Rotisserie By The Numbers: Top 50 Defensemen

By Craig Rondinone, SportsTicker

Defensemen do a million things that do not show up in box scores. They crosscheck speedy forwards in the back of the head, shoot the puck into the stands when their teams are in trouble and screen their goaltenders at some of the most inopportune times.

But defensemen do a million things that DO show up in box scores, like score goals, get plus-ratings and rack up penalty minutes. This is why fantasy hockey owners love them and need them.

Fill your roster with a couple of offensive defensemen who can score 55 points and a couple of defensive defensemen who can finish as a plus-30 and chances are your fantasy team is finishing in the money.

Here are the top 50 defensemen in fantasy hockey entering the 2002-03 campaign, starting with the two-time defending Norris Trophy winner:

1. Nicklas Lidstrom, Red Wings: This sweet-shooting Swede is a fantasy hockey god. No defensemen runs a power play better, has such an arsenal of Hall of Fame teammates to pass to, plays more minutes and misses less games than he does. And Lidstrom has never finished a season with worse than a plus-7 rating.

2. Sergei Gonchar, Capitals: Gonchar led all defensemen in 2001-02 with 26 goals. No other defenseman had more than 17. Imagine the damage he could do if Jaromir Jagr returns to his 100-point form.

3. Rob Blake, Avalanche: Blake finished in the top five among defensemen in virtually every offensive category last season. He does his best work on the point of Colorado's lethal power-play unit, reaching double-digits in power-play goals each of the past three seasons.

4. Brian Leetch, Rangers: Leetch is the Kurt Warner of the NHL -- an accurate quarterback who makes pinpoint passes which lead to scores. Leetch can still log 30 minutes of ice time a night and is surrounded by the best talent he has had to work with in a long time.

5. Al MacInnis, Blues: Best slapshot in the business. His booming blasts are like scud missiles, and they can beat goalies from anywhere on the ice.

6. Sandis Ozolinsh, Panthers: Ozolinsh jumps into the play better than any other defensemen in the league. Mike Keenan has given him freedom to freewheel since becoming the head man in Florida and Oz's fantasy production has improved because of it.

7. Brian Rafalski, Devils: Rafalski is on the verge of becoming the best all-around defenseman in the NHL. He has averaged 43 points per season the past three seasons, but his defense has not suffered in the process (plus-69 during that span).

8. Ed Jovanovski, Canucks: "Jovo" used to just be a feared open-ice hitter who could break forwards in two with his thunderous hip checks, but he has transformed into so much more after having scored 17 goals and 48 points last season.

9. Sergei Zubov, Stars: Zubov can move the puck masterfully through the neutral zone either with his expert stickhandling or his great outlet passes. He is a lock every season for at least 40 points.

10. Chris Pronger, Blues: Pronger is a perennial Norris Trophy candidate who can dominate games offensively from his rearguard position. His season will start a little late thanks to Steve Yzerman's low-bridge job in the playoffs that caused Pronger to tear his ACL.

11. Teppo Numminen, Coyotes: Enough of calling this guy "the most underrated player in the NHL." I think everyone knows how good he is by now.

12. Janne Niinimaa, Oilers: Niinimaa does not get much press playing out in Edmonton, but he is one of the NHL's best young offensive defensemen. And he is only getting better.

13. Chris Chelios, Red Wings: I think this man was alive during the times when dinosaurs ruled the earth, but this ageless wonder led the league in plus-minus last season and shows no signs of slowing down.

14. Wade Redden, Senators: Redden is not flashy and does not make it on SportsCenter much, but he is a solid fantasy contributor who helps out in many different categories.

15. Adrian Aucoin, Islanders: Aucoin was worked like a dog last season, playing more minutes than any other non-goalie in the NHL. If you play 30 minutes a night for 82 games, the chances are good for some assists and goals.

16. Tomas Kaberle, Maple Leafs: Kaberle proved holdouts can still have productive years after finishing with 39 points last season even though he missed the first month of action due to a contract squabble.

17. Bryan McCabe, Maple Leafs: McCabe destroyed his previous career-bests in goals and points last season with 17 and 43, respectively. Is he a one-year wonder or the next Rob Blake?

18. Roman Hamrlik, Islanders: Fantasy pundits were expecting him to elevate his game and become a 50-point performer once he joined the Islanders, but I think it is safe to say that owners will have to be happy with just 40 points.

