team. Try to avoid picking
Washington goaltenders unless absolutely necessary.

BIT; The Brownstein Index Theorem

Contributed By: Michael Brownstein
What is the BIT?

The Brownstein Index Theorem, or BIT, is the way in which teams can be ranked based on their
offensive production and defensive prowess, or in other words, as a “power ranking”. Last season, I
wrote a weekly column on FantasyHockey.com comparing goal differences, and ranked the 30 NHL
teams throughout the season. I chose to look at goal differential because it is an overlooked
measurement that can give you the personality of a given team. For example, a team such as Detroit
with a +96 goal difference is a powerful scoring team which limits it opponents goals as well (the
average BIT of the overall records will always be zero due to the sum of all the BIT being zero). A
team such as Columbus, who had a (-56) goal differential is a weak team that struggles to produce
goals. The tiebreaker for the BIT, if two teams are tied, is first wins, then points and finally goals
scored. The BIT can be used to look at “power rankings” for the entire NHL season, all 1,230 games
worth, or a handful of games, or to break down things such as Home and Away performances (which
is done at the end of this article).
Overall Regular Season BIT

Throughout the season the two teams that remained consistently dominant were Ottawa in the East
and Detroit in the West. In the BIT, the most productive team of the season was Ottawa with a goal
difference of +103. Detroit was in 2nd place with a goal difference of +96, and rounding out the top 5
teams were Dallas (goal difference of +47), Buffalo (goal difference of +42), and the New York
Rangers (goal difference of +42). All the playoff teams placed amongst the top 19 overall while the 3
teams that missed the playoffs in the top 19 were: Minnesota (goal difference of +16), Atlanta (goal
difference of +6), and Vancouver (goal difference of +1). Of the teams that made the playoffs, only 2
teams had negative goal differences, Montreal (-4) and Tampa Bay (-8). Last season’s average team
had 91 points and scored/allowed roughly 253 goals.
Home BIT
Any hockey fan will tell you that home advantage is vital. The home team has the last line change on
every whistle, and the crowd behind them. With the BIT we can figure out who has the best home
advantage for last season. According to the BIT the Ottawa Senators (+69) were the best NHL home
team this season. Other home teams that fared well include: Nashville (+45), Detroit (+43), Buffalo
(+42), and Calgary (+38). The 16 playoff teams can be found amongst the top 22 home teams in the
BIT. The NHL’s average home team produced about 51 points, scored roughly 130 goals, allowed
around 118 goals, and had a BIT of approximately +12.
Away BIT
Since the days of the Original Six road games have always been the toughest games to win. With
the BIT we can find out which teams were the best “road warriors”. The best team on the road last
season was the Detroit Red Wings with a goal differential of +52 (Ottawa, with a goal difference of
+38, placed second). There was a rather large difference of +23 goal differential between Ottawa
and 3rd place Dallas (+15). Rounding out the top 5 were the New York Rangers (+10) and
Philadelphia Flyers (+9). Only 7 teams had a positive BIT, while Buffalo had a BIT of zero.

The 16 playoff teams all placed within the top 18, with the two outliers being Atlanta (-7) and
Minnesota (-8) who both missed the playoffs. The NHL’s average road team scored produced 40
points, and had a BIT opposite of the average home; scored around 118 goals for, about 130 goals
against, and had a BIT of (-12).
The Future of the BIT

The BIT is a very simplistic power ranking which can be quite illuminating at times. For example, a
team such as Minnesota which missed the playoffs by 11 points, was a strong team despite the fact
that they were unable to reach the playoffs; for that number to be positive, something must have
gone right. Because of the simplicity of the current measurement I have begun to rethink the BIT,
and this has led me to derive a new formula. In this change the BIT will become a better
measurement of a teams overall strength. I will post the new BIT power ranking on
FantasyHockey.com as soon as it is ready. Hopefully, with this new formula, the BIT will not only be
more accurate, but a better way to look at the power rankings of the NHL.
2005-06 OVERALL
* Teams in bold were playoff teams.
Rank Team Points GF GA BIT

1 Ottawa 113 314 211 103
2 Detroit 124 305 209 96
3 Dallas 112 265 218 47
4 Buffalo 110 281 239 42
5 NY Rangers 100 257 215 42
6 Carolina 112 294 260 34
7 Nashville 106 259 227 32
8 Colorado 95 283 257 26
9 Anaheim 98 254 229 25
10 San Jose 99 266 242 24
11 Calgary 103 218 200 18
12 Minnesota 84 231 215 16
13 New Jersey 101 242 229 13
14 Philadelphia 101 267 259 8
15 Atlanta 90 281 275 6
16 Edmonton 95 256 251 5
17 Vancouver 92 256 255 1
18 Montreal 93 243 247 -4
19 Tampa Bay 92 252 260 -8
20 Toronto 90 257 270 -13
21 Florida 85 240 257 -17
22 Los Angeles 89 249 270 -21
23 Phoenix 81 246 271 -25
24 Boston 74 230 266 -36
25 NY Islanders 78 230 278 -48
26 Columbus 74 223 279 -56
27 Washington 70 237 306 -69
29 Pittsburgh 58 244 316 -72
28 Chicago 65 211 285 -74
30 St. Louis 57 197 292 -95
League Average 91.37 252.93 252.93 0

2005-06 HOME

1 Ottawa 61 163 94 69
2 Nashville 65 138 93 45
3 Detroit 59 146 103 43
4 Buffalo 57 151 109 42
5 Calgary 64 108 70 38
6 San Jose 65 141 106 35
7 Colorado 56 150 115 35
8 Anaheim 57 146 113 33
9 NY Rangers 56 122 93 29
10 Vancouver 56 144 120 24
11 Carolina 64 149 127 22
12 Minnesota 48 127 105 22
13 Dallas 48 129 108 21
14 Florida 55 127 108 19
15 New Jersey 57 121 104 17
16 Toronto 51 144 127 17
17 Atlanta 52 146 133 13
18 Montreal 52 125 114 11
19 Edmonton 46 127 124 3
21 Los Angeles 53 118 120 -2
22 Tampa Bay 52 121 127 -6
23 Phoenix 42 129 135 -6
24 Boston 42 113 119 -6
25 Columbus 46 118 131 -13
26 Chicago 38 109 125 -16
27 Washington 39 121 140 -19
28 Pittsburgh 32 132 153 -21
29 NY Islanders 43 108 137 -29
30 St. Louis 30 102 145 -43
League Average 51.13 130.37 117.77 12.60

2005-06 ROAD

1 Detroit 65 155 103 52
2 Ottawa 52 149 111 38
3 Dallas 54 124 109 15
4 NY Rangers 44 128 118 10
6 Carolina 48 137 131 6
7 Edmonton 49 122 118 4
8 Buffalo 53 125 125 0
9 Tampa Bay 40 125 129 -4
10 Anaheim 41 105 109 -4
11 San Jose 42 124 129 -5
12 Colorado 39 130 136 -6
13 Atlanta 38 130 137 -7
14 Minnesota 36 99 107 -8
15 New Jersey 44 112 121 -9
16 Montreal 41 116 130 -14
17 Calgary 39 108 123 -15
18 Nashville 41 115 131 -16
19 Phoenix 42 113 134 -21
20 Vancouver 36 108 131 -23
21 Los Angeles 36 125 149 -24
22 Boston 32 115 139 -24
23 NY Islanders 35 113 138 -25
24 Toronto 35 110 136 -26
25 Florida 30 109 144 -35
26 Pittsburgh 26 111 157 -46
27 Columbus 28 97 145 -48
28 St. Louis 27 91 139 -48
29 Washington 31 109 160 -51
30 Chicago 27 100 154 -54
League Average 40.07 117.73 130.37 -12.63

The NHL's Rule Changes, a Year Later

It was about this time last year when hockey fans received the news of the end of the long NHL work
stoppage, a relief for hockey fans after a 300-plus day lockout. The NHL has rebounded from this long lay-
off and created a very entertaining product for the fans with new rules which produced a great deal more
scoring in addition to opening up the game to allow the league’s great stars to have the space needed to
show off their skills. The new game has changed the way strategy is approached in the game of fantasy
hockey.
Pampering and Protecting the Goaltenders

Goaltenders, for the longest time, were wearing pads that were big enough for an elephant and those pads
were legal. The NHL decided that one of the biggest changes needed to increase scoring was to decrease
the size of the goaltenders pads. The leg pads were decreased to a point where those giant pads Arturs Irbe
used to wear are now illegal. Since there is less padding for the goalie to throw in the way of shots the
shooters now have more net to shoot at which resulted in more goals.
The most controversial rule change of the season was the limiting of a goaltenders ability to play the puck.
Now there are two red lines that extend from the goal-line diagonally to the end boards, one on each side of
the net. The rule is that a goaltender cannot play the puck outside this “trapezoidal zone” behind the net. If a
goaltender plays a puck behind the goal-line and is outside of this “trapezoidal zone”, the goaltender
receives a two- minute minor. This rule may protect goaltenders, but also forces the goaltender to stay in the
net. Some goaltenders such as Martin Brodeur have made careers of being goaltenders who play and
skate with the puck, and this rule discourages that style of goal tending to an extent. Goaltenders can still
play the puck, they just need to be a little more careful in the quicker pace of play. Also, goaltenders are no
longer “fair game”, meaning they cannot be checked outside of their privileged area.
The Death of Defense and the Increase in Penalty Calls

While defense is a vital part of hockey, offense is also important, especially when selling the game to the
U.S. audience. Non-hockey fans, those in non-traditional hockey markets specifically, like to see higher
scoring sports events rather than an exciting 1-0 overtime win. This past season the NHL tried to bring more
scoring to the game with a series of new rules designed to open up the game. The first change that made
scoring easier was the elimination of the red-line at center ice allowing what had previously been ruled as a
two-line pass to now become legal. Previously the two-line pass was meant to punish cherry-picking styles
of play. However, many fans and players hated the fact that there was a non-offside two-line pass. Not only
did it limit play, but also created a lot of unnecessary face-offs. The elimination of the red line for the purpose
of making the two-line pass legal now allows for more open ice passing and movement. However defensive
players now must be quicker to get back on defense due to the explosive nature of long neutral zone passes
that create more scoring chances with increased odd-man rushes.

Another move the NHL made to keep the game flowing was the re-introduction of tag-up offsides. For
example, if a puck is dumped into the attacking zone offsides the attacking team can “tag-up” by skating
back into the neutral zone. Once all of the players have “tagged up”, the offsides would then be nullified and
the offensive team can re-enter the zone as one attacking unit. The reason why the NHL removed this style
of offsides was because of the inconsistency amongst referees (the NHL also found that the game was a lot
slower because of the number of added face-offs due to the automatic offsides calls). The reintroduction of
“tag-up” offsides has been a great way to keep the game moving.
The increased special teams opportunities, because of all of the penalties called as the result of the league
enforcing the rules that were already on the books, has opened up the game for more offense. Now more
than ever, a team must be proficient on special teams or the results may be sub par. For example in the
Stanley Cup Finals Edmonton's lack of production on the power-play cost them games they could have won.
This change has also assisted fantasy owners with players who were on key power-play lines on teams
such as Ottawa, Detroit, or even Carolina that produced a lot of power play points. Conversely, penalty
Killing is also very important. For example, in the Eastern Conference finals between Buffalo and Carolina,
the amazing shot-blocking abilities of the Buffalo penalty killing unit might have saved the team from losing a
game or two in that series.
The positive part of this change in calling the game the way it says to in the rule book has resulted in the
elimination of much of the obstruction and grabbing infractions that occurred away from the puck in the
neutral zone. Many fans who enjoyed the battles in front of the net were less than thrilled however when
referees continued to call penalties in front of the net on less than aggressive defensive plays. The league
might chose to address the way the game is called directly in front of the net.
One final rule change that increases the ability to score is the new icing rule. When the puck is iced, players
that are on the offending team are not able to make a change until after the next face-off. Since the
offending team will be in their own defensive zone, it is extremely difficult for a line change to occur
immediately after the drop of the puck. This rule ensures that the team that ices the puck is not just stopping
play to switch their players. This forced teams to reconsider the methods in which they change their lines.
Potentially, a team could have fatigued players and allow a goal on the account of that fatigue. Not only is
this embarrassing to a team, but can be the defining moment that wins or loses the game.
The West Meets a Portion of the East

This season introduced a new scheduling format that is reminiscent of the MLB's schedule style of
exclusivity. Last season the NHL's 82-game schedule was remodeled to try to promote divisional rivalry.
Each team had 8 games against the other 4 teams in their division, a total of 32 games with each team
playing 4 home and 4 away games against each divisional rival. Each team also played each of the 10
remaining teams in their conference a total of 4 times bringing the total number of games played to 72. Each
team would then play 2 home and 2 away games against the rest of their conference foes. That leaves 10
games for Eastern Conference games. This means that in any given season each team in the NHL, there
are 30, will only see 25 teams each season. This means that there will be seasons where Original Six teams
will not play each other. For example this past season Detroit and Chicago did not play Boston, Toronto. As
a fan of the NHL, it was disappointing when Detroit and Chicago played only 2 out of the 5 other Original Six
teams.
Another problem with the new scheduling format that poses a serious issue is the advantage the East has
over the West in their travel schedule. The Eastern Conference’s distance between cities is much less than
the West with all the teams are located within the Eastern Standard Time Zone. Therefore a long road trip in
the East may consist of visiting teams in New England or in Florida, which does not require an adjustment
for the players to a new clock. However in the West there is a lot more traveling. Although the Central
Division's travel is much lighter and easier on the players, the biggest problem might be found in the
Northwest Division. The Colorado Avalanche have 4 division rivals that are at least 900 miles or more from
Denver, Colorado, not to mention that Vancouver is almost 1500 miles away and an hour behind the local
time in Denver. This is definitely not fair when the Eastern Conference's Atlantic Division does not have to
travel more than 400 miles for their division's games. A solution to this problem would be to bring back inter-
conference play, even if it's only 5 more games against the other conference. There is some hope for this
being a possible solution since the current scheduling format is only going to be in place until the end of this
season before it is revisited. Even if these travel problems have been inherent for the longest time, this new
schedule format has magnified advantage the East has with traveling. Even with baseball's exclusivity, the
east coast teams must make road trips to the west coast , and vice versa.

The NHL's Return

The NHL has come back regionally in strong numbers if one uses attendance figures as a barometer
of fans interest. The league set a number of attendance records including the largest crowds for the
first week of play last season. Also after a year of the new economic system, one in which a salary
cap was instituted, it is certain that parity is here to stay in the NHL. Teams such as Detroit, Toronto,
and Philadelphia cannot lock-up enormous long term contracts that no one else can afford anymore
which allows small market teams such as Buffalo, San Jose, and Edmonton to be able to compete in
the regular season and to have a legitimate chance to sign a high-profile player or two. The NHL is
modeling themselves after the success of the NFL, and should have many more fruitful years to
come, or at least until the next CBA negotiations.

The World’s All-Stars: Who Would Win?

Contributed By: James Duplacey
*1980 Olympics, United States of America, “Miracle on Ice”
What would happen if the world’s best players were to face off? Of course every four years we turn our
attention to the Olympics to answer just that question. But often times the Games represent which team gels
the best in a short period of time or which team has the hottest netminder. However, we wondered what
these match-ups would look like if we were to take, not the best 20 or so players from each country, but the
best starting lineup from Canada, the United States of America and the rest of the world.
TEAM CANADA
Martin Brodeur, G, Devils
Age: 34
2005-06 Numbers: 43-23-7, 2.57 GAA, .917 SV% with 5 SO in 73 games.
What more can you say about “King” Martin Brodeur. Like a fine wine, the guy just seems to get better with
age and he shows no signs of slowing down. Even at age 34, he’s capable of suiting up 60-70 times a
season and his puck control skills remain the best of any crease cop in the NHL. It’s no secret that he tends
to buckle in the late going because of his heavy workload, but although he may bend, this machine never
breaks.
Dion Phaneuf, D, Flames

Age: 21
2005-06 Numbers: 20 Goals-20 Assist-49 Points with a +5 and 93 PIM in 82 games.
Rarely has a freshman blueliner stepped into the fold and exhibited such maturity as Dion Phaneuf did
during the ‘05-‘06 campaign. The strapping 6’3”, 213 lbs., hulk became the first rookie rearguard since Brian
Leetch to pot 20 goals and he will only improve with age and confidence. Sixteen of those 20 lamplighters
came on the power-play and seven of those proved to be game-winners. Watch for this kid to destroy the
competition in ‘06-’07.
Scott Niedermayer, D, Ducks

Age: 32
2005-06 Numbers: 13-50-63 with a +8 and 96 PIM in 82 games.
Blessed with exceptional vision, blazing speed and grace under fire, Niedermayer migrated from the New
Jersey swamps to the left coast and helped transform the Ducks from flightless birds to soaring predators.
Niedermayer connected for nine power-play goals and played his usual crunching style, attributes that
earned him his second berth on the NHL’s post-season First All-Star Team. With a Duck squad being
carefully molded in his image, look for him to increase his offensive totals in ‘06-’07.

Dany Heatley, LW, Senators

Age: 25
Although he saw action patrolling both wings for the Ottawa Senators, Dany Heatley was most effective
cruising down the left lane of ScotiaBank Place. His 50-goal output established a single-season Ottawa
team record. Heatley is most effective when he is banging crashing his way to the net and with a sturdy 6’3”
frame supporting him, he has the physical tools to become one the of the league’s elite power forwards. The
only knock on Heatley was his mental toughness, but the trade to Ottawa erased many of the bitter
memories that plagued him in Atlanta.
Joe Thornton, C, Sharks

Age: 27
By escaping the pressure cooker known as the ‘da Garden, Big Joe went west to San Jose and had the best
campaign ever notched by a player traded in mid-season. The first MVP and scoring champion to swap
uniforms in the middle of a campaign, Thornton gelled with a sniper named Jonathan Cheechoo to create
one of the finest 1-2 offensive duos since the Gretzky-Kurri era. With a relaxed state of mind, a fresh outlook
and a bevy of partners waiting to whip his picture-perfect passes behind enemy goalkeepers, watch for
Thornton to hit the century mark in points again in ‘06-’07.
Jonathan Cheechoo, RW, Sharks

Age: 26
With Joe Thornton feeding him Shark tank bait for a full year, Jonathan Cheechoo could even improve on
his break through ‘05-’06 campaign, a season that saw him light the lamp 56 times, the highest total since
the 2000-01 season. The chemistry between these two Sharks mates was extraordinary, especially
considering they were together for little more than half-a-season. The great shoot-n-scoot duos of the past
all had a sharpshooter with a rapid-fire release, uncanny accuracy and a pure love of popping the pill past
opposing goalies. Cheechoo oozes those attributes so look for him to fill the net with rubber throughout the
‘06-’07 season.
TEAM USA
Ryan Miller, G, Sabres
Age: 26
2005-06 Numbers: 30-14-3, 2.60 GAA, .914 SV%, 1 SO in 48 games.
Ryan Miller emerged as one of the NHL’s elite goaltenders in ‘05-’06, leading the Buffalo Sabres to within a
single victory of the Stanley Cup Finals. An aggressive goalie who excels at perfecting his angles and
attacking opposition shooters, Miller surprised many pundits with his cool play under pressure and his ability
to bounce back after surrendering soft goals. Look for Miller’s confidence and stylistic strength to keep him
among the top twine-tenders in the league.
John-Michael Liles, D, Avalanche

Age: 25
In just his second full NHL season, John-Michael Liles delivered on the promise he showed in ‘03-’04 with a
spectacular sophomore campaign. Liles solidified himself as one of the top young rearguards in ‘05-’06,
patrolling the blueline like a veteran. A confident puck handler with smooth moves and exceptional vision,
Liles racked up 22 power-play points for the Avalanche, using his smarts to overcome his lack of size. Liles
has a knack for getting the puck through traffic and putting it on the enemy cage. That results in rebounds
and that means points.
Paul Mara, D, Bruins

Age: 26
2005-06 Numbers: 15-32-47 with a (-12) and 70 PIM in 78 games.
The inclusion of Mara’s name here may surprise a few pundits. This is a kid blessed with a 6’4” frame and
220 lbs. physique, an advantage for rearguards, even in the new streamlined NHL. Mara collected 21
power-play points in ‘05-’06 and as he matures watch for his special team time to increase. Returning home
to Boston where he was a high-school star should only elevate his confidence. The Bruins are rebuilding

their franchise around this guy, which means he’s going to get tons of minutes and that’s going to translate
to points on the score sheet. True, he’s still a work in progress, but what a piece of work.
Erik Cole, LW, Hurricanes

Age: 27
If there were any doubts concerning the mental fortitude of Erik Cole they were erased in Game Six of the
NHL Finals. Only weeks after suffering cracked vertebrae in his neck, Cole returned to the ice and helped
propel the Carolina Hurricanes into the Stanley Cup-winners circle. Before his injury, Cole was enjoying a
career season and there’s no reason to believe he won’t continue his progression in ‘06-’07. An aggressive,
feisty forward who loves to muck in the corners and drive to the net, Cole is a natural goal scorer who found
his niche in the infraction-free neutral ice zone of the new NHL. With the freedom to use his size and speed
and still intimidate opposing defenders, Cole could hit the 50-goal plateau in ‘06’-’07.
Scott Gomez, C, Devils

Age: 26
With all that he has accomplished in his career, it’s hard to believe that Gomez is still only 26-years-old.
Always gifted with a feather touch and nifty hands, Gomez crafted his finest season in ‘05-’06, reaching
career-highs in goals and points. While the Devils have always been regarded as a defense-first franchise,
the new NHL has forced the club to open up the offense and giving Gomez amble room to do his thing. By
spending the lockout season riding the buses in the ECHL, Gomez was reminded of how fortunate he is to
be earning a NHL paycheck and his play reflected that.
Brian Gionta, RW, Devils

Age: 27
In the pre-lockout league, this 5’7” fireplug was worn down by slug ‘n’ mug style of play. In 2005-06, that all
changed. With stringent interference rules in place, the speedy Gionta was able to play the game that thrilled
fans during his stellar collegiate career at Boston College. Picking off picture-perfect passes from Scott
Gomez and slamming them home with efficient ease, Gionta set a Devils record with 48 goals during the
‘05-’06 campaign. With Gomez once again setting him up, look for Gionta to hit the 40-goal mark and notch
at least 80 points.
TEAM WORLD
Miikka Kiprusoff, G, Flames

Age: 29 Country: Finland
2005-06 Numbers: 42-20-11, 2.07 GAA, .923 SV%, 10 SO in 74 games.
A throwback to an earlier era with his poised stand-up style, unflappable confidence and wide smile, Miikka
Kiprusoff set standards during ‘05-’06 that will be difficult to match. Kipper led all NHL goaltenders with 10
SO and his .923 SV% in 74 games was simply majestic. Kipper also finished second to only Brodeur with 42
victories and already has notched 64 wins in 112 games with the Flames. Given the “defense first” mandate
of the Flames coaching staff and his sound fundamentals, Kiprusoff could have an even better campaign in
‘06-’07.
Nicklas Lidstrom, D, Red Wings

Age: 36 Country: Sweden
There must be something extraordinary in the water cooling the ice surface at Joe Louis Arena. How else
can you explain the exceptional performances of the 30-something rearguards in Motown. Even at age 36,
Nicklas Lidstrom proved he is without equal among NHL defensemen, capturing his fourth Norris trophy and
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earning his 8 post-season All-Star berth. Lidstrom will continue to put up huge numbers because he plays a
calculated, careful game, uses his intelligence to find gaps in the opposition schemes and stays away from
the rough stuff, which keeps him out of the infirmary. And that keeps him in the top echelon of NHL point
producers.

Lubomir Visnovsky, D, Kings

Age: 29 Country: Czech Republic
I’m banking on Lubomir Visnovsky to be paired with Rob Blake during the ‘06-’07 campaign to create a
dynamic power-play duo. Blake’s potential Czech mate was the Kings’ quarterback on the PP last season,
accumulating 31 of his 67 points while playing with the odd man advantage. A versatile skater who makes
up for a lack of size with dexterity and mobility, Visnovsky should benefit from a Kings’ club that has done
diligence in the offseason by acquiring some top notch talent. The results will show up in the points column
of the Visnovsky ledger.
Alexander Ovechkin, LW, Capitals

Age: 21 Country: Russia
Not since the days that Pavel Bure was ripping spectators out of their seats with his finesse has the NHL
seen anything like Alexander Ovechkin. With his blazing speed and dynamic dexterity with the puck,
Ovechkin is a human highlight reel, flashing magic every time he touched the puck. Scoring goals in every
conceivable manner and celebrating each of them with a child-like exuberance, Alexander the Great won the
hearts of fans and stole the Calder Trophy spotlight from Sidney Crosby. And since he’s only 21-years of
age at the start of the season, statisticians will need more than a calculator to keep track of his offensive
output.
Pavel Datsyuk, C, Red Wings

Age: 28 Country: Russia
I’m opting for Pavel Datsyuk to be the top scoring European center of ‘06-‘07. The Wings will be missing two
key components in Yzerman and Shanahan, opening the door for this patient and crafty Russian to take on
a prominent leadership role. The winner of the Lady Byng Trophy in ‘05-’06, Datsyuk has the ability to
quickly calculate on-ice options, find hidden spaces and deliver crisp, accurate passes. With 11 power-play
goals and 28 power-play helpers last season, Datsyuk is an important cog in the Wings special team
machine. The torch is being passed in Hockey Town USA, and Datsyuk will be one of the eager young
protégés willing to carry it.
Jaromir Jagr, RW, Rangers

Age: 34 Country: Czech Republic
When he’s playing with a smile and skating that extra mile, no one can match the offensive firepower of
Jaromir Jagr. In 2005-06, Jagr returned to the form he exhibited throughout much of the 1990s, connecting
for 54 goals and 123 points, his best offensive marks in nearly a decade. The ‘06’-07 season should provide
many of the same dynamics. Jagr loves the spotlight, and instead of cringing in its glare, he basks in its light
and there’s no bigger stage than New York. It doesn’t hurt that he has a coach who understands him, a fan
base that adores him and team that’s constructed to support him.

FantasyHockey.com Experts Mock Draft

What is the value of Rick Nash? Should you draft Manny Fernandez over Tomas Vokoun? How about defensemen, are they worth
anything? In order to answer these and many other questions surrounding the value of players, we at FantasyHockey.com conducted
our own mock-draft for a mixed league, 10-team scenario. Our mock draft was made up of 10 teams, using the standard 6 x 4 format for
a mixed league draft.
Offense: Goals, Assists, +/-, PIMs, PP Points, Game Winning Goals

Goalies: Wins, GAA, SV% and Shutouts
In what follows you will be able to read about an actual draft conducted by our stable of experts. You will be able to see how the effect of
picking a goalie in the first round (Miikka Kiprusoff, Martin Brodeur and Roberto Luongo) had on the rest of the participants. You will be
able to see how our experts valued defensemen by analyzing the order in which they were picked (only four were taken in the first four
rounds). You will also be able to see that, with a little patience, you should be able to draft players in the middle to late rounds that will be
able to give you a solid chance of competing, at least in the points categories (Vaclav Prospal who scored 80 points last season was
taken in the 14th round, Michael Nylander who totaled 79 was taken in the 15th). Also, because of the uncertainty surrounding many
goalie situations, former top round netminders weren’t nabbed until the end (Evgeni Nabokov and Manny Legace weren’t selected until
th
the 15 round).
Here are the results of that draft, followed by a brief synopsis of the best and riskiest picks in each round. After that overall review, the
participants will share their thoughts about how the draft went in their own words.
Jonathan Eric Jeff Scotty Eric Ray Glenn Matt Michael Michael
ROUND Kinney Cunningham Flowers Wazz Maltais Flowers Thompson Romig Finewax Brownstein
Mikka Martin Joe Alexander Sidney Ilya Markus Dany Roberto Jaromir
RD1
Kipprusoff Brodeur Thornton Ovechkin Crosby Kovalchuk Naslund Heatley Luongo Jagr
Marian Daniel Curtis Chris Jason Scott Jonathan Nicklas Marty
RD2 Eric Staal
Hossa Alfredsson |Joseph Pronger Spezza Niedermayer Cheechoo Lidstrom Turco
Henrik Brendan Rick Jarome Mark Manny Pavel Marian Bryan David
RD3
Zetterberg Shanahan Nash Iginla Bell Fernandez Datsyuk Goborik McCabe Vyborny
Ryan Mathieu Olli John-Michael Brenden Brad Dion Sergei Simon Wade
RD4
Miller Schneider Jokinen Liles Morrow Richards Phaneuf Gonchar Gagne Redden
Lubomir Tomas Henrik Olaf Zdeno Pavol Todd Ladislav Rob Sergei
RD5
Visnovksy Vokoun Lundqvist Kolzig Chara Demitra Bertuzzi Nagy Blake Zubov
Marc Jason Alex Scott Brian Patrick Kari Cam Martin Nikolai
RD6
Savard Arnott Tanguay Gomez Gionta Elias Lehtonen Ward Gerber Khabibulin
Marek Dan Patrick Kimmo Vesa Teemu Scott Peter Joni Tomas
RD7
Zidlicky Boyle Marleau Timonen Toskala Selanne Hartnell Forsberg Pitkanen Holmstrom
Tomas Cory Marc Joe Daniel Rick Milan Niklas Paul Erik
RD8
Kaberle Stillman Denis Sakic Briere DiPietro Hejduk Kronwall Kariya Cole
Martin St. Ales Dominik Fredrik Shane Steve Ed Evgeni Vincent Tim
RD9
Louis Hemsky Hasek Modin Doan Sullivan Jovanovski Malkin Lecavalier Connolly
Brian Philippe Maxim Keith Jay Jose Andrew Brad Mats Mattias
RD10 Bowmeester
Rolston Boucher Afinogenov Tkachuk Theodore Raycroft Stuart Sundin Ohlund
Sergei Miroslav Bryan Alexei Tom Martin Brian Mike Justin Denis
RD11
Samsonov Satan Berard Kovalev Preissing Havlat Rafalski Modano Williams Arkhipov
Patrice Paul Keith Sheldon Dwayne Andrei Colby J.S. Mike Sandis
RD12
Bergeron Mara Ballard Souray Roloson Markov Armstrong Giguere Knuble Ozolinsh
Daniel Martin Francious Andrej Nikolai Derek Sergei Matt Alexander Pierre
RD13
Sedin Straka Beachemin Meszaros Zherdev Morris Fedorov Carle Frolov Turgeon
Jaroslav Ryan Kurtis Jere Brad Joe Vaclav Ryan Marek Marek
RD14
Spacek Smyth Foster Lehtonen Boyes Corvo Prospal Whitney Svatos Rozsival
Glenn Michael Evgeni Brent Brian Manny Ryan Kin Mark
RD15 Mark Parrish
Murray Nylander Nabokov Seabrook Campbell Legace Suter Johnsson Parrish
Joffrey Pascal Nathan Gilbert Ron Mike Van Marc-Andre Cristobal Ray Adam
RD16
Lupul Leclaire Horton Brule Schremp Ryn Fleury Huet Emery Foote

ROUND ONE
Biggest Gamble: Markus Naslund

Analysis: Will he put up his customary numbers w/o Bertuzzi?
Biggest Steal: Jaromir Jagr

nd th
Analysis: The leagues 2 best player last year with the 10 pick.
ROUND TWO
Biggest Gamble: Curtis Joseph

Analysis: Still wins games, but ratios are not top notch.
Biggest Steal: Daniel Alfredsson

Analysis: Tied for 4th in the league in points (103) and had a +29 with 49 PPP.
ROUND THREE
Biggest Gamble: Mark Bell

Analysis: If he clicks with Thornton and Cheechoo, look out.
Biggest Steal: Henrik Zetterberg

Analysis: Big time scorer at left wing (85).
ROUND FOUR
Biggest Gamble: John-Michael Liles

Analysis: Tough act to follow in replacing Rob Blake.
Biggest Steal: Wade Redden

Analysis: Top three in Norris voting this year with health.

ROUND FIVE
Biggest Gamble: Olaf Kolzig

Analysis: Washington is going to need to learn to play D to justify this pick.
Biggest Steal: Todd Bertuzzi

Analysis: Combination of points (71) and PIMs (120) is matched by few.
ROUND SIX
Biggest Gamble: Nikolai Khabibulin

Analysis: Does he have a realistic shot at 30-wins with this team?
Biggest Steal: Patrick Elias

Analysis: Scored 61 points in 47 games last season (including playoffs).
ROUND SEVEN
Biggest Gamble: Scott Hartnell

Analysis: Has yet to translate effort into points.
Biggest Steal: Peter Forsberg

Analysis: If healthy, this will be the steal of the draft.
ROUND EIGHT
Biggest Gamble: Niklas Kronwall

Analysis: Potential is there, but no need to reach this early on talent alone.
Biggest Steal: Tomas Kaberle

Analysis: Not a big name, but third in the NHL in PP points (51).

ROUND NINE
Biggest Gamble: Dominik Hasek

Analysis: If he is healthy, the Dominator is still a top 10 goalie.
Biggest Steal: Vincent Lecavalier

Analysis: 32 PP points, 75 total, not to mention 90 PIMs. Still only 26.
ROUND TEN
Biggest Gamble: Phillipe Boucher

Analysis: An older D-man with little upside.
Biggest Steal: Mats Sundin

Analysis: Nothing overly exciting, but always puts up 70+ points.
ROUND ELEVEN
Biggest Gamble: Denis Arkhipov

Analysis: A gamble, but potential for a sizable return.
Biggest Steal: Martin Havlat

Analysis: Last three years; 143 points in 153 games.
ROUND TWELVE
Biggest Gamble: Sandis Ozolinsh

Analysis: Probably will miss the first two months after knee surgery.
Biggest Steal: Patrice Bergeron

Analysis: Pretty late to grab a guy coming off a 73 point season.

ROUND THIRTEEN
Biggest Gamble: Pierre Turgeon

Analysis: Started well but faded terribly last season (11 points in his final 23 games).
Biggest Steal: Nikolai Zherdev

Analysis: He is the biggest steal is he signs soon, biggest gamble if he doesn’t.
ROUND FOURTEEN
Biggest Gamble: Marek Rozsival

Analysis: Almost all of his value is tied up to his plus/minus (+35).
Biggest Steal: Vaclav Prospal

th
Analysis: 80 points in the 14 round?
ROUND FIFTEEN
Biggest Gamble: Manny Legace

Analysis: One of the 5 best goalies in the league last year, just needs a team.
Biggest Steal: Evgeni Nabokov

Analysis: If he starts, will be a huge bargain this late.
ROUND SIXTEEN
Biggest Gamble: Ron Schremp

Analysis: Top talent, will he flash the goods in his first full-season?
Biggest Steal: Cristobal Huet

Analysis: If he can just approach last year’s numbers, a great value here.

Jonathan Kinney (Puckjunkie.com)

Draft Theory: Two strategies - get great goaltending and limit risk. The first strategy we accomplished quite
well by picking up Miikka Kiprusoff and Ryan Miller in the top four rounds. The second was harder, but at
least we kept ourselves from picking too many injury headaches.
Best Pick: While we’re very happy to get ‘Kipper’ with the first overall pick, we’re most pleased with getting
Henrik Zetterberg at the start of the third round. Picking up one of the top players at a scarce position like
LW is always important.
Worst Pick: While we like all of our picks, we panicked a bit in the 13th round and went with a “homer” pick.
While Daniel Sedin could turn 75 points, there were other, and possibly better, players on the board (Martin
Straka for one).
Eric Cunningham (FantasyHockey.com)

Draft Theory: I wanted to grab strong goaltenders early, but keep my eye on the true goal scorers at the top
of the draft. I felt I could fill out my roster with solid PIM and assiSt men as the draft progressed. I always
seem to lean towards veterans as opposed to younger talent as I find them to be a bit more consistent and
reliable.
Best Pick: I think I stole Miroslav Satan in the 11th round. He's an underrated goal scorer who also can
dish out the assists. Goal scoring can be hard to find once the draft is over, so to grab a guy who has scored
26 goals in each of the last 7 years was great value. I also liked grabbing Pascal LeClaire with my 16th pick.
th
Worst Pick: I'm a little disappointed in myself for taking Dan Boyle in the 7 round. At the rate that
defensemen were flying off the board, I felt I had to take him so I didn't get left in the dust. I'm kicking myself
for getting involved in a run when I could have grabbed a steady scorer on the wing. The same could be said
for Philippe Boucher (10th round) and Paul Mara (12th round).
Jeff Flowers (FantasyHockey.com)

Draft Theory: Offense...Offense...Offense. Get all the offense you can get, throw a couple of goalies into
the mix, and you may just have yourself a winner.
Best Pick: Joe Thornton, 1st round. Joe is definitely part of the elite of hockey and he's proved that with his
1st MVP last year. Look for more great things in the near future from Joe.
Worst Pick: Dominik Hasek, 9th round. I guess we'll have to wait and see if this is a bad pick or not.
Healthy and he's at the top of the heap; injured he's worth no more than Jocelyn Thibault.
Scotty Wazz (FantasyHockey.com/Face Off Hockey Show)

Draft Theory: There wasn’t much to it other than try not to make a fool of myself. I took plenty of risk, but
sometimes the risks reap better rewards in the end; at least I keep telling myself that.
Best Pick: Joe Sakic, 8th round. Sakic is a pretty consistent point-per-game guy and should be the focal
point of a young team. He seems like an ageless wonder, at least I hope.
Worst Pick: Curtis Joseph, 2nd round. I’m awful at picking goalies, and by the time I got around to picking
one, I panicked a little. Maybe he’ll have a breakout year or the Coyotes will have a strong defense.
Eric Maltais (Talented Mr. Roto)

Draft Theory: Pick a balanced team and don't take a goalie too early. A good balance between points,
penalty minutes and +/- is key and there are plenty of good goaltenders this season.
Best Pick: Daniel Briere, 8th round. If Briere had stayed healthy, he would have reached 100 points or
close to it. He could easily finish in the NHL's top 10 in scoring. There's no way he should have dropped to
the eighth round.
Worst Pick: Vesa Toskala, 7th round. I planned on waiting as long as I could on goaltending, but I waited a
little too long for my top netminder. I like Toskala, but with Nabokov still in San Jose, he shouldn't be a
fantasy team's top goalie.
Ray Flowers (FantasyHockey.com)

Draft Theory: Don’t embarrass myself since this is “my” draft. Focus on young talent with scoring potential,
don’t pick defensemen until late (I didn’t, they were 4 of my last 5 picks), and worry about filling in PIMs
toward the end of the season off the waiver wire.
Best Pick: Martin Havlat in the 11th round sure isn’t a bad pick. If he can stay healthy, and stop trying to
maim people by kicking them with his skates, he should be a 70+ point getter of the wing. Manny Legace in
th
the 15 round is nice since he signed with the Blues 4 days after we held the draft.
Worst Pick: Teemu Selanne in the 7th round. I felt I had to take him for the value he represented at that
point, but I’m just not convinced last year will be repeated.

Glenn Thompson (FantasyHockey.com)

Draft Theory: With so many unstable goalie situations in the NHL, I was confident that the waiver wire
th
would bail me out during the season. I took a value pick goalie in the 6 (Kari Lehtonen) and focused on
LW, and D.
th
Best Pick: Ed ‘Jovo Cop’ Jovanovski in the 9 round. He could realistically be a top 5 defenseman this
year.
Worst Pick: G Andrew Raycroft in the 10th round was easily my worst pick, as he was a huge reach. My
backup plan was to pick Cristobal Huet late, but Matt Romig thwarted that idea.
Matt Romig (Yahoo! Sports)

Draft Theory: Never hope a guy you covet “falls to you.” If you’re targeting a player, get him – even if that
means jumping the gun a bit.
Best Pick: Evgeni Malkin, 9th round. Story seems to change as often as Malkin fires agents, but it looks like
the best player outside the NHL will find his way to Pittsburgh this season. World of talent. World of upside.
Worst pick: Niklas Kronwall, 8th round. No. 3 or 4 fantasy defenseman drafted as my No. 2 blueliner. I like
his offensive potential, but he really hasn’t proven himself as a fantasy force yet.
Michael Finewax (Rotoworld.com)

Draft Theory: Go with the flow. Don’t be so tied into a model that I fail to take into account the shifting
movements of the actual draft.
Best Pick: Roberto Luongo, 1st round. After Kiprusoff and Brodeur went one-two in the draft, there was
only one other goaltender that could be relied on, Roberto Luongo. He will get more support in Vancouver
this season, which should help his win total.
Worst Pick: Rob Blake 5th round. Sergei Zubov went next and he will be a better player next season than
Blake will be in Los Angeles. If I really wanted Blake, he could have lasted to the seventh round.
Mike Brownstein (FantasyHockey.com)

Draft Theory: Defense and Goaltending is what wins championships, and with a strong defense you can
win almost every stat. However, in this draft I was little more focused on a balanced team.
Best Pick: Michael Rozsival, 14th round. Maybe one of the best sleeper defensemen in this year’s draft. He
had a team-leading +35 last year, and that was not by coincidence.
Worst Pick: Nikolai Khabibulin, 6th round. A very risky move. I needed a second goalie, and I maybe
should have picked J.S. Giguerre, Marc Denis or Andrew Raycroft.

FantasyHockey.com Staff Prognostication; Award Voting

Contributed By: FantasyHockey.com Staff
This guide is full of advice, and almost every single piece of the information contained within it are the result
of an overall staff evaluation of the players under review. So basically, if we say something outlandish, you
won’t know who to blame for it. In what follows here, you will be able to read the personal opinions of the
writers who helped to build the guide that you are reading. No more hiding behind “staff rankings”, in this
section, we are all out there flying solo with our own thoughts and opinions for all to see.
Ray Flowers Scotty Wazz

Hart, MVP: Dany Heatley Hart, MVP: Jarome Inginla
Vezina, Goalie: Miikka Kipprusoff Vezina, Goalie: Roberto Luongo
Norris, Defense: Wade Redden Norris, Defense: Chris Pronger
Calder, Rookie: Evgeni Malkin Calder, Rookie: Alexander Radulov
Art Ross, Points: Jason Spezza Art Ross, Points: Joe Thornton
M. Richard, Goals: Ilya Kovalchuk M. Richard, Goals: Jarome Iginla
Sleeper: Nathan Horton Sleeper: Pierre-Marc Bouchard

Deep Sleeper: Steve Bernier Deep Sleeper: Matt Pettinger
Snoozer: Rod Brind’Amour Snoozer: Brain Rolston
Most Exciting Player: Alexander Ovechkin Most Exciting Player: Alexander Ovechkin
Stanley Cup Champ: Sharks Stanley Cup Champ: Flames
Paul Bruno Michal Stechschultie

Hart, MVP: Jaromir Jagr Hart, MVP: Roberto Luongo
Vezina, Goalie: Miikke Kiprusoff Vezina, Goalie: Roberto Lunogo
Norris, Defense: Scott Niedermayer Norris, Defense: Nicklas Lidstrom
Calder, Rookie: Jordan Staal Calder, Rookie: Alexander Radulov
Art Ross, Points: Jaromir Jagr Art Ross, Points: Jaromir Jagr
M. Richard, Goals: Alexander Ovechkin M. Richard, Goals: Alexander Ovechkin
Sleeper: Mark Bell Sleeper: Michael Cammalleri

Deep Sleeper: Matt Stajan Deep Sleeper: Nik Antropov
Snoozer: Vaclav Prospal Snoozer: Mike Ribiero
Most Exciting Player: Alexander Ovechkin Most Exciting Player: Marek Mailk
Stanley Cup Champ: Rangers Stanley Cup Champ: Senators

Micahel Brownstein Ian Gooding

Hart, MVP: Alexander Ovechkin Hart, MVP: Alexander Ovechkin
Vezina, Goalie: Marty Turco Vezina, Goalie: Roberto Luongo
Norris, Defense: Zdeno Chara Norris, Defense: Scott Niedermayer
Calder, Rookie: Jordan Staal Calder, Rookie: Evgeni Malkin
Art Ross, Points: Jason Spezza Art Ross, Points: Sidney Crosby
M. Richard, Goals: Rick Nash M. Richard, Goals: Alexander Ovechkin
Sleeper: Nik Arkhipov Sleeper: Mark Bell

Deep Sleeper: Boyd Devereaux Deep Sleeper: Stephen Weiss
Snoozer: Chris Chelios Snoozer: J.S. Giguere
Most Exciting Player: Eric Staal Most Exciting Player: Alexander Ovechkin
Stanley Cup Champ: Sabres Stanley Cup Champ: Senators
Nate Strauch Glenn Thompson

Hart, MVP: Jarome Iginla Hart, MVP: Markus Naslund
Vezina, Goalie: Roberto Luongo Vezina, Goalie: Roberto Luongo
Norris, Defense: Scott Niedermayer Norris, Defense: Dion Phaneuf
Calder, Rookie: Wojtek Wolski Calder, Rookie: Evgeni Malkin
Art Ross, Points: Jarome Iginla Art Ross, Points: Markus Naslund
M. Richard, Goals: Ilya Kovalchuk M. Richard, Goals: Alexander Ovechkin
Sleeper: Martin Rucinsky Sleeper: Ryan Getzlaf

Deep Sleeper: Michael Handzus Deep Sleeper: Rotislav Olesz
Snoozer: Todd Bertuzzi Snoozer: Andy McDonald
Most Exciting Player: Ilya Kovalchuk Most Exciting Player: Alexander Ovechkin
Stanley Cup Champ: Falmes Stanley Cup Champ: Canucks

NHL Player Movement: Old Faces in New Places

With another active off-season of trades and free-agent signings it’s difficult to keep up with all the player
movement in the NHL. Whether a trade was big, like the one that sent Bryan Allen and Roberto Luongo
from Florida to Vancouver, or a smaller one that included a bunch of players you are barely aware of, all
moves are important as one plans for the upcoming fantasy hockey season.
What follows is a list of all of the players who have switched teams in the off-season. Located in
the parenthesis of the Added column is the players team last season, whereas the players listed
in the Lost category have their new employer in parenthesis.
Player Movement as of August 21st, 2006 (look for further updates on the site).
FA = Free-Agent
EUR = Europe
RET = Retired
WESTERN CONFERENCE
ANAHEIM DUCKS
Added: C Ryan Carter (FA), G Michael Leighton (CHI), D Chris Pronger (EDM)
Lost: F Jeff Friesen (CGY), F Aaron Gavey (FA), G Jani Hurme (FA), F Joffrey Lupul (EDM), D Jason
Marshall (EUR), D Ruslan Salei (FA), D Ladislav Smid (EDM)
GRADE: A
The biggest move the Ducks made was the huge trade for superstar defensemen Pronger who
will now form, with Scott Niedermayer, the best 1-2 punch on the blueline in the NHL. The Ducks
also retained the services of Teemu Selanne and Andy McDonald making this possibly the best
offseason in franchise history.

CALGARY FLAMES
Added: D Brad Ference (PHX), F Jeff Friesen (ANA), G Jamie McLennan (CGY), Alex Tanguay (CGY), D
Andrei Zyuzin (MIN)
Lost: F Shean Donovan (BOS), D CGY Hulse (FA), D Jordan Leopold (CGY), D Bryan Marchment (FA), F
Craig McDonald (CHI), F Chris Simon (NYI)
GRADE: B
The Flames lost a fair amount of “character” players this offseason, but they brought in star LW Tanguay
who will likely form a lethal 1-2 combination with Jarome Iginla.
CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS
Added: F Michael Handzus (PHI), F Martin Havlat (OTT), G Patrick Lalime (STL), F Reed Low (STL), F
Vaclac Pletka (PHI), F Bryan Smolinski (OTT)
Lost: G Craig Anderson (FLA), F Matthew Barnaby (DAL), F Mark Bell (SJ), F Curtis Brown (SJ), Kyle
Calder (PHI), F Eric Daze (FA), F Eric Meloche (CHI), F Pavel Vorobiev (RUS)
GRADE: B
Well at least they are trying. Chicago might have had the busiest offseason with all the comings and goings.
The big piece of the puzzle is speedy winger Havlat who just needs to stay healthy to be a point-per-game
performer.
COLORADO AVALANCHE
Added: F Tyler Arnason (OTT), D Ken Klee (NJ), D Jordan Leopold (CGY), F Paul Stastny (FA)
Lost: D Rob Blake (LA), F Jim Dowd (FA), F Dan Hinote (STL), F Alex Tanguay (CGY)
GRADE: C
This grade could have been lower but we will cut them some slack since Blake is getting long in the tooth.
Losing Tanguay really hurts however.

Added: G Ty Conklin (EDM), D Tomas Kloucek (CBJ), F Fredrik Modin (TB), G Fredrik Norrena (TB)
Lost: D Andy Delmore (CBJ), G Marc Denis (TB), F Jan Hrdina (FA), G Andrew Penner (PIT), G Martin
Prusek (FA), F Michael Rupp (CBJ)
GRADE: C
Not sure that letting go the best goalie in franchise history, Denis, was a good idea. They did add some
offense from the port-side with Modin to man the second line.
DALLAS STARS
Added: F Matthew Barnaby (CHI), F Mike Green (FLA), F Jeff Halpern (WAS), F Eric Lindros (TOR), D
Jaroslav Modry (ATL), F Patrick Stefan (ATL), D Daryl Sydor (TB),
Lost: F Jason Arnott (NSH), F Bill Guerin (STL), G Johan Hedberg (ATL), F Niko Kapanen (ATL), D Willie
Mitchell (VAN), D Patrick Traverse (SJ)
GRADE: B
If it was 1997, this would have been a banner offseason. However it’s 2006, so the acquisitions of Lindros
and Sydor are just ‘cross your fingers and hope’ moves. Modry and Halpern might not help in fantasyland,
but they are solid additions in real life.

DETROIT RED WINGS

Added: F Greg Johnson (NSH), G Dominik Hasek (OTT)
Lost: G Manny Legace (STL), F Brendan Shanahan (NYR), F Steve Yzerman (RET)
GRADE: D
If Hasek doesn’t come through, the Wings better hope that one or more of their youngsters hits it big this
year cause they lost their #1 goaltender, their leading goal-scorer and their best player of the past 20 years.
EDMONTON OILERS
Added: F Joffrey Lupul (ANA), F Marty Reasoner (BOS), D Ladislav Smith (ANA), F Petr Sykora (NYR)
Lost: G Ty Conklin (CBJ), F Georges Laraque (PHX), F Michael Peca (TOR), D Chris Pronger (ANA), F
Sergei Samsonov (MON), D Jaroslav Spacek (BUF)
GRADE: D
Lupul is a nice piece, but the Oilers lost one of the leagues best d-men (Pronger), their 3rd line C (Peca),
nd
their 2 line LW (Samsonov) and a top-4 defensemen (Spacek).
LOS ANGELES KINGS

Added: D Rob Blake (COL), G Dan Cloutier (VAN), F Alyn McCauley (SJ), F Patrick O’Sullivan (MIN), F
Scott Thornton (SJ), F Brian Willsie (WAS)
Lost: F Valeri Bure (FA), D Joe Corvo (OTT), F Pavol Demitra (MIN), F Mark Parrish (MIN), F Jeremy
Roenick (PHX)
GRADE: B
Blake is the big name, bit don’t be surprised if either Cloutier or McCauley makes the biggest splash. They
will rue the day they let Demitra go however.
MINNESOTA WILD
Added: D Keith Carney (VAN), F Pavol Demitra (LA), D Kim Johnsson (PHI), D Filip Kuba (TB), F Mark
Parrish (LA), F Wyatt Smith (NSH)
Lost: F Marc Chouinard (VAN), F Alexander Daigle (EUR), D Scott Ferguson (SJ), D Filip Kuba (FA), F
Andrei Nazarov (RET), F Patrick O’Sullivan (LA), F Randy Robitaille (PHI), D Andrei Zyuzin (CGY)
GRADE: B
Demitra is a huge addition to team with Marian Gaborik. Johnsson and Kuba, while not big names, bring a
solid presence to the blueline, ditto Parrish up front.
NASHVILLE PREDATORS
Added: F Ramzi Abid (ATL), F Jason Arnott (DAL), Josef Vasicek (CAR)
Lost: D Mark Eaton (PIT), D Brian Finley (BOS), F Adam Hall (NYR), F Greg Johnson (DET), F Mike
Sillinger (NYI), F Wyatt Smith (MIN), F Scott Walker (CAR), D Brendan Witt (NYI)
GRADE: B
The Preds lost a lot of character off last years team, but with less time spent in the doctors office and the
entrance of Arnott, there is no reason to expect a fall off from last year’s performance provided Tomas
Vokoun is healthy in net (apparently he is).

PHOENIX COYOTES
Added: D Nick Boynton (BOS), D Ed Jovanovski (VAN), F Georges Laraque (EDM), G Mike Morrison
(OTT), F Owen Nolan (FA), F Jeremy Roenick (LA)
Lost: F Boyd Devereaux (FA), F Mike Johnson (MON), D Paul Mara (BOS), D Jamie Rivers (STL), F Geoff
Sanderson (PHI)
GRADE: B
Jovanovski must stay healthy since the Yotes lost Mara to Boston. Morrisson is decent insurance in net
while they will be counting on Roenick to replace the offense they lost when Johnson went to Montreal.
SAN JOSE SHARKS

Added: F Mark Bell (CHI), F Curtis Brown (CHI), D Scott Ferguson (MIN), F Mike Grier (BUF), D Patrick
Traverse (DAL)
Lost: D Matt Carkner (PIT), F Nils Ekman (PIT), G Patrick Ehelechner (PIT), F Alyn McCauley (LA), D Tom
Preissing (OTT), F Scott Thornton (LA)
GRADE: C
They added Bell to man the LW on what could be the West’s top scoring line (with Joe Thornton and
Jonathan Cheechoo), and added some toughness in Brown and Grier. However, the loss of leaders
McCauley and Scott Thornton, and Preissing on the PP point, could be costly if the organizations depth
doesn’t shine.
ST. LOUIS BLUES

Added: G Reinhard Divis (FA), F Bill Guerin (DAL), F Dan Hinote (COL), G Manny Legace (DET), D Jay
McKee (BUF), D Jamie Rivers (PHX), F Martin Rucinsky (NYR), F Doug Weight (CAR)
Lost: F Dallas Drake (FA), G Patrick Lalime (STL), F Reed Low (CHI), F Dean McAmmond (OTT)
GRADE: B
Didn’t lose anything important while adding a hungry Guerin and defensive specialist McKee. The Blues re-
acquired Weight, and also signed Ruckinsky to boost the offense.
VANCOUVER CANUCKS
Added: F Jan Bullis (MON), F Marc Chouinard (MIN), D Rory Fitzpatrick (BUF), D Lukas Krajicek (FLA), G
Roberto Luongo (FLA), D Willie Mitchell (DAL), F Taylor Pratt (BUF)
Lost: G Alex Auld (FLA), D Nolan Baumgartner (PHI), F Todd Bertuzzi (FLA), D Keith Carney (MIN), F
Anson Carter (FA), G Dan Cloutier (LA), D Ed Jovanovski (PHX), Mika Noronen (EUR)
GRADE: B
Luongo is a huge addition in net, but not enough people seem to realize that the loss of Bertuzzi up front will
have a huge effect on the teams offense. Don’t forget Jovanovski is gone too.

EASTERN CONFERENCE
ATLANTA THRASHERS
Added: G Fred Brathwaite (CBJ), G Johan Hedberg (DAL), F Niko Kapanen (DAL), F Steve Rucchin (NYR)
Lost: G Mike Dunham (FA), D Tomas Kloucek (CBJ), D Jaroslav Modry (ANA), F Marc Savard (BOS), G
Steve Shields (FA), F Patrick Stefan (DAL)
GRADE: D
Losing your number one center (Savard) and replacing him with two 3rd liners in Kapanen and Rucchin
doesn’t do a hell of a lot for your team.
BOSTON BRUINS
Added: D Wade Brookbank (VAN), D Zdeno Chara (OTT), F Shean Donovan (CGY), D Brian Finley (NSH),
D Paul Mara (PHX),), F Marc Savard (ATL), F Jason York (NSH)
Lost: D Nick Boynton (PHX), D Hal Gill (TOR), F Travis Green (FA), D Brian Leetch (FA), F Shawn
McEachern (FA), Andrew Raycroft (TOR), F Marty Reasoner (EDM)
GRADE: A
The Bruins added a #1 center (Savard), a #1 defensmen (Chara) and a #3 or 4 d-man in Mara. That gives
you a grade of an “A” even with the loses they suffered.
BUFFALO SABRES
Added: D, Andrej Sekera (EUR), D Jaroslav Spacek (BUF)
Lost: F J.P. Dumont (FA), D Rory Fitzpatrick (VAN), Mike Grier (SJ), G Michael Leighton (ANA), D Jay
McKee (STL), F Taylor Pratt (VAN)
GRADE: C
Didn’t really do anything to improve, though they did get more offense on the blueline in Spacek while giving
up some defense (McKee). Signing all their youngsters was more of an issue for Buffalo versus making a
splash in the free agent market.
CAROLINA HURRICANES
Added: G John Grahame (TB), F Scott Walker (NSH), F Shane Willis (TB)
Lost: F Matt Cullen (NYR), G Martin Gerber (OTT), Marc Reechi (PIT), D Josef Vasicek (NSH), F Doug
Weight (STL)
GRADE: D
A questionable offseason in Carolina. They lost their #1 man in nets from the regular season, 2/3
of a scoring line (Weight and Recchi), and a couple of other valuable cogs. Walker will be a nice
pickup if healthy, and Grahame is solid in nets, but this works out to a net loss.
FLORIDA PANTHERS
Added: D Jamie Allison (OTT), G Craig Anderson (CHI), G Alex Auld (VAN), G Ed Belfour (TOR), F Todd
Bertuzzi (VAN)
Lost: F Mike Green (DAL), D Sean Hill (NYI), G Roberto Luongo (VAN), D Lukas Krajicek (VAN), G Jamei
McLennan (CGY)
GRADE: B

Losing Luongo really hurts, but Auld should be solid between the pipes. The big addition is Bertuzzi who will
open up lots of space for his linemates.
MONTREAL CANADIENS
Added: F Mike Johnson (PHX), F Sergei Samsonov (EDM),
Lost: F Jan Bullis (VAN), F Niklas Sundstrom (EUR), F Richard Zednik (WAS)
GRADE: C
Pretty much status quo here, though Samsonov has tons of talent that could always translate into a huge
season if he is healthy.
NEW JERSEY DEVILS

Added: F Michael Rupp (CBJ)
Lost: F Steve Kariya (EUR), D Ken Klee (COL), F Victor Kozlov (FA)
GRADE: C
They had to sign Scott Gomez and Patrick Elias, and in the process they didn’t do much of anything in free
agency or the trade market.
NEW YORK ISLANDERS

Added: D Sean Hill (FLA), F Mike Sillinger (NSH), F Chris Simon (CGY), D Brendan Witt (NSH)
Lost: D, Tom Poti (NYR), F Steve Rucchin (ATL), G Garth Snow (RET)
GRADE: C
They lost some skill, but they added a ton of grit and leadership with Sillinger, Simon and Witt. They may not
score 30 goals between them, but they will certainly give 100% effort each night they are on the ice. Snow
retired to become the teams GM.
NEW YORK RANGERS

Added: F Matt Cullen (CAR), F Adam Hall (NSH), D Tom Poti (NYI), F Brendan Shanahan (DET),
Lost: F Dominic Moore (PIT), F Martin Rucinsky (STL), Petr Sykora (EDM)
GRADE: B
The big singing was Shanahan but equally important was the addition of Cullen who really broke out last
season with the new enforcement of the old rules.
OTTAWA SENATORS
Added: D Jamie Allison (FLA), D Joe Corvo (LA), G Martin Gerber (CAR), F Dean McAmmond (STL), D
Tom Preissing (OTT)
Lost: F Tyler Arnason (COL), Zdeno Chara (BOS), G Dominik Hasek (DET), F Martin Havlat (CHI), G Mike
Morrison (PHX), D Brian Pothier (WAS), F Bryan Smolinski (CHI)
GRADE: B
On balance, a solid offseason. They lost an uncertainty in goal (Hasek) and replaced him with a winner
(Gerber) and while no one person could replace the loss of Chara, they did sign Corvo and Preissing to
make up the difference. They might regret moving Havlat however.

PHILADELPHIA FLYERS
Added: D Nolan Baumgartner (VAN), F Kyle Calder (CHI), F Eric Meloche (CHI), F Randy Robitaille (MIN),
F Geoff Sanderson (PHX)
Lost: F Donald Brashear (WAS), D Eric Desjardins (RET), F Michael Handzus (CHI), Kim Johnsson (MIN),
F Vaclac Pletka (CHI)
GRADE: C
Nothing here but yin and yang. Calder could be a nice addition as he has yet to reach his potential but the
loss of Johnsson could be bigger than some anticipate.
PITTSBUGRH PENGUINS
Added: D Matt Carkner (SJ), D Mark Eaton (PIT), F Nils Ekman (SJ), G Patrick Ehelechner (SJ), F Dominic
Moore (NYR), G Andrew Penner (CBJ), F Marc Reechi (CAR)
Lost: F Aleksey Morozov (FA)
GRADE: B
Ekman could potentially score a lot of points if freed from his defensive responsibilities and bringing back
Recchi more than compensates for the loss of Morozov.
TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING

Added: D Andy Delmore (CBJ), G Marc Denis (CBJ), D Filip Kuba (MIN), D Luke Richardson (TOR)
Lost: G John Grahame (CAR), D Pavel Kubina (TOR), F Fredrik Modin (CBJ), G Fredrik Norrena (CBJ), D
Daryl Sydor (DAL)
GRADE: B
Denis will be a huge upgrade in net over the performance that Grahame and Sean Burke provided last
season. Kuba is a nice piece on defense as well and he just might set a career-high in points this season
with more offensive freedom.
TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS

Added: D Hal Gill (BOS), D Pavel Kubina (TB), F Michael Peca (EDM), G Andrew Raycroft (BOS)
Lost: F Jason Allison (FA), G Ed Belfour (FLA), F Tie Domi (FA), F Eric Lindros (DAL), D Luke Richardson
(TB)
GRADE: B
Belfour was done, so getting a replacement was the right idea. Hopefully Raycroft will play like he did in
2003-04 when he won Rookie of the Year and not like the dullard he was last season. Peca is an often
overlooked but vital contributor down the middle as well.
WASHINGTON CAPITALS
Added: F Donald Brashear (PHI), D Brian Pothier (OTT), F Richard Zednik (MON)
Lost: F Brian Willsie (LA), F Jeff Halpern (DAL)
GRADE: C
While not exciting, the Caps did bring in some toughness in Brashear, added a potential power-
play QB in Pothier and Zednik could be an above average scorer if he can stick on one of the top
two lines.

Top 300 Overall Fantasy Players

1-100
Rank Player POS Rank Player POS
1 Miikka Kiprusoff G 51 Ryan Miller G
2 Joe Thornton C 52 Henrik Lundqvist G
3 Alexander Ovechkin LW 53 Vaclav Prospal LW
4 Jaromir Jagr RW 54 Sergei Zubov D
5 Martin Brodeur G 55 Sergei Gonchar D
6 Dany Heatley LW 56 Cam Ward G
7 Daniel Alfredsson RW 57 Manny Legace G
8 Sidney Crosby C 58 Kari Lehtonen G
9 Jason Spezza C 59 Cory Stillman LW
10 Ilya Kovalchuk LW 60 Jason Arnott C
11 Roberto Luongo G 61 Mike Modano C
12 Nicklas Lidstrom D 62 Steve Sullivan RW
13 Marian Hossa RW 63 Eric Cole LW
14 Jonathan Cheechoo RW 64 Curtis Joseph G
15 Eric Staal C 65 Ales Hemsky C
16 Henrik Zetterberg LW 66 Rick DiPietro G
17 Brad Richards C 67 Martin Havlat RW
18 Rick Nash LW 68 Tomas Kaberle D
19 Olli Jokinen C 69 Marc Denis G
20 Marty Turco G 70 Justin Williams RW
21 Pavel Datsyuk C 71 Jose Theodore G
22 Wade Redden D 72 Shane Doan RW
23 Markus Naslund LW 73 Milan Hejduk RW
24 Scott Neidermayer D 74 Lubomir Visnovsky D
25 Bryan McCabe D 75 Martin St. Louis C
26 Joe Sakic C 76 Dominik Hasek G
27 Simon Gagne LW 77 Brian Rolston C
28 Patrick Marleau C 78 Shawn Horcoff C
29 Teemu Selanne RW 79 Maxim Afinogenov RW
30 Peter Forsberg C 80 J.S. Giguere G
31 Jarome Iginla RW 81 Marek Zidlicky D
32 Mats Sundin C 82 Cristobal Huet G
33 Paul Kariya LW 83 Vesa Toskala G
34 Vincent Lecavalier C 84 Daniel Briere C
35 Todd Bertuzzi RW 85 Andy McDonald C
36 Marc Savard C 86 Henrik Sedin C
37 Manny Fernandez G 87 Nikolai Khabibulin G
38 Tomas Vokoun G 88 Dwayne Roloson G
39 Zdeno Chara D 89 Ryan Smyth LW
40 Chris Pronger D 90 Alexander Auld G
41 Martin Gerber G 91 Alexei Kovalev RW
42 Brian Gionta RW 92 Andrew Raycroft G
43 Alex Tanguay LW 93 Patrice Bergeron C
44 Pavol Demitra LW 94 Evgeni Nabokov G
45 Brendan Shanahan LW 95 Miroslav Satan RW
46 Brenden Morrow LW 96 Kimmo Timonen D
47 Marian Gaborik LW 97 Mathieu Schneider D
48 Dion Phaneuf D 98 Mathieu Garon G
49 Scott Gomez C 99 Tim Connolly C
50 Patrick Elias RW 100 Brad Boyes C

101-200
101 Marek Svatos RW 151 Alexander Frolov LW
102 Martin Straka LW 152 Jason Blake LW
103 Ray Whitney LW 153 Michael Ryder RW
104 Alexei Yashin C 154 Nils Ekman LW
105 Daniel Sedin C 155 Andrei Markov D
106 Rod Brind’Amour C 156 Brian Rafalski D
107 Joni Pitkanen D 157 Andrej Meszaros D
108 Rob Blake D 158 Evgeni Malkin C
109 Antero Niittymaki G 159 Joffrey Lupul RW
110 Michael Nylander C 160 Olaf Kolzig G
111 Craig Conroy C 161 Saku Koivu C
112 Slava Kozlov LW 162 Ed Belfour G
113 Marc-Andre Fleury G 163 Daymond Langkow C
114 Chris Drury C 164 Joe Nieuwendyk C
115 Hannu Toivonen G 165 Ray Emery G
116 Keith Tkachuk LW 166 Chris Osgood G
117 Pascal Leclaire G 167 Anson Carter RW
118 Mike Comrie C 168 Glen Murray RW
119 Sergei Fedorov C 169 Jamie Langenbrunner RW
120 Jarret Stoll C 170 Yanic Perreault C
121 Jason Allison C 171 Tom Preissing D
122 Nikolai Zherdev RW 172 Jeremy Roenick C
123 Mike Knuble RW 173 John-Michael Liles D
124 Robert Lang C 174 Paul Mara D
125 David Vyborny RW 175 Eric Lindros C
126 Brendan Morrison C 176 Pierre-Marc Bouchard RW
127 Ladislav Nagy LW 177 Jussi Jokinen LW
128 Dan Boyle D 178 Mike Ribeiro C
129 Ilya Bryzgalov G 179 Jay Bouwmeester D
130 Marco Sturm LW 180 Ed Jovanovski D
131 Bryan Berard D 181 Dan Cloutier G
132 David Aebischer G 182 Jussi Markkanen G
133 Ales Kotalik RW 183 Brad Stuart D
134 Bill Guerin RW 184 Keith Ballard D
135 Nathan Horton C 185 Tim Thomas G
136 Martin Biron G 186 Curtis Sanford G
137 Fredrick Modin LW 187 Kevin Weekes G
138 Robert Esche G 188 John Grahame G
139 Tomas Holmstrom LW 189 Ryan Whitney D
140 Danius Zubrus RW 190 Derrick Morris D
141 Sergei Samsonov LW 191 Kyle Calder LW
142 Andrew Brunette LW 192 Steve Reinprecht C
143 Michael Cammalleri C 193 Scott Hartnell C
144 Doug Weight C 194 Mike Johnson RW
145 Mark Recchi LW 195 Francois Bauchemin D
146 Ryan Getzlaf C 196 Jason Williams C
147 Petr Prucha RW 197 Martin Erat LW
148 Jere Lehtonen RW 198 Jeff Carter C
149 Darcy Tucker LW 199 Martin Rucinsky LW
150 Mark Bell LW 200 J.P. Dumont RW

201-300
201 Frank Kaberle D 251 Jocelyn Thibault G
202 Kurtis Foster D 252 Roman Hamerlik D
203 Joe Corvo D 253 Pavel Kubina D
204 Peter Budaj G 254 Chris Mason G
205 Sean Avery C 255 Ty Conklin G
206 Petr Sykora LW 256 Brian Leetch D
207 Mark Parrish RW 257 Fernando Pisani RW
208 Mike York LW 258 Brian Pothier D
209 Sheldon Souray D 259 Jeff O’Neill RW
210 Brent Seabrook D 260 Scott Walker RW
211 Kim Johnsson D 261 Mattias Ohlund D
212 Christian Ehrhoff D 262 Todd White C
213 Chris Campoli D 263 Michael Rozsival D
214 Mike Sillinger C 264 Patrick Eaves RW
215 Peter Schaefer LW 265 Petr Cajanek C
216 Thomas Vanek LW 266 Steve Bernier RW
217 Geoff Sanderson LW 267 Mike Richards C
218 Peter Bondra LW 268 Sandis Ozolinsh D
219 Alexander Steen C 269 Nik Antropov C
220 Tony Amonte RW 270 Ian Laperriere C
221 Tyler Arnason C 271 Jaroslav Modry D
222 Bryan Smolinski C 272 Rob Niedermayer C
223 Ryan Malone C 273 Teppo Numminen D
224 Raffi Torres LW 274 Chris Neil RW
225 John LeClair LW 275 Alyn McCauley LW
226 Michael Handzus C 276 Brent Sopel D
227 Jeff Halpern C 277 Craig Rivet D
228 Kristian Huselius RW 278 Martin Gelinas LW
229 Jochen Hecht C 279 Adrian Aucoin D
230 Paul Martin D 280 Alexei Zhitnik D
231 Scott Young RW 281 Matthew Barnaby LW
232 Michael Morrison G 282 David Legwand C
233 Phillippe Boucher D 283 Richard Zednik LW
234 Christopher Higgins C 284 Niclas Havlid D
235 Gary Roberts LW 285 Patrick Lalime G
236 Mike Van Ryn D 286 Michael Peca C
237 Jaroslav Spacek D 287 Jean-Sebastian Aubin G
238 Jozef Stumpel C 288 Chris Phillips D
239 Ruslan Fedotenko LW 289 Greg de Vries D
240 Pierre Turgeon C 290 Sean Burke G
241 Colby Armstrong RW 291 Andy Sutton D
242 Sami Salo D 292 Barret Jackman D
243 Derek Roy C 293 Marek Malik D
244 Matt Cullen C 294 Matt Pettinger LW
245 Trent Hunter RW 295 Ric Jackman D
246 Mike Fisher C 296 Matt Carle D
247 Milan Michalek RW 297 Bobby Holik C
248 Kyle Wellwood C 298 Rene Bourque LW
249 Zach Parise C 299 Tuomo Ruutu C
250 Mikael Samuelsson RW 300 Chris Kunitz LW

Position Rankings: Forwards FantasyHockey.com:

Contributed By: Ray Flowers Staff Consensus Rankings
On the Verge of Greatness:
Marian Gaborik
On the Rise:
Martin Havlat
On the Decline:
Rod Brind’Amour
Best Rookie in 2006-7:
Evgeni Malkin
Sleeper:
Marco Sturm
Name Proj
THE PENTHOUSE THE SUBURBS 1. Joe Thornton
Joe Thornton led the NHL in Marc Savard takes his game to 2. Alexander Ovechkin
assists (96) and points (125) on his Boston, and questions abound 3. Jaromir Jagr
way toward capturing the Hart about whether or not he can 4. Dany Heatley
5. Daniel Alfredsson
Trophy. Fellow Shark linemate replicate his 97 point season
6. Sidney Crosby
Jonathan Cheechoo rode the wave without Kovalchuk. Brian Gionta
7. Ilya Kovalchuk
of Thornton passes to a league- went from anonymity to goal 8. Jason Spezza
leading total of 56 tallies. Jaromir scorer in one year posting 48 9. Marian Hossa
Jagr recorded his first 100-point goals for the Devils. Teemu 10. Jonathan Cheechoo
season since 2000-01. What will he Selanne found the fountain of 11. Eric Staal
do for an encore? The title of most youth in Anaheim and recorded 12. Olli Jokinen
exciting Russian is up for grabs his first 40-goal season since 13. Henrik Zetterberg
between two 50-goal scorers 1998-99. Simon Gagne scored 14. Brad Richards
Alexander Ovechkin and Ilya 47 goals last season and would 15. Rick Nash
Kovalchuk. Ovechkin won the have reached 50 if linemate 16. Markus Naslund
Calder trophy for top rookie while Peter Forsberg had been 17. Pavel Datsyuk
Kovalchuk led the NHL with 56 healthy. Alex Tanguay has 18. Joe Sakic
power-play points. Ilya’s teammate scored 78 and 79 points the past 19. Simon Gagne
in Atlanta, Marian Hossa, might be two seasons and will now team 20. Patrick Marleau
21. Teemu Selanne
the least heralded superstar in the with Jarome Iginla in Calgary.
22. Brian Gionta
NHL considering the fact that he All Joe Sakic does is score a
23. Peter Forsberg
excels at all phases of the game. point-per-game every year, look 24. Jarome Iginla
The Senators boast a trio of skaters it up. Brenden Morrow was the 25. Mats Sundin
at the top of the league in scoring in best combination of scoring and 26. Paul Kariya
Daniel Alfredsson (103 points), brawn last year with 65 points 27. Vincent Lecavalier
Dany Heatley (103 points) and and 183 PIM, numbers we have 28. Todd Bertuzzi
Jason Spezza (90 points in only 68 come to expect from Todd 29. Marc Savard
games). After a 31 point rookie Bertuzzi (71 points and 20 30. Alex Tanguay
season, Eric Staal spent a year in PIMs). How many of you were 31. Brian Rolston
the AHL during the lockout and aware that Paul Kariya has 32. Brendan Shanahan
returned to lead the Hurricanes to scored at least 81 points in two 33. Pavol Demitra
the NHL title after scoring 100 points of the past three seasons? 34. Brenden Morrow
during the season. Olli Jokinen led Brendan Shanahan needs 2 35. Marian Gaborik
the Panthers in goals (38), assists goals for 600 for his career and 36. Scott Gomez
37. Patrik Elias
(51) and points (89). Sidney Crosby 122 PIMs for 2500. Pavel
38. Vaclav Prospal
may not have won the Calder Datsyuk has upped his point
39. Cory Stillman
Trophy, but he won over the fans in total every year and last year he 40. Jason Arnott
Pittsburgh with a season of 100 totaled 87 points. Port-sider 41. Mike Modano
points and 100 PIMs. Brad Henrik Zetterberg scored 85 42. Steve Sullivan
Richards is the NHL’s version of the points last season for the Wings. 43. Erik Cole
quiet assassin and last year he LW Markus Naslund has scored 44. Ales Hemsky
recorded a career best 91 points at least 75 points in five straight 45. Martin Havlat
including 46 on the PP. All Marian seasons for the Canucks. And 46. Patrice Bergeron
Gaborik needs is health to join the don’t forget about Rick Nash 47. Justin Williams
elite after scoring 38 goals in only 65 who scored 31 goals in only 54 48. Shane Doan
contests. contests. 49. Milan Hejduk
50. Martin St. Louis

Name (Continued) Proj

THE FROZEN TUNDRA FROM THE FARM 51. Daniel Briere
Andy McDonald scored 85 points 19-year-old Russian born Evgeni 52. Shawn Horcoff
last season, but he had only 51 Malkin will likely make an 53. Andy McDonald
points in his previous 125 games. excellent compliment as the #2 C 54. Henrik Sedin
55. Martin Straka
Which player shows up this year? in Pittsburgh (Crosby). Too bad it
56. Alexei Kovalev
The same issue arises with Michael looks like he wont play in the
57. Ryan Smyth
Nylander who posted a career-high NHL this year. Fellow Penguin 58. Michael Nylander
79 points for the Rangers after Colby Armstrong quietly scored 59. Miroslav Satan
scoring 74 points the previous two 40 points in 47 games for the 60. Tim Connolly
seasons. And Martin Straka? He Penguins last year giving the 61. Alexei Yashin
had 76 past last year after 81 points Pens three big-time scorers in 62. Brad Boyes
his previous three seasons. The their first or second NHL season. 63. Daniel Sedin
Sedin Twins totaled 142 points last Out west, the team with the best 64. Maxim Afinogenov
season besting their career-high of set of young guns may be 65. Rod Brind’Amour
96 set the year before. How will they Anaheim where Chris Kunitz 66. Craig Conroy
follow up that performance? Saku and Ryan Getzlaf are two pieces 67. Slava Kozlov
Koivu injured his eye at the end of that the Ducks will build around 68. Chris Drury
the season last year, and in only 2 of up front. In Dallas, shootout 69. Keith Tkachuk
his 10 seasons has he skated in expert Jussi Jokinen will try to 70. Mike Comrie
71. Jarret Stoll
more than 72 games. Robert Lang build on his 55 point rookie
72. Jason Allison
fell from 79 points in 2003-04 to only season. Two other leading
73. Mike Knuble
62 last season despite spending the scorers amongst rookies last 74. Nikolai Zherdev
whole year with the Red Wings. year, Peter Prucha (30 goals in 75. Robert Lang
Doug Weight scored only 57 points 68 games) and Marek Svatos 76. David Vyborny
and posted a (-17) with stops in St. (32 goals in 61 games) will try to 77. Brendan Morrison
Louis and Carolina. Vancouver’s play a full season and eclipse 40- 78. Ladislav Nagy
Brendan Morrison lost winger Todd goals for the first time. Brad 79. Marek Svatos
Bertuzzi to Florida and is slowly Boyes jumped around from 80. Sergei Fedorov
recovering from offseason hip Toronto to San Jose to Boston 81. Marco Sturm
surgery. Without linemate Joe where he might have finally 82. Ray Whitney
Thornton, sniper Glen Murray fell to found a home after a 69 point 83. Saku Koivu
24 goals, his lowest total since 1998- season. The Predators will look 84. Daymond Langkow
99. Pierre Turgeon started strong to add RW Alexander Radulov 85. Fredrik Modin
last year with 25 points in his first 22 to their stable of speedy 86. Ales Kotalik
87. Dainius Zubrus
games before slipping to 21 points in forwards, while the Habs will see
88. Bill Guerin
his final 40 games for the Avalanche. if they can find room this year for
89. Tomas Holmstrom
Sergei Fedorov had his worst Guillaume Latendresse who will 90. Nathan Horton
season ever last year with a measly try to duplicate the 38 points that 91. Sergei Samsonov
44 points on the season. Tony Chris Higgins put up as a rookie 92. Andrew Brunette
Amonte failed to reach 20 goals for a year ago. And finally, the future 93. Michael Cammalleri
the first time since 1994-95. Jeff looks bright in Toronto where 94. Doug Weight
O’Neill scored 11 goals in his first 22 Kyle Wellwood and Alex Steen 95. Mark Recchi
games before scoring only 8 in his both skated in 81 games during 96. Ryan Getzlaf
final 52 contests. their rookie campaigns last year. 97. Petr Prucha
98. Jere Lehtonen
99. Darcy Tucker
100. Mark Bell
Point Leader:
Joe Thornton (125)
Goal Leader:
Jonathan Cheechoo (56)
Assist Leader:
Joe Thornton (96)
Plus/Minus Leader:
Jaromir Jagr (+34)
PIM Leader:
Steve Avery (257)

