You are not going to see many blogs on here for fantasy hockey.  It is not that I don’t like fantasy hockey, hell knows that I am in enough of those leagues too, it is more that the difference in hockey players fantasy wise is so minimal that it makes rankings irrelevant (to me).  You really just need to look for players on good lines, in a decent offense.  At the end of the day that will be your rankings, but you can really take anyone’s list and move guys slightly up and down based on your own team thoughts.

It is always good to look at potential breakout players though.  I really don’t think of them as sleepers but players that look ready to take that next step and where they may have been sleepers years earlier, are now ready to make a true fantasy impact.

Phil Kessel, Boston - Kessel was a highly touted rookie last season.  He started off hot in the first few games, but then tailed off and at first it was assumed it was rookie wall, when in fact he was dealing with a form of cancer.  He battled his way through that and returned in the same year and looked good at the end of the season.  This year he will be playing a more important role on the second line and will be more ready for the demands of the pro game.  He should live up to his rookie expectations this year and if Sturm can get his game going, Kessel could be in for a 50+ point season.

Toumo Ruutu, Chicago - Another player expected to provide fantasy scoring last season and didn’t come through.  Ruutu’s issues also revolved around injuires keeping him off the ice and unable to get in a groove, and with the way last year went there are definite concerns around his ability to stay healthy.  He has huge offensive upside though and may be more motivated to act on that upside with rookies Toews and Kane in town.  Somewhat like Pittsburgh last season, the Blackhawks are ready to unleash the young crew and everyone expects they will play very well, with Ruutu having the biggest gains.

Nicklas Backstrom, Washington - Backstrom barely did not make the team last season (after deciding to stay in Sweden for one more year), and then was regarded as the best player not in the NHL for the entire season.  He appears completely NHL ready now, and on an uptempo team in Washington that is expected to suit his style perfectly.  Expect Backstrom to jump in and perform immediately, and if you are in a keeper league do not let this kid slide too far.  While playing on a productive second line and sharing time on the PP with Ovechkin, he can contribute in many fantasy categories.

Jonathan Toews, Chicago - Another rookie who has made his splash in international competition and should start on one of the top 2 lines in Chicago this season.  It may take Toews a few weeks to get himself NHL ready day in and day out, but don’t fear that he is not ready to contribute.  He needs Ruutu to stay healthy as much as fantasy owners do, in order to not let too much pressure slide his way.  An excellent keeper league prospect.

Rick Nash, Columbus - Nash scored 41 goals in a shortened injury season two years ago and was a star in the making.  Since then he has not quite been the same player, only scoring goals in the high 20’s the last couple years and somewhat forgotten amongst the young stars of the league such as Crosby, Ovechkin, Malkin and others who have entered.  Nash is a goal scorer and has been trying to make his game more versatile at the expense of his true strengths.  He has also been bothered by nagging ankle injuries which finally seem to be behind him.  I expect Nash to get back on track this season with 35-38 goals and a 70 point season with a nice compliment of PIMs for those using that category.

Steve Bernier, San Jose - Bernier was sent to the minors for conditioning last season and broke his foot in the first game.  Though he came back to the Sharks later in the year and played 62 games, he never really recovered from that injury or his time off, and posted much lower numbers than was expected.  This year he will be on the Marleau line and being a hard nosed skater who can find the net, watch for him to produce well on this scoring line and make a big jump in goals and points over last year.   He is much better than last years numbers indicate, and San Jose has a very high octane offense.

Shea Weber, Nashville - Breakout status will be modest here because we are talking about a defensemen but Weber will own the point in Nashville this season.  It remains to be seen, now that Kariya, Timonen and others have left, if the Predators offense will produce, but Weber will be logging serious ice time with both the regular and PP lines and should improve on last years numbers (when he was behind Timonen).  I expect 40-50 points from Weber with good PP numbers.

Drew Stafford/ Tim Connolly, Buffalo - These two get labelled together because they are both in the same situation.  The Sabres were blown up over the offseason, with Drury, Briere and others all gone.  No big names were brought in as replacements, so there is suddenly plenty of ice time available to the young prospects on the team.  Connolly is the most talented player for the Sabres but can’t stay healthy to be on the ice, while Stafford produced 27 points amongst through many call-ups over 41 games last year.  With the opportunity in front of them this year, expect both to have that extra motivation to produce and keep their rotations.  They are great later round picks to fill out your roster with talent which could exceed expectations.

Anze Kopitar, LA - Kopitar was a huge surprise for how well he continued to produce over the course of the entire season. Only an injury slowed him down late in the year from putting up major rookie numbers.  Expect him to pick up where he left off last year and provide 65-75 points with 20-25 goals.  Another great keeper player.