As much as fantasy hockey owners love the safety of a "sure thing" when it comes to draft day, most owners also love the rush of selecting that one player other fantasy hockey owners have overlooked who could be a difference maker in their league.
Which brings us to Colorado's Peter Mueller.
After missing the entire 2010-11 season due to a concussion suffered at the end of the previous campaign, Mueller is back on the ice skating with his Avalanche teammates this summer and is reportedly set to take part in training camp.
One would think that many fantasy hockey owners have either a) forgotten about Mueller, kind of out-of-sight, out-of-mind, or b) will be scared away by the fact that he has not played since April of 2010 due to post-concussion syndrome, or c) are turned off by Mueller's sub-standard offensive numbers his last two healthy seasons.
However Mueller just might make some gambling fantasy hockey owners look pretty darn good this upcoming season. Mueller is still only 23 years old, and there are plenty of reasons why he was the 8th overall pick in 2006. As a 19-year-old rookie in Phoenix, for example, he scored 22 goals and totaled 54 points in 81 games.
And a closer look at his last healthy season in 2009-10 shows that after being traded from Phoenix to Colorado, Mueller scored 9 goals, had 11 assists, and totaled 20 points in only 15 games.
Plain and simple, the kid can play, and has the ability to help your fantasy hockey team if he has, indeed, matured and is willing to pay the price night-in and night-out.
Due to health issues, and past sub-standard play with the Coyotes, Mueller is a risky fantasy hockey draft pick this season. But with your last selection he also may turn out to be the overlooked steal of your draft.
Monitor Mueller's progress during training camp, and don't overlook him or write him off come draft day.
Send your fantasy hockey questions and comments to jimcerny@gmail.com