Position Rankings: Defensemen FantasyHockey.com:

Brad Stuart
On the Rise:
Keith Ballard
On the Decline:
Brian Leetch
Matt Carle
Sleeper:
Kevin Foster
Name Proj
THE PENTHOUSE THE SUBURBS 1. Nicklas Lidstrom
Nicklas Lidstrom returned from the Mathieu Schneider led all d- 2. Wade Redden
worst season of his career to post a men with 21 goals last season on 3. Scott Neidermayer
career-high 80 points on his way to his way to a career-high 59 4. Bryan McCabe
5. Zdeno Chara
winning the Norris Trophy. Bryan points. For all his perceived
6. Chris Pronger
McCabe might have won the award faults, Sergei Gonchar has
7. Sergei Zubov
but injuries limited him to only 73 scored at least 54 points in six 8. Sergei Gonchar
games played though he did score straight seasons. Dan Boyle 9. Dion Phaneuf
19 goals and 45 PP points on the rebounded from a sub par 2003- 10. Tomas Kaberle
season. Don’t forget about 04 season to record 53 points for 11. Lubomir Visnovsky
McCabe's blueline partner on the the second time in three years. In 12. Marek Zidlicky
power-play Tomas Kaberle who led Nashville, the Predators boast 13. Kimmo Timonen
all NHL defensemen with 51 PP two of the top defensemen in the 14. Mathieu Schneider
points. Another D-man robbed of a NHL in Kimmo Timonen and 15. Joni Pitkanen
chance at the Norris was Ottawa’s Marek Zidlicky. Especially lethal 16. Rob Blake
Wade Redden who led the league on the power-play, Timonen had 17. Dan Boyle
with a +35 and scored 50 points in 38 PP points, Zidlicky 29. Rob 18. Brain Rafalski
65 contests. Redden’s former Blake left Colorado to return to 19. Andrei Markov
Senators teammate Zdeno Chara his previous home in LA. Will he 20. John-Michael Liles
21. Paul Mara
takes his all-around game to Boston be able to stay healthy or will he
22. Jay Boumeester
this year. How will he fair in the new succumb to the curse of the
23. Ed Jovanovski
surroundings? Scott Niedermayer Kings? John-Michael Liles will 24. Brad Stuart
is coming off his best statistical likely be the player that the 25. Keith Ballard
season and now that he has fellow Avalanche turn to in Blake’s 26. Tom Preissing
stud Chris Pronger to lean on, there absence (he did post 49 points 27. Ryan Whitney
is no telling what heights the Ducks last season). Brian Rafalski 28. Sheldon Souray
will reach this year. The question quietly goes about his business 29. Frank Kaberle
becomes; has the NHL ever had two of putting up solid point totals in 30. Phillippe Boucher
defensemen who were teammates New Jersey, and last year 31. Joe Corvo
that were better than these two? without former teammate S. 32. Mike Van Ryn
Sergei Zubov scored 71 points last Niedermayer, Rafalski totaled 49 33. Andrej Meszaros
season, his highest total since an 89 points. Brad Stuart is only 26- 34. Jaroslav Spacek
point effort when he was skating for years-old and after his trade to 35. Brian Campbell
the Blueshirts in 1993-94. What will Boston his talents began to 36. Bryan Berard
37. Sami Salo
his aging legs do for an encore? flourish including 31 points in 55
38. Mattias Ohlund
Lubomir Visnovsky came out of games (10 goals). Joni Pitkanen
39. Dan Hamhuis
nowhere to win many a fantasy title has the talent, he had 46 points 40. Roman Hamerlik
for his owners last season, now he and a +22 last season, but he 41. Brian Leetch
has to prove it wasn’t a fluke. And suited up for only 58 games 42. Patrice Brisbois
lastly rookie Dion Phaneuf was because of injury. Joe Corvo left 43. Derek Morris
amazing for the Flames last year the left coast to sign with the 44. Francois Bauchemin
recording 20 goals with 16 of them Senators and after a 14-goal, 40 45. Kurtis Foster
coming on the power-play to lead point season in LA, how high is 46. Pavel Kubina
NHL defensemen. his ceiling with offensive 47. Brent Seabrook
powerhouse Ottawa? 48. Craig Rivet
49. Kim Johnsson
50. Chris Campoli

Name (Continued) Proj

THE FROZEN TUNDRA FROM THE FARM 51. Paul Martin
Phillippe Boucher is coming off a Number one overall draft pick 52. Greg de Vries
career season with 43 points and a Erik Johnson will head to 53. Adrian Aucoin
+28, but this is a man who has never college this year at Minnesota, 54. Jaroslav Modry
55. Teppo Numminen
had more than 30 points in any other though it is not clear if he will
56. Brent Sopel
season. Did he finally figure things remain there more than one
57. Alexei Zhitnik
out at 33 years of age? Rookie season. Keith Ballard put up 39 58. Marc-Andre Bergeron
Andrej Mesazros had an amazing points during his rookie year in 59. Brian Pothier
season highlighted by a +34, the Phoenix, and with Paul Mara 60. Michal Rozsival
second best total in the league. Is it going to Boston, Ballard looks to 61. Sandis Ozolinsh
fair to expect a similar follow-up in be primed for a big power-play 62. Andy Sutton
his second season? Ed Jovanovski season. Chris Campoli went 63. Niclas Havlid
th
has a new team, Phoenix, and a big from 7 rounds draft pick to a 64. Danny Markov
new contract. The question for him is steady force on the Islanders 65. Barret Jackman
whether or not he can stay on ice blueline in only two years. Brent 66. Ric Jackman
since he has averaged just 56 Seabrook struggled with 67. Robyn Regehr
games played over the last three inconsistency during his 68. Chris Phillips
seasons. Brian Leetch might be on freshman season in Chicago, but 69. Marek Malik
his last legs in Boston, and just like he managed to acquit himself 70. Brett Clark
71. Matt Carle
Jovo-cop, Leetch has missed his well nonetheless. Kurtis Foster
72. Nolan Baumgartner
share of games the past three will look to become a much
73. Adam Foote
seasons (only 61 games played on bigger piece of the Wild’s offense 74. Rostislav Klesla
average). Bryan Berard can score, this year, and he will likely have 75. Christian Ehrhoff
there’s no doubt about that, but after a spot on the team’s first PP unit. 76. Andrew Ferrance
offseason back surgery, and a Francois Beachemin’s game 77. Denis Gauthier
combined (-53) the past two really took off after his trade from 78. Eric Brewer
seasons, he is a huge question Columbus to Anaheim as he 79. Mattias Norstrom
mark. Brian Pothier scored 35 went on to score 34 points in 61 80. Oleg Tverdovsky
points and posted a +29 but that was games for the Ducks. Matt Carle 81. Steve Staois
in Ottawa (he signed with scored 6 points in 12 games for 82. Sean O’Donnell
Washington in the offseason). the Sharks, and with Brad Stuart 83. Ryan Suter
Michael Rozsival tied for the NHL and Tom Preissing now gone, 84. Bredan Witt
lead with a +35 last season though Carle should be on the Sharks 85. Chris Chelios
in 237 previous contests he had first power-play unit. Ryan 86. Martin Skoula
87. Tom Poti
managed just a +3 mark. Chris Whitney kept his head above
88. Flip Kubina
Chelios still posted a +22 and water in Pittsburgh last season,
89. Bryan Muir
registered 108 PIMs, but he has only and suddenly the Penguins have 90. Dick Tarnstrom
scored 32 points in the past two a whole bunch of top-notch talent 91. Ruslan Salei
seasons combined. John Erskine to build around. And finally, two 92. Bret Hedican
posted 161 PIMs, the second youngsters that hope to make 93. Nick Boynton
highest mark at the position, but he their mark felt this season in the 94. Bryan Allen
recorded only 1 point and a (-15) on NHL include Atlanta’s Braydon 95. Mike Rathje
the season totally negating that PIM Coburn and the Rangers Marc 96. Jay McKee
total. Staal. 97. Scott Hannan
98. Steve Eminger
99. Kyle McLaren
100. Jason Smith
Point Leader:
Nicklas Lidstrom (80)
Goal Leader:
Mathieu Schnieder (21)
Assist Leader:
Nicklas Lidstrom (64)
Plus/Minus Leader:
Redden/Rozsival (+35)
PIM Leader:
Brendan Witt (209)

Position Rankings: Goalies FantasyHockey.com:

Rick DiPietro
On the Rise:
Kari Lehtonen
On the Decline:
Dominik Hasek
Jason Bacashihua
Sleeper:
Marc Denis
Name Proj
THE PENTHOUSE THE SUBURBS 1. Miikka Kiprusoff
Before his career is over, it’s quite Martin Gerber won 38 games for 2. Martin Brodeur
possible that Martin Brodeur will be the Hurricanes last year in a 3. Roberto Luongo
regarded as the best goalie who stellar season. However, 4. Tomas Vokoun
5. Manny Fernandez
ever lived. That’s what ten straight ineffective play and illness limited
6. Marty Turco
seasons of 34 or more wins will do his performance in the playoffs
7. Martin Gerber
for you. Miikka Kiprusoff led the so he left Carolina to join the 8. Ryan Miller
NHL with a 2.07 GAA and 10 Senators as their number 1 9. Henrik Lundqvist
shutouts, while he was second with backstop. Taking over for Gerber 10. Cam Ward
42 wins and third with a .923 SV%. in Carolina is Cam Ward, the 11. Manny Legace
Roberto Luongo has long suffered Conn Smythe winner as playoff 12. Kari Lehtonen
in Florida with a weak supporting MVP. Ward was excellent in the 13. Curtis Joseph
cast, but now with his move to playoffs, but with only 49 games 14. Rick DiPietro
Vancouver perhaps he will finally join of NHL experience, he still has a 15. Marc Denis
the NHL elite for keeps (he did win lot to prove. Another youngster 16. J.S. Giguere
35 games last year). Marty Turco who excelled last year was 17. Jose Theodore
wins, he had 41 of them last year, Buffalo’s Ryan Miller who won 18. Cristobal Huet
but you might want to be a little 30 games in his first season as 19. Vesa Toskala
careful with him since he had his the #1 in net. The youngster 20. Dwayne Roloson
21. Nikolai Khabibulin
worst GAA (2.55) and SV% (.898) of parade continues with the
22. Alex Auld
his career. Tomas Vokoun may not Rangers Henrik Lundqvist.
23. Dominik Hasek
have as big a name as the other Lundqvist was fifth in the NHL in 24. Andrew Raycroft
cornerstone keepers on this list, but GAA (2.24) and fourth in SV% 25. Evgeni Nabokov
he has 70 wins the past two seasons (.922). What will all three of 26. Antero Niittymaki
and a .914 SV% the past couple of these young keepers do for an 27. Mathieu Garon
years. He should be healthy by the encore this season? Alex Auld 28. Marc-Andre Fleury
start of the season. Somehow moves to Florida to take over for 29. Hannu Toivonen
Manny Legace of St. Louis fails to Roberto Luongo after a 33 win 30. Pascal Leclaire
generate the attention he should season last year in his first 31. Ilya Bryzgalov
every year. Over the past three extended time in net in the NHL. 32. Olaf Kolzig
seasons Legace has posted goals Marc Denis may not have the 33. David Aebischer
against averages under 2.20 in each stellar statistics of other top 34. Ed Belfour
season, and last year he went 37-11 netminders, but that’s what 35. Martin Biron
overall. Shouldn’t that type of happens when you backstop an 36. Robert Esche
37. Ray Emery
performance garner him more expansion team. He moves to
38. Chris Osgood
attention on draft day? Another Tampa Bay this year with a
39. Dan Cloutier
netminder who’s name does not yet chance to finally show his true 40. Tim Thomas
match his performance is talent. Kari Lehtonen has 42 41. Jussi Markkanen
Minnesota’s Manny Fernandez. games of NHL experience, but 42. Curtis Sanford
Fernandez is working on a streak of Atlanta’s playoff hopes rest on 43. Kevin Weekes
five of six years with a GAA below his shoulders. Rick DiPietro 44. John Grahame
2.50. As the unquestioned number finished last year on a high note 45. Peter Budaj
one in Minnesota, Fernandez will and is ready to join the elite for 46. Jocelyn Thibault
look to repeats his 30 win season the Islanders. 47. Patrick Lalime
from last year. 48. Sean Burke
49. Chris Mason
50. Ty Conklin

TWO-HEADED MONSTERS FROM THE FARM

Mathieu Garon won 31 games last The Bruins will turn to youngster
year for the Kings, but the kings Hannu Toivonen this year, he is
have Jason LaBarbara and newly slated to be the teams #1 tender Wins Leader:
acquired Dan Cloutier to battle with after a solid showing last season Martin Brodeur (43)
him for time between the pipes. J.S. before he injured his ankle. GAA Leader:
Giguere has got game, there is no Backing him up is 31-year-old Miikka Kiprusoff (2.07)
SV% Leader:
disputing that fact, but with the Tim Thomas who, despite his Cristobal Huet (.929)
inspired play of backup Ilya age, has only 42 games of NHL Shutout Leader:
Bryzgalov in the playoffs last year, experience under his belt. In Miikka Kiprusoff (10)
there is quite a debate raging in Pittsburgh, former number 1 Minutes Played Leader:
Anaheim over which netminder overall pick Marc-Andre Fleury Miikka Kiprusoff (4380)
should hold the number 1 spot. The will attempt to give the Pens a Shots Faced Leader:
same situation also exists in San semblance of solid netminding Roberto Luongo (2488)
Jose where Evgeni Nabokov’s play on a day-to-day basis, something Shots Saved Leader:
Roberto Luongo (2275)
was completely substandard last they have not received the past
season while backup Vesa Toskala few years. In Columbus, the Blue
seized the reins and played like a #1 Jackets let Marc Denis walk so
netminder for the entire second half that they could turn the top spot
of the season and into the playoffs. over to youngster Pascal
Keep an eye on both of these Leclaire who posted a solid .911
situations since each team could be SV% in his rookie season. In
a big winner this year. In Montreal Ottawa, Martin Gerber was
the big splash was made by brought in to fill the vacated
Cristobal Huet, though the shoes of Dominik Hasek thereby
Canadiens also have experienced pushing Ray Emery back into
David Aebischer to serve as his the role of backup once again in
backup. Aebischer has averaged 31 Canada’s capitol. Out west, the
wins the past two seasons, so the Avalanche will go into the season
Habs won’t hesitate to turn to him if with Jose Theodore in net, but
Huet struggles. Robert Esche and with his uncertain play of late
Antero Niittymaki will once again there could be a chance that
vie for the starting spot in Peter Budaj sees more playing
Philadelphia. And don’t forget about time that originally planned. In St.
two future HOFamers. Dominik Louis, Curtis Sanford will
Hasek still has the goods to be a top attempt to prove that his
NHL netminder, but he lacks an performance at the end of last
opportunity to do so at the moment. season, before he was injured, is
With his age and injury history, he a harbinger of things to come.
might be better served by taking on However, Sanford will likely be
the role of a backup. Ditto Ed relegated to the backup role now
Belfour who missed the end of last that the Blues have signed
season with back problems and at Manny Leagace, presumably to
age 40 isn’t a certainty to ever regain be their #1 goalie.
his form. He will back up Alex Auld in
Florida.

FORWARDS
KEY
GP (Games Played)
G (Goals), A (Assists), PTS (Points)
+/- (plus/minus)
PIM (PIM)
PPG (Power Play goals), PPA (Power Play Assists)
SOG (Shots on Goal)
GW (Game Winning Goals)
PP (Power Play)
PPG (Power Play Goals)
PPA (Power Play Assists)
SHG (Short Handed Goals)
*Free-Agents at the time of publishing are listed by their final team of 2005-06.
POSITIONAL RANK = Ranking, 1- 200, Amongst Forwards Based on Staff Voting
Maxim Afinogenov RW Age: 27 Positional Rank: 64

YR TM GP G A PTS +/- PIM PPG PPA SOG GW
2002 BUF 35 5 6 11 -12 21 2 0 77 2
2003 BUF 73 17 14 31 -4 57 3 3 148 4
2005 BUF 77 22 51 73 6 84 11 20 241 3
Proj. BUF 75 27 39 66 8 71 13 18 253 4
Maxim set career-highs across the board including scoring 73 points, 33 more than he
had ever posted before. Equally impressive for Maxim were his 11 PP goals and 20 PP
assists after previously having 13 PPG and 21 PPA in his first 332 games. The speedy
winger closed the regular season on a hot streak with 31 points in the season’s final 26
games.
Position Value:
Daniel Alfredsson RW Age: 33 Positional Rank: 5

2002 OTT 78 27 51 78 15 42 9 24 240 6
2003 OTT 77 32 48 80 12 24 9 29 230 5
2005 OTT 77 43 60 103 29 50 16 32 249 8
Proj. OTT 78 44 52 96 23 46 18 27 254 6
The Senators captain had a career best season setting single season highs in goals (43)
assists (60), points (103), plus/minus (29), PIM (50), PPG (16), PPA (32) and SHG (5). In
th
addition to scoring 8 GW goals, good for 4 in the NHL, Alfredsson was also one of only
seven 100-point scorers in 2005-06. Lest you think he was a one season wonder, “Alfie”
has scored at least 70 points in five consecutive seasons. Alfredsson was particularly
tough against other Eastern Conference teams with 93 points in 67 games.
Position Value:

Jason Allison C Age: 31 Positional Rank: 72

2002 LA 26 6 22 28 9 22 2 10 46 3
2003 DNP
2005 TOR 66 17 43 60 -18 76 9 30 111 2
Proj. TOR 71 22 51 73 -6 62 8 31 138 4
Allison proved he still has the talent to excel in the NHL, it’s just a matter of him staying
healthy enough to be on the ice. Allison has played in 60 or more games in only two of
the last four seasons, but even with all his injuries he still has scored 257 points in his last
247 games. The Leafs desperately need his production to support the play of Mats
Sundin down the middle, though its hard to count on a player who has averaged only 57
games played in the past 5 seasons.
Position Value:
Tony Amonte RW Age: 36 Positional Rank: 136

2002 PHX 59 13 23 36 -12 26 6 14 170 3
2003 PHI 80 20 33 53 13 38 4 14 173 3
2005 CGY 80 14 28 42 3 43 3 14 155 3
Proj. CGY 80 19 34 53 1 49 8 11 165 3
After years of being one of the league most consistent snipers, Amonte averaged 36
goals a season from 1995-2002, Amonte has managed only 34 goals the past two years.
Equally troubling is the fact that Amonte was virtually non-existent in the Flames 36 loses
in 2005-06 registering just 12 points and a (-16). Amonte finished the season on a down
note as well netting only 2 goals in his final 25 games.
Position Value:
Nik Antropov C Age: 26 Positional Rank: 169

2002 TOR 72 16 29 45 11 124 2 11 102 6
2003 TOR 62 13 18 31 7 62 1 2 89 2
2005 TOR 57 12 19 31 13 56 2 1 113 0
Proj. TOR 70 19 27 46 9 82 3 3 121 3
Antropov, the 10th overall pick in the 1998 draft, has taken a long time to grow into his
6’6”, 230 pound frame. Nik scored 20 points to go along with a +14 in the 27 team wins in
which he skated for the Leafs versus only 11 points and (-1) in the 30 loses in which he
participated. Antropov required knee surgery in late April, so keep an eye on his progress
in the pre-season to see if he is fully recovered.
Position Value:
Colby Armstrong RW Age: 23 Positional Rank: 152

2005 PIT 47 16 24 40 15 58 7 5 86 3
Proj. PIT 76 24 42 66 2 54 8 13 135 3
How a rookie, could lead such a poor team in plus/minus is pretty shocking (he was the
only player in double-digits, and only four others finished above even). In addition to that
fine mark, Armstrong scored at almost a point-per-game clip, that pro-rated over an 82
game season would have produced 28 goals and 70 points. In fact, after the Olympics, he
was even better than that pace with 25 points, including 11 goals, in just 23 games.
Position Value:

Tyler Arnason C Age: 27 Positional Rank: 137

2002 CHI 82 19 20 39 7 20 3 5 178 6
2003 CHI 82 22 33 55 -13 16 6 14 222 2
2005 *** 79 13 32 45 1 44 5 10 203 1
Proj. COL 76 17 26 43 2 39 2 9 188 2
Traded from one of the worst teams in the league (CHI) to one of he best (OTT), Arnason
has to be excited about his prospects moving forward. However, Arnason never quite
found his stride in Canada with only 4 points in 19 games after netting 41 points in 60
games for Chicago. Arnason yet again finds himself on the move, this time to Colorado
where he singed a one-year, $950,000 contract.
Position Value:
*** Played for Chicago and Ottawa in 2005-06.
Jason Arnott C Age: 31 Positional Rank: 40

2002 DAL 72 23 24 47 9 51 7 6 169 6
2003 DAL 73 21 36 57 23 66 5 9 143 5
2005 DAL 81 32 44 76 13 107 11 18 167 5
Proj. NSH 71 23 39 62 6 79 8 12 170 3
In three full seasons in Dallas, Arnott scored at least 20-goals in each season. He has
also contributed 50 or more PIMs and has scored at least 5 GWGs in each of the past
three season’s making him a nice late-round pick in most formats. Arnott also added a
dash of power-play production to his resume last year scoring a career-high 11 PPG.
Arnott, one of only 4 skaters to post 100 PIMs and 70-points in 2005-06 (Shanahan,
Savard and Crosby), signed a 5-year, $22.5 million contract to play in Nashville.
Position Value:
Sean Avery C Age: 26 Positional Rank: 129

2002 LA 12 1 3 4 0 33 0 2 19 0
2003 LA 76 9 19 28 2 261 0 0 125 2
2005 LA 75 15 24 39 -5 257 1 3 189 1
Proj. LA 77 11 19 30 1 228 0 4 171 1
A constant agitator, Avery has led the NHL in PIMs in each of the last two seasons. In
2005-06, Avery also added offense to his game scoring a career-high 15 goals and 39
points making him more than just a goon you plug into your lineup hoping to fill one
category. Make no mistake however, his offensive upside is limited and the majority of his
value lies in his fisticuffs and the annoying talents he possess.
Position Value:
Matthew Barnaby RW Age: 33 Positional Rank: 175

2002 NYR 79 14 22 36 9 142 1 1 104 1
2003 *** 82 16 25 41 18 157 1 1 104 3
2005 CHI 82 8 20 28 -11 178 0 0 85 1
Proj. DAL 80 11 24 35 -7 167 0 0 88 0
Barnaby, once the league’s top agitator, still sees the penalty box often, but he has
learned when to hold his temper in check so that he can help his team out with the odd
goal. Barnaby is a fringe fantasy winger who will put up at least 150 PIMs, he has done so
in 9 of his last 10 seasons, and is always a nice fill-in player when one of your skaters
goes down with injury.
Position Value:
*** Played for New York Rangers and Colorado in 2003-04.

Shawn Bates C Age: 31 Positional Rank: 187

2002 NYI 74 13 29 42 -9 52 1 14 126 1
2003 NYI 69 9 23 32 -8 46 0 4 115 1
2005 NYI 66 15 19 34 -11 60 1 2 95 4
Proj. NYI 72 19 27 46 -3 78 2 6 107 2
Bates, a 4th round draft pick in 1993, has regressed since a breakout 2001-02 season in
which he scored 17 goals and 52 points. As distressing as Bates lack of scoring is the fact
that in 5 of the 6 seasons in which he played at least 40 games, he has finished with a
negative plus/minus. If you are looking for a positive with Bates, he scored 13 points in his
last 24 games in 2005-06.
Position Value:
Mark Bell LW Age: 26 Positional Rank: 100

2002 CHI 82 14 15 29 0 113 0 1 127 0
2003 CHI 82 21 24 45 -14 106 2 9 202 1
2005 CHI 82 25 23 48 -14 107 11 10 227 1
Proj. SJ 81 29 36 65 2 96 10 14 219 4
Bell is coming off his most productive NHL season with career-highs in goals, points, PPG
th
and PPA. With 25 goals, Bell was actually tied for the 19 most productive goal scoring
season by a left winger last year, a total greatly aided by his 9 goal month of November
(13 games). Moving to SJ, he will either play on the wing of Joe Thornton or Patrick
Marleau, so his numbers could rise significantly.
Position Value: Potential Breakout Performer
Patrice Bergeron C Age: 28 Positional Rank: 46

2003 BOS 71 16 23 39 5 22 7 8 133 2
2005 BOS 81 31 42 73 3 22 12 17 310 6
Proj. BOS 74 19 26 45 1 49 2 7 129 0
After a solid rookie season Bergeron took his game to the next level last season in putting
up 73 points, almost double his rookie season total. Bergeron also netted 29 points on the
PP, and with the additions to the blueline in Boston, that number could rise even further
this year. Bergeron maintained his scoring pace all season, including 23 points in his final
24 games, and managed to score 41 points in 40 home games on the season.
Position Value:
Steve Bernier RW Age: 21 Positional Rank: 167

2005 SJ 39 14 13 27 4 35 2 4 75 1
Proj. SJ 72 24 19 43 7 52 8 4 144 2
Coming out of the minors to be a vital cog on the Sharks second line down the stretch,
Bernier is a hulking winger who loves to drive the net. Bernier was especially effective
while teaming with Patrick Marleau in March when he scored 16 points in 15 games
rd
(including 10 goals). In fact, from March 3 on, Bernier scored 22 points, 13 of them
goals, in the season’s final 25 games.
.Position Value:

Todd Bertuzzi RW Age: 31 Positional Rank: 28

2002 VAN 82 46 51 97 2 144 25 17 243 7
2003 VAN 69 17 43 60 21 122 8 8 156 2
2005 VAN 82 25 46 71 -17 123 12 20 200 3
Proj. FLA 80 33 47 80 -4 117 17 16 226 4
Legal troubles aside, Bertuzzi returned from his suspension for mauling Steve Moore with
mixed results. Bertuzzi managed to play a full schedule in 2005-06, though his 25 goals
tied the fewest he has ever scored in a season for the Canucks when he skated in more
than 70 games. Also troubling was his fall in plus/minus, a (-38) differential from the
season before, while he also posted a 4-year low in PIMs. Still, Bertuzzi was one of only
nine skaters to produce a 25-goal season with over 100 PIMs marking him as a power-
forward to covet on draft day.
Position Value:
Jason Blake LW Age: 32 Positional Rank: 102

2002 NYI 81 25 30 55 16 58 3 4 253 4
2003 NYI 75 22 25 47 11 56 1 4 243 3
2005 NYI 76 28 29 57 0 60 12 10 304 2
Proj. NYI 77 31 30 61 4 69 13 9 289 4
After a slow start to his career, Blake has really begun to take of the past three seasons.
Blake, a left winger who scored 19 goals in his first 194 games, is now working on three
straight 20+ goal seasons. It now appears that he is working on his PP production since
the 12 PPG he scored in 2005-06 are more than the five he scored in his first seven
seasons. In the 35 team wins in which he played, Blake scored 40 points.
Position Value:
Peter Bondra RW Age: 38 Positional Rank: 134

2002 WAS 76 30 26 56 -3 52 9 10 256 4
2003 *** 77 26 23 49 -16 38 14 11 188 5
2005 ATL 60 21 18 39 -3 40 8 9 143 1
Proj. ATL 67 28 19 47 -6 32 11 7 181 2
With 498 goals and 878 career points, Bondra will look to join two elite clubs in 2006.
Even though injury limited Bondra to 60 games played last season, he still managed to
score 20-goals for the 14th consecutive season. Before injuries struck, Bondra had put up
28 points in the Thrashers first 25 games, so he still has some flash to add to his dash.
Position Value:
*** Played for Washington and Ottawa in 2003-04.
Pierre-Marc Bouchard RW Age: 23 Positional Rank: 114

2002 MIN 50 7 13 20 1 18 5 4 53 1
2003 MIN 61 4 18 22 -7 22 2 7 60 0
2005 MIN 80 17 42 59 3 28 7 24 118 3
Proj. MIN 79 22 38 60 4 33 6 29 128 2
The 8th overall pick in the 2002 draft, Bouchard scored more points in his third season
than in his first two combined while notching 31 PP points (previously he had 18 in 111
games). With the arrival of Pavol Demitra to help the offense Minnesota may finally has
the weapons to compete on offense. In the 37 wins in which Bouchard skated, he scored,
you guessed it, 37 points.
Position Value:

Rene Bourque LW Age: 24 Positional Rank: 178

2005 CHI 77 16 18 34 3 56 4 5 180 2
Proj. CHI 75 19 21 40 -2 49 4 4 177 0
Bourque produced one of the few solid season’s in what was the black hole of hockey in
2005-06, Chicago. In one particularly strong spurt in November, Bourque had a 4-game
point scoring streak in which he totaled 6 points, a +5 rating and 8 PIM demonstrating his
ability to be a major force in the NHL. Bourque also played particularly well in the 25 team
wins in which he skated scoring 18 points and registering a +12.
Position Value:
Brad Boyes C Age: 24 Positional Rank: 62

2003 SJ 1 0 0 0 -2 2 0 0 0 0
2005 BOS 82 26 43 69 -11 30 8 14 203 3
Proj. BOS 80 23 47 70 -4 22 7 19 199 2
This former first round draft pick of the Maple Leafs in 2000 was finally given the
opportunity to play and he did not disappoint. When the calendar turned to 2006, Boyes
turned up his performance to the tune of 17 goals and 29 assists, for 46 points, in the
season’s final 44 games. For some unknown reason, Boyes was particularly tough on
Monday’s when he scored 10 points, with a +7, in 9 games.
Position Value:
Daniel Briere C Age: 27 Positional Rank: 51

2002 *** 82 24 34 60 -20 62 9 16 181 4
2003 BUF 82 28 37 65 -7 70 11 16 194 3
2005 BUF 48 25 33 58 3 48 11 17 147 3
Proj. BUF 78 31 33 64 6 44 12 16 199 3
Dogged by injuries during the Sabres remarkable season, Briere still managed to finish
th
second on the team with 25 goals, and 4 in team scoring with 58 points despite only
playing in 48 games. Over half his points on the season were scored the last two months
when he netted 35 points in his final 24 games (including 14 on the PP). Briere also likes
playing on Wednesday’s when he scored 17 points, 10 on the PP, in only 10 Wednesday
night tilts.
Position Value:
*** Played for Phoenix and Buffalo in 2002-03.
Rod Brind’Amour C Age: 36 Positional Rank: 65

2002 CAR 48 14 23 37 -9 37 7 13 110 0
2003 CAR 78 12 26 38 0 28 1 3 141 1
2005 CAR 78 31 39 70 8 68 19 16 198 5
Proj. CAR 77 21 28 49 1 55 7 11 172 3
How do you explain a 36-year-old scoring more goals in a season (31) than he did the
previous two years combined (26)? Sure the NHL “opened” up the game for scoring, but
Brind’Amour hadn’t scored 30 goals since 1997-98 and he is far from a fleet of foot skater.
In ‘05-’06, Rod set a career-high with 19 PP goals for the Canes, or more than he had
banged home in the previous four seasons (18). Rod’s +8 rating was also his best mark
since 1995-96, and for those of you who count face-offs don’t forget that Rod led the NHL
with 1268 wins, a stunning 346 more than second place Joe Thornton.
Position Value: Selke Award Winner

Dustin Brown RW Age: 21 Positional Rank: 193

2003 LA 31 1 4 5 0 16 0 0 40 0
2005 LA 79 14 14 28 -10 80 6 3 159 2
Proj. LA 79 18 21 39 -2 57 4 8 143 1
Brown, the 13th overall pick in the 2003 draft, had an excellent follow up season to his five
point, first year effort. Brown started the season well with 25 points in 57 games prior to
the Olympic break only to falter down the stretch, a trait many Kings fell victim to. With
only 3 points in his final 22 contests, including none the final 11 times he laced up his
skates, Brown’s status as a mid-level fantasy producer heading into the season is in
doubt.
Position Value:
Andrew Brunette LW Age: 33 Positional Rank: 92

2002 MIN 82 18 28 46 -10 30 9 15 97 2
2003 MIN 82 15 34 49 3 12 7 12 90 3
2005 COL 82 24 39 63 9 48 11 17 129 2
Proj. COL 81 28 33 51 6 38 13 13 149 2
Brunette is coming off a career best season in which he set single season highs in goals
(24), plus/minus (9), PIM (48) and PPG (11). During the seasons last two months when
the Lanche were gunning for a playoff spot, Brunette scored 20 points in the final 22
games to help solidify the teams playoff position. An excellent shooter throughout his
career, Brunette matched his career mark of .186% in shooting percentage which begs
the question: why doesn’t he shoot more?
Position Value:
Jan Bulis C Age: 28 Positional Rank: 196

2002 MON 82 16 24 40 9 30 0 0 160 2
2003 MON 72 13 17 30 -8 30 1 3 147 4
2005 MON 73 20 20 40 2 50 6 3 131 3
Proj. VAN 69 17 30 47 -6 38 4 11 139 1
Overall Bulis set a career-high with 20 goals, but his season was one of ups and downs.
On the positive side of the ledger he scored 16 points in 13 games in January (7 goals, 9
assists). On the downside, that means that in other 57 games he played he scored only
13 goals and 24 points, hardly impressive numbers.
Position Value:
Petr Cajanek C Age: 31 Positional Rank: 166

2002 STL 51 9 29 38 16 20 2 7 90 1
2003 STL 70 12 26 26 12 16 3 6 126 4
2005 STL 71 10 41 41 -22 54 3 19 150 0
Proj. STL 75 15 43 58 -9 41 3 20 147 2
Despite a career-high of 41 points with 22 coming on the power-play, Cajanek’s fantasy
value was minimal last season because of his poor (-22) rating. Even worse, Cajanek
completely faded after the Olympic break to the tune of only 5 points in 21 games (0.24
points-per-game) after a strong start to the season with 36 points in 50 games (0.72
points-per-game).
Position Value:

Kyle Calder LW Age: 26 Positional Rank: 117

2002 CHI 82 15 27 42 -6 40 7 3 164 2
2003 CHI 66 21 18 39 -18 29 10 4 144 1
2005 CHI 79 26 33 59 -4 52 6 7 183 6
Proj. PHI 82 27 36 63 4 68 9 9 201 4
Calder put forth his best effort yet for the Blackhawks last season and he was the teams
best player while leading the boys in scoring with 59 points. A player who often stepped
up in clutch situations, Calder scored 12 points in the first period, 20 in the second, and
23 in the third. Calder finished the season on a 4-game point streak during which he
scored a goal in each game.
Position Value:
Michael Cammalleri C Age: 24 Positional Rank: 93

2002 LA 28 5 3 8 -4 22 2 3 40 2
2003 LA 31 9 6 15 1 20 2 3 53 2
2005 LA 80 26 29 55 -14 50 15 19 206 4
Proj. LA 81 23 37 60 -7 33 7 19 195 1
After scoring 23 points in his first 59 career games, Cammalleri took advantage of the
extra ice time he was given to score 55 points including a team-leading 26 goals in 2005-
06. Equally impressive where his 34 PP points highlighted by his 15 PP goals. Cammalleri
scored 11 goals in the 3rd period including three game-winners on the season.
Position Value:
Anson Carter RW Age: 32 Positional Rank: 107

2002 *** 79 26 34 60 -11 26 10 13 193 1
2003 +++ 58 10 8 18 -17 14 4 2 81 2
2005 VAN 81 33 22 55 -1 41 15 10 146 7
Proj. VAN 77 22 27 49 -6 33 9 11 177 1
Undrafted in many leagues after a 28 point, three team odyssey in 2003-04, Carter found
a home in Vancouver playing on a line with the Sedin Twins. Carter netted a career best
33 goals, 15 of which were on the PP, and was a clutch performer with 7 GW goals.
Though his overall game slipped a bit in the season’s final two months, he was a (-8), he
still scored 11 goals in those last 22 games.
Position Value: Potential Bust

*** Played for Edmonton and New York Rangers in 2002-03.
+++ Played for Los Angeles and Washington in 2003-04.
Jeff Carter C Age: 21 Positional Rank: 123

2005 PHI 81 23 19 42 10 40 6 7 189 7
Proj. PHI 80 22 32 54 4 32 5 9 176 2
Coming off an AHL playoff run that included 19 points (12 goals) in 17 games for the
Phantoms in 2004-05, Carter kept the mojo going with strong rookie season for the
Flyers. Far from wilting under the pressure, Carter produced 15 points in the season’s
final 21 games and gives the Flyers reason for hope in the future.
Position Value:

Jonathan Cheechoo RW Age: 26 Positional Rank: 10

2002 SJ 66 9 7 16 -5 39 0 0 94 0
2003 SJ 81 28 19 47 5 33 8 7 175 9
2005 SJ 82 56 37 93 23 58 24 17 317 11
Proj. SJ 81 43 39 82 11 43 16 18 322 6
In 58 games riding shotgun to Joe Thornton, there wasn’t a more dangerous scorer on
Earth than Jonathan Cheechoo. Cheechoo scored 49 goals in those 58 games, a pace
that would equal 69 goals over a full-season. In addition to all the goals, Cheechoo was
also a +32 during that time span. Overall, Cheechoo led the league in goals (56) and GW
goals with 11 while setting a Sharks single season record with 93 points. Quite a season
for a third year player wouldn’t you say?
Position Value: Maurice Richard Winner
Chris Clark RW Age: 30 Positional Rank: 181

2002 CGY 81 10 12 22 -11 126 2 2 156 2
2003 CGY 82 10 15 25 -3 106 4 2 137 2
2005 WAS 78 20 19 39 9 110 1 1 144 0
Proj. WAS 80 17 21 38 2 97 1 3 133 0
Matching his goal total from the previous two seasons combined, Clark became a solid
secondary scoring option on the wing for the Caps. Clark was a stellar +16 in the 28 wins
in which he participated, but in the 50 loses he skated his plus/minus dropped all the way
down to (-7). Clark also contributed 3 short-handed goals on the year for the Caps.
Position Value:
Erik Cole LW Age: 27 Positional Rank: 43

2002 CAR 53 14 13 27 1 72 6 3 125 3
2003 CAR 80 18 24 42 -4 93 2 9 172 3
2005 CAR 60 30 29 59 19 54 3 11 164 8
Proj. CAR 72 25 31 56 8 62 6 7 156 2
Cole was on his way to his first 40-goal season until his season was ended with a serious
neck injury. Cole, a bruising forward unafraid to muck it up, Cole merely needs to improve
his power-play production and return to health to be a top option this season at LW. Cole
made an inspiring comeback in Game 6 of the NHL finals and was an emotional leader
that helped the Canes to capture their first Stanley Cup.
Position Value:
Mike Comrie C Age: 26 Positional Rank: 70

2002 EDM 69 20 31 51 -18 90 8 9 170 6
2003 *** 49 12 12 24 -6 28 1 7 101 2
2005 PHX 80 30 30 60 2 55 10 15 190 4
Proj. PHX 77 24 41 65 3 33 7 18 170 2
Despite a nomadic start to his career, Comrie might finally have found a home playing for
Wayne Gretzky in the dessert. Merely an average player on the road with 22 points in 39
games, Comrie was a monster at home with 38 points in 41 contests. Not surprisingly, his
plus/minus on the road was a (-7), while that number improved to +9 at home. Comrie
was also a force on special teams with 25 PP points on the season.
Position Value:
*** Played for Philadelphia and Phoenix in 2003-04.

Tim Connolly C Age: 25 Positional Rank: 60

2002 BUF 80 12 13 25 -28 32 6 8 159 2
2003 DNP
2005 BUF 63 16 39 55 5 28 7 16 99 3
Proj. BUF 77 19 41 60 4 22 3 17 107 1
After a disappointing 2002-03 season resulted in Connolly not suiting up for a single NHL
game in 2003-04, Connolly returned from the scrap heap to produce a career-best 55
points in only 63 games played. Connolly was particularly strong down the stretch when
he put up 17 points in his final 15 games, meaning that his work ethic and dedication
might finally be catching up to his talent. At press time he was still battling concussion
issues, so keep that in mind on draft day.
Position Value:
Craig Conroy C Age: 35 Positional Rank: 66

2002 CGY 79 22 37 59 -4 36 5 13 143 2
2003 CGY 63 8 39 47 13 44 2 12 112 0
2005 LA 78 22 44 66 13 78 5 16 154 3
Proj. LA 74 21 38 59 7 66 4 13 139 2
Conroy was the heart and soul of a Kings team that was once again decimated by injury.
Despite missing linemate Pavol Demitra for a good portion of the season, Conroy still
managed to lead the team’s forwards in point and assists. Conroy, a gritty player who is
widely respected for his work ethic, has scored at least 20 goals in three of the past four
seasons marking him as a late-round find in most fantasy leagues.
Position Value:
Sidney Crosby C Age: 19 Positional Rank: 6

2005 PIT 81 39 63 102 -1 110 16 31 278 5
Proj. PIT 82 43 59 102 4 89 17 29 299 4
Not one to disappoint, Crosby more than lived up to all the hype that his immense talent
fostered. In addition to finishing 9th in the league in PP points (47), Crosby was the only
player to pull the double-double of triple digit points (102) and PIM (110), though you
should look for the PIMs to diminish as he lets his talent do the talking. Despite the
lengthy season, Crosby actually played much better after the Olympic break scoring 37
points in 23 games in addition to putting up a solid +8 rating during that time.
Position Value:
Matt Cullen C Age: 28 Positional Rank: 154

2002 FLA 30 6 6 12 -4 22 2 1 54 1
2003 FLA 56 6 13 19 -2 24 1 1 75 2
2005 CAR 78 25 24 49 4 40 8 10 214 5
Proj. NYR 62 11 17 28 -6 32 2 4 88 0
Where the heck did those 25 goals come from? Cullen had scored only 19 goals the
previous three seasons, and it has been 4 years since he had even reached double digits.
In addition, Cullen also scored 18 points on the power-play, a career best mark, and was
second on the team with 5 game-winning goals. Cullen takes his game to the Big Apple
this season after a Cup winning season in Carolina.
Position Value:

Pavel Datsyuk C Age: 28 Positional Rank: 17

2002 DET 64 12 39 51 20 16 1 13 82 1
2003 DET 75 30 38 68 -2 35 8 15 135 4
2005 DET 75 28 59 87 26 22 11 28 146 4
Proj. DET 76 34 62 96 23 32 13 29 187 5
One of the top 10 talents in the NHL, Datsyuk finished the year 17th in the NHL in scoring
despite missing 7 games over the course of the season. Datsyuk had five streaks of at
least 5 games in a row with a point highlighted by a 10-game streak in February and
March in which he totaled 6 goals and 12 assists. Datsyuk has improved his point scored
and PP point totals in each of the past three seasons for the Wings.
Position Value: Lady Byng Winner
Pavol Demitra C Age: 31 Positional Rank: 33

2002 STL 78 36 57 93 0 32 11 25 205 4
2003 STL 68 23 35 58 1 18 8 13 179 5
2005 LA 58 25 37 62 21 42 7 19 184 7
Proj. MIN 73 31 50 81 13 34 13 22 209 5
Demitra is one of the NHL’s leading scorers the past few years even if no one realizes it.
Since the start of the 2001 season, covering 286 games, Demitra has scored 291 points.
The only thing that holds Demitra back each year is his health because when he is on the
ice he performs at an all-star level. Demitra has scored at least 28 goals in every season
of his career in which he has suited up for at least 70 games, and he has also chipped in
at least 4 GW goals in each of the past eight seasons. If he teams up with fellow Slovak
Marion Gaborik and stays healthy, a 100-point season is possible.
Position Value:
Shane Doan RW Age: 29 Positional Rank: 48

2002 PHX 82 21 37 58 3 86 7 13 225 2
2003 PHX 79 27 41 68 -11 47 9 18 254 1
2005 PHX 82 30 36 66 -9 123 17 24 254 7
Proj. PHX 80 33 37 70 -2 97 14 23 244 5
Named to the Canadian Olympic team in the midst of calls of nepotism, Wayne Gretzky
chose the team, Doan justified the decision with a strong final two months of the season
in which he score 25 points, to go along with a +6, in the Yotes final 23 games. Doan has
never been able to reach the pantheon of NHL greats, but he has settled in to be a very
solid performer who despite having only reached 30-goals once in his career (last year),
has still managed to score at least 20-goals in six straight seasons.
Position Value:
Chris Drury C Age: 30 Positional Rank: 68

2002 CGY 80 23 30 53 -9 33 5 15 224 5
2003 BUF 76 18 35 53 8 68 5 11 152 2
2005 BUF 81 30 37 67 -11 32 16 21 172 5
Proj. BUF 80 32 34 66 -2 48 12 19 177 4
A one-time Little League World Series Champion, Drury has built a reputation as a clutch
performer who leads by example. Drury led the Sabres in goals (30), PP points (37) and
GW goals (5) while finishing second in overall scoring (67). Drury was particularly
effective after the Olympic break when he netted 25 points in 26 contests. Drury was also
rd
3 in the NHL with 911 face-off wins.
Position Value:

J.P. Dumont RW Age: 28 Positional Rank: 126

2002 BUF 76 14 21 35 -14 44 2 8 135 2
2003 BUF 77 22 31 53 -9 40 10 7 156 1
2005 BUF 54 20 20 40 -1 38 9 11 116 4
Proj. BUF 72 24 31 55 4 22 8 19 144 2
Dumont, a former 3rd overall pick in 1996, suited up for only 54 games last season but still
managed to score 20 goals for the fourth time in five years. Dumont established a career
best with 20 PP points in addition to netting 4 GW goals for Buffalo. In 18 playoff games,
Dumont scored 14 points perhaps signaling his potential emergence as an offensive force
moving into the 2006-07 season. Did not resign with Buffalo after they rejected his
arbitration award making him a free agent as of this writing.
Position Value:
Patrick Eaves RW Age: 22 Positional Rank: 165

2005 OTT 58 20 9 29 7 22 5 1 100 4
Proj. OTT 68 12 24 36 12 12 4 2 119 2
Possibly the quietest 20-goal scorer in the NHL last season, rookie Patrick Eaves adds
yet another weapon to the potent offense of the Senators. Eaves finished the regular
season with 8 points in his final 9 games before registering just a single point in 13 playoff
contests. Slight of build at 175 pounds, Eaves totaled 4 GW goals in his action with the
big league club last season.
Position Value:
Nils Ekman LW Age: 30 Positional Rank: 103

2002 DNP
2003 SJ 82 22 33 55 30 34 1 8 147 5
2005 SJ 77 21 36 57 20 54 5 14 176 2
Proj. PIT 75 19 24 43 4 42 3 9 168 1
After starting the year in a funk with only 5 points in his first 20 games, Ekman battled
back to score 43 points in his final 44 games while playing mostly on a line with Jonathan
Cheechoo and Joe Thornton. Now moving to Pittsburgh he still might be teamed with all-
star level talent if he ends up on the LW of Sidney Crosby’s line. Ekman, for the second
year in a row, totally disappeared in the playoffs and now has but 7 points in 27 playoff
contests, so remember that when it comes time for your playoff hockey pool this year.
Position Value:
Patrik Elias C Age: 30 Positional Rank: 37

2002 NJ 81 28 29 57 17 22 6 8 255 4
2003 NJ 82 38 43 81 26 44 9 11 300 9
2005 NJ 38 16 29 45 11 20 6 15 142 3
Proj. NJ 78 34 48 82 16 24 10 14 282 5
Elias played in only 38 contests because of various injuries headlined by the contraction
of hepatitis. Despite those health issues, Elias still scored more than a point-per-game on
the season including 17 points in just 9 games in the season’s final month. Elias was
equally effective in the playoffs with 16 points in just nine games (giving him 33 points in
his final 18 games) signaling that he might be worth every penny of the new 7-year, $42
million contract he signed this offseason.
Position Value:

Martin Erat LW Age: 25 Positional Rank: 122

2002 NSH 27 1 7 8 -9 14 1 3 39 0
2003 NSH 76 16 33 49 10 38 4 10 137 2
2005 NSH 80 20 29 49 0 76 5 11 143 1
Proj. NSH 82 24 38 62 6 58 8 14 175 4
Erat keeps getting better and in 2005-06 he produced his first 20-goal season along with
th
a career-high of 16 PP points. Erat, a speedy LW, had a streak from January 13 to Feb
th
6 in which he scored a point in 9 of 10 games. Though not a top option, Erat is a nice
end game play in a deep leagues at the LW position.
Sergei Fedorov C Age: 36 Positional Rank: 80

2002 DET 80 36 47 83 15 52 10 18 281 11
2003 ANA 80 31 34 65 -5 42 9 17 268 6
2005 *** 67 12 32 44 -2 66 3 14 160 2
Proj. CBJ 78 26 34 60 4 42 8 20 198 5
At the start of the season Fedorov looked as if he still thought the NHL was in a lockout.
st
On January 1 , after 26 games played, the former NHL MVP had only 1 goal and 7
points. With the turn of the calendar to the new year Fedorov awoke to score 36 points in
his final 41 games to somewhat salvage the worst season of his career. Fedorov failed to
record at least 25-goals and 60-points for the first time ever during a season in which he
skated in at least 50 games leaving his future production in doubt.
Position Value:
*** Played for Anaheim and Columbus in 2005-06.
Ruslan Fedotenko RW Age: 27 Positional Rank: 150

2002 TB 76 19 13 32 -7 44 6 2 114 6
2003 TB 77 17 22 39 14 30 0 1 116 3
2005 TB 80 26 15 41 -4 44 4 3 164 6
Proj. TB 74 18 20 38 2 36 3 3 155 2
After four seasons of 16 to 19 goals, Fedotenko scored a career-high 26 goals for the
Bolts in 2005-06. In the 43 team wins that Ruslan participated in he averaged 0.65 points
per game with a +13 rating versus 0.35 points per game and a (-17) in the 37 loses. Don’t
overlook the fact that Fedotenko also had 6 GW goals for the second time in the last three
seasons last year.
Position Value:
Mike Fisher C Age: 26 Positional Rank: 156

2002 OTT 74 18 20 38 13 54 5 4 142 3
2003 OTT 24 4 6 10 -3 39 1 0 47 0
2005 OTT 68 22 22 44 23 64 2 7 150 3
Proj. OTT 77 23 24 47 14 42 2 5 148 1
Did everyone on the Senators score 20-goals last season? For those in leagues which
count special teams performances, keep an eye on Fisher since he was particularly
dangerous in short-handed situations with the 4th most SHG (4) in the league, as well as
the second most SH points (7).
Position Value:

Peter Forsberg C Age: 33 Positional Rank: 23

2002 COL 75 29 77 106 52 70 8 25 166 2
2003 COL 39 18 37 55 16 30 3 21 85 5
2005 PHI 60 19 56 75 21 46 8 24 132 2
Proj. PHI 66 22 60 82 12 38 5 29 118 3
Think about this fact for a moment. In his career, Forsberg has averaged 1.275 points per
game (if he were to maintain that pace over an 82 game season he would record 105
points). Even last year as he yet again struggled with injury, Forsberg averaged 1.25
points per game. Forsberg was on fire at the start of the season before injuries took over
and he had 53 points in the season’s first 32 games (1.66 points per game). After fears
were raised that he might miss half the season with two ankle surgeries, it now appears
that he might miss only the first couple weeks of the regular season. When he is on the
ice he is the best all-around player on the planet, problem is, he has only played 99
games the past two seasons.
Position Value:
Alexander Frolov LW Age: 24 Positional Rank: 101

2002 LA 79 14 17 31 12 34 1 2 141 3
2003 LA 77 24 24 48 8 24 5 8 168 3
2005 LA 69 21 33 54 17 40 4 10 174 4
Proj. LA 78 25 22 47 3 38 2 8 178 1
Frolov’s season was a tale of two totally different experiences. In the first 26 games of the
season he was one of the finest LWs in the business producing 13 goals and 31 points
leading many teams to first place in their fantasy leagues. After that point however, he
scored only 23 points in the season’s final 43 games including a stretches of 16 and 11
games without a goal making him a risky pick-up in 2006-07.
Position Value:
Marian Gaborik RW Age: 24 Positional Rank: 35

2002 MIN 81 30 35 65 12 46 5 16 280 8
2003 MIN 65 18 22 40 10 20 3 8 220 4
2005 MIN 65 38 28 66 6 64 10 12 252 7
Proj. MIN 74 41 42 83 8 40 13 19 282 5
Much like Peter Forsberg the past two season’s, only health has been able to stop this
high-scoring winger. For the first time in his career Gaborik scored at a point-per-game
clip including a stretch of games from January 18 through March 10 where he scored 24
points in 19 games with only three scoreless outings. Gaborik has also averaged 6 GW
goals per season over the last 4 years marking him as a potential star if he can only stay
on the ice.
Position Value:

Simon Gagne LW Age: 26 Positional Rank: 19

2002 PHI 46 9 18 27 20 16 1 4 115 3
2003 PHI 80 24 21 45 12 29 6 8 211 6
2005 PHI 72 47 32 79 31 38 12 11 334 7
Proj. PHI 76 44 38 42 17 26 9 13 287 4
The recipient of numerous Forsberg passes last season, Gagne is coming off a career-
best year in which he surpassed the 40-goal mark for the first time. Before his own injury
problems hit, Gagne was one of the leagues leading scorers prior to the Olympic break
with 37 goals and 63 points in only 51 games. Gagne feasted on some of the weaker
teams in 2005-06 including the Penguins whom he victimized for 13 points, to go along
with a +10, in 8 games. As icing on the cake, in 4 of the last 5 seasons, Gagne has
scored at least 6 GW goals.
Position Value:
Martin Gelinas LW Age: 36 Positional Rank: 174

2002 CGY 81 21 31 52 -3 51 6 8 152 3
2003 CGY 76 17 18 35 10 70 5 2 139 3
2005 FLA 82 17 24 41 27 80 4 1 186 3
Proj. FLA 68 13 12 25 9 56 1 6 144 1
A heady veteran who continues to be a sought after commodity for his hard work and
leadership, Gelinas showed last season that he still has some giddy-up in his step. After a
slow start which included only 4 points in his first 15 games, Gelinas turned things around
thereafter scoring 37 points in his final 67 games, not to mention earning a +30 rating
during that time span.
Position Value:
Ryan Getzlaf C Age: 21 Positional Rank: 96

2005 ANA 57 14 25 39 6 22 10 14 116 1
Proj. ANA 76 24 33 57 2 34 8 18 165 3
Quickly maturing after a first round selection in the 2003 draft, Getlaf scored 25 points in
the season’s final 25 games before proceeding to be a vital cog in the Ducks playoff run.
Blessed with speed and size (6’3”, 220 pounds), Getzlaf has a lethal wrister that he used
to score 10 PPG in only 57 games with the Ducks.
Brian Gionta RW Age: 27 Positional Rank: 22

2002 NJ 58 12 13 25 5 23 2 1 129 3
2003 NJ 75 21 8 29 19 36 0 3 174 8
2005 NJ 82 48 41 89 18 46 24 10 291 10
Proj. NJ 79 35 36 71 15 44 14 8 244 6
Have a career season Brian Gionta. Besides scoring 48 goals, or more than the 37 he
had in his career before last season (in 166 games), Brian also scored 89 points or more
than the 65 he accumulated his first three seasons. As if that wasn’t enough, Gionta was
second in the NHL with 24 PPG and 10 GW goals. Gionta was also third in the NHL with
27 goals on the road, so as you can see, he pretty much did it all for the Devils in 2005-
06.

Scott Gomez C Age: 26 Positional Rank: 36

2002 NJ 80 13 42 55 17 48 2 10 205 4
2003 NJ 80 14 56 70 18 70 3 13 189 1
2005 NJ 82 33 51 84 8 42 9 24 244 5
Proj. NJ 80 23 47 70 9 32 4 25 218 3
Like linemate Gionta, Gomez enjoyed a breakout out 2005-06 season in which he set
career-highs in goals and points, not to mention PP points (33). Gomez accomplished a
rare feat scoring in double digits against two teams in 2005-06: Montreal (11 points) and
Pittsburgh (10). Gomez scored 51 points in the season’s final 43 games.
Position Value:
Chris Gratton C Age: 31 Positional Rank: 186

2002 *** 80 15 30 45 -16 107 4 11 215 2
2003 +++ 81 13 19 32 -18 111 3 5 150 1
2005 FLA 76 17 22 39 6 104 4 4 135 2
Proj. FLA 80 15 18 33 2 122 2 3 155 1
Even though Gratton’s totals look strong when compared to his 2003-04 performance,
Gratton was really only worthy of fantasy consideration for the months of February and
March when he scored 21 of his 39 overall points in only 20 games. In the other 56
games, Gratton scored but 18 points.
Position Value:
*** Played for Buffalo and Phoenix in 2002-03.

+++ Played for Phoenix and Colorado in 2003-04.
Bill Guerin RW Age: 35 Positional Rank: 88

2002 DAL 64 25 25 50 5 113 11 10 229 2
2003 DAL 82 34 35 69 14 109 9 13 263 10
2005 DAL 70 13 27 40 0 115 3 14 210 2
Proj. STL 72 27 30 57 2 124 11 13 242 3
After a streak of six straight seasons with at least 24 goals scored, Guerin fell all the way
to 13 in a lost season highlighted by multiple injuries and totally ineffective play. Looking
nothing like the dominating forward he had become, about the only category in which
Guerin put up an expected number was in the penalty minute column (115). If one was to
remove his only strong month of the season (November), the resulting numbers would be
downright ghastly: 28 points in 58 games. This man has a lot to prove in 2006-07 and he
will likely get that chance skating alongside Doug Weight and Keith Tkachuk in St. Louis.
Position Value:
Jeff Halpern C Age: 30 Positional Rank: 143

2002 WAS 82 13 21 34 6 88 1 1 126 2
2003 WAS 79 19 27 46 -21 56 7 11 114 2
2005 WAS 70 11 33 44 -8 79 6 14 151 1
Proj. DAL 80 15 35 50 4 80 4 9 140 2
Halpern has spent six long years in Washington before moving on to Dallas this
offseason. Coming off back-to-back 40+ point seasons, Halpern in the consummate
hockey player. Halpern turned on the offense after the Olympic break with 18 points in 26
games and he scored 18 of his power-play points in 63 games versus the Eastern
Conference last season.
Position Value:

Michael Handzus C Age: 29 Positional Rank: 142

2002 PHI 82 23 21 44 13 46 1 6 133 9
2003 PHI 82 20 38 58 18 82 7 15 135 2
2005 PHI 73 11 33 44 -2 38 2 13 113 1
Proj. CHI 70 17 25 42 -6 56 4 10 144 4
After back-to-back 20-goal seasons, Handzus fell to only 11 tallies in ‘05-’06 though he
did post his fourth straight season of at least 44 points. Handzus is a responsible player
who is of borderline value as anything other than an injury fill-in at the C position. He
really enjoys facing the Blackhawks (20 points in 20 games) and the Thrashers (19 points
in 16 games) in his career.
Position Value:
Scott Hartnell LW Age: 24 Positional Rank: 119

2002 NSH 82 12 22 34 -3 101 2 3 221 2
2003 NSH 59 18 15 33 -5 87 5 8 154 3
2005 NSH 81 25 23 48 8 101 10 9 211 8
Proj. NSH 78 24 29 53 2 101 7 10 218 5
Hartnell totaled career-highs in goals and points in 2005-06 during the regular season
before disappearing in the playoffs (1 point in 5 games). The lack of scoring in the
playoffs was particularly vexing when you realize that Hartnell was clutch most of the year
in leading the Predators with 8 GW goals.
Position Value:
Martin Havlat RW Age: 25 Positional Rank: 45

2002 OTT 67 24 35 59 20 30 9 9 179 4
2003 OTT 68 31 37 68 12 46 13 17 175 7
2005 OTT 18 9 7 16 6 4 2 3 57 1
Proj. CHI 74 38 44 82 8 22 14 22 199 3
A fleet skating LW who has basically averaged a point-per-game the past three seasons
with 143 points in 153 games, Havlat missed the majority of the season with a shoulder
injury that required surgery. Havlat returned in time to score 13 points in 10 playoff
games, including a 6-game goal scoring streak, but now he needs to prove himself over
the course of an entire season. It might also help if every time he got in a fight he stopped
trying to kick his opponent since leagues generally look down upon people who try to use
their skates to fillet an opponent.
Dany Heatley LW Age: 25 Positional Rank: 4

2002 ATL 77 41 48 89 -8 58 19 20 252 6
2003 ATL 31 13 12 25 -8 18 5 7 83 3
2005 OTT 82 50 53 103 29 86 23 23 300 7
Proj. OTT 82 44 59 103 21 74 15 24 288 4
Author of perhaps the greatest comeback of the last generation, Heatley left personal
tragedy behind him in Atlanta after a trade for Marina Hossa brought him to Ottawa.
Heatley proceeded to light up the scoresheet by producing one of only three 50-goal, 100-
th
point seasons in the league (Jagr and Ovechkin were the others). Heatley was 5 in the
th th
league in goals (5), 4 in points (103), 5 in PP goals (23) and scored 7 GW goals to
boot. Not bad for a player coming off a 25 point, 31 game season the previous season.
Position Value:

Jochen Hecht C Age: 29 Positional Rank: 145

2002 BUF 49 10 16 26 4 30 2 5 145 2
2003 BUF 64 15 37 52 17 49 2 13 174 0
2005 BUF 64 18 24 42 10 34 4 4 179 4
Proj. BUF 69 17 32 49 4 39 2 8 181 2
Hecht is a middle of the road C who is of much more value to the Sabres than to your
fantasy team. Hecht has averaged 17 goals and 47 points the past two years, but beyond
those meager contributions he has little to offer to the fantasy leaguer. On a positive note:
Hecht did enjoy playing on Saturday’s as he scored 15 points in 14 Saturday tilts.
Position Value:
Milan Hejduk RW Age: 30 Positional Rank: 49

2002 COL 82 50 48 98 52 32 18 17 244 4
2003 COL 82 35 75 75 19 20 16 12 237 6
2005 COL 74 24 34 58 13 24 14 9 221 2
Proj. COL 78 38 36 74 17 28 15 11 252 4
One of the leagues top snipers, Hejduk had a slow start to the 2005-06 season as he
struggled to return from injury. Never quite able to recapture the form that enabled him to
score 85 goals the previous two seasons, Hejduk had to settle for 58 points, the first time
since his rookie season that he failed to record at least 72 points during a season in which
he skated in 70 or more contests. However, Hejduk did score 19 points in his last 21
games as well as netting 14 PP goals on the season.
Position Value:
Ales Hemsky RW Age: 23 Positional Rank: 44

2002 EDM 59 6 24 30 5 14 0 9 50 1
2003 EDM 71 12 22 34 -7 14 4 7 87 3
2005 EDM 81 19 58 77 -5 64 7 35 178 4
Proj. EDM 74 21 53 74 -8 45 4 27 180 2
After scoring 77 points in the regular season, more than double the 64 points he
registered in the previous two seasons combined, Hemsky was one of the Oilers top
playoff performers with 17 points in 24 games. During the season, Hemsky scored 54.5%
of his points on the power-play thanks to 35 PP assists, the 6th best mark in the NHL. In
fact, Hemsky’s 35 PP assists in ‘05-’06 were more than the 34 overall points he scored in
2003-04. On the downside, he was second in the NHL with 123 giveaways, though his
other numbers helped to conceal that fact.
Position Value:
Chris Higgins C Age: 23 Positional Rank: 147

2003 MON 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2005 MON 80 23 15 38 -1 26 7 5 148 3
Proj. MON 80 26 22 48 3 32 10 8 188 2
One of the surprises of the NHL season, Higgins’ production supported his 14th overall
selection in the 2002 draft. Higgins scored 23 goals on the season, the 7th best mark
amongst NHL rookies, and he was a big part of the Canadiens late season run with 20
points in his last 25 games which included an impressive 14 goals.
Position Value:

Bobby Holik C Age: 35 Positional Rank: 177

2002 NYR 64 16 19 35 -1 50 3 3 213 2
2003 NYR 82 25 31 56 4 96 8 7 225 4
2005 ATL 64 15 18 33 -6 79 5 12 151 0
Proj. ATL 70 19 19 38 -9 88 4 8 187 2
One of the biggest free-agent flops of the season, Holik scored his fewest points since the
1995-96 season. Other than the month of March when he scored 10 points in 14 games,
Holik was virtually invisible on the offensive side of the puck with 19 points in 50 games.
There is plenty of offense in Atlanta so Holik doesn’t need to be one of the main weapons,
but the Thrashers signed Holik to be a 3rd line C, not a 4th liner.
Position Value:
Tomas Holmstrom LW Age: 33 Positional Rank: 89

2002 DET 74 20 20 40 11 62 12 9 109 2
2003 DET 67 15 15 30 8 38 6 7 74 0
2005 DET 81 29 30 59 14 66 11 13 140 8
Proj. DET 74 28 33 61 8 68 9 17 151 2
Holmstrom took the next step in 2005 with a performance that vaulted him into the upper
th th
echelon of LWs (he was 14 amongst LWs with 29 goals and 13 with 11 goals on the
PP). Holmstrom was also second at the position with 8 GW goals combining with Henrik
Zetterberg to give the Wings perhaps the top 1-2 combination at LW in the Western
Conference.
Position Value:
Shawn Horcoff C Age: 28 Positional Rank: 52

2002 EDM 78 12 21 33 10 55 2 0 98 3
2003 EDM 80 15 25 40 0 73 0 9 110 3
2005 EDM 79 22 51 73 0 85 3 21 167 5
Proj. EDM 78 19 43 62 3 68 4 13 181 3
In 79 games in 2005-06, Horcoff scored as many points as he totaled in 158 games in the
previous two seasons. Horcoff was an all-around contributor on the ice with 24 PP points,
3 short-handed goals and 5 game-winning tallies. Horcoff was especially strong for the
Oilers before the Olympic break when he put up 58 points in 56 games including 21 of his
24 PP points.
Position Value:
Nathan Horton RW Age: 21 Positional Rank: 90

2003 FLA 55 14 8 22 -5 57 6 2 81 0
2005 FLA 71 28 19 47 8 89 3 6 162 1
Proj. FLA 78 35 28 63 9 78 9 14 198 4
The former 3rd overall pick from 2003 doubled his goal total from his rookie year with 28,
the second best mark on the Panthers, while more than doubling his overall point total
(his 47 points placed him fourth in team scoring). Horton was particularly dangerous in the
months of December and January when he scored 22 points in 28 games played
(including 12 goals).

