If you’re looking to adopt a unique strategy before you draft your fantasy hockey teams this year, consider taking a look at players who are in a contract season. We tend to see players perform a little better in years where their future with a team is up in the air. Players becoming UFAs and RFAs at the end of this season could potentially be looking for a new home come summer, so what they do this season could impact their pay and location for the 2011-2012 season.
Let’s take a look back in the past to see how certain players upped their performances in a contract year and also take a look at who is worth keeping an eye on this season.
2006-2007 NHL Season
- Danny Briere puts in a 95 point performance in Buffalo (career high) before making bank with the Flyers the following season.
- Defenseman Sheldon Souray posts 64 points and 135 penalty minutes with Montreal before receiving a handsome contract from the Oilers (to which they are currently still regretting).
- Jason Blake records 69 points