Fantasy Hockey Rising Stars for 2011–12
You won’t get very far in fantasy hockey by selecting just last season’s stats. For one thing, you’re bound to miss out on a key segment of the fantasy world: the rising star. These are the guys trending up, who will see a significant increase in their fantasy value from previous seasons. We have targeted a number of players with a strong chance of hitting new highs in 2011-12. Here are a few to consider as you prepare for your fantasy draft:
Insulted
Jordan EberleEDM
Eberle, like Taylor Hall, saw a promising rookie season cut short by injury. He missed 13 games in January with an ankle problem, but recovered nicely to finish the season. He expects him to take another big step forward in his second season, as Edmonton’s young offense continues to develop.
Loui Eriksson D.A.L.
Erikson has set new highs in points in each of his five NHL seasons, though his goal total has dropped slightly in the past two years. He’s an elite scoring threat — the best the star has to offer, now that Neal and Richards are gone. How much will Richards’ departure affect Eriksson? While that is cause for some concern, consider that in the 10-game stretch without Richards last season, he still managed to score 5 goals. Expect 30-plus points from Erikson in 2011-12.
Michael Grabner JNI
34 goals and 18 assists. It’s not often you see a guy with such skewed totals. Grabner racked up goals in the second half of last season to attract considerable attention for the Calder Trophy. The Islanders appear to be a powerful offensive team this season, and their goals-to-assist ratio should even out. Look for him to improve his rookie stats in his second full season.
EDM Taylor Hall
Hall was hanging around Calder’s conversation until he injured his ankle and had to miss the final 17 games of the season. All told, it was a decent start to what promises to be a stellar run. Expect Hall to be healed and ready to continue justifying his first overall pick last spring. He look for a big jump in goals and points in his second season.
City Leino BUF
Ville Leino should finally get the opportunity he’s been waiting for, now that he’s a big shot on a new team. He did well with the limited playing time the Flyers gave him. He immediately moves into the top RW position with Buffalo. He expects a big jump in production or there’s a lot of talk about being overpaid.
Bryan Little WINS
Little peaked early in his career, breaking 31 goals in his second season. The last two years have yielded more humble results. He is only 23 years old and the No. 1 center in Winnipeg this season. His ability to play on the wing makes him more flexible, so his front-line duties are guaranteed this season, regardless of his position. If the Jets can find some scoring to associate with him, he should be able to set a career high in points. Look for a big climb either way this Little season.
Joe Pavelski SAN
Pavelski handed out an impressive 46 assists last season and continues to emerge as one of the best playmakers in the game. The Sharks have plenty of weapons, including newcomer Havlat, to finish those passes. Look for Pavelski to hit another points high in 2011-12. 70 points are within your reach.
Jeff Skinner CAR
Skinner was one of the biggest surprises of the year, bursting onto the scene with 31 goals at the age of 18. He instantly becomes the biggest scoring threat Carolina can offer and should use his speed and hands to get 35 or more. Goals in 2011-12.
Derek Stepan NYR
Stepan was a scoring wizard before he joined the big leagues. He made his NHL debut with an opening night hat-trick last season. All told, he had a good rookie year, giving the Rangers a much-needed scoring threat at center. He will be the No. 2 center in town this season, so expect a lot of points from Stepan this year.
Defending
Brent Burns SAN
Burns had a rough couple of seasons in Minnesota, mainly due to a series of injuries. He clearly bounced back in style last year, returning to his form and stats from 2007-08. His move to San Jose will create a potentially dynamic offensive duo when he combines with Boyle. Look for another 15 goals and close to 50 points from Burns this season.
John Carlson WAS
Carlson’s strong rookie performance helped ease the pain of Mike Green’s death. He chipped in 37 points while logging top-tier minutes for the Caps. He will be a standout player for Washington once again this season and will continue to push to break into the elite at this position. He looks for a campaign of 45 points.
Cam Fowler ANA
On one hand, you have to love the 10 goals and 40 points Fowler put up as a rookie. On the other hand, the -25 +/- rating hurts a bit. You have to beef up his defensive game to make him a solid No. 2 option on your team. His offensive potential is huge, and he should team up with Visnovski to provide big points from the back for the Ducks.
Cody Franson TOR
Franson showed decent progression in his second season, going from 21 points to 29 points, including 8 goals. He’ll be hard-pressed to supplant Weber and Suter in terms of minutes, but he’s expected to continue rising in his third year. He could get into the 40 point range this time.
Alex Goligoski D.A.L.
Goligoski has seen a steady rise since joining the NHL, and he seemed to shine after moving to Dallas last spring. He expects another spike in point totals this season, putting him in 15-goal/50-point territory. He could easily finish in the top 10 defenders this year.
Erik JohnsonCOL
Johnson will have to shoulder the burden of high expectations after being hired at a high cost in the Blues deal. So far, he has put up decent numbers for a young defender. He’s getting into his prime right now, and he’s as good as he’ll ever be for the Avs, after they parted ways with the Liles this summer. He is a strong bet for 10 goals and over 40 points this time.
Erik KarlssonOTT
If there was one bright spot for Sens fans last season, it was the appearance of Erik Karlsson. The 13 goals from him were a very pleasant surprise. His -30 was a bit of a pain, but the entire Ottawa roster had that problem last season. Don’t expect +/- to improve dramatically, but you can expect another healthy dose of goals and assists from the new power-play quarterback in Ottawa.
Dmitri Kulikov F.L.A.
He still hasn’t shown it in his first two NHL seasons, but there’s a reason Kulikov was selected in the first round. He has the potential to score big points in this league. Entering his third season, he should expect a jump in totals from him, putting him in the mix with other 40-point producers.
PK Subban MI
Subban did not disappoint in his rookie season. He scored 14 goals, 38 points and 124 penalty minutes. It’s surprising that he didn’t deserve much consideration from Calder with those numbers. And if that’s the starting point, the sky’s the limit for this young pup. Anything less than 45 points would be a disappointment in his second season.
goals
Jonathan Bernier THE
See Cory Schneider. Bernier put up solid stats (2.48 GAA, .913 save percentage) in limited action behind Jonathan Quick in his first full season with the big club. He will push hard for more playing time and could easily be No. 1 sometime this year. He expects at least 30 starts as a point guard.
James Reimer TOR
Reimer offered a ray of hope to Leafs fans who have been waiting for the emergence of a legitimate No. 1 goalie for several years. The job is his to lose this year as Gustavsson has not lived up to the hype. Treat him like a #2 keeper option and hope he can repeat his rookie effort.
Cory Schneider van
Schneider’s story hasn’t changed much since last year. Everyone knows he’s good enough to be number 1, but that Luongo guy isn’t going away. Project him for depth.