Introducing the 2024 Fantasy Hockey Titans

Understanding the Intricacies of Head-to-Head Category Competition

Unlike point leagues, head-to-head category competition in fantasy hockey brings a unique flavor of excitement. A single goal, assist, power-play point, hit, and so on can be the deciding factor between winning and losing for the week. The minute fraction of a save percentage or goals-against average can tip the scales in favor of one team over the other. Keeping this perspective in mind, let’s delve into the profiles of the ‘Category Titans’. They shine in a specific field, but also contribute significantly in other aspects of fantasy hockey.

These insights will serve managers in standard H2H game and other leagues as well, given the substantial crossover in evaluating top performers across all fantasy disciplines.

Standout Performers in Key Categories

Goals

Last season saw Auston Matthews net an impressive 69 goals, Artemi Panarin charted new fantasy heights with nearly 50 goals (and another 71 assists). David Pastrnak and Nathan MacKinnon also delivered stellar performances. Beyond these superstars, Tage Thompson and Timo Meier are expected to improve on their previous year’s performances. Watch out for Dallas’s Jason Robertson and Kings’ Adrian Kempe rebounding this season.

Assists

High-profile players such as Nikita Kucherov and Connor McDavid need no introduction in this department. But there are also other notable contributors like Robert Thomas and Mitch Marner. Tim Stutzle and Elias Pettersson are other standouts, with the former likely available beyond the first few rounds.

Power-play points & Short-handed points

Jonathan Marchessault, Minnesota’s Zuccarello, and Edmonton’s Ryan Nugent-Hopkins are names to consider in the power-play points category. Similarly, for short-handed points, Travis Konecny and Yegor Sharangovich could be valuable picks.

Shots

Nathan MacKinnon, the reigning Hart winner, led the league with 4.94 shots/game last season, making him a valuable asset. Jack Hughes also stands out in this category, along with several other scoring categories.

Blocked shots & Hits

When it comes to blocked shots, Moritz Seider and Colton Parayko are the names to consider. Brady Tkachuk, the Senators’ captain, stands out in the hits category, with his multi-dimensional contribution being a significant advantage.

Faceoffs won

Sidney Crosby leads this category, by a significant margin. His dominance in the faceoff dot offers an opportunity to boost your fantasy rankings.

Goalie wins & Shutouts

For goalie wins, Alexandar Georgiev, Jacob Markstrom, Jeremy Swayman, and Darcy Kuemper are players to look out for. Regarding shutouts, it’s best to focus on quality netminders and let the shutout results come organically.

Save percentage & Goals-against average

Semyon Varlamov of the Islanders, Anthony Stolarz, and Ilya Samsonov are worth considering for their save percentage. In terms of goals-against average, Pyotr Kochetkov and Joey Daccord stand out.

In conclusion, the fantasy hockey landscape is filled with potential game-changers. By carefully analyzing the players and their performances in specific categories, fantasy managers can make informed decisions that could lead to a successful season.