Harling Fantasy Hockey

2012 NHL Prospect Guide

2012-06-18T10:33:00.000-04:00

Fantasy Hockey Coach Prospects Guide examines the top prospects in the NHL. What you can expect in the Prospects Guide is player profile, projection, potential upside, current player comparison and estimated time of arrival in the NHL. In order to qualify as a prospect for our guide the player must be under the age of 25 and have played less then 20 NHL regular season games. The guide will be roughly 100+ pages and give readers insight into each NHL team's prospect with a fantasy twist. A look at the top 20 prospects for the next four NHL Entry Drafts.

The FHC Prospects Guide will be released every July. $4.95

Have a look at the preview
To see a preview of the 2012 FHC Prospects Guide click here.

Will Daniel Alfredsson and Erik karlsson return? Off Season Decisions for the Ottawa Senators

2012-05-24T13:24:00.000-04:00

Originally Posted on The Hockey Writers

Heading into next season, expectations will be far greater than at this time last year for the Ottawa Senators.

A return to the post season and life beyond the first round is where the bar will be set.

But just how high will that measurement of expectation go? After all, it was only last year the Senators were a lottery pick and most experts expected them to finish lower than that for this season!

With plenty of talented young prospects on the rise, there will be difficult decisions to be made in Ottawa from the draft, through free agency right up to training camp.

The biggest questions surrounding the Ottawa Senators this summer will be the future of their Captain Daniel Alfredsson, and resigning RFA Erik Karlsson. Alfie has one year remaining on his contract that will pay him $1 million but he is 39 years old and may decide to retire. While he is still playing at a All-Star level, he suffered two concussions this season, and had back surgery the previous off season. It is a real possibility that he chooses his health and family over playing the final year of his contract.

NHL Expansion and Realignment Option

2012-04-24T17:01:00.000-04:00

Currently the NHL is a 30 team league. The current collective bargaining agreement is about to expire, and last season the Atlanta Thrashers moved to Winnipeg and the League has had a potential realignment plan rejected by the NHLPA. The Phoenix Coyotes have no owner and several other teams are in financial distress. With so many issues swirling and surrounding the NHL when the dust settles, what will the map look like?

The IR Report: Playoff Edition

2012-04-18T15:08:00.000-04:00

In this weeks report we look at updates, players recently injured, the resulting suspensions, and more.

Burn it to the Ground: Rebuilding the Calgary Flames

2012-04-13T10:05:00.001-04:00

The Calgary Flames over the past several years have been a veteran team with playoff aspirations in mind. Unfortunately they have failed to qualify for the post season for the last three seasons. With a veteran roster that is fifth highest paid in the league and a bare prospect cupboard, it is time to burn the current franchise down, and build it back up again.

The IR Report - Stanley Cup Playoff Edition

2012-04-11T11:52:00.000-04:00

The Stanley Cup Playoffs round one begins, but not for players on the IR Report.

2012 NHL Stanley Cup Playoff Round One Preview: New York Rangers VS Ottawa Senators

2012-04-09T15:23:00.001-04:00

Originally posted at: The Hockey Writers

The First place New York Rangers will hold home ice advantage in a best of seven series against the eighth placed Ottawa Senators in round one of the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Will this be a quick series sweep as the standings would indicate, or is there potential for a first round upset?

2012 Fantasy NHL Playoff Pool Fantasy Draft Guide

2012-04-09T14:50:00.000-04:00

If you are entering a fantasy hockey playoff pool for the first time, or an annual office pool you need to approach choosing your players in a much different manner than you would for a regular season pool. Simply drafting the highest scoring player in each box, or round is a sure fire recipe for failure. To win in the playoffs you need a different strategy and this guide holds the keys to help you reign victorious over the competition.

In this guide, we will tell you who our four predictions to be in the conference finals are plus our favorite to be a dark horse. Every year there seems to be one Cinderella team that defies the odds and plays beyond the first round or two, even go all the way. In addition to that we will highlight each team’s fantasy depth chart and top ten fantasy players.

