Fantasy Hockey Hotlist

Every season brings a myriad of fantasy surprises, and the 2009-10 season is no different. Below we outline some of the surprises to start the season.

• Anze Kopitar

• NUMBER: 11
• HEIGHT: 6′ 3″
• WEIGHT: 222
• SHOOTS: LEFT
• BIRTHDATE: AUG 24, 1987 (AGE 22)
• BIRTHPLACE: JESENICE, SLOVENIA

The talented Yugoslavian has not had a single NHL season with less than 20 goals, yet this season he has taken his game to a new level. Kopitar has exploded with 11 goals 13 assists for 24 points in only 15 games, and leads the NHL in points.  Even more exceptional is that Kopitar has only been held off the score sheet in three games so far this season – which makes him one of the most consistent fantasy performers in the league. He is currently averaging 1.60 points-per-game with 10 power-play points (4G, 6A).

Kopitar is currently scoring at 140 point clip, and although he is unlikely to maintain that torrid pace for the duration of the season, he should remain as one of the top five point-getters in the NHL. If you are looking for a big time scorer for your fantasy roster, Kopitar is your man.

• Dustin Penner

• NUMBER: 27
• HEIGHT: 6′ 4″
• WEIGHT: 245
• SHOOTS: LEFT
• BIRTHDATE: SEP 28, 1982 (AGE 27)
• BIRTHPLACE: WINKLER, MB, CANADA

Dustin Penner’s transformation into an NHL star is probably one of the biggest surprises this season. The mammoth forward committed himself to his off-season conditioning regiment and showed up to camp in the best shape of his life. The new coaching staff in Edmonton provided him a fresh slate so he no longer had to dwell on the last two tumultuous years in Edmonton.

Penner has cooled off somewhat since his early season rampage with four points in his last six games. All of those came in one game, so it is safe to say that the big man is coming back down to Earth.

It would be fair to be skeptical of his quick start, as his previous history suggests that this may be nothing more than a statistical anomaly. If you are of that opinion you should be able to take advantage of his high fantasy value and parlay that into an asset with a more establish track record..

• Vinny Prospal

• NUMBER: 20
• HEIGHT: 6′ 2″
• WEIGHT: 198
• SHOOTS: LEFT
• BIRTHDATE: FEB 17, 1975 (AGE 34)
• BIRTHPLACE: CESKE BUDEJOVICE, CZECH REPUBLIC

Prospal joined the Rangers as a UFA over the summer, along with Gaborik, and they have rewarded the Rangers with their excellent play together. Prospal is an established play-maker and the perfect complement to a player like Gaborik. As long as Gaborik can stay out of the infirmary Prospal should easily eclipse the 80 point plateau.

• Patrick Marleau

• NUMBER: 12
• HEIGHT: 6′ 2″
• WEIGHT: 220
• SHOOTS: LEFT
• BIRTHDATE: SEP 15, 1979 (AGE 30)
• BIRTHPLACE: ANEROID, SK, CANADA

The San Jose Shark center Patrick Marleau enjoyed an excellent season last year for the Sharks, scoring a career high 38 goal before plummeting into a dreadful funk in the playoffs which eventually led the Sharks to strip Marleau of the captaincy.

Normally one would expect a move of that nature to demoralize a player, yet Marleau has come storming out of the gate seemingly unaffected by the move. His 22 points (11G, 11A) in 16 games puts him on pace for 56 goals and 108 points. Marleau won’t quite reach those heights, but he could get as many as 40 goals and 90 points playing on a stacked San Jose team..

• Tomas Kaberle

• NUMBER: 15
• HEIGHT: 6′ 1″
• WEIGHT: 214
• SHOOTS: LEFT
• BIRTHDATE: MAR 2, 1978 (AGE 31)
• BIRTHPLACE: RAKOVNIK, CZECH REPUBLIC

Stuck on a team struggling to secure wins, Kaberle still managed to not only lead the Leafs, but all NHL defencemen in scoring.  Kaberle has 17 points in 15 games, and is proving all of his doubters wrong.

Kaberle has managed an incredible 12 points in his last five games and shows no sign of slowing down. Add Phil Kessel to the mix, and now Kaberle has a legitimate scoring threat to receive his pin point passes on the power-play. Kaberle should be a lock for 60 points this season.