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I thought about leading this by blowing smoke up everyone's A about how Patrick Kane could lead you to your fantasy Cup and blah, blah, blah, but it really comes down to this, and only this:
I am a Blackhawks fan.
So there you have it. On to today's tiers, right wing.
OVERVIEW: It is my *expert* opinion that right wing is the hardest positon to fill. The top options have the lowest ceilings of elite players at any position, and the dropoff in the first few tiers is steep. There are very few safe bets, and very few easy calls. Almost every player has some question mark attached to them, and that's why it's probably best to roll with a couple of the Tier I or Tier II players here. You just honestly do not want to know what you're going to wake up next to otherwise. Down to business after the jump, but one last note before we begin: for position elligibility, I used NHL.com. Different sites might label players at different positions, particularly at winger, but for consistencies' sake I felt it was best and easiest to go with NHL.com. Obviously if your site (CBS, Yahoo!, etc.) lists a player at another position, you'll have to consider where they'd fit in there. You can always ask. ... I have no life am always happy to help.
TIER I - The Beauties.
Martin St. Louis, Tampa Bay
Patrick Kane, Chicago
Marian Gaborik, New York Rangers
Dany Heatley, San Jose
Jarome Iginla, Calgary
Marian Hossa, Chicago
Boy they're pretty, eh? Each of these guys has 40 goal, 80-point potential, with varying degrees of safety. St. Louis is making beautiful music with Stamkos (is that weird?) down in Tampa Bay. Kane seems to be on the verge of a monster year any season now. Gaborik is a big injury risk but also one of the most talented players in the league. Heatley's best days are behind him, but 40 goals and 80 points are nothing to shake a stick at. Iginla had a horrid 2009-10 season, but he figures to get himself back in the 80 point range. Hossa played well in limited action returning from injury last season, and is a virtual lock for 35-40 goals and 80 points. Get one of these guys. Seriously.
TIER IA - Purgatory
Bobby Ryan, Anaheim
Corey Perry, Anaheim
Ales Hemsky, Edmonton
Not quite Tier I, but not a full step below either. These three are all electrifying players and have the potential to play alongside those Tier I options, but they haven't quite arrived. Yet. They'll all be reliable 80 point players within the next few years, but they aren't locks like the guys listed above them.
TIER II - Nothing To Complain About, Nothing To Write Home About.
Daniel Alfredsson, Ottawa
Jason Pominville, Buffalo
Nathan Horton, Boston
Phil Kessel, Toronto
Martin Havlat, Minnesota
Kyle Okposo, New York Islanders
Danny Briere, Philadelphia
Patric Hornqvist, Smashville
Jakub Voracek, Columbus
Alexei Kovalev, Ottawa
Teemu Selanne, Anaheim
Milan Hejduk, Colorado
Johan Franzen, Detroit
There's value here, but it's starting to look ugly and old or young and unproven. If you miss out on a Tier I guy it's imperative you grab two Tier II guys. Alfredsson, Selanne, Hejduk and Kovalev are aging and clearly in their decline phases, but they're all capable of 70 point seasons. Havlat won't be nearly as bad in his second year as a member of the Wild. Horton's always been a good goal scorer and playing alongside Marc Savard might do wonders for his career. Hornqvist had an excellent 30-goal campaign last season and should be even better this year. Pominville is one of the most under-the-radar players you'll find. Franzen + Detroit power play = another 30 goals. Ditto that for Kessel, who's only in this tier because he doesn't assist enough to jump higher. Voracek and Okposo are both young and talented and figure to finish between 60-70 points. Briere is never going to be the guy he was in 06-07, but he's got the talent and opportunity to fit in here.
TIER III - The Lights In The Bar Come On.
Chris Stewart, Colorado
Dustin Penner, Edmonton
Dustin Brown, Los Angeles
Shane Doan, Phoenix
Mikael Samuelsson, Vancouver
Mike Knuble, Washington
Martin Erat, Smashville
Lee Stempniak, Phoenix
David Backes, St. Louis
Claude Giroux, Philadelphia
Brian Gionta, Montreal
Kris Versteeg, Toronto
Steve Downie, Tampa Bay
Brad Boyes, St. Louis
Devin Setoguchi, San Jose
Bryan Little, Atlanta
There are some solid options here, but nothing that can carry your team. Lots of 20-25 goal scorers, and there's value in that, but not the kind you want as your RW1 or RW2. Don't reach on Gionta hoping he'll rekindle his once-in-a-career 80 point skill. He's just not that guy. Stewart and Giroux have legs to climb into higher tiers, but my gut says they're still a year or two away. Versteeg has scored at least 20 goals in both of his two NHL seasons, but he's got bust written all over him. Going for Chicago to Toronto will have a significant effect. Samuelsson is due some regression as well. Boyes, Setoguchi and Little all experience dropoffs last year and should bounce back next season. Downie had a nice year playing alongside Steven Stamkos and Martin St. Louis and gets a boost in PIM leagues, but a simple lineup change would squash his value.
TIER IV - Yike.
Jamie Langenbrunner, New Jersey
J.P. Dumont, Smashville
Nicklas Bergfors, Atlanta
Todd Bertuzzi, Detroit
Radim Vrbata, Phoenix
Mark Recchi, Boston
Antti Miettinen, Minnesota
Wayne Simmonds, Los Angeles
Eric Fehr, Washington
Blake Wheeler, Boston
Brian Rolston, New Jersey
Ryan Callahan, New York Rangers
Dustin Byfuglien, Atlanta
Dan Cleary, Detroit
Drew Stafford, Buffalo
Joel Ward, Smashville
Michael Ryder, Boston
Deep sleepers here. If you draft one of these guys as a starting right wing it is time to get trading. Officially. Make no haste! Trade today!