Before you wander over to your fantasy hockey draft table, be armed with information. The last thing you want to hear is your neighbor’s laugh when you say the name of a guy who just tore his Achilles tendon.
The guys on this list tend to frequent the ER and, in turn, will hurt your fantasy list. Some of these guys have known injuries early in the season, while others have a history that shouldn’t be ignored. Call this the DePietro factor.
Insulted
Alexander Burrows VAN
Burrows finally broke through at age 29 with a breakout 35-goal season, earning regular time in the top lanes. However, he opted to have shoulder surgery in June and he will most likely not be ready to play for the first month, and possibly two. Meanwhile, the Canucks have enough moving parts to replace him and he may have to fight for his role after he returns. He put it on his list, as he won’t come close to 35 goals again next season.
Marian Gaborik NYR
It will take more than a 76-game season before he’s willing to risk a first-round pick for Gaborik’s health. If you took a chance on him last year, it was obviously worth it as he went back to 42 goals. If he’s still on the board in the third round, go for it. Otherwise, place his bet on a safer number.
Martin Havlat MIN
The problem with Havlat has always been and always will be his health. He has played 80 or more games only once in his career, and he missed 9 games last season due to various ailments. He’s the most gifted offensive weapon the wildlings possess when he can go, but he’s too risky to spend a pick in the first 10 rounds. After that, choose it and pray for the best.
Ales Hemsky EDM
Hemsky started last season in good shape, but was shut down by a shoulder injury that forced him to miss the last 2/3 of the season. No word yet on his status for the start of camp, so keep an eye out for news. If he’s healthy, it could be a steal, as most GMs have probably forgotten about him at this point. He is able to get back to the neighborhood of 70 points.
Defending
Carlo Colaiacovo STL
The young defenseman from St. Louis has brought with him a lot of promise in terms of offensive potential, but injuries have constantly slowed him down. The Leafs gave up on him, but he seems to have found a role with the Blues. If he makes it to the top 2 lanes and stays healthy for a change, he could hit 35-40 points this year.
Ed Jovanovski PHO
It’s hard to dismiss the promise Jovanavski has for fantasy lineups. When he’s healthy, he’s a solid contributor. He has fared better in that category in recent seasons, but he missed 15 games again last year, making him a draft risk at best. Make room for him on your bench and play with him when he’s healthy.
Andrei Markov MI
When healthy, Markov can score with the best of them; however, we are not currently living in that world. After missing the first half of last season, he had a solid second half, only to end his season with a knee injury. After off-season surgery, he is expected to miss the first 2 months of the season. He’s worth a mid-round pick to save him for your playoff run, but don’t put him in the top 20 by any means.
goals
Rick DiPietro JNI
It’s no revelation that DiPietro’s newsroom comes with serious reservations due to his ongoing health issues. The Islanders as a team are on the rise, and Biron now plays on the other side of town. When he’s healthy, he’ll get all the starts he can handle. It is worth sitting on the bench to see what happens to his knee.
Kari Lehtonen DAL
With Lehtonen it’s always about your health. He’s proven to be a strong fantasy option when you can count on him adapting. He’s supposedly heading into the season in good health, so take a chance. With Turco out, he’s the man. Dallas has been going through tough times lately and has shown no signs of recovery, so even if he plays 70 games, you might not be able to get 30 wins out of him.