Marian Hossa RW Age: 27 Positional Rank: 9

2002 OTT 80 45 35 80 8 34 14 19 229 10
2003 OTT 81 36 46 82 4 46 14 25 233 5
2005 ATL 80 39 53 92 17 67 14 25 341 7
Proj. ATL 82 42 56 96 11 58 14 28 288 6
If consistent dominating performances are what you seek, then look no further than
Marian Hossa. In the past five seasons, here are Hossa’s goals scored marks: 32, 31, 45,
36, 39 (he also had 29 in 1999-2000). In addition to those goal scoring numbers, Hossa is
also a dominant force on special teams with three straight seasons of 14 PP goals and at
least 33 PP points. Hossa scored 7 short-handed goals in ‘05-’06 to lead the NHL and for
good measure he chipped in 7 GW goals as well. To say he did it all in ‘05-’06 would be
an accurate statement.
Position Value:
Trent Hunter RW Age: 26 Positional Rank: 155

2002 NYI 8 0 4 4 5 4 0 0 19 0
2003 NYI 77 25 26 51 23 16 4 6 187 7
2005 NYI 82 16 19 35 -9 34 5 6 221 3
Proj. NYI 80 21 22 43 -3 68 4 9 202 3
Hunter scored 16 points less than in his breakout 2003-04 season, and his plus/minus
rating took a huge tumble falling 32 points. However, Hunter kept up his physical play and
despite only 34 PIMs he was second in the NHL with 230 hits. Of course, unless you play
in the Hanson’s Beer League that stat is pretty meaningless in the fantasy world other
than showing you that Hunter will likely be thrown out there by his coach on a consistent
basis because of his all-out hustle.
Position Value:
Kristian Huselius RW Age: 27 Positional Rank: 144

2002 FLA 78 20 23 43 -6 20 3 10 187 3
2003 FLA 76 10 21 31 -6 24 2 6 168 2
2005 *** 78 20 27 47 -9 40 8 20 164 4
Proj. CGY 76 19 32 51 -5 37 4 9 182 2
Huselius had only 8 points in 24 games for the Panthers before an in-season trade
brought the winger to Calgary. After the trade Huselius re-discovered his lost scoring
touch and accumulated 39 points, including 15 goals, in 54 games playing in Canada’s
great white north. As impressive was his total of 28 PP points easily bettering his previous
career best of 13 set in 2002-03.
Position Value:
*** Played for Florida and Calgary in 2005-06.
Jarome Iginla RW Age: 29 Positional Rank: 24

2002 CGY 75 35 32 67 -10 49 11 9 316 6
2003 CGY 81 41 32 73 21 84 8 13 264 10
2005 CGY 82 35 32 67 5 86 17 14 293 6
Proj. CGY 80 42 38 80 13 92 14 18 306 6
The new NHL was supposed to allow the NHL’s stars to flourish, and for most of them it
worked. However, Calgary’s star recorded a virtually identical season to the previous two
when the NHL was a much more congested affair. Other than a career-high 17 PP goals,
Iginla’s season can rightly be viewed as a small step backward as he has now been
under 75-points for three straight seasons after his marvelous 2001-02 campaign when
he led the NHL with 52 goals and scored 96 points. He is still the heart and soul of the
Flames, but fantasy players will want more production from this powerful RW in 2006-07.
Position Value:

Jaromir Jagr RW Age: 34 Positional Rank: 3

2002 WAS 75 36 41 77 5 38 13 17 290 9
2003 *** 77 31 43 74 -5 39 10 16 257 3
2005 NYR 82 54 69 123 34 72 24 28 368 9
Proj. NYR 75 39 59 98 21 52 18 26 319 5
After yeas of solid but unspectacular efforts during which time he has recorded 13 straight
70+ point efforts, Jagr finally returned to prominence for the Blueshirts last season.
Producing his first 100-point season since 2000-01, Jagr recorded his third 50-goal
season and fifth 100-point campaign. Jagr was second in the NHL in goals (54), third in
assists (69), second in points (123), third in +/- (+34), second in PP goals (24) and third in
GW goals (9). What he does for a follow-up is the question after injuring his shoulder in
the playoffs.
Position Value: Pearson Award Winner

*** Played for Washington and New York Rangers in 2003-04.
Mike Johnson RW Age: 31 Positional Rank: 120

2002 PHX 82 23 40 63 9 47 8 9 178 3
2003 PHX 11 1 9 10 -1 10 1 4 17 0
2005 PHX 80 16 38 54 7 50 6 12 145 3
Proj. MON 80 17 28 45 2 47 4 12 155 2
A solid soldier for every team he has been a part of, Johnson recorded his second 50-
point effort of the last three seasons. In a bit of an oddity, Johnson played 40 games at
home recording 27 points (10 goals, 17 assists) and 40 games on the road recording, you
guessed it, 27 points (6 goals, 21 assists). He also really enjoyed skating on Tuesday’s
when he registered 16 points in 14 contests. Johnson finished the season on a high note
recording 17 points in his final 23 games.
Position Value:
Jussi Jokinen LW Age: 23 Positional Rank: 113

2005 DAL 81 17 38 55 2 30 8 23 107 2
Proj. DAL 68 18 32 50 -4 28 4 12 108 1
Jokinen led the NHL with 10 shootout goals (in 13 chances), in what has to be deemed as
th
an excellent rookie season. Jussi finished 4 in the NHL in scoring amongst rookies with
55 points and his shooting percentage of 15.9% was the 6th best amongst all rookies who
scored at least 15 goals. Jokinen also finished the season on a high note scoring 19
points in his final 24 games.
Position Value:
Olli Jokinen C Age: 27 Positional Rank: 12

2002 FLA 81 36 29 65 -17 79 13 11 240 6
2003 FLA 82 26 32 58 -16 81 8 16 280 8
2005 FLA 82 38 51 89 14 88 14 23 351 9
Proj. FLA 81 35 41 76 6 74 13 18 306 4
Olli finally busted out for the season that most hockey pundits had predicted for him since
he was chosen 3rd overall in the 1997 draft. Jokinen ranked 3rd in the NHL with 351 shots
while also managing to led all NHL forwards with a +23 rating at home. Olli also led the
Panthers in goals, assists, points, PP goals, PP points and GW goals last season. Having
never scored more than 65 points previously, Olli will need another season comparable to
the last before he can rightly be listed amongst the games elite.
Position Value:

Niko Kapanen C Age: 28 Positional Rank: 192

2002 DAL 82 5 29 34 25 44 0 0 80 1
2003 DAL 67 1 5 6 -15 16 0 0 57 0
2005 DAL 81 14 21 35 -10 36 5 8 97 4
Proj. ATL 76 13 18 31 -6 40 2 8 101 1
After a solid 2002-03 season, Kapanen fell off the map and recorded but 6 points in the
‘03-‘04 season. Last year Niko returned to the level he established in 2002-03 with 35
points, but even better he scored 14 goals, more than the 6 he had in his career in his
previous 158 games. Kapanen is nothing more than an injury fill-in unless he skates on
the second scoring line alongside Marian Hossa in Atlanta in which case his value would
rise significantly.
Position Value:
Paul Kariya LW Age: 30 Positional Rank: 26

2002 ANA 82 25 56 81 -3 48 11 24 257 2
2003 COL 51 11 25 36 -5 22 5 9 110 1
2005 NSH 82 31 54 85 -6 40 14 32 245 3
Proj. NSH 72 33 50 83 1 38 11 33 241 5
With health come points for this mighty mite. In the 6 seasons that Kariya has played in at
least 70 games he has scored a minimum of 81 points in 5 of them. Kariya, the 5th highest
th
scoring LW in the NHL last season with 85 points, was the 6 highest scoring LW on the
PP with 14 goals, and his 46 PP points placed him third amongst port-siders. Kariya was
also consistent all year long scoring at least 10 points in every month except for February,
when he scored 9 points in 7 games.
Position Value:
Mike Knuble RW Age: 34 Positional Rank: 73

2002 BOS 75 30 29 59 18 45 9 8 185 4
2003 BOS 82 21 25 46 19 32 4 7 192 3
2005 PHI 82 34 31 65 25 80 13 10 217 6
Proj. PHI 77 27 30 57 14 74 7 11 203 2
During his first six seasons, Knuble recorded only a single season with double-digit goals
(15 in 1998-99). The last three seasons, Knuble has averaged 28 tallies per season
highlighted by last years career-high 34 goals. In fact, last year was a career season for
the burly winger as he also set career bests in assists, points, +/-, PIM, PPG, PPA, SH
goals and GW goals. He will be 34-years-old, so be weary of any further improvement.
Position Value:
Saku Koivu C Age: 31 Positional Rank: 83

2002 MON 82 21 50 71 5 72 5 17 147 5
2003 MON 68 14 41 55 -5 52 5 10 112 3
2005 MON 72 17 45 62 1 70 5 22 138 4
Proj. MON 59 13 44 57 3 68 5 13 125 2
Koivu had a great season that ended on a down note with a serious eye injury. Reports
are that he should be back on the ice in time for training camp, but until the diminutive
captain is back, Montreal fans will be holding their breath. Koivu set a career-high in PP
points (27), though it was the 8th time in 10 years that he had failed to skate in at least 75
contests.
Position Value:

Ales Kotalik RW Age: 27 Positional Rank: 86

2002 BUF 68 21 14 35 -2 30 4 3 138 2
2003 BUF 62 15 11 26 -1 41 2 1 142 3
2005 BUF 82 25 37 62 -3 62 10 18 261 5
Proj. BUF 76 21 35 56 1 58 8 14 241 2
Kotalik, like many of his fellow Sabres, enjoyed a solid but unspectacular individual
season. Kotalik did record 25 goals for the first time, and nearly doubled his previous best
in points (35), so it would be unfair to minimize his improvements. Ales was one of 6
Sabres to have at least 10 PP goals, and he also tied for the team lead with 5 GW goals.
Position Value:
Ilya Kovalchuk LW Age: 23 Positional Rank: 7

2002 ATL 81 38 29 67 -24 57 9 13 257 3
2003 ATL 81 41 46 87 -10 63 16 17 341 6
2005 ATL 78 52 46 98 -6 68 27 29 323 7
Proj. ATL 82 59 49 108 8 48 21 28 338 5
After threatening to play in Russia, Kovalchuk returned to Atlanta to stake his claim as the
th th
best LW in hockey. Kovalchuk was 4 in the NHL with 52 goals and 8 in points with 98,
numbers that lead all LWs. However his biggest value might have been on special teams
where he led the NHL with 27 PP goals and 56 PP points. Owner of one of the wickedest
one-timers since Brett Hull, Kovalchuk has improved his goals scored and points totals
the last two seasons. Do you want to bet against him doing it a third straight year?
Position Value:
Alexei Kovalev RW Age: 33 Positional Rank: 56

2002 *** 78 37 40 77 -9 70 11 21 271 3
2003 +++ 78 14 31 45 -9 66 3 9 207 1
2005 MON 69 23 42 65 -1 76 9 24 206 5
Proj. MON 66 20 38 58 2 60 4 18 182 2
One of the 5 best stick handlers in the world, Kovalev can dazzle at one moment only to
disappear for long stretches of time the next. Kovalev really turned on the scoring down
the stretch with 24 points in his final 25 games in addition to notching 5 GW goals in his
final 40 contests. Kovalev has scored at least 65-points in five of the past 6 seasons, and
the potential is there for more (see his 2000-01 season of 44 goals and 95 points).
Position Value:
*** Played for Pittsburgh and New York Rangers in 2002-03.
+++ Played for New York Rangers and Montreal in 2003-04.
Slava Kozlov LW Age: 34 Positional Rank: 67

2002 ATL 79 21 49 70 -10 66 9 20 185 2
2003 ATL 76 20 32 52 -12 74 6 16 191 1
2005 ATL 82 25 46 71 14 33 8 16 206 1
Proj. ATL 74 21 28 49 2 38 5 12 178 1
Reborn in Atlanta, Slava has averaged 64 points the past three seasons after averaging
just 32 points in the previous three seasons (1999-2001). Highlighting his teams
struggles, in the teams 41 wins Kozlov was a fantastic +29 while in the teams 41 loses,
that number fell all the way to (-15). Kozlov has averaged 22 goals a season in his last 10
campaigns of 50 games of more, so if you are looking for a second-tier scorer on the LW,
Slava may be your man.
Position Value:

Chris Kunitz LW Age: 26 Positional Rank: 183

2003 ANA 21 0 6 6 1 12 0 0 31 0
2005 *** 69 19 22 41 16 71 0 0 149 2
Proj. ANA 74 24 23 49 -2 67 2 2 176 1
Kunitz found himself on a line with Teemu Selanne and Andy McDonald late in the
season, a combination that obviously would increase Kunitz’ value over an entire season.
Signed to a two year deal this offseason, Kunitz posted 19 points in his final 24 games.
He does have some offensive talent as shown by his 22 goals in 54 games in the AHL
during the lockout.
Position Value:
*** Played for Atlanta and Anaheim in 2005-06.
Robert Lang C Age: 35 Positional Rank: 75

2002 WAS 82 22 47 69 12 22 10 18 146 2
2003 *** 69 30 49 79 4 24 10 25 163 3
2005 DET 72 20 42 62 17 72 8 16 171 3
Proj. DET 67 22 37 59 7 38 8 20 155 2
Lang has averaged 24 goals a season over the last seven years, and offers a nice late
round value in most fantasy leagues. Lang did produce a three-year low with 24 PP
points, but it’s not as if that is a poor number. A model of consistency last season, Lang
scored 31 points in 36 homes games and 31 points in 36 games on the road.
Position Value:
*** Played for Washington and Detroit in 2003-04.
Jamie Langenbrunner RW Age: 31 Positional Rank: 110

2002 NJ 78 22 33 55 17 65 5 5 197 5
2003 NJ 53 10 16 26 9 43 1 4 130 2
2005 NJ 80 19 34 53 -1 74 8 17 243 1
Proj. NJ 73 22 23 45 5 62 9 8 218 2
Besides having one of the longest names in hockey, Langenbrunner is a solid winger who
has found a home in NJ after beginning his career in Dallas. Jamie has scored 50 points
in two of the past three seasons though his +/- rating has gone down each of the past two
years. Langenbrunner did manage to produce 25 PP points, a career best total, so he
does offer a little bit of value late in the draft.
Position Value:
Daymond Langkow C Age: 30 Positional Rank: 84

2002 PHX 82 20 32 52 20 56 4 5 196 2
2003 PHX 81 21 31 52 4 40 4 7 174 2
2005 CGY 82 25 34 59 2 46 11 18 171 7
Proj. CGY 80 22 33 55 4 68 4 9 201 2
Langkow has four straight 20-goal, 50-point seasons, marking him as one of the most
consistent skaters in the NHL. Sure he isn’t a top notch fantasy talent, but solid
production you can count on is always worth something. There is always the chance that
he remains on a line with Jarome Iginla, and with that possibility there is always the
chance that he will produce a career best season. One last note: Daymond did score 11
PP goals last season, more than he had netted the previous two seasons combined.
Position Value:

Ian Laperriere RW Age: 32 Positional Rank: 170

2002 LA 73 7 12 19 -9 122 1 0 85 1
2003 LA 62 10 12 22 -4 58 1 0 59 3
2005 COL 82 21 24 45 3 116 1 0 133 3
Proj. COL 76 14 14 28 3 128 1 0 122 1
A move to Colorado did wonders for Ian’s game as he became on offensive force after
years of agitating. Despite only 1 PPG, Laperriere still managed to total 21 goals on the
season, highlighted by 10 in the season’s first 24 games.
Position Value:
Vincent Lecavalier C Age: 25 Positional Rank: 27

2002 TB 80 33 45 78 0 39 11 13 274 3
2003 TB 81 32 34 66 23 52 5 9 242 6
2005 TB 80 35 40 75 0 90 13 19 309 7
Proj. TB 80 36 46 82 11 78 12 21 311 5
Another player burdened by expectations, in Lecavalier’s case it has little to do with his
contract and more to do with his 1st overall selection in the 1998 draft. After struggling to
only 37 points in 2001-02, Lecavalier has rebounded to record at least 66 points in each
of the last three seasons. Vincent set career-highs with 35 goals, 13 PP goals, and 32 PP
points in a disappointing follow-up season for the defending Champions.
Position Value:
John LeClair LW Age: 37 Positional Rank: 141

2002 PHI 35 18 10 28 10 16 8 2 99 4
2003 PHI 75 23 32 55 20 51 8 8 182 4
2005 PIT 73 22 29 51 -24 61 8 19 135 0
Proj. PIT 62 22 32 54 -4 56 8 14 155 2
After missing 47 games in 2002-03, LeClair has come back to score 23 and 22 goals the
past two seasons while suiting up for 75 and 73 games. Like most of his Pittsburgh
teammates, LeClair had a horrific plus/minus rating last year (-24), a number that made it
difficult for him to be used in many fantasy leagues. Gone are the days of 40+ goals for
LeClair, but with a little luck, he could reach 30 goals one last time.
Position Value:
David Legwand C Age: 26 Positional Rank: 180

2002 NSH 64 17 31 48 -2 34 3 15 167 4
2003 NSH 82 18 29 47 9 46 5 7 165 5
2005 NSH 44 7 19 26 3 34 0 8 109 5
Proj. NSH 66 19 22 41 6 39 2 6 142 4
The 2nd overall pick in 1998, Legwand managed to stay healthy for a career-low 44
games last season. Of little help on the power-play or short-handed, there is nothing to
recommend Legwand at this point unless you enjoy rooting for your home team, though
50 points is possible with a full season of games.
Position Value:

Jere Lehtinen RW Age: 33 Positional Rank: 98

2002 DAL 80 31 17 48 39 20 5 2 238 3
2003 DAL 58 13 13 26 0 20 4 4 138 4
2005 DAL 80 33 19 52 9 30 14 7 216 6
Proj. DAL 79 24 18 42 2 33 5 8 211 2
Lehtinen started the season very quickly with 11 goals in his first 20 games on his way to
a team leading 33 goals on the season. Jere, long regarded as one of the finest two-way
forwards in the game, has netted at least 20-goals in four of he last 5 seasons. Lehtinen
scored a career-high 14 PP goals last season and accumulated a career best 30 PIM.
Yeah, he really is a ruffian.
Eric Lindros C Age: 33 Positional Rank: 115

2002 NYR 81 19 34 53 5 141 9 11 235 3
2003 NYR 39 10 22 32 7 60 3 6 83 0
2005 TOR 33 11 11 22 -3 43 4 4 59 2
Proj. DAL 55 19 20 39 -4 75 3 9 111 2
At his peak Lindros was one of the 10 most dominating hockey players ever to lace up the
skates. However, he is but a shell of his former self now, and ‘05-’06 was yet another in a
long line of seasons that began with promise but ended with an injury (this time a torn
wrist ligament). Lindros started the season well with 12 points in 12 games, but quickly
succumbed to injury. With health could come numbers, marking Lindros as the ultimate
risk-reward player heading into 2006.
Position Value:
Jofrey Lupul RW Age: 23 Positional Rank: 106

2003 ANA 75 13 21 34 -6 28 4 4 137 2
2005 ANA 81 28 25 53 -13 48 12 11 296 2
Proj. EDM 80 33 26 59 -2 36 9 18 302 2
The big piece in the Chris Pronger to Anaheim trade, Lupul scored 28 goals in just his
second season showing why he was drafted 7th overall in 2002. Lupul started the year
strong with 28 points in his first 37 games, but his paced slowed as it does for many
youngsters their first couple seasons. Lupul scored 33 points in 41 games on home ice
last season and will look to improve that number on what is generally considered the best
sheet of ice in the league in Edmonton.
Position Value:
John Madden C Age: 33 Positional Rank: 185

2002 NJ 80 19 22 41 13 26 2 2 207 3
2003 NJ 80 12 23 35 7 22 1 3 210 1
2005 NJ 82 16 20 36 -7 36 0 1 194 0
Proj. NJ 82 14 20 34 3 38 1 1 180 0
Madden is an excellent defensive forward, a talent not needed in the fantasy game. As a
result, Madden is always on the waiver wire and only of use at those rare times when he
goes on a hot streak (at least you can say he was consistent last year scoring between 4
and 6 points in each of the seasons 7 months). And not that it helps in the fantasy game,
nd
but Madden was 2 in the NHL, and led all forwards, with 84 takeaways on the season
(89, Rob Blake).
Position Value:

Evgeni Malkin C Age: 19 Positional Rank: 108

Proj. PIT 71 22 41 63 -14 42 8 17 123 2
The second pick in the 2004 NHL Draft, Malkin stayed in Russia last year to play for
Metallurg Magnitogorsk skipping the NHL season. After an offseason which included
signing a one year contract to play in Russia followed by his apparent defection while with
his Russian team in Finland, Malkin is now in the USA and says he will play with the
Penguins this year. If his legal matters are cleared up and he signs to play in Pittsburgh,
he will challenge for the Calder Trophy as the Penguins # 2 center behind Sidney Crosby.
Position Value:
Ryan Malone LW Age: 25 Positional Rank: 139

2003 PIT 77 22 22 44 -22 63 10 8 153 1
2005 PIT 81 22 21 43 -23 64 5 7 139 4
Proj. PIT 82 28 27 55 -12 52 8 8 167 2
Who has been the most consistent player in the NHL the past two seasons? Not many
people would have said Malone, but his numbers the past two seasons are eerily similar.
Malone put on a late-season rush to reach those numbers by scoring 21 points in his final
23 games leading many pundits to predict a possible breakout for Malone in his third
season.
Position Value:
Patrick Marleau C Age: 27 Positional Rank: 20

2002 SJ 82 28 29 57 -10 33 8 14 172 3
2003 SJ 80 28 29 57 -5 24 9 12 220 5
2005 SJ 82 34 52 86 -12 26 20 24 260 4
Proj. SJ 82 41 49 90 -2 29 16 28 255 5
After two virtually identical seasons, the Sharks captain finally put forth the statistical
nd
season they had been waiting for in SJ since drafting Marleau with the 2 pick in the
th
1997 draft. Marleau was 7 in the NHL with 20 PP goals, and his 44 PP points placed him
th
13 . As much as his production marks him as one of the top centers in the league
heading into the draft, you should also note that in the last 7 seasons, Marleau has
missed a grand total of only 8 games.
Position Value:
Jamal Mayers RW Age: 31 Positional Rank: 188

2002 STL 15 2 5 7 1 8 0 1 26 0
2003 STL 80 6 5 11 -19 91 0 0 130 3
2005 STL 67 15 11 26 -22 129 0 0 111 1
Proj. STL 65 8 11 19 -12 99 1 0 99 0
Despite only 129 PIMs on the season, Mayers was still 6th in the NHL with 15 fighting
majors. He also managed to chip in 15 goals, the first time in 8 years that he reached
double figures.
Position Value:

Alyn McCauley C Age: 29 Positional Rank: 173

2002 SJ 16 3 7 10 -2 4 3 2 29 0
2003 SJ 82 20 27 47 23 28 5 4 146 4
2005 SJ 76 12 14 26 -3 30 4 1 106 5
Proj. LA 77 17 22 39 2 32 3 7 122 3
One year after being a finalist for the Selke Award (best defensive forward) and scoring
20 goals, McCauley fought a painful knee injury most of the second half of the season
that resulted in a reduced level of play. McCauley will never be confused with a top-notch
offensive talent but in the right environment with health, he’s hoping that is Los Angeles,
he could recapture that 20-goal form.
Position Value:
Andy McDonald C Age: 29 Positional Rank: 53

2002 ANA 46 10 11 21 -1 14 3 3 92 1
2003 ANA 79 9 21 30 -13 24 2 7 162 1
2005 ANA 82 34 51 85 24 32 13 25 229 9
Proj. ANA 79 26 42 68 6 29 7 18 219 3
One of the NHL’s biggest surprises, McDonald went from waiver wire fodder to a driving
force down the middle in fantasy hockey. Teaming with Teemu Selanne to form a lethal
duo, McDonald set career-highs in just about every category recorded by the NHL. As the
season wound down, McDonald was at his best scoring an 32 points in his final 25 games
(including 15 goals). With the Ducks re-signing of Selanne, McDonald will likely have the
chance to prove that his ‘05-’06 season wasn’t a fluke.
Milan Michalek RW Age: 21 Positional Rank: 157

2003 SJ 2 1 0 1 1 4 1 0 1 0
2005 SJ 81 17 18 35 1 45 4 7 159 2
Proj. SJ 77 26 25 51 6 32 2 11 162 1
Michalek has suffered two major knee injuries, but he came back from those injuries to
produce a solid rookie season for the Sharks. Fighting bouts of inconsistency, Milan had
11 points in March, but then only 1 in April as the season wore down. Don’t forget that this
th
21-year-old was the 6 overall pick in the 2003, so the talent resides within his nimble feet
to produce solid number, especially if he skates on Patrick Marleau’s wing.
Position Value:
Mike Modano C Age: 36 Positional Rank: 41

2002 DAL 79 28 57 85 34 30 5 26 193 6
2003 DAL 76 14 30 44 -21 46 6 15 152 0
2005 DAL 78 27 50 77 23 58 12 22 207 4
Proj. DAL 75 28 43 71 15 45 9 21 211 3
After a 44 point effort caused many to doubt whether or not Modano’s skills had eroded,
Modano responded with his customary 70+ point season (11 of the last 14 seasons).
Equally important was his massive turnaround in +/- (he gained 44 points), combined with
the fact that he scored in double digits in the PP goal department for the first time since
1999-2000. With 24 points in his last 19 games, there is no reason to expect a drastic fall
in 2006-07 for the Stars captain.
Position Value:

Fredrik Modin LW Age: 31 Positional Rank: 85

2002 TB 76 17 23 40 7 43 2 6 179 4
2003 TB 82 29 28 57 31 32 5 1 206 2
2005 TB 77 31 23 54 5 56 12 4 221 4
Proj. CBJ 79 33 27 60 13 48 14 8 232 3
Modin scored 31 goals, 9th best among LWs, in ‘05-‘06. Modin also managed to net 12 PP
goals, a career best, with the man advantage. Modin is a streaky scorer who has yet to
crack the 60-point barrier in a season, though he has still managed to average 24 goals
over the past six seasons. That type of offense is what was needed in Columbus, and
Modin will slide into the #2 LW spot behind Rick Nash.
Position Value:
Brendan Morrison C Age: 31 Positional Rank: 77

2002 VAN 82 25 46 71 18 36 6 22 167 8
2003 VAN 82 22 38 60 16 50 5 9 161 4
2005 VAN 82 19 37 56 -1 84 8 15 156 5
Proj. VAN 82 23 44 67 4 61 5 17 188 3
Morrison is a consistent but unassuming center. With former winger Todd Bertuzzi being
dealt to Florida, Morrison’s level of production for the upcoming season is in doubt. In
addition, Morrison had offseason hip surgery and his resulting recovery has gone a bit
slower than hoped so pay close attention to the injury reports. Working on a string of 5
straight seasons without missing a game, Morrison did score a 4-year low of 56 points in
‘05-’06 in addition to producing a 4-year low with a (-1) rating. However, On the plus side
he did record 8 PPG and 84 PIMs, both career bests.
Position Value:
Brenden Morrow LW Age: 26 Positional Rank: 34

2002 DAL 71 21 22 43 20 134 2 0 105 4
2003 DAL 81 25 24 49 10 121 9 3 132 3
2005 DAL 81 23 42 65 30 183 8 9 146 4
Proj. DAL 80 31 36 67 18 144 9 7 171 2
Morrow led the NHL with 234 registered hits, one of the many facets of the game in which
he excelled last season. For the 4th time in 5 seasons Morrow recorded at least 20-goals
in addition to registering 100 PIMs. That combination of skill and brawn resulted in
Morrow being the only NHL player to record over 45 points and 125 PIM, numbers he
easily surpassed. Moreover, Morrow led all NHLers who recorded 100 or more PIMs with
a +30 rating, marking him as not only one of the top LW in the game but one of the best
all-around fantasy performers of the ‘05-’06 season.
Position Value:
Glen Murray RW Age: 33 Positional Rank: 109

2002 BOS 82 44 48 92 9 64 12 26 331 5
2003 BOS 81 32 28 60 17 56 11 3 260 9
2005 BOS 64 24 29 53 -8 52 6 13 195 3
Proj. BOS 78 31 34 65 2 44 10 13 233 4
After three straight 60+ point seasons for Boston, Murray slipped to 53 points last season,
perhaps partly due to the fact that he lost his C when Joe Thornton was traded to SJ.
Murray did post his worst season for Boston in ‘05-’06, though he still managed to score
24 times. Murray needs 8 goals for 300 on his career, and 24 points for 600.
Position Value:

Ladislav Nagy LW Age: 27 Positional Rank: 78

2002 PHX 80 22 35 57 17 92 8 8 209 6
2003 PHX 55 24 28 52 11 46 11 11 160 6
2005 PHX 51 15 41 56 8 74 7 22 132 4
Proj. PHX 71 22 37 59 2 54 5 13 167 4
Nagy finished one point off his career-high in points despite missing 31 games on the
season (his injured knee required surgery). Amazingly, Nagy still finished third in team
scoring and led the team in assists. Nagy was especially brilliant in November and
December in 26 games played when he registered 36 points with 19 of the points coming
on the power-play. Considering he has never recorded 60-points in a season, and is
coming off a knee injury, his value in 2006-07 is relatively unknown.
Position Value:
Rick Nash LW Age: 22 Positional Rank: 15

2002 CBJ 74 17 22 39 -27 78 6 10 154 2
2003 CBJ 80 41 16 57 -35 87 19 10 269 7
2005 CBJ 54 31 23 54 5 51 11 8 170 4
Proj. CBJ 79 44 28 72 7 62 21 13 288 5
Nash, the first overall pick in the 2002 draft, scored 41 goals during his second season
(2003-04) in 80 games for an average of 0.51 goals per game. In 2005-06 Nash missed
28 games due mostly to a stubborn ankle injury but still managed to score 31 goals. What
rate does that translate to? How about 0.57 goals per game. In addition to his increased
scoring rate, Nash also manage a 40 point turnaround in his plus/minus to a respectable
+5. Nash scored 14 goals in his last 24 games to stake his claim to being one of the top 5
scoring LWs in the game.
Position Value:
Markus Naslund LW Age: 33 Positional Rank: 16

2002 VAN 82 48 56 104 6 52 24 30 294 12
2003 VAN 78 35 49 84 24 58 5 21 296 6
2005 VAN 81 32 47 79 -19 66 13 29 264 2
Proj. VAN 80 37 52 89 3 49 17 23 278 4
Wouldn’t it be nice to score 79 points and be considered a failure? Naslund produced a 4-
year low in goals and points, and his (-19) was a 43 point fall from ‘03-’04. Naslund still
managed to be the 9th highest scoring LW in the game and he still recorded 79 points, the
5th best mark amongst port-siders, so it wasn’t as if he was a useless winger last season.
Position Value:
Peter Nedved C Age: 33 Positional Rank: 197

2002 NYR 78 27 31 58 -4 64 8 9 205 4
2003 *** 71 19 27 46 -8 46 7 10 190 3
2005 +++ 53 7 18 25 -14 70 3 10 90 1
Proj. PHI 70 22 22 44 -3 76 4 8 163 2
With 25 points, Nedved had his worst showing since the strike shortened 1994-95 season
when he scored 23 points in 46 games. Just as troubling was his worst +/- since his
rookie season and the paltry 3 PP goals he recorded. Long labeled as an underachiever
with a wicked wrist shot, Nedved has a long ways to go this season to be considered
worthy of selection in your fantasy draft.
Position Value:
*** Played for New York Rangers and Edmonton in 2003-04.
+++ Played for Phoenix and Philadelphia in 2005-06.

Chris Neil RW Age: 27 Positional Rank: 172

2002 OTT 68 6 4 10 8 147 0 0 62 0
2003 OTT 82 8 8 16 13 194 0 1 76 1
2005 OTT 79 16 17 33 9 204 8 5 126 0
Proj. OTT 80 10 11 21 7 187 3 2 109 0
Neil almost doubled his previous career-high in points (17 in 2001-02), while totaling over
200 PIMs for the second time in 4 years. In addition, after posting 2 PP points in three
years, Neil managed to score 8 PP goals to go along with 5 PP assists. While his overall
numbers were undoubtedly strong, don’t overlook the fact that he scored 15 points in his
first 19 games meaning his final 60 games resulted in only 18 points, and that includes
just a single point in his last 18 contests including the playoffs.
Rob Niedermayer C Age: 31 Positional Rank: 171

2002 ANA 12 2 2 4 3 15 1 0 21 0
2003 ANA 55 12 16 28 -6 34 6 3 111 2
2005 ANA 76 15 24 39 -5 89 4 12 140 2
Proj. ANA 68 17 17 34 -7 56 4 9 131 1
Possibly inspired by the arrival of his brother, Rob scored his most points since he totaled
51 in 1998-99. A grinding, defensibly responsible C, Niedermayer contributed 16 points
on the PP but offers limited upside on draft day.
Position Value:
Joe Nieuwendyk C Age: 40 Positional Rank: 105

2002 NJ 80 17 28 45 10 56 3 4 201 4
2003 TOR 64 22 28 50 7 26 10 10 131 5
2005 FLA 65 26 30 56 -2 46 7 13 195 3
Proj. FLA 49 19 18 37 -4 38 9 8 149 2
432-years-old and still scoring, the only issue with Joe is his health. After playing in 80
contest in 2002-03, Nieuwendyk has played only 64 and 65 games the past two years,
but in both seasons he has surpassed his point total from that 80 game campaign in
‘02-‘03. Joe finished the season on a hot streak with 25 points in 25 post Olympic break
games, including 15 points in 9 April contests.
Position Value:
Michael Nylander C Age: 33 Positional Rank: 58

2002 *** 80 17 43 60 3 40 1 12 161 2
2003 +++ 18 1 13 14 4 22 0 4 30 1
2005 NYR 81 23 56 79 31 76 6 11 172 4
Proj. NYR 74 18 48 66 11 54 4 13 166 1
Though he scored 79 points on the season, Nylander produced only 17 PP points.
However, that meant that Nylander scored 62 even-strength points, the third best mark in
the NHL. Nylander also had 45 even-strength assists, the 2nd best mark in the league.
Long the possessor of amazing puck handling and passing skills, Nylander benefited
greatly from playing with scoring star Jaromir Jagr after playing in only 18 games, due to
injury, in 2003-04.
Position Value:
+++ Played for Chicago and Washington in 2002-03.
*** Played for Washington and Boston in 2003-04.

Jeff O’Neill RW Age: 30 Positional Rank: 162

2002 CAR 82 30 31 61 -21 38 11 15 316 7
2003 CAR 67 14 20 34 -12 60 7 7 207 4
2005 TOR 74 19 19 38 -19 64 14 7 169 6
Proj. TOR 71 21 18 39 -9 66 11 8 177 2
After suffering personal tragedy (his brother died), O’Neill returned to play for the team he
grew up cheering for and started the season on fire with 11 goals in his first 22 games.
Unfortunately he managed to score only 8 goals the rest of the season and there are now
questions about whether he will retire (he apparently has a fear of flying in addition to the
personal tragedy). O’Neill did score 25+ goals for four straight seasons (1999-2002) but at
this point expecting that type of performance out of him might be a pipe dream.
Position Value:
Michel Ouellet RW Age: 24 Positional Rank: 200

2005 PIT 50 16 16 32 -13 16 11 7 87 0
Proj. PIT 75 27 23 50 -4 26 8 8 119 2
After scoring only 4 points in 9 games heading into the new year, Ouellet burst on the
NHL scene by scoring 14 points, on 8 goals and 6 assists, in 15 games during the month
of January. After that point he managed to score only 4 goals in his last 26 games, but not
much went right in Pittsburgh this past season. Ouellet was a big-time performer on
Saturday’s racking up 13 points in 11 games and the hope is that he can continue to put
up those type of numbers this season working with a young Penguins team.
Position Value:
Alexander Ovechkin LW Age: 21 Positional Rank: 2

2005 WAS 81 52 54 106 2 52 21 31 425 5
Proj. WAS 82 56 59 115 8 48 24 28 411 8
Only the second skater ever to score 50 goals and 100 points in his rookie season
(Teemu Selanne was the other), Ovechkin often looked like a 10-time all-star and not the
20-year-old rookie he was. AO finished third in the NHL with 52 goals and 106 points,
sixth in PP goals with 21, third in PP points with 52 and first in shots on goal (425). AO
was also second in the NHL with 28 goals on the road and first in scoring the first goal of
a game (which he did 12 times). He also ended the season by scoring at least a point in
16 of the final 17 games during which time he accumulated 24 points. AO put together
four separate streaks of scoring goals in at least 4-straight games leaving little question
as to who the leagues best LW was in 2005-06.
Position Value: Calder Winner
Zach Parise C Age: 22 Positional Rank: 159

2005 NJ 81 14 18 32 -1 28 2 9 133 5
Proj. NJ 80 19 29 48 3 32 3 6 122 2
A first round selection in the 2003 draft, Parise had a successful NHL debut participating
in 81 games. Other than that, there was nothing outstanding about his first season.
Invisible in Devils loses (8 points in 35 games), Parise produced 24 points in the teams 46
wins. With the Devils history of defense first hockey, it’s hard to predict how Parise will
perform in 2006-07.
Position Value:

Mark Parrish RW Age: 29 Positional Rank: 131

2002 NYI 81 23 25 48 -11 28 9 12 147 5
2003 NYI 59 24 11 35 8 18 6 1 105 6
2005 *** 76 29 20 49 -23 20 16 14 137 5
Proj. MIN 77 22 25 47 6 38 11 11 149 4
Parrish has been a lower tier option at RW since his rookie year when he netted 24 goals.
In fact, in his seven year career, Parrish has managed to score an average of 25 goals
per season despite the fact that he has scored over 50 points only once (60 points in
2001-02). Parrish did total double digit in PP goals for the first time with 16, inspiring hope
that there are a few more goals in his stick.
Position Value:
Michael Peca C Age: 32 Positional Rank: 190

2002 NYI 66 13 29 42 -4 43 4 8 117 2
2003 NYI 76 11 29 40 17 71 0 3 117 0
2005 EDM 71 9 14 23 -4 56 2 4 108 1
Proj. TOR 74 14 27 42 2 77 2 2 121 2
Peca was traded to Edmonton to help lead the Oilers to the Promised Land, the Stanley
Cup Finals. He did just that, though his regular season production was less than stellar
with his worst point total since 1994-95 when he played only 33 games. This year he
signed with the Leafs in the hopes of leading the same type of resurgence that he
spearheaded in Edmonton. Peca has always been a less than stellar offensive force,
but a streak of 7 straight seasons of at least 40-points ended this past season.
Position Value:
Yanic Perrault C Age: 35 Positional Rank: 111

2002 MON 73 24 22 46 -11 30 7 6 145 4
2003 MON 69 16 15 31 -10 40 5 7 114 3
2005 NSH 69 22 35 57 -3 30 10 17 145 2
Proj. NSH 71 21 34 55 2 34 8 11 156 2
Perrault once again led the NHL in face-off winning percentage, and he was the only
player in the league to win over 60.0% of his draws amongst qualifiers (62.2%). Perrault
also put together another 20-goal season, his fourth in the last 5 seasons. Even more
impressive was the fact that for the first time in his career, he could legitimately be
considered a power-play force with 27 PP points.
Position Value:
Matt Pettinger LW Age: 25 Positional Rank: 176

2002 WAS 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2003 WAS 71 7 5 12 -9 37 1 0 92 1
2005 WAS 71 20 18 38 -2 39 4 6 134 2
Proj. WAS 74 18 27 45 3 44 4 6 149 1
After scoring only 12 points in his first 72 career games, Pettinger tripled that number last
season. Pettinger was also a short-handed force with 5 “shorties” on the season, good for
third best in the league and tied for the best amongst LWs (Ryan Malone). When the
good times rolled around last season, Pettinger was a big part of things contributing 17
points in the 25 Caps wins he was a part of.
Position Value:

Fernando Pisani RW Age: 29 Positional Rank: 161

2002 EDM 35 8 5 13 9 10 0 0 32 0
2003 EDM 76 16 14 30 14 46 4 0 99 1
2005 EDM 80 18 19 37 5 42 4 5 131 2
Proj. EDM 80 21 22 43 2 56 2 2 155 3
One of the breakout stars of the playoffs for the Oilers, Pisani scored 14 goals for
Edmonton in the second season after a middling regular season which basically
presented little growth over his previous campaign. One of the keys to his playoff success
was the fact that he shot the puck more averaging 2.0 shots per game after a regular
season number of 1.6. Because of his playoff success, Pisani will likely be overvalued on
draft day.
Position Value:
Jason Pominville RW Age: 23 Positional Rank: 194

2003 BUF 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0
2005 BUF 57 18 12 30 -4 22 10 5 124 2
Proj. BUF 77 23 19 41 2 18 7 8 166 1
In his first extended NHL action, Pominville blended seamlessly into the landscape in
Buffalo by being yet another dependable player capable of producing on both ends of the
ice. Pominville continued his strong play into the playoffs when he totaled 10 points in 18
games, though he failed to score in his last six matches.
Position Value:
Alexei Ponikarovsky LW Age: 26 Positional Rank: 191

2002 TOR 13 0 3 3 4 11 0 0 13 0
2003 TOR 73 9 19 28 14 44 1 0 110 2
2005 TOR 81 21 17 38 15 68 2 2 157 3
Proj. TOR 80 23 23 46 8 77 3 3 167 1
Alexei’s production took a sizable jump last season as he reached the 20-goal mark in
just his second full-season. Alexei scored 26 points at home but only 12 points on the
road, something he will need to improve upon to take the next step in his NHL
development.
Position Value:
Vaclav Prospal LW Age: 31 Positional Rank: 38

2002 TB 80 22 57 79 9 53 9 20 134 4
2003 ANA 82 19 35 54 -9 54 7 17 185 4
2005 TB 81 25 55 80 -3 50 10 17 236 3
Proj. TB 82 28 44 72 2 55 7 18 219 2
Prospal might be the quietest 79 point scorer in the NHL from last season, even though
he managed to accrue 27 of those points on the power-play. The last four seasons
Prospal has alternated between being a useful fantasy performer and a star with point
totals of 55, 79, 54 and 80. If he continues that trend in ‘06-’07, you might want to avoid
this potentially high-scoring LW.
Position Value:

Petr Prucha RW Age: 24 Positional Rank: 97

2005 NYR 68 30 17 47 3 32 16 6 130 2
Proj. NYR 74 26 20 46 2 38 13 7 149 2
Prucha was fourth amongst rookies last year with 30 goals, even though he missed 14
games due to a knee injury. A deadly shooter, Prucha led all rookies with a 23.1 shooting
nd
percentage, good enough for 2 place overall and just a tick behind Alex Tanguay’s
23.2% mark. Prucha scored 16 of those goals on the power-play, and had 25 goals
through the season’s first 45 games. With a full offseason to recover, and a return to
Jaromir Jagr’s line, odds are about 50/50 of a strong follow-up performance.
Mark Recchi RW Age: 37 Positional Rank: 95

2002 PHI 79 20 32 52 0 35 8 16 171 3
2003 PHI 82 26 49 75 18 47 14 16 167 5
2005 *** 83 28 36 64 -36 68 13 21 199 3
Proj. PIT 82 26 33 59 -12 70 9 17 201 2
Rescued from Pittsburgh were he generated 57 points in 63 games but totaled a
horrendous (-28) rating, Recchi found himself skating in the Finals for the Canes after
scoring only 7 points in 20 contests for Carolina. A solid scorer throughout his career,
Recchi has totaled at least 60-points in 5 of the last 6 seasons and has scored at least
20-goals six straight years as well. Reechi has scored over a point-per-game in his career
with 1265 points in 1256 games, but those days are now in the past.
Position Value:
*** Played for Pittsburgh and Carolina in 2005-06.
Steven Reinprecht C Age: 30 Positional Rank: 118

2002 COL 77 18 33 51 -6 18 2 13 146 1
2003 CGY 44 7 22 29 1 4 3 11 68 1
2005 *** 80 22 30 52 11 32 9 9 130 3
Proj. PHX 76 24 33 57 4 40 4 9 152 1
Reinprecht scored a career best 52 points on the season, highlighted by his play for the
Coyotes when he scored 23 points in 25 games. Steven scored 16 points in 14 March
games and even managed to score 5 goals in back-to-back games against the Sharks.
Not a top notch talent, Reinprecht could bring positive results from a late round gamble in
the right situation.
Position Value:
*** Played for Calgary and Phoenix in 2005-06.
Mike Ribeiro C Age: 26 Positional Rank: 116

2002 MON 52 5 12 17 -3 6 2 2 57 0
2003 MON 81 20 45 65 15 34 7 17 103 5
2005 MON 79 16 35 51 -6 36 8 17 130 2
Proj. MON 80 24 44 68 4 42 9 20 155 3
After a 65 point breakout season in 2003-04, Ribeiro failed to produce a strong follow-up
season. Ribeiro, despite the 14 point down turn in his overall numbers, still managed to
score 1 more point on the power-play in ‘05-‘06. However, the Canadiens and fantasy
leaguers will look for Mike to score more than 16 goals in the coming season. Ribeiro did
come to play in the big games by scoring 6 points in 8 games versus the Senators and 5
points in 8 games against the Leafs.
Position Value:

Brad Richards C Age: 26 Positional Rank: 14

2002 TB 80 17 57 74 3 24 4 34 277 2
2003 TB 82 26 53 79 14 12 5 21 244 6
2005 TB 82 23 68 91 0 32 7 39 282 0
Proj. TB 81 27 73 100 8 26 9 39 277 4
Richards has quietly become one of the NHL’s leading scorers with consistently solid
production. Showing a steady progression each year, here are Richards point totals in his
5 NHL seasons: 62, 62, 74, 79 and 91. Not only does Richards put up great point totals,
th
he does a great deal of his damage on the power-play. Richards was 4 in the NHL with
th
39 PP assists and tied for 10 overall with 46 points with the man advantage last season.
Richards was particularly deadly in the seasons last 23 games during which time he
scored 10 goals and recorded 30 points, leading to the possibility that he might eclipse
the 100-point barrier in ‘06-’07.
Position Value:
Mike Richards C Age: 21 Positional Rank: 168

2005 PHI 79 11 23 34 6 65 1 5 168 1
Proj. PHI 80 17 35 52 4 56 3 10 180 1
The Flyers first selection in the 2003 amateur drafted acquitted himself quite well in his
rookie season playing in 79 games for Philly. Richards was particularly deadly in 8 games
against the NYI in which he scored 6 points, was a +7 and accrued 14 PIMs. With the
uncertain health status of Peter Forsberg heading into the upcoming season, Richards
will need to be ready to take on an even more offensive roll if the Flyers call upon him.
Position Value:
Gary Roberts LW Age: 40 Positional Rank: 148

2002 TOR 14 5 3 8 -2 10 3 1 22 0
2003 TOR 72 28 20 48 9 84 11 9 124 7
2005 FLA 58 14 26 40 4 51 4 9 122 1
Proj. FLA 66 17 19 36 2 66 3 7 113 2
Roberts hurt his neck and retired. It didn’t stick, and now Roberts is putting the finishing
touches on what just might turn out to be a HOF career. After being relatively healthy in
2003-04 suiting up for 72 games, Roberts was on the ice 14 less times last season which
helped to contribute to the reduction in goals. Roberts also earned 51 PIM, the fewest he
has ever accumulated in a season in which he dressed in at least 10 games, so the end
could be very well be near for this ultimate warrior.
Position Value:
Randy Robitaille C Age: 31 Positional Rank: 199

2002 *** 51 6 14 20 5 10 2 2 69 2
2003 ATL 69 11 26 37 -12 20 5 9 121 2
2005 MIN 67 12 28 40 -5 54 7 13 112 2
Proj. PHI 73 16 23 39 2 44 3 8 122 1
Coming off his most productive NHL season, Randy heads into 2006-07 as the only
Robitaille in the NHL (Luc retired). Randy injured his knee at the end of last season and
reports are positive that he will be on the ice when training camp starts. However, keep an
eye on where Robitaille ends up in Philly since there is little chance of him landing on
either of the top two scoring lines thereby limiting his potential growth in ‘06-’07.
Position Value:
*** Played for Pittsburgh and NY Islanders in 2002-03.

Jeremy Roenick C Age: 36 Positional Rank: 112

2002 PHI 79 27 32 59 20 75 8 10 197 6
2003 PHI 62 19 28 47 1 62 10 12 128 1
2005 LA 58 9 13 22 -5 36 2 5 111 1
Proj. PHX 72 21 33 54 2 40 7 11 161 3
The move to LA might fit have JR’s style off the ice, but the flash was certainly not
accompanied by anything on the ice as Roenick produced the worst season of his career
scoring his fewest points since a 20 game rookie campaign. Roenick needs 14 goals to
reach 500, and 16 to tie Joe Mullen for the most goals scored by a US born skater, so
don’t bet against it happening in 2006-07 for this proud combatant in his new home in
Phoenix.
Position Value:
Brian Rolston C Age: 33 Positional Rank: 31

2002 BOS 81 27 32 59 1 32 6 15 281 5
2003 BOS 81 19 29 48 9 40 3 12 257 3
2005 MIN 80 34 45 79 14 50 15 17 293 7
Proj. MIN 81 31 42 73 7 56 11 19 277 3
The move from Boston to Minnesota agreed with Rolston as he produced his best season
th
in his 11 year in the league scoring a career-high 34 goals, 45 assists and 79 points.
Rolston also scored 15 PP goals, the same total he scored in his three previous seasons
combined. The 11th pick in the 1991 draft also managed 5 short-handed goals and 7
game-winners, marking Rolston as one of the best all-around fantasy performers in the
NHL in ‘05-’06.
Position Value:
Derek Roy C Age: 23 Positional Rank: 153

2003 BUF 49 9 10 19 -8 12 1 3 71 4
2005 BUF 70 18 28 46 1 57 5 10 151 1
Proj. BUF 75 19 32 51 -4 42 3 8 166 3
After a 19 point freshman campaign, Roy turned things up a notch in year two by scoring
18 goals on his toward a 46 point season. Roy was at his best from Feb.11 - Mar.14 when
he scored 14 points in 9 games. This second round draft pick from 2001 scored 25 points
in 35 home games for the Sabres in 2005-06.
Position Value:
Steve Rucchin C Age: 35 Positional Rank: 195

2002 ANA 82 20 38 58 -14 12 6 17 194 4
2003 ANA 82 20 23 43 -14 12 9 8 148 1
2005 NYR 72 13 23 36 6 10 4 12 111 0
Proj. ATL 68 19 19 38 2 22 2 7 128 2
For the first time in his 11-year career, Rucchin was able to stay on the ice enough to pay
70 games three years in a row. However, though he was able to stay relatively healthy,
Rucchin’s role is one of a two-way forward counted on for defense and the occasional
goal. Rucchin will leave the goal scoring to Kovalchuk and Hossa, so you might want to
pass on Rucchin on draft day.
Position Value:

Martin Rucinsky LW Age: 35 Positional Rank: 125

2002 STL 61 16 14 30 -1 38 1 0 135 3
2003 *** 82 14 31 45 15 72 0 4 206 2
2005 NYR 52 16 39 55 10 56 4 22 152 4
Proj. STL 66 14 37 51 8 67 3 15 177 2
Rucinsky’s 55 points were his best total since the 1996-97 season, and he could have
broken his career-high of 75 points if he hadn’t injured his knee and missed 30 games
over the course of the season. Rucinsky had a streak of points in 13 of 14 games (Jan.22
through Mar.8) when he totaled 20 points, so the talent is there if he is healthy though he
is 35-years of age. One final note. Martin appears to loves playing on the weekend since
he scored 23 points in 17 Saturday and Sunday games.
Position Value:
*** Played for Vancouver and the New York Rangers in 2003-04.
Tuomo Ruutu LW Age: 23 Positional Rank: 179

2003 CHI 82 23 21 44 -31 58 10 7 174 3
2005 CHI 15 2 3 5 -7 31 1 0 30 0
Proj. CHI 77 26 23 48 -10 54 11 8 191 2
The 2001 first round selection of the Blackhawks had his season greatly curtailed by an
ankle injury which eventually required surgery causing him to produce a rather anemic
follow up season to his strong rookie year. Reports are that he should be fully healthy in
the coming season, so keep an eye on his progress in training camp before investing one
of your picks in Tuomo.
Position Value:
Michael Ryder RW Age: 26 Positional Rank: 104

2003 MON 81 25 38 63 10 26 10 13 215 4
2005 MON 81 30 25 55 -5 40 18 14 243 6
Proj. MON 81 34 34 68 3 42 15 15 251 3
Ryder followed up an excellent rookie season by scoring 8 fewer points in his sophomore
year though he did manage to score 5 more goals reaching 30 for the first time to lead the
vaunted Canadiens team. That goal scoring also led to increased production on the
power-play where he scored 18 goals to lead the team (he also led the team with 32 PP
points). Ryder will look to continue his growth in ‘06-’07 as he takes on even more
responsibility in the teams offensive game plan, just keep an eye on how well he handles
his back problems in camp.
Joe Sakic C Age: 37 Positional Rank: 18

2002 COL 58 26 32 58 4 24 8 10 190 1
2003 COL 81 33 54 87 11 42 13 24 253 3
2005 COL 82 32 55 87 10 60 10 24 263 6
Proj. COL 81 34 51 85 6 48 9 17 277 4
Sakic signed a one-year contract to remain with the organization for an 18th straight year.
Sakic is coming off back-to-back 87 point seasons and has averaged toughly 99 points
per 82 games played in his career. Despite his advancing age, Sakic has totaled at least
79 points every year of his career in which he has dressed for at least 75 games, an
amazing run of consistency. With an average of 36 power-play points the past two
seasons, Sakic still has plenty of gas left in the tank.
Position Value:

Sergei Samsonov LW Age: 27 Positional Rank: 91

2002 BOS 8 5 6 11 8 2 1 1 23 3
2003 BOS 58 17 23 40 12 4 3 13 132 5
2005 *** 74 23 30 53 -3 28 10 16 143 1
Proj. MON 70 34 33 67 7 32 14 17 177 3
After scoring 37 points in 55 games for the Bruins, Samsonov moved on to the Oliers for
19 games and scored 16 points (10 on the PP). Samsonov possesses amazing stick
handling skills, but he is constantly hurt with 2005-06 being the first time in three years he
has played even 60 games. Samsonov is a LW, which gives him extra value on draft day
considering the lack of high-scoring talent at the position. Will skate on one of the Habs
top two scoring lines.
Position Value:
*** Played for Boston and Edmonton in 2005-06.
Mikael Samuelsson RW Age: 29 Positional Rank: 160

2002 PIT 22 2 0 2 -21 8 1 0 35 0
2003 FLA 37 3 6 9 0 35 0 1 50 1
2005 DET 71 23 22 45 27 42 10 6 187 3
Proj. DET 72 19 20 39 11 35 3 4 131 0
After a career which included four unsuccessful stops in four years, Samuelsson might
have found a home in year 5 with Detroit. Mikael had 19 goals and 49 points in his first
four seasons before exploding for 23 goals and 45 points in ‘05-’06. Equally as important
to his scoring exploits was his stellar +27 rating. Samuelsson scored 20 points in his first
24 games before his pace greatly slowed.
Geoff Sanderson LW Age: 34 Positional Rank: 133

2002 CBJ 82 34 33 67 -4 34 15 11 286 2
2003 *** 80 16 20 36 -10 38 6 6 227 2
2005 +++ 77 25 21 46 -15 58 11 7 159 1
Proj. PHI 78 23 21 44 -7 43 8 8 198 0
After suiting up for only 2 games with Columbus, Sanderson found new life in the dessert
with the Coyotes scoring 25 goals, with 11 on the power-play, in 75 games. One of the
swiftest skaters in the league, Sanderson has alternated good and poor scoring season
the past couple of seasons with the following goal totals: 13, 30, 11, 34,16 and 25. Does
that mean he will suffer a letdown in the coming season as he takes his skating prowess
to Philadelphia?
Position Value:
*** Played for Columbus and Vancouver in 2003-04.
+++ Played for Columbus and Phoenix in 2005-06.
Miroslav Satan RW Age: 31 Positional Rank: 59

2002 BUF 79 26 49 75 -3 20 11 20 240 3
2003 BUF 82 29 28 57 -15 30 11 15 206 5
2005 NYI 82 35 31 66 -8 54 17 10 253 2
Proj. NYI 80 33 33 66 -3 48 14 17 266 6
Since 1997, Satan has scored at least 22 goals every season while averaging 33 goals
per season over that time. Satan has also put up at least 11 PP goals in each of the past
four season with a career high 17 PP tallies coming last season, his first in NY. Satan was
particularly deadly on Saturday nights when he totaled 25 points in 21 games on the
strength of 11 PP points.
Position Value:

Marc Savard C Age: 29 Positional Rank: 29

2002 ATL 57 16 31 47 -11 77 6 13 127 4
2003 ATL 45 19 33 52 -8 85 6 12 133 3
2005 ATL 82 28 69 97 7 100 14 36 212 4
Proj. BOS 79 23 52 75 8 108 8 26 201 4
Savard signed a 5-year, $20 million contract to play for the Bruins. Savard was a point-
per-game scorer in an abbreviated 2003-04, but who could have predicted that he would
have finished tied for 3rd in assists (69), 6th in PP points (50) and 9th in scoring (97) in the
entire NHL last season? Besides those weighty accomplishments, Savard was one of
only two skaters to accumulate at least 90 points and 90 PIM (Sidney Crosby). And before
you think last season was a fluke you should realize that in his last 184 games, Savard
has totaled 196 points (1.07 per game).
Peter Schaefer LW Age: 29 Positional Rank: 127

2002 OTT 75 6 17 23 11 32 0 0 93 1
2003 OTT 81 15 24 39 22 26 2 4 112 3
2005 OTT 82 20 30 50 16 40 4 6 137 2
Proj. OTT 82 21 26 46 10 48 1 8 152 0
Reaching the 50-point mark for the first time in his career, Schaefer was one of six 20-
goal scorers for the Senators (Jason Spezza also had 19). Schaefer was also a short-
handed threat with 4 shorties, and he even managed to chip in 10 PP points on the
season.
Position Value:
Daniel Sedin LW Age: 26 Positional Rank: 63

2002 VAN 79 14 17 31 8 34 4 3 134 2
2003 VAN 82 18 36 54 18 18 1 15 153 3
2005 VAN 82 22 49 71 7 34 11 21 204 4
Proj. VAN 81 21 43 64 6 28 8 20 201 2
After three straight 30-point seasons, Daniel S. bumped his production up to the 50-point
plateau two years ago, and then took the next step toward all-star status with a 71 point
effort last season. Daniel S. set career-highs in goals, assists, points, PP goals (11) and
PP points (32). Daniel even chipped in a career best 4 GW goals on the year while
scoring 40 points in 41 home games on the season.
Position Value:
Henrik Sedin C Age: 26 Positional Rank: 54

2002 VAN 78 8 31 39 9 38 4 15 81 1
2003 VAN 76 11 31 42 23 32 2 11 99 2
2005 VAN 82 18 57 75 11 56 5 27 113 0
Proj. VAN 80 14 51 65 4 42 4 23 128 2
Just like his twin Daniel, Henrik S. had a breakthrough season in 2005-06 scoring a
career best 18 goals, 57 assists and 75 points. Henrik S. also contributed a career-high
32 PP points and 40 points in 41 home games to match his brother’s totals. One other
note: when Henrik scored a goal, the Canucks were 13-5.
Position Value:

Teemu Selanne RW Age: 36 Positional Rank: 21

2002 SJ 82 28 26 64 -6 30 7 16 253 5
2003 COL 78 16 16 32 2 32 6 3 182 4
2005 ANA 80 40 50 90 28 44 18 22 267 5
Proj. ANA 81 33 42 75 11 48 13 19 255 4
A career was resurrected in Anaheim last season and it was that of the Finish Flash who,
th
coming off his worst season ever, managed to score 90 points, good for the 4 most
th
amongst NHL RWs. Selanne was also 5 amongst RWs with 40 goals, the first time he
reached that plateau since the 1998-99 season. Selanne’s season was one of quiet
consistency as he scored 54 points in 55 games before the Olympic break and 36 points
in 25 contests after it.
Position Value: Masterton Trophy Winner
Brendan Shanahan LW Age: 37 Positional Rank: 32

2002 DET 78 30 38 68 5 103 13 14 260 5
2003 DET 82 25 28 53 15 117 8 11 280 7
2005 DET 82 40 41 81 29 105 14 14 289 6
Proj. NYR 81 33 33 66 19 101 10 11 301 5
All Shanahan does is score goals and gain valuable penalty minutes, not to mention
tossing in a few GW goals for good measure. For the 15th time in 16 seasons, Shanahan
scored at least 25 goals (only the strike shortened ‘94-’95 season sticks out with “only” 20
goals in 45 games). Shanahan is also working on a streak of 16 of 17 years with at least
100 PIM. Shanahan has scored at least 5 GW goals for 13 years running as well so is
there any questions as to why he will be a HOFamer one day? Needs only two goals for
600 in his career.
Position Value:
Mike Sillinger C Age: 35 Positional Rank: 124

2002 CBJ 75 18 25 43 -21 52 9 7 128 3
2003 *** 76 13 11 24 -10 68 0 1 106 0
2005 +++ 79 32 31 63 -17 63 14 16 211 2
Proj. NYI 71 14 29 43 -6 60 3 8 138 0
Heading into free-agency, Sillinger picked a great time for an offensive explosion.
Reaching the 30-goal barrier and 60-point threshold for the first time, Sillinger was an
unexpected source of scoring last season (Sillinger also chipped in a solid 30 PP points).
In addition, he was one of the NHL’s best face-off men winning 748 face-offs, the 16th
highest total in the NHL. He will take his skills to New York to join the Islanders.

*** Played for Phoenix and St. Louis in 2003-04.
+++ Played for St. Louis and Nashville in 2005-06.
Bryan Smolinski C Age: 34 Positional Rank: 138

2002 OTT 10 3 5 8 1 2 0 2 26 0
2003 OTT 80 19 27 46 22 49 4 7 182 3
2005 OTT 81 17 31 48 8 46 4 12 178 5
Proj. CHI 80 21 25 46 3 56 2 11 158 1
Smolinski put in another yeoman’s like effort with his second consecutive 45+ point
season. Nowhere near the first option on offense in Ottawa, Smolinski still managed to
put up decent numbers from the C position. While he scored only 17 points on the road
(40 games), Smolinski did manage 31 points in 41 home contests. Could be the
Blackhawks #2 center this season.
Position Value:

Ryan Smyth LW Age: 30 Positional Rank: 57

2002 EDM 66 27 34 61 5 67 10 8 199 3
2003 EDM 82 23 36 59 11 70 8 10 245 6
2005 EDM 75 36 30 66 -5 58 19 12 230 3
Proj. EDM 78 32 36 68 3 78 17 14 267 4
The leader by example for the Oilers, Smyth is the engine that drives the Edmonton
machine. With six straight seasons of at least 50-points, despite averaging only 75 games
per season, Smyth scored 36 goals in ‘05-’06 with 19 coming on the power-play, his
highest totals since he scored 39 goals, with 20 on the PP, in ‘96-’97. Before suffering
some bumps and bruises towards the end of the season, Smyth tallied 48 points in the
season’s first 52 games showcasing his talents when healthy.
Position Value:
Jason Spezza C Age: 23 Positional Rank: 8

2002 OTT 33 7 14 21 -3 8 3 9 65 0
2003 OTT 78 22 33 55 22 71 5 8 142 3
2005 OTT 68 19 71 90 23 33 7 34 156 5
Proj. OTT 79 29 74 103 27 40 6 33 199 4
Possibly the league’s next great superstar, Spezza posted career-highs virtually across
the board highlighted by 71 assists, the second best mark in the NHL, even though he
played in only 68 games. Spezza also scored 90 points, good for 1.32 points-per-game,
which would have equaled 108 points in a 82 game season. Spezza was devastating at
home in 35 games scoring 52 points (1.49 points-per-game) with 30 of them scored on
the power-play.
Position Value:
Martin St. Louis RW Age: 31 Positional Rank: 50

2002 TB 82 33 37 70 10 32 12 7 201 5
2003 TB 82 38 56 94 35 24 8 22 212 7
2005 TB 80 31 30 61 -3 38 9 11 221 7
Proj. TB 82 32 38 70 11 38 11 16 234 6
From league MVP to a 3rd string fantasy winger in one season, St. Louis has a ton to
prove in ‘06-’07. After back-to-back seasons of 70 and 94 points, the new wide-open NHL
resulted in a mere 61 points for the diminutive winger. As troubling as the 33 point decline
in scoring was, St. Louis 38 point drop in +/- was likely as harmful to your team’s overall
ranking. If you were to remove the 2003-4 season, the last two seasons would basically
be the same leading many to speculate whether last season’s production is what we
should expect moving forward.
Position Value:
Eric Staal C Age: 21 Positional Rank: 11

2003 CAR 81 11 20 31 -6 40 2 5 164 3
2005 CAR 82 45 55 100 -8 81 19 21 279 4
Proj. CAR 82 38 49 87 2 72 15 25 301 2
The MVP of the NHL champions, not to mention the leading scorer in the playoffs with 28
points, Staal exploded on the NHL scene after using the time during the lockout to hone
his craft in the AHL. Stall tripled his 31-point effort from 2003-04 in a magnificent all-
around effort which included 40 points on the PP. Staal scored 51 points at home and 49
on the road, and while he scored 25 points after the Olympic break, the majority of his
regular season scoring was accomplished prior to that event (75 points in 57 games).
Position Value:

Alex Steen C Age: 22 Positional Rank: 135

2005 TOR 75 18 27 45 -9 42 9 10 176 3
Proj. TOR 80 22 34 56 -1 38 10 14 211 2
This 2002 first round draft pick had a solid rookie season for the Leafs finishing 6th on the
team in goals, 6th in points and 5th in PP goals. In the 35 wins in which he skated, Steen
contributed 27 points and a +13 rating, a complete 180 degree shift from his hideous
performance in the 40 loses he suited up for (18 points, -22). It’s not as if he had a bad
rd
season overall though, he finished 3 amongst rookies with 45 points.
Position Value:
Cory Stillman LW Age: 32 Positional Rank: 39

2002 STL 79 24 43 67 12 56 6 11 157 4
2003 TB 81 25 55 80 18 36 11 15 178 6
2005 CAR 72 21 55 76 -9 32 10 24 177 3
Proj. CAR 56 12 25 37 -2 26 4 10 121 1
In the past 3 seasons Stillman has averaged 77 games played and a rather remarkable
average of 74 points-per-season. Stillman was dangerous on the PP with career-high 34
points with the man advantage. Stillman has scored at least 20-goals in 7 of the last 8
seasons as well (he only skated in 37 games in 1999-2000). Stillman had late surgery on
his shoulder and will likely be out until late November or early December (his operation
was after the staff rankings were tabulated, so downgrade him accordingly).
Position Value:
Jarret Stoll C Age: 24 Positional Rank: 71

2002 EDM 4 0 1 1 -3 0 0 0 5 0
2003 EDM 68 10 11 21 8 42 1 1 107 2
2005 EDM 82 22 46 68 4 74 11 20 243 4
Proj. EDM 80 17 45 62 -3 60 8 18 251 3
Like many of his Oiler teammates, Stoll exploded this past season by tripling his point
total from 2003-04. Stoll scored 31 points on the power-play, and his 243 shots led the
Oilers. Stoll’s production slowed after the Olympic break (14 points in 24 games), but he
still managed to put together an excellent overall season.
Position Value:
Martin Straka LW Age: 33 Positional Rank: 55

2002 Pit 60 18 28 46 -18 12 7 6 136 4
2003 *** 54 10 16 26 -25 20 2 8 68 0
2005 NYR 82 22 54 76 17 42 4 29 171 4
Proj. NYR 65 19 41 60 8 38 2 16 156 2
Playing in all 82 games for the first time since 2000-01, Straka netted 36 points on the
road and 40 at home. Straka did his best work prior to the Olympic break scoring 60
points in 58 games including 28 of his 33 PP points. Against the cross-town rival
Islanders, Straka produced what was likely the best line by any player versus one team
last season with 15 points in 8 games (9G, 6A).
Position Value:
*** Played for Pittsburgh and Los Angeles in 2003-04.

Josef Stumpel C Age: 34 Positional Rank: 149

2002 BOS 78 14 37 51 0 12 4 13 110 2
2003 LA 64 8 29 37 5 16 4 6 78 0
2005 FLA 74 15 37 52 11 26 3 13 115 1
Proj. FLA 70 14 28 42 3 22 2 17 119 1
For a while there Stumpel was one of the top scoring centers in all of hockey with 25
points in 19 games in February and March as he rediscovered the scoring touch that he
had seemingly lost the previous season. Stumpel scored 33 points on home ice in 37
games as well as putting up 38 points in the Panthers 35 wins in which he skated.
Position Value:
Marco Sturm LW Age: 28 Positional Rank: 81

2002 SJ 82 28 20 48 9 16 6 8 208 2
2003 SJ 64 21 20 41 0 36 10 8 158 6
2005 *** 74 29 30 59 6 48 8 9 180 6
Proj. BOS 78 35 27 62 11 41 12 10 227 6
Coming back off a horrific ankle injury which ended his ‘03-’04 season, Sturm once again
flashed the outside speed and game-winning heroics (6 GW goals for two straight
seasons) that have been his trademark. After The Joe Thornton trade sent him to Boston,
Sturm managed to score 23 goals and record 43 points in only 51 games in Beantown. A
solid option to take over the #1 LW spot for the since departed Sergei Samsonov, Sturm
will be looking to score 30 goals for the first time in his career though he has scored at
least 20 goals in four straight seasons (he has a high of 28 in 2002-03).
Position Value:
*** Played for San Jose and Boston in 2005-06.
Steve Sullivan RW Age: 32 Positional Rank: 42

2002 CHI 82 26 35 61 15 42 4 5 190 3
2003 *** 80 24 49 73 1 48 11 17 218 4
2005 NSH 69 31 37 68 2 50 13 21 192 5
Proj. NSH 74 33 40 73 7 48 10 22 214 4
The other half of the tiny dynamic duo in Nashville (the other guy is Paul Kariya), Sullivan
simply is a dynamo on the ice who is at his best with the puck on his stick. A power-play
specialist, Sullivan has averaged 31 points with the man advantage the past two seasons,
and he also managed to push across 4 goals when his team was killing penalties. Throw
in 5 GW goals and the 18 points he scored in his last 15 games last season, and it is
obvious that after the big names are gone Sullivan will still offer you tremendous value in
the middle rounds.
Position Value:
*** Played for Chicago and Nashville in 2003-04.
Mats Sundin C Age: 35 Positional Rank: 25

2002 TOR 75 37 35 72 1 58 16 13 223 8
2003 TOR 81 31 44 75 11 52 11 18 226 10
2005 TOR 70 31 47 78 7 58 16 26 220 2
Proj. TOR 75 33 50 83 13 69 11 31 243 6
One of the most consistent performers in the league, Sundin recorded 70 points for the
th
10 straight season last year. The new wide open game allowed Sundin to score 42
points on the power-play, a new career-high, which helped to slightly offset his 2 GW
goals, his lowest total since 1991-92 (he averaged 8 GW goals the previous six seasons).
Sundin played some of his best hockey in Toronto where he scored 46 points in 34 home
contests.
Position Value:

Marek Svatos RW Age: 24 Positional Rank: 79

2003 COL 4 2 0 2 1 0 1 0 6 1
2005 COL 61 32 18 50 0 60 12 10 165 9
Proj. COL 73 27 30 57 4 54 11 8 177 3
On pace to record 40 goals in his rookie season, Svatos’ year ended early with a shoulder
injury that required an operation. Svatos tied for first on the Avalanche in goals (with Joe
Sakic), and was third in the NHL in rookie goal scoring (behind Alexander Ovechkin and
Sidney Crosby). Reports are that Svatos should be healthy and ready to go by the start of
the season, but keep an eye on the injury report before deciding his fate.
Position Value:
Petr Sykora RW Age: 27 Positional Rank: 130

2002 ANA 82 34 25 59 -7 24 15 8 299 5
2003 ANA 81 23 29 52 -9 34 6 13 277 2
2005 *** 74 23 28 51 6 50 8 14 230 0
Proj. EDM 80 21 30 51 4 52 7 11 280 3
Sykora has totaled at least 50-points in 6 of the last 7 years and netted 16 goals in 40
games while a member of the NYR (he came over in a mid-season trade from Anaheim).
Sykora owns a wicked slapshot that he isn’t afraid to feature it as a one-timer, making him
a dangerous weapon on the power-play. Sykora will attempt to score 20 goals in the
forthcoming season to extend his current streak of 20-goal season to seven years.
Position Value:
*** Played for Anaheim and New York Rangers in 2005-06.
Alex Tanguay LW Age: 26 Positional Rank: 30

2002 COL 82 26 41 67 34 36 3 12 142 5
2003 COL 69 25 54 79 30 42 7 18 117 5
2005 COL 71 29 49 78 8 46 8 21 125 4
Proj. CGY 80 36 43 79 16 40 9 26 159 5
One of only 3 LWs to score at least 78 points in each of the past two seasons (Kovalchuk
and Naslund), Tanguay has managed to record those point totals despite missing an
average of 12 games in each of those seasons. Tanguay had 66 points in 58 games
before the Olympic break before injuring his knee and finishing with 12 points in his last
13 games. If he were to play on a line with superstud Jarome Iginla, and that’s where GM
Darryl Sutter said he will skate, there would be no reason not to expect Tanguay to score
at least 75 points for a third straight season in 2006-07.
Position Value:
Joe Thornton C Age: 27 Positional Rank: 1

2002 BOS 77 36 65 101 12 109 12 22 196 4
2003 BOS 77 23 50 73 18 98 4 12 187 6
2005 *** 81 29 96 125 31 61 11 40 195 6
Proj. SJ 80 35 82 117 25 78 8 38 221 5
Thornton was the first skater in 76 years to have more assists in a season (96) than the
previous season’s league leaders had in points (Martin St. Louis, 94 points in 2003-04).
After scoring 33 points in 23 games with the Bruins, Thornton exploded for 92 points in 58
games with the Sharks. As amazing as his overall point total was, he led the NHL in
assists (96) and points (125), don’t overlook the +31 and 40 PP points he put up as a
member of the Sharks in just 58 games.
Position Value: Hart, Art Ross Winner

*** Played for Boston and San Jose in 2005-06.

Keith Tkachuk LW Age: 34 Positional Rank: 69

2002 STL 56 31 24 55 1 139 14 8 185 5
2003 STL 75 33 38 71 8 83 18 14 233 8
2005 STL 41 15 21 36 -15 46 10 6 133 1
Proj. STL 70 36 30 66 -2 89 15 15 209 4
Tkachuk, due to various injuries, hasn’t skated in 80 games since the 1996-97 season.
Despite those injuries, Tkachuk had still managed to record three straight 30-goal
seasons prior to last season despite averaging just 68 games during that stretch. While
the days of 50 goals and 200 PIM are well behind him, Tkachuk can still be a valuable
fantasy performer considering he has managed to record double digit PP goals for 5
straight seasons. Tkachuk needs 54 goals to reach 500 for his career.
Position Value:
Raffi Torres LW Age: 24 Positional Rank: 140

2002 NYI 17 0 5 5 0 10 0 0 12 0
2003 EDM 80 20 14 34 12 65 5 1 136 3
2005 EDM 82 27 14 41 4 50 6 5 164 3
Proj. EDM 80 24 20 44 3 80 4 8 161 2
Building upon a successful ‘03-’04 season, Torres managed to record a career-high 27
goals and 41 points from the left wing. Torres possesses no outstanding skills, but
dedication and hard work can take you a long way. Torres did start out quickly with 11
goals in his first 24 games, so perhaps he will be able to improve on last season’s total.
Position Value:
Darcy Tucker RW Age: 31 Positional Rank: 99

2002 TOR 77 10 26 36 -7 119 4 4 108 2
2003 TOR 64 21 11 32 4 68 8 4 146 2
2005 TOR 74 28 33 61 -12 100 18 18 189 4
Proj. TOR 68 22 28 50 -3 128 8 10 199 2
You hate this guy unless he you’re a Leafs fan, but that just means he does his job well.
Tucker has recorded 20+ goals in three of the past four seasons, and last year was the
third time in his career he netted 20 goals while recording 100 PIMs (1998, 1999). As
impressive from a fantasy standpoint were his career-high 18 PP goals and 18 PP
assists. In fact, the 18 PP goals were more PP points than he had ever scored in a
season previously.
Position Value:
Pierre Turgeon C Age: 37 Positional Rank: 151

2002 DAL 65 12 30 42 4 18 3 11 76 5
2003 DAL 76 15 25 40 17 20 6 6 104 4
2005 COL 62 16 30 46 1 32 7 13 94 1
Proj. COL 70 15 35 50 2 28 4 18 111 0
Turgeon started the year hot recording 35 points in his first 36 games before the
inevitable injury bug occurred (after that point, Turgeon scored just 11 points in his final
25 contests). It has been four years since Pierre reached 50 points, and at age 37,
despite 511 career goals, it likely won’t happen this year either.
Position Value:

Thomas Vanek LW Age: 22 Positional Rank: 128

2005 BUF 81 25 23 48 -11 72 11 13 204 4
Proj. BUF 80 26 22 48 -6 61 13 10 222 3
Vanek, the 5th overall selection in the 2003 draft, put together a special rookie season for
the Sabres finishing second amongst all NHL rookies who played LW with 25 goals
(Ovechkin) and 11 PP goals (Ovechkin). Vanek was also third amongst freshman LWs
with 48 points (Ovechkin and J. Jokinen), 2nd with 204 shots and 4th in time on ice (14:43).
Position Value:
Antoine Vermette C Age: 24 Positional Rank: 189

2003 OTT 57 7 7 14 5 16 0 0 63 0
2005 OTT 82 21 12 33 17 44 1 1 123 4
Proj. OTT 80 17 17 34 17 42 2 2 129 2
Vermette played all 82 games in just his second season while more than doubling his
offensive output as a complimentary player on the Senators roster. Vermette was the
second most dangerous short-handed skater in the NHL with his 6 SH goals, marking him
as someone the power-play always needs to keep an eye on.
Position Value:
Radim Vrbata RW Age: 25 Positional Rank: 198

2002 *** 76 16 19 35 -7 18 6 8 215 4
2003 CAR 80 12 13 25 -10 24 4 2 195 2
2005 +++ 61 15 24 39 4 22 6 10 185 0
Proj. CHI 80 20 19 39 1 39 5 5 201 2
Vrbata responded well to his trade from Carolina scoring 34 points in 45 games in
Chicago, or more than the 30 he had scored in his last 96 games with the Canes. Vrbata
also was a major power-play contributor for the first time with 15 PP points in those 45
games in the Windy City.
Position Value:
*** Played for Colorado and Carolina in 2002-03.

