Victoria Matiash, Fantasy HockeyOct 4, 2024, 02:00 PM ET
CloseESPN.com Fantasy Contributor since 2010Part-time anchor at NEWSTALK1010
Player projections are great. In presenting a loose roadmap, they help steer fantasy managers in a rational direction while navigating through the all-important draft. But, like most guidebooks, the how-to track is only suggestive. There’s plenty of room for subjectivity and personal prognostication. A little intuition can also go a long way. In that spirit, here are my first 20 draft selections, sequenced and explained, in step with ESPN standard points leagues.
Resources: Projections | Mock draft | Goalie depth chart | Most added/dropped
Even if the NHL’s top fantasy operator regresses a smidge across every single category in ESPN standard points competition, he still stands to outperform everyone else (with the possible exception of my second overall selection). Tough to argue against such a compelling selling point.
Play Fantasy Hockey for Free
Create or join a fantasy hockey league on ESPN. Your championship run starts today!
Sign up today!
If not for MacKinnon’s Hart Trophy-winning turn and fantasy-league domination in 2023-24, the league’s best player would serve as my first pick overall. It’s still a toss-up, knowing McDavid is a season removed from scoring 64 goals on 352 shots. Whether he chooses to set others up (last year) or score more himself (2022-23), the points will be there.
So what if he doesn’t earn another 100 assists this campaign? Would 80-plus, as achieved the season before, truly serve as a letdown? Yes, the power play looks different with Jake Guentzel instead of Steven Stamkos, and sure, adjustments need to be made, but let’s hush any serious hand-wringing. A 120-point run, with a substantial fraction counting with the extra skater, would still delight even the most demanding fantasy manager.
I’m only concerned about his durability. We’re not even underway yet, and the league’s premiere goal-scorer is already…
Source link : https://www.espn.com/fantasy/hockey/story/_/id/41593226/espn-nhl-fantasy-hockey-two-round-draft-board-picks
Author : Victoria Matiash
Publish date : 2024-10-04 19:45:26
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.
