If you draft Pavol Demitra for your fantasy team, make sure to draft a viable backup too.

With the new NHL season quickly approaching it’s always a good idea to keep close tabs on who went where during the off-season. In this season’s inaugural column, I focussed more on the major players who had changed locations in the off-season.  I’d like to take a look at some other players who switched teams and see if we can flush out a few sleepers along the way.

If you remember from last time, I advocate looking for power forwards who can both score goals and rack up large amounts of penalty minutes.  Also, I want defensemen who quarterback the power play.  Ideally, you want the defensemen to get penalty minutes as well.  Just like in other fantasy sports, you want to maximize the amount of stats you can get from each position.  If you don’t draft forwards with penalty minute potential, make certain you’re definitely drafting forwards with power play potential.  I will highlight a few players I think will get some first line opportunities and some power play ice time below.  Although many drafts are done during the pre-season when lines are not completely set, be sure to carry a list of projected 1^st and 2^nd line power play units with you.  A lot of hidden gems can be plucked from a list like that.  Also, pay close attention to goalie battles, I generally try to avoid time shares, but sometimes both goalies are strong enough that they can help you with your goals against average (GAA) and save percentage.  You definitely want to draft a strong goalie, but every year there are break outs, so you don’t necessarily have to spend a high draft pick on say Roberto Luongo.  I’ll cover this more in depth in future weeks.  Let’s take a look at some more players who will be skating on a different home ice surface this season:

Undervalued Sleeper Picks:

Pavol Demitra RW signs with Vancouver

The oft-injured Demitra will get to play on the vaunted ‘Twins’ line with Daniel and Henrik Sedins.  I see this is an incredible jump in value for Demitra as he is a very talented offensive player that may have been under utilized in the Minnesota Wild’s trapping defensive system.  The power play opportunities will be there, and because of his history, Demitra will go into the year under valued.  Under valued is another word for ‘sleeper’ folks.  Again, as with all sleepers there is a risk, as Demitra will get hurt during the year. I’d simply draft a viable back up RW.

Cory Stillman LW signs with Florida

Speaking of injury prone older players, Stillman moves to Florida, which will likely increase his scoring chances but deflate his plus/minus rating.  He’s one of the few viable top line scoring options the Panthers have after dealing Ollie Jokinen to Phoenix.  You will want to get as many first line power play players as you can to compete in the power play points category, and Stillman will provide for you there.   Stillman is going to come into this year’s draft under rated as he’s in the twilight of his career.  Draft him with confidence in later rounds but expect some injury speed bumps throughout the year.

R.J. Umberger C traded to Columbus

All right, every one loves a great sleeper and Umberger definitely fits the bill.  The Blue Jackets plan to have Umberger center the top line with Rick Nash.  This for most should be enough, but bear in mind at just 26 years old, Umberger had his best offensive year last year with the Flyers.  An improving player with one of the best goal scorers in the game as a line mate makes for an intriguing later draft target.  Don’t forget that he will likely be part of the first line power play as well. 

Erik Cole traded to Edmonton

This was a great move by GM Kevin Lowe, who had a few nice ones this off-season.  Cole is an experienced power forward who scores goals and spends plenty of time in the sin bin.  The only real knock on Cole is his long history of injuries.  He is a fast skater who should fit in well with a youthful Edmonton team.  If you are looking for a decent sleeper, Cole would be it.  His injury history will keep some away, but when he’s healthy he produces.

Ryan Malone LW signs with Tampa Bay

I like Ryan Malone as a power forward type who can score and get in the box.  His 51 overall points and 103 PIM from last season were great numbers.  Tampa gave him a big contract to get him to leave the 2007 Stanley Cup finalist Pittsburgh Penguins.  My issue with Malone’s value is that his offensive production was based squarely on his line mate, one Sidney Crosby.  Crosby is arguably the most gifted playmaker in the NHL who could make even me look good.  My recommendation is to temper expectations for Malone as he’s not supposed to skate with the team’s top line and top play maker, Vinny Lecavalier.  He’ll still get his penalty minutes but I don’t expect big things offensively.

Joni Pitkanen D traded to Carolina

As I discussed earlier, we want puck moving power play quarterbacks as our defensemen.  Pitkanen is one of those, but hasn’t exactly blossomed as most thought he would by now.  He’s now been tossed away by the Flyers and the Oilers.  He’s still young, and has shown flashes of talent throughout his career.  I’m keeping a close on eye on this guy, who will make for a nice gamble with your last pick in the draft.

Todd Bertuzzi RW signs with Calgary

Nobody grabs a headline like Mr. Bertuzzi.  He’s big, he’s physical and he used to be able to score.  Please don’t get too excited until you see him skate on the ice uninjured.  However, he should make for a great sleeper.  He was off the ice for a while last year so he should be relatively healthy. Bertuzzi still has some offensive ability and will get PIM.  Again, power forwards people.  He makes for a good bench player with some upside if Mike Keenan can inspire him properly.  Sleepers tend to be some risk for high reward, so you’re risking that 1) he stays healthy and 2) that he’s not over the hill. 

