Fantasy Hockey Team #1
The last of Us
Once again, the fantasy hockey season is fast approaching and millions around the world are picking what they ultimately believe will be the best fantasy hockey team assembled. Unlike the most overrated fantasy sport of all-time, football, hockey takes a daily commitment to make sure rosters are properly assembled, pick up or drop players as needed and attempt to make trades to bolster your squad as you endure the 82-game schedule and nearly nine month long season.
This team I have drafted is destined to be a winner. With offensive categories such as goals, assists, shots, faceoffs won, powerplay goals and assists, shorthanded points, average time on ice, blocks, hits, and plus/minus, my following line-up may struggle in the goal scoring department, however, I have faith in all other categories. Goaltending stats are comprised of the following: wins, saves, save percentage, goals against average, shutouts, and minutes played. With my two goaltenders, who were arguably the best goalies in the league last year, I have nothing but confidence in their ability to sweep every week.
Below is my team, The Last of Us (yes, based off of the video game):
Starters
F- Claude Giroux PHI
F- Patrice Bergeron BOS
F- Ryan Johansen CLB
F- Ryan Kesler ANA
F- Ryan Callahan TB
F- Mike Richards LA
F- Dustin Brown LA
F- Joffrey Lupul TOR
F- Nazem Kadri TOR
F- Sean Couturier PHI
F- Brad Marchand BOS
F- P.A. Parenteau MON
D- Erik Karlsson OTT
D- Alex Pietrangelo STL
D- Ryan McDonagh NYR
D- Christian Ehrhoff PIT
D- Kevin Bieksa VAN
D- Justin Faulk CAR
G- Marc-Andre Fleury PIT
Bench
F- Evander Kane WPG
F- Matt Moulson BUF
D- Justin Schultz EDM
G- Corey Crawford CHI
My team has centers that will win a ton of faceoffs, a category which I have historically and horrifically overlooked in the past and with such skill as Giroux, Johansen, and Bergeron, many special teams points will be racked up as well. My team has grit and hardworking, yet skilled bottom six forwards such as Marchand, Richards, and Brown that will clearly add to my penalty minutes and hits, plus blocks statistics.
Defensively, I have loaded up with offensively gifted blueliners, but also defenseman that play 22-24+ minutes a game, helping out that average time on ice stat. Karlsson, if healthy, is always a threat to win the Norris Trophy and I personally think the new change in environment for Ehrhoff will bolster his statistics dramatically. Faulk and Bieksa as my "third pairing" essentially, add offense, blocks, hits, and a good amount of minutes on the ice as well.
Between the pipes, can you ask for a better duo? I couldn't. Two former Stanley Cup Champion winning goaltenders who are consistently in the top five in terms of games started and wins? I mean come on, I think I really won out with this duo, seeing as they play on two of the winningest teams year in and year out.
Overall, I have to give my team a 9/10. I believe that initially I may not rack up as many goals as I want to, however, all of the other statistics, I hope, will overpower everyone else's line up and lead The Last of Us to victory, one that has been so elusive for the last four years.
This team I have drafted is destined to be a winner. With offensive categories such as goals, assists, shots, faceoffs won, powerplay goals and assists, shorthanded points, average time on ice, blocks, hits, and plus/minus, my following line-up may struggle in the goal scoring department, however, I have faith in all other categories. Goaltending stats are comprised of the following: wins, saves, save percentage, goals against average, shutouts, and minutes played. With my two goaltenders, who were arguably the best goalies in the league last year, I have nothing but confidence in their ability to sweep every week.
Below is my team, The Last of Us (yes, based off of the video game):
Starters
F- Claude Giroux PHI
F- Patrice Bergeron BOS
F- Ryan Johansen CLB
F- Ryan Kesler ANA
F- Ryan Callahan TB
F- Mike Richards LA
F- Dustin Brown LA
F- Joffrey Lupul TOR
F- Nazem Kadri TOR
F- Sean Couturier PHI
F- Brad Marchand BOS
F- P.A. Parenteau MON
D- Erik Karlsson OTT
D- Alex Pietrangelo STL
D- Ryan McDonagh NYR
D- Christian Ehrhoff PIT
D- Kevin Bieksa VAN
D- Justin Faulk CAR
G- Marc-Andre Fleury PIT
Bench
F- Evander Kane WPG
F- Matt Moulson BUF
D- Justin Schultz EDM
G- Corey Crawford CHI
My team has centers that will win a ton of faceoffs, a category which I have historically and horrifically overlooked in the past and with such skill as Giroux, Johansen, and Bergeron, many special teams points will be racked up as well. My team has grit and hardworking, yet skilled bottom six forwards such as Marchand, Richards, and Brown that will clearly add to my penalty minutes and hits, plus blocks statistics.
Defensively, I have loaded up with offensively gifted blueliners, but also defenseman that play 22-24+ minutes a game, helping out that average time on ice stat. Karlsson, if healthy, is always a threat to win the Norris Trophy and I personally think the new change in environment for Ehrhoff will bolster his statistics dramatically. Faulk and Bieksa as my "third pairing" essentially, add offense, blocks, hits, and a good amount of minutes on the ice as well.
Between the pipes, can you ask for a better duo? I couldn't. Two former Stanley Cup Champion winning goaltenders who are consistently in the top five in terms of games started and wins? I mean come on, I think I really won out with this duo, seeing as they play on two of the winningest teams year in and year out.
Overall, I have to give my team a 9/10. I believe that initially I may not rack up as many goals as I want to, however, all of the other statistics, I hope, will overpower everyone else's line up and lead The Last of Us to victory, one that has been so elusive for the last four years.
