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The Big 50

Last modified: March 12, 2012 at 12:41 pm

The final edition of the 2011-12 BIg 50 has fantasy MVP Evgeni Malkin at the top. Apologies for the formatting, I ran into some technical difficulties.

Once again, we take in to account position, past performance and expected future stats. I know no one ever agrees on these things so feel free to rip me a new one in the comments!

A couple of notes:

-Long term injuries are excluded from the board and will be listed in “The Injury Brigade”.

-The “What Have You Done For Me Lately?” category is littered with guys you would normally expect to see in the top 50 but have not been performing for an extended period of time.

-The “Honourable Mention” section is for guys who couldn’t quite crack the top 50 this time around.

-Statistics and comments are current as of games played on March 9th.

Dropped off: Pavel Datsyuk (inj), Patrick Elias, Brian Elliott, Jimmy Howard (inj), Kris Letang (inj), Joffrey Lupul (inj), Nicklas Lidstrom (inj), Tuukka Rask (inj), Jeff Skinner, Jonathon Toews (inj)

The Injury Brigade: Nicklas Backstrom, Sidney Crosby, Pavel Datsyuk, Mike Green (susp.), Jimmy Howard, Mikko Koivu, Vincent Lecavalier, Kris Letang, Nicklas Lidstrom, Joffrey Lupul, Andrei Markov, Chris Pronger, Tuukka Rask, Alex Steen, Jonathan Toews

What Have You Done For Me Lately?: Martin Brodeur, Jeff Carter, Ryan Getzlaf, Ryan Miller,Mike Richards, Bobby Ryan

Honourable Mention: Dan Boyle, Danny Briere, Dustin Brown, Alex Burrows, Ryan Callahan, Brian Campbell, Erik Cole, Logan Couture, Ryane Clowe, Alex Edler, Patrick Elias, Loui Eriksson, Valtteri Filppula, Taylor Hall, Jaromir Jagr, Olli Jokinen, Evander Kane, Chris Kunitz, Vincent Lecavalier, Kari Lehtonen, Milan Lucic, Brad Marchand, Milan Michalek, Matt Moulson, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Zach Parise, Ondrej Pavelec, Dion Phaneuf, Alex Pietrangelo, Tomas Plekanec, Jason Pominville, Mike RIbeiro, Brad Richards, Eric Staal, Jordan Staal, Ryan Suter, Jose Theodore, Tomas Vokoun, Radim Vrbata, Blake Wheeler, Ray Whitney, Keith Yandle

Dany Heatley

http://pulse.yahoo.com/_6TY5MDWWT7CGIP5VYQHLD4EDQU Ryan O

still think Benn?
http://www.facebook.com/Cameronchase Cameron Chase

Bergeron is 38 on the list and is also on the Honorable Mention, either that’s a mistake or he really is just that good.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_VAZFAHNNGQPDFBHB7JNCSDUX4Y Derek

Mike Smith above Lupul?
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_2ZYUHV7BSB25XR6RBZILFSO2CM Derek

If your in a keeper pool, I would suggest sticking it out with Bobby Ryan. He’s a big, strong, young player with hands. Besides he may end up on a cup contender or staying with the Ducks who seem to be playing much better as of late. The future looks good for Ryan, unless he ends up as a Leaf.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_VJSPL7HGV6ME72QNBS35D6IFCM Brendan

Thanks for the response, I appreciate it that it was very thorough. Philosophically, I believe we have differing views revolving around a consistent group, or type, of player. I’d like to respond, first, to your comment that I may overestimate just how many players the Big 50 is. I disagree. I believe I am quite aware the elite nature of the Big 50. Consequently, I have my own set of values or philosophies regarding players I believe belong on the Big 50. Players on the Big 50 should be, amongst other production criteria, catalysts for their team (ie: removing the production of Player A would significantly hamper the progress of their team, and/or teammates).

This is why I can buy the argument for leaving Jason Pominville off the Big 50. I was using Pominville, along with Eberle and RNH, as examples of players in the Top 18 in NHL scoring that did not make the cut. Pominville certainly benefits from the contributions of Vanek, and as Vanek goes so does Pominville. Yes, he is solely a Pts/PPP guy and provided Buffalos struggles in the Eastern Conference this year, his +/- hurts his value and he adds nothing with PIM. Vanek, in my opinion, is elite but he is the only Sabre who deserves to be in the Big 50.

