Lucas Neilson: Fantasy – Drafting Strategy Maximize your output

FIRST!

Yeah, you know it.

My work hockey pool actually got scrapped for this year. Not enough interest, unbelievably. Good thing too, because those (frank)ers woulda been (frank)ed

"2. Draft a top notch goalie" – Drafts Bernier

That said, Crawford I can see as a "top notch goalie" goalie, but Bernier

"2. Draft a top notch goalie" – Drafts Bernier
- IrischesGlueck

I got Crawford as my first goalie, Bernier in the 11th round.

I was talking about draft pick 2

Crawford I can see as a good goalie, but Bernier
- IrischesGlueck

55 games
0.922

I wouldnt exactly say thats

but to each their own.

That makes more sense, I thought that draft looked strange

Good stuff, pretty much agree with all it. Especially avoiding defensemen early if you don't count hits/blocks(unless you can get a big point producer like Karlsson).

If you only need 2 goalie starts per week, I'd also consider just drafting 1 workhorse and 1-2 backups or 1B type guys on strong teams that should have solid GAA and SV% numbers). That's assuming goalies are going early and often in your draft, otherwise definitely grab two solid starters if you don't have to burn 2 early picks.

FIRST!

Yeah, you know it.

My work hockey pool actually got scrapped for this year. Not enough interest, unbelievably. Good thing too, because those (frank)ers woulda been (frank)ed
- TheThrill

thats brutal dude.

you going to join any others? Hopefully at least the HBSL!?

Also, if anyone wants to add another pool I have a few buddies from school that are starting one. I convinced them to pretty much do the exact same settings as ours(but they don't have GWG's and SHP's). We already have 9 people, we're willing to go as high as 14 or16 teams depending on interest. Drafting next week(either Mon, Tues, or Wed at 6:15 Pacific).

You keep everyone except for 2 players every year, $30 buy-in(we're using leaguesafe.com). League playoff winner, regular season champ, playoff runner-up and winner of 3rd place playoff game all get paid.

PM me if you want in!

That makes more sense, I thought that draft looked strange
- IrischesGlueck

all good! it was just a mock draft anyhow, I have one in person on Sunday and one on the computer on monday.

big weekend ahead!

all good! it was just a mock draft anyhow, I have one in person on Sunday and one on the computer on monday.

big weekend ahead!
- Lucas Neilson

I've only done fantasy football drafts in-person with buddies, those drafts are way more fun.

I've only done fantasy football drafts in-person with buddies, those drafts are way more fun.
- Nucker101

ohhhhh buddy, you should see how much chirping goes on!

I remember a guy picked Wade Redden as like the 15th pick overall and we had to pause the draft for 5 minutes while everyone laughed and regained their composure Of course this was many moons ago!

Nice work Lucas. We have similar styles. One other thing I'll try to do is get one of the elite D. Guys who'll put up 55 or more points.... basically EK or PK. In EK's case, he's good for 65-70 points, basically the production of 2 average fantasy D-Men. You'll be getting one of these guys in the 2nd round instead of one of the 5 high end forwards to choose from, who are all very similar.

The point is to focus on scarcity. If you're not in a draft position to get one of the handful of truly elite forwards, grab an elite D or an elite G, because there are very few of each.

ohhhhh buddy, you should see how much chirping goes on!

I remember a guy picked Wade Redden as like the 15th pick overall and we had to pause the draft for 5 minutes while everyone laughed and regained their composure Of course this was many moons ago!
- Lucas Neilson

Glenn Sather was in your fantasy league?

Nice work Lucas. We have similar styles. One other thing I'll try to do is get one of the elite D. Guys who'll put up 55 or more points.... basically EK or PK. In EK's case, he's good for 65-70 points, basically the production of 2 average fantasy D-Men. You'll be getting one of these guys in the 2nd round instead of one of the 5 high end forwards to choose from, who are all very similar.

The point is to focus on scarcity. If you're not in a draft position to get one of the handful of truly elite forwards, grab an elite D or an elite G, because there are very few of each.
- 1979AD

exactly.

there are only 4 D men worth drafting in the early rounds if you ask me:
Karlsson
Subban
Keith
Weber

same goes for goalies if you ask me:
Quick
Price
Lundquist
Rask

sure others are great and or could be better; but i find those to be the consistent 4D 4G.

to each their own, i love powering up my forwards to the max.

