Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Waikiki Hockey Fantasy Hockey Preview - Our Four Step Plan

After reading our Fantasy Hockey Site Guide we figured it wasn't very responsible for us to give you all of that information and not tell you how to use it. Our 7th place finish in our league last season clearly illustrated the system is unbeatable!

Last season aside, our strategy has worked out pretty well for us in the past so maybe it will for you too.

A lots of fantasy sites will overload you with information: sleepers, busts, projected stats, cheatsheets, Top 300 lists, etc, etc, etc. We guess with charges of upwards of $40 they need to make you think your getting you money worth.

Our plan assumes two things: 1) you have a life and 2) you don't want to spend a fortune to get prepared.

So without further ado here's our 4-Step Plan for success in your pool on the cheap.

1. Get the best sleeper / breakout list you can

  • If you're paying for anything this is where you should do it ... we recommend Dobber Hockey or Fantasy Hockey Scouts (see our Fantasy Site Reviews for more info).
  • Sites that give out their draft kits in pdf form (like Dobber and FHS) make it very easy to split the cost amongst a few friends (preferably not in your league).
  • If you can't find an owner to split the cost ... trade draft kits with somebody else. Two for the price of one!
  • Instead of buying a fantasy magazine why not buy a digital copy and split the cost?
2. Pick a conservative cheatsheet

  • You want a list that the majority of owners in your league will follow.
  • This doesn't have to be a perfect list but should be close to how you think your draft will go.
  • If any player seems too high or low ... adjust it. Make it your own.

3. Pick your Targets

  • Make your first three picks count; don't take risks early.
  • Make sure one of your first two or three picks is a goalie; you need a top netminder so make sure you get one.
  • Get as many sleepers as possible; try to draft them one round before you think they will go
4. Hit the Free Agent Market Early and Often

  • Not all of your sleepers will pan out so you'll need somebody to fill in for Todd Bertuzzi when he stinks it up again.
  • This year's Mark Streit is sitting on your waiver wire somewhere ... find him.
  • Don't be afraid to hit the wire early in the season; you'll get more value out of your free agents and there will be more surprises early on.
By following Waikiki Hockey's patented advice you could be this guy:

Otherwise you'll end up looking like this guy:

The choice is yours.

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