RADIO
Over course of the offseason, RotoBaller contributed a six-piece feature breaking down the top 100 fantasy hockey player rankings heading into the 2018-2019 season. This article (the final edition) features some movement up and down the rankings as a result of trades, signings, injuries, etc.
When the puck drops and the 2018-2019 season is officially underway, the rankings will shift to be broken down by position (including the top 75 forwards, top 40 defensemen, and top 25 goaltenders). The rankings will be updated on a weekly basis, starting with forwards every Monday, defensemen ever Tuesday, and goaltenders every Wednesday.
Note: Rankings are determined considering a standard Yahoo league format (goals, assists, plus-minus, power play points, shots on goal, and hits for skaters; wins, goals-against average, save percentage, and shutouts for goalies).
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15) Blake Wheeler (WPG - C, RW)
18) Claude Giroux (PHI - C,LW)
20) Vladimir Tarasenko (STL - RW)
21) Andrei Vasilevskiy (TBL - G)
25) Connor Hellebuyck (WPG - G)
26) Dustin Byfuglien (WPG - D)
30) Sergei Bobrovsky (CLB - G)
32) Johnny Gaudreau (CGY - LW)
34) Patrice Bergeron (BOS - C)
37) Aleksander Barkov (FLA - C)
40) Evgeny Kuznetsov (WSH - C)
46) Alexander Radulov (DAL - RW)
50) Martin Jones (SJS - G)
51) Marc-Andre Fleury (VGK - G)
52) William Karlsson (VGK - C,LW)
53) Leon Draisaitl (EDM - C,RW)
54) Nicklas Backstrom (WAS - C)
57) Frederik Andersen (TOR - G)
60) Rickard Rakell (ANA - LW,RW)
61) Brock Boeser (VAN - RW)
62) Jonathan Marchessault (VGK - C,LW)
63) Sean Monahan (CGY - C)
64) Viktor Arvidsson (NSH - RW)
65) Brayden Point (TBL - C)
66) John Carlson (WAS - D)
68) Shayne Gostisbehere (PHI - D)
69) Jonathan Quick (LAK - G)
71) Torey Krug (BOS - D)
72) Sean Couturier (PHI - C)
73) Vincent Trocheck (FLA - C)
75) Seth Jones (CBJ - D)
76) Nikolaj Ehlers (WPG - LW,RW)
77) Eric Staal (MIN - C)
79) Kris Letang (PIT - D)
80) Jake Guentzel (PIT - LW)
81) Devan Dubnyk (MIN - G)
82) Mikael Granlund (MIN - C,RW)
83) Brayden Schenn (STL - C)
84) Jaden Schwartz (STL - LW)
85) Jonathan Huberdeau (FLA - LW)
86) Patric Hornqvist (PIT - RW)
87) Anders Lee (NYI - LW)
88) Tyson Barrie (COL - D)
89) Logan Couture (SJS - C,LW)
91) Wayne Simmonds (PHI - RW)
92) Sebastian Aho (CAR - C,LW)
93) William Nylander (TOR - C,RW)
95) Mike Hoffman (FLA - LW,RW)
96) Ben Bishop (DAL - G)
97) Ryan Johansen (NSH - C)
98) Cam Atkinson (CBJ - RW)
99) Gabriel Landeskog (COL - LW)
100) Clayton Keller (ARI - LW,RW)
Big Risers
- Martin Jones (SJS - G) 72 --> 50
When the San Jose Sharks landed Erik Karlsson last week, no player benefited more from the trade than goaltender Martin Jones. The 28-year-old is coming off a fine season (2.55 goals against average, .915 save percentage) and should only be expected to have better numbers as the Sharks have now become a true Cup contender. Karlsson's arrival means increased offense with less time in the defensive zone. Jones is now in line for more wins and better overall numbers.
- Max Pacioretty (VGK - LW) 94--> 56
The former Canadiens' captain gets a large boost up the rankings as he departs a poor situation in Montreal for a fresh start in Vegas. The five-time, 30-goal scorer should benefit from the change of scenery and fit well on the team's top-six forward group and top power play unit. Considering his career shooting percentage of 11%, Pacioretty should bounce back from a career-low 8% shooting percentage in 2017-2018. Vegas plays a high-tempo, fast style of play that should work well with Pacioretty as he looks to return his normal 65-point range.
Big Fallers
- Corey Crawford (CHI - G) 55 --> 90
The two-time Stanley Cup Champion represents our biggest faller of the preseason following the growing uncertainty of when he might return to full health. Crawford is reportedly still dealing with lingering post-concussion symptoms and hasn't suited up for a game since December 2017. With less than two weeks remaining until opening night (and Crawford still not back to full action with the Hawks), the goaltender's questionable status results in him being somewhat of a risky pick in upcoming drafts.
- Mark Stone (OTT - RW) - 56 --> 70
Stone's fall to #70 is another move impacted by the Senators' trade of Erik Karlsson. While Stone remains a dynamic scoring winger, it's expected that his even-strength and power play production will suffer from the loss of the team's best defenseman. The move makes an already expected poor Senators team even worse and, unfortunately, lowers Stone's value in 2018-2019.
- Sean Couturier (PHI - C) - 62 --> 72
After suffering his second knee injury in just five months back in late August, Couturier has slid ten spots down our pre-season rankings. While the break-out center is reportedly skating, he is still listed as a limited participant in training camp. Couturier should get the green light for the season opener, but fantasy owners might want to plan for a slow start from a player who is coming back from two knee injuries in a fairly short amount of time.
Stay tuned for the weekly positional (forwards, defensemen, goalies) ranking updates that will continue on throughout the entire 2018-2019 season.
