NHL FANTASY: Rookies and Prospects

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Rookies After Thirds (posted 12.11.08)

by Gus Katsaros

The Building Cycle

Building a consistently competitive roster, involves genuine stars in their prime, a good mixture of veterans and prospects/younger talent. Each GM's philosophy assigning importance to position can vary significantly, but the mixture of players is fairly uniform.

Stars are the bread and butter of the roster; surrounded by a support cast of reliable veteran production, where with some exception, approximate fantasy value from their existing history. These are reliable mid-round draft choices, or depth for GM's staring at a Championship Drive.

These players form the core of keepers.

The recent run of first round picks making the NHL straight from the draft, putting up big numbers and making immediate impacts (Sidney Crosby, Alexander Ovechkin, Evgeni Malkin, Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane, Anze Kopitar, Sam Gagner and Andrew Cogliano at the end of their rookie season.) has raised the bar of expectation from younger players. Fantasy GM's are expecting a lot at an early stage in a player's career and get frustrated when they don't see immediate results. Stephen Stamkos is the perfect example of that, where it's clear he has NHL caliber skills, but needs time and guidance he hasn't necessarily had in his young NHL career.

Having the good fortune to land an impact player at such a young age give GM's flexibility to trade an aging asset, or use the prospect as bait to land an impact player in case a Championship finish is within sight.

With a third of the schedule in the books, players are now back in shape and catching stride. There's no more underestimating the competition. Reaction at this point in the schedule in younger players careers will influence their fantasy value.

We present to you notes on most fantasy worthy players aged 23 and younger. Some rookies, some prospects and players getting their shot and producing enough to make the parent club question a demotion – and worthy of a fantasy spot.

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