Fantasy Hockey is the perfect blend of fun and strategy, where you get to draft your dream team and compete against friends and strangers alike. Whether you’re a die-hard hockey fan or just looking to employ a new hobby, fantasy hockey will be the ultimate test of your knowledge and skills.
So, how exactly does fantasy hockey work?
It’s quite simple. You join a league, usually made up of friends or strangers, and draft a team of actual NHL players. These players will earn you points based on their performance on the ice, and the team with the most points at the end of the season will win real cash prizes!
However, it is not only about the draft; it is also about making the right decisions throughout the season. To keep your team in top shape, you’ll need to keep an eye on injuries, trends, and player performances. To strengthen your team, you’ll also need to make strategic trades and pickups. It’s like being a real-life team coach, but without all the stress and all the fun.
Fantasy hockey is simple to learn, but difficult to master. The possibilities are limitless with so many players to choose from and so many different strategies to employ. And what’s the best part? You don’t have to wait for the NHL season to start to play fantasy hockey; you can do it all year long! It’s a game that hockey fans all over the world enjoy, and its popularity is skyrocketing year after year! With the rise of daily and weekly fantasy leagues, it’s easier than ever to join a league and participate. So, if you’re looking for a new hobby or simply want to show your friends that you’re the ultimate hockey expert, fantasy hockey is a great option.
But how will you become the ultimate expert of fantasy hockey? As entertaining as it is, it can also be quite overwhelming and scary, especially when you’re playing for real money. There are so many players to choose from that it can be difficult to decide who to draft and when. That is why a solid draft strategy is essential.
In this blog post, we’ll go over the top 10 fantasy hockey draft strategies to help you build a winning team in 2023.
10 Fantasy Hockey Draft Strategies:
- Know the game & its rules:
One of the most essential ingredients for succeeding in creating an excellent draft is understanding the rules, the points system, and the other nuances of the league you are entering into. You don’t want to be one of those people who don’t understand the leagues they are playing and, as a result, make player selections based on differing expectations. Remember that every league has its set of rules, so go on to the league page and memorize everything you think is important. Once in a while, you will thank yourself for doing so when that information saves you in a game. - Make mock drafts:
You may get a good sense of what other fantasy managers are considering for the upcoming season by creating more and more mock drafts. You can understand and analyze their strategies and create a stronger one yourself. The more mock drafts you make, the more equipped you’ll be for when it doesn’t work out, which in most cases, it is. That’s when you can see the projected numbers and realize where you went wrong. Another benefit of creating multiple mock drafts is to figure out where the players are going, so that you can choose whichever ones you predict will score you most points. - Research & stay up-to-date:
A lot of your fantasy hockey season’s success depends on how well you prepare for it. Find out which players are undervalued and which ones you might steal in drafts by researching projections and other stats. Check out different sites to see player and team rankings. Starting to strategize before the season even starts makes it easier for you to draft the winning team. Stay up to date with news and injuries throughout the season, as this can greatly impact a player’s fantasy value, and prepare you to have a few extra players on your bench in case you need to make a trade or pick up a free agent. - Choose players carefully:
This is probably the most important task at hand, and you need to do it right. Firstly, target your elite forwards early on. Elite forwards are the most valuable players in fantasy hockey, so selecting one or two in the first few rounds is critical. These are the players who will form the foundation of your team and score the most points.
Next, some defense men have a good chance of scoring points, so target these players in your draft. These players are often referred to as “offensive defense men,” and they score more points than defensive defense men.
Finally, if you’re in the later rounds, and you must choose between two players with similar projected stats, go with the player on the better team because they are more likely to perform better with a well-rounded team. - Consider positions:
We already learned that having good players are important, but fantasy hockey is not just about having the top players on your team. While all reputable leagues require owners to play centers, right-wingers, left-wingers, defense men, and goaltenders in their teams, to genuinely stand a chance in a fantasy hockey league, one must have good players in every specific position. - Focus on goal tending:
Goal tending is crucial in fantasy hockey since it has a significant impact on how a game turns out. Even when their opponent outperforms them, a team with a strong goaltender can still come out on top. On the other hand, a team might lose even though they play well if the goaltender is inadequate. Even though the stats of goalies are inconsistent most of the time, go for the one that is on a good team and has had the most saves, and once you decide, stick to it. Changing the goalie repeatedly will not do you well. - Look for sleepers:
Although not all players are well-known, some underrated ones could also have a significant impact on your fantasy team. These players, known as “sleepers,” can be discovered later in the draft. Spend some time researching these sleepers, as they can surprise everyone and end up among the top scorers at the end of the season. Taking a chance with them might be the answer to winning the league! - Stay away from bias:
You might have a favorite team and a lot of favorite players, just like every other hockey fan out there. But when you enter fantasy hockey, you will need to throw away this bias out the window. There are real stakes involved here, and a well-constructed strategy requires you to draft your team with top scorers and other important players instead of choosing the ones you have loved for years. - Know your opponents:
You may have learned to not let your bias make decisions, but a lot of people don’t. That’s why it’s important to know your opponents and their picks. They might do anything to have some teams and players, and knowing this in advance will make it easier for you to smartly plan your own draft picks. - Don’t forget to have fun:
Planning and strategizing your drafts helps, yes. But often times, player performances and entire games turn out to be completely unpredictable, which is why it’s also essential that you don’t attach a lot of hope to the results. Remember why you started playing fantasy hockey in the first place – because it’s fun and exciting. After you are done drafting, sit back, relax, and enjoy the games!
The key to creating a winning draft in fantasy football is to always stay one step ahead of your rivals. You can do that by following the top strategies we have laid out for you.
But if you are bored with playing the same fantasy hockey, and you wish to add a punch to your contests, give DreamPick a chance. The innovative team-based fantasy hockey available on our app eliminates a lot of complicated drafting that traditional fantasy hockey requires. Instead of stressing about that, you can shift your focus to analyzing team stats and selecting your ideal team. Let the stakes get high and the thrill surge on!
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