Fantasy Top Ten - 2011 Fantasy Prospects
by jaymeyer on Oct 6, 2011 5:03 AM EDT
in Fantasy Top 10
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We know you fantasy owners love a good list so we put together a whole whack of them in both our Fantasy Scouting Report and our Breakout Bible.
We've decided to reproduce a few of them on the site to drum up a bit more business and more importantly to generate a bit of discussion.
So this is only going to work if we get a ton of comments. So the 90% of you that are reading this but never comment... let's hear what you have to say. Love the list? Hate it? Somebody we forgot? Let us know.
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Today's list.... Top 10 Fantasy Prospects from the 2011 Draft
If your league has a prospect component you probably already own our famous Fantasy Prospects Database. Cam spends a big percentage of his life thinking about prospects and he's nice enough to put them on paper for us. In my opinion the Prospect DB is the best thing we produce at FHS.
Here are the top ten guys from this summer's draft rated from a fantasy perspective, as listed in the Prospect DB.
1) Ryan Murphy, CAR (1st round - 12th overall) 63 games with 26+53=70 in OHL
We love his fantasy prospects. He's got tons of offensive skill but is smallish (5-11, 170). Still at camp so it looks like he'll get nine games at least.
2) Sean Couturier, PHI (1st round - 8th overall) 58 games with 36+60=96 in QMJHL
Think Jordan Staal but with more scoring upside. He'll likely return to junior next year but could surprise. Another guy who surprised and has managed to stick with the Flyers throughout camp.
3) Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, EDM (1st round - 1st overall) 69 games with 31+75=106 in WHL
Brilliant playmaker, finished third in WHL with 106 points. He has been compared to Brad Richards. Made the Oilers and will make his NHL debut this weekend. Needs to show he can handle the physical stuff to stick more than nine games.
4) Jonathan Huberdeau, FLA (1st round - 3rd overall) 67 games with 43+62=105 in QMJHL
105 pts in 67 gms in 'Q', he's has tons of skill One of the last few cuts in Florida's camp. He'll spend the whole year in junior.
5) Matt Puempel, OTT (1st round - 24th overall) 55 games with 34+35=69 in OHL
Expected to be Top 10 but fell to 24 due to a hip injury. He's a pure scorer with lots of upside. He's way down on many prospect lists but could be a fantasy star one day. Back to OHL for him this season.
6) Sven Bartschi, CAL (1st round - 13th overall) 66 games with 34+51=85 in WHL
Was the top scoring WHL rookie (85 pts in 66 gms). A bit on the small side but will muck it up if he needs too. He's only decent prospect in Calgary's system and is back in the WHL this season.
7) Ryan Strome, NYI (1st round - 5th overall) 65 games with 33+73=106 in OHL
Broke out in a big way in 2nd OHL season (106 pts in 65 gms). We thought he had no chance to make the but like others on this list he'll get at least nine games to show what he can do.
8) Joel Armia, BUF (1st round - 16th overall) 48 games with 18+11=29 in SM-liiga
A big time goal scorer playing in SM-liiga. He's a few years away...but he's one to keep an eye on
9) Gabriel Landeskog, COL (1st round - 2nd overall) 53 games with 36+30=66 in OHL
He's NHL ready and has long term potential to be a 30 goal / 60 point guy. Probably the best potential to make an impact this season but doesn't have the high end fantasy value you should be looking for with your prospect picks.
10) Adam Clendening, CHI (2nd round - 36th overall) 39 games with 5+21=26 in NCAA
Offensive d-man who could be a future PP QB. Just finished his first year at Boston College.
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I think Zibanejad needs to be on that list. Most people who have seen him play notice that he has a crazy high skill level and he does things that most prospect wouldn’t even think of doing – and he pulls them off too. Style-wise he’s like a cross between Forsberg and Sundin but his upside is obviously not quite that high, but he should become a perennial 70 point player with some seasons pushing 80 or 90. That’s better than most.
I’m thoroughly unimpressed with his production.
2+2=4 in 14 games of Swe-U20 two years ago and just 12+9=21 in 27 games in the same league this past year. His SEL numbers were decent (5+4=9 in 26 games) but his U-18s was deceiving as he had 4+4=8 in six games but six of hose points came in one game vs Norway.
Compare those numbers to someone like MPS and I don’t think they stack up.
I need to see a lot more from him before I’m convinced.
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by Cam Collingwood on Oct 6, 2011 8:24 AM EDT up reply actions
Hey, maybe I’ll be totally wrong… thought the same with Ryan Johansen when he was drafted and the kid is looking like the real deal so we’ll see. I just need to see more.