To check out the FREE Playoff Guide, simply CLICK HERE.

What you will find in the guide:

The Ottawa Senators Cinderella Season

2012-04-04T20:55:00.000-04:00

Originally posted at The Hockey Writers
Every year in the playoffs there are upsets in the first round as a lower seeded team defeats a higher seeded team. On occasion, the upsetting team is able to carry that momentum beyond a single round and become a Cinderella team, going all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals. And although rather rare, there have been times when such a team has been able to beat the odds to become the Stanley Cup Champions. The Ottawa Senators are hoping for such a magical run this year.

The IR Report April 4th

2012-04-04T12:52:00.000-04:00

In this week’s edition of the IR Report, Jonathan Toews, Daniel Briere, Tyler Myers, Carey Price and a new injury term: Maintenance Day-to-Maintenance Day

“Blueprint” Doug Gilmour’s Vision for the Kingston Frontenacs

2012-04-03T09:52:00.001-04:00

Ice hockey has been played in the city of Kingston, Ontario, as far back as 1843. Don Cherry will be quick to tell you that Kingston is the birth place of hockey. The franchise currently known as the Kingston Frontenacs, who play in the Ontario Hockey League have been in existence since 1945 and have also been known as the Canadiens and the Raiders. While Kingston hockey is rich in its history, recent history has not been very prosperous. In fact, the Frontenacs currently own the second longest championship drought in the OHL, and fourth longest in the entire Canadian Hockey League. With the last division title way back in 1995, the team (and the city) has endured season after season of disappointment. Hockey Hall of Fame inductee Doug Gilmour is now the team’s General Manager, and his vision for the Frontenacs is one of championships and pride. In order to realize this vision he has a Blueprint.

The IR Report March 28th

2012-03-28T15:36:00.002-04:00

In this week’s edition of the IR, Taylor Hall, Daniel Sedin, Nicklas Backstrom, and Jonathan Toews; who is coming back, who’s out, and who is done for the season.

Book Review: Tough Guy

2012-03-26T15:41:00.000-04:00

Originally Posted on: The Hockey Writers
Bob Probert was arguably the best enforcer in the History of the NHL. He finished fifth all time with 3,300 penalty minutes and was in 238 fights in his career. Not only was he a fearsome fighter, he could play. In 935 career regular season games Probert scored 163 goals, 221 assists for 384 points. But of all the fights Probert fought in his life, the toughest one was with addiction.

Ottawa Senators Top Ten Prospects

2012-03-22T19:23:00.001-04:00

Originally Posted on: The Hockey Writers
The Ottawa Senators began what was supposed to be a long slow and painful rebuild last year. The season has not gone according to plan; instead they sit comfortably in a playoff position with less than ten regular season games remaining. A pleasant if not shocking turn of events to be sure. But the thing that has Sens fans most excited is not necessarily the current success the team is enjoying but rather the promise their prospects offer for the future. The Ottawa roster is laden with talented players who are under 30 such as Jason Spezza (29), Erik Karlsson ( 22), Kyle Turris (22), Milan Michalek (26) and Nick Foligno (23) to name a few. The Hockey News recently released its annual edition of Future Watch and graded the Senators an A- with the fifth overall best prospect depth in the NHL. Among their list of the Sens top ten there are five players in the top 100, and three in the top 50. The Sens boast in impressive group of young talent consisting primarily of forwards with only one goalie and one defenseman cracking the list. For purposes of this list I only included players who are under the age of 23, and have played less than 50 career NHL games.

The IR Report March 21st

2012-03-21T13:48:00.001-04:00

The regular season is coming to a close. Injuries will be a factor in the playoffs. The Detroit Red Wings, Chicago Blackhawks and Philadelphia Flyers are missing some key players, while the Pittsburgh Penguins are in the best shape they have been in the last two years!

