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Tickets from ticket master
Hockey is a simple game to figure out.
The goalies are required to stop the puck, the defensemen are supposed to make life easier for their goalies by blocking shots and checking opposing forwards, the centers are in charge of taking the faceoffs and making the passes to create scoring chances, and the wings are supposed to put the puck in the net.
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This is why fantasy owners love wings. It does not matter whether they play
on the left or the right, just as long as they do their job - that job being
scoring goals.
The talent pool is very deep at wing, since each team uses eight every night. To find good wings for your fantasy team, you should try to get guys who play on the top two lines on their teams, have a good center passing them the puck, receive plenty of power-play time and know how to play somewhat well defensively so their plus-minus is not always in the negatives. And a 100-mph slap shot and blazing speed does not hurt, either. Ticketmaster
So here are the top 60 wings heading into the 2003-04 campaign, beginning with a terrific twosome from Vancouver:
1. Markus Naslund, Canucks: Sweden has not had a greater import since ABBA. Naslund ranked first in the NHL last season with 24 power-play goals and second in points with 104. His point totals the past four seasons have been 64, 75, 90 and 104, so could a 110-point season be far-fetched?
2. Todd Bertuzzi, Canucks: He is the power forward on arguably the most dangerous line in hockey, and with Naslund distracting the defenses and Brendan Morrison making the pinpoint passes, this bull in a china shop has no choice but to score 90-100 points. Ticketmaster
3. Jarome Iginla, Flames: Do not forget about the 2001-02 scoring champion just because a nagging groin problem slowed down his point production last season. He won a scoring title with Craig Conroy as his center. Enough said.
4. Marian Hossa, Senators: He finally put the Bryan Berard incident from a few years ago behind him and became a 45-goal guy last season. Expect him to become a 50-goal guy as soon as this season.
5. Paul Kariya, Avalanche: He has not had a 35-goal season since 1999-00. Of course, he was on a team that cared more about defense than letting their most creative player do what he wanted, and he usually played with centers that did not have much ability. Now he will be playing with Joe Sakic on a team that will give him free reign to do whatever he wants.
The rest of the top 60:
6. Milan Hejduk, Avalanche: The NHL's leading goal scorer and only 50-goal sniper in 2002-03 should have another outstanding season playing with Peter Forsberg and Alex Tanguay.
7. Jaromir Jagr, Capitals: He used to win scoring titles all the time. Now he is just a 75-point player. Ticketmaster
8. Glen Murray, Bruins: His career has gone into overdrive since teaming up with Joe Thornton in Boston.
9. Alexei Kovalev, Rangers: His career numbers in New York pale in comparison to what his numbers were during his heyday in Pittsburgh.
10. Zigmund Palffy, Kings: The flamboyant winger has averaged more than a point per game in seven of the past eight seasons.
11. Keith Tkachuk, Blues: This prototypical power forward's combination of brute strength and soft hands always makes him a threat to score at least a point every game.
12. Alexander Mogilny, Maple Leafs: Mats Sundin is the best center he has played with since Pat LaFontaine. Ticketmaster
13. Marian Gaborik, Wild: Minnesota's franchise player is currently holding out, so pray this does not last much longer if you have him.
14. Daniel Alfredsson, Senators: He finally has learned how to stay healthy and his fantasy value has doubled because of it.
15. Ilya Kovalchuk, Thrashers: This future 50-goal guy will score 30-40 goals this season but kill your plus-minus while doing so.
16. Brendan Shanahan, Red Wings: Put it in the bank - 30 goals, 10 power-play goals and 100 penalty minutes, at least.
17. Ryan Smyth, Oilers: Edmonton's top gun will need more help from a depleted supporting cast if he is to score a point per contest.
18. Sergei Samsonov, Bruins: If his wrist, which caused him to miss almost all of last season, is 100 percent, he could score 80 points.
19. Miroslav Satan, Sabres: The evil one could have his best season to date if he clicks with either Daniel Briere or Chris Drury. Ticketmaster
20. Alex Tanguay, Avalanche: Totally turned his flailing game around last season once Tony Granato took over as coach in Colorado.
21. Simon Gagne, Flyers: He has tons of talent, and just as many groin problems.
22. Teemu Selanne, Avalanche: The "Finnish Flash" gets to play with old pal Kariya in Colorado.
23. Ray Whitney, Red Wings: His scoring will stay about the same, but his plus-minus will be 10 times better now that he is with Detroit.