SBN Fantasy Hockey Blog: Fantasy Hockey Scouts
by Cam Collingwood on Oct 6, 2011 8:52 AM EDT up reply actions
Most guys at 18 or younger don’t really get any icetime over here in Sweden in the SEL. They play in the junior leagues or something. Then among the very few who get in some actual SEL games, they very rarely get considerable icetime. Bottom line: The stats say very little for Swedish players, much like Russians.
This is my big beef with Ryan Ma over at Dobberhockey. He’s so blinded by stats that it’s as if he never actually watches hockey. Watch Zibanejad play. That’s really the only way I can put it. He was thoroughly impressive for an 18-year-old in the SEL and he’s been doing magical stuff since he came to Ottawa for camps and pre-season. He has top ten skill while at the same time being big, physical and responsible defensively.
Agree that simply playing in the SEL at that age is impressive and speaks to his mature game but playing against his peers, the numbers disappoint me.
Yikes, you’re lumping me in with Ryan Ma!!!… not cool… gave up reading that guys stuff years ago. I watched Zibanejad closely at the U-18s last year to see what the hype was about and other than a big game against Norway, he didn’t show much. His aggressive physical game caught my eye but not really his offensive skills. I’ll admit I didn’t see him play in the SEL and only briefly in the preseason, so I’m basing my opinion on a small sample of viewings but I need to see a lot more before I’m convinced that he’s going to put up a lot of points in the NHL.
Appreciate the opinion & the first hand knowledge dakkster but I’m not sold. Although healthy debates like this are what make fantasy hockey interesting so keep it coming.
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by Cam Collingwood on Oct 6, 2011 11:23 PM EDT up reply actions
Hehe, Ma is the worst, so you’re cool… for now ;)
Playing an aggressive forecheck game with lots of physicality is Zibanejad’s (or as FakeDonCherry on Twitter calls him: ZIBABABOOEY) bread and butter, but he has a toolbox full of small nifty plays that you need to pick up on to really appreciate him. Behind his back, no-look passes that are on the tape, a really solid one-timer, etc. You’ll see soon enough :D
Alright, I’ll be watching him closely… waiting to be impressed.
SBN Fantasy Hockey Blog: Fantasy Hockey Scouts
by Cam Collingwood on Oct 7, 2011 12:45 PM EDT up reply actions
We have him at 110th overall and 21st of the 2011 draftees. Those rankings were done before the start of training camp and Zibanejad’s stock has definitely risen the last few weeks.
I’ve heard him described more as a two-way forward rather than a scoring line winger. More of a 2nd/3rd line rather than a 1st/2nd.
Fantasy Hockey Scouts: a fantasy hockey blog on SB Nation
I haven’t seen Zibby play at all… so I’m going on what I’ve read/heard. And when he was drafted I was told by people much smarter then me that he was more of a two way player than an offensive force. Does that mean he can’t be an offensive force? Of course, not. But I think we need to put things into perspective. Go back and read scouts analysis on his game after the draft and what they projected for him. Sounds grea,t but not the high end skill level I would be hoping from a fantasy prospect.
Three weeks ago nobody was expecting him to make the team. A few strong preseason games shouldn’t completely change those impressions… just alter them.
I’m looking forward to checking out my first Sens game this year. I’ll be looking closely at Zibanehad (and Rundblad and Filatov and Butler) to see how he (they) go.
It’s great having somebody like you here, Dakkster. Someone who has seen a lot of SEL action is a person I definitely want to hear some opinions from.
Fantasy Hockey Scouts: a fantasy hockey blog on SB Nation
Landeskog
for those of you in balanced leagues…
The ’Skog also projects to garner a lot of hits and probably above average blocks (for a F).
move him up the list for sure.
Top 3 — higher if you want production THIS year.
Agreed… the list above was done looking long-term with no real consideration of who would be playing in the NHL this year.
SBN Fantasy Hockey Blog: Fantasy Hockey Scouts
by Cam Collingwood on Oct 6, 2011 2:44 PM EDT up reply actions
Bartschi
Why did he get sent down? Is it a size thing like w/ Huberdeau?
The Flames need an infusion of young talent…(I’m hatin’ on the Flames this year)
He’s not ready, most aren’t. Just some teams are more desperate than others. Plus the Flames aren’t ready for young talent… too much invested in guys like Hagman, Stempniak, Stajan, Moss, etc.
SBN Fantasy Hockey Blog: Fantasy Hockey Scouts
by Cam Collingwood on Oct 6, 2011 2:43 PM EDT up reply actions
Things would get awkward in the dressing room. All those 25 year old guys and then in walks some 18 year old kid.
Fantasy Hockey Scouts: a fantasy hockey blog on SB Nation
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