Left wing is an interesting position. Outside of your top 8 or so guys it becomes more a matter of what you need out of that position.
This is something I can't stress enough. When you are drafting you need to keep a "team concept" in mind. Meaning, that if you draft Joe Thornton as your number 1 center then assists lose some value to you. but you suddenly need shots, PIM and goals. You can try to draft guys like Heatley, Morrow or Semin that do it all or you can be aware of what you lack while you're drafting and grab players that fill that need.
Left Wing is a very good spot to do that with, particularly with your second left wing. Seriously after the first 11 you pretty much have guys who are either just "ok" at everything or guys who specialize in specific categories. I'll point them out to you as we go along.
Breaking the Trap Presents
Top 21 FHL Left Wings for the 2008-2009 Season
1. Alexander Ovechkin, Wash
Projected Stats: 63 G, 45 A, +20, 41 PP, 50 PIM, 450 SOG
1st left wing and my selection at first overall. If you draft Ovechkin you can draft anyone and never have to think about shots. You can have a team of Joe Thornton, Alex Tanguay, Mike Ribiero, and... uh... two RW's that don't take shots and you'll still be competitive in the category. Plus Ovechkin is penciled in to once again lead the league in goals while putting up very good numbers in +/-, assists and powerplay points. Alexander the Great indeed.
2. Henrik Zetterberg, Det
Projected Stats: 48 G, 45 A, +32, 41 PP, 34 PIM, 330 SOG
Zetterberg is probably the best player on the best team in hockey. That +/- isn't going to change and thats his big draw. He and Heatley can be swapped back and forth here but Zetterberg gets the nod because of his advantage in shots, +/- and PP.
3. Dany Heatley, Ott
Projected Stats: 45 G, 48 A, +19, 33 PP, 76 PIM, 270 SOG
Heater is a really solid all around player. He'll benefit you in every category. Ottawa is on the decline so I think his +/- takes a bit of a hit this year but everything else should stay pretty static.
4. Brendan Morrow, Dal
Projected Stats: 33 G, 42 A, +25, 32 PP, 110 PIM, 210 SOG
What? I know... blasphemy. Morrow before Kovalchuk are you kidding me? Goals can be had. SOG are tougher to come by but the +40 swing between he and Kovalchuk and the additional 60 PIM is what gets him the nod here. Feel free to ignore me. I just tend to like players that do something for me across the board. It makes things easier.
5. Ilya Kovalchuk, Atl
Projected Stats: 52 G, 38 A, -20, 30 PP, 50 PIM, 300 SOG
That +/- is never going to get better and those 52 goals aren't guaranteed. In fact if you believe in trends then this is a year that he should put up a total somewhere in the low 40's. I like Ilya. I think he's one of the best players in the game and he's trapped on one of the worst teams in all of sport. Here's to hoping he walks this summer.
6. Rick Nash, Clb
Projected Stats: 38 G, 33 A, +2, 30 PP, 85 PIM, 330 SOG
Nash had a great healthy season last year. You never know if he'll do that again this year. If he does however I like his chances for putting up the best season of his young career. He has a brand new center in RJ Umberger who will be looking to impress the long suffering Columbus faithful. Also with Leclaire in net Nash's +/- should continue to be acceptable if not beneficial.
7. Daniel Sedin, Van
Projected Stats: 38 G, 30 A, +10, 35PP, 45 PIM, 245 SOG
The more fantasy relevant of the two Sedin's, because he's the one who scores, should have another fine season. No matter what Vancouver is doing the Sedin's are still putting the puck in the net. It has never mattered who is on their wing, who is playing the blue line or who is in net. Daniel's point total should still be that of an elite LW.
8. Alexander Semin, Wash
Projected Stats: 37 G, 33 A, -5, 34 PP, 82 PIM, 235 SOG
Semin had a bad year. He was a defensive nightmare, he lost some of his time on the powerplay and he seemed to lose his hands at times throughout the year. On top of that he finally got all of the bad jokes Ovechkin had been making about his name... but I digress. Semin should return to form this year as he has another year of experience under his belt and as Washington continues to come together as a team.
9. Michael Cammalleri, Cgy
Projected Stats: 35 G, 45 A, +3, 37 PP, 40 PIM, 270 SOG
Cammalleri is 5'9", he plays hockey in the NHL, and this year he is going to get to feed the puck to Jarome Iginla. As a short guy he might just supplant Brian Gionta and Theo Fleury as my idol. Cammalleri had an off season in LA last year, missing 19 games to injury. Expect his best season playing the wing with Iggy Pop.
10. Thomas Vanek, Buff
Projected Stats: 38 G, 33 A, +5, 27 PP, 65 PIM, 250 SOG
I have a troubled relationship with Vanek. His breakout year I drafted him as my late round sleeper and then dropped him to grab a hot starter off of waivers... oops! Last year I drafted him and then traded him before his hot streak. This year... I'm putting him in the top ten left wings and he's going to tank just to make me look bad. Vanek doesn't take enough shots for my liking, but he's a very very talented player.