+++ Played for Carolina and Chicago in 2005-06.
David Vyborny RW Age: 31 Positional Rank: 76

2002 CBJ 79 20 26 46 12 16 4 6 125 4
2003 CBJ 82 22 31 53 -26 40 8 16 158 2
2005 CBJ 80 22 43 65 -9 50 5 27 145 6
Proj. CBJ 80 29 48 67 -1 42 8 27 163 3
Vyborny’s game has improved each season as can be seen by his point totals the past
four years: 31, 46, 53, 65. A major area of improvement was on the power-play where he
totaled a career best 32 points. After posting a negative plus/minus in every month of the
season, Vyborny had an excellent final month of the season with a +5 and 11 points in 9
games. Particularly tough against other Central Division teams with 27 points in 31
games, David scored 10 points against the Blackhawks in 8 games.
Position Value:

Scott Walker RW Age: 32 Positional Rank: 163

2002 NSH 60 15 18 33 2 58 7 8 124 5
2003 NSH 75 25 42 67 4 94 9 15 157 3
2005 NSH 33 5 11 16 2 36 1 3 57 0
Proj. CAR 61 17 21 38 2 101 3 8 142 0
Coming off a huge season, Walker struggled with injury in basically returning to the point-
every-other-game guy he had been through most of his career. Walker only put up 2
points in his final 11 games before going pointless in the Preds 5 game loss to the Sharks
in the first round of the playoffs. Walker takes his game to the Stanley Cup Champion
Hurricanes this year.
Position Value:
Doug Weight C Age: 35 Positional Rank: 94

2002 STL 70 15 52 67 -6 52 7 29 182 3
2003 STL 75 14 51 65 -3 37 6 25 198 5
2005 *** 70 15 42 57 -17 75 9 19 175 1
Proj. STL 72 15 45 60 -4 49 7 21 201 3
Leaving St. Louis just long enough to win a Stanley Cup ring, Weight returned to St. Louis
when he signed a two-year contract after the season. After scoring 44 points in 47 games
with the Blues, Weight struggled to 13 points in 23 games with the Hurricanes (he did
have 16 post-season points). Las season was the first time that he skated in 70 games
but failed to reach 60-points since the 1992-93 season. A power-play stud, Weight has
averaged 30 PP points the past five seasons.
Position Value:
*** Played for St. Louis and Carolina in 2005-06.
Kyle Wellwood C Age: 23 Positional Rank: 158

2003 TOR 1 0 0 0 -1 0 0 0 1 0
2005 TOR 81 11 34 45 0 14 3 19 117 0
Proj. TOR 82 19 35 54 3 26 5 16 123 1
Wellwood burst on the scene in hockey mad Toronto last season finishing 7th in team
scoring (tied with Alex Steen). The bright lights of Toronto didn’t seem to bother the rookie
since he scored 27 points in 40 home games versus 18 points in 41 road contests. A
former 5th round draft choice (2001) Wellwood will look to skate on one of the top two
lines with the hope of increasing his production this season.
Position Value:
Todd White C Age: 31 Positional Rank: 164

2002 OTT 80 25 35 60 19 28 8 15 144 5
2003 OTT 53 9 20 29 12 22 1 6 98 2
2005 MIN 61 19 21 40 -1 18 5 10 109 0
Proj. MIN 69 12 18 30 3 28 4 3 127 0
White suffered a broken leg which basically cost him the final month of the season,
precluding him from scoring 20 goals for the third time in four years. In divisional play
White scored 15 points in 23 games, at home White scored 27 points in 32 games while
posting a +13, and on the road he scored 13 points in 29 games with a (-14).
Position Value:

Ray Whitney LW Age: 34 Positional Rank: 82

2002 CBJ 81 24 52 76 -26 22 8 34 235 2
2003 DET 67 14 29 43 7 22 3 9 119 4
2005 CAR 63 17 38 55 0 42 12 24 147 2
Proj. CAR 59 22 26 48 2 28 9 22 170 3
Whitney is one of the NHL’s top LWs when he is on the ice. Problem is he is often injured
having failed to skate in even 70 games in four of the last five seasons. Over that time
period he has 269 points in 329 games (0.83 points-per-game), a pace that would equal
68 points in a full season. Whitney finished the season hot with 16 points, 10 on the
power-play, in his last 18 games.
Position Value:
Jason Williams RW Age: 25 Positional Rank: 121

2002 DET 16 3 3 6 3 2 1 0 20 0
2003 DET 49 6 7 13 1 15 0 0 44 0
2005 DET 80 21 37 58 4 26 6 18 177 4
Proj. DET 72 12 26 38 -1 32 2 8 148 1
Coming into the ‘05-’06 season, Williams was a nobody, an undrafted C who had totaled
32 points in 95 career games. He then burst on the scene with 27 points in his first 26
before falling far off that pace the rest of the way (31 points in 54 games). Even worse
than his overall performance in the final two-thirds of the season was the fact that he
scored only 16 points in 32 games in the months of December-February.
Justin Williams RW Age: 23 Positional Rank: 47

2002 PHI 41 8 16 24 15 22 0 2 105 2
2003 *** 79 11 33 44 12 64 4 7 203 1
2005 CAR 82 31 45 76 1 60 8 17 255 4
Proj. CAR 81 26 40 66 8 61 10 13 240 3
In his second season in Carolina Williams developed into the player that the Flyers
envisioned when they drafted him in the first round in 2000. Williams set career-highs in
virtually every category leading to a 5-year, $17.5 million contract with the Canes. In the
season’s final 22 games, Williams put up 4 game-winners before tallying 18 points in the
Canes playoff run to the Cup.
Position Value:
*** Played for Philadelphia and Carolina in 2003-04.
Brian Willsie RW Age: 28 Positional Rank: 184

2002 COL 12 0 1 1 0 15 0 0 12 0
2003 WAS 49 10 5 15 -7 18 1 1 85 1
2005 WAS 82 19 22 41 -19 77 8 13 185 2
Proj. LA 78 15 17 32 -11 88 7 7 202 0
After being non-factor in the fantasy game his first two seasons, Willsie showed
something last season in setting a ton of career-highs. Willsie finished the season with 15
points in the Caps final 25 games, and though his plus/minus could use some work (-19),
this 28-year-old will look to build on his first successful season at the NHL level with the
Kings.
Position Value:

Alexei Yashin C Age: 32 Positional Rank: 61

2002 NYI 81 26 39 65 -12 32 14 15 274 4
2003 NYI 47 15 19 34 -1 10 3 9 148 1
2005 NYI 82 28 38 66 -14 68 10 22 253 2
Proj. NYI 80 31 43 74 -6 54 11 27 278 3
Derided mercilessly because of his huge contract (over $7 million annually), Yashin has
actually scored 0.92 points-per-game in his career (731 points in 792 games). Yashin has
scored at least 25-goals in seven of the last 8 years as well as totaling at least 65-points
in seven of those seasons as well. Yashin has also recorded at least 10 PP goals in five
of the last 6 years. Derided yes, a poor player, no.
Position Value:
Mike York LW Age: 28 Positional Rank: 132

2002 EDM 71 22 29 51 -8 10 7 14 177 7
2003 EDM 61 16 26 42 18 15 1 9 144 0
2005 NYI 75 13 39 52 -9 30 4 18 146 2
Proj. NYI 74 19 38 57 -3 28 5 14 154 3
York won $2.85 million in arbitration after his third 50-point season in the last four years
(he had 42 in 2003-04). In fact, in four of the five seasons in his career in which he has
skated in 65 or more games he has topped 50 points. Problem is, he has only skated in
more than 75 games twice in six seasons.
Position Value:
Scott Young RW Age: 39 Positional Rank: 146

2002 DAL 79 23 19 42 24 30 5 4 237 4
2003 DAL 53 8 8 16 -15 14 2 5 134 2
2005 STL 79 18 31 49 -32 52 10 23 284 1
Proj. STL 71 21 24 45 -15 40 8 10 241 0
Young owns a howitzer for a shot, and he isn’t afraid to blast away from the wing. In four
of the last 7 seasons Young has scored at least 20 goals, though he does have only 26
goals in his last 132 games. Young is no longer young, he will be 39, and though he likely
will improve upon a career-worst (-32), he still has value when you look at his power-play
production; 10 goals and 23 assists in ‘05-‘06.
Position Value:
Richard Zednik RW Age: 30 Positional Rank: 182

2002 MON 80 31 19 50 4 79 9 1 250 2
2003 MON 81 26 24 50 5 63 7 7 218 9
2005 MON 67 16 14 30 -2 48 6 6 161 4
Proj. WAS 77 23 28 51 -8 54 5 9 196 2
After back-to-back 50-point seasons, Zednik spent some time out of the lineup due to
injury and scored only 30 points on the season ending a steak of three straight 20-goal
campaigns as well. There is little to get excited about with the 1994 tenth round draft pick
as his career has been just a notch above average. Zednik returns to the Caps where he
started his career in 1996-97.
Position Value:

Henrik Zetterberg LW Age: 25 Positional Rank: 13

2002 DET 79 22 22 44 6 8 5 5 135 4
2003 DET 61 15 28 43 15 14 7 6 137 2
2005 DET 77 39 46 85 29 30 17 18 270 9
Proj. DET 80 41 32 73 22 28 14 9 261 7
After two very similar seasons, Zetterberg burst to the top of the LW chart in the NHL with
an 85 point explosion that basically matched his production in his first two years in the
league. Zetterberg led the high-powered Red Wings offense with 9 GW goals and 17 PP
th
tallies, while finishing second on the squad with 85 points, the 4 highest total among left
wingers in the league. Strong all season, Zetterberg averaged 1.11 points-per-game prior
to the Olympic break, 1.09 after it.
Position Value:
Nikolai Zherdev LW Age: 21 Positional Rank: 74

2003 CBJ 57 13 21 34 -11 54 5 6 137 1
2005 CBJ 73 27 27 54 -13 50 10 12 194 0
Proj. CBJ 78 37 32 69 -2 46 11 15 237 2
After an average rookie campaign, and then reporting to camp out of shape in 2005,
Nikolai produced a solid second season for the emerging Blue Jackets. Zherdev scored
33 points in his final 35 games and his 27 goals on the season were second on the team
th
to Rick Nash’s 31. Zherdev, the 4 overall pick in the 2003 draft, signed with Khimik
Vostresenek this offseason and will play there if he can’t work out a long-term deal with
the Jackets.
Dainius Zubrus RW Age: 28 Positional Rank: 87

2002 WAS 63 13 22 35 15 43 2 2 104 0
2003 WAS 54 12 15 27 -16 38 6 7 115 2
2005 WAS 71 23 34 57 3 84 13 13 181 5
Proj. WAS 77 27 36 63 4 70 9 17 188 2
It has taken him 10 years, but this former first round pick (1996) has finally produced a
worthwhile offensive season scoring 20-goals and 40-points for the first time. Zubrus also
became a substantial weapon on the power-play where he scored 26 points, the second
best total on the team behind rookie phenom Alexander Ovechkin.
Position Value:

DEFENSEMEN
KEY
GP (Games Played)
G (Goals), A (Assists), PTS (Points)
+/- (plus/minus)
PIM (PIM)
PPG (Power Play goals), PPA (Power Play Assists)
TOI (Time on Ice)
GW (Game Winning Goals)
PP (Power Play)
PPG (Power Play Goals)
PPA (Power Play Assists)
POSITIONAL RANK = Ranking, 1- 100, Amongst Defensemen Based on Staff Voting
Bryan Allen Age: 26 Positional Rank: 94

YR TM GP G A PTS +/- PIM PPG PPA TOI GW
2002 VAN 48 5 3 8 8 73 0 1 12:55 1
2003 VAN 74 2 5 7 -10 94 0 0 16:51 0
2005 VAN 77 7 10 17 4 115 1 0 20:26 0
Proj. FLA 75 5 15 20 6 99 1 2 21:25 0
Part of the blockbuster Todd Bertuzzi for Robert Luongo deal, Allen takes his steady
game to Florida to tend the blueline for the Panthers. Allen, who is coming off a career
season despite his meager totals, is a defensive defenseman and should not be drafted in
anything but the absolute deepest of leagues for his penalty minute prowess.
Position Value:
Adrian Aucoin Age: 33 Positional Rank: 53

2002 NYI 73 8 27 35 -5 70 5 15 29:00 1
2003 NYI 81 13 31 44 29 54 4 13 26:37 2
2005 CHI 33 1 5 6 -13 38 1 4 22:57 0
Proj. CHI 58 11 19 30 -6 68 4 5 23:58 1
Aucoin injured his shoulder and had surgery after attempting to play through the injury.
Just a year removed from a 44 point season, Aucoin will have to face the long road back
to prominence by rehabbing that injury. Forget all about his 23 goal effort in 1998-99, he
isn’t that type of player anymore, but he could be a nice late round grab or waiver-wire
pick up early in the season if healthy.
Position Value:

Keith Ballard Age: 23 Positional Rank: 25

2005 PHX 82 8 31 39 -18 99 1 15 19:58 1
Proj. PHX 80 9 42 51 4 78 6 22 21:07 1
Ballard had an excellent rookie season finishing 3rd among all rookie d-men in points (39)
and tenth amongst all rookies in ice-time (19:58). Though he managed only 1 PP goal, he
did put up 15 PP assists, the third best mark for all rookie blueliners. Against division rival
San Jose, Ballard put up 8 points in 8 games, his highest total against any team.
Nolan Baumgartner Age: 30 Positional Rank: 72

2002 VAN 8 1 2 3 4 4 1 1 11:35 0
2003 *** 14 0 3 3 -4 4 0 1 14:31 0
2005 VAN 70 5 29 34 11 30 4 18 16:29 1
Proj. PHI 71 4 32 36 2 64 2 16 19:58 1
This former first round draft pick (1994), finally skated in more than 20 NHL games in a
season for the first time and put forth his best effort to date. With the added responsibility
an ice-time, Baumgartner led all Canucks blueliners in points (34), PP points (22) and the
entire team with a +11. He takes his improving game to Philadelphia this season.
Position Value:
*** Played for Vancouver and Pittsburgh in 2003-04.
Francois Beauchemin Age: 25 Positional Rank: 44

2002 MON 1 0 0 0 -1 0 0 0 11:35 0
2003 DNP
2005 *** 72 8 28 36 2 52 4 10 23:09 3
Proj. ANA 76 12 30 42 3 56 8 11 23:28 1
After scoring only 2 points in 11 games as a member of the Blue Jackets, Beauchemin
th
moved to the Ducks and scored 34 points in 61 games. Beauchemin was 8 in power-
play scoring amongst rookie blueliners (14 PP points), and his 36 points overall was good
enough for 5th when compared to other rookies patrolling the defensive zone.
Position Value:
*** Played for Columbus and Anaheim in 2005-06.
Bryan Berard Age: 29 Positional Rank: 36

2002 BOS 80 10 28 38 -4 64 4 12 21:21 1
2003 CHI 58 13 34 47 -24 53 6 19 21:46 0
2005 CBJ 44 12 20 32 -29 32 11 11 22:39 2
Proj. CBJ 66 13 42 55 -12 61 7 20 21:47 1
With Berard you get offense, but you also get hideous plus/minus totals, at least the past
two years (-53 combined). Berard is one of the few defensemen who can put up double-
digit goals and 20+ points on the PP on a regular basis, but his defensive lapses,
combined with his injury history, make him a risky pick on draft day. Berard was easily on
pace to break his career-high in points (48) until he had required surgery to repair a
bulging disk in his back.
Position Value:

Marc-Andre Bergeron Age: 25 Positional Rank: 58

2002 EDM 5 1 1 2 2 9 0 1 16:30 0
2003 EDM 54 9 17 26 13 26 3 7 17:38 0
2005 EDM 75 15 20 35 3 38 8 8 21:13 1
Proj. EDM 79 13 32 45 7 42 7 15 22:07 1
Bergeron has shown steady improvement over his three-year career to the point where he
now appears to be knocking on the door of the leading point scorers amongst d-men.
Bergeron scored only 5 points in his final 20 games but don’t let that obscure his 30
points in 55 games before the Olympic break. Eighth in the NHL in goals for a
defensemen with 15, Bergeron also contributed 8 PP goals on the season.
Position Value:
Rob Blake Age: 36 Positional Rank: 16

2002 COL 79 17 28 45 20 57 8 13 26:21 3
2003 COL 74 13 33 46 6 61 8 18 24:23 3
2005 COL 81 14 37 51 2 94 7 17 24:22 1
Proj. LA 69 11 32 43 6 108 5 15 24:01 1
Blake was his usual solid self for the Avalanche with his sixth straight season of at least
45-points. Blake led the Lanche in scoring from the blueline as well as leading the NHL in
shots from a defensemen (264). Though Blake scored roughly the same amount of points
in Lanche wins (25) as loses (26) last year his plus/minus was exponentially better in a
win (+23) versus a loss (-21) showing just how important his performance is to the
outcome of the game. Blake takes his game to LA where he signed a two-year, $12
million contract and the Kings hope he can be as important to their team the next two
season’s as he was to Colorado.
Position Value:
Philippe Boucher Age: 33 Positional Rank: 30

2002 DAL 90 7 20 27 28 94 1 3 20:29 3
2003 DAL 70 8 16 24 15 64 2 3 22:24 2
2005 DAL 66 16 27 43 28 77 8 11 23:24 3
Proj. DAL 71 11 22 33 13 88 4 8 22:11 0
Boucher has been around since the 1992-93 season, and for years he was nothing more
than a borderline starter for his NHL team. However, in the past couple of seasons he has
become a regular and now is a viable fantasy option on the backline. Last season was the
best offensive effort of Boucher’s career with career-high’s in G (16), A (27), Pts. (43) and
plus/minus (+28). Boucher scored 19 points in 29 games vs. division opponents but only
earned a (-1) in those 29 games.
Position Value:
Jay Bouwmeester Age: 23 Positional Rank: 22

2002 FLA 82 4 12 16 -29 14 2 8 20:08 0
2003 FLA 61 2 18 20 -15 30 0 9 23:02 0
2005 FLA 82 5 41 46 7 79 0 16 25:29 0
Proj. FLA 80 9 44 53 2 66 4 17 24:59 0
The 3rd pick in the 2002 draft, Bouwmeester has improved his production in each of his
three season’s, and last season’s 46 points more than doubled his ‘03-’04 total. After
scoring 27 points in 57 games before the Olympic break, Jay really turned on the offense
as the season wore down with 19 points in his final 25 games leading to speculation that
he might take his offense to even greater heights in the upcoming season.
Position Value:

Dan Boyle Age: 30 Positional Rank: 17

2002 TB 77 13 40 53 9 44 8 19 24:30 1
2003 TB 78 9 30 39 23 60 3 12 22:45 2
2005 TB 79 15 38 53 -8 38 6 19 23:25 4
Proj. TB 75 14 44 58 7 42 5 22 22:48 2
Boyle’s overall numbers last season appear to be fine except for the negative in the
plus/minus category, until one looks at how he arrived at those numbers. After scoring 27
points in his first 32 games (0.84 points-per game), Boyle struggled with poor play and an
injured ankle. In his final 47 games Boyle scored 26 points, or 0.55 points-per-game, well
below the pace he set early in the season. Also of note is the fact that in the 37 loses he
skated, Boyle’s plus/minus was a horrific (-33).
Position Value:
Nick Boynton Age: 27 Positional Rank: 93

2002 BOS 78 7 17 24 8 99 0 1 22:40 2
2003 BOS 81 6 24 30 17 98 1 9 22:32 1
2005 BOS 54 5 7 12 -7 93 1 0 20:38 0
Proj. PHX 71 5 14 19 -3 101 0 4 22:33 0
Boyton is of value only in deep leagues since he offers no single outstanding skill or
talent. Therefore, he is much more useful on the ice than he is serving as one of your
defensemen, so bare that in mind on draft day since he has only 84 points in 299 career
games.
Position Value:
Eric Brewer Age: 27 Positional Rank: 78

2002 EDM 80 8 21 29 -11 45 1 12 24:55 1
2003 EDM 77 7 18 25 -6 67 3 7 24:39 1
2005 STL 32 6 3 9 -17 45 1 2 23:28 1
Proj. STL 66 4 18 22 -11 88 2 5 24:01 1
The 1997 first round draft pick has never lived up to expectations and finds himself with
his third organization. Brewer has yet to record 30-points in a season, has a negative
plus/minus in six of his seven seasons, and is coming off a season cut short by a
separated left shoulder.
Position Value:
Patrice Brisebois Age: 35 Positional Rank: 42

2002 MON 73 4 25 29 -14 32 1 18 23:23 1
2003 MON 71 4 27 31 17 22 2 9 21:20 0
2005 COL 80 10 28 38 1 55 4 12 22:18 2
Proj. COL 73 7 21 28 3 44 2 9 20:07 0
Brisebois has always been a stalwart on defense, though he has never been of much
value in the fantasy game. In five of the last six season’s Patrice has put up at least 30-
points with 10 or more of those points coming on the power-play. Last season’s 38 points
is a career best and he has averaged just 30 PIMs over the last six years, so his upside is
extremely limited.
Position Value:

Brian Campbell Age: 27 Positional Rank: 35

2002 BUF 65 2 17 19 -8 20 0 3 18:40 1
2003 BUF 53 3 8 11 -8 12 0 1 16:01 0
2005 BUF 79 12 32 44 -14 16 5 22 17:42 5
Proj. BUF 72 5 28 33 -4 18 3 10 18:42 0
Campbell led al NHL defensemen who scored 10 or more goals with an 11.4% shooting
percentage last season. Entering the ‘05-’06 season, Campbell had recorded 41 points in
167 games making his 44 point effort last season a bit of a surprise. Campbell also
scored the first 5 PP goals of his career and after totaling just 7 PP assists his first five
seasons. If you are looking for PIMs keep looking since Campbell has just 66 in his career
(246 games).
Position Value:
Chris Campoli Age: 22 Positional Rank: 50

2005 NYI 80 9 25 34 -16 46 2 11 18:32 2
Proj. NYI 82 7 33 39 -2 56 1 14 19:59 0
A regular on the blueline the entire season, Campoli has risen from being a 7th round
selection in 2004 to a potential top-4 fantasy defensemen this year. Campoli scored 13
points on home ice (41 games) while putting up 21 points in 39 road games for the
Islanders last season. Campoli finished the season on a high note with 5 points in his final
five games.
Position Value:
Matt Carle Age: 22 Positional Rank: 71

2005 SJ 12 3 3 6 -2 14 2 2 16:07 1
Proj. SJ 78 8 32 40 2 38 4 23 19:06 2
Carle was called up late in the season after winning the Hobey Baker award as the best
player in college hockey. Carle lead the country with 42 assists and lead all defensemen
with 53 points at University of Denver last year. Carle showcased a tremendous amount
of poise with the puck while playing with the Sharks and should find himself on the #1 PP
unit at some point this season in San Jose.
Zdeno Chara Age: 29 Positional Rank: 5

2002 OTT 74 9 30 39 29 116 3 14 24:57 2
2003 OTT 79 16 25 41 33 147 7 7 24:37 3
2005 OTT 71 16 27 43 17 135 10 12 27:11 3
Proj. BOS 77 13 31 43 6 144 5 17 26:21 1
Chara singed a 5-year, $37.5 million dollar deal to take his game to Beantown. Chara has
totaled at least 39 points, a +17 and 116 PIM in each of the last three seasons. Chara
was a power-play force for the first time in his career with 10 PP goals and 22 points with
the man advantage in ‘05-‘06. In addition to his prowess on the power-play, Chara also
led the NHL in short-handed time on ice per game amongst D-men (5:47) as well as
leading the league in hits with 224, making him one of the most well-rounded skaters on
defense in the NHL.
Position Value:

Chris Chelios Age: 44 Positional Rank: 85

2002 DET 66 2 17 19 4 78 0 9 24:14 1
2003 DET 69 2 19 21 12 61 0 0 21:20 0
2005 DET 81 4 7 11 22 108 1 1 18:28 0
Proj. DET 70 6 11 17 11 87 2 4 17:33 0
No longer one of the league’s best rearguards, Chelios continues to play at a fairly high
level and is now only 24 games away from 1,500 for his career (he is also 197 PIMs away
from 3,000 in his career). Chelios hasn’t scored 40-points in a season since 1996-97,
though he is still a good bet to put up a solid +/- rating ( an average of +20 the past four
years). Chelios has scored only 2 points on the power-play in the last two seasons.
Position Value:
Brett Clark Age: 30 Positional Rank: 70

2002 DNP
2003 COL 12 1 1 2 3 6 0 0 10:26 0
2005 COL 80 9 27 36 3 56 4 10 19:38 1
Proj. COL 74 6 22 28 -6 62 1 8 18:56 0
Clark, entering the 2005-06 season, had dressed for 158 games and had scored 11
points. Last season he so far surpassed those numbers it’s difficult to predict, with any
degree of certainty, what to expect from him this season. Clark registered 14 points on the
power-play, a career-high, and scored 16 points in 31 games against Northwest Division
foes.
Position Value:
Joe Corvo Age: 27 Positional Rank: 31

2002 LA 50 5 7 12 2 14 2 3 18:37 0
2003 LA 72 8 17 25 7 36 0 4 21:08 0
2005 LA 81 14 26 40 16 38 7 14 19:59 3
Proj. OTT 79 11 37 48 17 42 4 15 20:02 1
Corvo surprised many fantasy enthusiasts with a 40 point season for the Kings, a total
which bettered his combined 37 points the previous two seasons. Especially noteworthy
were his 21 PP points, the second best mark amongst Kings blueliners (Lube Visnovsky).
Corvo scored 13 points in the first period, 12 in the second, 13 in the third and even
added 2 in OT (including one OT game-winner). At 27, Corvo still has upside as he moves
north to join the mighty Senators.
Position Value:
Steve Eminger Age: 23 Positional Rank: 98

2002 WAS 17 0 2 2 -3 24 0 0 10:07 0
2003 WAS 41 0 4 4 -11 45 0 0 17:32 0
2005 WAS 66 5 13 18 -12 81 1 2 21:20 0
Proj. WAS 76 7 22 29 -4 102 2 7 22:02 0
The 12th overall pick in the 2002 draft, Eminger progressed nicely last season in his first
extended season at the NHL level. While no great shakes on offense, Eminger plays a
solid all-around game for the Caps and he actually played quite well in the 23 team wins
in which he skated (12 points, a +9).
Position Value:

Christian Ehrhoff Age: 24 Positional Rank: 75

2003 SJ 41 1 11 12 4 14 0 4 15:22 1
2005 SJ 65 5 18 23 10 32 2 11 17:48 2
Proj. SJ 74 8 29 37 6 46 5 13 18:58 1
One of the Sharks young guns, Ehrhoff often struggles in his own end but has no such
problems on offense (think Bryan Berard, but a better skater). Ehrhoff turned his season
around in February when he scored 6 points (4 on the PP) in 7 games before he
experienced a coming out of sorts in the playoffs scoring 8 points in 11 games before the
Sharks were eliminated.
Andrew Ference Age: 27 Positional Rank: 76

2002 *** 38 1 7 8 -15 42 1 2 16:04 0
2003 CGY 72 4 12 16 5 53 1 4 18:39 0
2005 CGY 82 4 27 31 -12 85 2 17 20:08 0
Proj. CGY 79 5 32 37 -2 69 3 18 21:01 0
Andrew Ference skated in 82 games for the first time last year and that allowed him to
nearly double his previous career best in points set in 2003-04. Ference was particularly
effective at the start of the season scoring 19 points in his first 39 games though he did
slow after the Olympics with only 5 points and a (-7) in 25 games. However, in his first 57
games Ference scored 16 points on the power-play hinting at some untapped potential.
Position Value:
*** Played for Pittsburgh and Calgary in 2005-06.
Adam Foote Age: 35 Positional Rank: 73

2002 COL 78 11 20 31 30 88 3 4 25:42 2
2003 COL 73 8 22 30 13 87 5 5 24:03 1
2005 CBJ 65 6 16 22 -16 89 2 2 24:33 1
Proj. CBJ 74 5 20 25 -4 106 1 8 24:00 0
This gritty blueliner always gives 100% and faces the opposing teams top line each
game, one of the main reasons his plus/minus suffered last season in Columbus (-16).
Though he was a (-14) before the Olympic break, when the Blue Jackets returned they
played much better hockey as can be seen in Foote’s (-2) in his final 24 games. With a
career-high of 31 points, you will need to look elsewhere for offense from the blueline.
Position Value:
Kurtis Foster Age: 24 Positional Rank: 45

2002 ATL 2 0 0 0 -2 0 0 0 11:05 0
2003 ATL 3 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 6:58 0
2005 MIN 58 10 18 28 -3 60 6 12 19:13 2
Proj. MIN 76 12 32 44 6 54 4 19 21:28 0
Foster was the Wild’s team leader in goals and points among rearguards during his rookie
season in the NHL. Foster struggled somewhat on the opponents home ice with a (-7) in
28 road games, but he was a different player at home in Minnesota with 18 points and a
+4 in 30 home games. Against teams in the Northwest Division, Foster scored 10 points
in 22 games and will look to be the trigger for the Wild power-play in ‘06-’07.

Denis Gauthier Age: 29 Positional Rank: 77

2002 CGY 72 1 11 12 5 99 0 2 19:52 1
2003 CGY 80 1 15 16 4 113 0 2 18:43 0
2005 *** 62 2 9 11 2 96 0 0 16:31 0
Proj. PHI 78 3 14 17 8 102 1 1 18:45 0
Gauthier has never done much on offense, and his career plus/minus is only +17.
Therefore, his only real fantasy value is in the PIM category, though even in that realm his
value is limited (Gauthier has accrued at least 90 PIMs in each of the past four years with
a high of 113 in 2003-04). Gauthier finished with 154 hits, 10th among defensemen, in
2005-06, if your leagues counts such stats.
Position Value:
*** Played for Phoenix and Philadelphia in 2005-06.
Sergei Gonchar Age: 32 Positional Rank: 8

2002 WAS 82 18 49 67 13 52 7 23 26:34 2
2003 *** 72 11 47 58 -14 56 6 28 27:26 0
2005 PIT 75 12 46 58 -13 100 8 30 24:40 2
Proj. PIT 78 17 43 60 -4 82 7 33 24:24 3
Despite virtually matching his numbers from 2003-04, Gonchar’s season was viewed by
many as a poor performance. Gonchar, acquired to run what was supposed to be a
potent power-play, actually produced a career best 39 points with the man advantage, but
he was unable to help the Penguins to win games. In the fantasy world that matters little
and you should focus more on the fact that Gonchar has scored at least 50 points in six
straight seasons.
Position Value:
*** Played for Washington and Boston in 2003-04.
Dan Hamhuis Age: 23 Positional Rank: 39

2003 NSH 80 7 19 26 -12 57 2 6 22:07 4
2005 NSH 82 7 31 38 11 70 4 12 22:33 1
Proj. NSH 80 6 33 39 5 70 3 11 23:07 0
Hamhuis improved upon a solid rookie season in Nashville by scoring more points,
accumulating more PIMs and tallying more power-play points last year. After the Olympic
break Hamhuis was one of the best defensemen in the Western Conference with 13
points and a +13 in 24 games for the Predators. Hamhuis was also a solid performer on
home ice where he totaled 24 points and a +15 in 41 contests.
Position Value:
Roman Hamrlik Age: 32 Positional Rank: 40

2002 NYI 73 9 32 41 21 87 3 18 26:34 2
2003 NYI 81 7 22 29 2 68 2 9 24:34 2
2005 CGY 51 7 19 26 8 56 1 15 21:50 0
Proj. CGY 66 9 28 37 3 63 2 11 22:31 0
Hamrlik struggled with injuries, including a broken left hand that limited his effectiveness
on ice for the Flames. While nearly matching his point total from 2003-04, Hamrlik actually
ended the season with only three assists in his final 13 games after scoring 15 points in
his first 24 games. Hamrlik also struggled in 7 playoff games with 2 points and a (-7) for
the Flames.
Position Value:

Scott Hannan Age: 27 Positional Rank: 97

2002 SJ 81 3 19 22 0 61 1 4 24:10 0
2003 SJ 82 6 15 21 10 48 0 2 23:41 0
2005 SJ 81 6 18 24 7 58 2 8 24:34 1
Proj. SJ 82 6 20 26 11 68 1 7 25:02 0
Hannan’s overall numbers are nothing special until you consider where he came from last
st
season. On December 1 , Hannan had the worst plus/minus in the NHL with a
horrendous (-19) rating marking him as someone the other team wanted on the ice.
Hannan turned that number around including posting a +16 in the season’s final two
months to finish at +7 overall. Hannan is a top NHL defender and he led the NHL in even-
strength time on ice per game last season (17:31).
Position Value:
Niclas Havelid Age: 33 Positional Rank: 63

2002 ANA 82 11 22 33 5 30 4 11 22:29 5
2003 ANA 79 6 20 26 -28 28 5 16 22:38 3
2005 ATL 82 4 28 32 9 48 2 9 24:25 0
Proj. ATL 79 5 30 35 1 55 2 10 23:23 0
Consistently solid, Havelid has basically had three straight seasons of virtually the same
level of production (save his awful plus/minus in 2003-04). When the Thashers put on a
late season push Havelid’s numbers saw an increase with 4 points and a +11 in the
month of April (10 games). If he can find some time on the power-play, he will have
limited value.
Position Value:
Bret Hedican Age: 36 Positional Rank: 92

2002 CAR 72 3 14 17 -24 75 1 6 23:01 1
2003 CAR 81 7 17 24 -10 64 2 5 22:34 3
2005 CAR 74 5 22 27 11 58 2 5 20:18 1
Proj. CAR 77 5 20 25 4 72 1 5 19:48 1
One merely needs to track Hedican’s plus/minus over the past three years to see the
improvement in the Hurricanes. Hedican, one of the sweetest skaters in the NHL, was a
+25 in the 47 Hurricanes wins in which he skated. Never a big scorer, Hedican is a
borderline option in fantasy circles because of his subdued PIM and power-play totals.
Position Value:
Barrett Jackman Age: 25 Positional Rank: 65

2002 STL 82 3 16 19 23 190 0 0 20:02 0
2003 STL 15 1 2 3 -1 41 0 0 18:15 0
2005 STL 63 4 6 10 -6 156 0 1 18:45 2
Proj. STL 70 5 13 18 -4 187 0 2 21:21 0
Jackman is a punishing defender who has suffered far too many trips to the doctor’s office
the past couple of years including a fractured jaw that ended his season last year.
Jackman has totaled over 150 PIMs in both season’s in which he skated in over 60
games, and though he has but 1 power-play point in 161 career games, if healthy he can
contribute a substantial amount of penalty minutes.
Position Value:

Ric Jackman Age: 28 Positional Rank: 66

2002 TOR 42 0 2 2 -10 41 0 2 13:58 0
2003 *** 54 9 21 30 -16 27 7 11 20:53 0
2005 +++ 64 7 23 30 -20 52 3 10 17:20 0
Proj. FLA 75 10 31 41 -5 77 4 13 19:01 0
Despite a fairly innocuous past two seasons, this former first-round draft pick (1996) has
shown signs that he is about ready to figure things out. Jackman jumped out to a huge
start last season with 18 points in his first 21 games before ineffective defensive play
drastically slowed his time on ice and consequently his scoring pace. If he can just be an
average defender he could produce bit offensive numbers.
Position Value:
*** Played for Toronto and Pittsburgh in 2003-04.

+++ Played for Pittsburgh and Florida in 2005-06.
Kim Johnsson Age: 30 Positional Rank: 49

2002 PHI 82 10 29 39 11 38 5 13 24:05 2
2003 PHI 80 13 29 42 16 26 4 19 24:26 3
2005 PHI 47 6 19 25 5 34 3 10 23:17 0
Proj. MIN 77 14 32 46 13 42 2 15 23:34 0
Johnsson suffered a concussion that basically wiped out almost half his season last year.
Johnsson has quietly been an excellent source of points from the blueline and before last
season’s injuries he was working on a streak of three-straight 10-goal seasons. Once the
top targets on defense are gone call out Johnsson’s name since he has scored at least 39
points and posted a double digit +/- in the last three season’s in which he skated in 80
games.
Position Value:
Ed Jovanovski Age: 30 Positional Rank: 23

2002 VAN 67 6 40 46 19 113 2 22 24:14 1
2003 VAN 56 7 16 23 2 64 2 4 23:11 1
2005 VAN 44 8 25 33 -8 58 6 13 24:25 2
Proj. PHX 72 11 35 46 5 88 4 18 24:09 1
A potent force on the blueline, Jovanovski signed a huge 5-year, $32.5 million contract to
skate for Wayne Gretzky’s team. Jovanovski had three-straight 40-point seasons before
injuries limited him to less than that total in each of the past two seasons. In basically half
a season, Jovanovski put up 19 PP points and 33 overall points with 25 of those points
coming in 24 home games.
Position Value:
Frantisek Kaberle Age: 32 Positional Rank: 29

2002 ATL 79 7 19 26 -19 32 3 7 21:56 2
2003 ATL 67 3 26 29 2 30 2 16 23:19 1
2005 CAR 77 6 38 44 8 46 1 16 19:36 3
Proj. CAR 72 5 33 38 4 52 2 14 20:39 1
Taking a look at Kaberle’s point totals the past five years show you how his offensive
game has progressed: 15, 25, 26, 29, 44. In addition to those rising point totals, Kaberle
has also become a power-play weapon the past two season’s and last year he also
added 3 GW goals to his resume. Kaberle is a driving force for the Hurricanes offense
when the team wins as evidenced by his 34 points and + 18 rating in the 51 victories in
which he participated. Kaberle also tallied 13 points in the Hurricanes playoff run to the
Stanley Cup, including 5 points in the Cup finals.
Position Value:

Tomas Kaberle Age: 28 Positional Rank: 10

2002 TOR 82 11 36 47 20 30 4 15 24:50 2
2003 TOR 71 3 28 31 16 18 0 10 23:11 1
2005 TOR 82 9 58 67 -1 46 6 45 28:10 2
Proj. TOR 80 10 51 61 5 58 5 38 26:08 2
Because of his amazing PP production, Kaberle led all NHLers by scoring 76.1% of his
points on the PP. With 45 PP assists Kaberle led all NHL performers and his 51 PP points
led all NHL defensemen on the power-play as well. Not surprisingly, Kaberle also led the
nd
NHL with 7:32 minutes per game on the power-play in addition to ranking 2 in the NHL
in TOI skating in almost of half of every game he played (Bryan McCabe led the league).
Position Value:
Rostislav Klesla Age: 24 Positional Rank: 74

2002 CBJ 72 2 14 16 -22 71 0 6 18:45 0
2003 CBJ 47 2 11 13 -16 27 0 5 18:19 1
2005 CBJ 51 6 13 19 -4 75 2 7 21:26 0
Proj. CBJ 72 8 23 31 2 89 1 9 22:20 0
Even though Klesla has failed to reach 20 points in a season, he does hold some
potential amidst a rapidly improving organization. Klesla has struggled with injuries the
past two seasons averaging only 49 games played, but last season he totaled career-
highs with 9 PP points and 2 short-handed points for the Jackets.
Position Value:
Filip Kuba Age: 29 Positional Rank: 88

2002 MIN 78 8 21 29 0 29 4 8 23:55 1
2003 MIN 77 5 19 24 -7 28 2 11 24:05 2
2005 MIN 65 6 19 25 0 44 1 3 21:46 1
Proj. TB 78 5 32 37 3 47 2 9 23:09 1
After putting up five almost identical seasons in Minnesota Kuba takes his game out east
to the coast to suit up for the Lightening after signing a 3 year, $9 million contract in the
offseason. Kuba has scored between 24 and 30 points in each of the last five seasons for
the defensively minded Wild, so there is hope he can take his game to the next level in
Tampa Bay.
Position Value:
Pavel Kubina Age: 29 Positional Rank: 46

2002 TB 75 3 19 22 -7 78 0 9 21:24 0
2003 TB 81 17 18 35 9 85 8 4 21:08 4
2005 TB 76 5 33 38 -12 96 4 22 22:24 3
Proj. TOR 72 6 22 28 -4 102 2 14 23:05 1
An 8-year veteran of the Lightening, Kubina signed with Toronto in the offseason. Kubina
posted his second straight season of 30-points, and his fourth such effort in the last five
years. During that time Kubina has also contributed at least 78 PIMs every season,
though he has also registered a negative plus/minus in four of the five years. However,
Kubina was a force on the power-play last season with a career best 26 points with the
man advantage, giving him value regardless of his other numbers.
Position Value:

Brian Leetch Age: 38 Positional Rank: 41

2002 NYR 51 12 18 30 -3 20 5 11 26:05 2
2003 *** 72 15 36 51 6 34 5 25 26:17 2
2005 BOS 61 5 27 32 -10 36 4 13 23:31 0
Proj. BOS 63 8 33 41 -1 42 3 18 22:28 0
Leetch has had a great career though he has more frequently found himself on the
sidelines in recent season’s because of injury. Leetch suited up for 61 games last season
and managed a respectable 32 points (17 on the PP). Teaming with Brad Stuart on the
power-play point could still lead to a fair amount of points for Leetch, even if he yet again
plays in less than a full slate of games.
Position Value:
*** Played for New York Rangers and Toronto in 2003-04.
Nicklas Lidstrom Age: 36 Positional Rank: 1

2002 DET 82 18 44 62 40 38 8 22 29:20 4
2003 DET 81 10 28 38 19 15 3 18 27:39 3
2005 DET 80 16 64 80 21 50 9 41 28:06 2
Proj. DET 81 9 50 59 14 42 5 30 25:54 1
Thought by some to be winding down after a full-season worst 38 points in 2003-04,
Lidstrom responded with a career-high 80 point season to lead all NHL defensemen.
Lidstrom also was 2nd amongst all d-men in the NHL in PP assists (41) and PP points
(50). He also put up a career-high 50 PIM, good from a fantasy perspective but a possible
warning sign that he has lost a step on defense. Lidstrom ended the season on a high
note scoring 27 points, with a +15 rating in his final 23 games after the Olympic break.
Position Value: Norris Winner
John-Michael Liles Age: 25 Positional Rank: 20

2003 COL 79 10 24 34 7 28 2 12 16:13 1
2005 COL 82 14 35 49 5 44 6 22 18:31 1
Proj. COL 81 13 40 53 2 62 4 18 20:20 1
Liles started out white-hot with 14 points in the month of October before his scoring pace
slowed considerably the rest of the season. Still, Liles second NHL season produced an
increase in G, A, points and PP points, so it must be seen as a success.
Position Value:
Marek Malik Age: 31 Positional Rank: 69

2002 VAN 69 7 11 18 23 52 1 2 17:57 2
2003 VAN 78 3 16 19 35 45 0 3 18:05 0
2005 NYR 72 2 16 18 28 78 0 3 20:26 2
Proj. NYR 75 4 20 24 17 68 0 5 21:01 0
Malik has produced three consecutive identical season on offense with 18,19 and 18
points, in addition to registering at least a +23 in each year. Not likely to take the next step
on offense, Malik is still a solid bet in +/- making him an ideal final defensemen on your
roster.
Position Value:

Paul Mara Age: 27 Positional Rank: 21

2002 PHX 73 10 15 25 -7 78 1 5 21:06 0
2003 PHX 81 6 36 42 -11 48 1 22 23:36 0
2005 PHX 78 15 32 48 -12 70 8 21 21:29 0
Proj. BOS 79 13 38 51 -3 88 5 26 20:43 2
Mara was traded from the desert to the hockey mad East Coast where he will join Brian
Leetch, Brad Stuart and Zdeno Chara in giving the Bruins a potent backline who can
contribute on offense. Mara, coming off back-to-back 40+ points seasons with 20+ PP
points, will enable the Bruins to have two potent defensive pairings to patrol the blueline
on the power-play.
Position Value:
Andrei Markov Age: 27 Positional Rank: 19

2002 MON 79 13 24 37 13 34 3 12 23:17 2
2003 MON 69 6 22 28 -2 20 2 8 22:36 0
2005 MON 67 10 36 46 13 74 6 18 23:32 1
Proj. MON 72 9 40 49 7 81 8 18 22:57 1
Markov, the #1 offensive defensemen in Montreal, led the teams backliners in assists,
points and PP points in his most effective offensive season to date despite missing 15
games due to injury. Markov was at his best in November and December when he lit up
the scoreboard for 21 points in 22 games highlighting the obvious flair for offense he
possesses. Markov also finished with 81 takeaways, the 3rd best mark in the NHL among
defensemen.
Position Value:
Danny Markov Age: 29 Positional Rank: 64

2002 PHX 64 4 16 20 2 36 2 4 23:16 0
2003 *** 78 6 13 19 -6 95 3 4 22:36 1
2005 NSH 58 0 11 11 9 62 0 1 19:32 0
Proj. DET 74 8 29 37 15 82 2 9 19:45 1
Markov hopes to have finally found a home after years of moving around. Other Russian
skaters have had tremendous success in Detroit, and Markov hopes to follow in their
steps after signing a one year, $2.5 million contract. Markov will probably be a top-4
defensemen in Detroit and he has a solid shot at surpassing his career-high of 36 points
set in 2001-02.
Position Value:
*** Played for Phoenix and Carolina in 2003-04.
Paul Martin Age: 25 Positional Rank: 51

2003 NJ 70 6 18 24 12 4 2 8 20:07 2
2005 NJ 80 5 32 37 1 32 3 17 23:37 0
Proj. NJ 82 7 28 35 9 52 2 11 23:58 0
This steady second year performer increased almost every number in his sophomore
season including posting a strong 20 points on the power-play in well over 23 minutes of
ice time per game. Martin scored 15 of those PP points at home in front of the faithful and
from December 26th through January 3rd Martin scored a point in 5-straight games (6
points total).
Position Value:

Bryan McCabe Age: 31 Positional Rank: 4

2002 TOR 75 6 18 24 9 135 3 6 23:38 1
2003 TOR 75 16 37 53 22 86 8 18 25:43 2
2005 TOR 73 19 49 68 -1 116 13 32 28:17 6
Proj. TOR 76 15 55 70 7 103 9 33 26:57 4
McCabe was the defensive story of the first half of the season when he scored 46 points
in his first 39 games. With injury his pace slowed as the season wore on, but he still was
3rd amongst defensemen in points (68) and PP points (45), while being one of only two d-
men in the NHL to post over 50 points and accumulate over 100 PIMs (Sergei Gonchar).
McCabe also led the NHL in TOI with a career high 28:17 mark.
Position Value:
Jay McKee Age: 29 Positional Rank: 96

2002 BUF 59 0 5 5 -16 49 0 0 18:45 0
2003 BUF 43 2 3 5 6 41 0 0 17:44 1
2005 BUF 75 5 11 16 0 57 0 0 18:03 0
Proj. STL 66 2 10 12 1 48 0 0 19:53 0
After years of solid work, McKee finally received some recognition last season for the
Sabres though his season ended with a leg infection from blocking a shot. As you can see
from his record, McKee is really of little value unless your league counts blocked shots in
which case McKee becomes a valuable player considering he led the NHL with 243
blocked shots in ‘05-’06.
Position Value:
Kyle McLaren Age: 29 Positional Rank: 99

2002 SJ 33 0 8 8 -10 30 0 2 22:39 0
2003 SJ 64 2 22 24 10 60 0 5 21:01 0
2005 SJ 77 2 21 23 6 66 0 5 22:52 1
Proj. SJ 68 2 20 22 8 76 0 5 23:01 0
A valuable member of the Sharks team, McLaren offers little upside in the fantasy game,
th
though he was 8 in the league with 164 hits amongst defensemen.
Position Value:
Andrej Meszaros Age: 20 Positional Rank: 33

2005 OTT 82 10 29 39 34 61 5 19 18:10 2
Proj. OTT 76 8 22 30 14 72 4 15 19:52 0
An NHL all-rookie member, Meszaros was second in the NHL with a +34 mark, one
behind teammate Wade Redden and the Rangers Mike Rozsival (he would have been the
first rookie to ever lead the league in +/-). Meszaros’ scored a surprising 10 goals and 39
points for the Senators, after putting up just 27 points in 105 games in the Slovak
Republic before being drafted. Since so much of his value is tied up in his plus/minus
rating, he is a risk on draft day.

Jaroslav Modry Age: 35 Positional Rank: 54

2002 LA 82 13 25 38 -13 68 8 16 21:28 1
2003 LA 79 5 27 32 11 44 1 14 24:23 1
2005 ATL 79 7 31 38 -9 76 5 22 20:47 2
Proj. DAL 78 6 24 30 4 84 2 15 19:45 0
Modry has 4 straight seasons of at least 32 points with at least 15 of those points coming
on the power-play. A large portion of Modry’s season numbers were accrued during the 7
games against the Caps when he scored 7 points (5 on the PP), and posted a +9 rating.
Position Value:
Derek Morris Age: 28 Positional Rank: 43

2002 COL 75 11 37 48 16 68 9 19 23:49 7
2003 *** 83 6 26 32 -1 49 2 11 21:35 1
2005 PHX 53 6 21 27 -7 54 4 14 20:51 2
Proj. PHX 77 14 41 56 6 83 7 22 21:59 3
With the loss of Paul Mara to Boston, Morris will likely take on an even bigger role on the
Coyotes 1st PP unit after recording 18 PP points in only 53 games of action last year (he
suffered multiple injuries most notably an ankle that caused him to miss 23 games). Still
only 28-years-old, this former 1st round draft pick (1996) finished the season with 7 points
in his final 9 games with 6 of them coming on the power-play.
*** Played for Colorado and Phoenix in 2003-04.
Bryan Muir Age: 33 Positional Rank: 89

2002 COL 32 0 2 2 3 19 0 0 6:32 0
2003 LA 2 0 1 1 1 2 0 0 17:56 0
2005 WAS 72 8 18 26 -9 72 4 13 21:10 0
Proj. WAS 70 5 19 34 -5 97 2 9 21:48 0
Muir has bounced around the NHL and played in only 253 games over a 9 year career.
th
Washington is his 7 NHL team and he posted a career best season to date scoring more
points last season, 26, then in his career previously (20). Muir scored 10 points in his final
22 games and will look to skate in 70 games this year for just the second time in his
career.
Position Value:
Scott Niedermayer Age: 33 Positional Rank: 3

2002 NJ 81 11 28 39 23 62 3 7 24:29 3
2003 NJ 81 14 40 54 20 44 9 16 25:55 3
2005 ANA 82 13 50 63 8 96 9 27 25:30 3
Proj. ANA 81 10 47 57 9 78 7 27 24:42 3
One of the 5 best all-around defensemen in the NHL, Niedermayer’s fantasy production
finally made him a top-5 performer in that realm as well. With a career-high 50 assists, 63
points, 96 PIMs and 36 PP points, the “new” NHL seemed to suit Scott just fine.
Niedermayer had knee surgery during the Olympic break but still ended up skating in all
82 games for the Ducks in addition to scoring 21 points (12 on the PP) in his final 25
games after the surgery.
Position Value:

Mattias Norstrom Age: 34 Positional Rank: 79

2002 LA 82 0 6 6 0 49 0 0 21:30 0
2003 LA 74 1 13 14 -3 44 0 2 22:26 0
2005 LA 77 4 23 27 -3 58 2 8 21:06 1
Proj. LA 75 2 20 22 3 68 1 5 22:11 0
The Kings captain is as steady as they come on the blueline, though his fantasy
contributions are minimal when you consider last season’s 27 points are his career best
mark. With little offense, few PIMs, and a non-existent +/-, there is really no reason to
recommend selecting Norstrom on draft day.
Position Value:
Teppo Numminen Age: 38 Positional Rank: 55

2002 PHX 78 6 24 30 0 30 2 14 23:51 1
2003 DAL 62 3 14 17 -5 18 0 7 21:39 0
2005 BUF 75 2 38 40 6 36 0 20 19:30 0
Proj. BUF 70 4 22 26 0 42 1 11 20:10 0
Numminen totaled 40 points for the first time since 1997-98 even though he scored his
fewest goals (2) since his rookie year. Numminen put up 20 PP assists and had a solid
plus/minus of +6, so he has some value as a late round gamble. Teppo had minor heart
surgery in the offseason but he should be fine by the time the season starts.
Position Value:
Sean O’Donnell Age: 35 Positional Rank: 82

2002 BOS 70 1 15 16 8 76 0 4 22:05 1
2003 BOS 82 1 10 11 10 110 0 0 20:35 0
2005 *** 78 2 9 11 6 147 0 1 16:33 0
Proj. ANA 77 3 8 11 2 158 0 2 17:57 0
Scoring 22 points in two years won’t get you noticed in the fantasy game, but back-to-
back season’s of 100+ PIMs will. Because of his limited upside on offense, O’Donnell is
best used as a waiver-wire pick up when one of your top d-men is injured and you want to
pile up a few roughing penalties to boost your team’s totals.
Position Value:
*** Played for Phoenix and Anaheim in 2005-06.
Mattias Ohlund Age: 30 Positional Rank: 38

2002 VAN 59 2 27 29 1 42 0 20 25:53 0
2003 VAN 82 14 20 34 14 73 5 4 25:47 3
2005 VAN 78 13 20 33 -6 92 8 7 25:40 2
Proj. VAN 80 14 30 44 2 78 5 14 25:45 1
Ohlund is a stabilizing force on the Canucks blueline and at the age of 30 there is still a
chance that he could post his first 40-point season this year. Over the past 5 years,
Ohlund has averaged 32 points-per-season without ever scoring less than 28 points. In
addition, Ohlund has recorded 5 GW goals and 13 PP goals in the past two season’s.
Position Value:

Sandis Ozolinsh Age: 34 Positional Rank: 61

2002 *** 82 12 32 44 -6 56 6 13 26:01 3
2003 ANA 36 5 11 16 -7 24 1 5 19:56 2
2005 +++ 36 6 14 20 -2 28 2 11 20:56 2
Proj. NYR 50 9 19 28 -5 32 1 15 19:22 1
In and out of the league’s substance abuse program, Ozolinsh was arrested just two days
after the regular season ended on a DWI charge further clouding his future both on and
off the ice. Ozolinsh still has skill and with the new wide open game he could flourish if he
is able to get his life back on track. His value is totally dependent on his recovery from off
the ice issues as well as knee surgery (early reports have him back in December). Keep
an eye on the reports before spending a pick on this offensive defensemen
Position Value:
*** Played for Florida and Anaheim in 2002-03.

+++ Played for Anaheim and New York Rangers in 2005-06.
Dion Phaneuf Age: 21 Positional Rank: 9

2005 CGY 82 20 29 49 5 93 16 17 21:43 7
Proj. CGY 82 14 31 45 8 82 10 18 22:42 2
Phaneuf led all rookie NHLers with 203 hits, the second highest mark in the NHL
regardless of age, though he also led the NHL in a more dubious category with 128
missed shots off net. Regardless, Phaneuf had an excellent season as far as the fantasy
game goes with 20 goals overall, 16 coming on the power-play, and 33 PP points on the
season. Phaneuf even chipped in 7 GW goals making him one of the top five defensemen
in all of fantasy hockey last season.
Position Value:
Chris Phillips Age: 28 Positional Rank: 68

2002 OTT 78 3 16 19 7 71 2 3 20:13 1
2003 OTT 82 7 16 23 15 46 0 3 20:50 1
2005 OTT 69 1 18 19 15 90 0 1 20:52 0
Proj. OTT 77 5 23 28 19 80 2 2 21:22 0
Burdened by the expectations that come with being the 1st overall selection in the draft
(1996), Phillips has been labeled as somewhat of a failure despite the fact that he is still
only 28-years-old. Not one to light up the scoreboard, Phillips has still managed a positive
plus/minus for the past 6 years and last season he added 6 short-handed assists.
Position Value:
Joni Pitkanen Age: 23 Positional Rank: 15

2003 PHI 71 8 19 27 15 44 5 12 16:35 2
2005 PHI 58 13 33 46 22 78 5 14 23:42 3
Proj. PHI 72 9 32 41 12 88 5 10 23:27 2
One of the best d-men in hockey through the season’s first two months with 22 points and
a +17 in 24 games, Pitkanen was injured, missed some time, but basically maintained an
extremely high level of play when on the ice. In 24 post Olympic games Pitkanen totaled
20 points, with 9 on the PP, so it wasn’t as if his early season performance was a fluke. In
the 31 Flyers wins that Joni skated in, he was a stellar +34, so the teams success or
failure seems to be greatly influenced by the play of this Finn.
Position Value:

Brian Pothier Age: 29 Positional Rank: 59

2002 OTT 14 2 4 6 11 6 0 1 15:23 1
2003 OTT 55 2 6 8 6 24 1 2 16:43 1
2005 OTT 77 5 30 35 29 59 3 14 16:46 0
Proj. WAS 75 6 31 37 3 48 2 17 19:43 0
st
On December 1 Pothier was a +11 in 20 games, and that pace didn’t slow too much as
th
the season wore on as he finished tied for the 10 in the league in plus/minus (but now
that he is in Washington, expect his +/- to suffer greatly). Because of the offensive fire-
power on the Sens, Pothier was also able to establish career-highs in scoring, and he
finished the season on a high note with 17 scored points in 26 games after the Olympic
break. How he will fare in Washington is up in the air.
Position Value:
Tom Poti Age: 35 Positional Rank: 87

2002 NYR 80 11 37 48 -6 60 3 18 24:42 2
2003 NYR 67 10 14 24 -1 47 4 4 22:28 5
2005 NYR 73 3 20 23 16 70 2 12 20:46 2
Proj. NYI 74 8 32 40 -8 69 3 15 22:28 3
After being the whipping boy in New York the past few years, Poti decided to stay in town
but change zip codes moving to the Islanders. Poti posted his first plus season since
1999-2000 last year though his point total sunk to three-year low. Poti has 17 game-
winning goals in his career and has scored at least one in each of his seven seasons.
Position Value:
Tom Preissing Age: 27 Positional Rank: 26

2003 SJ 69 2 17 19 8 12 2 8 18:11 1
2005 SJ 74 11 32 43 17 26 2 20 20:29 2
Proj. OTT 76 12 35 47 18 33 4 21 21:29 1
The Sharks leading scorer on the blueline, Preissing scored 20 points in the season’s last
two months (26 games) with 12 of those points coming with the man advantage. Preissing
scored 9 points in the first period, 15 in the second, 15 in the third and 4 in OT for the
Sharks. Preissing was traded to the Blackhawks and then sent along to the Senators in
the offseason. Could have excellent numbers if he sees any power-play time.
Position Value:
Chris Pronger Age: 31 Positional Rank: 6

2002 STL 5 1 3 4 -2 10 0 0 21:38 0
2003 STL 80 14 40 54 -1 88 7 24 27:27 3
2005 EDM 80 12 44 56 2 74 10 32 27:59 3
Proj. ANA 80 13 48 61 7 111 8 27 27:46 3
The Oilers leading scorer in the playoffs with 21 points in 24 games, Pronger takes his
game to Anaheim and will team with Scott Niedermayer to form the best 1-2 blueline duo
in the league and perhaps of this generation. Not only did Pronger produce his highest
point total since 1999-2000 last season, but he also recorded double figures in PP goals
for the first time, on his way to a career-high 42 PP points.
Position Value:

Brian Rafalski Age: 33 Positional Rank: 18

2002 NJ 79 3 37 40 18 14 2 14 23:08 0
2003 NJ 69 6 30 36 6 24 2 16 22:47 1
2005 NJ 82 6 43 49 0 36 3 23 25:31 2
Proj. NJ 78 9 40 49 5 38 5 18 23:09 1
Rafalski scored 40-points for the fourth time in five season in 2005-06. As always, a fair
amount of those points were earned with the man advantage where Rafalski scored over
half of all his overall points (27 PP points). Of concern however is the fact that after
posting four straight seasons of double digit marks in plus/minus, Rafalski is merely a +6
over the past two seasons.
Position Value:
Mike Rathje Age: 32 Positional Rank: 95

2002 SJ 82 7 22 29 -19 48 3 12 24:06 1
2003 SJ 80 2 17 19 18 46 0 5 23:27 0
2005 PHI 79 3 21 24 22 46 1 3 20:07 1
Proj. PHI 68 2 22 24 13 68 1 7 22:04 0
Rat, as he is called, is a huge immovable object on defense that plays a smothering
brand of defense, and in that area, he is tremendous. On offense however, Rathje is
basically limited to firing his big shot from the point and hoping something happens
because of his lack of mobility. Rathje should continue to put up solid plus/minus
numbers, but other than that, he has limited upside.
Position Value:
Wade Redden Age: 29 Positional Rank: 2

2002 OTT 76 10 35 45 23 70 4 19 25:24 3
2003 OTT 81 17 26 43 21 65 12 10 24:54 3
2005 OTT 65 10 40 50 35 63 8 22 23:28 4
Proj. OTT 78 16 52 69 28 86 8 27 25:03 3
Could have won the Norris last year if things had been different (his mother passed away
after a battle with cancer). Redden tied for the NHL lead with a +35 rating, his fifth straight
season with at least a +21 mark, and he also scored 40+ points for the third straight year.
Redden was one of only two d-men in the NHL who combined at least 50 points with a
+30 mark (the other was Mathieu Schneider). Redden signed a two-year, $13 million
contract to stay in Ottawa.
Position Value:
Robyn Regehr Age: 26 Positional Rank: 67

2002 CGY 76 0 12 12 -9 87 0 3 22:45 0
2003 CGY 82 4 14 18 14 47 2 5 22:20 1
2005 CGY 68 6 20 26 6 67 5 10 23:08 2
Proj. CGY 77 5 19 24 2 89 3 9 23:32 1
Known for his hard hitting ways, Regehr finally contributed on the offensive side of the
puck by scoring a career-high 6 G, 20 A and 26 points. In addition, Regehr also totaled 15
power-play points, the first time in six seasons that he contributed in that phase of the
game for Calgary.
Position Value:

Craig Rivet Age: 32 Positional Rank: 48

2002 MON 82 7 15 22 1 71 3 4 21:59 2
2003 MON 80 4 8 12 -1 98 2 1 19:28 1
2005 MON 82 7 27 34 -5 109 5 10 22:26 1
Proj. MON 80 4 28 32 4 83 2 14 22:09 0
Rivet scored 15 PP points for the Habs and dressed for all 82 games, the third time in the
last four years he played in every game (in 2003-04 he skated in 80 games). Never a big
offensive weapon, Rivet tallied a career best 34 points last season in addition to putting
up a career-high total of 109 PIMs.
Position Value:
Michal Rozsival Age: 28 Positional Rank: 60

2002 PIT 53 4 6 10 -5 40 1 3 20:25 0
2003 DNP
2005 NYR 82 5 25 30 35 90 3 8 22:27 3
Proj. NYR 74 4 20 24 8 102 1 9 23:12 0
After four rather boring season’s, Rozsival scored a career best 30 points, tied his career-
high with 11 PP points, totaled 90 PIMs (another career-high) and led the entire NHL with
a +35 rating (tied with Wade Redden). However, so much of his value last season was
tied up in that +/- mark that is worth pointing out that he was merely a +4 in the season’s
final two months. On the plus side he was only a (-4) in the team’s 38 loses, so he was a
solid defensive player regardless of the games overall outcome. Prior to last season, he
was a +3 in 237 career games.
Ruslan Salei Age: 31 Positional Rank: 91

2002 ANA 61 4 8 12 2 78 0 0 21:53 0
2003 ANA 82 4 11 15 -1 110 0 0 22:14 2
2005 ANA 78 1 18 19 17 114 0 6 22:30 0
Proj. ANA 69 2 12 14 -3 124 0 5 21:42 0
Salei is coming off the finest season of his nine-year career, though his totals would still
register pretty low on a fantasy wish list. Two straight years of 100 PIMs mean Salei could
be a decent final pick in leagues that count the rough stuff.
Position Value:
Sami Salo Age: 32 Positional Rank: 37

2002 VAN 79 9 21 30 9 10 4 5 20:08 1
2003 VAN 74 7 19 26 8 22 5 10 22:14 2
2005 VAN 59 10 23 33 9 38 9 11 24:29 2
Proj. VAN 71 9 38 47 2 46 7 16 22:22 1
Salo started last season as if he was not just going to produce his best ever numbers but
also challenge for the Norris Trophy (Salo scored 20 points in his first 26 games before
slowing down greatly the rest of his season). Salo missed the final two months of the
season with a shoulder injury, so keep an eye on the injury reports before deciding where
to draft him this year.
Position Value:

Mathieu Schneider Age: 37 Positional Rank: 14

2002 DET 13 2 5 7 2 16 1 1 22:23 0
2003 DET 78 14 32 46 22 56 4 16 24:29 4
2005 DET 72 21 38 59 33 86 11 18 24:30 4
Proj. DET 70 15 30 45 17 62 5 20 22:49 2
Not many players put up their best season in their 17th year in the league, but Schneider
did just that this past season. Besides scoring a career-high 59 points, Schneider also
tallied a career best 29 PP points with a career-high +33 rating. Schneider was a +4 on
January 31 meaning that he was a stupendous +29 in his final 22 games for the Red
Wings.
Position Value:
Brent Seabrook Age: 21 Positional Rank: 47

2005 CHI 69 5 27 32 5 60 1 15 20:01 2
Proj. CHI 78 10 33 43 2 80 4 19 22:29 4
Seabrook had a strong rookie season amidst a storm of uncertainty in Chicago. Seabrook
started the season unbelievably hot with 5 points in his first 2 games, but he scored only 7
points total in the months of December, January and February (20 games). Seabrook
them scored 9 points in a strong March before finishing out the string in April.
Martin Skoula Age: 26 Positional Rank: 86

2002 COL 81 2 14 16 2 30 0 4 18:27 0
2003 *** 79 4 21 25 5 32 1 8 18:22 1
2005 +++ 78 5 16 21 6 46 3 10 19:08 0
Proj. MIN 77 7 29 36 2 54 1 18 20:02 0
Skoula suited up for Wild, his 4th team in two season’s, and hopes to have finally found a
home in Minnesota. A solid all-around defensemen, Skoula has some offensive talent
around him, so if he can get some power-play time, Skoula could see a boost in PP points
feeding the puck to Marian Gaborik and Pavol Demitra.
Position Value:
*** Played for Colorado and Anaheim in 2003-04.

+++ Played for Dallas and Minnesota in 2005-06.
Jason Smith Age: 32 Positional Rank: 100

2002 EDM 68 4 8 12 5 64 0 1 21:46 1
2003 EDM 68 7 12 19 13 98 0 0 21:21 1
2005 EDM 76 4 13 17 1 84 0 0 19:38 0
Proj. EDM 74 5 15 20 -4 102 0 2 21:29 0
The Oilers captain is a rock on defense, though his game is extremely limited on the
offensive end. About all you can really expect from Smith is a fair amount of penalty
minutes since he has failed to reach even the modest total of 20-points in the last four
season’s.
Position Value:

Brent Sopel Age: 29 Positional Rank: 56

2002 VAN 80 7 30 37 -15 23 6 16 21:41 1
2003 VAN 81 10 32 42 11 36 6 12 21:55 2
2005 *** 68 2 26 28 -13 70 2 13 23:19 0
Proj. LA 73 8 33 41 1 55 5 17 20:10 0
After back-to-back solid offensive seasons in Vancouver, Sopel battled injuries an
ineffective play to total only 28 points for two teams last season (LA, NYI). He did
contribute a career-high 70 PIMs, and he still managed to score 15 PP points, so it’s not
as if he was a useless skater. At least he combed his hair once or twice on the season
too.
Position Value:
*** Played for New York Islanders and Los Angeles in 2005-06.
Sheldon Souray Age: 30 Positional Rank: 28

2002 DNP
2003 MON 63 15 20 35 4 104 6 11 23:26 3
2005 MON 75 12 27 39 -11 116 7 14 22:14 0
Proj. MON 76 13 33 46 -2 103 7 20 24:05 1
After years of mediocrity, Souray has put up two similar seasons the past two years and
now he is very much worthy of your attention on draft day. After scoring only 6 points in
his first 22 games, Souray proceeded to score 32 points in his final 53 games, well over
half a point per game (0.60). In addition to his point production, Souray has accumulated
over 100 PIMs each of the last two season’s marking him as an all-around weapon in the
fantasy game. Souray was also second amongst blueliners with 83 takeaways (Rob
Blake, 89) for those of you who have league’s that count things like that.
Position Value:
Jaroslav Spacek Age: 32 Positional Rank: 34

2002 CBJ 81 9 36 45 -23 70 5 20 24:47 1
2003 CBJ 58 5 17 22 -13 45 2 8 23:26 2
2005 *** 76 12 31 43 11 96 4 17 23:39 0
Proj. BUF 77 10 26 36 2 89 2 15 22:59 0
After coming over from Chicago in a trade, Spacek scored 19 points in 31 games with the
Oilers. Add to that performance what he did in the playoffs, and Spacek scored 33 points
in 55 games for Edmonton. Now Spacek will once again switch teams, this time joining
the upstart Buffalo Sabres. The last two seasons that Spacek has dressed for 60 games
he has scored at least 40-points marking him as a quiet but solid fantasy contributor from
the blueline.
Position Value:
*** Played for Chicago and Edmonton in 2005-06.
Steve Staios Age: 33 Positional Rank: 81

2002 EDM 76 5 21 26 13 96 1 2 22:17 0
2003 EDM 82 6 22 28 17 86 1 8 23:02 1
2005 EDM 82 8 20 28 10 84 1 6 20:52 1
Proj. EDM 80 5 23 28 7 99 1 8 20:07 1
26, 28, 28 how about that for consistency. Those are Staois’ point totals the last three
years. His PIM totals you ask? How about 96, 86, 84. He has also reached double figures
the past three years in plus/minus, so while nothing he does really stands out, you sure
as heck know what to expect out of Staois’ yeoman-like efforts.
Position Value:

Brad Stuart Age: 26 Positional Rank: 24

2002 SJ 36 4 10 14 -6 46 2 6 20:53 1
2003 SJ 77 9 30 39 9 34 5 14 22:08 0
2005 *** 78 12 31 43 -8 52 7 14 24:57 2
Proj. BOS 80 13 44 57 3 78 8 23 24:43 4
Sent to Boston in the Joe Thornton trade, Stuart will enter his 7th season at the tender age
of 26-years-old. Stuart set career-highs in points (43) and PP points (21) as well as
playing almost 25 minutes per game last season. Stuart was a (-10) the last two months
of the season as the Bruins season went down the toilet, so look for that number to
improve in the coming year.
*** Played for San Jose and Boston in 2005-06.
Ryan Suter Age: 21 Positional Rank: 83

2005 NSH 71 1 15 16 7 66 0 2 17:21 0
Proj. NSH 75 4 20 24 2 80 1 5 19:11 0
Son of former NHL defensemen Gary Suter, Ryan had a solid rookie season for the
Predators. Though he scored only 1 goal, he still managed 84 shots on goal. Suter will
need to become a fixture on the second PP unit in order to become a valuable member of
your fantasy team this year.
Position Value:
Andy Sutton Age: 31 Positional Rank: 62

2002 ATL 53 3 18 21 -8 114 1 7 18:00 0
2003 ATL 65 8 13 21 0 94 7 5 23:20 1
2005 ATL 76 8 17 25 13 144 1 0 21:04 3
Proj. ATL 77 8 18 26 4 119 2 5 22:05 0
The hulking rearguard (6 foot 6, 245 pounds) isn’t afraid to mix things up, but in addition
to his penalty minute prowess, Sutton also posted a +13 last season for Atlanta. Sutton
really played well down the stretch with 12 points and a +10 rating in his final 23 games.
Position Value:
Dick Tarnstrom Age: 31 Positional Rank: 90

2002 PIT 61 7 34 41 -11 50 3 22 23:54 0
2003 PIT 80 16 36 52 -37 38 12 26 24:02 0
2005 *** 55 6 8 14 -15 76 4 3 16:55 0
Proj. EDM 67 10 32 42 -9 70 5 20 17:39 1
A power play force in 2003-04 (38 PP points), Tarnstrom struggled all year to find a place
in the lineup for the Penguins and then with the Oilers. Tarnstrom must contribute on
offense or he is of little worth, and because of his defensive shortcomings he dressed for
only 12 of the Oilers 24 playoff games.
Position Value:
*** Played for Pittsburgh and Edmonton in 2005-06.

Kimmo Timonen Age: 31 Positional Rank: 13

2002 NSH 72 6 34 40 -3 46 4 24 22:24 0
2003 NSH 77 12 32 44 -7 52 8 22 23:52 1
2005 NSH 79 11 39 50 -3 74 6 30 22:26 1
Proj. NSH 77 12 40 52 6 68 5 32 23:48 3
Timonen has put together a streak of four straight 40-point season’s highlighted by last
years career-high 50 points. A power-play force, 156 of his career 246 points have been
with the man advantage (63.4%). Before suffering a smattering of injuries, Timonen had
42 points in his first 57 games including 30 on the power-play.
Position Value:
Oleg Tverdovsky Age: 29 Positional Rank: 80

2002 NJ 50 5 8 13 2 22 2 2 16:47 1
2003 DNP
2005 CAR 72 3 20 23 -1 37 0 12 16:35 0
Proj. CAR 77 5 25 30 2 42 2 13 19:01 0
The second overall pick in the 1994 draft, Tverdovsky has failed, miserably, to live up to
his billing as a Bobby Orr clone. Yes, Tverdovsky can skate like the wind, and yes he has
offensive flair, but the production has just never been there. In 1999-2000 he had back-to-
back 50 point seasons, but in his last 195 games he has scored only 68 points.
Position Value:
Mike Van Ryn Age: 27 Positional Rank: 32

2002 STL 20 0 3 3 3 8 0 1 15:03 0
2003 FLA 79 13 24 37 -16 52 6 12 24:26 0
2005 FLA 80 8 29 37 15 90 3 13 22:35 2
Proj. FLA 82 11 31 42 11 88 5 15 24:10 1
Van Ryn took the next step in 2005-06 even though he scored the same amount of points
as the previous season. Because of his improved defensive play and the extra penalty
minutes he earned, Ryn has started to emerge as an all-around weapon in the fantasy
game. After the Olympics, Mike scored 15 points in 25 games signaling that more offense
may still reside within his stick.
Position Value:
Lubomir Visnovsky Age: 30 Positional Rank: 11

2002 LA 57 8 16 24 2 28 1 6 19:20 1
2003 LA 58 8 21 29 8 26 5 12 24:02 0
2005 LA 80 17 50 67 7 50 10 31 23:16 3
Proj. LA 72 13 37 50 -4 58 5 20 23:36 1
Lubomir was probably a late round or waiver-wire pickup in most leagues, and he
rewarded his owners with a fantastic season. Obliterating his career-highs in every
scoring category, Lube was 4th amongst all D in goals (17), 5th in points (67) and 5th in PP
points (41). After scoring 56 points in 58 games before the Olympics, Lube managed only
11 points in his last 22 games. Of note: Visnovsky lit up the Stars in 8 games scoring 14
points (7G, 7A) and posting a +10, meaning that if you remove those 8 games, Lube
would have played 72 games, scored 53 points and been a (-3) on the season.

Greg de Vries Age: 33 Positional Rank: 52

2002 COL 82 6 26 32 15 70 0 0 22:15 2
2003 *** 66 3 13 16 12 43 0 2 18:46 0
2005 ATL 82 7 28 35 1 76 3 12 22:00 2
Proj. ATL 77 5 25 30 7 88 2 9 23:01 0
A borderline fantasy performer, de Vries has totaled 30 points and 70 PIMs in two of the
last three season’s and last year he contributed for the first time in his career with the man
advantage (15 PP points). The Thrashers have tons of offense up front, so if de Vries can
find his way onto the power-play unit, he could be a useful component of a fantasy roster.
Position Value:
*** Played for New York Rangers and Ottawa in 2003-04.
Ryan Whitney Age: 23 Positional Rank: 27

2005 PIT 68 6 32 38 -7 85 2 14 23:49 1
Proj. PIT 74 8 37 45 -2 108 3 16 23:47 2
The Penguins first round pick from 2002, Whitney has a bright future on the blueline in
Pittsburgh. Whitney was at his best towards the end of the season when he scored 20
points in his final 21 games, and also put up a stellar +7 during those final two months.
Could team with Sergei Gonchar to form a lethal one-two duo on the power-play.
Brendan Witt Age: 31 Positional Rank: 84

2002 WAS 69 2 9 11 12 106 0 0 20:55 0
2003 WAS 72 2 10 12 -22 123 0 0 22:47 0
2005 *** 75 1 13 14 0 209 0 0 20:44 0
Proj. NYI 70 2 12 14 6 178 0 0 20:19 0
Witt was second in the NHL and led all defensemen with 67 minor penalties on his way to
setting a career-high with 209 PIMs to lead NHL defensemen in 2005-06. Other than his
PIM total, the second most in the NHL to Sean Avery last season, Witt adds no value to a
fantasy team.
Position Value:
*** Played for Washington and Nashville in 2005-06.
Alexei Zhitnik Age: 33 Positional Rank: 57

2002 BUF 70 3 18 21 -5 85 0 9 26:32 1
2003 BUF 68 4 24 28 -13 102 2 12 25:01 0
2005 NYI 59 5 24 29 4 88 3 17 24:30 0
Proj. NYI 64 5 23 28 2 106 2 12 23:20 0
Through the first two months of the season, there were few defensemen who were the
equal of Zhitnik. Zhitnik scored 20 points in his first 25 games, with 15 of those points
coming on the power-play, and he also recorded 50 PIMs. After December 1st, his totals
dwindled (9 points and 38 PIM in 34 games) and he ended up fracturing his ankle and
missing the last month of the season.
Position Value:

Marek Zidlicky Age: 29 Positional Rank: 12

2003 NSH 82 14 39 53 -16 82 9 26 20:02 4
2005 NSH 67 12 37 49 8 82 10 19 20:03 1
Proj. NSH 76 18 40 58 6 92 9 29 21:27 4
The other half of the Predators PP duo on the blueline with Kimmo Timonen, Zidlicky
struggled with injury down the stretch and missed the entire month of April. However, he
still managed to virtually match his production from his rookie season despite the fact that
he dressed for 15 fewer games in ‘05-’06. Zidlicky was equally dangerous at home (24
points) as on the road (25 points).
Position Value:
Sergei Zubov Age: 36 Positional Rank: 7

2002 DAL 82 11 44 55 21 26 8 20 25:50 2
2003 DAL 77 7 35 42 0 20 4 21 25:50 1
2005 DAL 78 13 58 71 20 46 9 30 26:26 0
Proj. DAL 69 7 40 47 7 42 7 23 23:30 1
Zubov led NHL defensemen with 7 shootout goals, no other D man had more than 2,
highlighting his obvious skills with the puck on his stick. Zubov’s 71 points were his
highest total since 1993-94, and his 39 PP points were also his best total since ‘93-’94. In
fact, Zubov hadn’t totaled even 60 points in a season since 1995-96 making last year’s
point total of 71 a bit suspect. A workhorse who averages well over 25 minutes a game,
Zubov has scored 51.4% of his career points (678) on the power-play.

GOALIES
KEY
GP (Games Played)
MIN (Minutes Played)
W (Wins), L (Loses), T (Ties), OTL (Overtime Loses)
GAA (Goals Against Average)
SV% (Save Percentage)
SF (Shots Faced)
SO (Shutouts)
POSITIONAL RANK = Ranking, 1- 50, Amongst Goalies Based on Staff Voting
David Aebischer Age: 28 Positional Rank: 33

YR TM GP MIN W L T OTL GAA SV% SF SO
2002 COL 22 1235 7 12 0 0 2.43 .916 593 1
2003 COL 62 3703 32 19 9 0 2.09 .924 1703 4
2005 *** 50 2895 29 17 0 2 3.09 .899 1473 3
Proj. MON 38 2220 14 14 0 7 2.77 .903 950 0
Aebischer struggled most of the season eventually losing his job to Peter Budaj in
Colorado before being traded to Montreal to serve as the backup to Cristobal Huet. At this
time it appears that Aebischer will serve as the backup to Huet at the start of the season
again even though Huet has little NHL experience. David finished the season strong with
a 3-1 record and .922 SV% in four April starts, and he is just one year removed from a 32
win season, so stashing him away as your #3 goalie doesn’t sound like a bad idea to us.
Position Value:
*** Played for Colorado and Montreal in 2005-06.
Alex Auld Age: 25 Positional Rank: 22

2002 VAN 7 382 3 3 0 0 1.57 .939 165 1
2003 VAN 6 349 2 2 2 0 2.06 .929 168 0
2005 VAN 67 3859 33 26 0 6 2.94 .902 1938 0
Proj. FLA 63 3780 31 27 0 4 2.78 .901 1952 1
After a couple of years of being nothing more than an injury fill-in, Auld exploded on the
NHL scene when starter Dan Cloutier went down with a knee injury. Auld was either really
good, as he was in his 33 Wins (2.19 GAA, .926 SV%), or really bad as he was in his 32
loses (3.75 GAA, .878 SV%). Auld’s play waned as the season wore on as he posted an
8-10-3 record with a 3.10 GAA, .893 SV% after the Olympic break. The question becomes
will he be able to join the elite goaltenders of the NHL in his new home in Florida?
Position Value:

Ed Belfour Age: 41 Positional Rank: 34

2002 TOR 62 3738 37 20 5 0 2.26 .922 1816 7
2003 TOR 59 3444 34 19 6 0 2.13 .918 1483 10
2005 TOR 49 2897 22 22 0 4 3.29 .892 1476 0
Proj. FLA 25 1423 8 9 0 3 2.99 .901 678 1
Coming off his worst statistical season since 2001-02, Belfour’s play was sub par all year
since he played hurt most of the season and eventually required back surgery causing
him to miss roughly the last month and a half of the season. Belfour vows to be back on
the ice at the start of the year but how much juice does the 41-year-old have left after
posting his worst GAA and SV% since his rookie season of 1988-89? Belfour will back up
Alex Auld for the Florida Panthers this year.
Position Value:
Martin Biron Age: 29 Positional Rank: 35

2002 BUF 54 3170 17 28 6 0 2.56 .908 1468 4
2003 BUF 52 2972 26 18 5 0 2.52 .913 1442 2
2005 BUF 35 1934 21 8 0 3 2.88 .905 980 1
Proj. BUF 30 1713 15 13 0 1 2.99 .901 919 0
Coming off back-to-back 20 seasons as basically a backup, the Sabres have an excellent
keeper to turn to in case Ryan Miller falters. Biron stepped into the starting role when
Miller was injured and was stellar in November and December (14-5-2). As impressive,
Biron was 9-2-2 on home ice and posted a 2.16 GAA in 9 games after the Olympic break
meaning he will likely be one of the best backups in the league heading into the 2006-07
season.
Position Value:
Martin Brodeur Age: 34 Positional Rank: 2

2002 NJ 73 4374 41 23 9 0 2.02 .914 1706 9
2003 NJ 75 4555 38 26 11 0 2.03 .917 1845 11
2005 NJ 73 4365 43 23 0 7 2.57 .911 2105 5
Proj. NJ 70 4222 40 27 0 2 2.49 .909 2098 6
One of the top 5 goaltenders of all-time, Brodeur was his normal stellar self with his 10th
straight season of at least 34 wins. What makes last year’s performance so remarkable
was the mid-season turnaround he experienced. On December 31st, Brodeur was 14-13-3
with a 2.94 GAA and a .896 SV%, hardly Brodeur-like numbers. However, from January
1st on, he was his normal amazing self going 29-9-4 with a 2.29 GAA and a .922 SV%.
There is no more consistent netminder in the NHL making Brodeur a sure fire 1st round
pick in the fantasy game.
Position Value:
Ilya Bryzgalov Age: 26 Positional Rank: 31

2003 ANA 1 60 1 0 0 0 1.98 .929 28 0
2005 ANA 31 1575 13 12 0 1 2.51 .910 733 1
Proj. ANA 32 1855 16 12 0 4 2.54 .909 772 3
It will likely be an interesting battle in the Anaheim nets in 2006-07. In one corner is
former Conn Smythe winner J.S. Giguere, and in the other is youngster Illya Bryzgalov.
Bryzgalov played well when Giguere battled injuries and inconsistent play before the
Olympic break, he posted a 2.53 GAA and .912 SV%, but Giguere’s solid play thereafter
limited Ilya to only 5 games after the break. However, Bryzgalov enjoyed a tremendous
amount of success in the playoffs with a 1.46 GAA, .944 SV% and 3 SO in going 6-4 for
the Ducks. His playoff play included a streak of almost 250 minutes without a goal
allowed, the second longest streak in NHL playoff history.
Position Value:

Peter Budaj Age: 24 Positional Rank: 45

2005 COL 34 1803 14 11 0 6 2.86 .900 864 2
Proj. COL 22 1230 12 8 0 2 2.75 .903 1199 1
Budaj split time in net with since traded David Aebischer, and for a while served as the
team’s primary keeper last season. However, the Avalanche moved Aebischer to
Montreal and in exchange received the underachieving Jose Theodore. Obviously this
means that Budaj will start the year in a backup capacity and he will likely only see
significant playing time with an injury to Theodore. In Budaj’s 14 wins, he posted a 1.72
GAA to go along with a .939 SV%.
Position Value:
Sean Burke Age: 39 Positional Rank: 48

2002 PHX 22 1248 12 6 2 0 2.11 .930 632 2
2003 *** 47 2620 16 20 7 0 2.73 .909 1302 2
2005 TB 35 1713 14 10 0 4 2.80 .895 763 2
Proj. TB 22 1203 7 10 0 4 2.74 .893 612 1
Brought over in the offseason to strengthen the Bolts in net, Burke had a poor season
posting his first sub .900 SV% since the 1997-98 season. Things got even worse for
Burke in the playoffs when he appeared in three games with an inflated 3.84 GAA and
.877 SV%. At 39-years of age, Burke has likely seen his last chance to be a starting
goaltender at the NHL level, and with the Bolts addition of Marc Denis, Burke will likely be
seeking a new home this season.
Position Value:
*** Played for Phoenix and Philadelphia in 2003-04.
Dan Cloutier Age: 30 Positional Rank: 39

2002 VAN 57 3376 33 16 7 0 2.42 .908 1477 2
2003 VAN 60 3539 33 21 6 0 2.27 .914 1554 5
2005 VAN 13 681 8 3 0 1 3.17 .892 334 0
Proj. LA 30 1722 14 10 0 5 2.89 .894 881 1
With Roberto Luongo brought in to mind the nets in Vancouver, Cloutier was expendable
especially with his $2.5 million salary. Cloutier was therefore traded to Los Angeles into
another goalie situation that is less than ideal (he will have to battle M. Garon and J.
LaBarbara for playing time). Cloutier, who will be attempting to come back after a knee
injury limited him to just 13 games in ‘05-’06, though he is just one year removed from a
streak of three straight 30-win season’s.
Position Value:
Ty Conklin Age: 29 Positional Rank: 50

2003 EDM 38 2066 17 14 4 0 2.42 .912 875 1
2005 EDM 18 922 8 5 0 1 2.80 .880 316 1
Proj. CBJ 28 1608 10 8 0 7 2.74 .897 574 1
Conklin takes his game to Columbus this season after spending his entire career in
Edmonton. With Pascal Leclaire scheduled to be the #1 goalie Conklin had better be
prepared to play a fair amount of games if Leclaire struggles (Leclaire only has 35 games
of NHL experience). Conklin owns a solid .905 SV% in his career and has a winning
record in 60 career games (27-20-4).
Position Value:

Marc Denis Age: 29 Positional Rank: 15

2002 CBJ 77 4511 27 41 8 0 3.09 .903 2404 5
2003 CBJ 66 3796 21 36 7 0 2.56 .918 1970 5
2005 CBJ 49 2786 21 25 0 1 3.25 .900 1505 1
Proj. TB 61 3601 33 22 0 5 2.69 .907 1758 4
After playing an almost incomprehensible 77 contests in 2002-03, Denis has had two
years of declining games as Columbus tried to work other netminders into the mix.
Despite holding every conceivable goaltending record for the Blue Jackets, Denis was
traded to the Lightening for winger Fredrik Modin, and Denis appears to now be the
favorite in net for the Bolts. Denis finished the regular season with a 2.82 GAA and .911
SV% in his last 12 games and with an improved defense in front of him, not to mention a
strong offense, Denis is a good bet to record his first 30-win season.
Rick DiPietro Age: 25 Positional Rank: 14

2002 NYI 10 585 2 5 2 0 2.97 .894 273 0
2003 NYI 50 2844 23 18 5 0 2.36 .911 1264 5
2005 NYI 63 2572 30 24 0 5 3.02 .900 1797 1
Proj. NYI 66 3960 32 24 0 7 2.81 .909 1859 5
Being the first goalie drafted first overall (2000), and playing in New York, can’t be an
easy thing. But DiPietro has shouldered the burden, and despite a few stumbles last
season, looks to be primed for a big year on the Island. After his experience at the
Olympics, Rick returned with a new sense of determination and ripped off a 20-game
streak of excellent goaltending: 11-8-1, 2.29 GAA, .918 SV%. Throw in the fact that he
played his best against the Devils last year (6-1-1, 1.81 GAA, .933 SV%) and you can
easily foresee an all-star season on the horizon for DiPietro.
Ray Emery Age: 24 Positional Rank: 37

2002 OTT 3 85 1 0 0 0 1.42 .923 26 0
2003 OTT 3 126 2 0 0 0 2.38 .904 52 0
2005 OTT 39 2168 23 11 0 4 2.82 .902 1045 3
Proj. OTT 28 1620 14 10 0 2 2.74 .903 897 1
Coming into last season with just 6 games of NHL experience, Emery was thrust into the
starters role when Dominik Hasek went down with injury. Emery was amazing in February
and March with a 13-2-2 record with 2.09 GAA and .924 SV%. Of course, that means his
numbers in his other 22 games were less than stellar (10-9-2, 3.43 GAA, .886 SV%). The
Senators signed Martin Gerber, so draft accordingly with Emery since he will once again
begin the year as the Sens backup.
Position Value:
Robert Esche Age: 28 Positional Rank: 36

2002 PHI 30 1638 12 9 3 0 2.20 .907 647 2
2003 PHI 40 2322 21 11 7 0 2.04 .915 932 3
2005 PHI 40 2286 22 11 0 5 2.97 .897 1099 1
Proj. PHI 33 1899 18 10 0 3 2.80 .900 864 2
Splitting time in net because of injury and poor play, Esche failed to build upon his pre-
lockout success. Esche did play better after the Olympic break (2.61 GAA and .908 SV%),
but those numbers merely made his season long work look acceptable. Esche did
dominate in the Flyers matchups with the Islanders going 5-0 with a 1.60 GAA, though
that merely makes his season record look even worse (17-16 in his other decisions).
Position Value:

Manny Fernandez Age: 32 Positional Rank: 5

2002 MIN 35 1979 19 13 2 0 2.24 .924 972 2
2003 MIN 37 2166 11 14 9 0 2.49 .915 1056 2
2005 MIN 58 3411 30 18 0 7 2.29 .919 1612 1
Proj. MIN 62 3502 32 20 0 8 2.48 .917 1645 5
Finally pulling a trade to relieve themselves of one of their two worthy netminders, the
Wild finally handed the reigns over to Fernandez full-time when they traded Dwayne
Roloson to Edmonton. Fernandez posted the 6th best GAA and SV% in the NHL in 2005-
06, and in fact, the “new” NHL had little effect on his numbers. Over the last three years
Manny has a 2.33 GAA and .919 SV% numbers which beg the question: what took the
Wild so long to name him their #1? Only lacking shutouts in his quest to join the elite in
terms of fantasy value amongst goalies.
Position Value:
Marc-Andre Fleury Age: 21 Positional Rank: 28

2003 PIT 21 1154 4 14 2 0 3.64 .896 675 1
2005 PIT 50 2809 13 27 0 6 3.25 .898 1485 1
Proj. PIT 56 3368 22 23 0 8 3.10 .903 1588 2
After last season’s injuries to #1 starter Jocelyn Thibault, Fleury stepped into the void to
take charge in Pittsburgh. The first overall selection in the 2003 draft, Fleury has struggled
his first two seasons, though much of that can be blamed on a porous defense in front of
him. In 6 games in April, Fleury was 2-2-1 with a 2.55 GAA, showing the world that he has
the talent to help turn things around in Pittsburgh with a little help.
Position Value:
Mathieu Garon Age: 28 Positional Rank: 27

2002 MON 8 482 3 5 0 0 1.99 .940 267 2
2003 MON 19 1003 8 6 2 0 2.27 .921 480 0
2005 LA 63 3446 31 26 0 3 3.22 .894 1738 4
Proj. LA 54 3516 23 24 0 5 2.83 .910 1754 3
Named the #1 starter for the first time in his career, Garon had an up and down season
on the left coast. In the first half of the season, Garon was borderline spectacular in
posting a 17-8-0 record with a 2.70 GAA and .911 SV%. After that point, Garon was
decidedly average going 14-18-3 with a 3.65 GAA and .879 SV%. Which goalie will show
up this year to compete with Jason LaBarbara and Dan Cloutier?
Position Value:
Martin Gerber Age: 32 Positional Rank: 7

2002 ANA 22 1203 6 11 3 0 1.94 .929 548 1
2003 ANA 32 1698 11 12 4 0 2.26 .918 785 2
2005 CAR 60 3493 38 14 0 6 2.78 .906 1719 3
Proj. OTT 56 3189 32 18 0 4 2.69 .912 1778 4
Gerber takes his game from the Cup champion Hurricanes to the Senators as a
replacement for Dominik Hasek. Gerber fell out of favor in Carolina in the playoffs when
he played in only 6 games, despite winning a franchise best 38 games during the regular
th th
season. Gerber’s overall numbers were average, he was 17 in GAA and 16 in SV%,
th
but he was 4 in the league in the only number that really matters, wins.
Position Value:

J.S. Giguere Age: 29 Positional Rank: 16

2002 ANA 65 3775 34 22 6 0 2.30 .920 1820 9
2003 ANA 55 3210 17 31 6 0 2.62 .914 1623 3
2005 ANA 60 3381 30 15 0 11 2.66 .911 1692 2
Proj. ANA 50 2899 25 18 0 6 2.54 .909 1413 2
For the second time in three years, Giguere won 30 games and posted a SV% above
.910. In fact, Giguere has a SV% of at least .910 for 6 straight years. However, a tense
situation is in place for the Ducks where incumbent starter Giguere will likely face stiff
competition from playoff hero Ilya Bryzgalov for the starting spot in Anaheim. Giguere lost
10 OT decisions in his first 37 games before losing only 1 OT game after the Olympics
(23 games).
Position Value:
John Grahame Age: 31 Positional Rank: 44

2002 TB 17 914 6 5 4 0 2.23 .920 424 2
2003 TB 29 1688 18 9 1 0 2.06 .913 664 1
2005 TB 57 3152 29 22 0 1 3.06 .889 1451 5
Proj. CAR 24 1537 14 8 0 2 2.69 .904 687 1
With the departure of Martin Gerber, Grahame looks to basically have the backup job in
Carolina sewn up. Despite a less-than-stellar ‘05-‘06 season, Grahame did acquit himself
fairly well in front of a weak defensive unit in Tampa Bay. Also, don’t forget that Cam
Ward only has 28 games of regular season experience so he is by no means a sure bet
to hold onto the #1 job for the entire season.
Position Value:
Dominik Hasek Age: 41 Positional Rank: 23

2003 DET 14 817 8 3 5 0 2.20 .907 324 2
2005 OTT 43 2584 28 10 0 4 2.09 .925 1112 5
Proj. DET 47 3052 26 14 0 3 2.49 .913 1298 4
As much credit as Hasek gets, it is highly possible that people overlook his greatness. At
40 years of age Hasek was second in the NHL in GAA and SV%, and this is after playing
in only 14 games the previous two seasons. In 10 of the last 11 seasons Hasek has had a
GAA of under 2.30 and his career mark is 2.22. At the time of his injury last year he was
nd
the 2 best goalie in the NHL, though his groin injury didn’t allow him to play after
February 11th.
Position Value:
Cristobal Huet Age: 31 Positional Rank: 18

2002 LA 12 541 4 4 1 0 2.33 .913 241 1
2003 LA 41 2199 10 16 10 0 2.43 .907 961 3
2005 MON 36 2103 18 11 0 4 2.20 .929 1085 7
Proj. MON 47 2825 25 18 0 3 2.52 .908 1219 3
Before you go mortgaging the farm to draft Huet, you should be cognizant of a couple of
relevant facts. (1) Huet is 31-years-old and has only 89 games played in his NHL career.
(2) In his two previous season’s he posted a .909 SV%, well below his NHL leading .929
mark last season. (3) The Canadiens have a very capable goalie backing him up, David
Aebischer, meaning that at the slightest sign of struggle Huet could be relegated to back
up duty. All that said, he was fabulous last year especially down the stretch when he
posted 5 shutouts in his final 19 starts.