I do not have the luxury of watching many Oilers games, as you do. However, it is clear from their record and NHL on the Fly that your assessment of their overall performance and defensive abilities are accurate. They’re 8th in the Western Conference in goals allowed and much of their mediocre rating is a credit to Khabibulin’s early season performance. However, the Oil is 5th in goals for in the Western Conference – behind Chicago, Detroit, Vancouver and San Jose (I am projecting that with the games played disadvantage for SJ and Edm will allow them to leapfrog Colorado in GF – and I’ve also projected SJ will leap Edm, thus not trying to inflate the Oil’s value). Despite the fact that the Oil are 3-6-1 in the last 10 games, Eberle has accounted for 12 points during this stretch and RNH is still a point-per-game player with 10. Hall has only played four of these games, due to injury, but he has 4 pts in his last 4 games.

You were absolutely correct when folks were declaring your Big 50 sucked because Ryan Smyth was left off the list and you predicted a decline in his early season production. Ryan Smyth is a great character guy, a solid teammate, a meat and potatoes player who is tough as nails and will battle like no other. However, he isn’t, and hasn’t been, an elite player for quite some time now. Smyth isn’t a catalyst for the Oil – he’s a leader and a warrior, but he’s a second liner playing with Shawn Horcoff and the tantalizing/perpetually underachieving Sam Gagner. That said, Eberle and RNH are in a different class – I’m presuming the focal point of opposing teams is shutting down Eberle-RNH-Hall given the significant drop in second line production from the Oil. The scoring numbers are still there – yes, Eberle and RNH score in tandem, but that is expected from linemates (see: Sedin-Sedin, Neal-Malkin, Kessell-Lupul, Toews-Kane, etc.) As far as shooting percentage, out of the top 13 in the NHL, currently only 2 players have a % below 14. I know how you feel about high shooting percentages, but I’m simply using this statistic to demonstrate many other players in your Big 50 have high percentages (granted, they may have a stronger track record in previous seasons – yes, RNH and Eberle are young).

Eberle and RNH are catalysts for the Oiler’s scoring, and both players are in the top 18 in scoring. Provided their production, and that they will likely be counted on – and continue – to produce points, I don’t believe at least one of the Oilers top forwards is risky. I could see both RNH and Eberle in there, but if only one, why not Eberle? He is Canada’s all time leading scoring in the WJC so you know he can produce at an elite level and I don’t see his production diminishing as you do.

50 players may be less than two a team, but certainly the Oilers deserve at least ONE player.
Anonymous

See below my response to Brendan RE: Oilers kids.
Anonymous

See below my response to Brendan RE: Oilers kids.
Anonymous

Pominville – Couple reasons. Fist off, he is a straight points/PPP guy. Contributes nothing in +/- and PIMS. I definitely favour well-rounded guys. Second, he is piling up assists at a much higher rate than the last three years. After settling in at under half an assist per game for 3 years, he is all of a sudden averaging almost an assist per game? Yes getting more ice time with Vanek helps, but call me skeptical. I prefer 237 games of evidence to 33. That being said, he was one of the last cuts.Definitely having a nice season.

Oilers – I watch a lot of Oilers games. That is not a good team. Their defence is horrendous and they have no depth up front. The other night they pulled their goalie down by 1 and had 5 forwards on the ice. That’s when you know your team sucks. It’s hard to score goals when you don’t have one good defenceman (Whitney is talented but he is nowhere near 100%). When Cam Barker is the answer, you were probably asking the wrong question. Now that teams have realized the Horcoff/Hemsky/Smyth production was a mirage, the kids are going to have shutdown lines thrown all over them. I just don’t like them going forward. They have also combined for 26 PIMS.

On a per player basis -

Hall is a huge risk to get injured again. He is not a big guy (not a chance he is 6’1, 190 as is listed on Yahoo!) and plays so recklessly. Scares me. Secondly, he has 8 goals this year. At least 6 of them have been off rebounds that landed on his stick. There is definitely something to be said about having a nose for the puck and being in the right position, but I would rather take my chances on a guy who creates his own opportunities. He also has 2 even strength goals in 26 games. That’s…. not good.

