Keep an eye on these defencemen who may be available in your NHL fantasy league

Roszival: While the Rangers have had a wonderful start to the season, Girardi has more points and Wade Redden has more buzz (both positive and negative). But Roszival has more ice time and _if_ the Rangers continue to do well, he will get his points.

Vancouver D: Almost every player in Vancouver contributes in points, +/-, and PIMs. All are worth looking at. With Salo injured, other players will get ice time. If Bieksa, who usually gets the most PIMs, is available in your league, you should take him. Ohlund, Edler, and Mitchell are all good. Edler gets the most ice time and gets the best +/-; Ohlund has the highest potential for PIMs in a season.

Ruslan Salei is one of the nastiest defencemen in the league. As a rookie, he won his roster spot with the Mighty Ducks (as they then were) by slashing someone in the face -- in the pre-season. He seems to be restrained so far.

Other truly unpleasant characters include O'Brien of Vancouver, who isn't getting much ice time, and Montador in Anaheim. Because of Anaheim's slow start, Montador doesn't show up on the radar of many people, but you can expect Anaheim to lead the league in fighting majors.

Colin White is more of a foolish retaliator than an instigator, but that also gets the PIMs, and so far he has a decent number of PIMs, assists, and +/-. No Devils defenceman is at the top of anyone's fantasy rankings, however.

The Flyers' D is hurt and in trouble, but Coburn and Timonen should be reliable. Coburn will get PIMs and Timonen will get points on the power play. However, both will have problems with +/-.

Mike Van Ryn, currently in Toronto, put up reasonable numbers in Florida, an equally bad team, and is doing well so far this year.

Preissing was an astonishing fantasy surprise last year, finishing the year at +40 with the Senators, but is expected to be a healthy scratch in his next game.

This early in the season, it's difficult to predict who will be the best D. There's not much data. The most revealing stat, in my mind, is shots on goal

http://tinyurl.com/6qpc44

The list of leaders in shots on goal, I believe, is a good predictor for who will lead the league in offence.

The top four are: Phaneuf, Boyle, Blake, and Green. If they're available if your league, grab them now.

There's a surprise appearance by Beauchemin of Anaheim in this list. He's a risk. He's already scored three goals in nine games, but Anaheim's having a strange season. Take a gamble on him if you wish, but only if other options are not available.

Gainey's Idea Would Reduce Injuries

NHL to consider shot-blocking rules to increase offense?


The idea is to forbid players from sliding full length along the ice to block shots. I think that reducing blocked shots is a good idea because it injures players but Gainey just wants more goals in the NHL.

Don't Panic, Nabokov Owners

The bad news: he gave up six goals tonight, and he often has bad nights on the road in pairs. The good news: for the first time in memory, he gave up six goals and WON!

Expect a pair of shutouts next week

Mark Eaton: Surviving

This defensive defenseman, with a sad history of injury, is playing a key role for the Penguins now that Gonchar and Whitney are out. Don't pick him up on your fantasy team -- he's not going to score much -- but I'm glad to see he's healthy and hope he gets a chance to shine

Chicago: real or not?

Is Chicago a real deal or a work in progress? Huet was weak tonight, but he has a great defense and offense in front of him. The team should be able to win games -- but it has not yet done so.

Check out these players

Voros

Nylander

Keith

Vanek

...

and if, for any reason, Phaneuf is not owned in your league, take him immediately.

...

Keep an eye on

Hamrlik, Spacek, Rivet, and the entire Vancouver D.

Bernier, Setogouchi, Krejci, Tkachuk, Booth.

This is a very good list of players

Looking for a list of hockey players? Check out the draft in Yahoo's Friends and Family league:

http://hockey.fantasysports.yahoo.com/hockey/52090/draftresults?drafttab=team

And here's Q&A with Janet Eagleson, who got the number one pick.

Notes:

round 2: surprised Lundqvist went before turco and giggy, but that probably has a lot to do with injury fears and Lundqvist's number of SOs.

I believe that players should draft D early. Some experts did and others did not.

round 5: Nathan Horton and Pominville (round 4) finally getting the respect they deserve.

round 6: Bryan McCabe -- overrated? Underappreciated? Time will tell.

round 7: Huet will be a steal if the Hawks can convince Khabi to play in Russia this year. I picked him and I'm hoping that happens. Biron, I believe, is overrated. Stastny still doesn't get respect. A lot of goalies in this round. Goalies go in bunches, but not necessarily in any particular round.

round 8: IMO, Wade Redden's overrated. I expect Kronwall and Liles, for example, to do better.

round 12: I pick Ryan Clowe as sleeper -- if he can make the top line in SJ and also have a lot of PIMs.

Sami Salo underappreciated.

Jordan Staal's value rises as he gets time on the PK or PP. I hope he gets it.

round 13: I dropped Duncan Keith (I expect him to be the stay at home guy, and Campbell the power play quarterback) and kept Kuba, who has 2 assists in each of his first two appearances. I expect him to do very well. Pick him up if he is available.

round 14: Ray Whitney, if healthy, is the steal of this round.

round 15: I'm betting on Lupul, but that was a nasty injury last year. I'm also keeping an eye on Bernier -- everyone wants to know who will fit on the top line with the Sedin twins. So far, defencemen seem to be getting the extra points on Sedin goals.

round 16: Vermette delivers an interesting combination of PIMs and SHP.