NHL Fantasy Hockey Guide

2024 Elite Prospects NHL Fantasy Guide

The climb to the top of the fantasy hockey mountain is a long and arduous one. Let us help you make it easier!

The 2024 Elite Prospects Fantasy Hockey Guide ranks the top 300 players and includes point projections, sleeper and breakout candidates, rookies to watch, bounce-back players and guys who look poised for regression. Additionally, we teach you how to use the schedule and advanced analytics to your advantage, and strategies to use on draft day and throughout the season. It's 100 pages filled with everything you need to know to rule your pool!

How does fantasy hockey work?

Fantasy hockey is a form of fantasy sport where players build a team that competes with other players who do the same, based on the statistics generated by professional hockey players or teams. The majority of fantasy hockey pools are based on the teams and players of the ice hockey National Hockey League (NHL). There are many different ways a league can score points - from simply looking at goals, and assists, to multi-category leagues that place value on a wide array of statistics - including shots, hits, blocks, saves, goals-against, etc.

Fantasy Hockey Rankings

The fantasy hockey rankings are based on a consideration of a player's statistical history, upside, deployment opportunities, and career trajectory. Mixing various positions brings about the question of evaluating the importance of a top-rated defender or netminder versus that of a front-line forward. Added value is placed on positional supply and demand.

Goalie Rankings

Goaltenders are ranked by individual ability, team strength, statistical history, pedigree, and opportunity. Those who will see more stats will inevitably see more shots and have an increased ability to accrue wins and shutouts. They will also be more susceptible to additional goals against. The organizational strength behind or in front of the player will also come into play. Injury history, age, and perceived trust from the coaching staff are also considered when formulating the goaltender rankings.

Defenseman Rankings

Defensemen are ranked by individual ability, team strength, statistical history, pedigree, and opportunity. The placement in the lineup, the amount of special-teams deployment they receive, and the organizational strength behind or in front of the player all come into play. Injury history, age, and perceived trust from the coaching staff are also considered when formulating the defenseman rankings.

Forwards Rankings

Forwards are ranked by individual ability, team strength, positional scarcity, statistical history, pedigree, and opportunity. The placement in the lineup, the amount of special-teams deployment they receive, and the organizational strength behind or in front of the player all come into play. Injury history, age, and perceived trust from the coaching staff is also considered when formulating the defenseman rankings.

Sleeper Picks

The idea of the Sleeper is a tantalizing proposition. You nab a player late in the draft or even off of the waiver wire and they become an impact piece for your club. The problem is if the player is available that late, then there's usually a reason for that. The flaws will always be evident, but the key is to find a project that has the proper recipe of opportunity, skill, and experience. Skill will always be a determining factor, but there's a reason we put opportunity at the front of our checklist.

• Has a player moved clubs and has an opportunity to steal top six minutes?
• Is there an injury among the team's top scorers and now a hole is waiting to be filled?
• A shiny new, big fat contract that will mean pressure from management to get him into a lofty spot and justify it?
• A young player who took a step back and is now ready to right the ship?

All of these characteristics and more can come into play and help produce a sleeper candidate that you shouldn't be sleeping on.

Cam Robinsons NHL Fantasy strategy and tips

I may be the self-proclaimed Lord of Fantasy Hockey at EP Rinkside, but even I do not have a crystal ball. But that doesn't mean we can't use history, wise judgment and some astute guesses to make out like bandits. Finding the true meaning behind a player's production - good or bad is integral in projecting forward. And that's the crux of Fantasy Hockey.

Projecting. You need to take into account all the scenarios and circumstances that a player faces in order to have the best possible situation to produce. We need proper deployment and high-end linemates to work with. Then there is the risk factor. In order to fight your way out of the mushy middle, you need to be bold and take chances. Swinging on upside is key. If you can manage to do those two things well, you'll have a fighting chance.

Cam Robinson at EP Rinkside