Sorry... the rest of the D-men

Serious computer issues got in the way of this post. My apologies.

Tier 6:

43. Nicklas Kronwall, Det
Projected Stats: 8 G, 28 A, +21, 54 PIM, 10 PP, 154 SOG

Kronwall would make a great number 1 defenseman somewhere. He has the skills. He has the physicality, but here he is a number three at best. Draft him late if you need plus minus.

44. Duncan Keith, Chi
Projected Stats: 9 G, 22, A, + 18, 68 PIM, 5 PP, 142 SOG

Keith scored most of his points at even strength last year, so Campbell's arrival shouldn't affect him much. Again if you need +/- late in teh draft Keith isn't a bad place to look.

45. Ville Koistinen, Nsh
Projected Stats: 8 G, 26 A, +16, 32 PIM, 18 PP, 104 SOG

Koistinen showed a lot of potential in limited time this year. He is a great sleeper pick but will have to fight through a very very deep Nashville D for playing time. I'd take him higher if he were anywhere else... other then maybe Detroit and Chicago.

46. Ryan Suter, Nsh
Projected Stats: 9 G, 24 A, +4, 68 PIM, 12 PP, 140 SOG

I guess which Nashville D-man you like better depends on what you need at this point of the draft and your tolerance for risk. Koistinen, in my opinion, has a higher upside, but Suter has been consistently good for a couple of years now. If you need PIM absolutley take him over Koistinen. If you don't I think its a tougher call.

47. Erik Johnson, StL
Projected Stats: 8 G, 30 A, -10, 32 PIM, 20 PP, 125 SOG

Johnson's status has been placed in doubt recently with his "Freak Golf Cart Accident" that injured his knee over the weekend. He's worth the risk this late as Johnson showed flashes of brilliance last year.

48. Sami Salo, Van
Projected Stats: 10 G, 24 A, +8, 34 PIM, 18 PP, 133 SOG

Salo is an injury risk to be sure, like most of the Vancouver D, but he is pretty consistently adequate. Jeez... that sounds like the job evaluation from hell.

49. Paul Martin, NJ
Projected Stats: 5 G, 26 A, + 15, 20 PIM, 15 PP, 101 SOG

See its not that I hate Paul Martin. I think he is a solid number 2 or 3 d-man on any NHL team... but he's not the Devils' number 2 or 3 he is their undisputed number 1. Sigh.

50. Matt Carle, TB
Projected Stats: 10 G, 27 A, -2, 32 PIM, 22 PP, 120 SOG

I still think he is going to have a nice bounceback season, even with Meszaros. At Mr. Insignificant he's a fine home run swing. Don't take him much higher then here though.

Some other considerations:

Number 1: Someone has to play point for Ottawa on the powerplay

So... who are the candidates?

Filip Kuba, Brian Lee, Cristoph Schubert, Alexandre Picard

In the preseason Picard and Lee have been seeing a fair amount of time on the point, but really that could mean anything. Lee is widely believed to be the heir apparent, but no one thought that he'd be taking the mantle quite so soon. Kuba has done it, with mixed results, for stretches of the last two seasons in Tampa. Schubert might end up a forward altogehter. This is something you really want to keep an eye on and you might want to pick your candidate and take a swing in the draft. Whoever is playing point for Heatly/Spezza/Alfie is very very valuable. If I had a gun to my head I would take Lee.

Number 2: Ok so other then Lee who are your sleepers?

Drew Doughty on Los Angeles, Kris Russell on Columbus (someone has to quarterback that powerplay now that Hainsey is gone), Cam Barker on Chicago (going to break out eventually, but still too low on the depth chart), Marc Staal on the New York Rangers (similar depth issues), Chris Campoli on the New York Islanders, Jack Johnson on Los Angeles (who will be good eventually I just don't know if this team can make anyone fantasy relevant), and Alex Goligoski on Pittsburgh (someone has to eat up Whitney's minutes).

Number 3: Speaking of Whitney where the hell is he on your list?

I'm glad you asked Put him in that last tier if you want. He had surgery in the offseason that will see him out until January. You never know how a player is going to be after surgery, particularly defeders... particularly offensive ones who if they lose a half a step lose all of their fantasy value. But draft him if what you are really looking for is a half a season from a guy that had one really really good one.

Number 4: Who just missed the list?

Jaroslav Spacek, Dan Hamhuis, Shane O'Brien, Fracois Beauchemin, and Tom Poti.

That concludes our pre-draft rankings.