Glenn Sather was in your fantasy league?
- 1979AD

hahahahah

poor guy ended up being dead last, he picked before me and i came first that year

hahahahah

poor guy ended up being dead last, he picked before me and i came first that year
- Lucas Neilson

It's the best when the league idiot is drafting right ahead of you.

It's the best when the league idiot is drafting right ahead of you.
- Nucker101

certainly doesnt hurt!

I dont necessarily agree with not drafting D early - first round definitely not (unless its karlsson) second round maybe not but by the third i think if you can get one of the top flight D it's worth it.

The way i look at it points are all relative to position - if every team has to play four D and you can line up a strong D core you are going to be generating points the other team isnt. Plus i find forwards much more easily replaced.

For example a 55 pt D and a 50 pt forward are worth more than a 65 pt forward and a 35pt D. Dobber hockey has an interesting take on it by ranking players versus an average player. So how many mroe points will Keith generate vs an average D or Hall versus an average forward. By that method it ranks D fairly high...plus theres always more breakout forwards then point getting D i find.

I dont necessarily agree with not drafting D early - first round definitely not (unless its karlsson) second round maybe not but by the third i think if you can get one of the top flight D it's worth it.

The way i look at it points are all relative to position - if every team has to play four D and you can line up a strong D core you are going to be generating points the other team isnt. Plus i find forwards much more easily replaced.

For example a 55 pt D and a 50 pt forward are worth more than a 65 pt forward and a 35pt D. Dobber hockey has an interesting take on it by ranking players versus an average player. So how many mroe points will Keith generate vs an average D or Hall versus an average forward. By that method it ranks D fairly high...plus theres always more breakout forwards then point getting D i find.
- Joel_Eh

I am glad you said something, I was hoping someone would!

Take a look at defensive points, you see how few d men get even 40 points? Like mentioned above there is really only a small number of guys who consistently put up big points. How many 45-50 point forwards are there? unless you have a very in depth draft of 20+ players I believe you can get D men in the later rounds who have just as good of a chance at producing slightly less than the big names like weber and Keith...yet you are picking them 7+ rounds later, where the much bigger drop is from the 65+ point players you are drafting in the 3-6 rounds on average.

Would you rather J Benn or pietrangelo/letang/kronwall?

I'm taking Benn over karlsson even.

Everyone has a dif. Strategy just letting you know what's worked best for me!

I am glad you said something, I was hoping someone would!

Take a look at defensive points, you see how few d men get even 40 points? Like mentioned above there is really only a small number of guys who consistently put up big points. How many 45-50 point forwards are there? unless you have a very in depth draft of 20+ players I believe you can get D men in the later rounds who have just as good of a chance at producing slightly less than the big names like weber and Keith...yet you are picking them 7+ rounds later, where the much bigger drop is from the 65+ point players you are drafting in the 3-6 rounds on average.

Would you rather J Benn or pietrangelo/letang/kronwall?

I'm taking Benn over karlsson even.

Everyone has a dif. Strategy just letting you know what's worked best for me!

- Lucas Neilson

I took Benn over Karlsson last night......... then I had the next pick (1st pick, 2nd round) and took Karlsson

I took Benn over Karlsson last night......... then I had the next pick (1st pick, 2nd round) and took Karlsson

- 1979AD

It's not a bad pick - he's the only d man who i would consider in the first 3 rounds

Lucas ,I'm thin in goalie cat now I have Bobrovsky and Lehtonen I've heard Lehtonen has a mild concussion, Bernier and Luongo are still available can you suggest one of the two we score on wins GAA and save %,thanks

Lucas ,I'm thin in goalie cat now I have Bobrovsky and Lehtonen I've heard Lehtonen has a mild concussion, Bernier and Luongo are still available can you suggest one of the two we score on wins GAA and save %,thanks
- tamaz

Tough one:

Here is my take: with the leafs improved d and 3/4th line they SHOULD be better defensively and not giving up as many scoring chances. Last year bernier had a phenomenal first season in Toronto and looks very confident in pre season. I think the leafs will do better than Florida, as they have a lot of young talent and are moreso at the start/half way point to rebuild. Leafs have a ton of firepower up front and should be able to get some wins even when bernier doesn't have a stellar night.

Luongo's only upside is he's a vet and has lots of experience.

Not being a homer, but in this case i would go with bernier.

Good luck I hope that helps make your decision easier!

I find these posts so absurdly directed at one reader, the kind that is in your pool, it's hard to take away any sort of relevant insight regarding fantasy hockey at all.

Something like draft strategy takes so many considerations, for example pool size, stats weighting, pool type even. Everything just seems to be completely glossed over.