Exposing Yahoo’s Fantasy Hockey Draft Rankings

Don’t get me wrong Yahoo is probably the best free place to host your fantasy league.  In the past they weren’t offering their fantasy hockey participants the same features as the other fantasy sports, such as keeper leagues and free live scoring, but hockey now seems to be on par with the others.  That being said, Yahoo Fantasy Hockey still has one major flaw and its in their preseason player rankings.  Yahoo rankings don’t take into account the number of games played by a player and therefore if a player misses significant time due to injury the previous year he will be ranked considerably lower.  Think Gretzky missing an entire season and then being ranked 157th overall the next year. It doesnt make sense.  We suggest you spend some time before your draft making your own pre-ranking and don’t be afraid to scroll down.

Let’s take a look at the players who’s rankings might make them a great bargain for you on draft day:

FORWARDS

Alex Tanguay (ranked 108) – 41 points in 50 games

Brendan Morrow (ranked 138) – 15 points and 49 PIMS in 18 games

Paul Kariya (ranked 177) – got off to a hot start with 15 points in 13 games before missing the rest of the year

Paul Stastny (ranked 201) – 201? 71 points in 66 games in 07/08 says otherwise.

Brad Richards (ranked 227) – Was on pace for a 70 point season

Andy McDonald (ranked 266) – 44 points in 46 games make for a late round steal

Daniel Breire (ranked 323) – A former 95 point player.

Steve Sullivan (ranked 406) – will put will put up close to a point per game

Derrick Brassard (ranked 453) – Calder favourite before injury and teammate Mason.

DEFENCEMEN

Brent Burns (ranked 259) – Couldn’t get his head in the game (Concussion),  59 GP, 27 pts

Sergei Gonchar (ranked 273) – Don’t even know what to say here.

Tomas Kaberle (ranked 335) – A top 15 d-man.

Ryan Whitney (ranked 421) – Surgery limited him to 48 GP.  Will take Pronger’s spot on PP.

Francois Beuchemin (ranked 603) – 20 GP last season.  Will be on the Leafs top PP

Erik Johnson (ranked 663) – 33 pts in 69 GP as a Rookie before missing all of last season.

GOALIES

Pascal Leclaire (ranked 175) – 9 shutout one season, 12 starts the next.  The new #1 in Ottawa.

Mike Smith (ranked 189) – .916 sv% in 41 starts with Tampa.  Will get more wins.