Written by Chris Wassel | 30 August 2009

I do not have a cool banner but I do have the next 48 as promised in our ongoing mock draft. This is based on normal H2H scoring and 12 teams per round. Upcoming is rounds 5-8 and no we will not protect the innocent. Just sit back and enjoy and of course comment away after. Our formulas are based on the first 48 which was done in July.


Round 5

49. Jonas Hiller (ANA) -- Obvious choice here and may have gone higher if not for Giguere Watch. The bottom line is his potential can still go up and really will be a steal at late Round 4 or early Round 5. Would be a perfect compliment to Pekka Rinne if you can't snag a goalie early.

50. Nikolai Khabibulin (EDM) -- Oddly enough he can still win for you and with that young lineup up there. Khabibulin is the perfect guy to backend that crew. He may not get 40 wins but he should put up some very solid numbers in your pool. This may be a bit high for him but we shall see.

51. Mike Ribeiro (DAL) -- Dallas "should" be healthier this year which will bode well for Ribeiro. Despite everything he still produced 78 points last season and expect about the same. People do not usually pick him this early but based on his numbers...this is where he should still be.

52. Jonathan Toews (CHI) -- If one guy can step away from the chaos and deliver...its this guy. Toews had balanced numbers and I think can break the 70 point plateau with ease this year. The Hawks will need him if they expect to hold off the Blues for 2nd place in the Central. A nice pick.

53. Scott Niedermayer (ANA) -- Probably his last good season and maybe his last period. Niedermayer should have a nice arsenal to get points from...especially on the Power Play where he will be the go to defenseman. You will want this guy and probably the next guy on our list as well...for different reasons.

54. Chris Pronger (PHI) -- What a perfect fit! Bruising guy who can score a bit in the city of Brotherly Love. Pronger will love Philly and the style they play. Feeding guys like Jeff Carter and Mike Richards will help Pronger's bottom line. Here's to another good year of success and you may want to get him earlier even.

55. David Booth (FLA) -- A late riser. Booth is ready to break out even more this year. He had 60 points in only 72 games last year and his ice time is expected to increase. With deft hands and a solid shot...you will want him NOW rather than later.

56. David Krejci (BOS) -- Yes he is injured but a guy you will want to stash away for later in the season. Those hands and hearty +/- are too good to pass up and people will draft him early. So although he likely won't be back till Thanksgiving or so....still a good idea to go for him.

57. Ray Whitney (CAR) -- Why so low? Well we do not know if the old man has it in him to do it one more time. Hopefully he does and most are banking on that. The near 80 points is not a fluke and with Staal paired on his side...expect around the same again. To me, that is solid.

58. Simon Gagne (PHI) -- May be a bit overvalued here given his injury history but that Flyer team can score. When he is healthy he is probably in the top 48 but I had my doubts where to place him. The injury in the development camp does not ease my fears but he should be back in plenty of time for the regular season. A nice pick.

59. Anze Kopitar (LA) -- This guy should be higher but had a bit of a down year last season. Hopefully with Ryan Smyth his numbers should head upward again mainly because the leadership burden will be off of him. Expect a nice season...the kind a late Round 5 guy should have.

60. Scott Gomez (MTL) -- I expect him to do well in Montreal. Maybe end of Round 5 is a bit crazy but not so fast. As a Devil, he was a top 50 pick and I am thinking now out of Gotham he may get there again. It does not hurt that his good buddy Brian Gionta is with him. At the very least Gomez should have 50+ assists this year.

Round 6

61. Slava Kozlov (ATL) -- Still good but expect a bit of a dropoff. I think Antropov may be the bigger impact guy with Kovalchuk this year but that is just me. However with Kozlov's consistency we have him a few notches above Nik Antropov in drafts. Hence you will see that other guy in this round.

62. Chris Kunitz (PIT) -- One of our high risers. A full season with Crosby and Guerin should elevate Kunitz from his 50-55 point normalcy into the high 60's to low 70's possibly. There is that kind of upside especially if Crosby ever figures out a slapper or wrist shot from beyond 10 feet. Kunitz will also mix it up and get those garbage goals on the Power Play.

