“Sleepers” is a bit of a misnomer these days.
We’re in an age of technology that lets us get Twitter updates directly from the players themselves. We can access more hockey blogs and content in general than dollars the United States has spent in bailouts over the past year, which means there aren’t many players around who haven’t gotten some sort of media attention. Between your own initiative and the ability to Google articles on anyone you want, there is truly no shortage of information at our fingertips.
With that in mind, let’s take a step back for a second and embrace a sleeper for what it’s really meant to be: a player who stands a reasonable chance of giving you more bang for your buck than where you drafted him.
Plain. Simple.
Maybe it’ll be a back-up goalie that stands to inherit 30+ starts; a fifth-year defenceman that’s primed to break out with more power play time; a veteran cast aside by some as washed up; a winger who only had 35 points last year but is slated to move into a second line role… or you get the picture. It might be a case of getting a guy in the sixth round when he’s got third round talent, or, more popularly, getting great deals on players in the second half of the draft that will out-perform their draft position by at least three or four rounds.
How effective any given player might be for you also depends on how deep your league is, since shallow eight-team, 12-man roster pools tend to still have star players on the waiver wire and 12-team, 22-man roster formats are much more likely to care about a bump up from the fourth to the third line.
This sleeper list is quite expansive so it can include a little something for all walks of fantasy life with guys from the early to the later rounds.
PRIME PICKS (ODDS ARE IN THEIR FAVOUR)
Derick Brassard, F, Columbus Blue Jackets: What do you get when you mix a talented young centre with one of the league’s best power forwards in Rick Nash? Try the sleeper pick of all sleeper picks. His low injury-caused 31 GP total from last season will hide his true worth coming into this season, where he should bust out with a really effective bottom line.
Ray Emery, G, Philadelphia Flyers: He’s not a sleeper because of a lack of media attention, to be sure, but lingering question marks about Emery’s perceived lack of stability could ensure a sweet bargain for poolies. Keep in mind Philly goalies now have Chris Pronger patrolling the front of the net and Emery knows the importance of this chance to get back into the good graces of NHL execs.
Erik Johnson, F, St. Louis Blues: ’08-9 was a lost cause thanks to “the golf cart incident”, but he’s the go-to guy on the power play for this up and coming team and his non-existent GP total from last year will make him a top bargain in drafts this fall. Don’t be too discouraged if he has a slow start, since it has been a year since he played.
Valtteri Filppula, F, Detroit Red Wings: This 25-year old Finn’s game has grown considerably in his three full NHL campaigns and now it’s time for his point total to take that next jump. He’ll no doubt be used as both a second and third line centre this season, depending on Mike Babcock’s inclination for splitting up Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg at any given point. The preseason has seen him with Ville Leino and Jason Williams in a possible preview of things to come. Filppula has gotten so many blog mentions here over the past season that some sort of commission cheque should be forthcoming.
FRESH FACES (STILL HAVE THAT NEW CAR SMELL)
Matt Gilroy, D, New York Rangers: This Hobey Baker winner has a good shot to work himself into a PP1 situation feeding Marian Gaborik’s blasts and while Gilroy is a rookie this year, keep in mind he’s 25.
Tuukka Rask, G, Boston Bruins: Relatively low GP totals for starter Tim Thomas combined with strength of Bruins could allow this rookie back-up to become one of the more valuable bench goalies in fantasy.
Nikita Filatov, F, Columbus Blue Jackets: High-end skills for keeper league owners, but where he’ll fit into the ’09-10 line-up remains to be seen. It may take an injury or slump from someone else for him to get his top six chance, but this kid has enormous potential and he may give Ken Hitchcock no choice but to give him a key offensive role with a strong preseason.
Erik Karlsson, D, Ottawa Senators: What he lacks in size, he makes up for with a sweet skill-set and power play abilities on a team that could really use that sort of help on the back end. Given the improved offensive depth of this team post-Heatley, Karlsson’s chances of having a fantasy-worthy season have improved as long as he makes the roster out of camp.