11. Brian Rolston, NJ
Projected Stats: 30 G, 32 A, +3, 34 PP, 50 PIM, 290 SOG
Rolston returns to where he began his career and he arrives as a different plaer then the one who left. Rolston should be a mortal lock for 30 goals and 60 points with about half of those coming on the powerplay. Rolston managed to score 30 goals and take 290 + shots playing for Jaques Lemaire in Minnesota so he should be able to manage similar numbers on this more offensively minded Devils squad.
12. Chris Kunitz, Ana
Projected Stats: 28 G, 37 A, +16, 29 PP, 84 PIM, 198 SOG
Kunitz is a case of a good player on a great line. With Perry and Getzlaf, Kunitz is the third member of one of the most undervalued and underrated lines in hockey. He does a bit of everything for you. Don't let him be someone else's steal.
13. Paul Kariya, St. L
Projected Stats: 21 G, 5o A, -1, 25 PP, 45 PIM, 226 SOG
Remember this? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51xq5G6053A Its not the hit that I still remember, its the moment when Kariya literally comes back to life. He's unconcious and then... as he comes out of it there's this puff of air that comes out of his lungs and fogs his visor. Its one of my top 5 sports moments of all time. Kariya then went on to score the game winning goal. He's an amazing talent even now. Don't let last season or his age convince you otherwise.
14. Alexander Frolov, LA
Projected Stats: 32 G, 45 A, +3, 24 PP, 22 PIM, 192 SOG
Frolov is an emerging talent. He is also of the had a bad year and people are underestimating him variety. Draft him with confidence. He's good. He'd be better on any other team, but he's close to a lock for the high 60's or low 70's. The shots and PIM are a problem but everything else is very good.
15. Zach Parise, NJ
Projected Stats: 35 G, 35 A, +10, 28 PP, 28 PIM, 276 SOG
Parise is the second of three New Jersey Left Wings on this list. The Devils are, after all, an interchangable flock of forwards. Elias and Parise both play center and left wing. Parise will likely center the first line with Rolston or Elias. He will be LW eligible. I don't believe Parise has hit his ceiling yet. A 70-80 point season is not out of the question, but you will be able to draft him as a 65 point guy.
16. Ryan Smyth, Col
Projected Stats: 28 G, 28 A, -2, 23 PP, 85 PIM, 190 SOG
The less said about Smyth's first year in Colorado the better. I'm taking injuries into account here... at least I think I am. When Smyth is healthy he does a little bit of everything, but he is almost guaranteed to miss about 20 games. Keep that in mind as you draft.
17. Alex Tanguay, Mon
Projected Stats: 20 G, 40 A, +8, 25 PP, 48 PIM, 130 SOG
Tanguay is only 28 but I fear his best years are already behind him. He should fit in nicely on this Montreal team but if he stumbles there is a lot of young talent at left wing that could step up and take his place. Tanguay is a shots on goal liability so only draft him if you are getting those elsewhere.
18. Scott Hartnell, Phi
Projected Stats: 25 G, 25 A, +15, 15 PP, 140 PIM, 180 SOG
Hartnell is your best of three options at left wing for penalty minute guys that will also score points. He will have less PIM then either Avery or Carcillo but he is more likely to score and receive powerplay time, making him a better all around selection.
19. Milan Michalek, SJ
Projected Stats: 26 G, 35 A, +20, 26 PP, 45 PIM, 221 SOG
Michalek, like most Sharks, took a bit of a step back last season. And... like most Sharks, I'm predicting him to take a step forward in this one. The one thing that didn't go down for Michalek last year was his shot total which is good news for you as he is still a little under the radar in most leagues.
20. Patrik Elias, NJ
Projected Stats: 22 G, 40 A, +12, 25 PP, 43 PIM, 263 SOG
Elias has seen his best days come and go. Despite a promising return in the second half of 05-06 after a bout with Hepititus A contracted during the lockout, Elias has never returned to the point a game pace that he has at times looked capable of. Now at 32 it doesn't seem likely that he will again. Expect a slight bump in all stats as a result of an improved Devils powerplay.
21. Simon Gagne, Phi
Projected Stats: 34 G, 30 A, +4, 30 PP, 40 PIM, 250 SOG
Gagne is a real home run swing this season. Whether he had one big concussion or three little concussions is sort of besides the point. If he can stay healthy he has the skill and the linemates to score 40 goals again, but thats a big if. Furthermore you have to question whether he'll be able to be the same Gagne or whether the fear of another concussion will keep him out of scrums and corners he would otherwise have been involved in. If you are the cautious type there is plenty to think about here.
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