Curtis Joseph Age: 39 Positional Rank: 13

2002 DET 61 3566 34 19 6 0 2.49 .912 1676 5
2003 DET 31 1708 16 10 3 0 2.39 .909 744 2
2005 PHX 60 3424 32 21 0 3 2.91 .902 1690 4
Proj. PHX 61 3488 33 20 0 5 2.88 .901 1732 3
Returning for another season to backstop Wayne Gretzky’s Coyotes, few people seem to
realize that Joseph is one of the best goalies of all-time. One of only nine goalies ever to
record 400 wins, he has 428, Joseph has won at least 29 matches in 8 of the last nine
season while posting a .900 or better SV% nine straight season’s. He is 39-years-old, but
he did register a 2.86 GAA and .909 SV% in his final 16 appearances, numbers better
than his overall season totals.
Position Value:
Nikolai Khabibulin Age: 33 Positional Rank: 21

2002 TB 65 3787 30 22 11 0 2.47 .911 1760 4
2003 TB 55 3274 28 19 7 0 2.33 .910 1414 3
2005 CHI 50 2815 17 26 0 6 3.35 .886 1379 0
Proj. CHI 63 3687 27 26 0 8 2.93 .899 1702 2
One of the biggest singings off the offseason, Khabibulin landed in Chicago with a
resounding thud putting together the worst season of his career. After being a difference
maker in Tampa Bay, Nikolai posted career-worsts in GAA, SV% and for the first time in a
season where he appeared in 30 or more games, he failed to register even a single SO.
Lots of work is needed in Chicago, and the Blackhawks need Nikolai to play like the
goalie who posted a .910 or better save percentage every year from 2000-04.
Position Value:
Miikka Kiprusoff Age: 29 Positional Rank: 1

2002 SJ 22 1199 5 14 0 0 3.25 .879 537 1
2003 CGY 38 2301 24 10 4 0 1.70 .933 966 4
2005 CGY 74 4380 42 20 0 11 2.07 .923 1951 10
Proj. CGY 69 4178 41 23 0 5 2.22 .919 1876 6
In a year and a half in Calgary, there has been no finer goalie in the NHL than Vezina
Trophy winner Kiprusoff. Kipper, as he is affectionately called, has 66 wins, a 1.94 GAA, a
.926 SV% and 14 shutouts…in only one and a half season’s. Last season, Kipper led the
NHL with 10 SO, was first in GAA, second in wins and third in SV%. An example of how
great he was last season can be seen in his final 8 starts. Despite a 5-0-3 record, Kipper
had a 1.10 GAA, .960 SV% and 2 SO. In fact, after taking the Olympics off to rest his
injured body, Miikka had a .938 SV and 1.73 GAA in his final 23 starts. Simply put, he is
the best of the best.
Position Value: Vezina Winner
Olaf Kolzig Age: 36 Positional Rank: 32

2002 WAS 66 3894 33 25 6 0 2.40 .919 1925 4
2003 WAS 63 3738 19 35 9 0 2.89 .908 1958 2
2005 WAS 59 3506 20 28 0 11 3.53 .896 1987 0
Proj. WAS 58 3502 25 22 0 8 3.19 .897 1921 2
Once a top NHL goaltender, Kolzig’s name pops up every year at the trade deadline but
he continues to toil in the nets for the Caps. After four straight 30-win season’s (1999-
2002) Kolzig has only earned 39 wins the past two season’s because of the poor team
that now surrounds him (he was 12th in the league with 59 games played but only tied for
th
26 in wins). Kolzig’s 3.53 GAA, the highest of any netminder with more than 35 games,
will likely come down a bit but that is a scary number even in the “new” wide-open NHL.
With declining numbers, Kolzig is a waiver-wire pick-up when he is going well, but nothing
more.
Position Value:

Patrick Lalime Age: 32 Positional Rank: 47

2002 OTT 67 3943 39 20 7 0 2.16 .911 1591 8
2003 OTT 57 3324 25 23 7 0 2.29 .905 1334 5
2005 STL 31 1699 4 18 0 8 3.64 .881 868 0
Proj. CHI 22 1152 8 9 0 3 2.93 .892 558 1
Three straight years of declining numbers landed Lalime in the minors last year while a
member of the Blues organization before a torn ACL ended his season in early April.
Lalime moves to Chicago to backup Nikolai Khabibulin who is also looking to recapture
past glory. Lalime is only 32-years-old so there is hope that he can return to the keeper
that has posted a career .906 SV%.
Position Value:
Pascal Leclaire Age: 23 Positional Rank: 30

2003 CBJ 2 119 0 2 0 0 3.52 .899 69 0
2005 CBJ 33 1804 11 15 0 3 3.23 .911 1084 0
Proj. CBJ 58 3421 27 20 0 8 3.02 .901 1642 2
With the trade of Marc Denis to Tampa Bay, the #1 job is there for the taking for the
French Canadian. Leclaire posted a solid SV% in front of a team that often seemed a bit
lost on defense. As the season wore on Leclaire’s play improved and in his last 13 games
he posted a 2.57 GAA and .927 SV% for the Blue Jackets. In his 11 wins last season,
Leclaire had a 2.37 GAA and .932 SV%, so the talent is definitely there for Pascal to
succeed.
Position Value:
Manny Legace Age: 33 Positional Rank: 11

2002 DET 25 1406 14 5 4 0 2.18 .925 681 0
2003 DET 41 2325 23 10 5 0 2.12 .920 1019 3
2005 DET 51 2905 37 8 0 3 2.19 .915 1244 7
Proj. STL 52 2845 24 20 0 6 2.57 .904 1352 3
Why do they always seem to be unhappy with this diminutive keepers performance in
th rd th nd
Detroit? Legace finished 5 in the NHL in wins, 3 in GAA, 8 in SV% and 2 in SO, not
to mention being the only NHL goalie to win more than 23 games while suffering only
single digit regulation loses. For those of you not keeping score, Legace has posted a
2.19 or lower GAA in each of the past three seasons marking him as the only NHL
netminder to do that. Legace was never better than in October when he went 10-1 with a
1.81 GAA. Signed with the Blues and figures to be their number one netminder.
Position Value:
Kari Lehtonen Age: 22 Positional Rank: 12

2003 ATL 4 240 4 0 0 0 1.25 .953 106 1
2005 ATL 38 2166 20 15 0 0 2.94 .906 1123 2
Proj. ATL 60 3580 30 20 0 8 2.74 .911 1958 4
The Thrashers employed 37 goalies last season, well maybe it was only something like 5,
but there is no question who the number one man will be in 2006-07. After dealing with
injury issues which limited him to only 2 games in the first two months, Lehtonen
alternated good games with bad as he tried to find his stride. Lehtonen had a .928 SV% in
his 20 wins to go along with a stellar .928 SV%, and in his last 17 starts he had a 11-6
record serving notice to the NHL that the Thrashers will be a team to be feared in the
upcoming season.

Henrik Lundqvist Age: 24 Positional Rank: 9

2005 NYR 53 3112 30 12 0 9 2.24 .922 1485 2
Proj. NYR 58 3488 26 24 0 7 2.73 .902 1723 2
Where did this guy come from? Well the answer is Sweden, but there was no way to
predict the impact he would have in his first year in the NHL. Named to the All-NHL
Rookie Team, Henrik posted a GAA below 2.60 in every month of the season except for
April (he had one start where he gave up 5 goals). Equally consistent in the save-
percentage department, Lundqvist earned at least a .913 mark every month (save April,
.844 in that single start). Henrik posted a 33-8-3 record with a 1.79 GAA and .936 SV% in
Sweden in 2004-05, so perhaps his NHL performance last year was legit.
Position Value:
Roberto Luongo Age: 27 Positional Rank: 3

2002 FLA 65 3627 20 34 7 0 2.71 .918 2011 6
2003 FLA 72 4252 25 33 14 0 2.43 .931 2475 7
2005 FLA 75 4305 35 30 0 9 2.97 .914 2488 4
Proj. VAN 71 4178 36 24 0 7 2.56 .918 1988 5
The NHL’s busiest netminder finds himself playing for the Canucks after finally escaping a
less than stellar position in Florida (the Panthers were 16th in goals allowed per game at
3.07 last season). Not that the Canucks are that much better on the defensive side of the
th
puck, they were 15 in goals allowed per game at 3.06, but with Luongo in net that
number is bound to improve. Luongo posted the 9th best SV% last season despite ranking
th
just 28 in GAA because of the additional 350 shots that he faced as compared to any
other goalie. A change of scenery should allow Luongo to cement his status as one of the
NHL’s 5 best goalies.
Position Value:
Jussi Markkanen Age: 31 Positional Rank: 41

2002 EDM 22 1180 7 8 3 0 2.59 .904 533 3
2003 *** 33 1638 10 14 3 0 2.38 .918 793 2
2005 EDM 37 2016 15 12 0 6 3.13 .880 873 0
Proj. EDM 28 1699 10 12 0 3 2.77 .903 753 2
Markkanen did what he usually does, and that is play well enough not to get sent down
but rarely well enough to endanger the teams #1 netminder. Markkanen did win a career-
high 15 games last season, but he also lost 18 (if you include OT loses). Relegated to a
spectator after the acquisition of Dwayne Roloson, Markkanen played in but one game
after the Olympic break before admirably filling in for the injured Roloson in the Cup finals
(3-3, 2.16 GAA, .905 SV%).
Position Value:
*** Played for New York Rangers and Edmonton in 2003-04.
Chris Mason Age: 30 Positional Rank: 49

2003 NSH 17 744 4 4 1 0 2.18 .926 365 1
2005 NSH 23 1227 12 5 0 1 2.54 .913 597 2
Proj. NSH 19 1158 8 7 0 2 2.79 .903 587 0
Mason re-signed with the Predators to once again backup Tomas Vokoun. When Vokoun
suffered from blot clots late in the season, Mason went on a tear going 6-1 with a 1.63
GAA and .938 SV% in April. Mason played decent goal in a first-round loss to the Sharks,
but at age 30, Mason might just be a career backup.
Position Value:

Ryan Miller Age: 26 Positional Rank: 8

2002 BUF 15 912 6 8 1 0 2.63 .902 410 1
2003 BUF 3 178 0 3 0 0 5.06 .792 73 0
2005 BUF 48 2862 30 14 0 3 2.60 .914 1440 1
Proj. BUF 54 3282 29 19 0 5 2.76 .903 1638 3
The Sabres savior, Miller had an excellent rookie season for Buffalo’s franchise. At home,
Miller posted an 18-7-1 record that included a 2.26 GAA and he also led a spirited Sabres
playoff run going 11-7 with ratios almost dead-on his regular season performance (2.56
GAA, .908 SV%). However, Miller played much better before the Olympic break than
after, he had a 3.15 GAA and .900 SV% down the stretch, so keep an eye on the situation
to see how he responds to what could be a heavier workload this season.
Position Value:
Evgeni Nabokov Age: 31 Positional Rank: 25

2002 SJ 59 3227 19 28 8 0 2.71 .906 1561 3
2003 SJ 55 3456 31 19 8 0 2.21 .921 1610 9
2005 SJ 45 2575 16 19 0 7 3.10 .885 1160 1
Proj. SJ 40 2498 20 17 0 2 2.73 .905 1058 3
Nabokov went from the undisputed number one in San Jose to an afterthought down the
stretch playing in only 7 games after the Olympics and only 12 minutes of mop-up duty in
the playoffs because of the fine play of Vesa Toskala. For the first time Nabokov had an
GAA above 2.71 and a SV% below .905, so he will look to justify his $5 million plus
contract by returning to the level he attained his previous four seasons.
Position Value:
Antero Niittymaki Age: 26 Positional Rank: 26

2003 PHI 3 180 3 0 0 0 1.00 .961 77 0
2005 PHI 46 2690 23 15 0 6 2.97 .895 1266 2
Proj. PHI 52 3003 29 17 0 4 2.71 .903 1358 2
Niittymaki put up numbers that any rookie would be proud of in Philly last season. Though
his consistency was a bit lacking alternating weak and then strong play, Antero showed
what he could do during the month of December when Robert Esche was out by going 8-
2-3 with a 2.38 GAA and .920 SV%. In his 21 loses Niittymaki had a 3.81 GAA, but in his
23 wins, that number dropped all the way to 2.19.
Position Value:
Chris Osgood Age: 33 Positional Rank: 38

2002 STL 9 532 4 3 2 0 3.05 .888 241 2
2003 STL 67 3861 31 25 8 0 2.24 .910 1460 3
2005 DET 32 1846 20 6 0 5 2.76 .897 743 2
Proj. DET 39 2332 21 12 0 3 2.69 .900 897 1
Osgood re-upped for two more years with the big red machine. Osgood, the owner of 325
career wins which has him tied with Gump Worsley for the 15th most ever, went 20-6 last
year for Detroit. Osgood was particularly tough down the stretch when he went 7-1-2 in
his last 10 decisions with a 2.46 GAA. One other note. Against Central Division teams,
Osgood went 10-1-2 with a 2.39 GAA.
Position Value:

Andrew Raycroft Age: 26 Positional Rank: 24

2002 BOS 5 300 2 3 0 0 2.40 .918 146 0
2003 BOS 57 3420 29 18 9 0 2.05 .926 1586 3
2005 BOS 30 1619 8 19 0 2 3.71 .879 824 0
Proj. TOR 57 3452 30 20 0 6 2.81 .905 1750 3
Raycroft moved into hockey mad Toronto to take over the reigns as the Leafs #1 tender.
After a Calder trophy winning season, Raycroft struggled to find his stride on the ice and
also had to deal with injury off it. About the only positive from last season for Raycroft was
his play in the 8 games he won; 2.19 GAA, .921 SV%. An Ontario native, the stage is set
for a triumphant return of the Leafs, and Raycroft.
Position Value:
Dwayne Roloson Age: 36 Positional Rank: 20

2002 MIN 50 2945 23 16 8 0 2.00 .927 1334 4
2003 MIN 48 2847 19 18 11 0 1.88 .933 1323 5
2005 *** 43 2524 14 24 0 5 2.73 .908 1256 2
Proj. EDM 56 3398 27 22 0 5 2.82 .903 1502 3
Roloson singed a three-year, $11 million contract to stay in Edmonton after his great
playoff run which ended in injury (12-5, 2.33 GAA, .927 SV%). Roloson has appeared
in 50 games in a season once in his career (2002-03), though he does own a solid 2.50
GAA and equally impressive .910 SV% in his career. Roloson did only win 14 games
versus 29 defeats in the regular season last year and don’t forget that he is 36-years-old
heading into the season.

*** Played for Minnesota and Edmonton in 2005-06.
Curtis Sanford Age: 26 Positional Rank: 42

2002 STL 8 397 5 1 0 0 1.96 .912 148 1
2003 DNP
2005 STL 34 1830 13 13 0 5 2.66 .908 885 3
Proj. STL 31 1755 15 10 0 4 2.59 .903 801 1
Sanford missed the last month of the season because of a MCL sprain, but he should be
fully healthy by the start of the season. Sanford acquitted himself quit well in front of a
poor Blues team last year including an extremely hot stretch of 6 games before he was
injured (those 6 games produced a 1.43 GAA and .947 SV%). With the signing of Menny
Legace, it remains to be seen just how much action Sanford will see this season.
Position Value:
Jose Theodore Age: 30 Positional Rank: 17

2002 MON 57 3419 20 31 6 0 2.90 .908 1797 2
2003 MON 67 3961 33 28 5 0 2.27 .919 1860 6
2005 *** 43 2410 18 17 0 6 3.41 .882 1158 0
Proj. COL 59 3563 30 22 0 5 2.77 .903 1936 4
Theodore heads into the 2006-07 as the favorite to be the starting netminder for the
Lanche and with a ton to prove. Coming off what was easily his career worst
performance, Theodore will look to take up the mantle since vacated by Patrick Roy in
Colorado. Besides his poor play, Theodore also suffered an ankle injury that required
surgery though he returned to backstop the Lanche in the playoffs (4-5, 3.04 GAA, .902
SV%).
Position Value:
*** Played for Montreal and Colorado in 2005-06.

Jocelyn Thibault Age: 31 Positional Rank: 46

2002 CHI 62 3650 26 28 7 0 2.37 .915 1690 8
2003 CHI 14 821 5 7 2 0 2.85 .913 450 1
2005 PIT 16 807 1 9 0 3 4.46 .876 484 0
Proj. PIT 22 1260 9 10 0 2 3.02 .897 614 0
T-Bo will try to revive a once promising career that has been derailed by a spat of injuries
in recent seasons. From 1998-2003, Thibault averaged 29 wins per season while posting
a GAA below 2.80 in four of the five seasons. Since then, Thibault has but 6 wins the past
two seasons while posting a 3.65 GAA. If healthy, T-Bo will probably open the season as
the backup to Marc-Andre Fleury.
Position Value:
Tim Thomas Age: 29 Positional Rank: 40

2002 BOS 4 220 3 1 0 0 3.01 .907 118 0
2003 DNP
2005 BOS 38 2187 12 13 0 10 2.77 .917 1213 1
Proj. BOS 24 1440 9 12 0 3 2.84 .901 724 0
With Andrew Raycroft out of town (TOR), Thomas now assumes the backup duties in
Boston, though like H. Toivonen, he too has little NHL experience (42 total games).
Thomas earned a 1.89 GAA in his 12 wins, but in his 23 loses that number skyrocketed to
3.21. In addition, Thomas’ GAA and SV% all regressed in each of the four months he
played last season.
Position Value:
Hannu Toivonen Age: 22 Positional Rank: 29

2005 BOS 20 1163 9 5 0 4 2.63 .914 539 1
Proj. BOS 57 3529 27 23 0 6 2.88 .903 1752 2
Apparently he will be the B’s number #1 going into the regular season. In fact, he actually
filled that role last year prior an ankle injury which sidelined him for the season’s final
three months. In his 9 wins he had a 2.15 GAA and in his 9 losses it was almost a full goal
higher (3.13). The 2002 first round pick has all of 20 games of NHL experience under his
belt though he was able to improve his GAA and SV% in each of the four months he
played last season.
Position Value:
Vesa Toskala Age: 29 Positional Rank: 19

2002 SJ 11 537 4 3 1 0 2.35 .927 287 1
2003 SJ 28 1541 12 8 4 0 2.06 .930 760 1
2005 SJ 37 2039 23 7 0 4 2.56 .901 878 2
Proj. SJ 42 2561 22 14 0 4 2.59 .911 966 3
After starting the season 0-4 in the first two months, Toskala then went on a 23-3-4 run to
end the year which included a 2.29 GAA and .911 SV%. If that wasn’t good enough,
Toskala went 15-2-2 with a 2.13 GAA in his final 19 starts before going 6-5 with a 2.45
GAA in 11 playoff games. In 77 career games, Toskala owns a career 2.34 GAA with a
.916 SV%. Likely to split time with Nabokov unless/until one of them is traded.
Position Value:

Marty Turco Age: 31 Positional Rank: 6

2002 DAL 55 3203 31 10 10 0 1.72 .932 1359 7
2003 DAL 73 4359 37 21 13 0 1.98 .913 1648 9
2005 DAL 68 3910 41 19 0 5 2.55 .898 1624 3
Proj. DAL 70 4192 38 25 0 6 2.47 .906 1623 5
Just win baby, that’s all Turco does. Coming off a career-high 41 win season, Turco might
be slightly overvalued in the fantasy game when you consider he posted his fewest
shutouts (2) in a season in which he was in net for more than 35 games. Turco also
registered a career-worst 2.55 GAA (his previous worst was 2.09), and a .898 SV%
(previous worst was .913). Turco was 8th in the NHL with that 2.55 GAA, but his .898 SV%
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was only 29 in the league. However, if you remove his October numbers (3.64 GAA and
.872 SV%) you arrive at a .902 SV%, a number that would still probably leave you
wanting.
Position Value:
Tomas Vokoun Age: 30 Positional Rank: 4

2002 NSH 69 3974 25 31 11 0 2.20 .919 1771 3
2003 NSH 73 4221 34 29 10 0 2.53 .909 1958 3
2005 NSH 61 3601 36 18 0 7 2.67 .919 1984 4
Proj. NSH 64 3669 36 23 0 4 2.54 .912 1998 5
Vokoun set a Predators record with 36 wins last season even though he basically missed
the last month of the season because of blood clots. Against Central Division opponents,
Vokoun went 14-5-1 with a .931 SV% and in his 36 wins, he had a 1.93 GAA and .939
SV%. Vokoun has produced two extremely similar seasons back-to-back, and finds
himself just a notch below the elite goalies in the NHL. He should be ready to go by the
start of the season.
Position Value:
Cam Ward Age: 22 Positional Rank: 10

2005 CAR 28 1484 14 8 0 2 3.68 .882 773 0
Proj. CAR 58 3596 31 22 0 4 2.71 .903 1659 4
Ward had a solid rookie season with a 14-8 record, though his ratio’s could use quite a bit
of improvement. Instead of waiting until next season to work on that, Ward emerged in the
playoffs as the Hurricanes version of Miikka Kiprusoff going 15-8 with a 2.14 GAA and a
.920 SV% in leading the Canes to the Cup. The Hurricanes were so impressed by Ward’s
play they let Martin Gerber move on to Ottawa leaving Ward the #1 netminder heading
into the 2006-07 season.
Position Value:
Kevin Weekes Age: 30 Positional Rank: 43

2002 CAR 61 2965 14 24 9 0 2.55 .912 1438 5
2003 CAR 66 3765 23 30 11 0 2.33 .912 1654 6
2005 NYR 32 1850 14 14 0 3 2.95 .895 867 0
Proj. NYR 24 1526 10 12 0 2 2.86 .899 798 1
After two solid campaigns in Carolina, Weekes was unable to find his rhythm in New York
this past season other than in the month of November (6-2, 2.30 GAA, .917 SV%). With
the play of Lundqvist in front of him, it appears Weekes dreams of being a starting NHL
netminder are once again on hold.
Position Value:

TEAM REPORTS: WESTERN CONFERENCE
Anaheim Ducks
Calgary Flames
Chicago Blackhawks
Colorado Avalanche
Columbus Blue Jackets
Dallas Stars
Detroit Red Wings
Edmonton Oilers
Los Angeles Kings
Minnesota Wild
Nashville Predators
Phoenix Coyotes
San Jose Sharks
St. Louis Blues
Vancouver Canucks

Anaheim Ducks Fantasy Team Report

2005-06: 43-27-12, 98 Points, 6th in the West
Fantasy MVP – Forwards

A return to SoCal proved to be just what the doctor ordered for Teemu Selanne. After a horrendous and
injury-plagued season in Colorado, the Finnish Flash enjoyed a 40-goal, 90-point homecoming campaign in
Anaheim last year, and was one of the NHL’s most dominant players down the stretch, leading the Ducks to
the Western Conference Final against Edmonton. His rejuvenated performance earned him the Bill
Masterton Trophy for perseverance and dedication to hockey last season, along with a significant raise.
Although normally a 36-year-old would warrant some concern in a fantasy draft, Selanne still seems to be a
pretty dangerous scorer.
Fantasy MVP – Defense

It’s hard to ignore a former Norris Trophy-winner looming on the opposing blueline. It’s even harder to ignore
two. With the addition of 2000-01 winner and Stanley Cup finalist Chris Pronger to the Anaheim back-end,
the Ducks now own one of, if not the most dangerous defensive duo in all of hockey. Last season, 2003-04
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winner Scott Niedermayer anchored a Ducks’ defense that only allowed 2.71 goals per game (7 best in
the NHL), while putting up even better numbers (13g-50a-63pts, with a +8 and 96 PIM) than during his
Norris campaign in 2003-04. With a defense partner like Pronger, expect Niedermayer’s stock to continue to
rise.
Player to Watch
After nearly tripling his previous high in points of 30 (34g-51a-85pts), C Andy McDonald is without a doubt
the player to watch for the Anaheim Ducks. At almost 29-years-old, he is entering just his third full NHL
season (after 3 previously injury-shortened seasons) and at this point, it’s difficult to tell whether last season
was just a fluke or an indication of things to come from the Strathroy, Ontario native. He will again get the
chance to play alongside Selanne in the fall, so there’s really nothing (barring another injury) to indicate that
McDonald won’t be a solid fantasy contributor this season as well.
Goalies
So, the Russian newspapers get it wrong again. After the recent translation fiasco involving alleged
comments by Ducks’ goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov regarding teammate and fellow goalie Jean-Sebastian
Giguere, both Anaheim GM Brian Burke and Bryzgalov cleared the air by saying that no starting goaltender
has been announced for the 2006-07 season. However, despite that notion, it is more likely than not that
one of the two netminders will be traded before training camp opens in September. It is probable that the
Ducks would rather move Giguere, the 2004 Conn Smythe winner and his $4 million salary, but the price tag
might limit Burke’s options, especially if Bryzgalov remains unsigned.

Fading Star
After Burke cleaned house by purging the Anaheim dressing room of just about every conceivable
underachiever (Sergei Fedorov, Petr Sykora, Sandis Ozolinsh, Jeff Friesen, etc.), there really isn’t anyone
left that fits the bill of a ‘fading star’. 32-year-old center Todd Marchant will never again repeat his 60-point
2002-03 season, but is still invaluable to the Ducks’ penalty kill with his deadly speed and faceoff abilities.
However, with just 9 goals and 34 points last season, Marchant may not prove to be worthy of his $2.47
million salary next season, and may be the next Duck to exit stage right.
Top Prospect
With 57 NHL games under his belt, it’s debatable whether or not Ryan Getzlaf has crossed the border from
‘prospect’ to ‘player’. Anaheim’s first round pick in 2003 (19th overall), Getzlaf chipped in 14 goals and 25
assists last season, and the Ducks fully expect those numbers to climb next season and beyond as he
grows in his development at the NHL level. The 21-year-old center plays a physical style of hockey and
should, without a doubt, secure a full-time roster spot next season.
Other Names to Watch: LW Stanislav Chistov, G Michael Leighton, RW Corey Perry, LW Dustin Penner,
RW Bobby Ryan (not under contract)
Special Teams
Penalty Kill: 83.5%, 13th in the NHL
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Power Play: 18.1%, 15 in the NHL
The Ducks were the NHL’s poster child for special teams’ mediocrity last season, ranking smack dab in the
middle in both categories. On the PK, the Ducks were led by mainstay center Sammy Pahlsson, who
contributed a 52.8% faceoff percentage and 3 shorthanded goals to the cause. The #1 power-play unit was
headed by Selanne (18 PPG) and Scott Niedermayer (9 PPG). In addition, of the 14 goals Getzlaf netted
last season, 10 came with the man advantage.
Offseason Moves
Added: C Ryan Carter (FA), G Michael Leighton (CHI), D Chris Pronger (EDM)
Lost: F Jeff Friesen (CGY), F Aaron Gavey (FA), G Jani Hurme (FA), F Joffrey Lupul (EDM), D Jason
Marshall (EUR), D Ruslan Salei (FA), D Ladislav Smid (EDM)
Offensive Ranking: 7.5

Defensive Ranking: 9.5
Goalie Tandem: 8.0
Prospect Ranking: 8.0
Special Teams: 6.0
Offseason Movement: 9.0
Did You Know…

The 2005-06 season was Anaheim’s best single-season record in franchise history with 98 points,
surpassing their previous high of 95 set in 2003-04 during the team’s run to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup
Finals. In addition, two players set individual scoring records last year, with Scott Niedermayer earning the
most points in a season by a defenseman in Ducks’ history with 63, and Chris Kunitz earning the most
points by a rookie in franchise history with 41.

Calgary Flames Fantasy Team Report

2005-06: 46-25-11, 103 Points, 3rd in the West

Though it was a rough season, RW Jarome Iginla was often the best forward on the ice for the Flames.
With a 35 goal, 32 assist season in ’05-’06, Iginla should look to bounce back from a dismal season. With
the acquisition of LW Alex Tanguay (29 Goals-49 Assists-78 Points), the offensive burden of the Flames will
no longer be placed strictly on Iginla’s back alone which could enable him to him to thrive again as he did
during the 2001-02 season when he scored a career-high 52 goals and 96 points (see below).

Even as a rookie, D Dion Phaneuf turned plenty of heads with not only his physical play, but his prowess on
the power play. Of Phaneuf’s 20 goals, 16 came on the power-play, while out of his 29 assists, 17 of those
were on the extra-man advantage. Phaneuf does have a booming shot, but even as a 21-year-old, he
played like a seasoned veteran on the blue line. Phaneuf is very responsible in his own zone and should be
a cornerstone to this team’s defense for years to come.
Player to Watch
Winger Kristian Huselius should be able to shine offensively with some of the offseason acquisitions that
the Flames were able to bring in. Huselius had a career season between Calgary and Florida with 20 goals
(15 in Calgary) and 27 assists (24 in Calgary). Depending on the line that he is put on, Huselius should be
able to create chemistry very quickly with his line mates, which should be beneficial to both Huselius and
those on his line.
Goalies
After a Vezina Trophy winning season, Miikka Kiprusoff (42-20-11, 2.07 GAA, .923 SV%) is looking to cut
back his workload a little bit. Due to a lack of experienced, quality back-ups in ’05-’06, Kiprusoff had to play
74 of the 82 games. Luckily for Kipper, Jamie McLennan (2-4-2, 3.07 GAA, .906 SV% in FLA) will be back
in the Flames uniform as a back-up next season. If you remember, McLennan was the goalie who was the
stopgap when both Kiprusoff and former goalie Roman Turek went down with injuries in ’03-’04.
Fading Star
With his stats on the decline since 1999-2000, LW Tony Amonte’s tenure as a go-to guy could finally be on
the last legs. After a career best season in ’99-’00 (43-41-84), Amonte has not been able to recapture that
scoring touch. Last season, Amonte was supposed to be the scoring presence the Flames lacked, but with a
dismal 14 goal, 28 assist campaign, Amonte’s decline hit an all-time low. Since ’99-’00, Amonte’s highest
point total since was 66 (27g-39a) in 2000-01.

Top Prospect
After finishing his WHL career with the Moose Jaw Warriors with a career best season (48-42-90), C Dustin
Boyd is going to be the scoring future for the Flames. As a 15-year old (bantam aged), Boyd lead the league
in Midget AAA (age 16-18 year olds) in Manitoba. With his first pro season, likely in Omaha of the AHL next
season, the Flames will look to see if the transition from juniors to Minor Pro will hinder Boyd’s development.
Other Names to Watch: LW Eric Nystrom, C Aki Seitsonen, D Tim Ramholt
Special Teams
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Penalty Kill: 84.3%, 7 in the NHL
Power Play: 18.2%, 12th in the NHL
The Calgary Flames had a solid penalty unit last year, no surprise considering their coach was Darryl Sutter.
However, while the Flames PK unit was able to stop the other team from scoring they scored only 8 SHGs
on the season, a mark that placed them in the bottom third of the league. On the power-play, the Flames
were led by Jarome Iginla up front with 17 PPGs, and Dion Phaneuf on the backend with 16 PPGs. C
Daymond Langkow (25-34-59) also chipped in 11 PPGs while W Chuck Kobasew (20-11-31) also
reached double figures with 10 PP goals.
Offseason Moves
Added: D Brad Ference (PHX), F Jeff Friesen (ANA), G Jamie McLennan (CGY), Alex Tanguay (CGY), D
Andrei Zyuzin (MIN)
Lost: F Shean Donovan (BOS), D CGY Hulse (FA), D Jordan Leopold (CGY), D Bryan Marchment (FA), F
Craig McDonald (CHI), F Chris Simon (NYI)

Goalie Tandem: 9.5
Special Teams: 7.5
Did You Know…

Jarome Iginla won the Rocket Richard Trophy for most goals in season in ’01-’02 (52-44-96), and while his
pace dropped off in ’02-’03 (35-32-67), he bounced back slightly in ’03-’04 (41-32-73). Of course, Iginla
dropped off this past season, continuing a streak of suffering a drop-off in play during the first year of a new
contract.

Chicago Blackhawks Fantasy Team Report


With the departure of RW Mark Bell, LW Kyle Calder returns as the teams leading scoring and most reliable
forward (he finished last season with career highs in goals (33) and points (59) in his 5th full season).
Although not a big presence, Calder plays with lots of energy that is contagious with his teammates. If paired
with the right linemates Calder could breakout since he has the talent to be a top performer in the league.
The new NHL is more suited to his speed and aggressive play and the new acquisitions of Bryan Smolinski
and Martin Havlat will probably help him on the score sheet.

Last year defenseman Brent Seabrook had a very quiet but steady season for a terrible team. Look for him
to elevate his game more as he continues to learn the NHL game. He is a big defenseman with good
skating ability and plenty of offensive potential. He excited fantasy players early last year with a 3-point
game in the third game of the season. As a rookie he played in 69 games and finished with an impressive
5-27-32. Most importantly he was a reliable defender positing a +5 rating for a team that finished a (-74) on
the season and second last in the Western Conference. He will most definitely be one of the top 3-4
defenseman and looks to pair with Adrian AuCoin on the power-play.
Player to Watch
Newly acquired LW Martin Havlat (9 Goals-7 Assists-16 Points in 18 games) comes to the Hawks fresh
from a big off-season deal that also saw the Blackhawks pick up Brian Smolinski from Ottawa. Havlat has
been a bit of an enigma, some nights looking like a star, other nights he has performed a complete
disappearing act. He is also a little volatile and needs to keep his temper under control. There is no doubt he
has the skill to be a dominant offensive player since when healthy last year he posted 4 multiple point
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games in 18 played in the regular season, and had 11 points in 9 playoff games including a dominant 1
round performance against Tampa Bay. The move to Chicago will give him more ice time and a higher
expectations after the Hawks signed him to a 3 year deal worth $18 million. Playing 32 games in a very
weak division will help his production this year meaning a point-per-game season is possible.
Goalies
Nikolai Khabibulin has a lot to prove after signing a huge contract and being an injury bust last season.
Khabibulin played in only 50 games, posting a season of 17-26-6, with a 3.35 GAA and .886 SV%. Those
numbers are not impressive at all for a guy making $6.75 million. It has been 3 years since he won the
Stanley Cup with Tampa Bay, and over the course of his career he has been very inconsistent on a night-in,
night-out basis. He has posted four 30-win seasons over his career but to expect that on this team is insane,
the Hawks simply are not good enough. Nikolai has to improve his save percentage greatly since he was
well below his career average of .908 last year.

One of the Hawks biggest problems last year was getting any decent goaltending when Khabibulin was out.
To correct this the Hawks brought in veteran Patrick Lalime from St. Louis. Lalime can be a good
goaltender in the right situation, though he had a rough year in St.Louis and appears to still be in a funk from
hit brutal playoff showings in Ottawa. With expectations greatly reduced, and only playing a backup role,
Lalime could make for a good #2 for the Hawks but not for fantasy purposes.
Fading Star
Khabibulin has a lot to prove for a bad team. It seems like he has been around forever but is still only 33-
years-old entering this season. Remember back in 2004 when he won the Cup in Tampa Bay? That season
he was pushed by John Grahame for the number one spot as his inconsistency can get the best of a coach.
Chicago is hardly the ideal situation for him as the team terrible in all facets of the game. It is just not
reasonable to expect him to win every game by himself which is what he tried to do every night last season
with the horrible team in front of him. No shutouts in 50 games in a sign of things to come for Khabibulin and
the Blackhawks.
Top Prospect
RW Brandon Bochenski was the player the Hawks got back from Ottawa in the Tyler Arnason deal and he
played in 19 games with Chicago after the trade and posted 4 points and a (-8). The expectation is that he
will be an offensive producer. He was seen as one of the top young players in a deep Ottawa system, and if
teamed with Martin Havlat he could have a very successful first full NHL season.
Other Names to Watch: D James Wisniewski, C Jonathan Toews
Special Teams
nd
The Blackhawks special teams flat out stunk. The addition of Havlat and the health of AuCoin should help
the power play a lot as they will have the QB they desperately need and a finisher. The Blackhawks traded
PPG leader (11) Mark Bell to San Jose, so there is a hole to fill. The penalty kill will have to improve from
experience and a scheme standpoint as they did not bring in any defensive specialists and lost C Curtis
Brown to San Jose as well. The health of Khabibulin can only help the penalty kill.
Offseason Moves
Added: F Michael Handzus (PHI), F Martin Havlat (OTT), G Patrick Lalime (STL), F Reed Low (STL), F
Vaclac Pletka (PHI), F Bryan Smolinski (OTT)
Lost: G Craig Anderson (FLA), F Matthew Barnaby (DAL), F Mark Bell (SJ), F Curtis Brown (SJ), Kyle
Calder (PHI), F Eric Daze (FA), F Eric Meloche (CHI), F Pavel Vorobiev (RUS)

Goalie Tandem: 8.0
Special Teams: 3.5
Did You Know…

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LW Kyle Calder finished last season with career-highs in goals (33) and points (59) in his 5 full season, a
total which led the team by a staggering 11 points over second place Mark Bell who had 48 (and has since
been traded to San Jose).

Colorado Avalanche Fantasy Team Report

Contributed By: Nate Strauch

Having just turned 37, Avalanche captain Joe Sakic (32 Goals-55 Assists-87 Points)might be within
chipping distance of the green on top of the hill, but he hasn’t quite reached the downhill side just yet. Sakic
will be counted on in 2006-07 more than ever now that his erstwhile left wing Alex Tanguay is skating in the
artic north of Alberta with Calgary. With the price of gas increasing at near-ludicrous speed, it’s a darn good
thing that this British Columbian gets good mileage, because he’s still got plenty left in the tank. Super Joe
showed us last year that he’s more than capable of playing Atlas on a team of shrugs as he shouldered and
carried the Av’s for much of the season (Ayn Rand would have been proud). But if the Avalanche is going to
have a successful year, you better believe the fountainhead of victory will be Joe Sakic.

With the departure of Rob Blake to the City of Angels, an avalanche of pressure to score from the blueline
falls squarely on the diminutive shoulders of one John-Michael Liles. The 25-year old Indianan showed a
considerable penchant for joining the rush last year, tallying 14-goals and 35-assists, both career-highs.
With Karlis Skrastins or Ossi Vaananen literally watching his back and figuratively staying at home, Liles
should once again have the freedom to roam where he pleases, which means plenty of numbers for you and
me to enjoy.
Player to Watch
If RW Marek Svatos (32-18-50) can stay healthy, there’s no question he has Rocket Richard Trophy-type
ability. But that’s a huge “if.” Winging a line with Pierre “Methuselah” Turgeon, with whom he developed a
lethal rapport last year, Svatos’ goal total will depend entirely on his two brittle shoulders. If he can stay in
the lineup for a full 82-games, consider 40-goals a lock and 50 easily within reach. Although he was unjustly
left out of the Calder debate last year, Svatos has the touch to stay pace with Alex Ovechkin, goal-for-goal.
He’ll be a guy a lot of people overlook so expect him to be sitting there, with a bow on, in the mid-rounds of
your draft, ripe for the picking.
Goalies
Hell hath no fury like the fans’ wrath if Jose Theodore fails to meet expectations. They say the Bell Centre
in Montreal is a fishbowl, but dear Jose will feel the carbonated pressure inside the Pepsi Center if he’s
anything less than stellar. With a fat $5.3 million paycheck, and the ever-present shadow of Patrick Roy
darkening the crease, Theodore will have to do more with less, as All-World defenseman Blake won’t be
around to help. It’s not a matter of skill, as Theodore’s quickness with that rapier-like glove is unmatched.
Rather, Jose must exorcize the demons in his head if he hopes to regain the form of his Hart-winning
season four long years ago. Should he falter, backup Peter Budaj proved last year that he’s a capable, if
not slightly underwhelming, stand-in.

Fading Star
Defenseman Patrice Brisebois has gone from “bargain-priced replacement for Adam Foote” to “overpaid
doppelganger of Martin Skoula” – or just “goat” if you prefer. Brisebois’ play declined steadily throughout the
2006 season, culminating with a giveaway in overtime of Game Three verses Anaheim that turned into
Joffrey Lupul’s record-setting fourth goal of the night, effectively ending the Av’s season. At the beginning of
the off-season, team management inexplicably elected not to buy out his contract. A buyout would have
essentially paid him not to play for Colorado, and that’s a payday I and other Avalanche fans would have
happily accepted.
Top Prospect
Go ahead and pencil-in LW Wojtek Wolski to challenge for the 2007 NHL Rookie of the Year. The 20-year
old wunderkind scored at a Gretzky-like pace for the Brampton Battalion of the OHL last year, putting up 47-
goals and 81-assists in just 56 games. The Polish prodigy torched goalies from Oshawa to Sault Ste. Marie
en route to winning the Red Tilson Trophy as the League’s most outstanding player. He enjoyed a nine-
games stint (2-4-6) with the Avalanche last season before being relegated to a developmental season in
Brampton. Apparently the kid missed the “develop” part, cause he just went mental on the League.
Other Names to Watch: C Paul Stastny, C Brad Richardson, D Johnny Boychuck
Special Teams
The Colorado Avalanche’s specialty teams were its most consistent asset in 2005-06; a trend the squad
looks to continue this season. The loss of Tanguay and Blake will hurt to be sure, but the Av’s return their
most valuable penalty killer in Karlis Skrastins, and two most potent weapons on the power play, with
Svatos and Milan Hejduk looking to score with the man advantage. Newly acquired defenseman Jordan
Leopold should provide some pop from the point, although he doesn’t quite possess a Blake-ian cannon.
And don’t forget number 15 in your programs, number one in your hearts, Andrew Brunette, who quite
literally made a living on the power play last year, bowling in 11 of the hardest-fought goals you’ll ever see.
Offseason Moves
Added: F Tyler Arnason (OTT), D Ken Klee (NJ), D Jordan Leopold (CGY), F Paul Stastny (FA)
Lost: D Rob Blake (LA), F Jim Dowd (FA), F Dan Hinote (STL), F Alex Tanguay (CGY)

Goalie Tandem: 7.5
Special Teams: 8.5
Did You Know…

Joe Sakic leads all active players in points scored (1489) and ranks first in assists (915). With 43 points this
season, he will become one of the ten highest-scoring players of all-time, bumping Oilers great Paul Coffey
from the top ten list. Also, with the retirement of Steve Yzerman over the summer, Sakic is now the longest-
tenured captain in the NHL, having donned the “C” since 1990.

Columbus Blue Jackets Fantasy Team Report


An unexpected hero emerged from the Blue Jackets this season in David Vyborny. Vyborny led the team in
points with 65, scoring 22 goals and adding 43 assists, however he ended the season with a (-9). Through
an injury plagued season for the Blue Jackets, Vyborny remained healthy and played 80 games (the only
player to play more games this season was ex-Blue Jacket Trevor Letowski with 81). Vyborny has proven
that he can produce goals, and will be counted on to do so, after signing a 2-year extension with the team.
With a healthy offensive squad, Vyborny will play on the first or second line and produce similar, if not better,
statistics in the forthcoming season.

It is extremely difficult to say that anyone was an MVP on defense last season. Consistency was a problem
for the Jackets' defense last season. However, if you had to pick one player, it would probably have to be
Brian Berard. Even though Berard had a nagging injury last season (a back that required surgery), he was
able to produce similar statistics to some of the team’s forwards. Last season, in 44 games, Berard scored
12 goals and 20 assists with (-29) and 78 PIM.
Player to Watch
There is one forward that year after year produces in big numbers for the Blue Jackets, and its Rick Nash.
Nash had 31 goals and 23 assists with a +5 in 54 games last season. With those numbers Nash led the
team in goals, ranked 2nd on the team in points and finished as the top forward in plus/minus. Last season,
the Blue Jackets got off to a slow start, and most fans will tell you it was because Nash was hurt. With Nash
in the line-up, the Jackets were 26-25-3. Nash should have big numbers this year with a more complete
team around him to complement his style of play. Nash only needs 11 goals to reach the 100-goal milestone
in his career.
Goalies
In the words of one fan: “I'd like to thank the Jackets for stepping up and paying for a decent goalie.” The
Blue Jackets over the off-season picked up veteran goalie, Ty Conklin from the Edmonton Oilers. Even if he
made a very costly play, one which could have arguably cost his team the Stanley Cup, he should be a great
addition to the Columbus goalie staff. Last season, Conklin played only 18 regular-season games, and had
an 8-5-0 record, as well as a 2.80 GAA. The other goalie that will be in the mix is the young Pascal
Leclaire. Last season the former Syracuse Crunch goaltender played in 33 games, posting an 11-15-0
record, 3.23 GAA, and .911 SV%. Only 23-years-old, Leclaire will be a big factor in the Columbus net in the
foreseeable future.

Fading Star
Nikolai Zherdev has proven that he is an excellent asset to the Columbus Blue Jackets. Last year he
racked up 27 goals and 27 assists in 73 games. Scoring is not the problem with Zherdev. The problem that
the Jackets are faced with is where will Zherdev be this season? If Zherdev does not re-sign with Columbus,
he will be going back to Russia to play. To make matters worse, Zherdev has already signed with Khimik
Voskresensk, a team in the Russian Superleague. This means that if Zherdev does not sign with the Blue
Jackets, he will be playing in Russia this season. Apparently, the reason why Zherdev has not signed with
Columbus is that he has been offered short-term deals, where he would like to be offered a longer-term deal.
This could be a huge loss for Columbus.
Top Prospect
The Blue Jackets’ front office staff is one of the best in the league, especially in the entry draft. The Blue
Jackets also have had great success with the majority of their first round picks. Amongst previous picks are:
Leclaire, Nash, Zherdev, and Rotislav Klesla. This year, the Blue Jackets picked Derrick Brassard with the
sixth pick overall. Last season, Brassard played in the QMJHL with the Drummondville Voltigeurs. The
Voltigeurs have bred great NHL players such as Ian Lapierre, Steve Duschene, and Daniel Briere in the
recent past. In 58 games, this Canadian native scored 44 goals, 72 assists, 116 points, with 92 PIM last
season after a 2005 season in which he was awarded the Michel Bergeron Trophy for the QMJHL's rookie of
the year. Brassard was also the 2006 winner of the Mike Bossy Trophy for best prospect.
Other Names to Watch: C Gilbert Brule, G Steve Mason, LW Robert Nyholm and D Ben Wright.
Special Teams
The Blue Jackets have some trouble with special teams as most teams do that lack elite offensive talent (at
least on the power-play). Having Nash healthy for the entire season should since he tied for the team lead
with 11 PP goals despite skating in only 54 games. The other Blue Jacket with 11 PP goals was Bryan
Berard and he only skated in 44 games himself. Zherdev was third on the team with 10 PP goals, so the
team desperately needs to sign him. On the PK the Jackets were about the middle of the pack in the NHL.
However because of all the penalties they amassed, they were actually 9th in the NHL in PP goals allowed
(95). They simply must improve this unit if they hope to make the playoffs.
Offseason Moves
Added: G Ty Conklin (EDM), D Tomas Kloucek (CBJ), F Fredrik Modin (TB), G Fredrik Norrena (TB)
Lost: D Andy Delmore (CBJ), G Marc Denis (TB), F Jan Hrdina (FA), G Andrew Penner (PIT), G Martin
Prusek (FA), F Michael Rupp (CBJ)

Goalie Tandem: 6.0
Special Teams: 5.0
Did You Know…

The Columbus Blue Jackets posted a record of 35-43-4 last season, good for 74 points. This was the Blue
Jackets’ best season statistically since they joined the NHL. However the most impressive part of these
numbers was their record from the second-half of the season. In their final 41 games, the Blue Jackets went
23-16-2, and in their last 23 games at home the team was 16-7-0.

Dallas Stars Fantasy Team Report

2005-06: 52-23-6, 112 Points, 2nd in the West

The Stars are still Mike Modano’s team. The captain of the club returns for his 17 season, all with the Stars.
Last year after starting off slow, Modano picked up his play and finished the season with 27 Goals-50
Assists-77 Points with a +23. Very impressive for a player that most thought was over the hill and would not
be able to snap out of a mental funk he had during the 2003-04 season which saw him produce only 44
points and a (-23). The speed and ability to dominate a game is still there. He had 16 multiple point games in
the ‘05-‘06 season. He will be surrounded by good linemates in RW Jere Lehtonen, and LW Brenden
Morrrow, and should put up around a point-per-game while playing on the power-play and penalty kill.

Much like Modano, Sergei Zubov has been around a long time, yet still continues to produce at a high level.
Zubov, 36-years-old, is still one of the most fluid skaters in the league, and one of the best set-up men from
the point. He continues to get picked later and later in drafts, yet the production is still there. Last year he
finished the season (13-58-71) with a +20, ranking him 2nd overall in assists and points for a defensemen.
He is the Stars only reliable QB on the power play; he finished last year with 9 power-play goals. Expect
more of the same out him this year. He makes for a good #1 and a great #2 defenseman on a fantasy roster.
Player to Watch
Eric Lindros once again is looking to re-establish himself as a dominant force in the league. He signed an
incentive laden deal that guarantees him $1.55 million this season, but it could be worth as much as $2.5
million. No team was willing to give him a deal longer than a year as he has to prove he is capable of playing
a full season. Last year it was not concussion problems that set him back, but a surgically repaired wrist that
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kept him out for all but 3 of the Maple Leafs games from December 10 on. When in the lineup, Lindros
started off great, scoring 9 of his first 10 games. He tailed off after that finishing with (11-11-22) and a (-3) in
33 games. He is a high-risk, high-reward player and playing on the second line behind Modano should
benefit him. If he stays healthy and motivated (big ifs) he is still capable of big things. He is not the dominant
physical player he once was, but he can still be very good.
Goalies
There is no doubt Marty Turco is great regular season goalie, but the playoff failures are starting to increase
the questions of whether he can be a big time goalie. Still, Turco is worthy of a high pick, he is likely a first or
second rounder in rotisserie leagues. Last year Turco struggled mightily in the middle part of the season but
still finished with strong 41-19-5 record with a 2.55 GAA and .898 SV% and 3 SO. The Stars are a good
team that is capable of putting up 100 points and Turco is the undisputed #1 goalie. At press time, the
backup spot was still up in the air. Look for the Stars to sign a proven backup between now and the
beginning of training camp to solve this issue.

Fading Star
There once was a time, not that long ago, that Janne Niininaa was considered a mid-to-upper tier fantasy
defenseman. His days are long past as he is now on his 4th team entering his 9th season and is no longer
seen as a developing star, but as a borderline NHL player. His (3-13-16) line with a (-12) rating in 63 games
last year were not the type of performance anyone fantasy player would like to see on their roster. As a
result, his usefulness as a fantasy performer is likely past, though there is a chance that his plus/minus
might improve on the Stars this year to the point where it could at least be seen as respectable.
Top Prospect
Trevor Daley is entering his second year and with increased ice-time and experience will improve
dramatically on his first full season (3-11-14) with a (-2) in 81 games played. He is a smooth skating
defenseman with good skills with the puck. The NHL game is now suited much more to his style. Do not
expect big numbers this year, just a steady upward climb to be a top 4 defenseman, and a power-play
specialist in time.
Other Names to Watch: LW Louis Eriksson, RW Junior Lessard, LW Vojtech Polak, C Marty Sertich
Special Teams
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The Stars special teams were an average group all around in 2005-06. C Jason Arnott’s 12 PPG and 17
PPA will be missed as he bolted to Nashville via free agency. The hope is a healthy Lindros will come close
to replacing the loss of Arnott, at least on the power-play. Bringing Sydor back should help on the blueline as
he will likely team with former partner Sergei Subov with the man advantage. Also don’t forget about Jere
Lehton who led the team with a career-high 14 PP goals. Also keep an eye on youngster Jussi Jokinen
who poured in 31 points with the man advantage. Expect the penalty kill to be much the same, if not better.
C Jeff Halpern has been a good all-around player and should fit right in to coach Dave Tippett’s system.
Offseason Moves
Added: RW Matthew Barnaby (CHI), C Jeff Halpern (WAS), C Eric Lindros (TOR), C Patrik Stefan (ATL), D
Daryl Sydor (TB)
Lost: C Jason Arnott (NSH), D Willie Mitchell (MIN), D Patrick Traverse (SJ), G Johan Hedberg (ATL)

Goalie Tandem: 7.5
Special Teams: 7.0
Did You Know…

Mike Modano will enter his 17th season as a member of the organization, the longest tenured player in team
history (he was draft by the Minnesota Northstars with the first pick in the 1988 draft). Modano has scored
1183 points in 1179 games and needs 15 goals for 500 and 2 assists for 700 in his career.

Detroit Red Wings Fantasy Team Report

Contributed By: Christy Hammond
2005-06: 58-16-8, 24 Points, 1st in the West

While Pavel Datsyuk may have led the team in points during the regular season, it was his teammate left
wing Henrik Zetterberg who really became the team’s best forward. Zetterberg notched 85 points in the
regular season, only two less than Datsyuk, with 39 goals and 46 assists in 77 games. In addition, he was
only behind defenseman Mathieu Schneider in +/- rating with an impressive +29. Zetterberg led the team in
power-play goals with 17 and also notched an admirable 18 assists while on the power play. When the
pressure rises, Zetterberg remains calm and collected as seen with his nine game winning goals and his
performance in the playoffs. While his teammates struggled offensively in the postseason, Zetterberg scored
a team best six goals in six games. With fellow left-winger Brendan Shanahan heading to New York, expect
to see Zetterberg carry even more of the offensive load in the upcoming season.

After winning his fourth Norris Trophy, there is no contest in determining the Detroit Red Wings best
defenseman. Nicklas Lidstrom re-signed with Detroit for two more years and will continue his important
role on the blue line. Aside from Lidstrom’s strong defensive play, he is also an important offensive
contributor to the team as well as always improving his blue line partner’s game. Last season, Lidstrom
came in fourth on the team in terms of points with 80 (16 goals, 64 assists) while earning a +21 rating.
Lidstrom had a career best season offensively, and he has only had two seasons since 1991 where he
notched less than 40 points (1994-1995, the strike year, and 2003-2004).
Player to Watch
Center Pavel Datsyuk is known for his dazzling moves that usually result in a highlight reel goal. He led the
team in points with 87 (28 goals, 59 assists) in the regular season, but struggled in the playoffs due to an
injury that occurred right before the start of postseason. GM Ken Holland is expecting the upcoming season
to become Datsyuk’s breakout year and with the absence of former captain Steve Yzerman and Shanahan,
Datsyuk will be given more responsibility on and off the ice.
Goalies
Last season, the Wings had arguably one of the best goaltenders during the regular season with Manny
Legace. However, Legace’s performance during the playoffs (2.65 GAA, .884 SV%) warranted GM Holland’s
decision to look elsewhere for this season’s starting goaltender (Legace signed with the Blues). Holland
decided to sign Dominik Hasek to his third stint in Detroit since winning the cup in 2002. Hasek played only
43 games last season due to a groin injury in February, but before the injury he went 28-10-4 with a 2.09
GAA and a .925 SV%. If Hasek can stay healthy by the time playoffs come, the Wings may be looking at a
long playoff run with Hasek’s competitiveness. However, Hasek’s groin has been injured in Jan./Feb. for
both the 2003-2004 season and last season resulting in problems for his respective team.

Should Hasek’s groin fall to injury once again, backup goaltender Chris Osgood who played 32 games for
Detroit last season would be the man. He went 20-6-5 last season with a .897 SV% and 2.76 GAA.
Fading Star
Left wing Kirk Maltby offensive production and +/- rating dropped significantly from his pre-lockout season.
In 2003-2004, Maltby notched 33 points, his second best offensive performance in his career while positing
an impressive +24 rating. However this past season, Maltby’s role on the team seemed to have changed
and he earned only 11 points (5 goals, 6 assists) while obtaining a (–9) rating. It was his first season with a
negative rating since his 1998-1999 season. Maltby’s contract is up at the end of the 2006-2007 season so
there may be some personal incentives to improve his play so he can re-sign with the team next summer.
Top Prospect
Right wing Igor Grigorenko is Detroit’s number one prospect. However, he will be playing in Russia for the
2006-2007 season. As a result, left wing Tomas Kopecky is the Wings top prospect who will actually play
this season (he only played one game with Detroit last season earning just two penalty minutes). Kopecky
played 77 games with Detroit’s AHL affiliate, the Grand Rapids Griffins, and notched 72 points (32 goals, 40
assists). If he doesn’t make the team during training camp, he must clear waivers to be sent back to the
AHL. As a result, we could very well see Kopecky lace up his skates for the red and white.
Other Names to Watch: F Jiri Hudler, F Darryl Bootland, F Valtteri Filppula, D Kyle Quincey, G Jimmy
Howard
Special Teams
Penalty Kill: 85.5%, 3rd in the NHL
Power Play: 22.2%, 1st in the NHL
The Detroit Red Wings have a superb special teams unit and truly excel while on a power-play. The Wings
scored 102 power-play goals last season, behind only Toronto and tied with Ottawa for second in the
league. The power play unit did allow 10 shorthanded goals, which was close to the league median of 11
goals. Zetterberg and Shanahan led the team in PPG with 17 and 14 respectively. However, Shanahan will
be playing for the New York Rangers and his contributions will be missed. Schneider, Datsyuk, and left wing
Tomas Holmstrom all scored 11 goals while on the power-play. While on the penalty kill, the Wings only
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allowed 67 power play goals placing them 4 in the league. However, the penalty unit could only garner 7
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shorthanded goals placing them 23 in the NHL.
Offseason Moves
Added: F Greg Johnson (NSH), G Dominik Hasek (OTT)
Lost: G Manny Legace (STL), F Brendan Shanahan (NYR), F Steve Yzerman (RET)

Goalie Tandem: 8.5
Special Teams: 9.5
Did You Know…

The Detroit Red Wings have seven Swedish players on their roster, five of which won the gold medal during
the 2006 Olympics. The gold medallists include Lidstrom, Zetterberg, Holmstrom, defenseman Niklas
Kronwall, and right wing Mikael Samuelsson. They have two prospects from Sweden as well (goaltender
Stefan Liv and defenseman Jonathan Ericsson) and drafted two more Swedes in the 2006 NHL Draft (left
wing Dick Axelsson and goaltender Daniel Larsson).

Edmonton Oilers Fantasy Team Report

Contributed By: Doug Kujala

Ryan Smyth bleeds Oiler blue and remains the heart and soul of this team. Going into his 12th season for
the Oil, Smyth will continue to be one of the top point getters on the team and probably the biggest pain in
the neck for opposing goaltenders. If you need to draft someone in your pool that will give you a guaranteed
60+ points then Ryan is your guy. Smyth will be playing on the top line with Shawn Horcoff and Ales Hemsky
and will also be on the number one power play line this year.

For the ‘05-‘06 season and playoffs, Chris Pronger was far and away the defensive MVP. Unfortunately,
Chris’s wife didn’t like living in the greatest hockey city in the NHL and forced him to ask for a trade
immediately after the Oilers lost Game 7 for the cup. There is a huge hole in this year’s defensive squad but
captain Jason Smith intends to fill it with his experience and never say die attitude. The problem is that he
really won’t help your fantasy team as he only had 17 points last year. Gator is one of the best shot blockers
and is always “taking one for the team” but if you need points, Marc-Andre Bergeron will probably lead the
team for defensive points.
Player to Watch
On this year’s team, there are going to be 2 players to watch. Center Jarret Stoll established himself last
year as one of the top 5 face off men in the league. He also contributed with 22 goals and 46 assists to rank
third in Oilers scoring with 68 points. It is reasonable to expect Jarret’s point production to sky rocket this
year with winger Joffrey Lupul on his side. Joffery was acquired in the Pronger trade with the Ducks and
enjoyed a break out year last year scoring 28 goals and 25 helpers for 53 points. In the playoffs Lupul
became the first player to score 4 goals in a playoff game in which he scored an overtime game-winner. He
also led his team in shots taken with 296 so you can expect this tandem to bring back memories of Gretzky
feeding Kurri.
Goalies
The Oilers made a trade deadline deal that brought Dwayne Roloson in to sure up the goal position last
season. Roli the goalie was a major reason for Edmonton making it all the way to the Stanley Cup finals last
spring and has signed a contract that will keep him here this year. Backing up Roli will be veteran net minder
Jussi Markkanen. Jussi played very well in the finals after Roloson got hurt and will make a great fit in the
back up position to Roli. The goaltenders will play a major role in the Oilers success this year as the defense
go through a rebuilding year.

Fading Star
The Oilers have a very young team this year so it is tough to find a player old enough to be considered in
this category. Dwayne Roloson is the oldest player on this team as he will be turning 37 this year but will be
playing a major role as the number one goalie. Goaltenders have a reputation of being able to play at a high
level later on in life but the Edmonton brass will have to ensure that they don’t over play Roli and burn him
out.
Top Prospect
Rob Schremp tore up the OHL last year after getting cut late in training camp for Edmonton. He has been
working hard to build his physical size and speed and is fully expected to make the team this year. Schremp
is a natural goal scorer that could truly be an NHL rookie of the year candidate.
Other Names to Watch: Marc Antoine Pouliot (C) , Alexei Mikhnov (LW) , Danny Syvret (D) , Kyle Brodziak
(C) , Zack Stortini (C)
Special Teams
Special teams coach Craig Simpson had a very good year last season and had the boys playing at an above
average level. During the playoffs, Edmonton’s penalty kill was awesome, but their power play faded and
probably cost them the cup. This year’s squad is rich with offensive talent that should keep them in the
upper ranks of the power play but they aren’t as strong on the penalty kill with the off season loss of Michael
Peca. Smyth led the team with 19 PP tallies while Ales Hemsky tied for the team lead in PP points with 42
(since departed Chris Pronger also had PP 42 points).
Offseason Moves
Added: F Joffrey Lupul (ANA), F Marty Reasoner (BOS), D Ladislav Smith (ANA), F Petr Sykora (NYR)
Lost: G Ty Conklin (CBJ), F Georges Laraque (PHX), F Michael Peca (TOR), D Chris Pronger (ANA), F
Sergei Samsonov (MON), D Jaroslav Spacek (BUF)

Goalie Tandem: 7.5
Special Teams: 7.0
Did You Know…

During their unlikely playoff run to the finals last year, the Oilers were out shot by their opponents in 16 of 24
games (760-655 overall). They won 9 of those games versus only 7 losses. In the 8 games that they out
shot their opponents, they won 6.

Los Angeles Kings Fantasy Team Report


There is no doubt looking at the roster that the Kings will be offensively challenged this season. LW
Alexander Frolov has been steadily improving every year and at 24 he looks to break out. He is a great
skater with good hands. Last year he posted 21 Goals-34 Assists-55 Points and +17 in 69 games. He has
proved to be durable over his career and is a reliable two-way player having never been a minus in any of
his three years. He should be heavily relied upon and will receive plenty of power-play time. Look for his
numbers jump up near and possibly approach a point-per-game pace on the first line, most likely with C
Mike Cammalleri.

D Lubomir Visnovsky was so good last year he simply can’t be overlooked. Visnovsky stepped up the elite
level of offensive defensemen last year. The new style NHL suits his smaller stature and smooth skating as
he finished the season with 17-50-67 season with a +7 crushing his career best totals of 13 goals, 30 assists
and 39 points in a season. He has been a plus player all but one of his pro seasons in Los Angeles and he
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ranked 4 in points and goals for defensemen last year. Teaming with Rob Blake on the power-play will only
help his numbers. You could do worse than tabbing him as the #1 defensemen on your roster.
Player to Watch
C Mike Cammalleri will get his chance to shine on the Kings first line in his second full NHL season. Last
year he posted 26-29-55 and a (-14) rating playing as a 2nd and 3rd line player. He is a gifted playmaker and
has produced at every level in his career including the 109 points he scored in the AHL during the lockout
when he led the league in goal scoring while playing for Manchester. Like many young players he stumbled
down the stretch of a long first season scoring only 3 points in his last 10 games. Take him as a mid-round
sleeper with point-per-game potential.
Goalies
Some nights #1 goalie Mathieu Garon looked like a star. Other nights he looked inexperienced and lost in
his first full season as a #1 goalie in the NHL. He is an awkward looking lefty which probably makes him look
worse, but new coach Mark Crawford must have some concerns as he brought in his former goalie from
Vancouver, Dan Cloutier. Cloutier has had a tendency over his career to allow soft goals at the worst times
(see vs. Detroit in the ‘02 playoffs) and does not create confidence in the dressing room. One would think he
will get his shot from Crawford despite the fact that the Kings seemed to have a capable backup in Jason
LaBarbera. If any of these goalies step up the Kings could have a great year as they are very stable
defensively. Do not draft any of them early, but Garon could make for a solid #2.

Fading Star
Although on the surface the signing of D Rob Blake looked great, it was obvious last year that he was on
the decline. He struggled mightily in the 1st half of the season he was a (-14) with 29 points and then put it
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together in the 2 half with 22 points and a +16 rating. In the playoffs he did not look very good in the
nd
Avalanche’s 2 round drubbing at the hands of the Mighty Ducks further causing concern that he was
starting to slip. The offensive numbers are not that good and the body might be starting to break down from
his physical style of play, so you might want to let someone else take him high in the draft.
Top Prospect
The Kings must think very highly of RW Patrick O’Sullivan, as they dumped offensive star Pavol Demitra
and his contract to Minnesota for him. O’Sullivan led the AHL in rookie scoring last year and is almost
guaranteed a roster spot, if not a spot on one of the top two lines. His 93 points in 78 games in the AHL
show he is a capable scorer, but he is a question mark at the defensive end of the rink.
Other Names to Watch: LW Jeff Tambellini, LW Dustin Brown
Special Teams
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Collectively the Kings were the worst special teams unit in the league. It is obvious their direction in the off-
season was to make both units better. Although they lost some natural goal-scorers, Rob Blake’s presence
on the power-play will make it much better. He will team with Lubomir Visnovsky as one of the best
combinations on the point in the league. Blake will also improve the horrendous penalty killing unit. Add in
new additions Alyn McCauley and Scott Thornton to the mix and the Kings will be much more sound in the
defensive end as well.
Offseason Moves
Added: D Rob Blake (COL), G Dan Cloutier (VAN), F Alyn McCauley (SJ), F Patrick O’Sullivan (MIN), F
Scott Thornton (SJ), F Brian Willsie (WAS)
Lost: F Valeri Bure (FA), D Joe Corvo (OTT), F Pavol Demitra (MIN), F Mark Parrish (MIN), F Jeremy
Roenick (PHX)

Goalie Tandem: 6.5
Special Teams: 7.0
Did You Know…

Since the Kings traded Wayne Gretzky in 1996, the Kings have won only one playoff series (2001 against
Detroit).

Minnesota Wild Fantasy Team Report

Contributed By: Eric Stromgren

Brian Rolston, by a hair over the speedy Slovakian winger Marian Gaborik. Rolston put up the best overall
statistical line in 2005-06 while finishing second on the team in scoring (34 goals), first in assists (45), first in
plus/minus (+14) while leading the team in power play points (32) and sharing the team lead for game-
winning goals (7). Gaborik was limited to 65 games last season with groin and hip problems. Should he stay
healthy, and be paired up with free-agent addition of fellow countryman Pavol Demitra, Gaborik could step
into his role a top-10 forward in the NHL in 2006-07. He might even score 50 goals.

The Wild are one of those defenses in the NHL that plays well as a unit without one dominating player.
Coach Jacques Lemaire’s teams play a defense-first style that capitalizes on opponent’s mistakes with a
quick transition game. The job for the defensive player in this system is to make that first pass on the
breakout and feed the offense, not provide it. It’s the same way on the power play. Lemaire’s systems are
based down by the goal line instead of the blue line. Wild defensemen scored just 18 points on the power
play last season.
Kurtis Foster led the defense with 10 goals and 28 points last year, despite playing in just 58 games. He
will likely be paired with free-agent newcomer Kim Johnsson this season who was signed to replace
longtime Wild blueliner Filip Kuba who signed with Tampa Bay in the offseason. If Johnsson can escape his
concussion problems, he could score in the 45-55 point range this year.
Player to Watch
It is no question that Pavol Demitra is the player to watch in Minnesota this season. The Wild acquired him
in a draft day deal with Los Angeles, trading prospect Patrick O’Sullivan. Signing Demitra showed Marian
Gaborik that Minnesota is serious about taking the next step from being an expansion team to a consistently
competitive team. Should he strike a chemistry with Gaborik, the Wild could have one of the best one-two
offensive punches in the league and might be able to shake the perception of a no-offense team. Demitra
was limited to 58 games last season with head, eye and leg injuries, but if he can stay healthy this season,
he could be one of the most dangerous forwards in the NHL after scoring 213 points in his lasts 204 games.
Goalies
It’s time for the Manny Fernandez show (30-18-7, 2.29 GAA, .919 SV%). After spending the last three
seasons splitting time with Dwayne Roloson, who was traded to the Oilers before the trade deadline last
spring, Fernandez will take over as the No. 1 goalie in green this season. With the increased playing time,
paired with the Minnesota’s stingy defense, he will be one of the best goalies this season. However, as
always with the Wild, if the offense can’t score he will struggle to pick up wins. That is what keeps
Fernandez from becoming an elite goalie.

Fading Star
The best candidate for the fading star award could be Mark Parrish. He showed flashes of brilliance with
the Islanders during his best season as a pro in 2001-02 when he had an All-Star season with 30 goals and
30 assists. But his numbers have been average since then with seasons of 48, 35 and 49 points. Minnesota
signed him as a free agent hoping that by bringing him back to his home state, he can rekindle the magic he
created inside the National Hockey Center as a college player up the road at Division I St. Cloud State.
Top Prospect
Patrick O’Sull…wait a minute. Wild fans had been waiting for the day that O’Sullivan hit the ice at the Xcel
Energy Center, but with the offseason trade, Benoit Pouliot steps into the spotlight. Pouliot was the top pick
for the Wild in the draft (fourth overall) following the lockout. He played most of last season in the Ontario
Hockey League with Sudbury and led the team in goals and plus/minus rating. He led the team in playoff
scoring as well and earned a goal medal playing for Canada in the 2006 World Junior Hockey
Championships. It’s possible he could start the season with the Wild, but don’t be shocked if he plays his
way on to Lemaire’s roster by Christmas.
Other Names to Watch: F Kirby Law, F Erik Westrum, F Danny Irmen , D A.J. Thelen, G Niko Hovinen.
Special Teams
Penalty Kill: 17%, 21th in the NHL
Power Play: 87.4%, 1st in the NHL
Everyone knew the Wild penalty kill would be formidable under Lemaire’s leadership, but the top penalty
killing unit, that was a surprise. The Wild block shots and have good goaltending, making it tough on teams
that base their power plays from the blue line. The power play unit was a different story. The Wild simply
lacked the guns and Rolston couldn’t do it all without Gaborik. However, with all of the offseason additions, a
power play unit of Demitra, Gaborik, Rolston, Parrish and Johnsson could put up some good numbers.
Offseason Moves
Added: D Keith Carney (VAN), F Pavol Demitra (LA), D Kim Johnsson (PHI), D Filip Kuba (TB), F Mark
Parrish (LA), F Wyatt Smith (NSH)
Lost: F Marc Chouinard (VAN), F Alexander Daigle (EUR), D Scott Ferguson (SJ), D Filip Kuba (FA), F
Andrei Nazarov (RET), F Patrick O’Sullivan (LA), F Randy Robitaille (PHI), D Andrei Zyuzin (CGY)

Goalie Tandem: 8.0
Special Teams: 9.0
Did You Know…

Minnesota finished last in the Northwest Division despite compiling a record of 38-36-8, in missing the
playoffs by 11 points. The Wild were the only last place team to finish with a record above .500.

