Year after year fantasy hockey owners find themselves disappointed because one or more of the key players they counted on did not live up to expectations.
The reasons for this are many: perhaps expectations were set too high, perhaps the player suffered a major injury---or at least a nagging one---which caused his numbers to plummet, or perhaps the players just slumped through a poor season.
The following players did not meet expectations a year ago, but I expect all of them to bounce back and play important roles in fantasy hockey in 2011-12.
1. Nicklas Backstrom-C-Capitals
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His point production dropped from 101 in 2009-10 to only 65 last season. Backstrom is far too talented, far too young, and is surrounded by far too much talent in Washington, not to return to elite scoring status this season.
2. Marian Gaborik-RW-Rangers
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He scored 42 goals his first season on Broadway, but only 22 last season. Fortunately for Gaborik he has a history of following up disappointing seasons with strong ones. And, oh yeah, he now has the chance to play with an elite playmaking center with the arrival of Brad Richards. 40+ goals and 80+ points is a fair projection.
3. Evgeni Malkin-C-Penguins
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Unlike his fellow injured superstar teammate Sidney Crosby, Malkin will start training camp on time and will slot onto the Pens' top line on opening night. Fully rehabbed from the knee injury that limited him to 43 games last year, Malkin should be a top-ten pick in fantasy hockey drafts this fall.
4. Mark Streit-D-Islanders
After missing the entire 2010-11 season following shoulder surgery, Streit returns this year as the Isles' top offensive defenseman and power play quarterback. One of the better puck movers from the back end in the entire NHL, a 50+ point season is a reasonable projection for Streit.
5. Ryan Miller-G-Sabres
This may seem like a bit of a stretch because Miller did have 34 wins, 5 shutouts, and a .916 save percentage last season. But the 2.59 goals against average was a sign that Miller was not his usual elite-level self in 2010-11. Playing behind a stronger, and higher-scoring, Sabres team will only help lift the proud and motivated Miller back into being one of the top three or four goalies in fantasy hockey.
6. Mike Green-D-Capitals
Injuries limited Green to only 49 games played and only 24 points recorded last season, but at age 25 Green is already a two-time 70+ point defenseman. Though his concussion issues are a touch worrisome, I'd gamble on a healthy Green producing at least 60 points---and likely more---in 2011-12.
7. Peter Mueller-LW-Avalanche
Like Streit, the talented Mueller missed all of last season due to injury, but he is now healthy and ready to possibly play on the Avs top line with emerging superstar Matt Duchene or even alongside the steady Paul Stastny. Still just 23 years old and in search of his real breakout season, Mueller should be a real sleeper in most fantasy hockey drafts.
8. Zach Parise-LW-Devils
Limited to just 13 games last year due to injury, Parise is healthy and ready to roll in his final year before unrestricted free agency. A four-time 30+ goal scorer who netted 45 three seasons ago, Parise should be at least in the 35-goal, 75-point territory in 2011-12.
9. Joe Thornton-C-Sharks
Thornton dropped from 89 points in 2009-10 to 70 last season, his lowest point total since 2003-04. Still only 32 years old, Thornton is far from done. He is surrounded by a skilled cast in San Jose and will bounce back into his usual 80+ point territory again this season.
10. Alex Ovechkin/Ilya Kovalchuk-Capitals/Devils
This pair of Russian superstars find themselves in a similar place as Ryan Miller, coming off down years from their usual elite numbers. 85 points (Ovie) and 60 points (Kovie) are more than respectable numbers for most players, just not these two. Look for Ovechkin to justify his No. 1 pick ranking with a 100-point campaign, and Kovalchuk to surge closer to his normal 40-goal total this season.