When it comes to fantasy hockey, names like Fiddler, Steckel, and Dupuis are not exactly the first to come to mind. But, in leagues that include SHP's, these players can offer some serious value. Here are some other notables to keep an eye on:
(GP-SHG-SHA-HIT-BS-PIM).

1. Sean Couturier (PHI) - The highly touted eighteen year-old has started off his career behind the blue-line playing third line minutes along with top shorthanded minutes. He's not going to pull out Calder winning numbers, but defensively he'll be blocking a good amount of shots and will continue dishing out hits. (15-1-0-14-10-0)

2. Michael Frolik (CHI) - This season is Froliks first playing on the penalty kill. He traditionally lines up with Bolland but takes some shifts with Toews while being down a man. While he may not live up to offensive expectations, he'll offer a steady amount of shorthanded points. (15-0-1-13-11-6)

3. Zack Smith and Eric Condra (OTT) - While these players will only be on very deep fantasy teams, they will be fantastic for filling in shorthanded points. The youthful Sens sit in 4th for penalties taken and it looks to only be getting worse with a losing streak on the verge. Condra has tremendous breakaway speed and Smith will keep bullying his way to create odd man rushes (Smith 16-1-1-21-15-26) (Condra 15-0-1-1-8-0)

4. Michael Grabner (NYI) - Grabner on all accounts is off to a slow start. He finished last season with 40 points in 39 games and has started with five in 12. Grabner's shorthanded time is up and is second on the team in shorthanded time as opposed to being fourth for forwards last season. As long as the speed exists, he will get his chances. (12-0-0-4-4-0)

5. Anze Kopitar (LA) - In the last three seasons, Kopitar finished each year with one shorthanded goal. Those seasons he played the majority of the penalty kill next to Handzus, Stoll and Brown. This season he has record-setting three-on-five goal scorer Mike Richards next to him. Richards had three goals and three assists shorthanded last season and in one year had nine shorthanded points. (15-0-0-9-13-0)

6. Matt Cooke (PIT) - The "new" Matt Cooke has started the season with only four penalty minutes in fifteen games and this has resulted in eight points in those games. He loses his edge in rotisserie leagues, but his shorthanded presence mustn't be overlooked. He had three goals and three assists on the kill last season and the Penguins have scored three goals shorthanded while allowing three powerplay goals. (15-1-1-20-15-4)
10

7. Ryan Smyth (EDM) - The penalty kill currently sits fourth in the league while Smyth has been playing second unit time. Last season he only had 19 seconds a game on the PK and this season he's average 2:03. As long as his heart and drive is still in Edmonton, we could see a couple of shorthanded points from Captain Canada. (14-0-0-6-6-27)

8. Vladimir Sobotka (STL) - Sobotka recently has been lining up with the David Backes and T.J. Oshie five on five while playing fifteen and over a night. He leads the Blues in shorthanded time and while only having one shorthanded point in his short career, he's shooting the puck more and seems more understanding of his role. (14-0-0-25-7-4)

9. Alexandre Burrows (VAN) - Before last season, Burrows had seven, five and four points respectively on the penalty kill. Once he returns from injury, it would ideal for him to hitch his wagon on the back of Ryan Kesler and try to create shorthanded opportunities that way. (14-0-0-9-6-10)

10. Zach Parise (NJ) - The former Sioux has started the season slowly with eight points in 13 games. He does however, have a shorthanded goal which came off a penalty shot. Parise is a dynamic and creative player and for the first time ever has been seeing a regular shift while shorthanded. (13-1-0-10-9-4)


Every Wednesday and Friday, Brandon Landry pens the column "10 Fantasy Thoughts"� under the section 'PG Advised' discussing the latest not-so-obvious movements in line changes and point production. Brandon also posts game recaps under the 'Black Aces' section on the New York Rangers highlighting player performances and will answer any and all Rangers related questions through PM's on the Dobberhockey.com forum.

Check out this article along with one on faceoff winners in the latest Top 100 Roto Rankings created by Fantrax' Gates.

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Follow me for some fantasy hockey tweets @thelandshock

Love this piece.

I've been riding Matt Cooke & Zack Smith in a couple of leagues. The word is OUT!
Great job (sent you some REP).

good job again..

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10 team Keeper Roto League
4C-4LW-4RW-6D-2G-5bench-unlimited farm.

C= crosby,m.koivu,malkin,zajak,grabovski,j.jokinen,
LW= ovechkin,nash,s.gagner,dubinsky
RW= downie,hemsky,callahan,voracek,perry,mueller
D= green,doughty,phaneuf,wisniewski,girardi,karlsson
G= rask,lundqvist,ward,price

FARM=kreider,grachev,petrov,enroth,kuznetsov,ennis ,rundblad,bjugstad,radulov,montoya, adam,t.erixon,cowan,s.elliot,j.faulk,cormier,petro v,orlov,stone,eakin,grigorenko,silfverberg,brodin, atkinson

--G,A,P,PPP,SHP,GWG,PIMS,+/-,SOG,hits,FOW,blocks-Wins,GAA,SV%,saves,SO

Great insight into a category that can make or break your season. I am loving that Parise is getting a regular SH shift (potted another SHG last night)!

Cheers.

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14 team roto(3C,3RW,3LW,5D,2G,5B,1IR-82 max games)
Cats-G,A,+/-,PPP,PIM,SOG,HITS,FOW,BLKS,W,SV%,GAA,SAVES

C-Toews,B. Richards,Hanzal
RW-Voracek,Stewart,Versteeg
LW-Benn(C),Clowe(RW),Pacioretty
D-Pietrangelo,Doughty,Burns,Ehrhoff,Gonchar
G-Rask,Lindback
B-Emery,Havlat,Coburn,Atkinson,Fiddler

7 team roto(3C,3RW,3LW,4D,1U,2G,4B,3IR-86 max games)
Cats-G,A,P,+/-,PIM,PPP,SHP,GWG,W,SV%,GAA,SO

C-Crosby,E.Staal,Pavelski(RW)
RW-Iginla,Clowe(LW),Wheeler
LW–E.Kane,Pacioretty,Semin(RW)
D–Letang,AP,Subban,Shatty
U-Getz
G-Rask,Ward
B–Kipper,Voracek,Moulson,Burns