It feels like only a few short weeks ago we were watching Steven Stamkos hoist the Stanley Cup for the repeat champion Tampa Bay Lightning following an NHL campaign like no other before. Because it was. Yet here we are, already revving up for a hopefully full and uninterrupted – and fingers crossed, healthy – 2021-22 campaign. Which means it’s also time to get your fantasy gang back together, or foster a new league, and try to out-smart and out-manage your direct competitors. We aspire to help you with that. Beginning with the most important few hours of your entire fantasy season.
The Draft
As the wisest of fantasy hockey sages will tell you, it’s much easier to lose a season-long league on draft day than it is to win one. A few ill-advised choices can torpedo your chances of fantasy victory right from the start. Not fun. Which makes that three-hour window on some random preseason evening all the more important. Some advice then — in scope of ESPN’s standard points redraft league, at least to start — to help assemble the strongest team possible when it matters most.
As a devoted student of Brian Burke’s real-life approach to assembling a team, I’m all over selecting the best player available in the draft’s earliest stages. If Connor McDavid is unspoken for, you pick Connor McDavid. I don’t care if Brad Marchand is your favorite competitor, or your heart is set on grabbing a goalie first-overall, in standard scoring leagues, you’re selecting the best player on the planet to maximize that roster spot. That’s McDavid. Done. After the Oilers center, fellow forwards Auston Matthews, Nathan MacKinnon, and Leon Draisaitl round out the quartet – quintet if you have faith in the health of Nikita Kucherov‘s hip – of elite fantasy performers who are simply more valuable than everyone else. Beyond those four (five?), there’s a mild drop off to the next, and larger, throng of conceivably equal fantasy performers consisting of several forwards, the odd influential defenseman, and one standout netminder.
At this point it’s not a lousy idea at all to grab the starting netminder for the Tampa Bay Lightning. In this tandem-friendly era, Andrei Vasilevskiy can be relied upon to play the overwhelming majority of games — only Connor Hellebuyck and Jacob Markstrom started more in 2020-21 — for the best team in the league i=””> maximizing his fantasy output. Vasilevskiy averaged 4.4 fantasy points per game in standard leagues, as compared with Hellebuyck’s 2.9 and Markstrom’s 2.0 rate. There’s no one better to serve you in that uniquely important position, while a very good fantasy forward or defenseman will still be available next round.
Which brings us to a rich group of, again, very good fantasy assets to target in rounds two through five, in standard 10-team leagues. The discrepancy in fantasy value between forwards is relatively thin in the second tier of performers, meaning securing a top defenseman and goalie of choice is a sound move. I can nearly guarantee you Toronto’s Mitchell Marner and Capitals’ captain Alex Ovechkin will be snatched up well before Max Pacioretty of the Vegas Golden Knights in most drafts, even though their individual fantasy ratings project as perceptibly equal. So, go on and scoop up Rangers blueliner Adam Fox or goalie Marc-Andre Fleury as Chicago’s new go-to No. 1, for example, knowing the likes of a Pacioretty or underrated Hurricanes center Vincent Trocheck will still be kicking about in slightly later rounds. In leagues that reward blocked shots, a defender like Alec Martinez, who also contributes to the scoresheet, is a gem of an acquisition.
Once reaching the heart of the draft, positional requirements deserve greater attention. If your league categorizes forwards by specific role, now is the occasion to draft for need, while still respecting potential value, based on C, LW, and RW eligibility. Loading up on appealing centers while disregarding skaters on either wing will undoubtedly prove frustrating and less fruitful when adjusting your lineup throughout the season. As such, forwards eligible at multiple positions can serve as your best fantasy friends. Otherwise, in leagues that classify all forwards equally (F), continue to draft the best forecasted player available.
Either way, mining team previews and other preseason fantasy content to determine who is skating where, and with whom, can pay out significant fantasy dividends. With the more obvious fantasy stars off the board, new faces in new places, or players projected to move up their respective lineups or join top power play units, hold fresh appeal. Forward Zach Hyman — a solid if middling fantasy producer in seasons past with the Maple Leafs — boasts rejuvenated fantasy shine as newbie linemate to McDavid in Edmonton. Which brings us to other under-radar players who can spell the difference between fantasy victory and defeat.
Bounce-back and Breakout Candidates
Along with a concrete foundation of star and otherwise proven performers, high-performing sleeper candidates help spell the difference between victory and defeat by fantasy season’s end. Securing a later-round gem — one that outperforms their projections — goes a long way in challenging for the ultimate crown.
