As veteran fantasy hockey players know, the Stanley Cup playoff pool is even tougher to win than a regular season fantasy hockey league. Not only do you have to pick the right players, you have to pick the right teams.
Most years, the top 15 or so Stanley Cup playoff scorers come from the final four teams remaining. So if you can correctly predict who will make the Conference finals, your fantasy hockey victory is in the bag. That's easy, right? Hands up, all those who picked the Edmonton Oilers to play into June back in 2006. Or the Carolina Hurricanes in 2002.
To cover your butt in case you don't pick the right four teams, here's some good advice, courtesy of Eric Duhatschek at the Toronto Globe and Mail:
"Start with the best players from the best teams and then halfway through, opt for natural scorers from the teams which may play only one or two rounds."
So for half your team, settle on your final four predictions and load up on the top guys in those lineups. Have you been telling everyone that the Red Wings are in for an early exit? Think the Blues might be the surprise of the year? Now is the time to find out if you have the courage of your convictions.
A high-scoring team player who disappears in one round is a waste of a top pick. If the Penguins only last five game, a third-line guy on a team that goes to the Conference Final is more valuable than Evgeni Malkin.
For the bottom half of your roster, take the best scorers from several teams that might only play a couple of rounds. Just skim the top one or two players from the lineup (make sure they're healthy). That way you've still got a chance if a couple of your big teams are upset early. And for dark horse candidates, don't forget the linemates of marquee players.
But really, the Stanley Cup pool is boom or bust. Half the players in your fantasy hockey league will be out of contention within the first couple of weeks. But the same goes for many of your opponents.