The Future of Justin Schultz

2012-03-20T16:23:00.000-04:00

Image Courtesy of: Zhao Lim

NHL free agency is not until July first, and there are only a few prominent names that may be available for the highest bidder. Zach Parise, Alex Semin, Nicklas Lidstrom, and Teemu Selanne are at the top of the list. Lidstrom and Selanne will remain where they are or retire, Semin may end up in Russia. That leaves Parise as the only big prize that a GM could acquire to help build a franchise around. That is unless Justin Schultz becomes available as a UFA.

Alexander Radulov Returns to the Nashville Predators

2012-03-19T16:17:00.001-04:00

The Nashville Predators went from being a dark horse, to Stanley Cup contender with the announcement the star forward Alexander Radulov is about to return to the NHL.

Erik Karlsson: The Next Elite Defenseman

2012-03-09T10:38:00.000-05:00

Originally Posted at: The Hockey Writers

When the Ottawa Senators drafted Erik Karlsson 15^th overall in the 2008 NHL entry draft they had high hopes for him as all first round picks are full of promise and potential. In less than four years those hopes are not only realized, but perhaps far exceeded!

The IR Report, March 7th 2012

2012-03-07T16:07:00.000-05:00

Injuries mount as Jagr, Duchene, Letang, JVR, Howard and more join the list. Updates on Crosby, Toews, Lecavalier, Markov and more…

Originally posted on: Dobber Hockey

Are the Ottawa Senators for Real?

2012-03-05T19:22:00.000-05:00

Leading into the beginning of this season, hockey experts and prognosticators (and probably even Sens management included) were writing off the Sens season before it began labeling it a rebuild. Now with less than 20 games to play, Ottawa is firmly in the post season with a seven point cushion. Again, most are not predicting the Ottawa Senators to win the Stanley Cup, or even win a round. Is that a mistake? Do they have a shot? Are the Ottawa Senators for real?

Top Ten Fantasy Value Draft Eligible Players

2012-03-02T12:05:00.000-05:00

Originally posted on The Hockey Writers

There are plenty of rankings available each year for the upcoming NHL Entry Draft. As fantasy hockey managers we read and pour over these lists and read the scouting report looking for the best fantasy value in the draft. Most pools do not go deep enough to look beyond the top ten players with fantasy value, so here is the only list with that ranking in mind.

Leafs Prospect Update: Carter Ashton

2012-02-29T15:36:00.001-05:00

Leafs General Manager recently acquired Carter Ashton at the NHL trade deadline in exchange for defensemen Keith Aulie. Both players have been playing in the AHL this season. While it is sad to say good-bye to Aulie, a big defensive defenseman lets meet the new guy. Leaf fans, get to know Carter Ashton.

The IR Report

2012-02-29T14:22:00.000-05:00

Get the fantasy injury info on Lidstrom, Versteeg, Toews, Koivu, Crosby and Backstrom

Originally Posted On: Dobber Hockey

The Five Best Offers for Rick Nash: Toronto Maple Leafs

2012-02-26T11:26:00.000-05:00

Whenever there is a star player in the rumor mill Leafs Nation immediately begins to buzz, speculating (or dreaming) about how Brian Burke will trade some third liners, mediocre prospects and a bad contract to make the star a Leaf. Most of the time I put very little stock in the Leafs chances of making a major deal, but in this case I believe there is substance to Burke being able to acquire Rick Nash.

Five Best Offers for Rick Nash: New York Rangers

2012-02-25T15:34:00.000-05:00

The Rangers have been seen as one of the heavy favorites in the Rick Nash sweepstakes since Nash became available. One of the most significant obstacles for the Rangers to acquire Nash has been the salary cap, the Rangers are right up on the cap ceiling and can not afford to fir Nash in without some maneuvering. With two days to the deadline the Rangers did some maneuvering sending Wojtek Wolski and his $3.8 million cap hit to the Florida Panthers. Is this a precursor for a Rick Nash blockbuster?