19. Kimmo Timonen, Predators: "Timo" is lightning quick and can rush up the ice faster than you can say, "Theo Fleury is in the penalty box."

20. Oleg Tverdovsky, Devils: He can pass and shoot, is mobile and young and has two 50-point seasons to his credit. So why have so many teams traded him away in his short career?

21. Kim Johnsson, Flyers: He looked like the next coming of Bobby Orr early on last season, but tired terribly down the stretch, scoring just five points in his last 28 games.

22. Darryl Sydor, Stars: Sydor and defense partner Zubov are wonderful to watch when they man the points together when Dallas has the man-advantage.

23. Scott Niedermayer, Devils: He has all the God-given talent in the world, but he only scores 35 points per season. And how much power-play time can he expect with Rafalski and Tverdovsky around?

24. Jaroslav Modry, Kings: Modry finished among the leading defensemen in assists in 2001-02 with 38. And how is this for efficiency? All four of his goals came on the power play.

25. Mathieu Schneider, Kings: Schneider's career has flourished since moving to the Western Conference, where his swift skating and offensive skills can be utilized to a greater extent.

Here is the best of the rest:

26. Derek Morris, Avalanche: Have you ever heard of "the next level"? Well, it is a special place that Morris is ready to visit.

27. Mattias Ohlund, Canucks: He has overcome severe eye problems to become the defenseman every scout envisioned him of being.

28. Eric Desjardins, Flyers: Played with a bum shoulder for most of last season, which caused a decline in his numbers. He should be 100 percent now.

29. Phil Housley, Blackhawks: He has been in the league over 20 years and still remains better than most at running a power play effectively.

30. Andy Delmore, Predators: His 11 power-play goals led all defensemen in 2001-02. Teams began defending him much better as the season went on, though, because all he has is his shot.

31. Nicholas Boynton, Bruins: Showed flashes of brilliance last season that make people think he, not Kyle McLaren, will become the next great Boston defenseman.

32. Brad Stuart, Sharks: He is holding out and his mentor, Gary Suter, retired. His upside is tremendously exciting, however.

33. Tom Poti, Rangers: The heir apparent to Leetch scored eight points in 11 games with the Rangers after being traded late last season.

34. Sean Hill, Hurricanes: Always plays horribly for everyone else, but great for the Canes.

35. Fredrik Olausson, Mighty Ducks: What is this, his sixth tour in Anaheim? Only Paul McCartney has played there more.

36. Patrice Brisebois, Canadiens: Puts up very solid statistics -- when he plays. He is perpetually injured.

37. Robert Svehla, Maple Leafs: Has said he will retire if he does not play well. Fantasy owners better hope he has a good October.

38. Andrei Markov, Canadiens: The defensive lapses that cause him to get benched are the only thing keeping him from making a huge impact.

39. Greg de Vries, Avalanche: You could do much worse than a defenseman who goes 20/20 (20 points, plus-20).

40. Scott Stevens, Devils: Still great in the defensive zone, but Stevens only managed one goal in 82 contests last season, which means he scored one more goal than I did and I didn't play in the NHL.

41. Kenny Jonsson, Islanders: One more concussion away from calling it a career.

42. Vladimir Malakhov, Rangers: Draft him late so when he gets injured you won't feel as bad.

43. Alexei Zhitnik, Sabres: His goal-to-assist ratio of 1-to-33 had fantasy owners scratching their heads last season.

44. Lubomir Visnovsky, Kings: The dreaded "sophomore slump" punched this youngster in the face repeatedly last season. Hopefully his junior season will be better.

45. Chris Phillips, Senators: His role should expand now that Sami Salo has been dealt to the Canucks.

46. Martin Skoula, Avalanche: Skoula's scoring has escalated in each of his first three seasons, meaning he could break the 35-point mark this season.

47. Jeff Jillson, Sharks: Jillson scored 15 of his 18 points on the power play during last season's rookie campaign.

48. Dan McGillis, Flyers: Consistently inconsistent. If you look at his scoring pattern the past three seasons (18, 49, 19) McGillis should be due for a decent season.

49. Jason Woolley, Sabres: Woolley scores most of his goals from in close since his shot is far from powerful.

50. Pavel Kubina, Lightning: Thanks to his terrible Tampa Bay teammates, Kubina's 30 points per season are always offset by his awful plus-minus.

Next week: Rating the centers.

 

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