Markus Naslund RW/LW signs with New York Rangers

Remember me?  I used to be best buds with the aforementioned Big Bert.  We used to cause a ton of havoc out on the west coast.  But let’s stress the used to part.  Naslund was a sleeper coming into last year.  He was a former first round quality player who scored in bunches and made everyone around him better.  Something happened the last couple of years.  Yet, he does have more talent surrounding him in the Big Apple, as opposed to what he had in Vancouver.  You can expect a rise in plus/minus but his main asset is goal scoring. He’s almost a given to be on the prime power play unit. 

Cristobal Huet G signs with Chicago

Nikolai Khabibulin also known as the ‘Bulin Wall’ gets himself into a time-share with the ‘Hawks signing of Cristobal Huet.  Neither goalie is the healthiest but both have proven at times to be effective.  As far as drafting is concerned, you’re going to want to grab one (but preferably both of these guys if you can) after the projected #1 goalies are off the board.   The Blackhawks are a talented young team who could end up with an improved win total this year.  The problem with Huet or Khabibulin is that neither will be the full time starter unless the other suffers an injury.  The other down side, both have a history of being hurt.  Both can be assets but as with other sports, timeshares are generally not a good thing in fantasy. 

Brian Rolston LW/RW traded to New Jersey

Now 35 years old, Rolston has had his point totals decline since his monster 79-point season in 2005.  The move from trapping, puck-controlling Wild to the trapping, puck controlling Devils is not something that will help him.  What will benefit Rolston, is being on the same line as super talented Zach Parise and Patrik Elias.  Rolston will see significant power play time in the ‘Swamp’ and should continue his streak of consecutive 30 goal seasons. 

Gilbert Brule LW/RW to Edmonton

Why do I highlight a player who’s done relatively nothing in the NHL to date?  Well Brule is only 21 years old and has a ton of offensive potential.  The old saying in any league is to never forget about top prospects.  It seems Columbus gave up on Brule too early in my opinion and a young team in Edmonton will likely reap the benefits.  He may not be worth drafting in most leagues, but keep his name in the back of your mind on draft day, especially in deeper and keeper leagues.  Another smart move here by GM Kevin Lowe.

Rob Blake D signs with San Jose

What’s not to like here except for Blake’s age (38)?  He’s getting up in years but gets to play on one of the league’s best power play units along with newly acquired Dan Boyle and Joe Thornton.  He’s a great point man who has lost nothing off his slap shot.  Ignore his last season with the deplorable Los Angeles Kings.  He should have a strong year just by being surrounded by better offensive talent.  Blake should tally enough goals and penalty minutes to make him a useful defenseman.

Matt Carle D traded to Tampa Bay

Don’t ever forget your top prospects, but Carle has not done much with plenty of opportunity and arguably better surrounding talent in San Jose. Still he might have suffered through a sophomore slump netting ‘only’ 42 points in 77 games.  He’s still only 23 and will find plenty of ice time as Tampa does not have any other serious options on defence.  The talent and upside are there, as well as some fantastic surrounding talent in Tampa.  If Carle ends up as the power play quarterback he is definitely worth a pick when all of the stud defensemen are off the board.

Radim Vrbata RW signs with Tampa Bay

Vrbata had a break out season in the desert last year before he had some injury issues.  He had 27 goals on the season and totalled 56 points.  He’s still relatively young at 27 years old, and although won’t see top line ice time, should make for a decent sleeper at RW late in your draft. 

Potential Busts to Avoid:

Darcy Tucker RW/LW signs with Colorado

Snore.  Ok, yes Tucker has some ability to get in the box and a change of scenery might do him some good but the relatively talent-less Leafs left him go for a reason.  Avalanche fans, you are about to find out why.  His offensive game is limited and the productive years he did have could easily be attributed to being on a line with offensive genius Mats Sundin.  Tucker will regress this year, especially since he’s likely a 3^rd line player for the potent Avs, so don’t pay for the name in your drafts.

Owen Nolan LW/RW signed with Minnesota

This is another case of don’t pay for a name.  At 36, Nolan is far removed from power forward greatness.  He does still get in the sin bin, but he won’t see the ice time to give you spectular numbers.  His points have decreased in the last two seasons that he’s played.  He’s always an injury risk and now moves to the defensive minded Wild.  Bottom line: steer clear.

Mark Streit D signed with New York Islanders

Would you pay for a career year? No I didn’t think so.  You know better right?  So explain why the Islanders did.  Yeah they get paid big money to make decisions like this one.  Don’t get me wrong, Streit will have some value, but moving from the top power play unit in the league to one of the worst is not going to help his numbers.  During the draft, I’d let somebody else take a chance he repeats his numbers from 2007.

Olaf Kolzig G signs with Tampa Bay

Tampa Bay has Mike Smith who I like better for this organization.  However, Kolzig presents some real competition for the young up and comer.  Pay close attention to the winner of this job as Tampa should be an improved team.  With Kolzig’s experience and Smith’s lack there of, I smell a time-share in Florida.  However, Kolzig’s age will eventually give Tampa a reason to play Smith over him.  Draft Smith first and stick with him since long term he’s the starter.

Where will Mats Sundin land?  Rumours are now circulating around the Flyers and Rangers as being possible suitors.  He still may retire. Either way stay tuned, his landing will have a positive effect on whatever team acquires him.  Hopefully, by next time I’ll have an answer for you.