Ville Leino, F, Detroit Red Wings: Off-season signings clouded his potential L2 shot, but even a third line role can work for him here and a lot can happen in-season. His skating has continued to improve and watch for potential magic with Valtteri Filppula, who is housing Leino. What little we saw of Leino last year was just a taste of what’s to come.
Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond, F, New Jersey Devils: Looking for a new PIM source? He may be your man for those heated NJD rivalry match-ups.
Steve Downie, F, Tampa Bay Lightning: It’s way too early to call this anything more than preseason experimentation, but with Martin St. Louis likely resuming last year’s late-season role alongside Steven Stamkos and Ryan Malone… it could be rugged youngster Steve Downie playing with Vincent Lecavalier and Alex Tanguay. Downie is headed into this season in great shape and he’ll do everything he can to make this his first full NHL campaign. Stephane Veilleux is among those fighting for that same wing spot.
Jimmy Howard, G, Detroit Red Wings: Playing behind Chris Osgood means quality starting GP chances for this four-year AHL goaltender that is out of minor league options. The fact that the Wings should be more committed to defence this year only helps Howard’s chances of seizing this golden opportunity, so it’s up to him to do the rest.
Sergei Shirokov, F, Vancouver Canucks: While much of the attention is deservedly on Cody Hodgson, Shirokov might be able to sneak into a top nine slot if an injury arises at some point. Pavol Demitra is already hurt, so who knows? The youngster potted a couple of goals Monday night against the Isles in preseason action.
Jonathan Ericsson, D, Detroit Red Wings: Ericsson may have lost out on what would have been a second unit PP point slot (vacated by Mikael Samuelsson, who signed with the Canucks) with the addition of Jason Williams, which means there’s less of a need to begin the year with this youngster on your roster. Don’t discount Ericsson from working his way into the mix at some point this season though, as regular seasons are long and grinding and injuries could create an opening. He might be especially helpful in deeper standard leagues at that point with his PIM total if he can chip in some points and he’s one to watch in deep keeper leagues.
Mike Santorelli, F, Nashville Predators: Shifting from centre to wing because of organizational needs and he’s being tried on L2, which could only help his value if it works.
Ivan Vishnevskiy, D, Dallas Stars: Has the tools to be a PP QB for this team sans Sergei Zubov and has impressed the team, but can he make the roster this fall?
John Carlson, D, Washington Capitals: Sick OHL totals and mature game for his age. No need to tell you what could happen on this roster if he works himself into a prime role behind Mike Green, which will happen eventually in his career.
Nicklas Bergfors, F, New Jersey Devils: After four seasons of development in the AHL, could this finally be the season this 2005 first rounder finds himself in the NHL and ready to help poolies?
Zach Boychuk, F, Carolina Hurricanes: With the veteran talent currently on the Canes’ roster it’ll be tough for Boychuk to make the team initially, but watch for him as an in-season call-up when the inevitable injury bug rears its ugly head.
Mikael Backlund, F, Calgary Flames: Mental toughness has improved and if he doesn’t make the team out of camp, he could be an in-season call-up who works himself into a good offensive position. This is a different player than last year’s version, by all accounts.
READY FOR MORE (TAKING THAT NEXT STEP)
Joffrey Lupul, F, Anaheim Ducks: He’ll finally get a steady top-six role with the Ducks that he wasn’t able to secure in Philly. He should be able to challenge career highs across the board and it’d be especially helpful if he could mount a run at his 296 shots from that sophomore season.
Drew Doughty, D, Los Angeles Kings: The second overall pick from 2008 looked like a veteran last year and with that rookie experience, combined with an improving roster on a team headed in the right direction, Doughty should move toward what’ll be many 40+ point campaigns.
Antoine Vermette, F, Columbus Blue Jackets: Looking poised and contributing regularly upon arriving in Columbus after the Pascal Leclaire swap, Vermette begins the season as the second line centre with a bounty of talent on the wings to continue a trend that saw him notch 13 points in 17 GP post-trade. He just inked a five-year extension too.
