Puckheads: Forwards

Folks:

The bread and butter of the NHL – the playmakers, highlight reel guys and those guys that make up a majority of the roster in fantasy.  They take up NINE (9) active slots and usually 2 of the bench slots in ESPN leagues.  They are your forwards.  They consist of wingers (both left and right) or centers.

I think 5 of the top 6 guys this season are centers (the one exception is Ovechkin a LW) and he is #1.

Before I get into my opinion of rankings I want to point out some possible “sleepers or breakout players” for this season.  Now, some of these guys may start in the minors so watch waivers, and others won’t adjust to NHL lifestyle until midway through or play on the 4^th line for a spell or the last defensive pairing.  So waych them CLOSELY which is why they are potential breakout candidates.

Red Wings are ALWAYS capable of carrying a guy or two for this category and this season is no different as they reload to once again attempt to dominate the West.  Look to Valtteri Filppula and Dan Cleary.

How about big name prospect in Washington Tomas Fleischmann.  The Oilers have Sam Gagner amd the Maple Leafs have Luke Schenn.  The Pens will show some love to Maxime Talbot and the Ducks might carry a soft spot for Andrew Ebbett.  If you don’t mind having REALLY bad +/- look to Steven Stamkos of Tampa and Ryan Clalahan has to arrive at some point for the Rangers.

How do I see them ranked at forwards:

1                     Ovechkin

2                     Malkin

3                     Getzlaf

4                     Datsyuk

5                     Thornton

6                     Carter

7                     Iginla

8                     Crosby

9                     Semin

10                 Parise

11                 Savard

12                 Nash

13                 Kovalchuk

14                 Gaborik

15                 Backstrom

16                 Lecavalier

17                 Kane

18                 Zetterberg

19                 Perry

20                 E Staal

21                 D Sedin

22                 H Sedin

23                 Richards

24                 Jokinen

25                 Heatley

26                 Spezza

27                 Toews

28                 Vanek

29                 Alfredsson

30                 Kopitar

31                 Hossa

32                 Gomez

33                 Elias

34                 Marleau

35                 M Koivu

36                 Gagne

37                 Briere

38                 Zajac

39                 Boyes

40                 Roy

41                 Doan

42                 Kessel

43                 Havlat

44                 Franzen

45                 Morrow

46                 Tavares

47                 Ryan

48                 Ribeiro

49                 Kunitz

50                 Hemsky

Good luck and remember that fantasy is not ONLY about winning it is about FUN.  Pick your favorite guy if you like.  Stock up 3 or 4 from your favorite team but don’t only go with “love” of team as sometimes a pick with your head is better served than going with your heart!