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Money
These boys are money. Promote them to the top of your list and draft with confidence.
Offense
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Sidney Crosby
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PIT
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You can't go wrong with the top 3 forwards. Malkin, Crosby, and Ovechkin will be taking turns winning the scoring title for the next decade. Crosby decided it was ok to start scoring goals in the playoffs. Best bet is that it's his turn to win the trophy in 2009. If I have first pick at the table, I'm picking Sid.
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Ryan Getzlaf
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ANA
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If anyone has a chance the challenge the big 3 for the scoring title in 2009, it's got to be Getzlaf. His points have steadily risen in first four seasons, and now that Bobby Ryan has emerged as a bigtime player, Getzlaf could easily crack 100 points.
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Ilya Kovalchuk
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NJD
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If you like goals, you can't go wrong with Kovalchuk. He's on a streak of 5 straight season with 40+, and no doubt he will make it 6. He may even approach the 100 point mark this season.
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Evgeni Malkin
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PIT
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The rightful winner of the Hart Trophy for the past two years was finally honored with a Conn Smythe this past spring. But all you care about is that he will be the best player on your team if you're lucky enough to draft him. Can't miss.
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Rick Nash
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COB
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Nash has averaged 35 goals over the past 5 seasons, and he did so with very little assistance. He's entering the prime of his career and Columbus has finally become respectable. Expect Nash to make a run at 50 goals this season.
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Alex Ovechkin
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WAS
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If your league is heavily weighted towards goals, then go ahead and take Ovechkin first. Otherwise, pencil him in as #2 on your draft sheet. Can't miss with this guy for the next decade.
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Zach Parise
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NJD
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Parise has quickly risen to elite class of forwards after just 4 seasons. Parise is now the go-to guy in NJ and will see plenty of power play time. He's a lock for another 40 goal season and should top 90 points once again.
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Eric Staal
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CAR
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Staal was perhaps the hottest player in the league in the last quarter, racking up 29 points in the final 20 games, after being reunited with Cole. Cole will be back in Carolina in the fall, and you should expect Staal to be back in the top 10 at the end of the season.
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Defense
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Zdeno Chara
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BOS
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If your league values penalty minutes, you should plan on snagging Chara as early as possible. If not, you should still rank him pretty high. He's been scoring goals consistently for years and was finally rewarded with his first Norris Trophy in 2008-09. Chara should match his performance this season.
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Sergei Gonchar
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PIT
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Say what you must about about Crosby and Malkin, but the truth is, the Penguins weren't even in the playoff hunt while Gonchar was missing. He's the best power play skater in the league, and with the talent around him in Pittsburgh, he'll be back in the top 5 scoring d-men for sure.
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Mike Green
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WAS
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Worth of the #1 overall pick, if your league places any significant value on defenesmen. He's a lock in for the top blueliner in 2009, as he has been for the past 2 seasons.
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Dion Phaneuf
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TOR
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Phaneuf was a bit of a disappointment in 2008, only because he had set the bar so high for himself in his first 3 seasons. He still managed to score 47 points, even if it was the lowest total he's posted yet. Phaneuf will bounce back and finish in the top 10 again this season.
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Shea Weber
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NAS
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Weber was slowed down by injury in 2007-08, but got back on his upward track last season. He could push the 30 goal marker this season. Put him in your top tier of defense.
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Goalies
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Niklas Backstrom
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MIN
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Since claiming the #1 job in Minnesota in 2006, Backstrom has been an outstanding fantasy starter. After signing a long-term deal, he will continue to flourish in the Wild's defensive system.
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Henrik Lundqvist
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NYR
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Lundqvist slipped just a bit last season, but that's no reason to believe he doesn't still belong in the upper tier of goalies. The Rangers are destined to be a defense first team in 09-10, which will help the King deliver for fantasy owners.
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Roberto Luongo
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VAN
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Luongo has ousted Brodeur as the can't miss goalie come draft day. Although injuries limited his value last season, his second half performance demonstrated why he's the definition of money when it comes to goalies. Don't hesitate to draft him in the top 5 picks.
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Evgeni Nabokov
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SAN
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When healthy, Nabokov is as good as it gets. Unfortunately, he tends to get hurt at least once per season. Even so, he was good enough to win the Vezina last season and should be a top fantasy goalie again this year.
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