63, Daniel Alfredsson (OTT) -- He will go this high on reputation but the reality is he should go lower. I see the potential of him finally beginning to break down this year sadly. Alfie will still produce but just not what you are accustomed to. Not bad....just not top 3 or 4 rounds like he used to be.

64. Nik Antropov (ATL) -- Has the potential to be the 2nd leading scorer in ATL behind Kovalchuk. Big Russian with pretty good hands and a bit streaky this is true. However, with that lineup....scoring chances are akin to scoring chances going the other way. So there will be quite a few 5-4 and 6-5 games. Antropov will benefit on the PP especially.

65. Ryan Smyth (LA) -- Another name recognition type pick. I think he should go lower but they will love him because he is going to a better team now. Always works that way. He has talent around but have the good times gone? I guess we will find out this year what he really has left.

66. David Perron (STL) -- He has the potential to break out even further with more ice time (less than 15:00 ATOI last year). He had 50 points but heated up over the second half. With a healthier Blues team he could see bigger numbers and a nice +/-. May seem like a surprise but it is not really.

67. Brad Moyes (STL) -- Can't play D worth **** but can score on the PP like no one's business. He'd be in the top 48 if he could play even a hair better of a 2 way game but you cannot ignore those 16 PPG's on a team that was decimated by injuries. About the same point total this year with maybe something better than a -20.

68. Jamie Langenbrunner (NJ) -- Does not get the respect that he deserves....and can score in bunches which is kind of good for fantasy owners at this point. Expect another season close to last year and a nice +/- to go along with it. You could do much worse at this point.

69. Ales Hemsky (EDM) -- He could have gone higher....this is true. But with some mild injury concerns....we pushed him down a bit. Do not be surprised if he goes off this year. The 66 points in 72 games were not a fluke. He is a good player on a rising team. Let's see what he can do this year.

70. Teemu Selanne (ANA) -- His last year and with Saku Koivu on his side...he should go out with a bang. Selanne has been working out hard all offseason because he honestly wants to go out at the top of his game. I like that and fantasy owners should too. This duo has the makings of a very solid year.

71. Mark Streit (NYI) -- He led the Isles in points last year despite playing on a blueline that was well....problematic. With the youngsters all now in place...the Isles though still a few years away have some talent to put up some points. That will be to Streit's advantage and his +/- will be about the same too. Got to like the potential there.

72. JP Dumont (NSH) -- Oddly enough a guy that is not all that bad. He gets 65-70 points and the world is happy. I think he could get a few more this year and with our next time upcoming makes a nice duo on your fantasy team if you are on the back to back picks.

Round 7

73. Olli Jokinen (CGY) -- I expect him to be more consistent this year now knowing what Calgary is like offensively. Too many times last year there was little chemistry at key points of the season. That will be less of a case this year. Jokinen will click with Iginla and there will be points abound. Question is how much will they spread around.

74. Johan Franzen (DET) -- The type of player that is starting to get his due and with the old guard in Detroit getting older...this is the perfect time for him to shine. Franzen has a pretty good shot but makes his bread and butter in front of the net driving the opposition crazy. His 31 goals last year were no fluke and I expect him to improve his assists this year too.

75. Derek Roy (BUF) -- Will simply reap up the ice time and the points again this year enough to be a worthy pick at this spot. Still has potential to move up in points but maybe this is where he belongs. Some guys just don't reach it and really I guess it is not all that bad if he doesn't. Has nice chemistry with Vanek.

76. Saku Koivu (ANA) -- Mr. Montreal should see a resurgence playing with Teemu Selanne. Its the move Duck fans were screaming for and now they have it. Koivu can still put up points and that Ducks PP looks suddenly even better than last year. Scary thought. Better is that they do not have to rely all on one line. Oh my.

77. Ryane Clowe (SJ) -- Some do not like this kid but I do. Him and the other SJ kid up next could really do some nice things for a team that just cleared out some old to get some new. Clowe could surprise again this year.

78. Devin Setoguchi (SJ) -- Yes he will likely drop off a hair or stay steady but that is enough to draft him this high. Loading up never hurts and taking a guy like Devin is a smart move. Sharks still have some nice youngsters that is for sure.