Nashville Predators Fantasy Team Report

Contributed By: LadyPred

During the '05-'06 season, Paul Kariya remained healthy, playing in all 82 games for the Predators as well
as 5 playoff games. The speedy winger led the Predators in scoring and averaged just over a point-per-
game for the Predators (31 Goals-54 Assists-85 Points). Kariya led the team in power-play goals with 14
and had 3 game-winning-goals as well, while also leading the team in shots-on-goal (245). The acquisition
of Jason Arnott to center a line for Kariya for the '06-'07 season should only help his production. Kariya has
an outstanding work ethic and should meet or exceed his '05-'06 performance in '06-'07.

Defenseman Marek Zidlicky signed a 4-year, $12.8 million contract with the Predators this past summer
after scoring 12 goals and 49 points, tying him for 14th in scoring among NHL blueliners (with Dion Phaneuf
and John-Michael Liles). Zidlicky has a rare talent for handling the puck and can deliver extraordinarily
accurate passes. He also has a knack for scoring power-play goals and will continue to be the quarterback
for the Predators' power-play and he is the teams most vital cog on the bluline.
Player to Watch
Scott Hartnell had a career year in ‘05-‘06, scoring 25 goals and 23 assists in 81 games. He recently
signed a one-year, $1.75M contract with the Predators and will be an unrestricted free agent after the
season. The hope is that he will use the prospect of free agency and a higher financial payoff as an impetus
to perform his best this season. Hartnell has the physical presence and skill to be an excellent power
forward for the Predators. If he performs up to expectations and avoids taking bad penalties, something he
had trouble with last season, he should be rewarded next summer.
Goalies
The Predators breathed a huge sigh of relief in July when top goaltender Tomas Vokoun was medically
cleared by the doctors to return to playing hockey. Vokoun was sidelined late in the ‘05-‘06 season with an
unusual medical problem, pelvic thrombophlebitis (blood clots in the pelvic veins), for which he spent four
months on blood-thinning medication. While the medication kept him from playing the last 8 games of the
regular season and the playoffs in April, it has not kept him from working out off the ice. Vokoun is healthy
and has begun skating in preparation for training camp. He will start the ‘06-‘07 season in goal for the
Predators. Meanwhile, back-up goaltender, Chris Mason, has signed a 2 year, $2.5 million contract with the
Predators. Mason filled in successfully for Vokoun after he was placed on IR, helping the Predators win their
final 6 games of the regular season (Mason went 12-6-1 in 05-06 with a 2.54 GAA and a .913 SV%). Young
goaltender Pekka Rinne, third on the depth charts for the Predators, will be the starting goaltender for the
Predators' AHL affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals. He will be backed up there by free agent acquisition Karl
Goehring.

Fading Star
The Predators have always leaned towards giving opportunities to their younger players and they made a
couple of big moves in that direction this summer. However, one younger player who is at a career
crossroads is center David Legwand. After back-to-back 45+ points seasons, Legwand was limited to only
26 points in 44 games last season after suffering a knee injury (torn ACL). Its not as if his performance faded
as much as he might never truly reach the heights once predicted of him as a former first-round pick.
Top Prospect
Given Alexander Radulov's (61 goals and 152 points in 62 games) extraordinary success last season for
the Quebec Remparts, leading his team to the Memorial Cup Championship and earning a series of awards
including CHL player of the year and Memorial Cup MVP, he will be a player to watch closely. Preds GM
David Poile has publicly stated that Radulov will be given "every opportunity" to make the NHL roster out of
training camp. He could well be the final piece for the Predators top scoring line. However, the transition
from juniors to the NHL can be a challenge for a young player. How Radulov performs in training camp will
provide a better idea of how he will do at the NHL level.
Other Names to Watch: D Kevin Klein, D Greg Zanon, D Mikko Lehtonen, D Nolan Yonkman.
Special Teams
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The Predators power-play was solid in '05-'06, scoring 94 goals in 512 opportunities. They were better on
home ice with 50 PPG at home versus 44 on the road. The biggest problem for the Predators power-play
was a lack of a confirmed #1 center to play between Kariya and Sullivan, however, that issue is solved for
the '06-'07 with the signing of Arnott. Expect the Predators top power-play line to consist of Kariya, Arnott,
Sullivan, Timonen, and Zidlickyin '06-'07.
The Predators penalty-kill was excellent in '05-'06 (they allowed only 82 PPGA in 533 opportunities and
scored 12 short-handed goals). However, there will be some significant changes to the Predators PK in the
'06-'07 season with the losses of Greg Johnson, Walker and Adam Hall. Younger players will be expected to
step up and fill those roles including David Legwand, Upshall and Jerred Smithson. Sullivan should continue
to see some PK time as he led the Predators in short-handed goals last season with 4.
Offseason Moves
Added: F Ramzi Abid (ATL), F Jason Arnott (DAL), Josef Vasicek (CAR)
Lost: D Mark Eaton (PIT), D Brian Finley (BOS), F Adam Hall (NYR), F Greg Johnson (DET), F Mike
Sillinger (NYI), F Wyatt Smith (MIN), F Scott Walker (CAR), D Brendan Witt (NYI)

Goalie Tandem: 8.0
Special Teams: 9.0
Did You Know…

Taken 56th overall in the 2d round, forward Blake Geoffrion is the first Nashville-bred player drafted by any
NHL team. Born in Plantation, Florida, Blake moved to Nashville at the age of one year and played youth
hockey in Nashville before joining the US National Team Development Program. Interestingly, Geoffrion will
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be a 4 generation NHL player as his father (Dan Geoffrion), grandfather (Bernie Geoffrion), and great-
grandfather (Howie Morenz) all played in the NHL.

Phoenix Coyotes Fantasy Team Report


The team leader, as he has been for the past couple of seasons, is Shane Doan (30 Goals-36 Assists-66
Points). Doan, one of only three Coyotes to dress for all 82 games, led the team in goals (tied with Mike
Comrie), points, PIMs (123), PP goals (17), PP assists (24), shots on goal (254) and game-winning goals
(7). Doan, working on a streak of six straight seasons of at least 20 goals, is still only 30-years-old and might
still have some room for improvement in the upcoming season.

Paul Mara (15-32-47) was the teams point leader from the blueline last year, but he has since departed to
join the Boston Bruins. This leaves Keith Ballard as the team’s leader on defense after a rookie season of
39 points (8 goals, 31 assists). Ballard put up 16 power-play points last season while skating in all 82 games
for the Yotes. Ballard, a first-round selection in the 2002 draft, had his biggest scoring month in January with
13 points, 8 on the power-play, in 14 games. Also, don’t forget about Derek Morris who was limited to only
53 games last year because of injury, but still managed to post 27 points with 18 of them coming with the
man-advantage. Keep an eye on newly signed Ed Jovanovski as well.
Player to Watch
Ladislav Nagy finished third on the team in scoring (15-41-56, +8 with 29 PP points), an amazing
accomplishment considering he dressed for only 51 games because of a knee injury that required surgery.
In fact, Nagy actually led the team with 41 assists, and was on his way to a season which would of likely
earned him Team MVP honors if not for that stubborn knee. In the 26 games he skated in during November-
December, Nagy netted 36 points, with 19 on the power-play, and he added 4 game-winning goals as well.
All reports are that his knee has progressed nicely, so look for a healthy Nagy to post some big numbers in
the desert.
Goalies
Curtis Joseph seems to win 30 games every season, and with 32 victories last season CuJo now has 7
such seasons in his career (as well as 5 others with at least 20). While CuJo’s GAA of 2.91 and is SV% of
.902 were a little below the numbers we have come to expect from him (career: 2.76 and .902), the most
important number for CuJo might be 39, as in his age. While sports medicine and training has come a long
way, there is still a limit to what the body can withstand so it might be wise to understand that when selecting
CuJo in your fantasy league this season.
The Coyotes have three other goalies currently on their roster including David LeNeveu, Phillipe Suave
and Mike Morrison. Sauve was thought to be the backup even after last year’s struggles (3-7-0, .882 SV%)
but the team brought in Morrison to give him a battle for the position (11-4-3, .882 SV% for Edmonton and
Ottawa).

Fading Star
Its been a few years since this player was worthy of fantasy employment, but last season’s 16 points were a
career worst for this warrior Mike Ricci, still of value on the ice and in the locker room for his leadership, will
likely continue to see a reduction in his ice time as he wraps up what will be, upon his retirement, an
excellent career. Besides a lack of points, the normally strong defender also had a team worst (-22) meaning
that if he is on your fantasy this year you need to have your noggin’ checked.
Top Prospect
Center Peter Mueller, the eighth pick in this seasons NHL draft, was the WHL Rookie of the Year last
season on the heals of a season of 58 points (26 goals and 32 assists). Defensively responsible, Mueller
also put up a +4 and 44 PIMs in 52 games. Blessed with uncanny hand-eye coordination, the 6’3” 205 lbs
center scored 13 points in 15 games during his post-season run for the Silvertips of the WHL. Like many
other big skaters, he needs to work on his skating stride if he is ever to lose the tag of being a skater akin to
Dave Andreychuk.
Other Names to Watch: F Patrick Fisher, D Chris Summers, F Blake Wheeler
Special Teams
The team might have only ranked 18th in power-play %, but because of the frequency with which they were
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on the power-play they were able to score 96 PP goals, good for the 7 best mark in the NHL. The team
was led by Doan’s 17 PPGs with only the since departed Geoff Sanderson (11 PPGs) and Mike Comrie
(10 PPGs) scoring in double digits with the man advantage.
On the penalty kill the Coyotes real problems came to the fore as they finished in the bottom third of the
league. Defensemen Keith Ballard did manage to lead the team with 3 SH goals, though as a team they only
managed 9, the 19th best mark in the league.
Offseason Moves
Added: D Nick Boynton (BOS), D Ed Jovanovski (VAN), F Georges Laraque (EDM), G Mike Morrison
(OTT), F Owen Nolan (FA), F Jeremy Roenick (LA)
Lost: F Boyd Devereaux (FA), F Mike Johnson (MON), D Paul Mara (BOS), D Jamie Rivers (STL), F Geoff
Sanderson (PHI)

Goalie Tandem: 9.0
Special Teams: 7.0
Did You Know…

The Coyotes went 38-39-5 last season, and unlike most team’s apparently had no distinct advantage at
home. The Coyotes when 19-18-4 at home (.463 winning percentage) and 19-21-1 on the road (.463
winning percentage) meaning they had exactly the chance of winning at game with home cooking or while
eating out.

San Jose Sharks Fantasy Team Report


Joe Thornton was the NHL’s MVP, so could there be any dispute as to who the Sharks leader was?
Thornton led the NHL with 96 assists and 125 points, to capture the Art Ross title in addition to the Hart.
After arriving via trade from the Boston Bruins, Thornton logged 58 games for the Sharks during which time
he recorded an amazing +31 rating and 40 power-play points. All of the attention paid to Thornton by
opposing defenses allowed former #1 C Patrick Marleau to slide into the number two role and produce a
career best year (34 Goals-52 Assists-86 Points) further highlighting Thornton’s value to the Teal and Black.

This award could have easily gone to Tom Preissing, but with his offseason trade to the Ottawa Senators,
the Sharks remaining MVP on defense is Scott Hannan. While worthy of little attention in the fantasy game,
Hannan is invaluable for the Sharks as their top defensive defensemen. After a brutal start which included
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an NHL worst (-19) on December 1 , Hannan turned his season around and recorded a +26 in his final 57
games. Hannan even chipped in a career-high 24 points, though that would be of little use to the majority of
fantasy team’s.
Player to Watch
Forward Jonathan Cheechoo led the NHL with 56 goals last season to capture the Maurice “Rocket”
Richard Trophy as the league’s top sniper. Cheechoo, besides setting a team-record with those 56 tallies,
also set a franchise record with 93 points (one more than Joe Thornton’s 92 points as a Shark) in just his
third season. Surely the NHL game has changed from 2002-03 when Cheechoo scored 37 goals in 147
games (one goal every 4 games), but the question is what will Cheechoo do for an encore in the upcoming
season after averaging a goal every 1.5 games riding shotgun to Joe Thornton?
Goalies
The Sharks have arguably the best goalie tandem in the NHL with Evgeni Nabokov and late season hero
Vesa Toskala in nets. Nabokov (16-19-7, 3.10 GAA, .885 SV%) struggled all year to find the consistency
that had been his hallmark, and while Toskala also started the year slowly, he really heated up as the
season progressed going 23-3-4 in his final 30 decisions. The Sharks need to make a decision as to which
goalie they are going to keep, and which to trade or they might simply retain both netminders to give them
what would undoubtedly be the best tandem in the league. Nabokov has a 4-year contract which pays him
$21 million dollars whereas Toskala makes $1.2 million.

Fading Star
The Sharks are blessed with the youngest team in the NHL, so finding a fading star is extremely difficult.
That said, newly acquired Curtis Brown might be the best candidate. Coming off a season where he scored
only 15 points, his worst total since 1996-97 when he played in only 28 games, Brown returns to a Sharks
team that he briefly skated for at the end of the 2003-04 season. Brown is only 30-years-old, so there should
still be some life in his stick.
Top Prospect
Defensemen Matt Carle, fresh off winning the Hobey Baker Award as the top collegiate skater in the
country, joined the Sharks for 12 games late in the season (he also dressed for all 11 games in the playoffs).
With the trades of Brad Stuart to Boston and Tom Preissing to the Senators, Carle will likely get every
opportunity to be a power-play force in his first full-season. Blessed with tremendous patience with the puck,
Carle was able to tally 6 points in 12 games for the Sharks last season. Carle is not only the Sharks top
prospect, he also has the talent to challenge for the Calder given to the league’s top rookie player.
Other Names to Watch: F Ryan Clowe, F Josh Hennessy, D Doug Murray, F Pat Rissmiller, G Nolan
Schaefer.
Special Teams
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Even though the PK unit was 23 in the league by penalty kill percentage, because the Sharks rarely took
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penalties they actually allowed only 77 PP goals, the 8 best mark in the league. Jonathan Cheechoo and
since departed Alyn McCauley led the Sharks with 2 SHGs. With the man advantage the Sharks Cheechoo
also led the team with 24 PPGs, a team record, and C Patrick Marleau also chipped in 20 PPGs. The three-
some of Cheechoo (41), Marleau (44) and Thorton (40) was feared league wide with the mad advantage
since all three eclipsed the 40-point mark in power-play scoring. On defense, since departed Tom Preissing
led the blueliners with 22 points, meaning the leading returning power-play scorer on defense for the Sharks
is Christian Ehrhoff with 13 PP points.
Offseason Moves
Added: F Mark Bell (CHI), F Curtis Brown (CHI), D Scott Ferguson (MIN), F Mike Grier (BUF), D Patrick
Traverse (DAL)
Lost: D Matt Carkner (PIT), F Nils Ekman (PIT), G Patrick Ehelechner (PIT), F Alyn McCauley (LA), D Tom
Preissing (OTT), F Scott Thornton (LA)

Goalie Tandem: 9.5
Special Teams: 7.0
Did You Know…

Coming into last season, the Sharks had only one player in their history record over 80-points in a season
(Owen Nolan scored 84 points in 1999-2000). However, last season, the Sharks had three skaters eclipse
that mark with Jonathan Cheechoo (93 points), Joe Thornton (92) and Patrick Marleau (86) becoming the
top-3 single season scorers in team history.

St. Louis Blues Fantasy Team Report

Contributed By: Jes Gölbez Ursulak

On a team whose leading scorer had a whopping 49 points, it’s hard to select an MVP from such a mediocre
group. While Scott Young led the club in total points and power-play points, his (-32) was the worst on the
team and detracted from his fantasy value. Keith Tkachuk, who came into training camp overweight and
fought through injuries all season, was the most valuable player for the Blues when he did play. In 41
games, Tkachuk had 15 goals and 36 points, and is the easiest choice to be the Blues top scorer this
season.

Dennis Wideman, the rookie offensive-minded defensemen, was a pleasant surprise for the Blues with his
skills on the power-play, finishing with 24 points in 67 games. His (-31), much like Scott Young, also detracts
from his fantasy value. Christian Backman, 26-year-old, who had 18 points in 52 games last season, is a
good bet to have his ‘leap’ year and should be a good sleeper pick in the late rounds. Backman is more
reliable defensively and will get more ice time to rack up points.
Player to Watch
Two players deserve mention here after posting nearly identical seasons. Jay McClement, a hard working
23-year-old rookie, put up 27 points in 67 games last year, and looks to be a great 3rd line center for the
Blues for the long haul. Playing behind Petr Cajanek and Doug Weight, however, will limit his offensive ice
time. Lee Stempniak, the inconsistent college star, was up and down all season, but did finish with a
respectable 27 points in 57 games. Lee has a shot at a spot on the top 2 lines and could get some power-
play time with the big boys.
Goalies
The Blues made a big offseason move with the late signing of Manny Legace to a one-year deal. Legace
was one of the best goalies in the business last season with an amazing 37-8-3 record for the Red Wings.
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Besides the record, Legace also posted outstanding ratios with a 2.19 GAA (3 best in the NHL) and a .915
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SV%, good enough for 8 in the NHL. Also, Legace posted 7 shutouts, good for the second most in the
NHL. Legace has to be the favorite to be the number one goaltender, though as of this writing, there was no
definitive declaration from the team.
Curtis Sanford, a long-time farmhand who has a rather soft pedigree, surprised every Blues fan by stepping
into the #1 role and providing some solid netminding. In 34 games, Sanford finished with a 90.8 SV% and 13
of the Blues 21 wins. Given the low level of talent on the Blues last season, Sanford’s stats are all the more
impressive when compared to his peers. There is great risk involved with taking Sanford as a fantasy
goalkeeper given his past history and his inability to stay healthy (MCL sprain in his left knee).

Former Dallas 1st rounder Jason Bacashihua is the third stringer if either of the top-two netminders falter.
Fading Star
The Blues brought in free agent Bill Guerin, in the hopes that re-uniting him with his American buddies
Keith Tkachuk and Doug Weight will help him rediscover his scoring touch once again. Guerin is coming off
of a very poor season which saw him put up only 13 goals and 40 points in 70 games, his worst output in 7
years. Guerin was obviously out of shape coming into last season, and may not be able to keep up in the
New NHL. At 35, he’s no spring chicken, but he will play the left side on the Blues top Power Play unit and
may become a bargain in most fantasy leagues as most GMs will be scared to touch him.
Top Prospect
Erik Johnson was the consensus #1 choice in the 2006 Entry Draft, and the Blues had no intention of
trading the pick or selecting anyone else. At 6’4” and 222 lbs., many have compared Johnson to ex-Blues
defenseman Chris Pronger, although that seems a little optimistic. At any rate, Johnson is an excellent 2-
way defensive prospect with good size and a mature attitude. After impressing the Blues in a prospects
camp, Johnson will be heading to the University of Minnesota next season to continue his development.
While he may have made the Blues roster in a #6 or #7 role, rushing Johnson and giving him little ice time
would have seriously hurt his development.
Other Names to Watch: D Zach Fitzgerald, F Magnus Kahnberg, D Jeff Woywitka
Special Teams
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As could be expected, the Blues power-play was poor thanks to a lack of offensive talent. The one positive
for the Blues was their ability to draw penalties, as the Blues ranked 8th in power-play opportunities. If the
Blues could convert on more of their man-advantages, it would go a long way in helping them back into the
playoffs.
Thanks to the hard work of blue collar players such as Dallas Drake and Jamal Mayers, the Blues penalty
kill was a bright spot for the club last season as they somehow managed to finish in the middle of the pack.
Still, the Blues were no threat shorthanded as their 6 SHG ranked 4th last in the NHL.
The Blues Achilles heel was their play at even strength, as the Blues finished with a (-84), which was miles
away from the 2nd worst team, the Pittsburgh Penguins, who finished with a (-48).
Offseason Moves
Added: G Reinhard Divis (FA), F Bill Guerin (DAL), F Dan Hinote (COL), G Manny Legace (DET), D Jay
McKee (BUF), D Jamie Rivers (PHX), F Martin Rucinsky (NYR), F Doug Weight (CAR)
Lost: F Dallas Drake (FA), G Patrick Lalime (STL), F Reed Low (CHI), F Dean McAmmond (OTT)

Goalie Tandem: 4.0
Special Teams: 4.0
Did You Know…

The Blues had the lowest point total in the NHL last year with 57 points. What makes that number so
remarkable is that it caused the Blues to miss the playoffs for the first time in 25 years. That streak was the
longest active streak in sports, and the third longest of all-time.

Vancouver Canucks Fantasy Team Report

Contributed By: James Duplacey

Most pundits would place this honor on captain Markus Naslund’s rap sheet by default, and on paper,
those observers would have a valid point. Naslund led the club with 79 points (32 goals and 47 assists)
including a team-high 42 points (13g-29a) on the power-play. While his (-19) points to obvious deficiencies
in his own end zone, this could be the season that Naslund will silence his doubters and finally reach the
potential long expected of him. Without any doubt, the 2006-07 Canucks are going to be his team. His
leadership on and off the ice will be of paramount importance and he will be expected to carry both the
offensive payload and be the buffer between the suits in the office and the trench men on the bench.

With the departure of Jovo-Cop, Nolan Baumgartner and Bryan Allen, the burden of blueline bolster falls
squarely on the capable and worthy shoulders of Mattias Ohlund (13 Goals-20 Assists-33 Points). Though
he was hampered by a slew of nagging injuries throughout the latter part of the 2005-06 campaign, Ohlund
still managed to top all Canuck rearguards in goals and shorthanded points (3) while compiling a
respectable (-6) for a Vancouver back line that was decimated by injury and inconsistency. Ohlund has the
speed, internal fortitude and physical ability to lift the sagging fortunes of the Vancouver defense. He also
has an immense pride in his on-ice performance and will go to the outer limits in preparing both physically
and mentally for the upcoming season in an effort to reverse the sordid results of the ‘05-’06 season. In this
prognosticators opinion, Ohlund will relish assuming the duties and responsibilities of being the top cop on
the blueline beat and will turn in a performance of all-star caliber.
Player to Watch
While many observers predict that free agent forward Jan Bulis (20-20-40, with the Montreal Canadiens),
has been specially recruited to tackle the task of feeding the puck to a pair of hungry Sedin twins in the
absence of Anson Carter, Bulis could also end up centering captain Naslund’s line. To this reporter, Bulis,
who had a career-year with the Montreal Canadiens in ‘05-’06, has the speed, uncanny vision and pure puck
sense to make him an ideal partner for Henrik and Daniel, should new bench boss Alain Vigneault decide to
place the crafty Czech with the sneaky Swedes. While Carter used his bruising size to create loose pucks
for the twins to devour, Bulis will use instinct and superior lower body strength to muscle opponents off the
puck and pass the pill to his eager line mates. In addition, Taylor Pyatt (6-6-12) and (-1) with Buffalo, has
been long on promise but short on delivery. However, he does have size (6’4”, 227 lbs.) that he’s not
hesitant to throw around. With a new coach, a healthy body and fresh surroundings, he may finally begin to
cash in on his rich arsenal of ability.

Goalies
By acquiring Roberto Luongo (35-30-9, 2.97 GAA, .917 SV% and 4 SO) from the Florida Panthers in the
blockbuster trade of the offseason, the Canucks have solidified the achilles heel that has plagued them for
almost a decade. Luongo, perceived by many scribes to be the NHL’s top young pivot, has seen more
rubber than a squashed grapefruit on the I-95 facing an average of over 32 shots a game during his five
seasons guarding the Florida crease. Though his career win-loss totals (115-168-30) appear unremarkable,
Luongo’s 30 career shutouts and impressive .919 SV%, while make him a decided improvement over past
years. Luongo’s battery mate was expected to be Mika Noronen, but Noronen has decided to skip across
the ocean and join the Russian Elite League’s Ak Bars Kazan. Wade Flaherty (26-17-4, 2.40 GAA and 6
SO with Manitoba), who was relegated to the minors for the entire ‘05-’06 season because of a wacky
waiver wire system, will step in as Luongo’s partner.
Fading Star
With an almost unparalleled turn over re-shaping the look of the club, the Canucks enter ‘06-’07 wishing they
had the veteran depth to have a fading star. Most of the youngsters who will be donning the Canucks’ colors
in 2006-07 have yet to even get a tan in the spotlight, so they have very little luster to lose. Trevor Linden,
the veteran voice of the Canucks whose offensive output has been in steady decline over the past few
years, would be the obvious choice to take up the mantel of diminishing diva. However, as of yet he remains
unsigned, although he may come aboard at a lesser salary if both sides can come to an agreement.
Top Prospect
Although he may require seasoning time on the farm to sow his wild oats, defenseman Luc Bourdon will
certainly see action with the parent club during the ‘06-’07 battle and may even be pencilled in with the big
club when the curtain rises on the new season. At 6’2” and 200 lbs., Bourdon has size, strength, mobility
and a booming howitzer that is both accurate and intimidating. The Canucks’ first overall choice in the 2005
NHL Draft. Bourdon helped lead the QMJHL’s Moncton Wildcats to the championship game of the 2006
Memorial Cup finals, proving he has the moxy, maturity and muscle to bask in the NHL spotlight.
Other Names to Watch: D Juha Alen, D Alex Elder, F Jannik Hansen, F Jeff Heerema, C Brad Moran, D
Shaun Heskla.
Special Teams
The Canucks were mired in the middle of the special team road throughout much of the ‘06-’07 season. The
club lost three of their main PP snipers when Bertuzzi (12 PPGs), Carter (15 PPGs) and Jovanovski (6
PPGs) fled the left coast. The Big 3 posted numbers that the Canucks will have difficulty replacing since the
men brought in as replacements (Marc Chouinard, Bulis) and the threesome of Taylor Pyatt, Willie Mitchell
and Lukas Krajicek totaled only 12 PPGs between them. The addition of solid, though not spectacular
defensive defensemen like Mitchell and Tremblay should give the porous penalty-killing unit a boost.
Offseason Moves
Added: F Jan Bullis (MON), F Marc Chouinard (MIN), D Rory Fitzpatrick (BUF), D Lukas Krajicek (FLA), G
Roberto Luongo (FLA), D Willie Mitchell (DAL), F Taylor Pratt (BUF)
Lost: G Alex Auld (FLA), D Nolan Baumgartner (PHI), F Todd Bertuzzi (FLA), D Keith Carney (MIN), F
Anson Carter (FA), G Dan Cloutier (LA), D Ed Jovanovski (PHX), Mika Noronen (EUR)

Goalie Tandem: 9.0
Special Teams: 7.0
Did You Know…

The Canucks were the only NHL team without a shutout during the 2005-06 campaign. In fact, the Canucks
became the first team in NHL history to record at least 40 victories without blanking the opposition at least
once.

TEAM REPORTS: EASTERN CONFERENCE
Atlanta Thrashers
Boston Bruins
Buffalo Sabres
Carolina Hurricanes
Florida Panthers
Montreal Canadiens
New Jersey Devils
New York Islanders
New York Rangers
Ottawa Senators
Philadelphia Flyers
Pittsburgh Penguins
Tampa Bay Lightning
Toronto Maple Leafs
Washington Capitals

Atlanta Thrashers Fantasy Team Report

2005-06: 41-33-8, 90 Points, 10th in the East

Without question, since the day he was drafted, superstar winger Ilya Kovalchuk has been the face of the
Atlanta Thrashers. In his 4th NHL season, ‘Kovie’ continued to set the bar higher by recording career bests in
7 categories, firmly cementing him among the NHL’s elite. With career-high totals in goals (52), assists (46),
points (98), plus/minus (-6…yes, that’s right), PIM (68), power-play goals (27), and game-winning goals (7).
Tthe Tver, Russia native continues to electrify the ice every time he touches it, and may have even
developed a bit of an attitude while at it (remember the Sidney Crosby thing?). Alongside Slovak sniper
Marian Hossa, Kovalchuk has a good chance to lead Atlanta to its first ever playoff berth in 2006-07.

Although no one on the Thrashers’ blueline would be considered Norris Trophy material for the immediate
future, 9-year veteran defenseman Greg de Vries made an impact of sorts in his first year as a Thrasher.
Acquired with Hossa in the Dany Heatley trade, the 33-year-old de Vries set career-highs in assists (28) and
points (35), while racking up 78 PIM. While scoring just 7 goals doesn’t exactly make you a sniper, de Vries
contributed when it counted, scoring 3 times on the powerplay and twice chipping in the game-winner.
Although perhaps not a top line fantasy guy, if you need help on the blueline, there are worse options than
de Vries.
Player to Watch
The 35-year-old Bobby Holik could find himself on the brink of a major revival season if the Thrashers don’t
acquire another big-name center. With the departure of Marc Savard to the Boston Bruins, a huge gap exists
between Kovalchuk and Hossa on the top line. Given a completely healthy season it wouldn’t be surprising
to see Holik break the 50-point barrier again, and if he finds himself alongside Hossa and or Kovalchuk, the
sky, presumably, is the limit.
Goalies
Provided they can get him signed, there really is only one goaltender for the Atlanta Thrashers. Kari
Lehtonen has developed into the clear-cut #1 netminder in Atlanta, as evidenced by head coach Bob
Hartley’s decision to ride him for 28 straight games last year, even after the goalie had missed 35 games
due to a groin injury. Lehtonen’s numbers weren’t spectacular in his first full NHL season (20-15-0, 2.94
GAA, .906 SV%, 2 SO), but they weren’t terrible either, and he will most definitely get the chance to carry
the load next year. The Thrashers acquired Johan Hedberg from Dallas as a backup, but unless Lehtonen
gets hurt, he won’t be much of a factor (Michael Garnett is also still around if anything happens).

Fading Star
For the Thrashers, 40-year-old captain Scott Mellanby is probably entering his final season in the NHL. The
once 70-point scorer tallied just 12 goals and 22 assists last year for Atlanta, and in his final hurrah,
Mellanby will likely be counted on to provide much more in the locker room than on the ice. Although 40
points is not out of the question for the Montreal native, anything more is simply wishful thinking. As a
fantasy manager, Mellanby should only be used as an emergency waiver pickup.
Top Prospect
Of any of the Thrashers’ prospects, 2003 first-round pick (8th overall) Braydon Coburn seems the most
ready to step into the starting lineup on opening night. The hulking defenseman (6’5”, 220 lbs.) has loads of
scoring potential, and should provide the boost from the back-end that the Thrashers have been lacking.
Coburn should see some time on the power-play for Bob Hartley’s club, and after being sent down after just
9 games last season, this year figures to be his coming-out party.
Other Names to Watch: C Jim Slater, C Derek MacKenzie, D Mark Popovic, D Boris Valabik, RW Alex
Bourret, G Ondrej Pavelec
Special Teams
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Atlanta’s special teams provide a very good indication of the type of team the Thrashers have, and have had
for most of their existence. With big guns like Kovalchuk and Hossa manning the powerplay, and soon the
addition of Coburn, Atlanta looks set offensively, but the team will need to improve itself on the penalty kill if
the playoffs are to be more than just a dream. Part of that improvement should come with the matured play
of Lehtonen in net, but players like Kovalchuk (-6) are going to have to improve defensively as well.
Kovalchuk did lead the NHL this past season with 27 PP goals and 56 PP points, so he surely knows what
to do when the puck is on his stick.
Offseason Moves
Added: G Fred Brathwaite (CBJ), G Johan Hedberg (DAL), F Niko Kapanen (DAL), F Steve Rucchin (NYR),
Lost: G Mike Dunham (FA), D Tomas Kloucek (CBJ), D Jaroslav Modry (ANA), F Marc Savard (BOS), G
Steve Shields (FA), F Patrick Stefan (DAL)

Goalie Tandem: 7.5
Special Teams: 7.0
Did You Know…

Last season, the Thrashers used five goaltenders (Kari Lehtonen, Mike Dunham, Steve Shields, Michael
Garnett and Adam Berkhoel), more than 28 other teams in the NHL. The only other team to use five goalies
was Vancouver…Ilya Kovalchuk became the first player in franchise history to record 300 points for the
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Thrashers with a goal on April 8 , 2006 against the Carolina Hurricanes.

Boston Bruins Fantasy Team Report

Contributed By: Richard Zussman

Last year’s top point getter Patrice Bergeron is the closest thing to a team MVP, with 31 goals last season,
along with 73 points (29 on the power-play). Bergeron, who turned 21 this summer, was a plus 3 and had 22
penalty minutes, neither of which does wonders for a fantasy hockey team. If the Bruins put Marc Savard on
the first power play unit and put Bergeron on one of the wings, his production on the power play should
increase. His 29 power-play points last season was 7 points better than Brad Boyes who was second in the
category (Boyes also has the potential to put up great numbers, scoring 26 goals last season with 43 assists
in his first NHL season). Another reason to pick up Bergeron is since the adoption of the new NHL rules
Bergeron point production nearly doubled (39 points to 73).

The Boston Bruins are one of the most improved teams this offseason and the biggest (and I mean biggest)
free-agent acquisition came on the blue line. The 6’9” Zdeno Chara is the tallest man on skates since
Manute Bol strapped them on during a charity event a few years ago. Not only is the 29-year-old Slovakia a
physical specimen, he is a very talented defenseman. Chara had a career-high with 43 points with 16 goals
and 29 assists with the Ottawa Senators. The Big Z was a plus 17, with 135 PIM and 22 power play points,
including 10 power play goals. Chara was one of three finalists for the Norris trophy as the league’s top
defensemen and makes players around him better because of his ability to play defense and neutralize the
other team’s top players. Chara’s plus-minus might decrease due to the talent difference between his
current and former teams, but his PIM and potential as the point man on the first power play unit make him
one of the top 5 defensemen in fantasy hockey.
Player to Watch
At 33-years of age you would not expect forward Glen Murray to be one of the players to watch this season.
Murray played 64 games last season, missing games for various reasons including a foot injury, scoring 24
goals and adding 29 helpers for a total of 53 points. After having a positive plus/minus rating for 6 straight
years, Murray was a (-8) last season. Murray also added 52 PIM and 19 power-play points last season, so
he has some value in those categories too. The reason to watch Murray this year is because of the addition
of centre Marc Savard who had a career year last year in Atlanta with 28 goals and 69 assists for a total of
97 points. Putting Savard on the second line with Murray could be the recipe needed to get Murray back to
his form from 2002-2003 where he scored 44 goals and totalled 92 points. It seemed last year that Murray
was lost without a solid centre man on his line (where have you gone Joe Thornton). Murray had an eleven
game point scoring streak snapped on the last day of the regular season.

Goalies
The Boston Bruins had three goalies play 20 games or more last season, with only one of the three goalies
finishing the season with a better than .500 record. Hannu Toivonen went 9-5 in 20 starts and added one of
only 2 Bruins shutouts. His 2.63 GAA and .914 SV% last season mark him as the favorite to start this year.
Toivonen is a risk for fantasy owners because he will be returning from an injured ankle that put him on the
disabled list on January 7th, 2006. Tim Thomas, who finished last season 12-13 with a 2.77 GAA and a
SV% of .917 will be the backup. Thomas has only played two seasons in the NHL and the two Bruins
goalies make up one of the least experience tandems in the NHL.
Fading Star
The Bruins have spent the offseason buying out players that would have become fading stars, among them
Brian Leetch, Alexei Zhamov and Travis Green. At this point the fading star would have to be Jiri Slegr who
dressed for only 32 games last season (though he did score 16 points). At 35-years of age and coming off
an injury filled season, Slegr could not have been happy to see the additions of Zdeno Chara and Paul Mara
on the blueline (not to mention Brad Stuart who was acquired last seaosn). Even if healthy, Slegr doesn’t
figure to be a vital cog in the Bruins machine. In fact, Slegr saw the writing on the wall and signed with HC
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Chemopetrol Litivinow of the Czech Extraleague on July 31 ending his affiliation with Boston.
Top Prospect
A year ago American born forward Phil Kessel was being discussed in the same sentences as Pittsburgh
Penguins phenom Sidney Crosby. Now the real question is whether the 18-year-old will take his act to the
next level like Sid the Kid did before he can drink in most North American jurisdictions. Kessel contributed 51
points last year in 39 games as a freshman at the Univeristy of Minnesota making him the top scoring
freshman in the NCAA (he was chosen 5th overall in the 2006 Entry draft). There are serious questions
about Kessel’s maturity and attitude. There also have been questions about Kessel’s fitness. However
Kessel could emerge as a big sleeper, if you have a chance take a risk with Kessel in one of the last rounds
of the draft, but only after his contract with the Bruins is signed.
Other Names to Watch: D Andrew Alberts, F Chris Collins, G Brian Finley, D Milan Jurcona, F Yan Stastny,
F Kris Versteeg
Special Teams
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Dave Lewis inherits a team that last years had the 12th best penalty kill and the 25th best power play. In his
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last season behind the Red Wings bench the Wings had the NHL’s 5 best power play and the top penalty
kill in the NHL. The Bruins added Zdeno Chara to the blueline, who helped anchor a Sens penalty kill that
was best in the league (Chara added 22 power points as an Ottawa Senator).The addition of Shean
Donovan will help on the fore check. Patrice Bergeron has 29 power play points last year to lead the team
in that category. Marc Savard brings a huge boost with 50 power play points, 35 of them being assists.
Offseason Moves
Added: D Zdeno Chara (OTT), F Chris Collins (NCAA), F Shean Donovan (CGY), Paul Mara (PHX), F Marc
Savard (ATL), F Petr Tenkrat (TOR), D Jason York (EUR)
Lost: D Nick Boynton (PHX), D Hal Gill (TOR), F Travis Green (FA), Brad Isbister (FA), D Brian Leetch (FA),
F Shawn McEachern (FA), F G Andrew Raycroft (TOR), F Marty Reasoner (EDM)

Goalie Tandem: 6.5
Special Teams: 7.0
Did You Know…

Seven of the top 15 scorers for the Bruins last year will not be returning. This means that preseason
chemistry will be important to watch as new Coach Dave Lewis tries to create some team chemistry.

Buffalo Sabres Fantasy Team Report


Maxim Afinogenov, last year’s team leader in assists with 51, also led the team with 73 total points.
Afinogenov also had 84 PIMs last year after totals of 41, 40, 60, 21 and 57 in previous years. Along with his
plus 6 rating, number one for Sabres forwards, Afinogenov contributed 3 game winners and 31 power-play
points (the power play was essential for Afinogenov’s success because in 5 previous NHL seasons he had
34 power play points total). However, Afinogenov disappeared in the playoffs and watched Daniel Briere and
Chris Drury emerge as the top forwards for a Sabres team that was one win away from the Stanley Cup
Finals.

This is a team that lacks a true MVP of defense. Brian Campbell broke out last season scoring 12 goals, 32
assists good for 44 points, with 27 of those points coming on the power-play. Campbell also tied forhte team
lead with 5 GW goals (with Chris Drury and Ales Kotalik). While these numbers were fantastic, there are
some huge flaws in Campbell’s game from a fantasy persepctive. Campbell was (-14) and had only 16 PIM,
hurting fantasy team’s in both categories. Campbell is a beneficiary of the new NHL since he is a swift skater
with good vision, but be careful because before last season his career-high in points was 19. A potential
sleeper is Henrik Tallinder, who only had 23 points in the regular season last year, but had 8 points in just 14
playoff games while posting an outstanding +14 rating.
Player to Watch
In only 48 games last year Daniel Briere helped prove the point that the new NHL is built for little guys.
Briere had 58 points over those games, good for an average of 1.21 points per game 25 goals, and 33
assists). Briere also contributed 4 GW goals and 28 power-play points. He then followed up his strong
regular season with 8 playoff goals and 19 playoff points in 18 games. Briere’s performance earned him a $3
million raise through arbitration, but his one year $5 million contract will still mean he needs to impress this
year to secure a long term deal. Briere has played only one full NHL season (2003-2004) and is a great
fantasy pick up if he can play close to 80 games.
Goalies
During the regular season least year the Sabres had a hard time deciding who was going to be the number
one keeper between the preseason favorite Martin Biron and American rookie Ryan Miller. By the end of
the season it was clear in Buffalo that Miller was the goalie of the future. In 48 games Miller won 30 and lost
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just 14, while picking up one shutout. His GAA of 2.60 was 11 best in the league and he also had a team
leading .914 SV%.. Miller showed great confidence in the playoffs, picking up 11 wins in 18 games and
lowering his GAA to 2.57. This should be the year that Miller secures himself the number one spot and earns
between 55 and 65 starts. Of all the goalies in the top 15 in wins last year, Miller had the fewest starts. The
back up, Biron, had 21 wins in 35 games and posted a GAA of 2.88 with one shutout.

Fading Star
Concussions can be the beginning of the end of many promising NHL careers. Tim Connolly, one of the
Sabres top centermen, scored 16 goals and added 39 helpers last year for 55 points during the regular
season (all three of those numbers were career-highs). Connolly took his hot stick into the playoffs and had
11 points in 8 games and then against the Senators suffered a concussion that ended his season. Connolly
is a big risk this season due to the post concussion syndrome symptoms and is not guaranteed to return to
top form this year for Buffalo. Last year’s concussion was the second major concussion of his career and
with each concussion the risks become greater.
Top Prospect
Last year was the year of the rookie and Buffalo and two of the brightest were goalkeeper Ryan Miller and
Jason Poinville. Pominville (18-12-30 in 57 games) scored the series winner, short-handed, against the
Ottawa Senators in the playoffs. This year the rookie to watch could be Drew Stafford. Stafford had 41
games last year at the University of North Dakota (24 goals, 23 asissts). Stafford played for the United
States at the World Ice Hockey Championships and should be in uniform for the Sabres after signing a
contact in May. Stafford is only 20-years-old so do not expect much in production from this kid at least at the
start.
Other Names to Watch: C Marek Zagrapan, LW Daniel Paille, D Andrej Sekera, D Nathan Paetsch
Special Teams
Penalty Kill: 86.6%, 2nd in the NHL
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The Sabres drastic improvement from the early season projection to the end of the 2005-2006 season was
partly due to the success of the Sabres power-play. The Sabres had 6 players with more than 10 power-play
goals including Chris Drury who led the team with 16 power-play markers. The others with 10 or more
power-play tallies were: Briere (11), Afinogenov (11), Thomas Vanek (11), Ales Kotalik (10) and Pominville
(10). The Sabres also had three players with a pair of short-handed goals, including Drury again (Pominville
and Jochen Hecht were the others). This team will continue to be one of the best on special teams because
of the constant supply of small, fast forwards.
Offseason Moves
Added: D, Andrej Sekera (EUR), D Jaroslav Spacek (BUF)
Lost: F J.P. Dumont (FA), D Rory Fitzpatrick (VAN), Mike Grier (SJ), G Michael Leighton (ANA), D Jay
McKee (STL), F Taylor Pratt (VAN)

Goalie Tandem: 8.5
Special Teams: 10.0
Did You Know…

The 52 wins the team had last year were the most in franchise history for a single season. The Sabres had
the most players with over 18 goals in a season in the NHL. The Detroit Red Wings were second with eight
18 plus goal scorers.

Carolina Hurricanes Fantasy Team Report

2005-06: 52-22-8, 112 Points, 2nd in the East

In just his 2nd NHL season, Eric Staal became the player the Carolina Hurricanes knew they had chosen
when they drafted him 2nd overall in 2003. After a 69-point improvement over his rookie season (up to 100
points), the 21-year-old center then took the Hurricanes to their first ever Stanley Cup title, leading the NHL
in playoff scoring along the way with 9 goals and 19 assists. Entering his third full NHL campaign, the
expectations will be much higher for the eldest Staal.

Although perhaps not as well known as his younger brother Tomas, Frantisek Kaberle has emerged as a
steady leader on the Carolina blueline. Kaberle enjoyed his best offensive season to date in 2005-06, putting
up 6 goals and 38 assists for a total of 44 points in 77 games, but his most important goal was the one that
put the Hurricanes over the top in the 2nd period of Game 7 that clinched the Stanley Cup for his club against
the Oilers last June. With no true superstar on the Hurricanes’ back-end, Kaberle will be expected to pick up
much of the responsibility both defensively and on the power-play this season, and should be a safe mid-
round draft pick for fantasy owners.
Player to Watch
No one can question the value Erik Cole has to the Hurricanes, especially after his thrilling comeback
inspired the Canes to their first ever Stanley Cup title. However, after wearing a neck brace the last few
months of the season recovering from what could have been a career-threatening injury, it’ll certainly be a
testament to his courage to see #26 step back onto the ice full-time in 2006-07. That said, it remains to be
seen what kind of effect the injury will have on his game. The New York native is used to playing a very
physical style of hockey, and it will be interesting to see if he plays with any tentativeness for the early part
of the season.
Goalies
If last spring was any indication, the Carolina Hurricanes are set between the pipes for years to come.
Following a Conn Smythe Trophy-winning performance that led the Canes to sip from Lord Stanley’s Cup,
rookie goaltender Cam Ward will get his first real chance to be a regular starter at the NHL level this year
after appearing in just 28 games in his freshman campaign. His inspired play in the playoffs prompted
Hurricanes’ GM Jim Rutherford to let season-long starter Martin Gerber walk during the offseason, and
Carolina then acquired Tampa Bay castoff John Grahame as insurance in case the 22-year-old falters.

Fading Star
Despite a 55-point performance last season, 34-year-old left winger Ray Whitney is likely past the prime of
his career. Whitney, whose injury-prone nature has limited him to just 3 full seasons in his entire NHL
career, scored 17 goals and 38 assists last season for the Canes (in 63 games), but he will likely be given a
reduced role next year with the acquisition of Scott Walker from Nashville and with prospects Chad LaRose
and Andrew Ladd being given more playing time. Whitney is still a decent player, but it would be foolish to
expect his totals to improve much from here on out.
Top Prospect
Provided we allow Cam Ward to shed the ‘prospect’ tag after his spectacular playoff, this designation would
have to go to 2005 1st-rounder Jack Johnson. Although he still hasn’t signed with the Canes and will likely
at least start his sophomore season at the University of Michigan, Carolina hopes to have him under
contract as soon as they can pry him away from the Wolverines’ grasp. Johnson, one of the most highly-
touted defensive prospects in the league, led the Central Collegiate Hockey Association in defensive scoring
last year with 10 goals and 22 assists in 38 games as a freshman. Beyond Johnson, the list of prospects
gets thin for the Canes.
Other Names to Watch: LW Andrew Ladd, RW Chad LaRose, G Justin Peters, G Craig Kowalski
Special Teams
The 2005-06 Carolina Hurricanes bucked a major trend in the NHL which says that winning starts with
special teams. Both the Canes’ PK and PP were average at best throughout the regular season, but
Carolina went on to win the Stanley Cup nonetheless. A fluke? You decide. Either way, the Hurricanes’
powerplay should be led again next season by Eric Staal and Rod Brind’Amour, both of whom had 19
power-play goals last year, and Justin Williams (4 SHG) who should also be a solid contributor on the PK.
Offseason Moves
Added: G John Grahame (TB), F Scott Walker (NSH), F Shane Willis (TB)
Lost: F Matt Cullen (NYR), G Martin Gerber (OTT), Marc Reechi (PIT), D Josef Vasicek (NSH), F Doug
Weight (STL)

Goalie Tandem: 8.0
Special Teams: 6.5
Did You Know…

2005-06 featured the first-ever all-WHA Stanley Cup Final when it saw the Carolina Hurricanes, formerly the
New England and then Hartford Whalers, meet the Edmonton Oilers in a 7-game series. Both the Whalers
and the Oilers (formerly the Alberta Oilers) were founded and played their first WHA games in 1972-73, and
both went on to join the NHL in 1979.

Florida Panthers Fantasy Team Report

Contributed By: Geoff Collins

Anyone who followed the Cats last season will agree on that Olli Jokinen continued his reign as the team’s
top forward. He led the team in goals and assists by 10 each, and the next closest in points trailed by 33
with 38 Goal-51 Assists-89 Points. On the power-play, he scored 37 points, almost double his next closest
teammate (Joe Nieuwendyk had 20 PP points). Though he did not lead in +/- he also spent a good chunk of
the season on a line with Kristian Huselius, who was a (-11) in 25 games with Florida last season, but Olli
still finished with a +14 rating. Not known for his hitting, he tied for first on the team for take-aways (41) as
well. The coaches seemed to agree as he was given more ice time then any other Cat forward and all but
two D-men.

This is another obvious answer. Jay Bouwmeester is the lone star on the blue line. Mike Van Ryn did well
and so did Sean Hill, but neither was able to play at both ends as well as Bouwmeester did. Bouwmeester
lead the team’s defensemen in assists and points (5-41-46) and will only turn 23 in September. Playing in
every game, he totaled 2,090 minutes played to led the team, and place 6th in NHL, for an average of 25:29
minutes per game. With Hill gone and no replacement yet, Bouwmeester will probably see even more ice-
time this year.
Player to Watch
There are several players to watch this year. Rostislav Olesz had a good rookie season, but was hidden
behind all of the other great rookies in the league. His more defensive minded play lowers his fantasy
hockey worth, but he had two stretches where he opened scoring a bit to show his abilities. Stephen Weiss
will be another looker as last season ended in January for him, but not before getting 9-12-21 and a (-2) in
41 games. The real player to watch is Jozef Stumpel. He was dead until December; (0-4-4) and a (-5) in 24
games. Then he trotted through to the Olympic break (7-19-26 with a +5 in 32 games). Down the stretch he
ripped it up (8-14-22, +13 in 14 games). At the end of the season he went scoreless in the last 4 games, so
could either be a dark horse or a disappointment. Bet on dark horse.
Goalies
Roberto Luongo was the most valuable goalie last season. Between December 8 and April 9, his backup
Jamie McLennan only played one full game, with 5 appearances. Luongo more then held his own with that
sick workload (he spent the Olympic break as Canada’s third string goalie). Mike Keenan did not like the
idea of having a goalie. So they’re both gone, Luongo traded to Vancouver and McLennan signing with
Calgary. Now they are very deep, having brought in Craig Anderson from Chicago where he had nearly a
full-time job backing up oft injured Jocelyn Thibault and flaky Nikolai Khabibulin the past couple of years. He
is not a starter, but he is a good backup.

With the Luongo trade, the Cats got Alex Auld (33 wins, .902 SV%) who took over as starter for the
Canucks last season. Since he is young, he is expected to only get better and will vie for the starting spot.
One of the most proven starters in NHL history, Ed Belfour, was signed for less then a million bucks for this
season. Though he has seen better days, he does not seem to be done yet, but with Auld on the way up he
will not have an easy go at gaining playing time.
Fading Star
At 36, and being relegated to a third line role, Martin Gelinas could be considered, but his +27 last year led
the team and his NHL points total over the past 5 seasons are 52, 29, 52, 35 and 41. Gary Roberts and Joe
Nieuwendyk are two of the older players and both struggled with injuries, but looking at their recent pasts
they are not fading either (Roberts’ PPG has hovered around .666 for several seasons and Nieuwendyk got
a higher PPG then he has in several years). Last season was a bit rough for Ed Belfour, but the two
seasons before he had 17 shutouts with a decent SV%, though as mentioned, he likely won’t be anything
more than a back up unless Auld really struggles. Plus he is coming off his least productive season 1996-96,
not a good thing when you are 41-years-old.
Top Prospect
With the depth Florida has at forward and goalie, and since they don’t have many prospects on defense,
Stefan Meyer is probably the best prospect the team has right now. In his last two seasons with Medicine
Hat of the WHL he averaged more then a point a game before jumping up to Rochester of the AHL where he
went 12-16-28 in 68 games, which was better then some of his older AHL peers who were given shots with
the Cats last season. At 6’1”, 194 lbs., and defensively responsible, he could be good for the third of fourth
line, where the Cats need more defensive players.
Other Names to Watch: F Rob Globke, F Greg Jacina, D Martin Lojek, F Kendall McArdle, F David Booth.
Special Teams
Considering that the Panthers are stronger in front then they are on the blueline, it says a lot that their
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power-play was ranked 24 and carried almost single-handedly by Jokinen. With Todd Bertuzzi added to
the team, they should be able to do much better as he will not only clear the front of the net, but also draw
attention away from snipers and playmakers like Weiss, Stumpel, Roberts, and Nieuwendyk. Since they
drew the fewest penalties in the NHL last season, it may not matter much. The PK is in trouble. With the
defense in slight turmoil, the Cats will either have to trade away one of the aforementioned forwards or rely
on Bouwmeester and Mike Van Ryn. After those two, the defense has Bryan Allen, Ruslan Salei, and
Branislav Mezei who are all decent stay-at-home guys, but not good on the offensive end. Since they had
the 6th most short-handed situations in the NHL last year, it is very important that they address their PK.
Offseason Moves
Added: D Jamie Allison (OTT), G Craig Anderson (CHI), G Alex Auld (VAN), G Ed Belfour (TOR), F Todd
Bertuzzi (VAN)
Lost: F Mike Green (DAL), G Roberto Luongo (VAN), D Lukas Krajicek (VAN), G Jamei McLennan (CGY)

Goalie Tandem: 7.5
Special Teams: 2.5
Did You Know…

Despite being low in the standings at the Olympic break last season, the Panthers had 6 representatives in
the Olympic games. Bouwmeester and Luongo played for Canada, which was coached by Cat’s coach
Jaques Martin, Stumpel skated for Slovakia, team captain Jokinen got a silver medal with Finland while
rookie Olesz got a bronze with the Czechs.

Montreal Canadiens Fantasy Team Report


Though he didn’t play the entire season, RW Alexei Kovalev was still able to be the leader in points for the
Habs. With 65 points for the campaign (25 goals and 42 assists), Kovalev showed he still had something left
in the tank. A knee injury in November required surgery, but it didn’t slow when he came back in late
December. In fact, Kovalev scored 26 points in his final 26 games, during which time he also netted 14
power-play points in that time as well. Kovalev played big on the biggest stage last year with 9 points in 7
games against the hated Maple Leafs. Kovalev skated most of the season alongside C Saku Koivu (17
goals, 45 assists) and LW Michael Ryder (30 goals, 25 assists), on what was the teams most effective line.

After coming off a dismal ’03-’04 campaign, D Andrei Markov stepped it up for the Habs on the blueline
last season. Markov, he put up a career-high in points (46), assists (36), as well as tying a career-high for
plus/minus with a +13 though he was limited by injury to only 67 games on ice. At his best in November and
December, Markov scored 21 points in 22 games hinting at the offensive upside he possesses.
Player to Watch
C Mike Ribeiro (16 goals, 35 assists) took step back from his 2003-04 season in which he put up 20 goals,
65 points and a +15. Despite losing 14 points overall, Ribeiro actually bested his power-play total of the
previous season by one point (25 power-play points). With the added offense in the new Habs line-up,
Ribeiro will be able to get open more often and be allowed to take more risk than he would have been if the
line-up has stayed in the status quo.
Goalies
The Canadiens found a diamond in the rough last season when Cristobal Huet took over for the ailing and
departing Jose Theodore. With his 18-11-4 record, as well as sparkling GAA (2.20) and SV% (.929), Huet
could be the future of the Habs net. Almost as amazing was Huet’s total of 7 shutouts in only 36 games,
simply an astonishing rate that allowed him to place second in the league is SO (Miikka Kipprusoff had 10).
Astonishingly enough, the Habs also have David Aebischer (29-17-2, 3.09 GAA, .899 SV%) in the fold.
Aebischer, who was acquired for Theodore, stood in for a couple games with the Habs and has plenty to
prove to show that he can still be a starter in the NHL. Add that to prospect Yann Danis waiting in the wings,
it could get very interesting at training camp.

Fading Star
C Radek Bonk showed that the cast he had in Ottawa made him a better player. After being traded from
Ottawa to Los Angeles to Montreal on Draft Day in 2004, Bonk had plenty to prove, but it didn’t amount to
anything on the ice. With only six goals and 15 assists on the season, Bonk saw himself battle through
injuries and benching incidents. The one thing that helps Bonk’s cause is his work in the face-off circle, but
even then it’s hit-or-miss.
Top Prospect
G Yann Danis can really be the player to watch coming into training camp. After a decent yet short stint with
the Habs (3-2-0 with a 2.69 GAA and .908 SV%), Danis showed that he could deal with being in the big
leagues. Oddly enough, in the AHL Danis was only able to post a 17-17-3 record (with a 2.97 GAA and .902
SV%), which could mean that he could need another season in Hamilton before making the jump to the
NHL, especially with Huet and Aeibischer in the fold.
Other Names to Watch: F Alexander Kostsitsyn, F Kyle Chipchura, F Guillaume Latendresse, D. Ryan
O’Bryne, G Carey Price
Special Teams
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The Montreal Canadiens really were a “Jekyll and Hyde” team on special teams. Their power play was more
than effective, with Michael Ryder gathering 18 PP goals on the season. What’s better for the Habs is 10
players having five or more PPGs in ’05-’06. Conversely, the Habs couldn’t stop anyone on the PK,
especially on the road, where the Habs were only 78.7% (52 PPG against) effective. That is one thing new
coach Guy Charboneau will have to work on to make sure his team won’t falter during the season.
Offseason Moves
Added: F Mike Johnson (PHX), F Sergei Samsonov (EDM),
Lost: F Jan Bullis (VAN), F Niklas Sundstrom (EUR), F Richard Zednik (WAS)

Goalie Tandem: 8.0
Special Teams: 7.0
Did You Know…

The Montreal Canadiens haven’t had a 100-point season since 1992-93 when they had 102 points and
went on to win the Stanley Cup. The Canadiens 12 years without a 100-point season is their longest streak
in the post-expansion era (1967). Previously, the record had been five seasons.

New Jersey Devils Fantasy Team Report

2005-06: 46-27-9, 101 Points, 3rd in the East

Right-winger Brian Gionta was a beast for the Devils last season. His well-balanced 89 pts, with 48 goals
(24 on the PP) and 41 assists were a welcome surprise, especially given the unfortunate bout of hepatitis
suffered by the team’s erstwhile scoring leader Patrick Elias. The question is: can he do it again? While his
career at the NHL level had been unspectacular prior to last season, falling short of 30 points in three NHL
seasons, he did score at better than a point-per-game clip as a college player. In other words, he has a
history of goal scoring to backup last season’s performance.

The new-look Devils needed Brian Rafalski to claim his place as the team’s top defenseman with the loss
of two prominent players at the position: Scott Stevens (retirement) and Scott Niedermayer (free agency).
Rafalski did his best to meet these demands, posting 49 points, an even plus/minus rating, and playing in all
82 games. Hopefully, the maturation of ex-rookie defenseman Paul Martin (37 points) and a full season with
Elias at the helm of the team will allow Rafalski to back away from a leadership role and focus his energies
on what he does best: generating offense. If Rafalski is able to reclaim his more limited role as an offensive-
minded defenseman, then he may be able to post the big numbers that were expected of him in the post-
lockout NHL.
Player to Watch
All eyes will be on the team’s captain this season, Patrick Elias. The ailing left-winger’s better than point-
per-game production (45 pts in 38 games) when he returned from illness last year seems to signify that he is
ready to reclaim his place as the team’s primary offense generator from Gionta. Besides the regular season,
Elias as scored 16 points in 9 games signaling he is ready for a return to prominence.
Goalies
Historically, the Devil’s trademark has been stifling defense and goaltending. It was unclear how much their
success at defense depended on their goaltending, and vice versa. On the one hand, Martin Brodeur, the
team’s starting goalie, has produced statistically brilliant seasons for several consecutive years. On the other
hand, Brodeur benefited from the quality of his team’s defense, which kept shots-on-goal to a minimum. In
addition, Brodeur’s well-developed puck-handling skills no doubt improved the team’s defense, which makes
it even harder to tease apart the contribution of these two factors.

The combination of rule changes and the loss of many players who were critical to the team’s past success
lead some observers to predict a dramatic decline in Martin Brodeur’s performance last season. Indeed,
Brodeur struggled early, but he still managed to post respectable numbers overall (43-23-7, 2.57 GAA, .911
SV%, 5 SO). In fact, the hit Brodeur took to his GAA relative to previous seasons is consistent with the
average increase in goal scoring overall in the NHL (about ½ goal per game for each team). Brodeur may
not have flourished under the new rules, but he certainly did not fall apart.
In comparison, backup goalie Scott Clemmensen was roughed up by the opposition in limited play (3-4-2,
3.35 GAA, .881 SV%). Clearly, Clemmensen’s competent work does not threaten Brodeur’s ridiculous streak
of playing in 70 or more games for 8 straight seasons, leading the league in games played 3 times and in
wins 6 times during that span. Brodeur is very durable and the collapse predicted by many last season failed
to materialize. He may no longer be the consensus number one pick in a fantasy draft, but he remains a
solid option in goal for now.
Fading Star
In his heyday, Alexander Mogilny was among the NHL’s top scoring threats. However, the aging sniper
and his wonky hip were demoted to the minors last year. Mogilny scored 25 pts in 34 games for the Devils,
who are still on the hook for his contract despite the fact he is no longer on their roster. It would appear that
the oft-underachieving star’s days in the NHL are over.
Top Prospect
The Devils have been a good team for a long time. The result is a dearth of top-end prospects, with
apologies to Zach Parise. Of course, they aren’t the Toronto Maple Leafs either (with apologies to Jamie
Macoun. He knows why). The top prospect is probably C Travis Zajac, selected in the 1st round of the 2004
draft, now that Parise has made the team. He is a speedy player that projects as a first line scorer.
Other Names to Watch: LW Nathan Perkovich, RW Teemu Laine, C Alexander Sundstrom
Special Teams
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The Devils were mediocre on special teams. They usually shine on the penalty kill (ranked 6 in ‘03-‘04), but
this was not the case last season, possibly due to new rules restricting Brodeur’s puck-handling. New Jersey
remains among the top 10 in the NHL overall despite these disappointing numbers (ranked 6th overall in ‘03-
‘04, 8th overall last season). The top power-play performers were Gionta (24 PPG) and Scott Gomez (9
PPG).
Offseason Moves
Added: F Michael Rupp (CBJ)
Lost: F Steve Kariya (EUR), D Ken Klee (COL), F Victor Kozlov (FA)

Goalie Tandem: 9.5
Special Teams: 7.5
Did You Know…

Did you know that Brian Gionta was voted the unsung hero for the ‘03-‘04 season by his teammates? Their
opinion was validated just two years later when he led the team in scoring, and Italian heritage.

New York Islanders Fantasy Team Report


It’s really difficult to tell if the 12th place New York Islanders even had an offensive MVP was last season,
considering that no player even reached the 70-point plateau, but if one had to choose, picking between
Miroslav Satan and Alexei Yashin would be almost impossible. The two players had eerily similar numbers
last season, both finishing with 66 points and even the same amount of shots on goal (253). While either of
the two could be considered the team’s MVP, Satan edges out Yashin on three counts. First, in plus/minus,
Satan held a (-8) to (-14) advantage. Second, Satan led in PP goals, 17 to 10. Third, Satan’s salary is $4.25
millions while Yashin’s is $7.6 million.

Like with the forward ranks, no one on the Islanders’ back-end really stepped it up enough to be considered
any kind of MVP, but with 5 goals and 24 assists in 59 games, the 33-year-old Alexei Zhitnik was probably
the closest thing to. Like Satan, Zhitnik came over as a free agent last summer from the Buffalo Sabres, and
immediately became one of the Islanders’ best players. However, that’s not saying much considering the
Slovak didn’t even break 30 points. Teammate and fellow blueliner Chris Campoli did have more points (34),
but did it in 80 games and recorded a (-16) rating along the way, compared to Zhitnik’s +4.
Player to Watch
Provided the Islanders don’t get more help on the wings via free agency before the season starts, Trent
Hunter should get the chance to bounce back from his sophomore slump of a season on Long Island. After
finishing his rookie year in 2003-04 with 25 goals an 51 points, not to mention a +23 rating, Hunter tallied
just 16 goals and 19 assists and went (-9) last season. The 6’3”, 210 lbs. forward was also one of the most
physical players in the league, dishing out 230 hits last season, second only to Dallas’ Brendan Morrow
(234) for most in the NHL, but remarkably he picked up just 34 PIM. He also played more games his
sophomore season (82) than during his rookie campaign (77), so it will be interesting to note which trend
Hunter will continue in 2006-07.
Goalies
Former 2000 top draft pick Rick DiPietro will be the #1 guy in the New York nets next season, but just how
good he will be is still a matter of speculation. The former Boston University standout has taken his sweet
time developing his game, and last year seemed to be a slight step back for the young netminder, who
posted a 30-24-5 record last season with a 3.02 GAA, a .900 SV% and 1 shutout, as opposed to his rookie
season of 23-18-5, a 2.36 GAA, a .911 SV% and 5 shutouts. DiPietro is known for his cocky attitude, and at
24, he still has plenty of time to continue his development. Backing him up will be former AHL netminder
Wade Dubielewicz, after veteran goaltender and longtime Islander Garth Snow opted for retirement and the
GM’s chair earlier this summer. Dubielewicz played 7 games at the NHL level last season, posting a 2-3-0
record with a 2.90 GAA and .897 SV%.

Fading Star
Who would have expected a breakout season from a 34-year-old? Fourteen year veteran Mike Sillinger
enjoyed a career year last season, splitting 32 goals and 31 assists between the St. Louis Blues and
Nashville Predators for the best season of his journeyed career. Sillinger, who comes to the Islanders this
year season as his 12th NHL team, will be hard-pressed to repeat that kind of performance, but at the
youthful age of 35, who knows?
Top Prospect
After watching him play 53 games during his rookie season, the Isles’ brass is very keen on former 2003 1st
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rounder (15 overall) Robert Nilsson. Finding chemistry playing on a line with Yashin last season, the
Canadian-born Swede recorded 6 goals and 14 assists with a (-6) and 26 PIM. Those are not Calder-worthy
numbers for sure, but Nilsson still appears to have a bright future ahead of him, but it may take a few more
seasons for the run-and-gun style forward to reach his full potential.
Other Names to Watch: LW Sean Bergenheim, LW Jeff Tambellini, D Bruno Gervais, D Denis Grebeshkov,
C Jeremy Colliton, C Petteri Nokelainen, D Allan Rourke
Special Teams
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The Islanders’ special teams last season left much to be desired, landing in the bottom third of the NHL in
both categories. Despite the woes, however, three Islanders managed to score 10 or more power-play
goals, including Satan (17), Yashin (10) and the speedy Jason Blake (12), who also scored two
shorthanded goals. The newly acquired Sillinger also scored 14 with the man advantage last season, and
will also help immensely in the faceoff department.
Offseason Moves
Added: F Mike Sillinger (NSH), F Chris Simon (CGY), D Brendan Witt (NSH)
Lost: D, Tom Poti (NYR), F Steve Rucchin (ATL), G Garth Snow (RET)

Goalie Tandem: 7.0
Special Teams: 6.0
Did You Know…

The Islanders’ front office and management has been a revolving door the past few months. Former GM
Mike Milbury first fired head coach Steve Stirling in the middle of last season, and then replaced him with
interim coach Brad Shaw, who was then replaced by Ted Nolan. Milbury then stepped down from the GM’s
post himself, replaced by former broadcaster Neil Smith, who was fired 40 days later and replaced with
backup goalie Garth Snow. On March 31st, the Islanders hired former great Bryan Trottier as Executive
Director of Player Development, and a week later, announced that another former Islander, Pat LaFontaine
would be hired as Senior Advisor to the Owner (Charles Wang). However, after the firing of Smith,
LaFontaine resigned his post as well. Round and round we go.

New York Rangers Fantasy Team Report


There is no question that the MVP was Jaromir Jagr. The 16-year veteran finally had a stand-out year after
leaving Pittsburgh (it was his first 100-point season since 2000-01). Last season Jagr played in all 82
Rangers games, scoring 54 Goals-69 Assists-123 Points with a +34 and 72 PIM (those 123 points in a
Rangers team record). Jagr also scored 52 points in the power-play, a career-high and good enough to tie
for second in the NHL with Alexander Ovechkin of Washington. Jagr’s +34 rating was also a career best and
the second highest mark in the NHL in 2005-06 marking Jagr as one of the forwards to target in the first
round of any fantasy draft this year.

One piece of the Rangers success last season was the defense that the Rangers assembled. Michal
Rozsival, like Jagr, was in the Rangers' lineup for all 82 games. In addition, Rozsival score 5 goals, notched
25 assists for 30 points with 90 PIM. What is most impressive about Rozsival is that he led the Rangers, and
the NHL, in plus/minus this season with a +35. Another impressive stat is that 3 of his 5 goals were game
winners. In addition, 3 out of his 5 goals were also power-play goals.
Player to Watch
The biggest name on the Rangers is no longer Jagr. In July, the Rangers picked up veteran Brendan
Shanahan from the Detroit Red Wings. Shanahan is no stranger to great play, participating with three
Stanley Cup winning teams. At 37-years-old Shanahan shows no signs of his advancing age and last
season he scored 40 goals and had 41 assists, with +29 and 105 PIM. Entering the season, Shanahan has
598 goals, the 15th best mark all-time and he is 122 PIMs short of 2500 in his illustrious career.
Goalies
The New York Rangers have a solid goalie tandem that may only improve with age. Last year's rookie
phenom Henrik Lundqvist is a spectacular goaltender. The 6'1” Swedish goaltender started for most of the
season after Kevin Weekes succumbed to injury. In his 53 games in the net, Lundqvist posted a 30-12-9
record with a 2.24 GAA, .922 SV% and 2 SO. Keep in mind that Lundqvist is only 26-years-old and, like
most goaltenders, will probably get better with age. Also he has a proven mentor in Weekes, who went to
the Stanley Cup Finals in 2001-02 with the Carolina Hurricanes. Weekes, this past season, played in 32
games, posting a 14-14-3 record with a 2.95 GAA,.895 SV %, and 0 SO. Expect a great year from the New
York Rangers' goaltending, because of their mix experience and youth.

Fading Star
It is very hard to point to one fading star on this team, since no player last season had much of an “off year”.
So let's highlight one player you should leave on the waiver wire in your fantasy league. is one player to
avoid in most leagues. Unless PIMs are counted Darius Kasparitis offers little value. This past season he
had no goals and only 6 assists, though he did tally 95 PIM. He's an enforcing player and since the role of
the NHL enforcer has been redefined because of the new rules of the NHL, players such as Kasparitis have
been forced to focus on different aspects of play rather than being a “bruiser”.
Top Prospect
The Rangers' top pick of the 2006 Entry Draft was a childhood Rangers fan. Picked, 21st overall in the draft,
Bob Sanguinetti's, childhood dream came true during this years draft. Sanguinetti will be a great
defenseman in the future for the Rangers. Sanguinetti played 2 seasons with the Owen Sound Attack of the
OHL as an offensive minded defenseman though this past season in the OHL Sanguinetti did score 14 goals
with 61 assists in 67 games. He was also selected to take part in the 2005-06 OHL All-Star Classic.
According the NHL's central scouting, Sanguinetti, has great vision on the ice that will allow him to maneuver
the puck through tough spots and traffic. Don't expect him to see a lot of ice time this year due to his “lanky”
physique.
Other Names to Watch: C Artem Anisimov, LW Ryan Hillier, LW Eric Hunter, RW David Kveton
Special Teams
Led by Jagr’s 52 PP points, the Rangers power-play was fairly potent in ‘05-’06. Though Jagr led the team in
power-play points, Martin Straka led the team in PP assists (29). Petr Prucha managed to score 16 goals
with the man advantage in only 68 games to finish second on the team to Jagr (24). The Rangers will have
to find someone to fill the shoes of Martin Ruckinsy who moved on to St. Louis (26 PP points in 52 games).
While short-handed the Blueshirts scored only 4 times, two by Jason Ward, but they accomplished the most
important goal of limiting the other team from scoring by finishing 9th in the league in PK%.
Offseason Moves
Added: F Matt Cullen (CAR), F Adam Hall (NSH), D Tom Poti (NYI), F Brendan Shanahan (DET),
Lost: F Dominic Moore (PIT), F Martin Rucinsky (STL), Petr Sykora (EDM)

Goalie Tandem: 8.0
Special Teams: 8.5
Did You Know…

It seems like everyone has played for the Rangers at some point in their career, but did you know 6 of the
top 10 all-time goal-scoring leaders have played for the Rangers at some point in their career? This list
includes: Wayne Gretzky (1st), Marcel Dionne (4th), Phil Esposito (5th), Mike Gartner (6th), Mark Messier
(7th), and Luc Robitaille (10th). Of these 6, only 1 has had their number retired officially as a New York
Ranger, Mark Messier (Wayne Gretzky's number was retired league-wide).

Ottawa Senators Fantasy Team Report

2005-06: 52-21-9, 113 Points, 1st in the East

When the trade from Atlanta happened, no one was for sure if LW Dany Heatley would be the same player
he was before his car accident. With the right combination of line mates and new rules, Heatley recorded
career-highs in every scoring category (50 Goals-53 Assists-103 Points). Both RW Daniel Alfredsson (43-
60-103) and C Jason Spezza (19-71-90) should get honorable mentions for their play last season, since
they both put up career-highs as well, not surprising considering that all three often skated on the same line.

D Wade Redden (10-40-50) was the MVP on the backend for the Senators. With the new rules, Redden
was able to open up his game and make a better first pass without the red line coming into effect. Because
of that, Redden was rewarded with a new contract to keep him in Canada’s capital for three more seasons.
Redden also tied for the top plus/rating in the NHL with a +35 rating on the season.
Player to Watch
With the departure of Martin Havlat, the door is open for RW Patrick Eaves to shine. Eaves had a
successful first pro season spending the first quarter of the year in Binghamton of the AHL (5-8-13 in 18
games), before playing 58 games for the Senators collecting 20 goals and 9 assists for the Senators.
Another player to watch will be D Andrej Meszaros, who jumped into the spotlight as a rookie and
established himself a prime player for the Senators. It wasn’t so much the points Meszaros put up (10-29-
39); it was his +34 rating as a rookie that caught the eyes of everyone in the hockey world.
Goalies
Even though Ray Emery (23-11-4, 2.82 GAA, .902 SV%) played amazingly well after the injury to Dominik
Hasek, the Senators didn’t feel that he is capable of holding a #1 spot. With that lack of confidence, the
Sens went out and signed Martin Gerber off the unrestricted free agent market. Gerber had a great regular
season with Carolina (38-14-6, 2.78 GAA, .906 SV%); but when it came to the playoffs, the flu and
inconsistent play got him benched, ending his tenure in Carolina. With two inexperienced goalies on the
roster, it could be goalie by committee for the Senators.
Fading Star
It’s hard to pick out a player who could be considered a fading star. If there is one, it could be D Chris
Phillips (1g-18a-19p). Though he had a solid season, you would expect some defensemen to use the new
rules to the fullest, but Phillips lack of production with the new rules brings up some questions. With his
experience, there is no doubt Phillips could get back on track from his bumps in the road.

Top Prospect
Recently acquired C Josh Hennessy will rise to the top of the prospect chart for the Senators. With a lack of
North American prospect depth, Hennessy will look to build off his impressive first minor pro season in
Cleveland of the AHL (24-39-63). With Hennessy’s consistent scoring in juniors, the Senators will look to see
how Hennessy reacts to a new organization and if he can keep his consistency and hopefully exceed
expectations.
Other Names to Watch: D Brian Lee, C Alexei Kaigorodov, G Jeff Glass, D Filip Novak
Special Teams
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The special teams could get you both on the power-play or shorthanded last season. When shorthanded
side, the Senators scored a league-high 25 shorthanded goals with Antoine Vermette (6 SHGs), Daniel
Alfredsson (5 SHGs), Peter Schaefer (4 SHGs), and Mike Fisher (4 SHGs) leading the way. On the
power-play, Dany Heatley lead the way with 23 PPGs, followed by Daniel Alfredsson’s 16 PPGs and
departing defenseman Zdeno Chara’s 10 PPGs
Offseason Moves
Added: D Jamie Allison (FLA), D Joe Corvo (LA), G Martin Gerber (CAR), F Dean McAmmond (STL), D
Tom Preissing (OTT)
Lost: F Tyler Arnason (COL), Zdeno Chara (BOS), G Dominik Hasek (DET), F Martin Havlat (CHI), G Mike
Morrison (PHX), D Brian Pothier (WAS), F Bryan Smolinski (CHI)

Goalie Tandem: 7.0
Special Teams: 9.0
Did You Know…

Since the new Senators came into existence in the 1992-93 season, they had never had a 100-point scorer.
Alexei Yashin back in 1998-99 was the closest, but only reached to 94 points (44g-50a). With the new rules,
a team build for speed, and solid first line, the Senators were able to have two 100-point scorers in Dany
Heatley (103) and Daniel Alfredsson (103) last season.

Philadelphia Flyers Fantasy Team Report


When healthy Peter Forsberg is one of the top 5 players in the NHL, however a healthy Peter Forsberg is
like a winning Washington Capitals team, it has happened, but not recently. Forsberg had 19 Goals-56
Assists-75 Points in just 60 games last season with a +21 with 46 PIM, not to mention 32 power-play points.
Forsberg is still a top player in fantasy hockey, but a huge risk at this point of his career. Therefore, another
performer to keep and eye on is Forsberg’s linemate sniper Simon Gagne. Gagne had 79 points last year
(47-32-79) in 72 games. He had a 7 game winning goals and 12 power-play goals last season, and his 47
goals were a career-high along with his +31 rating. With Forsberg out of the lineup, Gagne was forced to
carry a heavy load and this helped his statistics, but also contributed to wearing out the speedster.

In just his second NHL season Joni Pitkanen emerged as a fantasy threat on defense. Pitkanen led the
Flyers defensemen in scoring (13-33-46) and had a +22 rating, also the best mark on the Flyers defense. He
had career best numbers in goals, assists, points, plus minus and penalty minutes. Pitkanen was 21st among
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NHL defensemen in points and 8 in plus/minus amongst blueliners. Pitkanen played only 58 games last
season and struggled toward the end of the season with injuries.
Player to Watch
Last year the Flyers lineup featured two of the top young Canadian players with Jeff Carter and Mike
Richards playing a combined 160 games last season. Carter (23-19-42) played in 81 games as a rookie.
But what makes Carter such a star is his ability to score in crunch time. Carter had 7 game winners and 6
power-play goals during the regular season. Carter also had 11 goals while the team was tied with the
opponent. This type of poise should lead to a breakout season for the second year forward. Richards (11-
23-34) was also sold in his 79 games on the ice, and he chipped in 3 short-handed goals as well.
Goalies
The Flyers face a classic goaltender battle with two good goalies, neither of whom are established NHL
stars. Robert Esche had a slightly better record last year (22-11-5, with a .897 SV%) with only one shutout
in 40 starts. The back up is Antero Niittymaki who started 42 games last year and picked up 23 wins and
had 15 losses (and 6 OTL). Niittymaki had 2 shutouts and an almost identical .895 SV% (both goalies did
have identical 2.97 GAAs). The value of both these goalies is decreased by the presence of the other, but
taking a risk on one of them could pay off if they catch fire. Keep an eye on this battle during the pre season
and then make a decision on which goalie to draft.