In offering brief taste of guidance ahead of our more comprehensive preseason sleeper coverage, I like Conor Garland as an under-the-radar performer in his new Vancouver digs. Whether Garland skates with Elias Pettersson or Bo Horvat, the former Coyote is poised to strike his ultimate scoring stride at age 25. New Jersey center Jack Hughes appears ready to take the next productive step after an improved Sophomore campaign. Defenseman Vince Dunn — only 24 years old — sports underrated fantasy appeal as a power-play asset with the expansion Seattle Kraken. And no way Philadelphia’s Carter Hart plays anywhere nearly as poorly as he did this past campaign. He’s too talented a netminder to repeat that folly. Just a sample, but these four could serve as mid-to-late-round steals in many drafts.
The “D” Word
On the opposite end of the spectrum from coveted sleepers are those due to decline. Players grow older, change teams/lines, or simply struggle to repeat a previously explosive, and out-of-character, campaign. Blues forward David Perron averaged more than a point per game in 2020-21 for the first time in his 14-year career. What are the chances the now 33-year-old replicates that output for a second-straight season? Ex-Hurricane Dougie Hamilton probably doesn’t finish top-seven in blue-line scoring with the less-productive New Jersey Devils. This isn’t to suggest you shouldn’t grab Perron or Hamilton, not at all, only it’s important to temper expectations and draft them accordingly.
More on Goalies
The position is too important to gloss over quickly. With only a handful of performers responsible for carrying the weight of several categories, your fantasy squad needs consistent play from between the pipes. In conventional H2H points leagues where three to four goalies are shuffled in and out of your active roster, at least one standout, go-to operator — Vasilevskiy, Hellebuyck, Juuse Saros etc. — should be included on your fantasy roster, along with a solid second-tier fantasy netminder, such as Ben Bishop or Cam Talbot. Once that one-two G1/G2 punch is secured, focus on padding your goaltending corps with quality tandem-team members — especially those who hold the potential of running with the number one gig — and/or an outlying sleeper candidate.
Shuttled out of Toronto, Frederik Andersen could be in for a busy, bounce-back campaign as tandem partner to the oft-injured Antti Raanta. Plus, the Hurricanes are a good team, which goes a long way in bolstering any netminder’s fantasy value. On the other hand, John Gibson is an excellent goalie, but the Anaheim Ducks could temper his value if they perform as poorly all-around as most expect.
Unless there’s an inexplicably early run on netminders, or your lineup requires more than two active goalies, save your G3/G4 reserve selections for later rounds of your draft. Still, it bears repeating: this isn’t a position to overlook. Such a limited group is responsible for putting up winning numbers through three, four, or more fantasy categories. They need to perform.
A Deeper Dive on D-men
Roster size and ratio of allotted positions split between forwards and defenders plays heavily into your blue-line drafting strategy. For instance, if your daily or weekly lineup requires twice (or more) as many total C, LW, and RW as defensemen, the latter position deserves less attention in your draft. It makes sense to focus more on the greater wealth of fantasy heavy-hitters up front in conventional scoring drafts. One top-tier D-man, of which there are few, merits earlier draft selection, followed by using later picks to round out a reasonable supporting cast. Only 12 blueliners, including John Carlson, Cale Makar, Jakob Chychrun, and Roman Josi, averaged more than 2.0 fantasy points per contest in ESPN’s default game this past season, all but three of them prolific producers with their respective team’s No. 1 power play.
Beyond that elite dozen, the next tier — averaging between 1.7 and 2.0 fantasy points per game — comprise of 35 players. Followed by another glut of defenseman ringing up 1.5 to 1.6 points. Once the blue line’s best of the best are spoken for — who certainly merit targeting promptly — there’s little reason to exhaust early to mid-round draft picks when a greater number of productive forwards contribute more on a contest by contest basis, and you need to fill those C, LW, and RW lineup spots. Particularly in fantasy competition where blocked shots count, increasing the sum of valuable D-men. Montreal’s David Savard may have only put up six points this past season, but he blocked 80 shots. And there’s a good chance Savard (and/or many of his ilk) will still be kicking about in your draft’s later stages.
Categories Matter
They sure do! As mentioned, the overhead draft strategy largely applies to conventional scoring competition, particularly ESPN’s default points game. Hardly one-size fits all. Perhaps penalty minutes carry heavy weight in your league. Now Washington’s Tom Wilson is a much bigger deal. Shots and PIM matter a lot? Brady Tkachuk of the Ottawa Senators shoots up your target list. Mitch Marner is a much richer commodity in leagues where assists are equal to goals. Perhaps faceoffs are worth a pretty fantasy penny, rendering Blues center Ryan O’Reilly and Carolina’s Jordan Staal even more useful. I once (begrudgingly) participated in a league that didn’t acknowledge scoring at all, instead concentrating on less orthodox stats like hits, blocked-shots, and faceoffs, tossing the usual player rankings out the window. Not my own fantasy jam, but to each their own.
