Fab Forecheckers Flying High

by Dirk Hoag on Feb 21, 2008 3:24 PM EST in Fantasy Hockey

Welcome to those of you coming over from Mirtle's blog, where he's posted the standings from this year's Blogger Invitational Hockey Pool. Yes, I've been fortunate enough to have a very successful season there so far, so I thought I'd point you to a piece I wrote last fall that pretty much laid out my Fantasy Hockey draft strategy. Basically, it's not about out-predicting your competitors as to who's going to have a great season, but rather doing a better job obtaining value with each particular draft pick.

I've also been lucky not to have been stricken too badly by the injury bug, although Richard Zednik is certainly out for the year, and had been doing well for me. All in all, it's been a fun run so far, with only one week out of 20 in which I've been outscored by my opponent.

You can expect a fully fleshed out, pay-per-view Fantasy Hockey guide next fall if somehow I manage to close the deal here...

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Not to take anything away from your team, but my club's had more goals, more assists, a better plus minus, more game winning goals and more shots on goal than your boys.

Not drafting a second starting goaltender is going to kill me.

You've got a very solid club, I think, with a lot of guys who have stepped up after off years. Really nicely done.

by James Mirtle on Feb 21, 2008 4:47 PM EST reply actions

We'll see how the whole thing wraps up, like the real NHL, regular season success is no guarantee of playoff results!

Like I mentioned above, I've also been quite fortunate on the injury front. You've been snake bit, for example, with Gagne...

by The Forechecker on Feb 21, 2008 6:39 PM EST reply actions

Your team is solid through and through and I think you have two of the best goalies for this particular pool (Vokoun, Dipietro). Kudos!

I bet heavy on Mason and the Senators, and it's really hurt in the long run. Mason is maybe half the goalie he was last year and I've had long term injuries to Heatley, Sakic and Eaves to contend with.

Oh well. Im just happy Im still in the top 10 at this point.

by Kent W. on Feb 22, 2008 9:01 PM EST reply actions

Mason should be good for you down the stretch, he was sick with the flu in November & December, lost some weight, and took quite a while to recover, but since the first of the year he's been pretty solid.

A big part of my draft strategy was trying to get two above-average starting goalies. Two rosters spots determine 5 out of the 13 scoring categories, making goaltending especially important. Then when you add in the fact that we have a 20-team league, having two starters at all (good or not) is a relative luxury.

by The Forechecker on Feb 22, 2008 9:49 PM EST reply actions