Fantasy
Hockey Player Rankings & Projections
2008 Defensemen Preseason Preview Coming
Niklas Lidstrom
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Cellios is good, but Lidstrom
is the real backbone of this team. |
1. Nicklas Lidstrom - Red Wings - 2008
Preview:
If your league is counting plus/minus then Lidstrom his hands
down the number the one Defensemen out there. His plus 40
last year was the second time he reached that number in
the last 4 NHL seasons. You put that together with a 62
point season in '06-'07 and an 80 point season the year
before he's impossible to pass up. The points may not exceed
62 but he still plays lights out defense.
2006 Statistics:
Goals 13 - Assists 49 - Pts. 62
2008 Projection:
Goals 11 - Assists 47 - Pts. 58
2. Chris Pronger - Ducks - 2008 Preview:
Pronger brings a very similar game compared to Pronger.
They point totals and plus/minus numbers seem to be there
almost every year. The Ducks may suffer a bit of the Lord
Stanely's slump but with their talent it will be hard for
them to struggle for long. Again, Pronger gets the nod at
number two in part because of his plus/minus numbers, so
be sure of the scoring system of the league your in.
2006 Statistics:
Goals 13 - Assists 46 - Pts. 59
2008 Projection:
Goals 13 - Assists 44 - Pts. 57
3. Ryan Whitney - Penguins - 2008 Preview:
Whitney put up great numbers with the young and talented
Penguins last year. Even with offensive defensemen Sergei
Gonchar sharing power play time with the young defensemen
he managed just under 60 points. He finished at a plus 9
which is okay, but it's stat that leaves him behind Pronger
and Lidstrom. No one anticipates the Penguins scoring to
fall from last year and especially on the power play where
Whitney racks up most of his points. Depending on who is
partner will be next year, maybe Daryl Sydor, Whitney's
plus/minus may improve as well.
2006 Statistics:
Goals 14 - Assists 45 - Pts. 59
2008 Projection:
Goals 18 - Assists 49 - Pts. 67
4. Sergei Gonchar - Penguins - 2008 Preview:
Gonchar and Niedermayer have been the top offensive defensemen
for the last 10 years or so in the NHL. Gonchar is now surrounded
by the overwhelmingly young and talented Penguins where
all the players seem to make a living playing the power
play. Despite having a fellow defensemen by the name of
Ryan Whitney, Gonchar managed to tally 67 points of his
own last year while serving 72 minutes in penalties. his
plus/minus may even land on the positive side with help
from Sydor or young defensemen such as Mark Eaton or Alain
Nasreddine, who finished plus 12 in 44 games last season
with the Penguins.
2006 Statistics:
Goals 13 - Assists 54 - Pts. 67
2008 Projection:
Goals 15 - Assists 47 - Pts. 62
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5. Scott Niedermayer - Ducks - 2008 Preview:
Niedermayer posted career high totals for goals, asissts,
and points last year for the Stanely Cup champions. Don't
expect hime to mirror those numbers in next year's campaign,
but do expect the same solid offensive numbers he has been
posting for years in this league. His penalty minutes have
been up significantly over the last few seasons which adds
to his value as well.
2006 Statistics:
Goals 15 - Assists 54 - Pts. 69
2008 Projection:
Goals 13 - Assists 39 - Pts. 52
6. Dan Boyle - Lightning - 2008 Preview:
Boyle has 53 and 63 points the last two seasons with the
TB Lightning. He doesn't get a whole lot of penalty minutes
for a defenseman and the plus/minus rating usually ends
a little on the negative side. However, if you think Tampa
Bay is going to be back into a deep playoff rund next season
you have to figure Boyle's point totals are going to be
impressive again.
2006 Statistics:
Goals 20 - Assists 43 - Pts. 63
2008 Projection:
Goals 15 - Assists 42 - Pts. 57
7. Sheldon Souray - Oilers - 2008 Preview:
Souray had his most prolific season in terms of points, last
year. I don't expect him to repeat with those numbers, but
he should still deliver with a solid offensive performance.
The key to Souray's fantasy value is in penalty minutes.
Not all leagues are awarding for PIM so be careful in evaluating
him. He has finished on the minus end the last 4 out of
5 seasons with a whopping -28 last season.
2006 Statistics:
Goals 26 - Assists 38 - Pts. 64
2008 Projection:
Goals 15 - Assists 34 - Pts. 49
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