140-plus days and two hub cities later, hockey is back – all eyes are on Toronto and Edmonton!
With the NHL’s modified 24-team playoff format set for official liftoff on Aug. 1, the Sportsnet Fantasy Hockey Pool: Playoffs Edition is back and better than ever! Enter now for your chance to win big – $50,000 in cash prizes up for grabs as well as the grand prize: a Ram 1500 or Ram 2500.
The best part: sign-up is FREE and it’s super easy to play.
1) Fill out your roster within the cap (30)
2) Click the RAM shield to mark one forward, one defenceman and one goalie as your three RAM capable picks to earn double the points
3) Answer the tiebreakers, and
4) Click the SAVE button. Note: Base your selections on players you think will score the most during the best-of-five series and round robin games during the Qualifying Round. You will be able to select a new roster again before Round 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
In order to find success, you’ll need a defined draft strategy:
1. Know the Rules
For this particular contest, you are permitted to select six players (three forwards, two defencemen and one goaltender) from each conference for 12 total roster spots.
Like our regular-season pool, you’ll have to adhere to the strict 30-point salary cap system. Players have already been assigned a point value of 1-4. Your task is a simple one — plug in a roster and configure accordingly. On top of that, you must select one player from each position to serve as your Ram Capable player (more to come on that).
In general, the scoring system is weighted similar to most standard playoff pools: one point per goal or assist, two for goalie wins and an additional one for a shutout.
2. Prediction Time
Before selecting your roster, it would be wise to map out what you see happening in the Qualifying Round. That way, you’ll have a better understanding of which teams and players you’d like to target moving forward. Be cognizant that round robin teams will only play three times while the play-in series matchups can max out at five games, if they go the distance.
3. Player Selection Process
Remember, you’re trying to rack up as many points as possible. In the regular season, Tampa Bay, Toronto, Colorado, Washington and the New York Rangers scored the most goals. Here’s hoping for some fire wagon hockey!
Another definitive tool to contemplate utilizing is line stacking. Often times, you’ll be able to find tremendous value in owning multiple players from the same line. Give a try!
Here’s a breakdown of the salary cost for each team’s projected top line:
| Team | Line | Total Points |
|---|---|---|
| BOS | Marchand (4) – Bergeron (3) – Pastrnak (4) | 11 |
| TBL | Stamkos (3) – Point (3) – Kucherov (4) | 10 |
| COL | Landeskog (2) – MacKinnon (4) – Rantanen (3) | 9 |
| WPG | Connor (3) – Scheifele (3) – Wheeler (3) | 9 |
| TOR | Nylander (3) – Matthews (4) – Hyman (2) | 9 |
| CAR | Svechnikov (3) – Aho (3) – Teravainen (3) | 9 |
| EDM | Nugent-Hopkins (2) – McDavid (4) – Kassian (2) | 8 |
| PIT | Guentzel (3) – Crosby (4) – Sheary (1) | 8 |
| WSH | Ovechkin (3) – Kuznetsov (3) – Wilson (2) | 8 |
| VGK | Pacioretty (3) – Karlsson (2) – Stone (3) | 8 |
| VAN | Miller (3) – Pettersson (3) – Toffoli (2) | 8 |
| STL | Schwartz (2) – Schenn (2) – Tarasenko (3) | 7 |
| CGY | Gaudreau (3) – Monahan (2) – Lindholm (2) | 7 |
| CHI | Nylander (1) – Strome (2) – Kane (4) | 7 |
| PHI | Giroux (2) – Couturier (2) – Voracek (2) | 6 |
| FLA | Vatrano (1) – Barkov (3) – Dadonov (2) | 6 |
| MTL | Tatar (2) – Danault (2) – Gallagher (2) | 6 |
| NYR | Kreider (2) – Zibanejad (3) – Buchnevich (1) | 6 |
| NSH | Forsberg (2) – Johansen (2) – Arvidsson (2) | 6 |
| CBJ | Texier (1) – Dubois (2) – Bjorkstrand (2) | 5 |
| NYI | Lee (2) – Barzal (2) – Eberle (1) | 5 |
| MIN | Greenway (1) – Staal (2) – Fiala (2) | 5 |
| DAL | Gurianov (1) – Hintz (1) – Seguin (2) | 4 |
Also, I’d recommend having an extended look at players with money motivation on the mind. Here’s a list of pending UFAs and RFAs taking part in the restart.
In the crease, keep in line with your core strategy — identify goalies on teams you feel will rack up the most wins. With back-to-back games incorporated into the schedule, your guess is as good as mine when it comes to how that’ll be handled. For what it’s worth, the Boston Bruins — Tuukka Rask and Jaroslav Halak — captured this season’s Jennings Trophy given annually to the team that allows the fewest goals against in the regular season. By the way, Dallas, Columbus, Arizona and Colorado rounded out the top-five for defensive efficiency in the regular season.
4. RAM Reminder
Building a great team is like building a great truck. The pillars of your squad are your three Ram Capable picks: the strength of your best forward, the luxury of a defenceman who can defend and score, and the safety of your most dependable goalie.
For these Ram Capable picks, don’t mess around — fire up the star power. These designations are not only important, but also super valuable. The selected players will earn you double the points, so choose wisely!
5. Salary Cap Manipulation
Finding low-cost value will help to set your team apart from others. With 30 points to spend and 12 roster spots to fill, you’ll have to be resourceful with your point allocation. Before assembling your roster, it would be wise to take a quick peak at the latest lineup news and information. Be on the lookout for some bargain buys. New York netminder Igor Shesterkin and Edmonton’s Kailer Yamamoto each stuck out to me right away — both carry a very affordable two-point value.
Lastly, be sure to have a glance at the pick-percentage module that Sportsnet has graciously outlined for you. This will give you a better understanding of where others are leaning with respect to their roster selections. Where they zig, you may choose to zag.
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