My best advice is to familiarize yourself thoroughly your own league’s categories — taking into consideration whether stats count for their straight up value or for points (and how many) — and revise your rankings accordingly. Our preseason in-depth look into individual categories will also help in preparing you in this regard.
Leagues, Leagues, Leagues
The type of league itself also factors into how you should assemble and manage your fantasy squad. While the majority of ESPN managers compete in a H2H points league, there are other options, which often merits an amended approach. For instance, H2H each category leagues reward every stat equally, meaning penalty minutes are just as important as goals and hits and whatever else falls into the specific scope of competition. You want to outscore, out-hit, out-shot-block your opponent of the week across the board. A weekly score of 10-2 constitutes a much larger victory than 7-5, suggesting balance is key. It doesn’t matter if you beat an opposing manager by one goal (or assist, or hit) or 10. Loading up on, say, prolific shot-blockers instead of striving for competitive balance can backfire.
But the same tactic doesn’t apply to H2H category most leagues, where a weekly score of 7-5 is equal to 12-0 in that the end result counts as 1-0. I’m more comfortable ignoring a stat or two — PIM or plus/minus, for example — alternatively loading up on others. Securing a few “slam-dunk” categories at the expense of one or two others makes greater sense in this particular brand of fantasy play.
As for Rotisserie (Roto) competition, assembling a balanced squad is vital. Squandering one or two categories can prove costly in losing too great a share of points available. Let’s say your 12-team/10-category league provides a maximum total of 120 points. Ranking worst or near-bottom in a couple of stats, and subsequently earning only a point or two of a maximum of 12, is difficult to overcome, regardless of how well you’re humming long in other facets. You have to care about plus/minus whether your wan to or not. Managers who successfully strive for balance fare best in this league style.
The more rare season-long, set-it-and-forget-it league is a whole other animal. Hey kids, there was a time when your parents, grandparents, and favorite fantasy hockey writer (ahem) had little choice but to gather at a local watering hole with an analog magazine and list of eligible players to draft. Your selected roster was complete for the entire campaignu: no waiver acquisitions, no trades, no injury substitutes. These leagues still exist, whether drafted in-person or online (or both). Durability is nearly as important as quality of player in such competition. San Jose defenseman Brent Burns hasn’t missed an NHL game since November 21, 2013. Those less injury prone — like Burns — are extra-precious commodities in leagues with few, if any, permitted transactions.
Building a Dynasty
While the above largely applies to redraft leagues, dynasty and keeper competition remains popular amongst a great gaggle of fantasy managers. With both, particularly dynasty leagues, foresight is key. Armed with a limited number of draft selections each season, dynasty managers are best served looking at securing a future fantasy star like scoring forward Matthew Coronato (Calgary Flames) or franchise netminder Jesper Wallstedt (Minnesota Wild). Never mind that these young competitors won’t become relevant for another year or more, the most competitive dynasty teams are built on the strongest foundation possible. There’s always risk in that not every prospective star reaches their full projected potential, but that’s part of the game. Snatching the most promising player possible works out often enough.
Keeper leagues are different in that more players are shuffled in and out each season through the yearly draft. While you want to maintain the strongest core possible — seven, eight, or more elite players — selecting a here-for-a-good-but-not-long-time competitor isn’t necessarily a bad move. Are you in position to win here and now? Winning is the point, right? Then go on and select Dallas veteran Joe Pavelski, who at age 36 (now 37) put up 25 goals and 26 assists though 56 games in 2020-21, to round out your lineup. Just don’t completely disregard young emerging talent in the meanwhile. On the flip side, fantasy managers with weaker, rebuilding rosters should instead focus on the talent of tomorrow, whether NHL active or not.
Roster Maintenance
Unless participating in a set-and-forget seasonal league, drafting a solid squad is just the first step (albeit it a huge one) of your months’ long fantasy journey. Whether competing in a daily or weekly-set league, you have to keep a sharp view of how your own players are faring, along with maintaining an eye on those available on waivers. Diligent, anti-stagnant roster management is key. Players are apt to fall injured, go cold, and/or shift up and down their respective lineups.
