Fantasy Hockey Draft Primer: Defense

Let’s keep it rolling with the Draft Day preparations and look at defense: an all too important but often underrated position in fantasy hockey. All of these players are of great interest to me going into my drafts, whether they’re sleepers, breakout candidates, guys who will out-perform their draft rankings, or just guys I’d love to have on my team. So, without further ado…

Cam Fowler, Anaheim Ducks

This uber-talented young defenseman was projected by many to go in the top 5 in the 2010 draft, but slipped until the 12^th pick when Anaheim snagged him for his offensive upside. He has many flaws in his game defensively, but luckily those don’t matter for fantasy. With Selanne back for another year, and Souray to miss the first half of the season to a torn ligament, Fowler will have the chance to be the go-to guy on the Ducks powerplay. Will he finally break out?

Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Phoenix Coyotes
He has overtaken Keith Yandle as the Yotes’ best blue-liner, and falls into that category of one of those guys who is too important to his team to focus just on offensive production. However, he has gotten steadily better each year and is trending up with 11 points in 48 games in 2010/11, 32 in 82 games in 2011/12, and 24 in 48 games this past season, which projects to 41 points in a full season. 50 points isn’t out of the question for this blossoming coyote.

Cody Franson, Toronto Maple Leafs

Franson matched his career high in points with 29 last year, except he did it in 45 games instead of 80 games three years ago. Entering his 5^th year, he should be ready to take the next step forward. As the Leafs’ offense keeps getting better as Kessel, Lupul, Bozak, and Kadri keep improving, Franson should find himself in line for a breakout year.

Dougie Hamilton, Boston Bruins

Dougie caught a tough break having his first NHL year shortened by the lockout, but he still put up 16 points in Julien’s defense-first system as a 19 year old. Not an easy thing to do. His offensive vision and right handed shot will make him a regular component of the Bruins powerplay, and as Chara gets older Hamilton’s ice time will go up. Keep your expectations curbed, but he has a good chance at 35+ points this season.

Danny Dekeyser, Detroit Red Wings

Dekeyser was a hot commodity this winter as a free agent signing out of Western Michigan, and then signed with Detroit. He saw action in 11 games this season, recording an assist and being +4. His skating ability and offensive upside project him to be a cornerstone for their roster going forward. Alongside Kronwall, he’s the only one who can really run their powerplay and will be given any chance to do so. There’s a reason he was wooed by so many teams last year and he may make that next leap sooner than later.

Brent Burns, San Jose Sharks

This guy has been around for years, but what makes him extremely valuable at this draft is that he will be playing forward for the Sharks this season, but is eligible at defense. He has a big, strong frame, can skate like the wind, and has a cannon of a shot. Playing alongside Thornton this year, his absolute basement is 50 points and he may reach as high as 70. Don’t be the one to miss out on this guy this year.

Sergei Gonchar, Dallas Stars

Like a pesky mosquito, this guy just doesn’t go away. He has produced everywhere he’s played and is one of the game’s best PP quarterbacks of the past decade. Yes he is old, and yes the Olympics mid-season may wear on him. However, he will be the guy on the Dallas blue line and if Seguin and Benn click, they’ll put up at last 150 combined points and Gonchar has a good chance of having his hand on 50 of those.

Tobias Enstrom, Winnipeg Jets

I love this guy. One of the most underrated players in fantasy hockey, he put up back to back 50 point season in ’10 and ’11, before missing considerable time the last two seasons to injury. However, when playing he put up points at that same pace. If he can stay of the IR, think 10 goals, 30 assists as his low, and 15G/40A as his high. And he’ll slip pretty far down your draft for sure.

Victor Hedman, Tampa Bay Lightning

Though his point totals in his first four years have been a pedestrian 20, 26, 23, 20, his points per game numbers have increased dramatically. He has yet to play a full 82 games, and he is more of a shutdown defenseman on this team. However, with Stamkos and St. Louis being joined by the unreal Drouin, the offense might get that boost it needs. 45 points isn’t out of the question for Hedman.

That’s all for now. If you can grab 1 or 2 of these guys on your team, couple with a pair of elite or more proven guys, then you’ll be in great shape headed into the season. It’s a game of risk and reward and these players should all be available later in the draft, making them low risk but high reward.

As always, let us know what you think.