Sean Avery, goal-scoring goon.

In fantasy hockey, there are many different types of leagues. You have rotisserie, head-to-head and fantasy point leagues, just for starters. While the types may be different, most leagues use some kind of system that takes into account various statistical categories of players, and often times those statistical categories count for the same amount of points. While in most leagues, a premium is placed upon players who can put up goals and assists, you rarely hear of other categories that get the same kind of due.

For instance, in some leagues, penalty minutes can play a huge role in determining the fate of a team. In some leagues, PIMs can work to the team’s detriment, counting against the total score, but in most, PIMs are actually a positive thing. Players who routinely get into fights and take what any real coach would call “dumb” penalties are a commodity in fantasy hockey. However, the real treasure is in finding players who can both take penalties and put up points. In this week’s edition of Treasure Hunting, we will look at a few of those players that can really help your team.

Left Wing - Sean Avery, New York Rangers

Any discussion dealing with NHL goons has to begin and end with New York’s Sean Avery. The feisty winger has unarguably the most well known mouth in the league, and routinely gets under the opposition’s skin, taking many penalties as a result. So far this season, Avery has 30 PIMs in 12 games, which is actually a slow pace for him. Avery has averaged approximately three PIMs per game over his NHL career, but the real shocker is that Avery has also averaged .42 points per game as well (two goals and six assists so far this season). Avery, who missed some time with an injury early this season, may still be on the waiver wire, and could be a valuable pickup in leagues in which PIMs count.

Left Wing - Daniel Carcillo, Phoenix Coyotes

Next on our list is the NHL’s current penalty minute leader. Phoenix’s Carcillo came out of virtually nowhere last season, bursting onto the scene as the NHL’s newest ‘goon.’ With 163 PIMs in 37 career games, Carcillo is averaging even more PIMs than Avery has per game (4.4 PIMs per game). Carcillo is just as offensive – in the scoring sense of the word – as Avery, with eight goals and eight assists in his career, for a .43 points-per-game average. The Phoenix winger is still young, however, and it is not a given that he will stick long-term. In the meantime, however, if your team lacks PIMs, Carcillo may warrant a look.

Centre - Paul Gaustad, Buffalo Sabres

The Buffalo centre has earned a little more playing time this season with the new roster spots opened up on the Sabres front lines. Gaustad, a third-year NHLer, has averaged 1.15 PIMs per game over his 152-game NHL career, and this season has averaged .42 points per game as well. Coach Lindy Ruff has a lot of respect for Gaustad’s style of play, meaning he could end up playing an even bigger scoring role. If he is still available, Gaustad may be one of the better PIM options in the league.

Centre - Bobby Holik, Atlanta Thrashers

It is probably a little-known fact that Holik has averaged over a PIM per game during his 17-year NHL career. Holik, who was once given a $9 million per year contract because of his supposed scoring ability, has broken the 100-PIM threshold four times during his career, and has posted over 85 PIMs eight times. This season Holik is on pace for 132 PIMs, which would be the highest total of his career. Holik has received opportunities to play with the Thrashers’ top scoring guns as well, and although he may not post the 65 points he did during his heyday, the Czech centre may still post decent offensive numbers.

Left Wing - Jason Chimera, Columbus Blue Jackets

While Chimera’s teammate, Jarred Boll, has more PIMs this season (66), Chimera has been a more reliable offensive player, which is the calling card of a valuable and long-enduring ‘goon.’ Although “goon” may be too harsh a word for Chimera, he is still averaging near a PIM per game over his five-year NHL career, and has put up over 90 his past two seasons. This year, Chimera is on pace for 121, his highest total, while also getting some power-play ice time. Chimera has collected 5 goals and 6 assists in 21 games this season, proving that he’s no slouch when it comes to offence either. Chimera may not put up all-star numbers playing on Columbus’ checking line, but he should be a decent PIM/points combination for fantasy owners

Here is how our fantasy picks from last week turned out:

LW – Chad LaRose, CAR: 0 goals, 0 assists, even, 2 PIMs, five shots

C – Craig Conroy, CGY: one goal, three assists, +1, 6 PIMs, 10 shots, 32 faceoff wins

RW – Jiri Hudler, DET: 0 goals, two assists, minus-3, six shots, two faceoff wins

D – Joe Corvo, OTT: 0 goals, one assist, +4, eight shots

G – Evgeni Nabokov, SJ: 0-0-1, .966 SV% (28 saves on 29 shots), 0.92 GAA (one goal allowed in one game)

A little credibility is regained with three of my four skater picks recording points (way to go Craig Conroy!). Nabokov only played one game last week, though, which I should have seen before making my pick. My apologies on that one, this week’s goaltender will have lots of games to play, I promise.

Here are this week’s picks:

LW – Chris Kunitz, ANA
C – Jeff Carter, PHI
RW – Radim Vrbata, PHX
D – Jay Bouwmeester, FLA
G – Rick DiPietro, NYI