Specific roles, and the varying opportunities they provide, often matter just as much as skill, talent, and health. Boston’s Charlie Coyle is an entirely different fantasy player when centering a scoring line with Taylor Hall than when skating in the Bruins’ bottom-six. Who’s playing with Kirill Kaprizov (assuming the RFA re-signs) on the Wild’s top line? In deeper leagues, you want that center or opposing winger as a sleeper asset on your own fantasy squad. I’m not suggesting you reflexively react to coach Dean Evason’s every lineup tweak, but if another player inherits a plum scoring spot alongside Kaprizov, and it feels somewhat permanent, that skater merits extra attention as a mid-season free-agent addition.
Point is, if there’s a more promising LW (or whichever position) available on the wire than on your active roster, switch them out; either directly or by spending a few digital dollars from your free-agent acquisition budget. You want to ice the strongest team possible at every opportunity (and our weekly in-season coverage will help to that end). Of course, the number of transactions permitted throughout the season — ranging from only a handful to an unlimited amount — impacts your roster-shuffling strategy. You won’t want to use up them all, or blow your entire FAAB, in the first few weeks. There’s also the danger of tossing away solid talent that just happens to be struggling in the short term. Every year I see managers panic prematurely only to regret moving players who rediscover their scoring stride a short time later. Don’t do that.
A Word on Injured Reserve
Use those roster slots to your full advantage, is several are provided, beyond temporarily stashing your own injured stars. Goalie Tuukka Rask — out until January or February post-hip surgery — may not play another game for the Boston Bruins. Perhaps Linus Ullmark and/or Jeremy Swayman get the job done in Boston, convincing management there’s little use in re-signing their long-time veteran netminder, even for pennies on the dollar. Or Rask no longer feels like it when all healed up. But what if Ullmark and Swayman struggle, and Rask is tasked with swooping in and saving the Bruins’ season? Wouldn’t it be nice to have one of the best in recent history harmlessly stashed away on your roster in an excess IR spot, only to unleash his fresh, goaltending figure in later stages of the season? Yes, it would. Fill your excess IR spots with potential performers when healthy. You can always remove them if necessary.
The Art of Trades
Contrary to what some fantasy message board posts might suggest, forging a successful trade is not about hoodwinking another manager. The ultimate deal benefits both sides, at least to some degree, in filling a respective void. Win-win. Your coveted winger for my competent goalie. An exchange of aged stars for up-and-comers in keeper leagues, depending on who’s rebuilding and who’s on the cusp of winning it all. If not completely convinced to take the classier mutually beneficial approach, remember fantasy trade karma is real. Managers who develop a reputation for trying to fleece their fellow competitors will find few trading partners in the future. If they’re not booted from the league altogether.
Knight’s Choice has won the 2024 Melbourne Cup, defeating Warp Speed and Okita Soushi in a thrilling finish at Flemington on Tuesday afternoon.
The massive outsider saluted for Irish-born jockey Robbie Dolan, who claimed victory in what was his first ever ride in the “race that stops a nation”.
In what was a gripping 164th staging of Australia’s most-watched thoroughbred race, Knight’s Choice proved too strong in a sprint to the finish, pulling over the top of Okita Soushi and holding off Warp Speed by the barest of margins.
Trained by John Symons and Sheila Laxon on the Sunshine Coast, Knight’s Choice was well down the betting across all markets. It was Laxon’s second Melbourne Cup triumph after she trained Ethereal to victory 23 years ago.
“This is the pinnacle of all pinnacles, this is the Melbourne Cup,” Symons said.
Zardozi rounded out the first four.
As the field approached the final few hundred metres it appeared as though Jamie Kah, aboard Okita Soushi, would become just the second woman to ride the winner in the Melbourne Cup. But Okita Soushi was swallowed up as the winning post neared, with Knight’s Choice beating Warp Speed to the line after a peach of a ride from Dolan.
“We’ll be singing tonight after a few beers,” Dolan, who was a contestant on the 2022 edition of “The Voice”, told Channel 9.
“It is amazing and a lot of people doubted this little horse. Doubt me now.”
Laxon was more than happy with the ride, with Dolan threading his way through the field from near last on the bend.
“He started the race, and he knew how to ride him. We didn’t give him instructions, he knew what to do,” she said.
“I love it being down for the Australians. The Australian horse has done it, and Robbie is Australian now as well, so I’m thrilled to win the Cup, and it is the people’s Cup, and that’s what it is all about.”
Knight’s Choice is just the sixth Australian-bred horse to win since 1993, and the first since Vow and Declare back in 2019.
