Pengwin's Top 5 Picks for the League.

Surprisingly, the teams I identify as my favourites are nowhere near the top of the predicted FHG rankings. This doesn't align well with my normally numerical-based analysis, but I think Mitt Romney messed up my brain last night so I may be completely off this morning.

Without further ado, my top 5 predictions in reverse order:

#5. Mac's Militia
A very gritty team that should do well in all skater cats except maybe Assists. This team could fall anywhere between 1st-12th depending on Holtby/Reimer. If they can both be bonafide #1 goalies, this team has a shot at the title.
My fave VALUE picks: Perron (13), Emelin (20)
Least fave picks: McDonagh (11), Foligno (14)

#4. Amato
I really like the top 10 picks. He's got great potential value in Crawford in the 5th round and 4 excellent forwards in the top 6 picks.
My fave VALUE picks: Kulikov (13), McQuaid (23)
Least fave picks: Fisher (11), Leddy (17)

#3. Legion of Dobber
The 2nd straight year I've actually liked Dobber's team. I'm not fond of drafting defensemen high this year, but I do like that the next 9 picks were 6F/3G. I value-drafted both Anderson & Nabokov in rounds 7/8 of the RHRS this year. Smart drafting of hitting D men at the tail-end of the draft.
My fave VALUE picks: Vermette (16), Brewer (24)
Least fave picks: Granlund (14), Nikitin (20)

#2. Angus Unleashed
Love the top 8 on this team. 6F/2G. I don't mind drafting defensemen late in short-season drafts. There's a lot of randomness in defensemen in short-seasons, heck MAB was a top 5 D-man in scoring through December last year! The D he did draft all have some terrific upside to them. A healthy Kesler could put this team at #1.
My fave VALUE picks: Kesler (10), O.Jokinen (14), Quincey (18)
Least fave picks: Neuvirth (11), Setoguchi (15).

#1. GMG's Market Buzz
The roto king himself. I have faith. Mike Smith & Ondrej Pavelec could be the two work-horse goalies that win him Saves this year. I really expect a bounce-back from Heatley and a very high-octane MIN PP. There are some very solid hitting defensemen here. There's not a ton of hits until... BOOM... Matt Martin in the 17th round. Huge pick. I can not believe the NHL's hits leader slid that far in a 6-cat league.
My fave VALUE picks: Dubinsky (9), Zajac (12), Martin (17), Josi (19)
Least fave picks: Khudobin (16), Scrivens (22). [Only because in a shortened season I think you roll the dice that your Start 2G are your Start 2G and you forfeit contingency plans].

Those 5 picks made, there can never, ever be any doubting in the roto skills of Ma & LOTR, so I expect those teams to be right there.


Picks are based on two key criteria:
1. I expect a shortened season (if any) of about 48 games.
2. Weekly starts of 2G.