Breaking the... uh Ice

OK. I promise that I will try to be more funny and less punny in the future.

Let's get the introductions out of the way shall we. My name is Richard O'Brien, I've been a hockey fan since when I thought girls were icky. Very few people, things, or events have ever become more important or more a part of me then this pastime played on the pond.

The very first jersey I ever worshipped was the Devils' Christmas Tree Red and Green jerseys and its still one of my favorites (not my absolute favorite mind you, that award probably goes Buffalo's old Crossed Sabres Blue and Gold jersey or just about every jersey the Kings have ever worn).

I played Blades of Steel AND Nintendo Ice Hockey. I dominated Blades of Steel. The multiple Mario's freaked me out

I made Wayne bleed, wondered why Amonte wasn't as good as Jeremy and carried Ladislav Nagy to a 65 goal season in which he managed to play in all 82 games in EA sports' storied franchise. I'll let you guess what I think is the most unrealistic feat.

My first sports related nickname was "The Long Arm of the Law" because I was the only kid in fifth grade who brought his own stick to gym class when we played hockey. I wanted to be Niedermayer or Coffey, but I shot like Brett Hull... in the Olympics.

Later I'd fix my shot, to some extent, and learn to skate. So far that has earned me a tailbone injury, a permanent click in my jaw and nice scar on my chin. That scar very nearly caused my best friend to be forever exiled from my house, and me to be disowned by my sister in law, it was three weeks before her wedding.

I like Clerks. Its got a solid 90's soundtrack, lots of cursing and in the middle of the film a hockey game breaks out. Some day I hope to purchase a building and put a hockey rink on the roof... complete with boards to prevent nasty momentum related nose dives.

I don't believe there is a game that I could watch which I would have no rooting interest in, or that I wouldn't develop one in by the end of the game. The personalities and different skill types which any successful hockey franchise must have in order to compete in the NHL virtually guarantees that for me. How could you go to an Avalanche game and not find yourself awed by Joe Sakic's determination and skill? How can you not be absolutely scared to death of Derrek Boogard or Georges Laraque? How can you be rooting for the opposing team and not immediately HATE Sean Avery. Love/hate. Fear/respect. All of these elements are necessary for a hockey team to be successful, and it is these elements that make our game the most compelling game in all of sports.

In short, I have a well documented love affair with the sport. I've introduced girlfriends to the game by carefully selecting what portions and players I wanted them to see first. For some girls that was the skill, speed and tenacity of Alexander Ovechkin... for others it was the sheer brutality of Chris Simon (I've known some weird girls, what can I say). I believe that there is something in this sport for anyone and everyone. Some people love the speed. Some the brutality. And some of us... a very small subset... are completely and totally caught up in the minutia... We love the stats.

As an ordinary everyman knowing the stats can really only help you in three ways: it can allow you to look impressive in front of other fans; it can add to the strength of your head shaking/cursing when reading your local sports column or listening to sports radio; or it can help you dominate your fantasy league.

For the last... er... noble goal the stats can also enslave you. Trap you if you will. If you didn't know, for instance, that Michael Cammalleri only played in 63 games last season his 47 points might seem downright underwhelming and you might overlook him on draft day. A big mistake for a guy whose change of scenery will likely see him playing on the opposite wing to Mr. Jarome Iginla... he of 50 goals and 98 points.

If you didn't know that Chris Drury and Daniel Briere drew all of the pressure off of Thomas Vanek in 06-07 you might think he had a chance to return to his +47 form this year. He's still THE guy on that team. I don't think he's a -5 player, but I don't see him rising above +15 ever again until Buffalo gets serious about shoring up its defensive short comings.

And then there is an altogether different trap. Patrick Marleau spent his first six seasons in the NHL showing extreme promise but never breaking the 60 point plateau (an absolute must for any center you intend to play on a regular basis). Then in 05-06 and 06-07 Marleau turns in 86 and 78 point seasons, breaking 30 powerplay points both years. Last year, on a team many thought to be the best in the NHL preseason, Marleau scores 48 points. He is not injured but plays under the cloud of persistent trade rumors. The trap... which Marleau is the real one? Which Patrick Marleau will show up this year and where is he safe to draft.

These are the traps we face in any fantasy draft. This blog will aim to help you navigate them as best as possible. We aim to be the best breakout pass possible, one that goes from tape to tape and sets you up for an excellent scoring chance.

We will spend some time analyzing the fallout from free agency, then get into team previews, finishing up with positional rankings and an analysis of position scarcity before most fantasy drafts take place. All the while trying to infuse a little humor and genuine love for the sport into these pixels. Once the season starts we'll switch up format a little... but I'm getting ahead of myself.

Ice broken. Time to drop the puck and get ready to break the trap.