With the fantasy hockey season winding down, managers in keeper leagues need to start considering players to bring over to the 2009-2010 season. This is the third segment in a multi-part series exploring keeper options at right wing for keeper leagues.
Milan Hejduk | Colorado Avalanche
If Hejduk was in a slightly better market, he would certainly be a “solid option” candidate in our keeper breakdown lists. Colorado is rebuilding, which doesn’t really drive up Hejduk’s value much for the 2009-2010 NHL season. He did make the best of last season by putting up 59 points with very little help around him. He’ll have a healthy Stastny port side this season, so hopefully he’ll be able to feed off of that. Hejduk can certainly be a serviceable option this season for managers; just make sure you’re on the look out for a more productive righty with a little bit of a better upside during the upcoming season.
Jamie Langenbrunner | New Jersey Devils
With Brian Gionta no longer a factor in New Jersey, it’s going to be Langenbrunner on the top line all season long. Certainly this bodes well for managers in deeper leagues who currently have him sitting on their roster, but for those of you looking at him in a keeper draft as a top option this season, consider that he has had his fair share of ups and downs when it comes to production over his 15 year career. If that doesn’t raise a red flag, also keep in mind that he has struggled with injuries over the past couple of seasons, so if it’s a surefire bet you’re looking for, you may want to look somewhere else. Still, he has a couple more seasons with New Jersey and could be a viable source of points if nobody contests him for the top line right wing spot. He could be a player to get you over the hump for the time being.
Brian Gionta | Montreal Canadiens
Those managers basing their keeper decision on Gionta’s 2008-2009 performance need to keep a few things in mind. One: a lot of managers are basing their decision to draft Gionta much higher than he should be drafted each year on that 89 point season he had back in 2005-2006. Granted, he will be re-united with his former running mate Scott Gomez this season, but with an entirely new crew up in Montreal, it’s perfectly acceptable to be skeptical of what’s in store for the Montreal Canadiens this season. He’s a pretty ok option for managers who don’t place emphasis on their wings in keeper leagues, but for those looking for a well balanced team, use him this season, see how he does, but be ready to adjust yourself next season if he busts.
Mike Knuble | Washington Capitals
As a long term keeper, you can probably find someone a little more appealing than Mike Knuble. However, if you’re looking for a player to keep your team competitive for the next couple of seasons while you’re rebuilding, Knuble may be in a perfect position to hold the fort down. If Washington plans on spreading out their talent this season, we could see Knuble on a line with Ovechkin and Backstrom to start the season. If everything goes to plan, Knuble could hover around 55-60 points this season. He’ll only be there for 2 seasons, but he can certainly be a serviceable option for teams until they can land that big name right winger.
Bobby Ryan | Anaheim Ducks
Ryan is a pretty wicked talent to say the least, and it may surprise some that we have him listed here. It’s just as a precautionary. We’ve seen top talents flake in the past, so it would be best to play it cautiously until we can get another dynamite season out of him. He certainly has some top talent around him this upcoming season in Anaheim, so it may not take much convincing after all. Just remember that he’s got the “sophomore slump” tag looming over his head this season, so skeptics beware. If Ryan has another notable season, we can see him being a top tier option at right wing in 1-2 years time.
David Backes | St. Louis Blues
Backes had his breakout year in 2008-2009 with the Blues, lighting the lamp 31 times and chipping in 23 helpers to boot. He really caught the eye of fantasy managers as he was able to keep his +/- relatively neutral and racked up 165 penalty minutes in the process. He turned into a rotisserie league stud by the end of the season and from the looks of the pre-season ranks in major fantasy hockey services, he’s coming into this season highly touted. Hopefully he doesn’t crack under the pressure this season. He’s a pretty good 2nd option in deep keeper leagues but if you’re going to make him your long term option, you may want to wait a season to make sure that this one wasn’t a fluke. Just remember that he saw an increased roll in the offense last season because of some injuries up front in St. Louis. He should be a 2nd liner this season either at the center or right wing position.
Joffrey Lupul | Anaheim Ducks
Lupul may enter this season in most fantasy services as a right winger, but in order to maximize his potential, Carlyle may have to slide him over to the opposite wing, so he doesn’t fall to the 3rd line. He’ll be in Anaheim for quite some time, so it may not be a bad idea to wait a year to see how he takes to his new teammates before you invest long term in Lupul.
Saucerpass is currently running a keeper league series uncovering different levels of players at all 5 positions. We have already looked at goaltenders left wingers and centers, and will continue to breakdown every position until we’ve covered most options for next season:
Keeper Right Wingers for 2009-2010
Top Tier Right Wingers
Solid Right Wingers
Keeper Defenders for 2009-2010
Top Tier Defenders
Solid Defenders
Serviceable Defenders
Questionable Defenders
Keeper Centers for 2009-2010
Top Tier Centers
Solid Centers
Serviceable Centers
Questionable Centers
Keeper Left Wingers for 2009-2010
Top Tier Left Wingers
Solid Left Wingers
Serviceable Left Wingers (Part 1)
Serviceable Left Wingers (Part 2)
Questionable Left Wingers (Part 1)
Questionable Left Wingers (Part 2)
Keeper Goaltenders for 2009-2010
Top Tier Goaltenders
Solid Goaltenders
Serviceable Goaltenders
Questionable Goaltenders (Part 1)
Questionable Goaltenders (Part 2)
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