It has been an exciting year for fantasy hockey.
Hopefully, many of you are in, won or about to enter your team's playoffs!
It's time to start looking back at the 2015-16 NHL fantasy hockey year that is about to be the year that was. Why?
There is no off-season for hard core fantasy players. You can start prepping next year's draft board today!
And - it's just plain fun.
Here is the first observation in a series of Lew's Clues blogs.
"Bartender, I would like an Old and One New Russian on the Rocks!"
I will take the ole' Czech as well...
Actually, make it a double/double because there have been four Russian rock stars this year.
Two emerging talents and two established - one of which is really, really established.
Alex Ovechkin - The Great 8 continues to amaze and establish his Hall of Fame career. Ovechkin is a "young" winger at 30-years-old showing no signs of wear and tear. You know you are good when you have 64 points in late March and these prolific numbers are your expected normal stats for six years straight! Alex the Great has 43 goals and 21 assists in 70 games this season. If Ovechkin's Russian genes are anything like his neighboring comrade from Czechoslovakia - Jaromir Jagr's - then we are in for a fantasy treat for many more years to come. Keep #8 at the number one position on your draft board next to the American #88.
Evgeny Kuznetsov - This year's Tarasenko has 53 assists and 20 goals in 72 games this season. Kuznetsov is an unselfish 23-year-old Russian center in his third year with the Capitals and has turned heads much like Vladimir did in his third NHL year. Kuznetsov may not be as flashy on the highlight reels as Tarasenko but he is a point-producing machine. This true center is a pivot point for the Caps- constantly buzzing around the biscuit and generating goals off of his stick and of those around him. Keep Evgeny in the top 10 of your board for next year. This year may actually be just a glimmer of brighter seasons to come.
Vladimir Tarasenko - No big shocker here. Vladimir has been in the spotlight since his sick move on Cam Talbot after juking three New York Rangers last season. The 24-year-old winger has never looked back after that break out move which turned to be the breakout moment for his career. Tarasenko finished up last season with 36 goals and 37 assists. He is currently on pace to at least meet and slightly exceed those numbers this year having tallied 34 goals and 29 assists this season. Tarasenko has become a legitimate Russian rocket that keeps firing up his fantasy stats and NHL career. A no-brainer first-round draft pick for any owner next year.
Jaromir Jagr - Jaromir Jagr still plays hockey? Yes...yes he does. And, he plays it quite well at 44-years-old. Jagr leads the Panthers with 55 points coming from 24 goals and 31 assists. It is hard to believe that this rallying Czech began his NHL career in the year 1990. Jagr is older than 9 franchises in the NHL including his own Florida team. Can Jaromir Jagr continue to be a powerful pick for fantasy teams next year? It would be easy for this writer to say, "No, this was the final burst that signals the end for a shooting star." However, when you watch Jagr play, listen to his interviews, and see that he loves the game with his relentless preparation - it would be foolish for anyone to expect Jagr to just fade away next year. Keep his name etched on the side notes of your draft board and steal him in the mid-rounds next season.