Everything you need to know for your NHL fantasy playoff pool

Toronto Maple Leafs stars Auston Matthews (34), Mitchell Marner (16) and Nick Foligno (71) celebrate Matthews' goal against the Winnipeg Jets. (John Woods/CP)

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, at least for hockey fans.

Following a historic and unprecedented regular season, this year’s Stanley Cup playoffs promise to be just as exhilarating.

As puck drop nears, it’s time to start thinking about playoff pools. Whether you’re open to running one or strictly looking to join one, there’s no shortage of options at your disposal.

The rundown

All pools share the same common philosophy: To win, the goal is to accumulate the most total points. Imagine that, I know.

Categorically speaking, there’s no need to overthink things — I usually go with goals, assists, points, OT winners, goalie wins and shutouts. Depending on how complex you want to get with your scoring system, you can choose to alter the weight value behind each statistic. For example, many pools put a greater emphasis on goal scoring and shutout value. Do what you please.

As for roster configuration and layout, you can also be as creative as you’d like. When it comes to goaltending, considering how volatile the position has become, it’s a much simpler route to pick a team of goalies over individuals one-by-one. In this tandem world, you never know what can happen.

Box selection and conventional drafting – linear or snake – are the two most common methods to pick players. Box pools are pretty self-explanatory: You’ll be instructed to pick one player per group, each featuring players of similar caliber. And so on and so forth.

In order to be successful, you’ll need a defined draft strategy:

1. Know the rules

You’ll chuckle at this, but I can’t count how many times I’ve been part of playoff pools where someone bombed a draft because they didn’t fully comprehend the rules. Don’t be that person, make sure you have a firm grasp of what’s going on.

2. Make your predictions

Don’t enter a roster selection process without first filling out a playoff bracket. Determining what you foresee happening in each round will give you a better understanding of who to target in your draft. Production is key, but don’t overlook the longevity aspect, either. You want players who are going to last, not ones who are going to be around for a couple of games — regardless of who they are.

3. Do your homework

Bottom line, it’s imperative to stay up to date on the latest news and notes around the NHL. As we’ve seen this season, anything can happen. With numerous notable names on the mend for a potential post-season return, it would be wise to take a quick glance at projected rosters before drafting your team.

Furthermore, this information will also give you a better idea of some potential sleeper targets. Undeniably, you’ll need to hit on a couple of hidden gems — possessing both depth and balance is of vast importance.

4. No loyalty

Play with your head, not your heart. At the end of the day, only one team can win the Stanley Cup. Just because you’re a fan of the Edmonton Oilers, doesn’t mean you have to litter your entire roster with their players. Be smart. And don’t be afraid to bandwagon hop either, no one will report you.

5. Spread the wealth

When constructing your roster, flexibility is imperative. You have to be able to adapt and modify your game plan on the fly. At the end of the day, there’s only 16 teams to choose from, which means everyone’s gunning for the same players. Some food for thought: Have some wildcard teams and players in mind.

The element of team stacking is a risky proposition, but if it works out, you’re laughing to victory. Depending on how confident you’re with your bracket, I wouldn’t get carried away with this strategy. The way I see it, there’s no point in rostering fourth liners on the team you think will win the Stanley Cup when you can take a chance on a first-liner somewhere else who will actually put up some numbers for you.

Additionally, handcuffing specific lines – especially dominant ones – could be a useful tactic for you as well. Again, there’s always a risk factor, but sometimes, you have to lay it all on the line.

6. Take some chances

The most unpredictable regular season in NHL history is coming to a close, why should the playoffs be any different? Don’t be afraid to go against the grain and take some underdogs. Don’t forget, losing teams can still provide significant fantasy value —e ven if it’s for a shorter amount of time. Take the plunge on a couple picks, what’s the worst that could happen, right?

7. Identify sleepers

It’s always fun to sprinkle in a couple of sleepers on your roster along the way. From money motivation to gaining a favourable lineup assignment, there’s no shortage of factors that could ignite any given player in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

For example, if you like the Vegas Golden Knights, maybe you take an extensive look at Chandler Stephenson. The 27-year-old centres the top-line with Max Pacioretty and Mark Stone. He’s a hidden gem.

The Florida Panthers' Sam Bennett, the Boston Bruins' Craig Smith, the Pittsburgh Penguins' Kasperi Kapanen and the Toronto Maple Leafs' Nick Foligno pique my interest as well. Think along those lines.

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