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The NHL
Partial lockout benefit (assuming that the lockout ends in early December, just enough time to
appease HBO and the owner's pockets [which are obviously starved of cash]): 10/10
Full lockout benefit: 7/10
That's right. The NHL will be the league that most benefits from a lockout. Notable members should
include Brodeur, Kelser, Quick and many others. The No Hockey League is for National Hockey League
players to take some time off and rest due to age or injury. The chances that Kesler would come back
too soon from another labrum surgery are about the same that DiPietro will (not) play a few games in
this league in the next couple months, and not necessarily of his own volition.
Take a look around for established fantasy producers who have been rehabbing an injury this summer or
for those that will likely not play elsewhere due to age. If you project a significant, partial year, lockout,
then rankings that do not will underrate these players. I have been looking into this a bit and I believe
that there is a causal relationship between training time (versus rehab or playing time) in the offseason
and fantasy production. Not only will Kesler and company be basically forced to properly rehab their
injury, they will have time to return to top form.
However, if you project a full year lockout, then older players fall down a notch as father time will take
his toll, whether Jagr is tearing up European leagues or sitting on his couch, watching junior hockey.
The AHL
Partial lockout benefit: 9/10
Full lockout benefit: 7/10
The AHL stands to be the (real) league in which its players will most benefit from a partial year lockout.
Players who may not be entirely fantasy relevant in one year leagues without a lockout, may get a boost
in value from playing in the AHL. Players in that league will face a game that is most similar to the NHL's
than any other league and should, theoretically, be best suited to jump to.
If Derek Stepan dominates the AHL, he could have the necessary
confidence to jump right onto the top line of the Rangers or at least
1b and bypass any fantasy predictions that a guide might make.
If your league allows transactions during the lockout, closely follow
players that excel against AHL-plus competition and don't be afraid
to take a chance on someone lighting it up against NHL players,
even if the general opinion is dim on that player.
In keeper leagues, there are a multitude of prospects for whom the best level of competition and
opportunity for them developmentally lies between the AHL and what is available to them in the NHL.
Eddie Lack is possibly the best goalie in the world to not have appeared in an NHL game. He has also
excelled against NHL competition. However, he won't play in the NHL until one of the two franchise
goaltenders ahead of him moves on and he proves that he can be relied on in pressure situations against
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