The league in my sig uses a keeper salary cap. We keep 5 and all five players must fit under a cap of $200. There is no team salary cap, just for the five keepers. A player's value is calculated based on draft position and actual production.

I am in the fortunate position to have several options on the table, and I am seeking your thoughts, opinions, and wisdom. Keep in mind that most undrafted FA's I sign by the trading deadline (all keeper-eligible players must by on our rosters by the trading deadline) is eligible to keep for $2.20.

PLAYER/TEAM/POS/$VALUE
Alex Ovechkin, Was LW 93.5
Evgeni Nabokov, SJ G 86.9
Ryan Miller, Buf G 82.5
Ryan Getzlaf, Ana C 60.5
Bobby Ryan, Ana RW, LW 56.1
Ilya Kovalchuk, Atl LW 50.1
Ryan Kesler, Van C 46.8
Anze Kopitar, LA C 46.2
Shane Doan, Pho RW 42.4
Tuomo Ruutu, Car LW, RW 42.4
Martin St. Louis, TB RW 39.1
Nicklas Lidstrom, Det D 37.4
Travis Zajac, NJ C 36.3
Milan Hejduk, Col RW 31.4
Chris Kunitz, Pit LW 29.7
Drew Doughty, LA D 29.7
Alexander Edler, Van D 23.1
Michal Rozsival, NYR D 17.1
Andy Greene, NJ D 14.9
Evander Kane, Atl C, LW 14.9
Greg Zanon, Min D 13.2
Steve Downie, TB RW 10.5
Mike Modano, Dal C 6.6

Strategy I: Keep Ovechkin, Miller, E.Kane. Then sign Jordan Eberle ($2.2) at the deadline and stash him on the bench. For the 5th keeper, either try to trade (and likely overpay) for a cheap option like Matt Duchene, Michal Neuvirth, Jonathan Bernier, etc) or gamble on a FA who might return to the NHL next season (Jagr, Hudler, Radulov, etc). The benefits of this strategy are clear: I keep the best player in the game, only have to worry about drafting 1 goalie next year, and I'd have two top youngsters in E.Kane and Eberle. The primary drawback to this strategy is releasing the likes of Doughty, Getzlaf, Ryan, Edler, Kovalchuk, Kesler, Kopitar, etc into the draft pool. I may be able to re-acqurie one or two of them, but it's a lot to pass up.

Strategy II: Trade Ovechkin between now and the deadline for a high pick then keep Kovalchuk, B.Ryan, Doughty, E.Kane, and someone like Kesler. Easier said than done, because I'd likely have to find someone who is set on keeping the most expensive player in the league. If I was successful though, it would open the door to keep Kovalchuk and Doughty for less than AO. Major benefit - a wider array of high-impact talent for next year. Major drawback - no goalies kept and no Ovechkin.

Strategy III: Forget Ovechkin, keep Miller, Nabokov, E.Kane, and then sign Eberle and another 2010-11 rookie.

Strategy IV: Insert your strategy here.

Thanks a lot for taking the time to read this and for sharing your ideas. If this type of league interests you, I do have three teams seeking new management. See my post in the appropriate thread for more details.

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ESPN Pts keeper league (19 Teams, keep max of 10, salary cap):
G (1.8), A(1.0), PIM(.1), HIT(.2), BLK(.2), GWG(.2), SHG(.6), FOW/L(.1/-.1), DEF(.2), +/-(0.3), GS(.5), W(3), L(-1), OTL(1), SV(.2), SO(3)
Play 4C, 4RW, 4LW, 6D, 1UTIL and 2G
LW: Benn*, E.Kane*
C: Stamkos, Eberle*, B.Schenn
RW: Niederreiter
D: Subban, Pietrangelo
G: Miller, Schneider
* = multiple position eligibility

IF you are not trying to win it all this year:

I would definitly try to trade OV for picks.

How many teams in your league?
If you have 12+ teeams, I'd keep a goalie for sure.
Will Miller repeat next year? It's hard to say, so for 5 extra bucks, I'd keep Nabber.
Trade Miller for Picks.

Nabber = 86.9
Kovalchuk = 50.1 (How can he be worth less then Bobby Ryan?)

That adds up to : 137 (so I would have 63 left)

Then you can go a few ways:
1. Bobby Ryan = 56.1 + sign 2 kids at 2.2) = 2.5 left

2. Kopitar = 46.2 + E. Kane = 14.8 + a kid a 2.2 (although you would need to keep Miller instead of Nabokov)

are positions important or is it fowards only?

Anyways those were my first ideas.

Thanks for your ideas, Noriculous.

I.There are 19 teams (see signature), and I am competing for the cup, but I think I would still have a shot without Ovechkin.

II. Kovalchuk has played six fewer games and has only earned five more fantasy points than Bobby Ryan, so that explains the slight financial difference between them. Prices fluctuate all year based on performance, injuries, etc.

III. I think I'd be inclined to keep Miller over Nabokov because he is five years younger and they have averaged approximately the same number of wins, losses and saves over the last three season (http://www.dobberhockey.com/frozenpo...-2010%3AR%3A99

Would you target Eberle as a potential candidate for fantasy relevance next year? Who else?

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ESPN Pts keeper league (19 Teams, keep max of 10, salary cap):
G (1.8), A(1.0), PIM(.1), HIT(.2), BLK(.2), GWG(.2), SHG(.6), FOW/L(.1/-.1), DEF(.2), +/-(0.3), GS(.5), W(3), L(-1), OTL(1), SV(.2), SO(3)
Play 4C, 4RW, 4LW, 6D, 1UTIL and 2G
LW: Benn*, E.Kane*
C: Stamkos, Eberle*, B.Schenn
RW: Niederreiter
D: Subban, Pietrangelo
G: Miller, Schneider
* = multiple position eligibility