24. Brett Hull, Red Wings: Playing with youngsters Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg makes Hull look like he is 25 again.
25. Martin Havlat, Senators: He has the potential to score 40 goals, and the potential of a disastrous season because of a prolonged holdout.
26. Vaclav Prospal, Mighty Ducks: He might have been a one-year wonder in Tampa Bay. Sergei Fedorov and the Ducks will find out one way or the other.
27. Martin St. Louis, Lightning: This super-quick, undersized assassin is a late bloomer who can score goals in a hurry.
28. Jeff O'Neill, Hurricanes: He has scored over 60 points in four straight seasons, but he failed to reach the 70-point mark in any of them.
29. Patrik Elias, Devils: Pat Burns and the stringent Devils system hold this ultra-talented wingman down.
30. Peter Bondra, Capitals: He can still fly at age 35, although his scoring is down.
31. Martin Straka, Penguins: The most injury prone player in hockey. Once hurt his back when a weight machine fell on him. Also once had his eye socket fractured by his own goalie high-sticking him.
32. Bill Guerin, Stars: The serious thigh injury that befell him at the end of last season has to be a cause for concern.
33. Eric Daze, Blackhawks: One of the most lethal players around the net because of his Yao Ming-like reach.
34. Tony Amonte, Flyers: Playing alongside buddy Jeremy Roenick did wonders for his fantasy worth when he was dealt to Philly at the trading deadline.
35. Steve Sullivan, Blackhawks: This firecreacker forward has averaged 65 points per season over the past four years.
36. Alexei Morozov, Penguins: If he plays with Mario Lemieux and does not break any bones, he will turn out to be a great steal.
37. Petr Sykora, Mighty Ducks: The Sykora-Fedorov-Prospal line has the makings of something special.
38. Geoff Sanderson, Blue Jackets: Quietly scored 67 points last season while playing with soulmate Andrew Cassels.
39. Anson Carter, Rangers: The jury still is out on how well he will perform for a full season in "The Big Apple."
40. Henrik Zetterberg, Red Wings: Do not expect a sophomore slump or jinx here.
41. Vyacheslav Kozlov, Thrashers: His 70 points last season were his best since 1995-96. It is uncertain yet whether Dany Heatley's absence will hurt or help his fantasy value.
42. Shane Doan, Coyotes: This power forward has failed to take his 25-goal game to the next level.
43. Mike Knuble, Bruins: This biggest surprise in fantasy hockey last season will be just fine as long as he stays with Murray and Thornton.
44. Mike Johnson, Coyotes: Totaled a career-high 63 points last season.
45. Mike York, Oilers: His versatility at center and wing allows Edmonton to use him more than most forwards.
46. Adam Deadmarsh, Kings: Concussion problems may haunt him throughout the season again.
47. Richard Zednik, Canadiens: Mr. Z is one of the streakiest snipers in fantasy hockey.
48. Ladislav Nagy, Coyotes: Went virtually unnoticed last season, even though he totaled 57 points, knocked in eight power-play goals and was a plus-17.
49. Owen Nolan, Maple Leafs: Looked like a new man last season once he donned the Maple Leafs' colors. Ticketmaster
50. Pascal Dupuis, Wild: He has the nerve to hold out after one decent year?
51. Jan Hrdina, Coyotes: Should score a lot less now that he won't be playing with Mario Lemieux.
52. Scott Young, Stars: Great when paired with Mike Modano, terrible when he is not.
53. Mark Recchi, Flyers: His point totals have steadily declined over the past four seasons.
54. Brad Isbister, Oilers: This injury-riddled, inconsistent power forward might thrive on a new team.
55. Jere Lehtinen, Stars: He is a perennial Selke Trophy candidate who can chip in 20-25 goals. Ticketmaster
56. Mark Parrish, Islanders: Sometimes he shows up to play, and sometimes he disappears like Casper the Friendly Ghost.
57. Cory Stillman, Lightning: He should take Prospal's spot on Vinny Lecavalier's line in Tampa Bay.
58. Kristian Huselius, Panthers: Also knows as "The Useless One" in some fantasy circles, he needs to stay out of Mike Keenan's doghouse so he can score some goals.
59. Rick Nash, Blue Jackets: The top pick in the 2002 draft was thrown into the fire last season and performed rather nicely. His fantasy value will be much better in three years.
60. Pavel Bure, Rangers: He has not officially retired yet. There are dumber things you can do than take a chance on a former 60-goal scorer.