Eberle is probably my favourite (fantasy-wise this season) of the 3, but he still has some warts. The shooting percentage is high, which doesn’t bode well for his goal total moving forward. A lot of his assists are on RNH goals, who has also a sky-high shooting percentage. Again, not a big guy, although he is more crafty than Hall and doesn’t get hit as much. Injury risk

RNH – Same reasons as Eberle, as tons of his assists are on Eberle goals. Eberle has the 9th highest on-ice shooting % in the NHL, while the Nuge is 63rd. It is definitely possible that this can last a whole season, but it’s risky to bet on it.

In conclusion, it almost feels like you overestimate just how many players The Big 50 is. 50 players is less than 2 players per NHL team. Fantasy wise, you are talking about the best 4-5 players on your squad, including goalies. I would love to have Pominville, Hall, RNH and Eberle on any of my teams, and in fact do have Hall in every league except my keeper league. The top 50 players is elite company though and good players are going to have to get left off.
Anonymous

I would say form now until the end of the season it will be very close, but due to his current lead Benn will finish with more points.
Anonymous

They were both injured when this was posted. See the comment below about Giroux. He would be at #4. Michalek is not even close to being on this list. He is shooting 21.6% and has 6 assists. If he gets even 25 points over the last 47 games I will be shocked.
http://twitter.com/stephenkaczmar Stephen Kaczmar

Where is the love for Eberle, RNH?
Ray John

Giroux could easily beat out Vanek for the 6th spot, possibly higher as he is heating up and Vanek is slowing down; especially with that 1goal, 3assist game in his return. He is so good because he doenst only rack up points, he holds his team. While he was out, Jagr who was hot before, didnt get 1 goal! as soon as he returned, got a goal…
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_ALLHZJCJLXJQWXKZJOIG2TAUAI Bozzy

not to mention, nugent hopkins, eberle or hall.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_ALLHZJCJLXJQWXKZJOIG2TAUAI Bozzy

how is Giroux not on this list? And Michalek?
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_EKFP4JIUYNURW3NR7UZ2QZPC2Q Oliver

Jamie Benn, hands down.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Josh-Marks/100000311717397 Josh Marks

i would say jamie benn. Benn has more potential and Zetterberg is starting to slow down.
Ray John

i am in a little bet on points, who will finish the season with more points, Jamie Benn or Henrik Zetterberg?
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_G2POKQXKVYOQZFJLNLTXAJJIJQ Duff

ok, gotcha gotcha
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_VJSPL7HGV6ME72QNBS35D6IFCM Brendan

I support this list much more strongly than your last go at it. Let’s agree that we beat the SOG vs. Shooting % debate into the ground. You came around with Versteeg/Fleischmann/Weiss, yet the list still neglects RNH, Jordan Eberle or Taylor Hall. Eberle and RNH are still averaging more than a point per game, as is Jason Pominville, but they’re not in the Big 50? Before jumping all over you (and by you, I mean the list), I figure I should hear your argument….
Anonymous

Care to elaborate? I love a good fantasy hockey debate.
Anonymous

Care to elaborate? I love a good fantasy hockey debate.
Anonymous

As of last night I wasn’t sure when he would be back so I played it safe and left him on the injured list.

If he were on the board, he would probably be between Malkin and Henrik. Maybe above Malkin I’d have to look more closely.
Anonymous

As of last night I wasn’t sure when he would be back so I played it safe and left him on the injured list.

If he were on the board, he would probably be between Malkin and Henrik. Maybe above Malkin I’d have to look more closely.
Anonymous

I wrote about Staal here a month ago: http://www.dailyfaceoff.com/27150/don%E2%80%99t-worry-too-much-about-eric-staal

He’s fine, 10 pts in his last 10 and only -1. Lucic has been ok too. His shooting percentage is high but he’s accumulating points at an expected pace and the PIMS are still there. I’d definitely be looking to unload Ryan though.
Anonymous

I wrote about Staal here a month ago: http://www.dailyfaceoff.com/27150/don%E2%80%99t-worry-too-much-about-eric-staal

He’s fine, 10 pts in his last 10 and only -1. Lucic has been ok too. His shooting percentage is high but he’s accumulating points at an expected pace and the PIMS are still there. I’d definitely be looking to unload Ryan though.