Brian Campbell was brought to San Jose at the trade deadline. (CP Images)
OK, so you've got the fridge loaded with beer, a couple months worth of peanuts and pretzels crammed into the cupboard and you've told the better half you'll be up from the basement for a kiss, and a little sunlight, sometime in June.
So now it's time to figure out a plan of attack in making your fantasy hockey picks for the 2008 NHL playoffs.
First things first. Try not to spread out your attack over six or seven teams, attempting the hit-or-miss tactic of guessing who will move on to the next round.
While you are sure to hang on to at least part of your team, employing this strategy will also cost you players as well.
Try to hone in on the four teams you think will advance to the conference finals and, if you are feeling a little more daring, give a little preferential treatment to the two teams you think could go all the way.
Sure, some may see it as putting all your eggs in the one proverbial basket, but if you hit paydirt and call the final four right on the money, you are halfway home.
If you figure there is a sleeper team that could shock the league and make it all the way to the conference finals, you are going to one-up everyone else in your fantasy draft. It is quite the gamble, of course, especially if that sleeper is knocked out in the opening round, but hey, no pain, no gain, or so they say.
Now that you are zeroed in on your final four, it's time to spread the wealth with your picks. If you've got a hunch that two of those four are likely favorites to play for the Cup, load up on those teams, especially if those squads aren't getting a lot of play around your draft table. If you take the leading scorer on a team ranked, say, fourth going into the playoffs and no one else is biting, it is probably because you now have the main cog in an attack. Opponents probably won't be playing that card so, should you feel like taking a chance, it is time to add to your roster with his linemates and/or players on the powerplay unit to maximize points.
If everyone is fighting over players on the top two seeded teams, back off. No sense trying to get into a battle you are going to have a tough time winning - instead, spot the opening and use it to strengthen your own team with a lower-seeded team that isn't getting their due attention.
Remember, if you get down to the short strokes, it is often better to take a fourth-line plugger on a heavy favorite than a leading scorer from a team who is expected to make an early exit. You may not get a lot of point production, but anything is more than zero, which is exactly what you get from a guy spending his days on the golf course.
Goalies can often make or break your pool. Selecting a goaltender that takes his team to the conference finals or beyond is often your ace in the hole. Very rarely do coaches platoon goalies in the playoffs so you are going to load up on points, and any shutouts will be an added bonus.
And then, finally, we come to the vaunted sleeper picks. Every year, there seems to be that one guy who comes out of nowhere to make it a spring to remember. Now it is tough to predict who is going to be this year's Chris Kontos, John Druce, Dave Lowry or Fernando Pisani but, if you are able to forecast him, it is often enough to get you into the winner's circle.
Like the 16 teams getting set to begin the chase for the Stanley Cup, your odds of coming out on top of your playoff draft will hinge on some key players, sound strategy and, yes, even a little luck.
Here's to seeing a little of all three this spring.
SPECIAL MESSAGE:
Congratulations to all you fantasy fanatics who participated in our regular season Fantasy Hockey Challenge. It was a long, hard fought season and next week we will announce the official grand prize winners!
Please Note: Our regular season Fantasy Hockey Challenge game has been taken down. Our new Hockey.com Fantasy Playoff Challenge with over $15,000 in playoff prizes has gone live in its place.
First round draft deadline is Wednesday, April 9, 2008 @ 6pm. You are still eligible for weekly prizes if you register after this date.
Don't wait, register now to play!