Fading Star
The new NHL is not built for 6’4 250 lbs. pound defensemen who are as slow as molasses. This is why
Derian Hatcher will soon enough fade away into retirement for the Flyers. Last season Hatcher had scored
17 points in 77 games and was a +2 with 93 PIMs. He was seldom used on the power-play and was forced
into penalties due to his poor footwork and lack of speed. Hatcher used to be a force in both the penalties
and plus/minus categories, but is no longer playing with the top defective line and is on the ice for more
goals than any time in his career.
Top Prospect
The Flyers have had a few prospects graduate to the bigs, including Jeff Carter, Mike Richards and RJ
Umberger. The next young Flyer that shine should be forward Ben Eager. Eager (3-5-8) played in 25 NHL
games last year and along his 8 points he posted 18 PIM. His body is NHL ready after totaling 256 PIM with
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Philadelphia Phantoms of the AHL. If Eager can generate any sort of scoring touch he will be a solid 2 or
3rd line NHLer. If he cannot score he will be useless in fantasy hockey and will be stuck on the Flyers fourth
line.
Other Names to Watch: D Alexandre Picard, F Stefan Ruzicka, F Ryan Potulny, F Claude Giroux
Special Teams
Power Play: 18%, 16th in the NHL
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The Flyers went from having the second best power play in 2003-2004 to the 16 best in 2005-2006. One of
the reasons for the powerplay decline was the loss of forwards Tony Amonte, Mark Recchi, Jeremy Roenick
and John LeClair after the lockout. Those 4 players had 36 power plays combined in the season before the
lock out. Mike Knuble led the team last year with 13 power-play goals, but other than Knuble and Gagne
(12 PP goals) there were no big contributors on the power-play save Peter Forsberg (32 PP points). The
penalty kill suffered with the addition of big, slow defensemen Mike Rathje and Derian Hatcher.
Offseason Moves
Added: D Nolan Baumgartner (VAN), F Kyle Calder (CHI), F Eric Meloche (CHI), F Randy Robitaille (MIN),
F Geoff Sanderson (PHX)
Lost: F Donald Brashear (WAS), D Eric Desjardins (RET), F Michael Handzus (CHI), Kim Johnsson (MIN),
F Vaclac Pletka (CHI)

Goalie Tandem: 9.0
Special Teams: 7.5
Did You Know…

Simon Gagne is not yet under contract and could potentially be out of training camp and miss some time
during the regular season. Gagne is looking at the contract that Martin Havlat and Alex Tanguay signed in
the off-season as a measuring stick, meaning the Flyers will be paying him about 5 or 6 million dollars per
year when its all said an done.

Pittsburgh Penguins Fantasy Team Report


Should a mere child, a sometimes petulant child, be allowed to argue with referees on behalf of his team
and boss around his teammates on the ice? The answer to that question is yes if you ask the Pittsburgh
Penguins and the child in question is named Sidney Crosby. Despite his youth, the 18-year-old Crosby was
a statistical monster last season. From a fantasy standpoint, his stat line was especially impressive: 29
Goals-63 Assists-102 Points with a (-1) rating, and a whopping 110 PIM. The youngest player to score 100
poins in a season figures to better last year’s performance this season with a year of experience under his
belt and a more or less equivalent supporting cast to work with. Crosby is a legitimate threat to lead the
league in scoring in 2006-07.

Sergei Gonchar might not be anyone’s idea of an MVP defenseman in real hockey, but in fantasy hockey
he is gold. Gonchar did not explode while playing under the new NHL rules, what he did do was post his
usual numbers: about 15 goals and 40-odd assists. He finished second on the team in scoring with 58
points. The 100 PIM he posted last year certainly doesn’t hurt his value in leagues that reward that statistic
either. His (-13) rating is a small price to pay as it could have easily been (-40) on this team. Gonchar’s only
challenger within the organization for the title this season might be the emerging Ryan Whitney, the fifth
overall pick of the 2002 Entry Draft, who scored 38 points in 68 games last year in his rookie season.
Player to Watch
RW Colby Armstrong was drafted in the first round of the 2001 entry draft, and played his rookie season
last year. Called up in December, by March he was playing on the first line with Crosby and scoring a point a
game. In a full season, Armstrong could post 80 pts, which would make him worthy of an early to mid-round
selection in most fantasy drafts. Luckily, his overall numbers on the season (40 points) don’t look that
impressive (he only played 47 games). In other words, Armstrong may fall to the later rounds of the draft,
making him a nice sleeper pick.
Goalies
The goalie situation in Pittsburgh has been a mess for a long time (where are you Tom Barrasso circa
1994?). The Pens acquired Jocelyn Thibault to try and stabilize the situation and allow Uber-prospect
Marc-Andre Fleury to develop gradually. However, a 4.46 GAA in 16 games wasn’t what management
expected from Thibault. In the end, Fleury had to take the reigns again like he did in ’03-’04. After 50 games,
the results were solid given the team’s porous defense, 13-27-6, 3.25 GAA, .898 SV%, with 1 shutout. With
emerging stars like Crosby, Whitney, and Armstrong on the squad, the prospects for Fleury improving his
numbers this season look bright.

Fading Star
Aging LW John Leclair posted numbers that were basically identical to those he put up during the ’03-’04
campaign (50 odd points), and they were good enough for third in scoring on the team after Marc Recchi got
dealt to Carolina. Of course, those numbers should have increased along with the league scoring-average,
and they didn’t. The fact they his numbers didn’t increase is especially remarkable given the team’s offence-
first philosophy. If Leclair was unable to cash in on the talent surrounding him last year, then it seems
unlikely that he will be able to do so this year. The Penguins are team that is building for the future, and its
emerging offensive stars will probably relegate players like Leclair to more of a supporting role. The best we
should expect is another 50 points season, but nothing more. The days were Leclair could score 80 points in
a season are over.
Top Prospect
Everyone knows about C Evgeni Malkin “the best player not currently playing in the NHL.” If this is the year
he manages to extricate himself from the Russian Super league, then you don’t want to be facing the
Penguins on the power-play this season. It is probably fair to place Malkin in the same class as a rookie
Alexander Ovechkin. The difference is that Malkin gets to play with Crosby and Gonchar his rookie year
(assuming it is this year), while Ovechkin had very little to work with last season.
Other Names to Watch: C Jordan Stall (2nd overall, 2006 draft), LW Niklaus Nordgren, D Noah Welch
Special Teams
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Power Play: 19%, 6 in the NHL
As predicted by many observers, the Penguins were formidable on the power-play last year, and just awful
at keeping the puck out of the net. The best performers on the power-play were Crosby (16 PPG), Marc
Recchi (13 PPG), and Michel Ouellet (11 PPG). The Penguins are a young team that should improve on
the penalty kill as it and its goalie Fleury gains more experience. In addition, the already impressive power-
play should improve with the addition of Malkin to the NHL roster. Would you want to face Gonchar, Crosby,
Malkin and Recchi on the power-play? No, you would not.
Offseason Moves
Added: D Matt Carkner (SJ), D Mark Eaton (PIT), F Nils Ekman (SJ), G Patrick Ehelechner (SJ), F Dominic
Moore (NYR), G Andrew Penner (CBJ), F Marc Reechi (CAR)
Lost: F Aleksey Morozov (FA)

Goalie Tandem: 9.0
Prospect Ranking: 10
Special Teams: 8.0
Did You Know…

Sidney Crosby scored 22 points in his last 10 games on his way to breaking Mario Lemieux’s record for
points by a Penguins rookie (100 in ’84-’85). Fellow rookies Ryan Whitney and Colby Armstrong ended the
season on 5 and 4 game point streaks respectively as well.

Tampa Bay Lightning Fantasy Team Report

Contributed By: Eric Cunningham

There are a few deserving candidates for the offensive MVP in Tampa Bay, but Vincent Lecavalier will take
home the award for 2004-2005. Lecavalier led the Lightning in scoring with 35 goals and finished 2nd in
power play points with 32. While there was less press spent on Lecavalier than other players, he finished the
season in an elite group as he joined Dany Heatley of Ottawa, Brendan Shanahan of Detroit, and Olli
Jokinen of Florida as the only four players to notch 35 goals, 35 assists, 75 PIM, and have a +/- of even or
better. You could do a lot worse than grabbing a guy like Lecavalier to build a fantasy squad around.

Despite losing Darryl Sydor and Pavel Kubina in the offseason, the Lightning’s defensive MVP was clearly
Dan Boyle. Boyle cracked the top 10 in scoring blue liners registering (15-38-53) this season, and has
cracked the top 20 every time he has reached the 70 games played plateau. Since the Lightning dispersed
most of their blue liners in the offseason, expect Boyle to improve on the 23 minutes per game he played
and likely improve on his points totals as well.
Player to Watch
It’s easy to say that the leading point scorer is the player to watch, but Brad Richards will be in the eyes of
every Tampa Bay fan during the season. The man has been the cornerstone of the franchise without
receiving all the glitz. Richards has improved on his point total every year culminating in his 91 point season
last year He’s also only missed two games in his 5 year career as well.
Goalies
No one is happier to be in net for the Tampa Bay Lightning than Marc Denis. After coming over from
Columbus in an offseason trade, Denis should improve the quality of hockey (real and fantasy) for Tampa
Bay. While Roberto Luongo has received much notoriety as the best goalie on a bad team, Denis can’t be
much further behind. With a career 2.97 GAA and .900 SV%, the Lightning should see marked improvement
over the incapable John Graham and Sean Burke tandem from 2005-06.
Fading Star
With the retirement of Dave Andreychuk, the burden of being the team’s fading star lies squarely on the
shoulders of defensemen Andy Delmore. Recently acquired via free agency, the 29-year-old Delmore
cannot be expected to be too much of a presence. After back to back seasons in which he averaged 17-19-
36, -15, and 162 PIM with Nashville, Delmore has completely fallen off the map. In the two seasons since,
Delmore has scored a total 2-5-7, -6, and 31 PIM. Until he proves himself, he is fading and fading fast.

Top Prospect
Ryan Craig should be the most exciting player to watch for Lightning fans. After being called up from the
AHL’s Springfield Falcons (28 points in 28 games) half way through last season, Craig registered 15-13-28, -
4, and 6 PIM. Craig finished 7th on the team in points per game (.583) among offensive players. He had very
little presence on the special teams, but expect an increase in that department. Known for being a team
player with tremendous work ethic, Craig should stick around for quite some time in Tampa Bay. Draft him
with a late round pick, and you could be blessed with a true gem down the line.
Other Names to Watch: D Paul Ranger, F Norm Milley, F Darren Reid, F Nick Tarnasky
Special Teams
Power Play: 16.7%, 23rd in the NHL
After finishing in the bottom third of the league in both special teams categories, the Tampa Bay Lightning
have some work to do. Expect better penalty kill numbers with an improved netminder in Denis.
Unfortunately, the power play is going to need to find another scorer since Fredrik Modin now resides in
Columbus as part of the Denis deal (his 12 PP goals were second on the team). If the team can find another
scorer to fit into the power play, Brad Richards will certainly find him. Richards tallied 39 PP assists last
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season, 4 most in the NHL.
Offseason Moves
Added: D Andy Delmore (CBJ), G Marc Denis (CBJ), D Filip Kuba (MIN), D Luke Richardson (TOR)
Lost: G John Grahame (CAR), D Pavel Kubina (TOR), F Fredrik Modin (CBJ), G Fredrik Norrena (CBJ), D
Daryl Sydor (DAL)

Goalie Tandem: 8.0
Special Teams: 5.5
Did You Know…

Ryan Craig, with 15 goals, became the first Tampa Bay Lightning rookie to notch at least ten goals in one
season since Brad Richards did so in the 2000-2001 season (he recorded 21).

Toronto Maple Leafs Fantasy Team Report

Contributed By: Paul Bruno

Mats Sundin’s 2005-06 season began in disastrous fashion when suffered a serious eye injury 7 minutes
into the first game. He rebounded very nicely with better than a point-per-game pace over the second half to
close out the year as the team’s leading scorer, for the 9th time in the past 10 years (he scored 31 goals and
78 points in 70 games) despite the fact that he was not given regular linemates for much of last season. The
big Swede is still the acknowledged team leader and at age 35 shows no sign of slowing down. In fact, new
coach Paul Maurice, in a departure from previous bench boss Pat Quinn, has already indicated that
Sundin’s ice time will rise this year. That can only mean his offensive production should increase in the
upcoming season. Mats is entering the final year of a multi year contract.

This award should be split between the top tandem of Tomas Kaberle and Bryan McCabe. The dynamic
duo combined brilliantly to emerge as one of the league’s top defense pairs. Not since the late 1970s and
the days of Borje Salming and Ian Turnbull, have the Leafs boasted such a dynamic defense pairing.
McCabe (19 Goals-49 Assists-68 Points) and his big slapshot was the perfect complement to the
extraordinary passing skills of Kaberle (9-58-67). Both players garnered extensive special teams duty and
played about 30 minutes per game (they were one-two in the NHL in time-on-ice). They each signed big
dollar multi year contracts during the offseason and are again expected to be the leaders of this brigade.
Player to Watch
Forward Jeff O’Neill was viewed as a significant offseason signing prior to last season. His year was
marked by struggles in his personal life, relating to the tragic death of his brother. He seemed to thrive in the
early going with some success as one of Sundin’s wingers, but that was short-lived as he did not seem
charged with the same inner fire that he has been noted for in his 10 years as a pro. Despite these negative
tones he did manage to produce 19 goals and 19 assists. The offseason reports seem to point to a
rejuvenated O’Neill. He might once again be given a chance to join Sundin on the top forward unit and to
return to the 30-goal plateau.

Goalies
The Leafs have not entered a season with as much uncertainty in the crease in the past 10 years. A late
season callup, J S Aubin, and a free agent signing, Andrew Raycroft will split duties this season. Both
netminders have checkered resumes. Will Aubin resemble the super stopper who went undefeated in 11
appearances with the Leafs last year or will he be the journeyman who could not hold the top job in
Pittsburgh? Similarly, will Raycroft flash his Rookie of the Year form of the 2003-04 season or the
overmatched netminder who posted 8 wins and 19 losses last year for Boston? If one of them emerges the
Leafs will be in good shape in the nets. Indications are that Raycroft will start the year as the number 1
goalie, with Aubin waiting in the wings.
Fading Star
Last year Mikael Tellqvist seemed to be in pretty good situation as the understudy to an aging Ed Belfour, a
veteran with a sparkling resume. He was to play 20 games and continue on his learning curve in the big
leagues. A fateful pair of back-to-back routs at the hands of the archrival Montreal Canadiens last March
appear to have derailed him from a big role with this year’s club. He will only get another shot if one or both
of the newer netminding recruits falters.
Top Prospect
Young defensemen debuted in large number for the Leafs last season, owing to injuries and/or sub par
performances by some of the regulars. Carlo Colaiacovo has had a number of brief stints on the back line
over the past couple of seasons and was just starting to get comfortable last year when he ran into injury
trouble (concussion symptoms). These difficulties have been overcome and he is gearing up for a strong
start to the season. This roster looks like a good fit for him with a wealth of talented veterans to guide him
and may allow him to ease into a comfortable role. He appears to have all the tools to be successful with a
good shot, strong physical play and superior skating ability
Other Names to Watch: D J Harrison, D Ian White, FW J Pohl, F J Williams
Special Teams
Power Play: 21.4%, 2nd in the NHL
The Toronto Maple Leafs had a lethal power play that produced a league high 107 power play goals,
sparked by the tandem of Kaberle and McCabe on the points. They were very adept at taking advantage of
the increased number of penalties called in the new NHL. When teams adjusted to covering the points, Leaf
strategy switched to focus on finding Captain Sundin with a lot of puck control and threats much closer to the
net area. Darcy Tucker led the Leafs with 18 PP goals, followed by Sundin (16), O’Neill (14) and McCabe
(13).
On the flip side, the club had a tough time while short handed. Their lack of team speed and propensity for
too many restraining fouls saw this unit give up far too many goals against. They did produce 14
shorthanded goals, good for 7th best in the league, with Matt Stajan and Alexei Ponikarovsky each scoring
four times to lead the team.
Offseason Moves
Added: D Hal Gill (BOS), D Pavel Kubina (TB), F Michael Peca (EDM), G Andrew Raycroft (BOS)
Lost: F Jason Allison (FA), G Ed Belfour (FLA), F Tie Domi (FA), F Eric Lindros (DAL), D Luke Richardson
(TB)

Goalie Tandem: 6.0
Special Teams: 8.0
Did You Know…

The Leafs are one of only two teams (Phoenix Coyotes, formerly the Winnipeg Jets) that has not appeared
in the Stanley Cup Finals, among all teams that have been active since 1980. The Leafs have not had a
league leading point scorer since 1948 (Gordie Drillon). Most notable, however, is the second longest active
drought without a Stanley Cup win since 1967 (Chicago, 1961).

Washington Capitals Fantasy Team Report

Contributed By: Jon Pitonzo
Fantasy MVP – Frwards

The Capitals fantasy value can be summed up in two words, Alexander Ovechkin. At least it might have
been last season, since Ovechkin lead the team in goals (52), assists (54), points (106), and shots on goal
(425) playing in every game except one in his rookie season. The Calder Trophy winning Ovechkin nearly
doubled linemate Danius Zubrus 57 points last season which was the second best total on the team.
Nonetheless, the Capitals were a well-balanced offensive team last season, with 6 players scoring at least
16 goals on the season.

The Capitals defense tends to get involved with the offense, sometimes a bit too often but involved. The
Caps had 6 d-men tally more than 10 points on the season (including departed d-man Brendan Witt),
however for fantasy value look toward Jamie Heward or Bryan Muir. Both had some power-play value with
16 PP points and 17 PP points respectively, while they each chipped in over 50 PIMS as well. Either one
could fit in as a 5th defenseman on an otherwise solid fantasy squad. Also don’t forget about offseason
acquisition Brian Pothier who had a great season last year for the Senators (35 points, +29).
Player to Watch
Keep an eye on the top line of the Capitals, no matter who Ovechkin skates with. Last season, Ovechkin
lead his linemates Danius Zubrus (23 Goals, 34 Assists, 57 Points) and Chris Clark (20-19-39) to career
seasons for each. Keep an eye on the re-addition of Richard Zednik to this Capitals squad. Although he’s
listed as a LW, Zednik has shown he can play on either side of the rink. He’ll add some much needed
scoring depth to the team, and could end up being on the Caps top line or at least the top power play line.
Goalies
The Capitals need to sure up the defense some this season or Olaf Kolzig is going to have another long
year between the pipes. The Caps allowed a league high 35.1 shots per game last season and will be
looking to improve upon that with the addition of Brian Pothier. Kolzig is a good second or third goalie
(depending on the strength of your fantasy league) with his respectable numbers last season of 20 wins,
3.53 GAA, .896 SV%. Don’t bother adding back-up Brent Johnson to your fantasy watch list, at least for the
beginning of the season. He shouldn’t be expected to play much more than the 26 games he played last
season, unless Kolzig gets hurt for a long period of time or he ends up getting traded during the season.
Olaf Kolzig is still the man in Washington, and will be until he leaves.

Fading Star
Despite the fact he’s one of the two players this Capitals team is built upon (and was talked about so nicely
above), the team’s fading star might have to be Olaf Kolzig. At 36-years-old, Kolzig still has some very good
seasons in him, however he’s seen enough rubber to make a Vegas escort blush over the past five or six
years (facing over 1900 shots for each of the past 6 seasons). In the 2005-06 season, Kolzig played the
fewest number of games since he became the starter for the Caps 8 seasons ago. As a life long Capital, it
wouldn’t be a stretch to see Olie go the way of former Cap Peter Bondra and be out by season’s end.
Top Prospect
This topic is in sort of a gray area. How gray? Charcoal. It’s gray because of your definition of a prospect,
and whether or not you see Alexander Semin as a prospect still. Semin skated in 52 games in 2003-04 and
put up a respectable season (10-12-22). However if you’re looking for a prospect not named Alexander then
look no farther than Thomas Fleischmann. Last season, Fleischmann had a breakout season for the
Calder Cup winning Hershey Bears with 63 points (30 goals, 33 assists) in 57 regular season games. He
added 11 goals and 32 points in the Bears 20 playoff games. As a 6’0”, 190 lbs. center, Fleischmann could
stand to get a little bigger. However he might fit in very well on a first or second scoring line in the future.
Other Names to Watch: RW Eric Fehr, C Chris Bourque, C Kris Beech, D Jeff Schultz, D Sasha Pokulok
Special Teams
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From the two statistics above, it’s easy to see the Capitals special teams were just plain awful last season.
The Caps were short-handed far too often to allow their penalty kill to be effective at all. Hopefully this
season the team can cut down on the number of trips to the box. At least one good note on the PIM front,
the Capitals did trade Brendan Witt toward the end of last season, who accounted for 141 PIMS which lead
the Capitals (he had 209 PIMs overall). On the power play, the Capitals were again led by Alexander
Ovechkin (21 PPG, 31 PPA). However with the addition of Richard Zednik and Alexander Semin, the team’s
power play units should be a bit more dangerous this season.
Offseason Moves
Added: F Donald Brashear (PHI), D Brian Pothier (OTT), F Richard Zednik (MON)
Lost: F Brian Willsie (LA), F Jeff Halpern (DAL)

Goalie Tandem: 7.0
Special Teams: 5.0
Did You Know…

In the 2005-06 season, Washington Capitals star Alexander Ovechkin became only the 2nd rookie (Teemu
Selanne being the 1st) in NHL history to record at least 50 goals and at least 100 points in his rookie
campaign.

NHL DEPTH CHARTS

Contributed By: Geoff Collins
WESTERN CONFERENCE
ANAHEIM DUCKS
LW C RW
Fl Chris Kunitz Andy McDonald Teemu Selanne
F2 Dustin Penner Ryan Getzlaf Corey Perry
F3 Stanislav Chistov Todd Marchant Rob Niedermayer
F4 Todd Fedoruk Sami Pahlsson Travis Moen
D1 Scott Niedermayer Francois Beauchemin
D2 Chris Pronger Vitali Vishnevski
D3 Sean O’Donnell Joe DiPenta
G1 Ilya Bryzgalov
G2 J-S Giguerre
CALGARY FLAMES
LW C RW
Fl Jeff Friesen Alex Tanguay Jarome Iginla
F2 Kristian Huselius Daymond Langkow Tony Amonte
F3 Marcus Nilson Stefan Yelle Chuck Kobasew
F4 Eric Nystrom Mathew Lombardi Darren McCarty
D1 Dion Phaneuf Roman Hamrlik
D2 Robyn Regehr Andrei Zyuzin
D3 Andrew Ference Rhett Warrener
G1 Miikka Kiprusoff
G2 Jamie McLennan
CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS
LW C RW
Fl Michael Handzus Tuomo Ruutu Martin Havlat
F2 Tony Salmelainen Bryan Smolinski Radim Vrbata
F3 Rene Bourque Patrick Sharp Martin Lapointe
F4 Mikael Holmqvist Denis Arkhipov Brandon Bochenski
D1 Adrian Aucoin Duncan Keith
D2 Brent Seabrook Jim Vandermeer
D3 Cam Barker Dustin Byfuglien
G1 Nikolai Khabibulin
G2 Patrick Lalime

COLORADO AVALANCHE
LW C RW
Fl Andrew Brunette Joe Sakic Milan Hejduk
F2 Steve Konowalchuk Pierre Turgeon Marek Svatos
F3 Wojtek Wolski Tyler Arnason Ian Laperirere
F4 Antti Laaksonen Brad Richardson Cody McCormick
D1 J-M Liles Patrice Brisebois
D2 Jordan Leopold Karlis Skrastins
D3 Ossi Vaannen Brett Clark
G1 Jose Theodore
G2 Petr Budaj
LW C RW
Fl Rick Nash Sergei Fedorov Nikolai Zherdev
F2 Fredrik Modin Gilbert Brule David Vyborny
F3 Jason Chimera Manny Malhotra Dan Fristche
F4 Jody Shelley Alexander Svitov Balistik
D1 Adam Foote Brian Berard
D2 Rostislav Klesla Ron Hainsey
D3 Duvie Westcott Aaron Johnson
G1 Ty Conklin
G2 Pascal Leclaire
DALLAS STARS
LW C RW
Fl Brendan Morrow Mike Modano Jere Lehtinen
F2 Jussi Jokinen Eric Lindros Anttii Miettinen
F3 Niklas Hagman Jeff Halpern Stu Barnes
F4 Steve Ott Patrik Stefan Matthew Barnaby
D1 Sergei Zubov Phillippe Boucher
D2 Darryl Sydor Jaroslav Modry
D3 Tim Daley Jon Klemm
G1 Marty Turco
G2 Mike Smith
DETROIT RED WINGS
LW C RW
Fl Henrik Zetterberg Pavel Datsyuk Jason Williams
F2 Tomas Holmstrom Robert Lang Mikael Samuelsson
F3 Kris Draper Johan Franzen Kirk Maltby
F4 Tomas Kopecky Dan Cleary Juri Hudler
D1 Niklas Lidstrom Mathew Schneider
D2 Niklas Kronwall Andreas Lilja
D3 Danny Markov Chris Chelios
G1 Dominick Hasek
G2 Chris Osgood

EDMONTON OILERS
LW C RW
Fl Ryan Smyth Shawn Horcoff Ales Hemsky
F2 Petr Sykora Jarrett Stoll Joffrey Lupul
F3 Raffi Torres Marty Reasoner Fernando Pisani
F4 Ethan Moreau Robbie Schremp Brad Winchester
D1 Steve Saios Jason Smith
D2 Marc Bergeron Matt Greene
D3 Daniel Tjarnqvist Ladislav Smid
G1 Dwayne Roloson
G2 Jussi Markkanen
LOS ANGELES KINGS
LW C RW
Fl Alexander Frolov Craig Conroy Mike Cammalleri
F2 Patrick O’Sullivan Anze Kopitar Dustin Brown
F3 Sean Avery Alyn McCauley Brian Willsie
F4 Scott Thornton Derek Armstrong Tom Kostopoulos
D1 Rob Blake Vitali Vishnevski
D2 Mattias Norstrom Aaron Miller
D3 Brent Sopel Tim Gleason
G1 Dan Cloutier
G2 Mathieu Garon
MINNESOTA WILD
LW C RW
Fl Brian Rolston Pavol Demitra Marian Gaborik
F2 P-M Bouchard Todd White Mark Parrish
F3 Pascal Dupuis Mikko Koivu Branko Radivojevic
F4 Stephane Veilleux Wes Walz Mattias Weinhandl
D1 Kim Johnson Kurtis Foster
D2 Martin Skoula Keith Carney
D3 Brent Burns Nick Shultz
G1 Manny Fernandez
G2 Josh Harding
NASHVILLE PREDATORS
LW C RW
Fl Paul Kariya Jason Arnott Alexander Radulov
F2 Steve Sullivan David Legwand Scott Hartnell
F3 Martin Erat Josef Vasicek Scottie Upshall
F4 Darcy Hordichuk Jerred Smithson Jordin Tootoo
D1 Kimmo Timonen Marek Zidlicky
D2 Dan Hamhuis Ryan Suter
D3 Shea Weber Mikko Lehtonen
G1 Tomas Vokoun
G2 Chris Mason

PHOENIX COYOTES
LW C RW
Fl Ladislav Nagy Mike Comrie Shane Doan
F2 Oleg Saprykin Jeremy Roenick Fredrik Sjostrom
F3 Patrick Fischer Steve Reinprecht Dave Scatchard
F4 Tyson Nash Mike Ricci Geroges Laraque
D1 Ed Jovanovski Zybanek Michalek
D2 Derek Morris Keith Ballard
D3 Nick Boynton Dennis Seidenberg
G1 Curtis Joseph
G2 Mike Morrison
SAN JOSE SHARKS
LW C RW
Fl Mark Bell Joe Thornton Jonathan Cheechoo
F2 Steve Bernier Patrick Marleau Milan Milchalek
F3 Ville Nieminen Curtis Brown Mike Grier
F4 Pat Rissmiller Marcel Goc Ryan Clowe
D1 Scott Hannan Josh Gorges
D2 Kyle McLaren Christian Ehrhoff
D3 Matt Carle Doug Murray
G1 Vesa Toskala
G2 Evgeni Nabokov
ST. LOUIS BLUES
LW C RW
Fl Keith Tkachuk Doug Weight Bill Guerin
F2 Martin Rucinsky Petr Cajanek Lee Stempniak
F3 Magnus Kahnberg Jay McClement Dallas Drake
F4 Jamal Mayers Ryan Johnson Dan Hinote
D1 Jay McKee Eric Brewer
D2 Barrett Jackman Christian Backman
D3 Bryce Salvador Matt Walker
G1 Manny Legace
G2 Curtis Sanford
VANCOUVER CANUCKS
LW C RW
Fl Markus Naslund Brent Morrison Matt Cooke
F2 Daniel Sedin Henrik Sedin Jason King
F3 Jan Bulis Ryan Kesler Lee Goren
F4 Taylor Pyatt Marc Chouinard Jesse Shultz
D1 Mattias Ohlund Sami Salo
D2 Willie Mitchell Lukas Krajicek
D3 Kevin Bieksa Luc Bourdon
G1 Roberto Luongo
G2 Mika Noronen

EASTERN CONFERENCE
ATLANTA THRASHERS
LW C RW
Fl Ilya Kovalchuk Bobby Holik Marian Hossa
F2 Vyacheslav Kozlov Niko Kapanen Jim Slater
F3 Brad Larsen Steve Ruchin Scott Mellanby
F4 Eric Boulton Jason Krog Jon Sim
D1 Niklas Havelid Greg DeVries
D2 Steve McCarthy Garnett Exelby
D3 Andy Sutton Shane Hnidy
G1 Kari Lehtonen
G2 Johan Hedberg
BOSTON BRUINS
LW C RW
Fl Marco Sturm Patrice Bergeron Brad Boyes
F2 P.J. Axelsson Marc Savard Glen Murray
F3 Petr Tenkrat Alexei Zhamnov Sean Donovan
F4 Yan Stastny Wayne Primeau Mark Mowers
D1 Zdeno Chara Brad Stuart
D2 Paul Mara David Tanabe
D3 Milan Jurcina Jason York
G1 Hannu Toivonen
G2 Tim Thomas
BUFFALO SABRES
LW C RW
Fl J.P. Dumont Daniel Briere Maxim Afinogenov
F2 Ales Kotalik Tim Connolly Johan Hecht
F3 Tomas Vanek Chris Drury Jason Pominville
F4 Derek Roy Paul Gaustad Adam Mair
D1 Jaroslav Spacek Teppo Numminen
D2 Toni Lydman Brian Campbell
D3 Dimitri Kalinin Henrik Tallinder
G1 Ryan Miller
G2 Martin Biron

CAROLINA HURRICANES
LW C RW
Fl Corey Stillman Eric Staal Erik Cole
F2 Ray Whitney Rod Brind’Amour Justin Williams
F3 Andrew Ladd Trevor Letowski Scott Walker
F4 Craig Adams Kevyn Adams Chad LaRose
D1 Bret Hedican Oleg Tverdovsky
D2 Frantisek Kaberle Glen Wesley
D3 Mike Commodore Niklas Wallin
G1 Cam Ward
G2 John Grahame
FLORIDA PANTHERS
LW C RW
Fl Gary Roberts Olli Jokinen Todd Bertuzzi
F2 Martin Gelinas Joe Nieuwendyk Nathan Horton
F3 Rostislav Olesz Stephen Weiss Jozef Stumpel
F4 Ville Peltonen Chris Gratton Juraj Kolnik
D1 Jay Bouwmeester Mike Van Ryn
D2 Brian Allen Ruslan Salei
D3 Branislav Mezei Ric Jackman
G1 Ed Belfour
G2 Alex Auld
MONTREAL CANADIENS
LW C RW
Fl Sergei Samsonov Saku Koivu Alexei Kovalev
F2 Christopher Higgins Mike Ribeiro Michael Ryder
F3 Glen Murray Tomas Plekanec Mike Johnson
F4 Steve Begin Radek Bonk Aaron Downey
D1 Andrei Markov Sheldon Souray
D2 Craig Rivet Francis Bouillon
D3 Mike Komisarek Mathieu Dandenault
G1 Cristobal Huet
G2 David Aebischer
NEW JERSEY DEVILS
LW C RW
Fl Patrick Elias Scott Gomez Brian Gionta
F2 Zach Parise John Madden Jamie Langenbruner
F3 Jay Pandalfo Sergei Brylin Grant Marshall
F4 Jason Wiemer Mike Rupp Cam Janssen
D1 Brian Rafalski Paul Martin
D2 Colin White Richard Matvichuk
D3 David Hale Brad Lukowich
G1 Martin Brodeur
G2 Frank Doyle

NEW YORK ISLANDERS
LW C RW
Fl Jason Blake Mike York Miroslav Satan
F2 Sean Bergenheim Alexei Yashin Trent Hunter
F3 Jeff Tambellini Mike Sillinger Robert Nilsson
F4 Chris Simon Shawn Bates Arron Asham
D1 Alexei Zhitnik Chris Campoli
D2 Radek Martinek Tom Poti
D3 Brendan Witt Joel Bouchard
G1 Rick DiPietro
G2 Wade Dubielewicz
NEW YORK RANGERS
LW C RW
Fl Martin Straka Michael Nylander Jaromir Jagr
F2 Petr Prucha Matt Cullen Brendan Shanahan
F3 Marcel Hossa Jarkko Immonen Adam Hall
F4 Ryan Hollweg Blair Betts Jason Ward
D1 Marek Malik Michal Rozsival
D2 Karel Rachunek Fedor Tyutin
D3 Sandis Ozlinsh Darius Kasparatis
G1 Henrik Lundqvist
G2 Kevin Weekes
OTTAWA SENATORS
LW C RW
Fl Paul Schaefer Jason Spezza Dany Heatley
F2 Patrick Eaves Mike Fisher Daniel Alfredsson
F3 Dean McAmmond Antoine Vermette Chris Neil
F4 Christoph Schubert Chris Kelly Brian McGrattan
D1 Wade Redden Andrej Meszaros
D2 Chris Phillips Joe Corvo
D3 Tom Preissing Anton Volchenkov
G1 Martin Gerber
G2 Ray Emery
PHILADELPHIA FLYERS
LW C RW
Fl Simon Gagne Peter Forsberg Mike Knuble
F2 Kyle Calder Jeff Carter Sami Kapanen
F3 R.J. Umberger Mike Richards Nikos Dimatrakos
F4 Geoff Sanderson Randy Robitaille Turner Stevenson
D1 Joni Pitkanen Derian Hatcher
D2 Mike Rathje Denis Gauthier
D3 Nolan Baumgartner Freddy Meyer
G1 Robert Esche
G2 Antero Niittymaki

PITTSBUGRH PENGUINS
LW C RW
Fl Ryan Malone Sidney Crosby Colby Armstrong
F2 John LeClair Evgeni Malkin (RUS?) Mike Recchi
F3 Nils Ekman Dominic Moore Jarkko Ruutu
F4 Andre Roy Maxime Talbot Michel Oullete
D1 Sergei Gonchar Ryan Whitney
D2 Brooks Orpik Mark Eaton
D3 Noah Welch Josef Melichar
G1 M-A Fleury
G2 Jocelyn Thibault
TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING
LW C RW
Fl Vaclav Prospal Vinny Lecavalier Martin St. Louis
F2 Ruslan Fedotenko Brad Richards Dmitry Afanasenkov
F3 Ryan Craig Tim Taylor Evgeny Artyukhin
F4 Nikita Alexeev Nick Tarnasky Rob DiMaio
D1 Dan Boyle Filip Kuba
D2 Corey Sarich Paul Ranger
D3 Nolan Pratt Luke Richardson
G1 Marc Denis
G2 Johan Holmqvist
TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS
LW C RW
Fl Alexander Steen Mats Sundin Darcy Tucker
F2 Alexei Ponikarovsky Kyle Wellwood Nik Antropov
F3 Chad Kilger Michael Peca Jeff O’Neil
F4 Bates Battaglia Matt Stajan Ben Ondrus
D1 Brian McCabe Tomas Kaberle
D2 Pavel Kubina Hal Gill
D3 Steffan Kronwall Carlo Colaiacovo
G1 Andrew Raycroft
G2 Mikael Tellqvist
WASHINGTON CAPITALS
LW C RW
Fl Alexander Ovechkin Dainius Zubrus Chris Clark
F2 Alexander Semin Brian Sutherby Richard Zednik
F3 Matt Pettinger Brooks Laich Ben Clymer
F4 Donald Brashear Boyd Gordon Matt Bradley
D1 Brian Pothier Jamie Heward
D2 Steve Eminger Shaone Morrisson
D3 Bryan Muir Mike Green
G1 Olaf Kolzig
G2 Brent Johnson

The NHL's Rule Changes, a Year Later

It was about this time last year when hockey fans received the news of the end of the long NHL work
stoppage, a relief for hockey fans after a 300-plus day lockout. The NHL has rebounded from this
long lay-off and created a very entertaining product for the fans with new rules which produced a
great deal more scoring in addition to opening up the game to allow the league’s great stars to have
the space needed to show off their skills. The new game has changed the way strategy is
approached in the game of fantasy hockey.
Pampering and Protecting the Goaltenders

Goaltenders, for the longest time, were wearing pads that were big enough for an elephant and
those pads were legal. The NHL decided that one of the biggest changes needed to increase scoring
was to decrease the size of the goaltenders pads. The leg pads were decreased to a point where
those giant pads Arturs Irbe used to wear are now illegal. Since there is less padding for the goalie
to throw in the way of shots the shooters now have more net to shoot at which resulted in more
goals.
The most controversial rule change of the season was the limiting of a goaltenders ability to play the
puck. Now there are two red lines that extend from the goal-line diagonally to the end boards, one on
each side of the net. The rule is that a goaltender cannot play the puck outside this “trapezoidal
zone” behind the net. If a goaltender plays a puck behind the goal-line and is outside of this
“trapezoidal zone”, the goaltender receives a two- minute minor. This rule may protect goaltenders,
but also forces the goaltender to stay in the net. Some goaltenders such as Martin Brodeur have
made careers of being goaltenders who play and skate with the puck, and this rule discourages that
style of goal tending to an extent. Goaltenders can still play the puck, they just need to be a little
more careful in the quicker pace of play. Also, goaltenders are no longer “fair game”, meaning they
cannot be checked outside of their privileged area.
The Death of Defense and the Increase in Penalty Calls

While defense is a vital part of hockey, offense is also important, especially when selling the game to
the U.S. audience. Non-hockey fans, those in non-traditional hockey markets specifically, like to see
higher scoring sports events rather than an exciting 1-0 overtime win. This past season the NHL tried
to bring more scoring to the game with a series of new rules designed to open up the game. The first
change that made scoring easier was the elimination of the red-line at center ice allowing what had
previously been ruled as a two-line pass to now become legal. Previously the two-line pass was
meant to punish cherry-picking styles of play. However, many fans and players hated the fact that
there was a non-offside two-line pass. Not only did it limit play, but also created a lot of unnecessary
face-offs. The elimination of the red line for the purpose of making the two-line pass legal now allows

for more open ice passing and movement. However defensive players now must be quicker to get
back on defense due to the explosive nature of long neutral zone passes that create more scoring
chances with increased odd-man rushes.
Another move the NHL made to keep the game flowing was the re-introduction of tag-up offsides.
For example, if a puck is dumped into the attacking zone offsides the attacking team can “tag-up” by
skating back into the neutral zone. Once all of the players have “tagged up”, the offsides would then
be nullified and the offensive team can re-enter the zone as one attacking unit. The reason why the
NHL removed this style of offsides was because of the inconsistency amongst referees (the NHL
also found that the game was a lot slower because of the number of added face-offs due to the
automatic offsides calls). The reintroduction of “tag-up” offsides has been a great way to keep the
game moving.
The increased special teams opportunities, because of all of the penalties called as the result of the
league enforcing the rules that were already on the books, has opened up the game for more
offense. Now more than ever, a team must be proficient on special teams or the results may be sub
par. For example in the Stanley Cup Finals Edmonton's lack of production on the power-play cost
them games they could have won. This change has also assisted fantasy owners with players who
were on key power-play lines on teams such as Ottawa, Detroit, or even Carolina that produced a lot
of power play points. Conversely, penalty Killing is also very important. For example, in the Eastern
Conference finals between Buffalo and Carolina, the amazing shot-blocking abilities of the Buffalo
penalty killing unit might have saved the team from losing a game or two in that series.
The positive part of this change in calling the game the way it says to in the rule book has resulted in
the elimination of much of the obstruction and grabbing infractions that occurred away from the puck
in the neutral zone. Many fans who enjoyed the battles in front of the net were less than thrilled
however when referees continued to call penalties in front of the net on less than aggressive
defensive plays. The league might chose to address the way the game is called directly in front of
the net.
One final rule change that increases the ability to score is the new icing rule. When the puck is iced,
players that are on the offending team are not able to make a change until after the next face-off.
Since the offending team will be in their own defensive zone, it is extremely difficult for a line change
to occur immediately after the drop of the puck. This rule ensures that the team that ices the puck is
not just stopping play to switch their players. This forced teams to reconsider the methods in which
they change their lines. Potentially, a team could have fatigued players and allow a goal on the
account of that fatigue. Not only is this embarrassing to a team, but can be the defining moment that
wins or loses the game.
The West Meets a Portion of the East

This season introduced a new scheduling format that is reminiscent of the MLB's schedule style of
exclusivity. Last season the NHL's 82-game schedule was remodeled to try to promote divisional rivalry.
Each team had 8 games against the other 4 teams in their division, a total of 32 games with each team
playing 4 home and 4 away games against each divisional rival. Each team also played each of the 10
remaining teams in their conference a total of 4 times bringing the total number of games played to 72. Each
team would then play 2 home and 2 away games against the rest of their conference foes. That leaves 10
games for Eastern Conference games. This means that in any given season each team in the NHL, there
are 30, will only see 25 teams each season. This means that there will be seasons where Original Six teams
will not play each other. For example this past season Detroit and Chicago did not play Boston, Toronto. As
a fan of the NHL, it was disappointing when Detroit and Chicago played only 2 out of the 5 other Original Six
teams.
Another problem with the new scheduling format that poses a serious issue is the advantage the
East has over the West in their travel schedule. The Eastern Conference’s distance between cities is
much less than the West with all the teams are located within the Eastern Standard Time Zone.
Therefore a long road trip in the East may consist of visiting teams in New England or in Florida,
which does not require an adjustment for the players to a new clock. However in the West there is a
lot more traveling. Although the Central Division's travel is much lighter and easier on the players,
the biggest problem might be found in the Northwest Division.

The Colorado Avalanche have 4 division rivals that are at least 900 miles or more from Denver,
Colorado, not to mention that Vancouver is almost 1500 miles away and an hour behind the local
time in Denver. This is definitely not fair when the Eastern Conference's Atlantic Division does not
have to travel more than 400 miles for their division's games.
A solution to this problem would be to bring back inter-conference play, even if it's only 5 more
games against the other conference. There is some hope for this being a possible solution since the
current scheduling format is only going to be in place until the end of this season before it is
revisited. Even if these travel problems have been inherent for the longest time, this new schedule
format has magnified advantage the East has with traveling. Even with baseball's exclusivity, the
east coast teams must make road trips to the west coast, and vice versa.
The NHL's Return

The NHL has come back regionally in strong numbers if one uses attendance figures as a barometer
of fans interest. The league set a number of attendance records including the largest crowds for the
first week of play last season. Also after a year of the new economic system, one in which a salary
cap was instituted, it is certain that parity is here to stay in the NHL. Teams such as Detroit, Toronto,
and Philadelphia cannot lock-up enormous long term contracts that no one else can afford anymore
which allows small market teams such as Buffalo, San Jose, and Edmonton to be able to compete in
the regular season and to have a legitimate chance to sign a high-profile player or two. The NHL is
modeling themselves after the success of the NFL, and should have many more fruitful years to
come, or at least until the next CBA negotiations.

The State of Canadian Hockey

Contributed By: Paul Bruno
The Montreal Canadiens have won more Stanley Cups than any other team in NHL history (24). The
Toronto Maple Leafs are second on the list with 13. However, not since 1993 has a Canadian-based team
won the NHL’s championship trophy. Why have we been witness to this Canadian team drought?
ECONOMICS
This period has coincided with a large shift in the value of the currencies between Canada and USA.
Millionaire owners in the States have parlayed this discrepancy into the signing of free agent talent to sunny
destinations in the southern and western states, away from the hockey hinterlands of Canada. In fact, the
only Canadian based city that has been capable of competing in this landscape is in Toronto, North
America’s fifth largest city. Only because of that status as the corporate center of Canada, has Toronto been
able to maintain that presence as a viable alternative to US-based teams. The Leafs are a treasured
institution with a very wealthy and loyal fan base that is highlighted by a large corporate community that
accounts for a major portion of its season ticket base. The Leafs have been sold out for many years and
there is a waiting list with over 5,000 names waiting in the wings. This has positioned the Toronto brain trust
with a unique ability to compete in the previously unrestricted NHL.
At the other end of the spectrum, this period has also seen the demise of franchises in Winnipeg and
Quebec in favor of settling in Phoenix and Colorado respectively. These cities did not have the overall
support of their communities and were compelled to see the sad outcomes for their franchises.
Were it not for the salary cap in the new NHL the growing disparity between teams in the two countries
would not get any better. There has been much hand-wringing north of the border over this state of affairs.
Would Canadian teams, on the whole, thrive or would the schism grow wider?
Early returns would seem to indicate that the league is poised for a healthy future with no weak links in
Canada. Another positive development, from a strictly Canadian standpoint, in the past year is the relative
strengthening of the Canadian Dollar versus the American Dollar. Where there was once a wide gap of 1.4
to 1 that has narrowed to about 1.1 to 1 in recent months. This combination of events led to a strange
scenario in the first off-season in the newly-capped NHL. Teams like the Calgary Flames and Edmonton
Oilers were successful in luring big-name free agents from American-based teams to come play in Canada.
The playing field was level for the first time in many years whereas previously General Managers were
limited in terms of what they could spend in filling out their rosters. The $39 million salary cap, in US dollars,
is applied equally to everyone. With only so much money to go around, the NHL is on its way to being a
more balanced league, in terms of equitable distribution of talent, if salaries equal talent that is.
THE LIFE OF A CANADIAN

Canadian hockey fans take a proprietary view of hockey, in terms of recognizing that the sport has its origins
in Canada. The general view is that a Canadian team should win the Cup. Canadian fans push aside their
feelings of rivalry with other Canadian teams as was seen last year when Edmonton went to the finals. In
bars across the country, the scene was the same. Fans cheered the Oilers on and jeered the Hurricanes.

That passion and support is something that American fans have not had to deal with since the Toronto Blue
Jays won back to back World Series in 1992 and 1993. The feeling had long been that good Canadian boys
would continue to look for their careers to flourish in the States. Now, in two years, we are seeing increased
optimism that Canadian teams can and will compete, as long as their front office staff acts with good
intentions to build a winner.
The change in the landscape of hockey in Canada now mirrors that in the other major team sports. The
tendency used to be that fans could follow the fortunes of their favorite players with an expectation that they
would remain with the team, barring a trade, for several years. With unrestricted free agency for players,
there is considerable movement and a growing attitude that the players are looking at the sport with more of
a poignant business sense. Yet from a fans perspective, in a salary cap environment, there are a greater
number of teams that can enter a season with a sense that they can win a title.
In order to get a sense for what this sport means in Canada, we must understand that it is ingrained in
Canadians at an early age. Kids grow up in Canada and in the first 5 years of their lives learn how to skate
and start to participate in organized leagues in their local arenas. The Canadian dream for many, particularly
in their first years in hockey, is to some day play in the NHL. The weekly pattern of activity centers around
going to your kids games during the day and watching “the game” on television at night. There are a number
of all sports radio stations popping up all over the country and much of their air time is devoted to hockey
talk.
In short, the sport is a part of the fabric of Canada. It has always been that way. The sport is central to
Canadian lives as the childhood dream begins with early morning practices and/or games at the local arena.
Families gather in the stands and new friendships are formed by people who are at similar stages in their
lives. The sense of community grows out of this weekly pattern.
THE PLAYERS
The talent pool in the NHL has expanded its range of feeder systems in the last thirty years. Three junior
leagues exist throughout the country of Canada, the Ontario Hockey League, Quebec Major Junior League
and the Western Hockey League. These leagues have accounted for the vast majority of NHLers well into
the 1970s although a couple of players came from Europe (it is ironic to note that a Canadian team opened
the doors for European players).
In 1972, Canada’s best players formed a team to play an exhibition series against the Russian National
Team. During the course of this series, we learned that Canada did not have a monopoly on the best pool of
hockey talent. It was known that the Russians were successful in dominating Olympic and international
hockey, but Canada had not been sending professionals to these competitions for many years. During this
hotly contested series, which Canada won 4-3-1, games were played in Czechoslovakia and Sweden. It is in
those Swedish games that Toronto Maple Leaf scouts first heard of Borje Salming.
Salming would join the Leafs, along with countryman Inge Hammarstrom, in 1973-74, and begin an
illustrious career that would throw open the doors for a full blown European invasion that persists today.
However, even with this influx and the increase in American-born players, the Canadian Junior leagues still
account for 60-65% of drafted players each year. This fact speaks well for the current status of hockey in
Canada and for its future.
What has been interesting to observe, in light of these developments, is the reaction and backlash at the
hockey establishment whenever Canada loses a major international event. Canadian hockey fans invariably
question the direction and development of the hockey youth with unusual vigor. This tendency underlines
the importance that Canadians place on hockey. It has always been, and will continue to be, a fundamental
part of what defines Canada as a country.
The future of hockey in Canada is secure for all the reasons noted earlier, but the key component going
forward in that the “new” NHL has a series of strong ownership groups who can afford to ice competitive
teams for the Canadian-based NHL franchises. Indeed the hockey landscape, from a Canadian perspective,
may be the best it has ever been right now. The missing link is that Canadian based Stanley Cup Champion.
Perhaps, after final round losses by Calgary and Edmonton over the past two seasons, we are on the verge
of the ultimate hockey success for a team north of the border.

2005-06 STAT REVIEW

FORWARDS, 05-06
Player Team GP G A Pts +/- PIM PPG PPA GW SOG
Ramzi Abid ATL 6 0 2 2 1 6 0 0 0 6
Kevyn Adams CAR 82 15 8 23 0 36 0 0 2 160
Craig Adams CAR 67 10 11 21 1 51 1 0 2 68
Dmitry Afanasenkov TAM 68 9 6 15 -7 16 1 3 0 78
Maxim Afinogenov BUF 77 22 51 73 6 84 11 20 3 241
Daniel Alfredsson OTT 77 43 60 103 29 50 16 32 8 249
Jason Allison TOR 66 17 43 60 -18 76 9 30 2 111
Tony Amonte CGY 80 14 28 42 3 43 3 14 3 155
Dave Andreychuk TAM 42 6 12 18 -13 16 4 8 1 81
Nik Antropov TOR 57 12 19 31 13 56 2 1 0 113
Derek Armstrong LOS 62 13 28 41 -2 46 7 6 1 100
Colby Armstrong PIT 47 16 24 40 15 58 7 5 3 86
Tyler Arnason OTT 79 13 32 45 1 44 5 10 1 203
Jason Arnott DAL 81 32 44 76 13 102 11 18 5 167
Evgeny Artyukhin TAM 72 4 13 17 -4 90 1 1 0 79
Arron Asham NYI 63 9 15 24 -5 103 2 0 0 99
Serge Aubin ATL 74 7 17 24 -4 79 1 1 0 82
Keith Aucoin CAR 7 0 1 1 -4 4 0 0 0 3
Sean Avery LOS 75 15 24 39 -5 257 1 3 1 189
P.J. Axelsson BOS 59 10 18 28 -3 4 1 1 1 113
Jaroslav Balastik COB 66 12 10 22 -1 26 7 1 2 158
Jozef Balej VAN 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 3
Matthew Barnaby CHI 82 8 20 28 -11 178 0 0 1 85
Stu Barnes DAL 78 15 21 36 9 44 0 3 2 123
Scott Barney ATL 3 0 0 0 -1 0 0 0 0 4
Milan Bartovic CHI 24 1 6 7 0 8 0 0 0 35
Shawn Bates NYI 66 15 19 34 -11 60 1 2 4 95
Kris Beech WAS 10 1 2 3 1 4 0 1 0 12
Steve Begin MON 76 11 12 23 9 113 1 1 2 134
Ken Belanger LOS 5 0 0 0 -1 7 0 0 0 0
Eric Belanger LOS 65 17 20 37 -5 62 5 2 1 119
Mark Bell CHI 82 25 23 48 -14 107 11 10 1 227
Sean Bergenheim NYI 28 4 5 9 -11 20 0 0 1 63
Patrice Bergeron BOS 81 31 42 73 3 22 12 17 6 310
Steve Bernier SAN 39 14 13 27 4 35 2 4 1 75
Todd Bertuzzi VAN 82 25 46 71 -17 120 12 20 3 200
Blair Betts NYR 66 8 2 10 -10 24 0 0 0 94
Jason Blake NYI 76 28 29 57 0 60 12 10 2 304
Zdenek Blatny TAM 5 0 0 0 -2 2 0 0 0 3
Brandon Bochenski CHI 40 8 9 17 -2 22 2 1 0 62
Eric Boguniecki PIT 47 6 10 16 -3 33 2 3 0 48
Peter Bondra ATL 60 21 18 39 -3 40 8 9 1 143
Radek Bonk MON 61 6 15 21 -3 52 0 5 1 76
Derek Boogaard MIN 65 2 4 6 2 158 0 0 1 15
P.M. Bouchard MIN 80 17 42 59 3 28 7 24 3 118
Tyler Bouck VAN 12 1 1 2 0 21 0 0 0 6
Jesse Boulerice STL 38 0 0 0 -7 64 0 0 0 5
Eric Boulton ATL 51 4 5 9 -4 87 0 0 0 28
Rene Bourque CHI 77 16 18 34 3 56 4 5 2 180
Brad Boyes BOS 82 26 43 69 11 30 8 14 3 203
Matt Bradley WAS 74 7 12 19 -8 72 0 0 1 87
Donald Brashear PHI 76 4 5 9 -2 166 0 0 0 73
Pavel Brendl PHO 2 0 0 0 -3 0 0 0 0 3
Kip Brennan ANA 12 0 1 1 -2 35 0 0 0 5
Daniel Briere BUF 48 25 33 58 3 48 11 17 4 147
Rod Brind'Amour CAR 78 31 39 70 8 68 19 16 5 198
Kyle Brodziak EDM 10 0 0 0 -4 4 0 0 0 7
Curtis Brown CHI 71 5 10 15 -9 38 0 3 0 84
Dustin Brown LOS 79 14 14 28 -10 80 6 3 2 159
Mike Brown CHI 2 0 1 1 0 9 0 0 0 1
Gilbert Brule COB 7 2 2 4 -2 0 0 1 0 11
Andrew Brunette COL 82 24 39 63 9 48 11 17 2 129


Jan Bulis MON 73 20 20 40 2 50 6 3 3 131
Alex Burrows VAN 43 7 5 12 5 61 0 0 1 49
Petr Cajanek STL 71 10 31 41 -22 54 3 19 0 150
Kyle Calder CHI 79 26 33 59 -4 52 6 7 6 183
Michael Cammalleri LOS 80 26 29 55 -14 50 15 19 4 206
Jim Campbell TAM 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0
Gregory Campbell FLA 64 3 6 9 -11 40 0 0 0 59
Jeff Carter PHI 81 23 19 42 10 40 6 7 7 189
Anson Carter VAN 81 33 22 55 -1 41 15 10 7 146
Andrew Cassels WAS 31 4 8 12 -3 14 2 4 0 29
Jonathan Cheechoo SAN 82 56 37 93 23 58 24 17 11 317
Jason Chimera COB 80 17 13 30 -10 95 1 0 5 127
Marc Chouinard MIN 74 14 16 30 1 34 6 6 3 112
Eric Chouinard PHO 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0
Erik Christensen PIT 33 6 7 13 -3 34 2 3 0 85
Martin Cibak TAM 65 2 6 8 -9 22 0 0 0 50
Chris Clark WAS 78 20 19 39 9 110 1 1 0 144
Noah Clarke LOS 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3
Daniel Cleary DET 77 3 12 15 5 40 0 0 1 106
Ryane Clowe SAN 18 0 2 2 -2 9 0 0 0 14
Ben Clymer WAS 77 16 17 33 -7 72 3 6 3 149
Erik Cole CAR 60 30 29 59 19 54 3 11 8 164
Kevin Colley NYI 16 0 0 0 -2 52 0 0 0 4
Rob Collins NYI 8 1 1 2 1 0 1 0 0 8
Jeremy Colliton NYI 19 1 1 2 2 6 0 0 0 9
Mike Comrie PHO 80 30 30 60 2 55 10 15 4 190
Tim Connolly BUF 63 16 39 55 5 28 7 16 3 99
Craig Conroy LOS 78 22 44 66 13 78 5 16 3 154
Matt Cooke VAN 45 8 10 18 -8 71 0 1 2 67
Jeff Cowan LOS 46 8 1 9 -8 73 0 0 0 53
Ryan Craig TAM 48 15 13 28 -4 6 6 4 0 81
Sidney Crosby PIT 81 39 63 102 -1 110 16 31 5 278
Mark Cullen CHI 29 7 9 16 7 2 0 1 0 45
Matt Cullen CAR 78 25 24 49 4 40 8 10 5 214
Mariusz Czerkawski BOS 35 8 2 10 -6 10 1 2 0 72
Pierre Dagenais MON 32 5 7 12 -5 16 2 4 1 74
Alexandre Daigle MIN 46 5 23 28 -6 12 2 11 1 59
Pavel Datsyuk DET 75 28 59 87 26 22 11 28 4 146
Eric Daze CHI 1 0 0 0 -2 2 0 0 0 0
Pavol Demitra LOS 58 25 37 62 21 42 7 19 7 184
Boyd Devereaux PHO 78 8 14 22 -13 44 1 2 1 76
Rob DiMaio TAM 61 4 13 17 -7 30 2 1 1 72
Jon DiSalvatore STL 5 0 0 0 -1 2 0 0 0 3
Niko Dimitrakos PHI 64 9 16 25 4 32 1 5 1 93
Chris Dingman TAM 34 0 1 1 -10 22 0 0 0 24
Shane Doan PHO 82 30 36 66 -9 123 17 24 7 254
Tie Domi TOR 77 5 11 16 -10 109 1 0 0 67
Shean Donovan CGY 80 9 11 20 9 82 0 0 0 132
Doug Doull WAS 2 0 0 0 -1 19 0 0 0 0
Jim Dowd COL 78 5 13 18 -11 40 0 0 0 67
Aaron Downey MON 42 3 4 7 2 95 0 0 0 21
Dallas Drake STL 62 2 24 26 -13 59 1 4 1 88
Kris Draper DET 80 10 22 32 3 58 0 2 1 153
Chris Drury BUF 81 30 37 67 -11 32 16 21 5 172
J.P. Dumont BUF 54 20 20 40 -1 38 9 11 4 116
Pascal Dupuis MIN 67 10 16 26 -10 40 4 6 2 151
Radek Dvorak EDM 64 8 20 28 -2 26 2 0 2 131
Ben Eager PHI 25 3 5 8 0 18 0 0 0 21
Patrick Eaves OTT 58 20 9 29 7 22 5 1 4 100
Nils Ekman SAN 77 21 36 57 20 54 5 14 2 176
Patrik Elias NJD 38 16 29 45 11 20 6 15 3 142
Matt Ellison PHI 31 3 10 13 -2 19 1 4 0 49
Shane Endicott PIT 41 1 1 2 -9 43 0 0 0 44
Martin Erat NAS 80 20 29 49 0 76 5 11 1 143
Rico Fata WAS 47 3 4 7 -4 22 1 0 0 50


Sergei Fedorov COB 67 12 32 44 -2 66 3 14 2 160
Todd Fedoruk ANA 76 4 19 23 6 174 0 2 1 69
Ruslan Fedotenko TAM 80 26 15 41 -4 44 4 3 6 164
Eric Fehr WAS 11 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 10
Jonathan Ferland MON 7 1 0 1 -2 2 0 0 0 9
Vernon Fiddler NAS 40 8 4 12 -2 42 3 1 2 46
Valtteri Filppula DET 4 0 1 1 1 2 0 0 0 1
Mike Fisher OTT 68 22 22 44 23 64 2 7 3 150
Tom Fitzgerald BOS 71 4 6 10 -10 40 0 0 0 50
Tom Fleischmann WAS 14 0 2 2 -7 0 0 1 0 11
Ryan Flinn LOS 2 0 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 0
Colin Forbes WAS 9 0 0 0 -2 2 0 0 0 10
Peter Forsberg PHI 60 19 56 75 21 46 8 24 2 132
Matt Foy MIN 19 2 3 5 -4 16 1 0 0 21
Johan Franzen DET 80 12 4 16 4 36 0 0 2 119
Jeff Friesen ANA 51 4 7 11 -15 32 0 2 1 75
Dan Fritsche COB 59 6 7 13 -14 22 0 0 0 93
Alexander Frolov LOS 69 21 33 54 17 40 4 10 4 174
Marian Gaborik MIN 65 38 28 66 6 64 10 12 7 252
Simon Gagne PHI 72 47 32 79 31 38 12 11 7 334
Steve Gainey PHO 20 0 1 1 -3 20 0 0 0 11
Simon Gamache NAS 26 3 4 7 -5 10 0 1 0 36
Paul Gaustad BUF 78 9 15 24 4 65 0 1 0 113
Aaron Gavey ANA 5 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 2
Martin Gelinas FLA 82 17 24 41 27 80 4 1 3 186
Carsen Germyn CGY 2 0 0 0 -1 0 0 0 0 2
Ryan Getzlaf ANA 57 14 25 39 6 22 10 14 1 116
Trevor Gillies ANA 1 0 0 0 0 21 0 0 0 1
Brian Gionta NJD 82 48 41 89 18 46 24 10 10 291
Alexandre Giroux NYR 1 0 0 0 -1 0 0 0 0 0
Jeff Giuliano LOS 48 3 4 7 0 26 0 0 2 32
Rob Globke FLA 18 1 0 1 0 6 0 0 0 18
Mike Glumac STL 33 7 5 12 -8 33 5 1 0 55
Marcel Goc SAN 81 8 14 22 -7 22 2 2 2 96
Eric Godard NYI 57 2 2 4 -2 115 0 0 0 17
Steven Goertzen COB 39 0 0 0 -17 44 0 0 0 23
Scott Gomez NJD 82 33 51 84 8 42 9 24 5 244
Boyd Gordon WAS 25 0 1 1 -4 4 0 0 0 12
Lee Goren VAN 28 1 2 3 -6 30 0 0 1 37
Dave Gove CAR 1 0 1 1 2 0 0 0 0 0
Josh Gratton PHO 14 1 0 1 -3 44 0 0 0 17
Chris Gratton FLA 76 17 22 39 6 104 4 4 2 135
Travis Green BOS 82 10 12 22 -2 79 0 0 1 118
Josh Green VAN 33 4 2 6 2 14 0 0 0 35
Mike Grier BUF 81 7 16 23 -7 28 0 0 4 109
Bill Guerin DAL 70 13 27 40 0 115 3 14 2 210
Ben Guite BOS 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2
Niklas Hagman DAL 84 8 13 21 -10 18 0 1 0 126
Adam Hall NAS 75 14 15 29 0 40 10 6 5 122
Jeff Halpern WAS 70 11 33 44 -8 79 6 14 1 151
Denis Hamel OTT 4 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 9
Jeff Hamilton NYI 13 2 6 8 0 8 1 4 0 29
Michal Handzus PHI 73 11 33 44 -2 38 2 13 1 113
Mark Hartigan COB 33 9 3 12 -1 22 3 1 1 54
Scott Hartnell NAS 81 25 23 48 8 101 10 7 8 211
Todd Harvey EDM 63 5 2 7 -7 32 0 0 0 45
Martin Havlat OTT 18 9 7 16 6 4 2 3 1 57
Paul Healey COL 2 0 0 0 0 14 0 0 0 0
Eric Healey BOS 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 1
Dany Heatley OTT 82 50 53 103 29 86 23 20 7 300
Jochen Hecht BUF 64 18 24 42 10 34 4 4 4 179
Jonathan Hedstrom ANA 79 13 14 27 2 48 2 1 5 99
Milan Hejduk COL 74 24 34 58 13 24 14 9 2 221
Colin Hemingway STL 3 0 0 0 -2 0 0 0 0 2
Ales Hemsky EDM 81 19 58 77 -5 64 7 35 4 178


Andy Hilbert PIT 47 12 15 27 4 38 3 4 2 101
Dan Hinote COL 73 5 8 13 -5 48 0 0 2 70
Jeff Hoggan STL 52 2 6 8 -16 34 0 0 0 60
Bobby Holik ATL 64 15 18 33 -6 79 5 12 0 151
Ryan Hollweg NYR 52 2 3 5 -3 84 0 0 0 32
Mikael Holmqvist CHI 72 10 10 20 -14 16 2 1 1 106
Tomas Holmstrom DET 81 29 30 59 14 66 11 13 8 140
Shawn Horcoff EDM 79 22 51 73 0 85 3 21 5 167
Darcy Hordichuk NAS 74 7 6 13 9 163 0 1 1 52
Nathan Horton FLA 71 28 19 47 8 89 3 6 1 162
Marian Hossa ATL 80 39 53 92 17 67 14 25 7 341
Marcel Hossa NYR 64 10 6 16 -6 28 3 1 0 105
Jan Hrdina COB 75 10 23 33 -8 78 4 8 0 78
Jiri Hudler DET 4 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 3
Brett Hull PHO 5 0 1 1 -3 0 0 1 0 8
Trent Hunter NYI 82 16 19 35 -9 34 5 6 3 221
Kristian Huselius CGY 78 20 27 47 -9 40 8 20 4 164
Matt Hussey PIT 13 0 1 1 -5 0 0 0 0 17
Jarome Iginla CGY 82 35 32 67 5 86 17 14 6 293
Jarkko Immonen NYR 6 2 0 2 -1 0 1 0 0 8
Brad Isbister BOS 58 6 17 23 -2 46 1 2 0 112
Raitis Ivanans MON 4 0 0 0 -1 9 0 0 0 0
Greg Jacina FLA 11 0 1 1 -1 4 0 0 0 10
Tim Jackman LOS 8 0 0 0 1 21 0 0 0 4
J.F. Jacques EDM 7 0 0 0 -3 0 0 0 0 8
Jaromir Jagr NYR 82 54 69 123 34 72 24 28 9 368
Connor James LOS 2 0 0 0 -1 0 0 0 0 1
Cam Janssen NJD 47 0 0 0 -3 91 0 0 0 10
Cole Jarrett NYI 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1
Jonas Johansson WAS 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0
Mike Johnson PHO 80 16 38 54 7 50 6 12 3 145
Ryan Johnson STL 65 3 6 9 -21 33 1 0 0 57
Greg Johnson NAS 68 11 8 19 5 10 0 0 3 76
Jussi Jokinen DAL 81 17 38 55 2 30 8 23 2 107
Olli Jokinen FLA 82 38 51 89 14 88 14 23 9 351
Boyd Kane WAS 5 0 1 1 1 2 0 0 0 1
Petr Kanko LOS 10 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 7
Sami Kapanen PHI 58 12 22 34 -9 12 3 8 2 123
Niko Kapanen DAL 81 14 21 35 -10 36 5 8 4 97
Paul Kariya NAS 82 31 54 85 -6 40 14 32 3 245
Pat Kavanagh PHI 8 0 0 0 -2 2 0 0 0 1
Matt Keith CHI 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6
Chris Kelly OTT 82 10 20 30 21 76 1 1 2 112
Ryan Kesler VAN 82 10 13 23 1 79 1 1 2 119
Chad Kilger TOR 79 17 11 28 -6 63 1 0 2 103
Jakub Klepis WAS 25 1 3 4 -11 8 0 1 0 26
Mike Knuble PHI 82 34 31 65 25 80 13 10 6 217
Matt Koalska NYI 3 0 0 0 -1 2 0 0 0 3
Chuck Kobasew CGY 77 20 11 31 -10 64 10 2 4 143
Saku Koivu MON 72 17 45 62 1 70 5 22 4 138
Mikko Koivu MIN 64 6 15 21 -9 40 3 7 0 96
Krystofer Kolanos PIT 15 2 1 3 1 4 1 0 0 22
Juraj Kolnik FLA 77 15 20 35 1 40 4 1 3 145
Konstantin Koltsov PIT 60 3 6 9 -10 20 0 1 0 72
Zenon Konopka ANA 23 4 3 7 -4 48 2 2 0 18
Steve Konowalchuk COL 21 6 9 15 5 14 1 2 0 39
Tomas Kopecky DET 1 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 1
Andrei Kostitsyn MON 12 2 1 3 1 2 0 0 0 9
Tom Kostopoulos LOS 76 8 14 22 -8 100 0 0 1 74
Ales Kotalik BUF 82 25 37 62 -3 62 10 18 5 261
Ilya Kovalchuk ATL 78 52 46 98 -6 68 27 29 7 323
Alexei Kovalev MON 69 23 42 65 -1 76 9 24 5 206
Viktor Kozlov NJD 69 12 13 25 0 16 2 5 1 122
Slava Kozlov ATL 82 25 46 71 14 33 8 16 1 206
Chris Kunitz ANA 69 19 22 41 16 71 5 5 2 149


Oleg Kvasha PHO 64 13 19 32 3 38 1 3 1 136
Chad LaRose CAR 49 1 12 13 7 35 0 3 1 62
Antti Laaksonen COL 81 16 18 34 -2 40 0 0 4 141
Andrew Ladd CAR 29 6 5 11 0 4 3 1 0 43
Brooks Laich WAS 73 7 14 21 -9 26 1 2 1 118
Robert Lang DET 72 20 42 62 17 72 8 16 3 171
Darren Langdon NJD 14 0 1 1 -3 22 0 0 0 2
J. Langenbrunner NJD 80 19 34 53 -1 74 8 17 1 243
Josh Langfeld BOS 57 2 10 12 -2 26 0 0 0 85
Daymond Langkow CGY 82 25 34 59 2 46 11 18 7 171
Ian Laperriere COL 82 21 24 45 3 116 1 0 3 133
Maxim Lapierre MON 1 0 0 0 -1 0 0 0 0 0
Martin Lapointe CHI 82 14 17 31 -30 106 6 4 3 135
Georges Laraque EDM 72 2 10 12 -5 73 0 0 0 50
Brad Larsen ATL 62 7 8 15 -3 21 0 0 1 48
John LeClair PIT 73 22 29 51 -24 61 8 19 0 135
Pat Leahy BOS 43 4 4 8 -2 19 0 0 0 46
Vincent Lecavalier TAM 80 35 40 75 0 90 13 19 7 309
Mike Leclerc CGY 50 10 16 26 0 37 4 3 0 65
Guillaume Lefebvre PIT 9 0 0 0 -3 9 0 0 0 3
David Legwand NAS 44 7 19 26 3 34 0 8 5 109
Yanick Lehoux PHO 3 1 0 1 1 2 0 0 0 5
Jere Lehtinen DAL 80 33 19 52 9 30 14 7 6 216
Mario Lemieux PIT 26 7 15 22 -16 16 3 12 0 77
Junior Lessard DAL 5 1 0 1 0 12 0 0 0 6
Francis Lessard ATL 6 0 0 0 -2 0 0 0 0 0
Trevor Letowski COB 81 10 18 28 -2 36 1 1 1 135
Trevor Linden VAN 82 7 9 16 3 15 1 0 0 55
Eric Lindros TOR 33 11 11 22 -3 43 4 4 2 59
Joakim Lindstrom COB 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4
Matthew Lombardi CGY 55 6 20 26 -1 48 1 5 2 72
Lynn Loyns CGY 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Jamie Lundmark CGY 53 10 19 29 -1 62 2 10 1 78
Joffrey Lupul ANA 81 28 25 53 -13 48 12 11 2 296
Craig MacDonald CGY 25 3 2 5 5 8 1 0 0 27
Derek MacKenzie ATL 11 0 1 1 0 8 0 0 0 11
Don MacLean DET 3 1 1 2 2 0 1 0 1 3
John Madden NJD 82 16 20 36 -7 36 0 1 0 194
Adam Mair BUF 40 2 5 7 -2 47 0 0 0 40
Manny Malhotra COB 58 10 21 31 1 41 1 3 0 102
Ryan Malone PIT 77 22 22 44 -22 63 10 7 1 153
Kirk Maltby DET 82 5 6 11 -9 80 0 0 0 115
Todd Marchant ANA 79 9 25 34 2 66 0 5 0 132
Masi Marjamaki NYI 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Patrick Marleau SAN 82 34 52 86 -12 26 20 24 4 260
Grant Marshall NJD 76 8 17 25 -18 70 4 3 3 89
Steve Martins OTT 4 1 1 2 2 0 0 0 0 6
Brad May COL 54 3 3 6 -14 82 0 0 0 55
Jamal Mayers STL 67 15 11 26 -22 129 0 0 1 111
Dean McAmmond STL 78 15 22 37 -25 32 4 10 0 116
Darren McCarty CGY 67 7 6 13 -1 117 1 1 0 67
Alyn McCauley SAN 76 12 14 26 -3 30 4 1 3 105
Jay McClement STL 67 6 21 27 -23 30 1 9 2 76
Cody McCormick COL 45 4 4 8 1 29 0 0 1 43
Andy McDonald ANA 82 34 51 85 24 32 13 25 7 229
Shawn McEachern BOS 28 2 6 8 -12 22 1 0 0 40
Brian McGrattan OTT 60 2 3 5 0 141 0 0 0 36
Brett McLean COL 82 9 31 40 -7 51 1 10 0 115
Scott Mellanby ATL 71 12 22 34 5 55 3 7 3 100
Milan Michalek SAN 81 17 18 35 1 45 4 7 2 159
Antti Miettinen DAL 79 11 20 31 0 46 4 7 1 107
Norm Milley TAM 14 2 1 3 -2 4 1 0 0 12
Graham Mink WAS 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
Mike Modano DAL 78 27 50 77 23 58 12 22 4 207
Fredrik Modin TAM 77 31 23 54 5 56 12 4 4 221


Travis Moen ANA 39 4 1 5 -3 72 0 1 0 28
Alexander Mogilny NJD 34 12 13 25 -7 6 7 3 3 93
Dominic Moore NYR 82 9 9 18 4 28 2 2 1 139
Ethan Moreau EDM 74 11 16 27 6 87 2 2 4 151
Brendan Morrison VAN 82 19 37 56 -1 84 8 15 5 156
Brenden Morrow DAL 81 23 42 65 30 183 8 9 4 146
Joe Motzko COB 2 0 0 0 -2 0 0 0 0 3
Mark Mowers DET 46 4 11 15 13 16 0 0 0 65
Matt Murley PIT 41 1 5 6 -9 24 0 0 0 48
Glen Murray BOS 64 24 29 53 -8 52 6 13 3 195
Rem Murray EDM 9 1 1 2 1 2 0 0 0 6
Garth Murray MON 36 5 1 6 -2 44 0 0 1 25
Ladislav Nagy PHO 51 15 41 56 8 74 7 22 4 132
Rick Nash COB 54 31 23 54 5 51 11 8 4 170
Tyson Nash PHO 50 0 6 6 -7 84 0 0 0 44
Markus Naslund VAN 81 32 47 79 -19 66 13 29 2 264
Andrei Nazarov MIN 2 0 0 0 -1 6 0 0 0 0
Petr Nedved PHI 53 7 18 25 -14 70 3 10 1 90
Chris Neil OTT 79 16 17 33 9 204 8 5 0 126
Scott Nichol NAS 34 3 3 6 3 79 0 0 0 32
Eric Nickulas BOS 16 2 4 6 2 8 0 0 0 14
Rob Niedermayer ANA 76 15 24 39 -5 89 4 12 2 140
Ville Nieminen SAN 70 8 16 24 7 63 0 1 2 114
Joe Nieuwendyk FLA 65 26 30 56 -2 46 7 13 3 195
Marcus Nilson CGY 70 6 11 17 13 32 2 2 2 83
Robert Nilsson NYI 53 6 14 20 -6 26 1 6 1 70
Petteri Nokelainen NYI 15 1 1 2 -1 4 0 0 1 13
Niklas Nordgren PIT 58 4 2 6 -8 34 0 0 0 38
Jiri Novotny BUF 14 2 1 3 -5 0 0 0 0 15
Michael Nylander NYR 81 23 56 79 31 76 6 11 4 172
Eric Nystrom CGY 2 0 0 0 -1 0 0 0 0 0
Jeff O'Neill TOR 74 19 19 38 -19 64 14 7 6 169
Rostislav Olesz FLA 59 8 13 21 -4 24 0 1 3 105
David Oliver DAL 3 0 0 0 -1 0 0 0 0 1
Krzysztof Oliwa NJD 3 0 0 0 -2 0 0 0 0 1
Ben Ondrus TOR 22 0 0 0 -10 18 0 0 0 17
Colton Orr NYR 35 0 1 1 1 71 0 0 0 1
Vladimir Orszagh STL 16 4 5 9 -2 14 1 0 0 23
Jed Ortmeyer NYR 78 5 2 7 2 38 0 0 1 90
Steve Ott DAL 82 5 17 22 1 178 0 0 1 89
Michel Ouellet PIT 50 16 16 32 -13 16 11 7 0 87
Alexander Ovechkin WAS 81 52 54 106 2 52 21 31 5 425
Samuel Pahlsson ANA 82 11 10 21 -1 34 0 1 1 116
Daniel Paille BUF 14 1 2 3 5 2 0 0 0 15
Zigmund Palffy PIT 42 11 31 42 5 12 2 9 2 112
Jay Pandolfo NJD 82 10 10 20 2 16 0 1 0 116
Zach Parise NJD 81 14 18 32 -1 28 2 9 5 133
Richard Park VAN 60 8 10 18 -2 29 0 0 2 97
Scott Parker SAN 10 1 0 1 3 38 0 0 0 6
Mark Parrish LOS 76 29 20 49 -23 20 16 14 5 137
George Parros LOS 55 2 3 5 1 138 0 0 0 23
Serge Payer FLA 71 2 4 6 -7 26 0 0 0 70
Stephen Peat CAR 1 0 0 0 -2 2 0 0 0 2
Michael Peca EDM 71 9 14 23 -4 56 2 4 1 108
Dustin Penner ANA 19 4 3 7 3 14 2 0 1 46
Alex Perezhogin MON 67 9 10 19 5 38 3 3 2 109
Joel Perrault PHO 5 1 1 2 0 2 0 0 0 7
Yanic Perreault NAS 69 22 35 57 -3 30 10 17 2 145
Nathan Perrott DAL 26 2 1 3 -3 56 0 0 1 19
Corey Perry ANA 56 13 12 25 1 50 4 7 2 98
Andrew Peters BUF 28 0 0 0 -2 100 0 0 0 6
Ronald Petrovicky ATL 60 8 12 20 -8 62 2 1 2 70
Matt Pettinger WAS 71 20 18 38 -2 39 4 6 2 134
Alexandre Picard COB 17 0 0 0 -2 14 0 0 0 10
Tuomas Pihlman NJD 11 1 1 2 -1 10 0 0 0 14