Kyle Okposo, F, New York Islanders: After a decent 39-point rookie campaign, this St. Paul-born winger should be able to build on a strong finish to the ’08-9 season and will become a star fantasy winger before too long.
James Wisniewski, D, Anaheim Ducks: Likely the third wheel offensively on D for this team, Wisniewski could be a surprising source of both points and PIM to round out a fifth or sixth defensive slot on a fantasy roster.
Claude Giroux, F, Philadelphia Flyers: After a half-season in the NHL last year and tying for the team lead in playoff points (five in six GP) with Mike Richards, this former QMJHL standout will get at least regular third line ice time and potentially more, depending on how the team uses its lines and C/W possibilities this year. He may line up with Daniel Briere again, like we saw at times last season.
Zach Bogosian, D, Atlanta Thrashers: After a broken leg limited him to a 47-game rookie campaign, this 19-year old should be ready to become a depth blueliner in standard leagues this season at the very least with a good points/ PIM ratio. He’s on his way to becoming a keeper league stud.
Peter Mueller, F, Phoenix Coyotes: He dropped 15 pounds this summer and plans to use that quickness to have a big rebound campaign as he moves back to centre.
T.J. Oshie, F, St. Louis Blues: Despite running into ankle problems in his rookie season, he still managed 39 points in 57 GP and had a strong second half run for even single-season fantasy leaguers. He can be a key contributor for the Blues and poolies this year.
Brandon Dubinsky, F, New York Rangers: He should be the perfect sort of gritty, hustling forward for John Tortorella, who can teach his young charge a thing or two about bringing that effort every night. Dubinsky’s offensive role should increase this season, including a shot at being the number one pivot with Marian Gaborik on his wing. A late start to camp because of contract issues – especially with John Tortorella – is only hurting his potential value though.
Blake Wheeler, F, Boston Bruins: Might Wheeler become the biggest winner of the Phil Kessel situation by taking over as the L1 RW in a flip of wing slots this season?
Alex Goligoski, D, Pittsburgh Penguins: Second unit power play at worst, with the potential to supplant Kris Letang on the first grouping and to work the point with Sergei Gonchar.
Kyle Quincey, D, Colorado Avalanche: An afterthought by some in the Ryan Smyth contract dump by the Avs, Quincey had an eye-opening performance last season after a numbers game forced him out of Detroit via waivers and he could become this team’s most valuable offensive defenceman in ’09-10.
Brent Burns, D, Minnesota Wild: Forget about last year’s injury problems and how he dropped off the map for poolies. With a full season back on D – where he belongs – in an offensively-friendly Minnesota system, BB should shine for standard league owners.
Dave Bolland, F, Chicago Blackhawks: He ended up being the de facto number two centre on this team last season with Martin Havlat and Andrew Ladd largely on his wings, but this season Bolland is entering the year in that role. Marian Hossa’s addition, once healthy, only improves the worth of the top six on this team and that’ll help Bolland’s owners.
Boris Valabik, D, Atlanta Thrashers: If you come up with an open spot on your D and there are only mediocre point options available, why not go for a PIM home run instead? This 6-7 beast should be a regular this year after playing 50 GP last season and he’ll take on all comers while trying to protect both his goaltender and teammates. He tallied 434 PIM in 119 AHL games and 725 in 163 while in the OHL.
T.J. Hensick, F, Colorado Avalanche: Hensick and Wojtek Wolski appear to be switching from centre to the wing this year, with Paul Stastny, Matt Duchene and T.J. Galiardi as the top three centres. That could leave the less-known Hensick in a position to produce on a scoring line, although not all centres can successfully make the switch to playing along the boards.
VETERAN FAMILIARITY (KNOWN COMMODITIES AND STILL BARGAINS)
Daniel Cleary, F, Detroit Red Wings: Apparently a good shot at a top six slot this season (including potentially reprising his role alongside Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk when the Dynamic Duo are paired together), Cleary should be able to produce more than last year’s 40 points with a healthy SOG total and a +/- that won’t hurt you.