The five-year-old gelding carried only 51kg to victory and was making its first start over the 3200m trip. It had most recently come off a fifth-placed finish in the Bendigo Cup, but had showed sparing little form this preparation otherwise.
“I watched every Melbourne Cup for the last 40 years. I thought my best chance was to get him to stay the trip and, hopefully, he can run home and do the quick sectionals he can on a good track and he proved everybody wrong,” Dolan said.
Two-time All-Star starter Nathan Eovaldi became a free agent Monday after declining a vested $20 million player option for next season with the Texas Rangers.
Eovaldi will get a $2 million buyout from that option earned by throwing more than 300 innings over his two years with the Rangers after joining them in free agency. He was the winning pitcher in their World Series-clinching game at Arizona in 2023, when he was 5-0 with a 2.95 ERA in six postseason starts. He was also part of Boston’s 2018 title.
The Rangers had expected Eovaldi to decline the option, but would still like to re-sign the 34-year-old right-hander and Texas native.
“We still have great interest in bringing him back,” said Chris Young, the team’s president of baseball operations. “We’re still going to work towards hopefully getting him back in the Rangers uniform.”
Texas declined a $6.5 million team option for Andrew Chafin, a left-handed reliever acquired from Detroit in a deadline trade. Chafin got a $500,000 buyout and became a free agent after 62 combined appearances in 2024 that triggered $625,000 in bonuses on top of his $4.75 million salary, plus a $250,000 assignment bonus for the trade.
Eovaldi was 24-13 with a 3.72 ERA in 54 starts the past two seasons, and had 298 strikeouts over 314 2/3 innings. He was 12-8 with a 3.80 ERA in 29 starts this year. He threw seven scoreless innings at the Los Angeles Angels to win the season finale for the Rangers, who finished 78-84 and missed the playoffs.
Texas was the sixth big league team for Eovaldi, who is 91-81 with a 4.07 ERA in 294 career games (275 starts) since his debut in 2011 with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Besides Boston, he also has pitched for Miami, the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay.
His $34 million deal with the Rangers included a $16 million salary each of the past two seasons, and a $2 million signing bonus. He also earned multiple bonuses for being an All-Star in 2023 and reaching certain levels of innings pitched.
Three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer and left-hander Andrew Heaney, who made a team-high 31 starts, are also free agents.
The Rangers still have two-time Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom and Tyler Mahle under contract after both made three starts at the end of last season after recovering from elbow surgery in 2023. Jon Gray has one more season left on his four-year deal, and former first-round draft picks Jack Leiter and Kumar Rocker made their big league debuts this year.
Chafin, who pitched in 21 games for the Rangers, is the fifth Texas reliever to become a free agent. He joined four right-handers: All-Star closer Kirby Yates, veteran David Robertson, José Leclerc and José Ureña in free agency. The 39-year-old Robertson on Saturday declined a $7 million mutual option, triggering a $1.5 million buyout.
Seager’s season ended in September after he had a right sports hernia repair, on the opposite side of his abdomen from the Jan. 30 procedure. Seager missed most of spring training and did not play in his first exhibition game until March 23.
“I believe he’s close to resuming a normal offseason and his normal strength and conditioning program,” Young said.
Seager was ready for the March 28 opener in his third season of a $325 million, 10-year contract. The 30-year-old shortstop hit .278 with 30 homers and 74 RBI in 123 games before going on the injured list Sept. 4 with right hip discomfort.
The Atlanta Braves exercised designated hitter Marcell Ozuna‘s $16 million option for the 2025 season Monday but declined to pick up catcher Travis D’Arnaud‘s $8 million option, making him a free agent.
The Braves also declined their $7 million team option on right-hander Luke Jackson.
Ozuna, who turns 34 next week, was named a Silver Slugger finalist Monday after batting .302 with 39 home runs and 104 RBIs, while not missing a game this season.
A three-time All-Star, Ozuna is a career .272 hitter with 275 homers, 880 RBIs and 1,514 hits in 1,469 games with the Miami Marlins (2013-17), St. Louis Cardinals (2018-19) and Braves.
D’Arnaud, 35, batted .251 and slugged 60 home runs in his five years with the Braves. He earned his only All-Star nod with the Braves in 2022.
Jackson, 33, went 4-3 with a 5.09 ERA in 52 relief appearances this past season, 16 of those with the Braves after they acquired him from the San Francisco Giants at the trade deadline in the swap that also brought Jorge Soler to Atlanta. The Braves traded Soler to the Los Angeles Angels last week.
Ozuna’s option had a $1 million buyout; D’Arnaud’s had none. Jackson had a $2 million buyout.