79. Jason Blake (TOR) -- It pained us to put him here but he probably has the best potential to lead the Leafs in scoring other than maybe Matt Stajan. Blake can net 30 with the right passers and I think he may be able to squeeze that out this campaign. A somewhat better D will boost his +/- as well.

80. Loui Eriksson (DAL) -- Will not drop off all that much but do not expect 36 goals again. He will be a nice solid fantasy player that should go around Round 7 or 8. He will not plummet like some have in Dallas in the past.

81. Travis Zajac (NJ) -- Another guy that doesn't quite get the respect. ZZ Pop will start boil over with points and Zajac is a good two way player that can shoot the puck more when needed. A nice little fantasy change of pace and someone that should go up in this region.

82. David Backes (STL) -- A guy who also benefited from injuries to Blues players last year. His 21 goals and 33 assists are a sign of things to come as St. Louis has quietly amassed some pretty good talent. Its almost like the you didn't see it coming but you should have. Expect at least 60 points or more this year.

83. Andy MacDonald (STL) -- People forget about him but he is a dynamo on the man advantage. If he plays all 82...he is a sneaky risk pick at this juncture but hey sometimes you have to go for it. Might be a time to take him because someone will take a shot.

84. Mikko Koivu (MIN) -- Last year was not a fluke. With the pace that the Wild expect to play this year...that could help Koivu's numbers not fall off very much if at all. Koivu was a blessing on the PP. Expect that trend to continue under the new regime in place.

Round 8

85. Jason Pominville (BUF) -- The disappointment last year could be felt on every fantasy roster that had this guy. He really I believe held down Vanek's numbers early in the season. Though Pominville did better in the second half...the damage had been done. He does about the same this year.

86. Michael Ryder (BOS) -- Has to step up with the injuries to Krejci and Kessel. And I believe he will. Ryder plays MTL six times and loves to score against them and division rivals as well. He could get good first line time which will be a big boost.

87. Tomas Vokoun (FLA) -- Someone will overreach in Round 8 or sooner...its guaranteed. The numbers look too enticing until you take a deeper look and realize Vokoun is the Nik Antropov of goalies....attractive at first...uglier on second look.

88. Jonathan Quick (LA) -- I think he gets buried in most drafts because people do not look at LA and goaltending at quite the same pace or timing. He is a better goalie than where he will be drafted. I can assure you of that. Expect more starts for him as well as he is the #1.

89. Jason Arnott (NSH) -- Thinking is he will have a better season than last. He is normally that 65-70 point guy and should be closer to that this year. Keep in mind he had 57 points in 65 games last year. People will forget about him in most leagues...you would be surprised.

90. Brad Richards (DAL) -- I still have my doubts with the injury bug and he may go higher but I still maintain he should go here. Dallas could use him more on the 2nd line and that would impact his numbers some. However someone is going to take him early...it happens every year.

91. Jordan Staal (PIT) -- He should get more PP time which should help his numbers. Him and the next pick are kind of alike in the sense they are regarded for one thing more than others. Staal is a nice shorthanded threat to have as well.

92. Mikhail Grabovski (TOR) -- HE IS A PEST. Makes Sean Avery look like Christmas Dinner. But he can score and agitate as well. And his finishing touch is better than most give him credit for. If he can garner a little more ice time...he could be a surprise steal in Round 8 or 9.

93. Bryan Little (ATL) -- Hey he may just get a little more time with Kovalchuk still so do not give up on him. He has talent no question and Little will get better. A sleeper no longer....he is on many fantasy radars and I am sure people are waiting for him to drop.

94. Vaclav Prospal (NYR) -- The one guy that could do well in NY under Torts. He seems to just play better with him in charge. Simply a low contract will entice him to put up the numbers. You could do worse.

95. Matt Stajan (TOR) -- Some really like this guy and some hate him to no end. I am in the middle but at the end of Round 8 or 9 he shall go. Hopefully he puts up the 60 points or so he is expected to otherwise we are all in big trouble.

96. Brian Boucher (PHI) -- WHAT????? I will hear about this one for awhile but Philly is better off with him over Emery and he will prove it as the season goes on. Boucher knows how to win in the regular season and though this may seem a shocker...it really is not.


Rounds 9-12 coming in early September......

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