Nik Antropov, F, Atlanta Thrashers: A pretty useful PIM/ SOG forward to have in standard leagues, Antropov will be given every opportunity to shine with Ilya Kovalchuk on the first line (potentially with Bryan Little on the other wing) and on PP1. 60-70 points with his peripherals would make him quite worthwhile in most cases.
Paul Kariya, F, St. Louis Blues: This 14-year NHL vet has finally corrected some serious hip issues and should be able to use his rediscovered trademark speed combined with a high level of motivation to produce his best point totals in a few years.
Andy McDonald, F, St. Louis Blues: It seems his switch to the wing from centre will be permanent this season, potentially lining up alongside David Backes and David Perron. McDonald missed enough games last year to likely get pushed down further than he should be on most draft lists. If he carries W-C eligibility for you, that’s a bonus.
Alex Tanguay, F, Tampa Bay Lightning: After an injury-plagued season and a free agency period that seemingly took forever to find him a new home, Tanguay is on a one-year deal to attempt to hit a home run. Playing alongside Vincent Lecavalier won’t hurt his chances, clearly.
Radim Vrbata, F, Phoenix Coyotes: After a disappointing ’08-9 campaign that saw him play for the Lightning and two different Czech teams, this 28-year old winger may be particularly useful as a late pick in leagues counting SOG.
Justin Williams, F, Los Angeles Kings: Injuries have limited this Cobourg, Ontario-born winger to 81 GP spread over the past two seasons. Should he stay healthy this time around (he had back-to-back 82 GP campaigns in ’05-6 and ’06-7), he’s a top six lock on a Kings team that is going to surprise some people in the West.
Brendan Morrison, F, Washington Capitals: Potentially finally ready to put some injury issues behind him, Morrison may not only regularly centre Alexander Semin on the second line – but when Bruce Boudreau separates Nicklas Backstrom and Alexander Ovechkin (which always happens for awhile each season) guess who becomes OV’s temporary pivot? If Boudreau loads up the first line with Semin opposite Ovechkin, which may happen, then it’ll only be Mike Knuble for Morrison. Beware.
Brenden Morrow, F, Dallas Stars: His talent isn’t in doubt, but his low GP total from last season has likely pushed him down further than he should be on your fantasy service’s draft list.
Jean-Sebastien Giguere & Jonas Hiller, G, Anaheim Ducks: Who’s the number one guy here? JSG because he’s got the most experience, or Hiller because of last season? The uncertainty is going to cause them both to tumble in many fantasy drafts, which means if you can snag them both in the middle rounds and then use whichever guy goes on a tear that could be a steal of monumental proportions for your team.
Ryan Whitney, D, Anaheim Ducks: With Chris Pronger moved to the Philadelphia Flyers, Whitney will be able to step up and fill much of that offensive void on a Ducks team that has newfound second line depth thanks to the Saku Koivu signing and Joffrey Lupul acquisition.
Nathan Horton, F, Florida Panthers: Returning to the wing full-time this season after not faring as well in the middle, Horton should be in line for a boost in SOG and a return to at least the 60-point level. With a healthy Stephen Weiss and the hard-working David Booth also on the line, Horton should have the support to challenge his career mark of 62 points.
Alex Auld, G, Dallas Stars: With a competent back-up in place, Marty Turco should (and the plan is to) finally be able to get a healthy amount of rest this season. Should that occur, Auld could be one of the higher-start back-ups around and he’ll no doubt be available at a very reasonable price in your league.
Patrice Bergeron, F, Boston Bruins: After a year to get fully healthy and regain his offensive touch, look for this centre to return to his fantasy-worthy ways. Also keep in mind that fellow pivot David Krejci, who emerged last season, will not likely be healthy enough to start the season.
Mike Fisher, F, Ottawa Senators: With Milan Michalek and Jonathan Cheechoo on board, the Sens have more depth inside of the top six. Assuming one of Cheechoo, Daniel Alfredsson or Alex Kovalev is moved to the left side to pack the top six, Fisher could have a pretty decent season behind Jason Spezza down the middle.