Fantasy Hockey All-Star Roster: YoungStars

As a follow up to my Fantasy All-Stars article, I thought it would be fun to have a look at the NHL YoungStars game and comprise my own list of rookies and sophomores that would represent if it were based on fantasy appeal:

Sophomores:

Goaltender:
Carey Price
Notes
Didn’t have him in the big game, so Price is the easy choice to tend the net for the Sophomores.

Defensemen:
Tom Gilbert
Alex Goligoski
Notes
With 24 points, 10 of which coming on the power play, Gilbert is a solid fantasy defender that has flown under the radar in a fair amount of fantasy leagues this season. Goligoski has made a case for himself in the first half of the season with 19 points and a +7 rating, however, the return of Ryan Whitney and Sergei Gonchar may have this young gun on the outside looking in. Sell him now if you can.

Forwards:
Nicklas Backstrom
Bryan Little
Milan Lucic
Jonathan Toews
Peter Mueller
Dave Bolland
Andrew Cogliano
Notes
Lucic has been a big help to the top team in the East by posting 26 points and a +16 rating. His 84 penalty minutes are also of note as he is one of the more complete fantasy packages this season. Mueller, who has not quite lived up to fantasy expectations in the first half of the season, could be a nice 2nd half acquisition. He’s going to be on a Coyote club that will be fighting for a playoff spot and should be called upon as a player to step up his game. Lastly, Bryan Little has been dynamite for the Thrashers so far this season. He has 34 points at the halfway point and is now playing right wing in Atlanta. Some duel-eligibility would make him a dangerous fantasy player to own for sure.

Rookies:

Goalie:
Pekke Rinne
Notes
Mason would be the first choice but he made the big squad. Rinne, on the other hand, has been busy challenging Dan Ellis for the Preds’ starting position by posting a GAA of 2.33, a save percentage of .916 and 4 shutouts.

Defensemen:
Kyle Quincy
Drew Doughty
Notes
Quincy has been turning heads out in L.A. by putting up 25 points so far this year. He is logging some serious ice time and is probably still available in the majority of fantasy leagues. Similarly, Doughty, the 2nd overall pick in last year’s draft, is logging the most ice time of all the Los Angeles defenders. He has 15 points and is only sitting at a -2 rating. Awfully impressive for playing on a team that has given up 131 goals already this season.

Forwards:
Kris Versteeg
Blake Wheeler
Patrik Berglund
Bobby Ryan
Jakub Voracek
Mikkel Boedker
Kyle Okposo
Notes
Versteeg is Chicago’s newest young gun with 36 points and a stellar +16 rating. He has been a shorthanded threat this season which makes him one of the more desirable waiver wire pickups of the first half of the season. Boston has been the best team in the league thus far and Blake Wheeler has 14 goals, 16 assists and a +27 rating to help make that happen. Bobby Ryan has 31 points in 30 games played this season. Even more of a surprise is Patrick Berglund having 30 points with a +14 rating. It certainly stands out when the player right behind him in +/- is T.J. Oshie with a +6.