Fernando Pisani EDM 80 18 19 37 5 42 4 5 2 131
Geoff Platt COB 15 0 5 5 -4 16 0 1 0 29
Tomas Plekanec MON 67 9 20 29 4 32 1 5 0 99
Johnny Pohl TOR 7 3 1 4 2 4 1 0 0 17
Vojtech Polak DAL 3 0 0 0 -1 0 0 0 0 3
Jason Pominville BUF 57 18 12 30 -4 22 10 5 2 124
Alexei Ponikarovsky TOR 81 21 17 38 15 68 2 2 3 157
Ryan Potulny PHI 2 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0
Marc Pouliot EDM 8 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 5
Keith Primeau PHI 9 1 6 7 0 6 1 2 0 12
Wayne Primeau BOS 71 11 11 22 -16 57 1 1 1 101
Vaclav Prospal TAM 81 25 55 80 -3 50 10 17 3 236
Petr Prucha NYR 68 30 17 47 3 32 16 6 2 130
K. Pushkarev LOS 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
Taylor Pyatt BUF 41 6 6 12 -1 33 0 2 1 62
Branko Radivojevic PHI 64 8 6 14 -6 44 1 2 1 84
Erik Rasmussen NJD 67 5 5 10 -4 32 1 0 0 45
Ryan Ready PHI 7 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 9
Marty Reasoner BOS 77 11 23 34 -14 28 6 7 1 102
Mark Recchi CAR 83 28 36 64 -36 68 13 21 3 199
Steve Regier NYI 9 0 0 0 -1 0 0 0 0 4
Darren Reid TAM 7 0 1 1 -2 0 0 0 0 3
Steve Reinprecht PHO 80 22 30 52 11 32 9 9 3 130
Pascal Rheaume PHO 13 0 0 0 -7 4 0 0 0 11
Mike Ribeiro MON 79 16 35 51 -6 36 8 17 2 130
Mike Ricci PHO 78 10 6 16 -22 69 5 1 1 50
Brad Richards TAM 82 23 68 91 0 32 7 39 0 282
Mike Richards PHI 79 11 23 34 6 65 1 5 1 168
Brad Richardson COL 41 3 10 13 0 12 1 0 0 51
Pat Rissmiller SAN 18 3 3 6 1 8 1 0 1 26
Jani Rita PIT 51 6 4 10 -6 10 0 0 0 49
Byron Ritchie CGY 45 4 2 6 -2 69 0 0 0 34
Gary Roberts FLA 58 14 26 40 4 51 4 9 1 122
Nathan Robinson BOS 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
Luc Robitaille LOS 65 15 9 24 -6 52 3 6 2 125
Randy Robitaille MIN 67 12 28 40 -5 54 7 13 2 112
Jeremy Roenick LOS 58 9 13 22 -5 36 2 5 1 111
Brian Rolston MIN 82 34 45 79 14 50 15 17 7 293
Derek Roy BUF 70 18 28 46 1 57 5 10 1 151
Andre Roy PIT 42 2 1 3 -3 116 0 0 1 11
Steve Rucchin NYR 72 13 23 36 6 10 4 12 0 111
Martin Rucinsky NYR 52 16 39 55 10 56 4 22 4 152
Michael Rupp COB 40 4 2 6 -3 58 0 0 0 39
Tuomo Ruutu CHI 15 2 3 5 -7 31 1 0 0 30
Jarkko Ruutu VAN 82 10 7 17 1 142 2 0 2 85
Stefan Ruzicka PHI 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 1
Matt Ryan LOS 12 0 1 1 -4 2 0 0 0 8
Mark Rycroft STL 80 6 4 10 -14 46 0 0 2 77
Michael Ryder MON 81 30 25 55 -5 40 18 14 6 243
Rick Rypien VAN 5 1 0 1 1 4 0 0 0 6
Jason Ryznar NJD 8 0 0 0 -1 2 0 0 0 1
Joe Sakic COL 82 32 55 87 10 60 10 24 6 263
Sergei Samsonov EDM 74 23 30 53 -3 28 10 16 1 143
Mikael Samuelsson DET 71 23 22 45 27 42 7 6 3 187
Geoff Sanderson PHO 77 25 21 46 -15 58 11 7 1 159
Oleg Saprykin PHO 67 11 14 25 -16 50 3 5 1 126
Peter Sarno COB 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Miroslav Satan NYI 82 35 31 66 -8 54 17 10 2 253
Brian Savage PHI 66 9 5 14 -18 28 4 1 1 102
Marc Savard ATL 82 28 69 97 7 100 14 36 4 212
Dave Scatchard PHO 63 15 18 33 -13 112 5 11 3 121
Peter Schaefer OTT 82 20 30 50 16 40 4 6 2 137
Daniel Sedin VAN 82 22 49 71 7 34 11 21 4 204
Henrik Sedin VAN 82 18 57 75 11 56 5 27 0 113
Peter Sejna STL 6 1 1 2 1 4 0 0 0 9


Teemu Selanne ANA 80 40 50 90 28 44 18 22 5 267
Brendan Shanahan DET 82 40 41 81 29 105 14 14 6 289
Patrick Sharp CHI 72 14 17 31 5 46 1 4 5 144
Jody Shelley COB 80 3 7 10 -4 163 0 1 1 39
Timofei Shishkanov STL 22 3 2 5 -1 6 0 0 0 26
Mike Sillinger NAS 79 32 31 63 -17 63 14 16 2 211
Jon Sim FLA 72 17 15 32 -7 54 8 2 5 172
Ben Simon COB 13 0 0 0 -4 4 0 0 0 7
Chris Simon CGY 72 8 14 22 0 94 2 2 3 76
Fredrik Sjostrom PHO 75 6 17 23 1 42 1 1 1 109
Jim Slater ATL 71 10 10 20 1 46 1 1 0 108
Mark Smith SAN 80 9 15 24 3 97 2 3 1 100
Nathan Smith VAN 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2
Wyatt Smith NYI 42 0 8 8 -7 26 0 1 0 37
Jerred Smithson NAS 66 5 9 14 9 54 0 0 1 50
Bryan Smolinski OTT 81 17 31 48 8 46 4 12 5 178
Ryan Smyth EDM 75 36 30 66 -5 58 19 12 3 230
Jason Spezza OTT 68 19 71 90 23 33 7 34 5 156
Martin St. Louis TAM 80 31 30 61 -3 38 9 11 7 221
Martin St. Pierre CHI 2 0 0 0 -1 0 0 0 0 1
Eric Staal CAR 82 45 55 100 -8 81 19 21 4 279
Matthew Stajan TOR 80 15 12 27 5 50 3 1 5 83
Yan Stastny BOS 20 1 3 4 -4 10 0 0 0 14
Dave Steckel WAS 7 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 6
Alexander Steen TOR 75 18 27 45 -9 42 9 10 3 176
Patrik Stefan ATL 64 10 14 24 3 36 2 1 3 81
Lee Stempniak STL 57 14 13 27 -10 22 5 2 2 100
Jeremy Stevenson DAL 51 5 3 8 -3 95 0 0 0 48
Grant Stevenson SAN 47 10 12 22 -7 14 5 4 2 67
Turner Stevenson PHI 31 1 3 4 -2 45 0 0 0 26
Anthony Stewart FLA 10 2 1 3 2 2 1 0 0 16
Karl Stewart ATL 8 0 0 0 -3 15 0 0 0 6
Cory Stillman CAR 72 21 55 76 -9 32 10 24 3 177
Jarret Stoll EDM 82 22 46 68 4 74 11 20 4 243
Martin Straka NYR 82 22 54 76 17 42 4 29 4 171
Jozef Stumpel FLA 74 15 37 52 11 26 3 13 1 115
Marco Sturm BOS 74 29 30 59 6 48 8 9 6 180
Alek Suglobov TOR 3 1 0 1 -3 0 1 0 0 5
Steve Sullivan NAS 69 31 37 68 2 50 13 21 5 192
Mats Sundin TOR 70 31 47 78 7 58 16 26 2 220
Niklas Sundstrom MON 55 6 9 15 -6 30 0 0 2 54
Tomas Surovy PIT 53 12 13 25 -13 45 3 5 1 107
Brian Sutherby WAS 76 14 16 30 -17 73 0 0 0 85
Marek Svatos COL 61 32 18 50 0 60 12 10 9 165
Jaroslav Svoboda DAL 43 4 3 7 -3 22 0 0 2 33
Petr Sykora NYR 74 23 28 51 6 50 8 14 0 230
Petr Sykora WAS 10 2 2 4 0 6 0 0 0 9
Jeff Taffe PHO 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3
Maxime Talbot PIT 48 5 3 8 -12 59 0 0 1 45
Barry Tallackson NJD 10 1 1 2 -2 2 0 1 0 11
Jeff Tambellini NYI 25 1 3 4 1 10 0 0 0 17
Alex Tanguay COL 71 29 49 78 8 46 8 21 4 125
Nick Tarnasky TAM 12 0 1 1 -3 4 0 0 0 9
Petr Taticek PIT 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3
Tim Taylor TAM 82 7 6 13 -12 22 0 0 0 109
Joey Tenute WAS 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
Bill Thomas PHO 9 1 2 3 -2 8 1 0 0 15
Chris Thorburn BUF 2 0 1 1 -1 7 0 0 0 1
Joe Thornton SAN 81 29 96 125 31 61 11 40 6 195
Shawn Thornton CHI 10 0 0 0 -5 16 0 0 0 16
Scott Thornton SAN 71 10 11 21 -8 84 1 4 2 122
Mathias Tjarnqvist DAL 33 2 4 6 4 18 0 0 0 36
Keith Tkachuk STL 41 15 21 36 -15 46 10 6 1 133
Jordin Tootoo NAS 34 4 6 10 9 55 0 0 0 61
Raffi Torres EDM 82 27 14 41 4 50 6 5 3 164


Darcy Tucker TOR 74 28 33 61 -12 100 18 18 4 189
Pierre Turgeon COL 62 16 30 46 1 32 7 13 1 94
R.J. Umberger PHI 73 20 18 38 9 18 5 4 2 138
Scottie Upshall NAS 48 8 16 24 14 34 1 2 2 72
Thomas Vanek BUF 81 25 23 48 -11 72 11 13 4 204
Vaclav Varada OTT 76 5 16 21 2 50 1 1 0 114
Josef Vasicek CAR 23 4 5 9 3 8 0 1 0 41
Stephane Veilleux MIN 71 7 9 16 -13 63 0 2 1 87
Antoine Vermette OTT 82 21 12 33 17 44 1 1 4 123
J.P. Vigier ATL 41 4 6 10 -4 40 1 1 0 53
Pavel Vorobiev CHI 39 9 12 21 -2 34 2 6 0 87
Radim Vrbata CHI 61 15 24 39 4 22 6 10 0 185
David Vyborny COB 80 22 43 65 -9 50 5 27 6 145
Scott Walker NAS 33 5 11 16 2 36 1 3 0 57
Ben Walter BOS 6 0 0 0 2 4 0 0 0 6
Wes Walz MIN 82 19 18 37 7 61 1 1 0 127
Kyle Wanvig MIN 51 4 8 12 -8 64 1 0 0 55
Jason Ward NYR 81 10 18 28 -4 44 0 1 1 125
Doug Weight CAR 70 15 42 57 -17 75 9 19 1 175
Mattias Weinhandl MIN 68 4 7 11 -4 24 0 1 0 57
Stephen Weiss FLA 41 9 12 21 -2 22 5 5 1 74
Kyle Wellwood TOR 81 11 34 45 0 14 3 19 0 117
Erik Westrum MIN 10 0 1 1 -1 2 0 1 0 16
Todd White MIN 61 19 21 40 -1 18 5 10 0 109
Trent Whitfield STL 30 2 5 7 -3 14 1 1 0 41
Ray Whitney CAR 63 17 38 55 0 42 12 24 2 147
Jason Wiemer NJD 49 2 2 4 -4 103 0 0 0 37
Justin Williams CAR 82 31 45 76 1 60 8 17 4 255
Jeremy Williams TOR 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1
Jason Williams DET 80 21 37 58 4 26 6 18 4 177
Brian Willsie WAS 82 19 22 41 -19 77 8 13 2 185
Clarke Wilm TOR 60 1 7 8 -15 43 0 0 0 50
Brad Winchester EDM 19 0 1 1 -2 21 0 0 0 19
Chad Wiseman NYR 1 0 1 1 2 4 0 0 0 1
Wojtek Wolski COL 9 2 4 6 -5 4 2 3 0 9
Tyler Wright ANA 43 2 6 8 -1 51 0 0 1 43
Mikhail Yakubov FLA 23 1 3 4 -1 12 0 0 1 27
Alexei Yashin NYI 82 28 38 66 -14 68 10 22 2 253
Stephane Yelle CGY 74 4 14 18 10 48 1 3 1 93
Mike York NYI 75 13 39 52 -9 30 4 18 2 146
Scott Young STL 79 18 31 49 -32 52 10 23 1 284
Steve Yzerman DET 61 14 20 34 8 18 4 7 3 86
Richard Zednik MON 67 16 14 30 -2 48 6 6 4 161
Henrik Zetterberg DET 77 39 46 85 29 30 17 18 9 270
Alexei Zhamnov BOS 24 1 9 10 -4 30 0 4 1 37
Nikolai Zherdev COB 73 27 27 54 -13 50 10 12 0 194
Mike Zigomanis STL 23 1 0 1 1 4 0 0 0 17
Dainius Zubrus WAS 71 23 34 57 3 84 13 13 5 181

DEFENSEMEN, 05-06
Player TM GP G A Pts PIM PP GW TOI
TOMMY ALBELIN NJD 36 0 6 6 2 0 0 13:58
ANDREW ALBERTS BOS 73 1 6 7 68 0 0 12:49
BRYAN ALLEN VAN 77 7 10 17 115 1 0 20:26
JAMIE ALLISON FLA 27 0 1 1 56 0 0 8:58
ADRIAN AUCOIN CHI 33 1 5 6 38 1 0 22:57
ANTON BABCHUK CAR 39 5 5 10 22 3 0 14:47
CHRISTIAN BACKMAN STL 52 6 12 18 48 3 1 24:48
KEITH BALLARD PHX 82 8 31 39 99 1 1 19:58
MICHAL BARINKA CHI 25 0 1 1 20 0 0 14:38
CAM BARKER CHI 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 11:02
NOLAN BAUMGARTNER VAN 70 5 29 34 30 4 1 16:29
FRANCOIS BEAUCHEMIN ANA 72 8 28 36 52 4 3 23:09
WADE BELAK TOR 55 0 3 3 109 0 0 9:59
BRENDAN BELL TOR 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 14:00
BRYAN BERARD CBJ 44 12 20 32 32 11 2 22:39
AKI BERG TOR 75 0 8 8 56 0 0 15:57
MARC-ANDRE BERGERON EDM 75 15 20 35 38 8 1 21:13
KEVIN BIEKSA VAN 39 0 6 6 77 0 0 16:06
MATHIEU BIRON WSH 52 4 9 13 50 3 0 12:13
ROB BLAKE COL 81 14 37 51 94 7 1 24:22
JOEL BOUCHARD NYI 25 1 8 9 23 0 0 21:56
PHILIPPE BOUCHER DAL 66 16 27 43 77 8 3 23:24
BOB BOUGHNER COL 41 1 6 7 54 0 1 7:14
FRANCIS BOUILLON MTL 67 3 19 22 34 3 1 20:46
JAY BOUWMEESTER FLA 82 5 41 46 79 0 0 25:29
DAN BOYLE TBL 79 15 38 53 38 6 4 23:25
NICK BOYNTON BOS 54 5 7 12 93 1 0 20:38
ERIC BREWER STL 32 6 3 9 45 1 1 23:28
PATRICE BRISEBOIS COL 80 10 28 38 55 4 2 22:18
WADE BROOKBANK VAN 32 1 2 3 81 0 0 4:56
SEAN BROWN VAN 47 1 11 12 35 0 0 15:05
BRENT BURNS MIN 72 4 12 16 32 1 1 14:07
SVEN BUTENSCHON VAN 8 0 0 0 10 0 0 14:04
DUSTIN BYFUGLIEN CHI 25 3 2 5 24 0 1 17:19
ERIC CAIRNS PIT 50 1 1 2 124 0 0 6:32
RYAN CALDWELL NYI 2 0 0 0 2 0 0 16:32
BRIAN CAMPBELL BUF 79 12 32 44 16 5 5 17:42
CHRIS CAMPOLI NYI 80 9 25 34 46 2 2 18:32
MATT CARKNER SJS 1 0 1 1 2 0 0 6:01
MATTHEW CARLE SJS 12 3 3 6 14 2 1 16:07
KEITH CARNEY VAN 79 2 18 20 62 1 1 20:29
ZDENO CHARA OTT 71 16 27 43 135 10 3 27:11
CHRIS CHELIOS DET 81 4 7 11 108 1 0 18:28
BRETT CLARK COL 80 9 27 36 56 4 1 19:38
BRAYDON COBURN ATL 9 0 1 1 4 0 0 7:43
CARLO COLAIACOVO TOR 21 2 5 7 17 1 0 15:26
MIKE COMMODORE CAR 72 3 10 13 138 0 2 15:30
JOSEPH CORVO LAK 81 14 26 40 38 7 3 19:59
JEAN-PHILIPPE COTE MTL 8 0 0 0 4 0 0 11:02
CORY CROSS DET 56 3 5 8 59 0 0 12:48
JASSEN CULLIMORE CHI 54 1 6 7 53 1 1 16:58
TREVOR DALEY DAL 81 3 11 14 87 0 1 18:40
KEVIN DALLMAN STL 67 4 10 14 29 3 0 19:00
MATHIEU DANDENAULT MTL 82 5 15 20 83 0 1 18:37
ROB DAVISON SJS 69 1 5 6 76 0 0 13:50
GREG DE VRIES ATL 82 7 28 35 76 3 2 22:00
ANDY DELMORE CBJ 7 0 0 0 2 0 0 15:23
NATHAN DEMPSEY LAK 53 2 11 13 48 0 0 19:08
ERIC DESJARDINS PHI 45 4 20 24 56 3 1 23:36
JOE DIPENTA ANA 72 2 6 8 46 0 0 13:31
MARK EATON NSH 69 3 1 4 44 0 0 19:43
CHRISTIAN EHRHOFF SJS 64 5 18 23 32 2 2 17:48
STEVE EMINGER WSH 66 5 13 18 81 1 0 21:20
JOHN ERSKINE NYI 60 1 0 1 161 0 0 13:03


GARNET EXELBY ATL 75 1 9 10 75 0 0 15:40
ANDREW FERENCE CGY 82 4 27 31 85 2 0 20:08
SCOTT FERGUSON MIN 15 0 0 0 22 0 0 9:10
JIRI FISCHER DET 22 3 5 8 33 0 1 20:43
RORY FITZPATRICK BUF 56 4 5 9 50 2 1 16:21
ADAM FOOTE CBJ 65 6 16 22 89 2 1 24:33
KURTIS FOSTER MIN 58 10 18 28 60 6 2 19:13
DENIS GAUTHIER PHI 62 2 9 11 98 0 0 16:31
BRUNO GERVAIS NYI 27 3 4 7 8 1 0 16:46
HAL GILL BOS 80 1 9 10 124 0 0 18:36
MARK GIORDANO CGY 7 0 1 1 8 0 0 12:04
TIM GLEASON LAK 78 2 19 21 77 0 0 17:41
SERGEI GONCHAR PIT 75 12 46 58 100 8 2 24:40
JOSH GORGES SJS 49 0 6 6 31 0 0 17:37
DENIS GREBESHKOV NYI 29 0 5 5 20 0 0 16:39
MIKE GREEN WSH 22 1 2 3 18 0 0 14:53
MATT GREENE EDM 27 0 2 2 43 0 0 11:13
RON HAINSEY CBJ 55 2 15 17 43 1 0 17:47
DAVID HALE NJD 38 0 4 4 21 0 0 12:03
DAN HAMHUIS NSH 82 7 31 38 70 4 1 22:33
ROMAN HAMRLIK CGY 51 7 19 26 56 1 0 21:50
SCOTT HANNAN SJS 81 6 18 24 58 2 1 24:34
JAY HARRISON TOR 8 0 1 1 2 0 0 18:50
DERIAN HATCHER PHI 77 4 13 17 93 1 0 23:29
NICLAS HAVELID ATL 82 4 28 32 48 2 0 24:25
BRET HEDICAN CAR 74 5 22 27 58 2 1 20:18
TIMO HELBLING TBL 9 0 1 1 6 0 0 10:19
ALEX HENRY MIN 63 0 5 5 73 0 0 11:25
JAMIE HEWARD WSH 71 7 21 28 54 4 2 21:51
SEAN HILL FLA 78 2 18 20 80 1 0 20:09
SHANE HNIDY ATL 66 0 3 3 33 0 0 10:14
CALE HULSE CGY 39 0 4 4 63 0 0 15:17
ANDREW HUTCHINSON CAR 36 3 8 11 18 2 0 10:22
RIC JACKMAN FLA 64 7 23 30 52 3 1 17:20
BARRET JACKMAN STL 63 4 6 10 156 0 2 18:45
DAN JANCEVSKI DAL 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 9:13
COLE JARRETT NYI 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 13:48
JEFF JILLSON BUF 2 0 0 0 4 0 0 14:39
AARON JOHNSON CBJ 26 2 6 8 23 1 1 14:11
KIM JOHNSSON PHI 47 6 19 25 34 3 0 23:17
RANDY JONES PHI 28 0 8 8 16 0 0 14:58
MATT JONES PHX 16 0 2 2 14 0 0 11:34
ED JOVANOVSKI VAN 44 8 25 33 58 6 2 24:25
MILAN JURCINA BOS 51 6 5 11 54 2 0 16:27
TOMAS KABERLE TOR 82 9 58 67 46 6 2 28:10
FRANTISEK KABERLE CAR 77 6 38 44 46 1 3 19:36
DMITRI KALININ BUF 55 2 16 18 54 0 0 16:45
ALEX KARPOVTSEV FLA 6 0 0 0 4 0 0 11:04
DARIUS KASPARAITIS NYR 67 0 6 6 97 0 0 17:28
DUNCAN KEITH CHI 81 9 12 21 79 1 0 23:25
ALEXANDER KHAVANOV TOR 64 6 6 12 60 2 0 17:07
KEN KLEE NJD 74 3 12 15 80 1 1 18:49
KEVIN KLEIN NSH 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 13:39
JON KLEMM DAL 76 4 7 11 60 1 1 16:55
ROSTISLAV KLESLA CBJ 51 6 13 19 75 2 1 21:26
TOMAS KLOUCEK ATL 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 3:14
MICHAEL KOMISAREK MTL 71 2 4 6 116 0 0 14:40
MAXIM KONDRATIEV NYR 29 1 2 3 22 1 0 16:16
LUKAS KRAJICEK FLA 67 2 14 16 50 2 0 18:30
NIKLAS KRONWALL DET 27 1 8 9 28 1 0 20:31
STAFFAN KRONWALL TOR 34 0 1 1 14 0 0 12:57
FILIP KUBA MIN 65 6 19 25 44 1 1 21:46
PAVEL KUBINA TBL 76 5 33 38 96 4 3 22:24
JOEL KWIATKOWSKI FLA 73 4 8 12 86 1 1 16:20
BRYCE LAMPMAN NYR 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 13:40


BRETT LEBDA DET 46 3 9 12 20 1 1 12:37
BRIAN LEETCH BOS 61 5 27 32 36 4 0 23:31
JORDAN LEOPOLD CGY 74 2 18 20 68 2 1 22:19
NICKLAS LIDSTROM DET 80 16 64 80 50 9 2 28:06
DAVID LIFFITON NYR 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 8:42
JOHN-MICHAEL LILES COL 82 14 35 49 44 6 1 18:31
ANDREAS LILJA DET 82 2 13 15 98 0 1 19:00
BRAD LUKOWICH NJD 75 2 19 21 40 0 1 19:14
TONI LYDMAN BUF 75 1 16 17 82 0 0 21:38
IVAN MAJESKY WSH 57 1 8 9 66 0 0 17:19
VLADIMIR MALAKHOV NJD 29 4 5 9 26 3 0 20:43
TOMAS MALEC OTT 2 0 0 0 2 0 0 11:43
MAREK MALIK NYR 74 2 16 18 78 0 2 20:26
PAUL MARA PHX 78 15 32 47 70 8 0 21:29
BRYAN MARCHMENT CGY 37 1 2 3 75 0 0 13:07
ANDREI MARKOV MTL 67 10 36 46 74 6 1 23:32
DANNY MARKOV NSH 58 0 11 11 62 0 0 19:32
JASON MARSHALL ANA 23 0 4 4 34 0 0 11:46
PAUL MARTIN NJD 80 5 32 37 32 3 0 23:37
RADEK MARTINEK NYI 74 1 16 17 32 0 0 18:15
RICHARD MATVICHUK NJD 62 1 10 11 40 0 0 18:13
BRYAN MCCABE TOR 73 19 49 68 116 13 6 28:17
STEVE MCCARTHY ATL 67 9 7 16 51 2 0 14:06
DAN MCGILLIS NJD 27 0 6 6 36 0 0 14:14
JAY MCKEE BUF 75 5 11 16 57 0 0 18:03
KYLE MCLAREN SJS 77 2 21 23 66 0 1 22:52
JOSEF MELICHAR PIT 72 3 12 15 66 0 0 17:26
ANDREJ MESZAROS OTT 82 10 29 39 61 5 2 18:10
FREDERICK MEYER PHI 57 6 21 27 33 2 0 17:56
BRANISLAV MEZEI FLA 16 0 1 1 37 0 0 19:16
ZBYNEK MICHALEK PHX 82 9 15 24 62 5 2 22:49
AARON MILLER LAK 56 0 8 8 27 0 0 18:26
WILLIE MITCHELL DAL 80 2 8 10 113 0 0 20:50
JAROSLAV MODRY ATL 79 7 31 38 76 5 2 20:47
TOMAS MOJZIS VAN 7 0 1 1 12 0 0 13:56
STEVE MONTADOR FLA 58 2 5 7 79 0 0 13:48
IAN MORAN BOS 12 1 1 2 10 0 0 14:24
DEREK MORRIS PHX 53 6 21 27 54 4 2 20:51
SHAONE MORRISONN WSH 80 1 13 14 91 0 0 20:43
BRYAN MUIR WSH 72 8 18 26 72 4 0 21:10
DOUG MURRAY SJS 34 0 1 1 27 0 0 13:52
ALAIN NASREDDINE PIT 6 0 0 0 8 0 0 15:11
SCOTT NIEDERMAYER ANA 82 13 50 63 96 9 3 25:30
JANNE NIINIMAA DAL 63 3 13 16 86 1 1 19:46
MATTIAS NORSTROM LAK 77 4 23 27 58 2 1 21:06
BRAD NORTON OTT 7 0 0 0 31 0 0 10:10
FILIP NOVAK OTT 11 0 0 0 4 0 0 9:25
TEPPO NUMMINEN BUF 75 2 38 40 36 0 0 19:30
DOUG O'BRIEN TBL 5 0 0 0 2 0 0 7:43
SEAN O'DONNELL ANA 78 2 9 11 147 0 0 16:33
LYLE ODELEIN PIT 27 0 1 1 50 0 0 16:13
MATTIAS OHLUND VAN 78 13 20 33 92 8 2 25:40
BROOKS ORPIK PIT 64 2 7 9 124 0 0 18:50
SANDIS OZOLINSH NYR 36 6 14 20 28 2 2 20:56
NATHAN PAETSCH BUF 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 15:38
RICHARD PETIOT LAK 2 0 0 0 2 0 0 4:46
TOMI PETTINEN NYI 18 0 0 0 16 0 0 14:39
DION PHANEUF CGY 82 20 29 49 93 16 7 21:43
CHRIS PHILLIPS OTT 69 1 18 19 90 0 0 20:52
ALEXANDRE PICARD PHI 6 0 0 0 4 0 0 9:32
JONI PITKANEN PHI 58 13 33 46 78 5 3 23:42
STEVE POAPST STL 62 0 5 5 47 0 0 16:18
THOMAS POCK NYR 8 1 1 2 4 0 0 15:10
MARK POPOVIC ATL 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 11:04
BRIAN POTHIER OTT 77 5 30 35 59 3 0 16:46


TOM POTI NYR 73 3 20 23 70 2 2 20:46
NOLAN PRATT TBL 82 0 9 9 60 0 0 17:59
TOM PREISSING SJS 74 11 32 43 26 2 2 20:29
CHRIS PRONGER EDM 80 12 44 56 74 10 3 27:59
JAMIE PUSHOR CBJ 4 1 2 3 0 0 0 18:12
KYLE QUINCEY DET 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 11:37
BRIAN RAFALSKI NJD 82 6 43 49 36 3 2 25:31
PAUL RANGER TBL 76 1 17 18 58 0 1 17:07
MIKE RATHJE PHI 79 3 21 24 46 1 1 20:07
WADE REDDEN OTT 65 10 40 50 63 8 4 23:28
ROBYN REGEHR CGY 68 6 20 26 67 5 2 23:08
RICHIE REGEHR CGY 14 0 2 2 6 0 0 11:20
ERIK REITZ MIN 5 0 0 0 4 0 0 13:09
LUKE RICHARDSON TOR 65 1 9 10 71 0 0 16:24
DANNY RICHMOND CHI 20 0 1 1 25 0 0 11:18
JAMIE RIVERS PHX 33 0 6 6 38 0 0 14:59
CRAIG RIVET MTL 82 7 27 34 109 5 1 22:26
ANDY ROACH STL 5 1 2 3 10 1 0 14:20
STEPHANE ROBIDAS DAL 75 5 15 20 67 1 0 16:58
LOUIS ROBITAILLE WSH 2 0 0 0 5 0 0 4:42
ALLAN ROURKE NYI 6 0 1 1 0 0 0 17:14
MATHIEU ROY EDM 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 13:00
MICHAL ROZSIVAL NYR 82 5 25 30 90 3 3 22:27
PRESTIN RYAN VAN 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 7:30
RUSLAN SALEI ANA 78 1 18 19 114 0 0 22:30
SAMI SALO VAN 59 10 23 33 38 9 2 24:29
BRYCE SALVADOR STL 46 1 4 5 26 0 0 19:47
CORY SARICH TBL 82 1 14 15 79 0 0 18:34
KURT SAUER COL 37 1 4 5 24 0 0 12:47
MATHIEU SCHNEIDER DET 72 21 38 59 86 11 4 24:30
CHRISTOPH SCHUBERT OTT 56 4 6 10 48 0 0 11:06
NICK SCHULTZ MIN 79 2 12 14 43 0 0 17:57
ROBERT SCUDERI PIT 57 0 4 4 36 0 0 20:15
BRENT SEABROOK CHI 69 5 27 32 60 1 2 20:01
DENNIS SEIDENBERG PHX 63 3 15 18 18 2 0 16:59
ALEXEI SEMENOV FLA 27 2 2 4 38 1 0 11:50
TODD SIMPSON MTL 51 0 3 3 130 0 0 13:25
WADE SKOLNEY PHI 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 6:52
MARTIN SKOULA MIN 78 5 16 21 46 3 1 19:08
KARLIS SKRASTINS COL 82 3 11 14 65 0 0 21:49
JIRI SLEGR BOS 32 5 11 16 56 4 0 16:21
JASON SMITH EDM 76 4 13 17 84 0 0 19:38
DAN SMITH EDM 7 0 0 0 7 0 0 11:20
BRENT SOPEL LAK 68 2 26 28 70 2 0 23:19
SHELDON SOURAY MTL 75 12 27 39 116 7 0 22:14
JAROSLAV SPACEK EDM 76 12 31 43 96 4 0 23:39
MATTHEW SPILLER PHX 8 0 1 1 13 0 0 10:29
BRUNO ST. JACQUES ANA 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 13:53
STEVE STAIOS EDM 82 8 20 28 84 1 1 20:52
MARK STREIT MTL 48 2 9 11 28 2 0 14:35
JASON STRUDWICK NYR 65 3 4 7 66 0 0 15:31
BRAD STUART BOS 78 12 31 43 52 7 2 24:57
MARK STUART BOS 17 1 1 2 10 0 0 17:46
MIKE STUART STL 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 12:59
RADOSLAV SUCHY CBJ 79 1 7 8 30 0 0 19:55
RYAN SUTER NSH 71 1 15 16 66 0 0 17:21
ANDY SUTTON ATL 76 8 17 25 144 2 3 21:04
DARRYL SYDOR TBL 80 4 19 23 30 1 0 19:05
DANNY SYVRET EDM 10 0 0 0 6 0 0 12:18
HENRIK TALLINDER BUF 82 6 15 21 74 0 1 20:20
DAVID TANABE BOS 75 4 16 20 56 0 1 20:24
DICK TARNSTROM EDM 55 6 8 14 76 4 0 16:55
CHRIS THERIEN PHI 47 0 4 4 34 0 0 13:45
KIMMO TIMONEN NSH 79 11 39 50 74 8 1 22:26
DANIEL TJARNQVIST MIN 60 3 15 18 32 3 1 19:46


PATRICK TRAVERSE DAL 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 11:27
OLEG TVERDOVSKY CAR 72 3 20 23 37 0 0 16:35
FEDOR TYUTIN NYR 77 6 19 25 58 4 2 20:33
IGOR ULANOV EDM 37 3 6 9 29 1 0 16:27
OSSI VAANANEN COL 53 0 4 4 56 0 0 13:34
MIKE VAN RYN FLA 80 8 29 37 90 3 2 22:35
JIM VANDERMEER CHI 76 6 18 24 116 2 1 21:46
VITALY VISHNEVSKI ANA 82 1 7 8 91 0 0 16:25
LUBOMIR VISNOVSKY LAK 80 17 50 67 50 10 3 23:16
ANTON VOLCHENKOV OTT 75 4 13 17 53 0 0 18:03
MATT WALKER STL 54 0 2 2 79 0 0 14:15
NICLAS WALLIN CAR 50 4 4 8 42 0 0 16:49
AARON WARD CAR 71 6 19 25 62 0 1 19:07
RHETT WARRENER CGY 61 3 3 6 54 0 0 19:11
MIKE WEAVER LAK 53 0 9 9 14 0 0 15:03
SHEA WEBER NSH 28 2 8 10 42 2 1 17:00
ERIC WEINRICH VAN 75 1 16 17 52 1 0 21:29
NOAH WELCH PIT 5 1 3 4 2 0 0 17:24
GLEN WESLEY CAR 64 2 8 10 46 0 0 15:28
DUVIE WESTCOTT CBJ 78 6 22 28 133 1 0 22:34
COLIN WHITE NJD 73 3 14 17 91 1 1 21:48
IAN WHITE TOR 12 1 5 6 10 0 0 19:07
RYAN WHITNEY PIT 68 6 32 38 85 2 1 23:49
DENNIS WIDEMAN STL 67 8 16 24 83 5 1 21:41
JAMES WISNIEWSKI CHI 19 2 5 7 36 0 0 15:52
BRENDAN WITT NSH 75 1 13 14 209 0 0 20:44
JASON WOOLLEY DET 53 1 18 19 28 0 0 11:54
JEFF WOYWITKA STL 26 0 2 2 25 0 0 10:38
ANDREW WOZNIEWSKI TOR 13 0 1 1 13 0 0 17:54
NOLAN YONKMAN WSH 38 0 7 7 86 0 0 8:13
GREG ZANON NSH 4 0 2 2 6 0 0 17:18
ALEXEI ZHITNIK NYI 59 5 24 29 88 3 0 24:30
MAREK ZIDLICKY NSH 67 12 37 49 82 10 1 20:03
SERGEI ZUBOV DAL 78 13 58 71 46 9 0 26:26
ANDREI ZYUZIN MIN 57 7 11 18 50 4 1 18:52

GOALIES, 05-06
Player Team GP GS MIN W L OTL GAA SV% SO
David Aebischer MON 50 49 2895 29 17 2 3.09 .899 3
Craig Anderson CHI 29 21 1553 6 12 4 3.32 .886 1
Jean-Sebastien Aubin TOR 11 11 677 9 0 2 2.21 .924 1
Alexander Auld VAN 67 64 3859 33 26 6 2.94 .902 0
Jason Bacashihua STL 19 17 966 4 10 1 3.23 .899 0
Ed Belfour TOR 49 49 2897 22 22 4 3.29 .892 0
Adam Berkhoel ATL 9 7 473 2 4 1 3.80 .882 0
Martin Biron BUF 35 31 1934 21 8 3 2.88 .905 1
Brian Boucher CGY 14 11 694 4 8 0 4.15 .871 0
Martin Brodeur NJD 73 73 4365 43 23 7 2.57 .911 5
Ilya Bryzgalov ANA 31 24 1575 13 12 1 2.51 .910 1
Peter Budaj COL 34 29 1803 14 11 6 2.86 .900 2
Sean Burke TAM 35 27 1713 14 10 4 2.80 .895 2
Sebastien Caron PIT 26 23 1312 8 9 5 3.98 .881 1
Frederic Cassivi WAS 1 1 59 0 1 0 4.09 .867 0
Scott Clemmensen NJD 13 9 627 3 4 2 3.35 .881 0
Dan Cloutier VAN 13 13 681 8 3 1 3.17 .892 0
Gerald Coleman TAM 2 0 43 0 0 1 2.77 .882 0
Ty Conklin EDM 18 15 922 8 5 1 2.80 .880 1
Corey Crawford CHI 2 1 86 0 0 1 3.47 .878 0
Yann Danis MON 6 5 312 3 2 0 2.69 .908 1
Marc Denis COB 49 45 2786 21 25 1 3.25 .900 1
Rick DiPietro NYI 63 62 3572 30 24 5 3.02 .900 1
Reinhard Divis STL 12 5 475 0 5 1 4.67 .840 0
Wade Dubielewicz NYI 7 4 310 2 3 0 2.90 .897 0
Mike Dunham ATL 17 13 779 8 5 2 2.77 .893 1
Brian Eklund BOS 1 1 58 0 1 0 3.09 .842 0
Ray Emery OTT 39 38 2168 23 11 4 2.82 .902 3
Robert Esche PHI 40 40 2286 22 11 5 2.97 .897 1
Manny Fernandez MIN 58 56 3411 30 18 7 2.29 .919 1
Brian Finley NAS 1 1 60 0 1 0 7.00 .829 0
Marc-Andre Fleury PIT 50 45 2809 13 27 6 3.25 .898 1
Michael Garnett ATL 24 20 1271 10 7 4 3.44 .885 2
Mathieu Garon LOS 63 61 3446 31 26 3 3.22 .894 4
Martin Gerber CAR 60 57 3493 38 14 6 2.78 .906 3
Jean-Sebastien Giguere ANA 60 58 3381 30 15 11 2.66 .911 2
John Grahame TAM 57 54 3152 29 22 1 3.06 .889 5
Josh Harding MIN 3 3 185 2 1 0 2.59 .904 1
Dominik Hasek OTT 43 42 2584 28 10 4 2.09 .925 5
Adam Hauser LOS 1 0 51 0 0 0 7.08 .750 0
Johan Hedberg DAL 19 15 1079 12 4 1 2.67 .898 0
Chris Holt NYR 1 0 10 0 0 0 0.00 1.000 0
Jimmy Howard DET 4 4 201 1 2 0 2.99 .904 0
Cristobal Huet MON 36 33 2103 18 11 4 2.20 .929 7
Brent Johnson WAS 26 23 1413 9 12 1 3.44 .905 1
Curtis Joseph PHO 60 59 3424 32 21 3 2.91 .902 4
Nikolai Khabibulin CHI 50 50 2815 17 26 6 3.35 .886 0
Miikka Kiprusoff CGY 74 73 4380 42 20 11 2.07 .923 10
Vitaly Kolesnik COL 8 7 370 3 3 0 3.24 .888 0
Olaf Kolzig WAS 59 58 3506 20 28 11 3.53 .896 0
Jason LaBarbera LOS 29 21 1433 11 9 2 2.89 .900 1
Patrick Lalime STL 31 29 1699 4 18 8 3.64 .881 0
David LeNeveu PHO 15 12 814 3 8 2 3.24 .886 0
Pascal Leclaire COB 33 31 1804 11 15 3 3.23 .911 0
Manny Legace DET 51 49 2905 37 8 3 2.19 .915 7
Kari Lehtonen ATL 38 37 2166 20 15 0 2.94 .906 2
Henrik Lundqvist NYR 53 50 3112 30 12 9 2.24 .922 2
Roberto Luongo FLA 75 73 4305 35 30 9 2.97 .914 4
Jussi Markkanen EDM 37 32 2016 15 12 6 3.13 .880 0
Chris Mason NAS 23 20 1227 12 5 1 2.54 .913 2
Jamie McLennan FLA 17 9 678 2 4 2 3.01 .906 0
Robert McVicar VAN 1 0 3 0 0 0 0.00 .000 0

Player Team GP GS MIN W L OTL GAA SV% SO

Ryan Miller BUF 48 48 2862 30 14 3 2.60 .914 1
Michael Morrison OTT 25 18 1099 11 4 3 2.95 .882 0
Adam Munro CHI 10 10 501 3 5 2 3.00 .893 1
Evgeni Nabokov SAN 45 44 2575 16 19 7 3.10 .885 1
Antero Niittymaki PHI 46 42 2690 23 15 6 2.97 .895 2
Mika Noronen VAN 8 5 339 2 3 0 3.90 .857 0
Chris Osgood DET 32 29 1846 20 6 5 2.76 .897 2
Maxime Ouellet VAN 4 3 222 0 2 1 3.25 .894 0
Martin Prusek COB 9 6 373 3 3 0 3.21 .879 0
Andrew Raycroft BOS 30 28 1619 8 19 2 3.71 .879 0
Pekka Rinne NAS 2 1 63 1 1 0 3.80 .900 0
Dwayne Roloson EDM 43 42 2524 14 24 5 2.73 .908 2
Dany Sabourin PIT 1 1 21 0 1 0 11.68 .714 0
Curtis Sanford STL 34 31 1830 13 13 5 2.66 .908 3
Philippe Sauve PHO 13 9 589 3 7 0 3.97 .882 0
Nolan Schaefer SAN 7 5 352 5 1 0 1.87 .920 1
Steve Shields ATL 5 5 266 1 2 1 4.28 .853 0
Jordan Sigalet BOS 1 0 1 0 0 0 0.00 .000 0
Garth Snow NYI 20 16 1096 4 13 1 3.72 .886 0
Mikael Tellqvist TOR 25 22 1399 10 11 2 3.13 .895 2
Jose Theodore COL 43 41 2410 18 17 6 3.41 .882 0
Jocelyn Thibault PIT 16 13 807 1 9 3 4.46 .876 0
Tim Thomas BOS 38 35 2187 12 13 10 2.77 .917 1
Hannu Toivonen BOS 20 19 1163 9 5 4 2.63 .914 1
Vesa Toskala SAN 37 33 2039 23 7 4 2.56 .901 2
Marty Turco DAL 68 67 3910 41 19 5 2.55 .898 3
Tomas Vokoun NAS 61 60 3601 36 18 7 2.67 .919 4
Cam Ward CAR 28 25 1484 14 8 2 3.68 .882 0
Kevin Weekes NYR 32 32 1850 14 14 3 2.95 .895 0

2006-07 PROJECTIONS – FORWARDS

Player Team GP G A PTS +/- PIM PPG PPA SOG GWG
Maxim Afingogenov BUF 75 27 39 66 8 71 13 18 253 4
Daniel Alfredsson OTT 78 44 52 96 23 46 18 27 254 6
Jason Allison TOR 71 22 51 73 -6 62 8 31 138 4
Tony Amonte CGY 80 19 34 53 1 49 8 11 165 3
Nik Antropov TOR 70 19 27 46 9 82 3 3 121 3
Colby Armstrong PIT 76 24 42 66 2 54 8 13 135 3
Tyler Arnason COL 76 17 26 43 2 39 2 9 188 2
Jason Arnott NSH 71 23 39 62 6 79 8 12 170 3
Sean Avery LA 77 11 19 30 1 228 0 4 171 1
Matthew Barnaby DAL 80 11 24 35 -7 167 0 0 88 0
Shawn Bates NYI 72 19 27 46 -3 78 2 6 107 2
Mark Bell SJ 81 29 36 65 2 96 10 14 219 4
Patrice Bergeron BOS 74 19 26 45 1 49 2 7 129 0
Steve Bernier SJ 72 24 19 43 7 52 8 4 144 2
Todd Bertuzzi FLA 80 33 47 80 -4 117 17 16 226 4
Jason Blake NYI 77 31 30 61 4 69 13 9 289 4
Peter Bondra ATL 67 28 19 47 -6 32 11 7 181 2
Pierre-Marc Bouchard MIN 79 22 38 60 4 33 6 29 128 2
Rene Bourque CHI 75 19 21 40 -2 49 4 4 177 0
Brad Boyes BOS 80 23 47 70 -4 22 7 19 199 2
Daniel Briere BUF 78 31 33 64 6 44 12 16 199 3
Rod Brind'Amour CAR 77 21 28 49 1 55 7 11 172 3
Dustin Brown LA 79 18 21 39 -2 57 4 8 143 1
Andrew Brunette COL 81 28 33 51 6 38 13 13 149 2
Jan Bullis VAN 69 17 30 47 -6 38 4 11 139 1
Petr Cajanek STL 75 15 43 58 -9 41 3 20 147 2
Kyle Calder PHI 82 27 36 63 4 68 9 9 201 4
Micahel Cammalleri LA 81 23 37 60 -7 33 7 19 195 1
Anson Carter VAN 77 22 27 49 -6 33 9 11 177 1
Jeff Carter PHI 80 22 32 54 4 32 5 9 176 2
Jonathan Cheechoo SJ 81 43 39 82 11 43 16 18 322 6
Chris Clark WAS 80 17 21 38 2 97 1 3 133 0
Erik Cole CAR 72 25 31 56 8 62 6 7 156 2
Mike Comrie PHX 77 24 41 65 3 33 7 18 170 2
Tim Connolly BUF 77 19 41 60 4 22 3 17 107 1
Craig Conroy LA 74 21 38 59 7 66 4 13 139 2
Sidney Crosby PIT 82 43 59 102 4 89 17 29 299 4
Matt Cullen NYR 62 11 17 28 -6 32 2 4 88 0
Pavel Datsyuk DET 76 34 62 96 23 32 13 29 187 5
Pavol Demitra MIN 73 31 50 81 13 34 13 22 209 5
Shane Doan PHX 80 33 37 70 -2 97 14 23 244 5
Chris Drury BUF 80 32 34 66 -2 48 12 19 177 4
J.P. Dumont BUF 72 24 31 55 4 22 8 19 144 2
Patrick Eaves OTT 68 12 24 36 12 12 4 2 119 2
Nils Ekman PIT 75 19 24 43 4 42 3 9 168 1
Patrick Elias NJ 78 34 48 82 16 24 10 14 282 5
Martin Erat NSH 82 24 38 62 6 58 8 14 175 4
Sergei Fedorov CBJ 78 26 34 60 4 42 8 20 198 5

Ruslan Fedotenko TB 74 18 20 38 2 36 3 3 155 2

Mike Fisher OTT 77 23 24 47 14 42 2 5 148 1
Peter Forsberg PHI 66 22 60 82 12 38 5 29 118 3
Alexander Frolov LA 78 25 22 47 3 38 2 8 178 1
Marian Gaborik MIN 74 41 42 83 8 40 13 19 282 5
Simon Gagne PHI 76 44 38 42 17 26 9 13 287 4
Martin Gelinas FLA 68 13 12 25 9 56 1 6 144 1
Ryan Geztlaf ANA 76 24 33 57 2 34 8 18 165 3
Brian Gionta NJ 79 35 36 71 15 44 14 8 244 6
Scott Gomez NJ 80 23 47 70 9 32 4 25 218 3
Chris Gratton FLA 80 15 18 33 2 122 2 3 155 1
Bill Guerin STL 72 27 30 57 2 124 11 13 242 3
Jeff Halpern DAL 80 15 35 50 4 80 4 9 140 2
Michael Handzus CHI 70 17 25 42 -6 56 4 10 144 4
Scott Hartnell NSH 78 24 29 53 2 101 7 10 218 5
Martin Havlat CHI 74 38 44 82 8 22 14 22 199 3
Dany Heatley OTT 82 44 59 103 21 74 15 24 288 4
Jochen Hecht BUF 69 17 32 49 4 39 2 8 181 2
Milan Hejduk COL 78 38 36 74 17 28 15 11 252 4
Ales Hemsky EDM 74 21 53 74 -8 45 4 27 180 2
Chris Higgins MON 80 26 22 48 3 32 10 8 188 2
Bobby Holik ATL 70 19 19 38 -9 88 4 8 187 2
Tomas Holmstrom DET 74 28 33 61 8 68 9 17 151 2
Shawn Horcoff EDM 78 19 43 62 3 68 4 13 181 3
Nathan Horton FLA 78 35 28 63 9 78 9 14 198 4
Marian Hossa ATL 82 42 56 96 11 58 14 28 288 6
Trent Hunter NYI 80 21 22 43 -3 68 4 9 202 3
Kristian Huselius CGY 76 19 32 51 -5 37 4 9 182 2
Jarome Iginal CGY 80 42 38 80 13 92 14 18 306 6
Jaromir Jagr NYR 75 39 59 98 21 52 18 26 319 5
Mike Johnson MON 80 17 28 45 2 47 4 12 155 2
Jussi Jokinen DAL 68 18 32 50 -4 28 4 12 108 1
Olli Jokinen FLA 81 35 41 76 6 74 13 18 306 4
Niko Kapanen ATL 76 13 18 31 -6 40 2 8 101 1
Paul Kariya NSH 72 33 50 83 1 38 11 33 241 5
Mike Knuble PHI 77 27 30 57 14 74 7 11 203 2
Saku Koivu MON 59 13 44 57 3 68 5 13 125 2
Ales Kotalik BUF 76 21 35 56 1 58 8 14 241 2
Ilya Kovalchuk ATL 82 59 49 108 8 48 21 28 338 5
Alexei Kovalev MON 66 20 38 58 2 60 4 18 182 2
Slava Kozlov ATL 74 21 28 49 2 38 5 12 178 1
Chris Kunitz ANA 74 24 23 49 -2 67 2 2 176 1
Robert Lang DET 67 22 37 59 7 38 8 20 155 2
Jamie Langenbrunner NJ 73 22 23 45 5 62 9 8 218 2
Daymond Langkow CGY 80 22 33 55 4 68 4 9 201 2
Ian Laperriere COL 76 14 14 28 3 128 1 0 122 1
Vincent Lecavalier TB 80 36 46 82 11 78 12 21 311 5
John LeClair PIT 62 22 32 54 -4 56 8 14 155 2
David Legwand NSH 66 19 22 41 6 39 2 6 142 4


Jere Lehtinen DAL 79 24 18 42 2 33 5 8 211 2
Eric Lindros DAL 55 19 20 39 -4 75 3 9 111 2
Jofrey Lupul EDM 80 33 26 59 -2 36 9 18 302 2
John Madden NJ 82 14 20 34 3 38 1 1 180 0
Evgeni Malkin PIT 71 22 41 63 -14 42 8 17 123 2
Ryan Malone PIT 82 28 27 55 -12 52 8 8 167 2
Patrick Marleau SJ 82 41 49 90 -2 29 16 28 255 5
Jamal Myers STL 65 8 11 19 -12 99 1 0 99 0
Alyn McCauley LA 77 17 22 39 2 32 3 7 122 3
Andy McDonald ANA 79 26 42 68 6 29 7 18 219 3
Milan Michalek SJ 77 26 25 51 6 32 2 11 162 1
Mike Modano DAL 75 28 43 71 15 45 9 21 211 3
Fredrik Modin CBJ 79 33 27 60 13 48 14 8 232 3
Brendan Morrison VAN 82 23 44 67 4 61 5 17 188 3
Brenden Morrow DAL 80 31 36 67 18 144 9 7 171 2
Glen Murray BOS 78 31 34 65 2 44 10 13 233 4
Ladislav Nagy PHX 71 22 37 59 2 54 5 13 167 4
Rick Nash CBJ 79 44 28 72 7 62 21 13 288 5
Markus Naslund VAN 80 37 52 89 3 49 17 23 278 4
Peter Nedved PHI 70 22 22 44 -3 76 4 8 163 2
Chris Neil OTT 80 10 11 21 7 187 3 2 109 0
Rob Niedermayer ANA 68 17 17 34 -7 56 4 9 131 1
Joe Nieuwendyk FLA 49 19 18 37 -4 38 9 8 149 2
Michael Nylander NYR 74 18 48 66 11 54 4 13 166 1
Jeff O'Neill TOR 71 21 18 39 -9 66 11 8 177 2
Micahel Ouellet PIT 75 27 23 50 -4 26 8 8 119 2
Alexander Ovechkin WAS 82 56 59 115 8 48 24 28 411 8
Zach Parise NJ 80 19 29 48 3 32 3 6 122 2
Mark Parrish MIN 77 22 25 47 6 38 11 11 149 4
Micahel Peca TOR 74 14 27 42 2 77 2 2 121 2
Yanic Perrault NSH 71 21 34 55 2 34 8 11 156 2
Matt Pettinger WAS 74 18 27 45 3 44 4 6 149 1
Fernando Pisani EDM 80 21 22 43 2 56 2 2 155 3
Jason Pminville BUF 77 23 19 41 2 18 7 8 166 1
Alexei Ponikarovsky TOR 80 23 23 46 8 77 3 3 167 1
Vaclav Prospal TB 82 28 44 72 2 55 7 18 219 2
Petr Prucha NYR 74 26 20 46 2 38 13 7 149 2
Mark Recchi PIT 82 26 33 59 -12 70 9 17 201 2
Steven Reinprecht PHX 76 24 33 57 4 40 4 9 152 1
Mike Ribeiro MON 80 24 44 68 4 42 9 20 155 3
Brad Richards TB 81 27 73 100 8 26 9 39 277 4
Mike Richards PHI 80 17 35 52 4 56 3 10 180 1
Gary Roberts FLA 66 17 19 36 2 66 3 7 113 2
Randy Robitaille PHI 73 16 23 39 2 44 3 8 122 1
Jeremy Roenick PHX 72 21 33 54 2 40 7 11 161 3
Brian Rolston MIN 81 31 42 73 7 56 11 19 277 3
Derek Roy BUF 75 19 32 51 -4 42 3 8 166 3
Steve Rucchin ATL 68 19 19 38 2 22 2 7 128 2
Martin Rucinsky STL 66 14 37 51 8 67 3 15 177 2


Tuomo Ruutu CHI 77 26 23 48 -10 54 11 8 191 2
Michael Ryder MON 81 34 34 68 3 42 15 15 251 3
Joe Sakic COL 81 34 51 85 6 48 9 17 277 4
Sergei Samsonov MON 70 34 33 67 7 32 14 17 177 3
Mikael Samuelsson DET 72 19 20 39 11 35 3 4 131 0
Goeff Sanderson PHI 78 23 21 44 -7 43 8 8 198 0
Miroslav Satan NYI 80 33 33 66 -3 48 14 17 266 6
Marc Savard BOS 79 23 52 75 8 108 8 26 201 4
Peter Schaefer OTT 82 21 26 46 10 48 1 8 152 0
Daniel Sedin VAN 81 21 43 64 6 28 8 20 201 2
Henrik Sedin VAN 80 14 51 65 4 42 4 23 128 2
Teemu Selanne ANA 81 33 42 75 11 48 13 19 255 4
Brendan Shanahan NYR 81 33 33 66 19 101 10 11 301 5
Mike Sillinger NYI 71 14 29 43 -6 60 3 8 138 0
Bryan Smolinski CHI 80 21 25 46 3 56 2 11 158 1
Ryan Smyth EDM 78 32 36 68 3 78 17 14 267 4
Jason Spezza OTT 79 29 74 103 27 40 6 33 199 4
Martin St. Louis TB 82 32 38 70 11 38 11 16 234 6
Eric Staal CAR 82 38 49 87 2 72 15 25 301 2
Alex Steen TOR 80 22 34 56 -1 38 10 14 211 2
Cory Stillman CAR 56 12 25 37 -2 26 4 10 121 1
Jarret Stoll EDM 80 17 45 62 -3 60 8 18 251 3
Martin Straka NYR 65 19 41 60 8 38 2 16 156 2
Josef Stumpel FLA 70 14 28 42 3 22 2 17 119 1
Marco Sturm BOS 78 35 27 62 11 41 12 10 227 6
Steve Sullivan NSH 74 33 40 73 7 48 10 22 214 4
Mats Sundin TOR 75 33 50 83 13 69 11 31 243 6
Marek Svatos COL 73 27 30 57 4 54 11 8 177 3
Petr Sykora EDM 80 21 30 51 4 52 7 11 280 3
Alex Tanguay CGY 80 36 43 79 16 40 9 26 159 5
Joe Thornton SJ 80 35 82 117 25 78 8 38 221 5
Keith Tkachuk STL 70 36 30 66 -2 89 15 15 209 4
Raffi Torres EDM 80 24 20 44 3 80 4 8 161 2
Darcy Tucker TOR 68 22 28 50 -3 128 8 10 199 2
Pierre Turgeon COL 70 15 35 50 2 28 4 18 111 0
Thomas Vanek BUF 80 26 22 48 -6 61 13 10 222 3
Antoine Vermette OTT 80 17 17 34 17 42 2 2 129 2
Radim Vrbata CHI 80 20 19 39 1 39 5 5 201 2
David Vyborny CBJ 80 29 48 67 -1 42 8 27 163 3
Scott Walker CAR 61 17 21 38 2 101 3 8 142 0
Doug Weight STL 72 15 45 60 -4 49 7 21 201 3
Kyle Wellwood TOR 82 19 35 54 3 26 5 16 123 1
Todd White MIN 69 12 18 30 3 28 4 3 127 0
Ray Whitney CAR 59 22 26 48 2 28 9 22 170 3
Jason Williams DET 72 12 26 38 -1 32 2 8 148 1
Justin Williams CAR 81 26 40 66 8 61 10 13 240 3
Brain Willsie LA 78 15 17 32 -11 88 7 7 202 0
Alexei Yashin NYI 80 31 43 74 -6 54 11 27 278 3
Mike York NYI 74 19 38 57 -3 28 5 14 154 3


Scott Young STL 71 21 24 45 -15 40 8 10 241 0
Ricahrd Zednik WAS 77 23 28 51 -8 54 5 9 196 2
Henrik Zetterber DET 80 41 32 73 22 28 14 9 261 7
Nikoali Zherdev CBJ 78 37 32 69 -2 46 11 15 237 2
Dainius Zubrus WAS 77 27 36 63 4 70 9 17 188 2

2006-07 PROJECTIONS – DEFENSEMEN

Player Team GP G A PTS +/- PIM PPG PPA TOI GWG
Bryan Allen FLA 75 5 15 20 6 99 1 2 21:25 0
Adrian Aucoin CHI 58 11 19 30 -6 68 4 5 23:58 1
Keith Ballard PHX 80 9 42 51 4 78 6 22 21:07 1
Nolan Baumgartner PHI 71 4 32 36 2 64 2 16 19:58 1
Francois Beauchemin ANA 76 12 30 42 3 56 8 11 23:28 1
Bryan Berard CBJ 66 13 42 55 -12 61 7 20 21:47 1
Marc-Andre Bergeron EDM 79 13 32 45 7 42 7 15 22:07 1
Rob Blake LA 69 11 32 43 6 108 5 15 24:01 1
Phillipe Boucher DAL 71 11 22 33 13 88 4 8 22:11 0
Jay Bouwmeester FLA 80 9 44 53 2 66 4 17 24:59 0
Dan Boyle TB 75 14 44 58 7 42 5 22 22:48 2
Nick Boyton PHX 71 5 14 19 -3 101 0 4 22:33 0
Eric Brewer STL 66 4 18 22 -11 88 2 5 24:01 1
Patrice Brisbois COL 73 7 21 28 3 44 2 9 20:07 0
Brian Campbell BUF 72 5 28 33 -4 18 3 10 18:42 0
Chris Campoli NYI 82 7 33 39 -2 56 1 14 19:59 0
Matt Carle SJ 78 8 32 40 2 38 4 23 19:06 2
Zdeno Chara BOS 77 13 31 43 6 144 5 17 26:21 1
Chris Chelios DET 70 6 11 17 11 87 2 4 17:33 0
Brett Clark COL 74 6 22 28 -6 62 1 8 18:56 0
Joe Corvo OTT 79 11 37 48 17 42 4 15 20:02 1
Christian Ehrhoff SJ 74 8 29 37 6 46 5 13 18:58 1
Steve Eminger WAS 76 7 22 29 -4 102 2 7 22:02 0
Andrew Ferrence CGY 79 5 32 37 -2 69 3 18 21:01 0
Adam Foote CBJ 74 5 20 25 -4 106 1 8 24:00 0
Kurtis Foster MIN 76 12 32 44 6 54 4 19 21:28 0
Denis Gauthier PHI 78 3 14 17 8 102 1 1 18:45 0
Sergei Gonchar PIT 78 17 43 60 -4 82 7 33 24:24 3
Dan Hamhuis NSH 80 6 33 39 5 70 3 11 23:07 0
Roman Hamerlik CGY 66 9 28 37 3 63 2 11 22:31 0
Scott Hannan SJ 82 6 20 26 11 68 1 7 25:02 0
Niclas Havlid ATL 79 5 30 35 1 55 2 10 23:23 0
Bret Hedican CAR 77 5 20 25 4 72 1 5 19:48 1
Barrett Jackman STL 70 5 13 18 -4 187 0 2 21:21 0
Rick Jackman FLA 75 10 31 41 -5 77 4 13 19:01 0
Kim Johnsson MIN 77 14 32 46 13 42 2 15 23:34 0
Ed Jovanovski PHX 72 11 35 46 5 88 4 18 24:09 1
Frantisek Kaberle CAR 72 5 33 38 4 52 2 14 20:39 1
Tomas Kaberle TOR 80 10 51 61 5 58 5 38 26:08 2
Rostislav Klesla CBJ 72 8 23 31 2 89 1 9 22:20 0
Flip Kuba TB 78 5 32 37 3 47 2 9 23:09 1
Pavel Kubina TOR 72 6 22 28 -4 102 2 14 23:05 1
Brian Leetch BOS 63 8 33 41 -1 42 3 18 22:28 0
Nickals Lidstrom DET 81 9 50 59 14 42 5 30 25:54 1
John-Michael Liles COL 81 13 40 53 2 62 4 18 20:20 1
Marek Malik NYR 75 4 20 24 17 68 0 5 21:01 0
Paul Mara BOS 79 13 38 51 -3 88 5 26 20:43 2
Andrei Markov MON 72 9 40 49 7 81 8 18 22:57 1
Danny Markov DET 74 8 29 37 15 82 2 9 19:45 1


Paul Martin NJ 82 7 28 35 9 52 2 11 23:58 0
Bryan McCabe TOR 76 15 55 70 7 103 9 33 26:57 4
Jay McKee STL 66 2 10 12 1 48 0 0 19:53 0
Kyle McLaren SJ 68 2 20 22 8 76 0 5 23:01 0
Andrej Meszaros OTT 76 8 22 30 14 72 4 15 19:52 0
Jaroslav Modry DAL 78 6 24 30 4 84 2 15 19:45 0
Derk Morris PHX 77 14 41 56 6 83 7 22 21:59 3
Bryan Muir WAS 70 5 19 34 -5 97 2 9 21:48 0
Scott Niedermayer ANA 81 10 47 57 9 78 7 27 24:42 3
Mattias Norstrom LA 75 2 20 22 3 68 1 5 22:11 0
Teppo Numminen BUF 70 4 22 26 0 42 1 11 20:10 0
Sean O'Donnell ANA 77 3 8 11 2 158 0 2 17:57 0
Mattias Ohlund VAN 80 14 30 44 2 78 5 14 25:45 1
Sandis Ozolinsh NYR 50 9 19 28 -5 32 1 15 19:22 1
Dion Phaneuf CGY 82 14 31 45 8 82 10 18 22:42 2
Chris Phillips OTT 77 5 23 28 19 80 2 2 21:22 0
Joni Pitkanen PHI 72 9 32 41 12 88 5 10 23:27 2
Brian Pothier WAS 75 6 31 37 3 48 2 17 19:43 0
Tom Poti NYI 74 8 32 40 -8 69 3 15 22:28 3
Tom Preissing OTT 76 12 35 47 18 33 4 21 21:29 1
Chris Pronger ANA 80 13 48 61 7 111 8 27 27:46 3
Brian Rafalski NJ 78 9 40 49 5 38 5 18 23:09 1
Mike Rathje PHI 68 2 22 24 13 68 1 7 22:04 0
Wade Redden OTT 78 16 52 69 28 86 8 27 25:03 3
Robyn Regehr CGY 77 5 19 24 2 89 3 9 23:32 1
Craig Rivet MON 80 4 28 32 4 83 2 14 22:09 0
Micahel Rozsival NYR 74 4 20 24 8 102 1 9 23:12 0
Ruslan Salei ANA 69 2 12 14 -3 124 0 5 21:42 0
Sami Salo VAN 71 9 38 47 2 46 7 16 22:22 1
Mathieu Schneider DET 70 15 30 45 17 62 5 20 22:49 2
Brent Seabrook CHI 78 10 33 43 2 80 4 19 22:29 4
Martin Skoula MIN 77 7 29 36 2 54 1 18 20:02 0
Jason Smith EDM 74 5 15 20 -4 102 0 2 21:29 0
Brent Sopel LA 73 8 33 41 1 55 5 17 20:10 0
Sheldon Souray MON 76 13 33 46 -2 103 7 20 24:05 1
Jaroslav Spacek BUF 77 10 26 36 2 89 2 15 22:59 0
Steve Staois EDM 80 5 23 28 7 99 1 8 20:07 1
Brad Stuart BOS 80 13 44 57 3 78 8 23 24:43 4
Ryan Suter NSH 75 4 20 24 2 80 1 5 19:11 0
Andy Sutton ATL 77 8 18 26 4 119 2 5 22:05 0
Dick Tarnstrom EDM 67 10 32 42 -9 70 5 20 17:39 1
Kimmo Timonen NSH 77 12 40 52 6 68 5 32 23:48 3
Oleg Tverdovsky CAR 77 5 25 30 2 42 2 13 19:01 0
Mike Van Ryn FLA 82 11 31 42 11 88 5 15 24:10 1
Lubomir Visnovsky LA 72 13 37 50 -4 58 5 20 23:36 1
Greg de Vries ATL 77 5 25 30 7 88 2 9 23:01 0


Ryan Whitney PIT 74 8 37 45 -2 108 3 16 23:47 2
Bredan Witt NYI 70 2 12 14 6 178 0 0 20:19 0
Alexei Zhitnik NYI 64 5 23 28 2 106 2 12 23:20 0
Marek Zidlicky NSH 76 18 40 58 6 92 9 29 21:27 4
Sergei Zubov DAL 69 7 40 47 7 42 7 23 23:30 1
2006-07 PROJECTIONS – GOALIES

Player Team GP MIN W L OTL GAA SV% SF SO
David Aebischer MON 38 2220 14 14 7 2.77 .903 950 0
Alex Auld FLA 63 3780 31 27 4 2.78 .901 1952 1
Ed Belfour FLA 25 1423 8 9 3 2.99 .901 678 1
Martin Biron BUF 30 1713 15 13 1 2.99 .901 919 0
Martin Brodeur NJ 70 4222 40 27 2 2.49 .909 2098 6
Ilya Byrzgalov ANA 32 1855 16 12 4 2.54 .909 772 3
Peter Budaj COL 22 1230 12 8 2 2.75 .903 1199 1
Sean Burke TB 22 1203 7 10 4 2.74 .893 612 1
Dan Cloutier LA 30 1722 14 10 5 2.89 .894 881 1
Ty Conklin CBJ 28 1608 10 8 7 2.74 .897 574 1
Marc Denis TB 61 3601 33 22 5 2.69 .907 1758 4
Rick DiPietro NYI 66 3960 32 24 7 2.81 .909 1859 5
Ray Emery OTT 28 1620 14 10 2 2.74 .903 897 1
Robert Esche PHI 33 1899 18 10 3 2.8 .900 864 2
Manny Fernandez MIN 62 3502 32 20 8 2.48 .917 1645 5
Marc-Andre Fleury PIT 56 3368 22 23 8 3.1 .903 1588 2
Mathieu Garon LA 54 3516 23 24 5 2.83 .910 1754 3
Martin Gerber OTT 56 3189 32 18 4 2.69 .912 1778 4
J.S. Giguere ANA 50 2899 25 18 6 2.54 .909 1413 2
John Grahame CAR 24 1537 14 8 2 2.69 .904 687 1

Player Team GP MIN W L OTL GAA SV% SF SO

Dominik Hasek DET 47 3052 26 14 3 2.49 .913 1298 4
Cristobal Huet MON 47 2825 25 18 3 2.52 .908 1219 3
Curtis Joseph PHX 61 3488 33 20 5 2.88 .901 1732 3
Nikolai Khabibulin CHI 63 3687 27 26 8 2.93 .899 1702 2
Miikka Kiprusoff CGY 69 4178 41 23 5 2.22 .919 1876 6
Olaf Kolzig WAS 58 3502 25 22 8 3.19 .897 1921 2
Patrick Lalime CHI 22 1152 8 9 3 2.93 .892 558 1
Pascal Leclaire CBJ 58 3421 27 20 8 3.02 .901 1642 2
Manny Legace STL 52 2845 24 20 6 2.57 .904 1352 3
Kari Lehtonen ATL 60 3580 30 20 8 2.74 .911 1958 4
Henrik Lundqvist NYR 58 3488 26 24 7 2.73 .902 1723 2
Roberto Luongo VAN 71 4178 36 24 7 2.56 .918 1988 5
Jussi Markkanen EDM 28 1699 10 12 3 2.77 .903 753 2
Chris Mason NSH 19 1158 8 7 2 2.79 .903 587 0
Ryan Miller BUF 54 3282 29 19 5 2.76 .903 1638 3
Evgeni Nabokov SJ 40 2498 20 17 2 2.73 .905 1058 3
Antero Niittymaki PHI 52 3003 29 17 4 2.71 .903 1358 2
Chris Osgood DET 39 2332 21 12 3 2.69 .900 897 1
Andrew Raycroft TOR 57 3452 30 20 6 2.81 .905 1750 3
Dwayne Roloson EDM 56 3398 27 22 5 2.82 .903 1502 3
Curtis Sanford STL 31 1755 15 10 4 2.59 .903 801 1
Jose Theodore COL 59 3563 30 22 5 2.77 .903 1936 4
Jocelyn Thibault PIT 22 1260 9 10 2 3.02 .897 614 0
Tim Thomas BOS 24 1440 9 12 3 2.84 .901 724 0
Hannu Toivonen BOS 57 3529 27 23 6 2.88 .903 1752 2
Vesa Toskala SJ 42 2561 22 14 4 2.59 .911 966 3
Marty Turco DAL 70 4192 38 25 6 2.47 .906 1623 5
Tomas Vokoun NSH 64 3669 36 23 4 2.54 .912 1998 5
Cam Ward CAR 58 3596 31 22 4 2.71 .903 1659 4
Kevin Weekes NYR 24 1526 10 12 2 2.86 .899 798 1

By The Numbers: 2005-06 Retrospective

.899 The NHL’s leading SV% for any goalie who faced over 100 shots while on the penalty kill
by Henrik Lundqvist (357 saves in 397 shots).
.943 The NHL’s leading SV% for any goalie who faced over 700 shots while at even strength
by Cristobal Huet (705 saved in 748 shots).
1 Sidney Crosby was the only NHL player to accumulate 100 points (102) and 100 PIMs
(110) last season.
2 The number of times a rookie has scored 50 goals and 100 points. The first was Teemu
Selanne in 1992-93 (76 goals, 132 points), the second was Alexander Ovechkin last
year (52 goals, 106 points).
3 Number of NHL skaters with a +20 or better and 100 PIMs (Brenden Morrow, Brendan
Shanahan and Chris Chelios)
5 The number of shutout wins that Kari Lehtonen had on the season without a single loss,
the best mark in the NHL. Marty Turco and Martin Brodeur tied for the NHL lead with 8
OT wins, though they lost 1 and 3 games respectively.
7 Number of shutouts by Cristobal Huet in only 36 games.
8 Number of NHL skaters with 100 PIMs and over 60 points on the season (Darcy Tucker,
Brenden Morrow, Shane Doan, Bryan McCabe, Todd Bertuzzi, Jason Arnott, Marc
Savard and Sidney Crosby).
10 Number of shutouts by league leader Miikka Kiprusoff in 74 games.
11 League leading game-winning total for Jonathan Cheechoo who also led the league
with 56 goals overall.

13 Consecutive seasons that Jaromir Jagr has scored at least 70 points.
17 Consecutive seasons that Brendan Shanahan has scored at least 20 goals.
22 Number of season’s the since retired Steve Yzerman skated in for the Detroit Red Wings
amassing 692 goals, 1,063 assists and 1,755 points in 1,514 games (1.16 points-per-
game).
24:17 NHL leading time on ice total for a forward (Rod Brind’Amour)
28:17 NHL leading time on ice total for defenseman (Bryan McCabe).
34 The fewest wins Martin Brodeur has posted in the last 10 seasons.
35 League leading plus/minus total of Wade Redden and Michal Rozsival. At +34, Andrej
Meszaros just missed being the first rookie in league history to lead the league.
56 League leading power-play point total of Ilya Kovalchuk who also lead the NHL with 27
PP goals.
76 The number of years that have passed since a seasons assist leader had more assists
than the previous years points leader. Joe Thornton had 96 assists in 2005-06, two
more assists than the 94 points that NHL leader Martin St. Louis produced in 2003-04.
78 The improvement, in points, of Dany Heatley from his tragedy filled 2003-04 season (23
in 31 games) to last season (103 in 82 games).
89 The total takeaways by defenseman Rob Blake, the NHL leader in the category.
196 The number of points Marc Savard has scored in the last three seasons over 184 games.
234 Hits by Stars F Brenden Morrow, the highest total in the league.
241 The number of shots blocked by league leader Jay McKee.
257 The league leading penalty minute total of Sean Avery. Avery also led the NHL with 261
PIMs in 2003-04.
363 Number of minutes played the last two seasons by goalie leader Martin Brodeur (8920)
more than his closest competition Roberto Luongo (8557).
425 Number of shots taken by rookie winger Alexander Ovechkin, the most in the NHL.
486 Career goals by Jeremy Roenick. With 16 more tallies, Roenick will become the highest
scoring US born player in history.
492 Career goals scored by Teemu Selanne, a.k.a. the Finnish Flash.
1260 Face of wins by Rod Brind’Amour, 346 more than the leagues number two man, Joe
Thornton.

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FANTASYHOCKEY.

COM – DRAFT GUIDE 2006-07

1-2 Table of Contents

248-249 New York Rangers

2006 – 2007 Fantasy Hockey Draft Guide Presented By: FantasyHockey.com

Ice Kings: 10 Players for Fantasy Success

2006 – 2007 Fantasy Hockey Draft Guide Presented By: FantasyHockey.com

2006 – 2007 Fantasy Hockey Draft Guide Presented By: FantasyHockey.com

How to Play Fantasy Hockey

Hockey Pools – The Old-Fashioned Way

2006 – 2007 Fantasy Hockey Draft Guide Presented By: FantasyHockey.com

Online Leagues – The Evolution of the Hockey Pool

Terminology – Forward/Defenseman Statistics

2006 – 2007 Fantasy Hockey Draft Guide Presented By: FantasyHockey.com

Terminology – Goalie Statistics

Terminology – Team Statistics

2006 – 2007 Fantasy Hockey Draft Guide Presented By: FantasyHockey.com

Strategy 1: Build From the Net Out

2006 – 2007 Fantasy Hockey Draft Guide Presented By: FantasyHockey.com

Strategy 2: Defense Wins Championships

Strategy 3: Score to Win

2006 – 2007 Fantasy Hockey Draft Guide Presented By: FantasyHockey.com

Forward Position Flexibility

Strategy 4 – Drafting with All Positions in Mind

2006 – 2007 Fantasy Hockey Draft Guide Presented By: FantasyHockey.com

PART I - THE SOLUTION

2006 – 2007 Fantasy Hockey Draft Guide Presented By: FantasyHockey.com

STEP I – Determine the “Average” Players Marks

Empty Net Goals

GOALS: 7443 / 870 = 8.6

ASSISTS: 12878 / 870 = 14.8

PIM: 39435 / 870 = 45.3

Plus/Minus: (-341) / 870 = (-.39)

2006 – 2007 Fantasy Hockey Draft Guide Presented By: FantasyHockey.com

STEP II – Adjust the Plus/Minus Totals

STEP III – Divide the Players Marks by the “Average”

In 2005-06 Thornton had 29 G, 96 A, 61 PIM and +31.

Goals: 29/8.6 = 3.37

Assists: 96/14.8 = 6.49

PIM: 61/45.3 = 1.35

Plus/minus : 31(.39) = 12.09

3.37 + 6.49 + 1.35 + 12.09 = 23.30

STEP IV – Adjust the +/- Totals

Personal PIM / LgAVG PIM

Then divide the result by 4.

Therefore, here is Thornton’s finally score:

3.37 + 6.49 + 1.35 + 3.02 = 14.23

Thornton’s mark for the 2005-06 season was 14.23.

Here is the formulaic representation of the equation:

2006 – 2007 Fantasy Hockey Draft Guide Presented By: FantasyHockey.com

Top 25 Overall G A Pts +/- PIM THT

2006 – 2007 Fantasy Hockey Draft Guide Presented By: FantasyHockey.com

Here are the top 25 defensemen from 2005-06.

PART II- THT per GAME

2006 – 2007 Fantasy Hockey Draft Guide Presented By: FantasyHockey.com

Pitkanen’s THT mark was 7.61.

THT per Game = THT / Games Played

Now on to the top 25 forwards.

2006 – 2007 Fantasy Hockey Draft Guide Presented By: FantasyHockey.com

Next, here are the top 25 defensemen from last season.

2006 – 2007 Fantasy Hockey Draft Guide Presented By: FantasyHockey.com

Z-transformations: Using Last Year’s Stats More Effectively

Are you interested yet?