Welcome to the Thursday prospect ramblings where I am going to highlight rookies that went in my last three drafts for the fantasy hockey season. I will also give a highlight of some players who I think will have a better season that previous.

But first…. Yay the NHL started again last night. Who is NOT jumping with excitement about that. I know I am typing this up as I watch the Caps vs Blues very exciting to get the fantasy hockey season started.

And secondly, here is my #GoodTweet of the week:

{source}<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet” data-lang=”en”><p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”>Djoos would help 50% of NHL teams. I hope he gets claimed <a href=”https://t.co/FhcOn34AMY”>https://t.co/FhcOn34AMY</a></p>&mdash; Pat Quinn (not that one) (@FHPQuinn) <a href=”https://twitter.com/FHPQuinn/status/1178704557737537536?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>September 30, 2019</a></blockquote>
{/source}

I am feeling generous so I will give you another as it is super sensible 

{source}<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet” data-lang=”en”><p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”>If you’re an NHL GM how do you not carry only 43 contracts at this time to add legit good players on waivers at this time?</p>&mdash; Pat Quinn (not that one) (@FHPQuinn) <a href=”https://twitter.com/FHPQuinn/status/1178713363615846400?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>September 30, 2019</a></blockquote>{/source}

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My first draft is a keep five H2H league with a multi-cat setting, 16 team, start one goalie, and a 15-player roster. This one typically does not draft a lot of boom/bust rookies as there are plenty of established players to choose from. Rookies like Hughes and Kakko (I am going to mess this spelling up all year, so expect a few Kaako’s as well) get selected though.

Cale Makar was selected with pick 14 in round three

Jack Hughes went at the end of the third round

Kaapo Kakko with at the third pick of the fourth round

Quinn Hughes went in the middle of the sixth round

Nikita Gusev went with the eleventh pick of the eight round

Two powerplay quarterback went, which can make sense if you need scoring from the defense. Hughes going is fine but there are a lot of C options available in Yahoo so a player that will put up his stat lines may be common. By that I mean we have no idea how often he will hit and shoot, or even get 1PP time. Kakko going is a reach considering he is the least likely of all four to get any PP time, plus we have no history of NHL hits and shots stats. I would like Kakko and both Hughes’ more in their second years

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My second draft (an hour later) is a one-year H2H league that really just focuses on standard stats. There are 18 players you draft, with two goalie starts, and teams.

Kaapo Kakko went with pick ten in round nine

Cale Makar went at pick two in found 13

Jack Hughes went with the last pick in round 14

Nikita Gusev went with pick number three in round 17

Quinn Hughes not going makes sense since the pool is not that deep and he is only on 2PP. I was the one who took Gusev and I thought it was an amazing spot. Also, I would choose Hughes ahead of Kakko in this pool most of the time, but there are still so many good C’s available, it makes sense to take Kakko first.

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This one I did on Tuesday I cannot record what round rookies were taken as this is possibly the deepest draft ever. The basic premise is that there are 15 people and you have to take one player from every team, with at least eight defensemen and three goalies. It is an officepools style pool, so you just pick your players and play out the season. There are many ways to get points but it is centred around goals, assists, wins and losses. I will list where I took a rookie and then list the rookies that were taken.

For me I took:

• Tory Terry with my 19^th pivk
• Drake Batherson with my 24^th pick (sure not looking great for him staying in the NHL right now)
• Nick Suzuki at pick 27 (steal)
• If Sammy Blais counts, I took him with my 29^th pick

Other rookies taken:

• Martin Necas, CAR
• Joakin Nygard, EDM
• Victor Olofsson, BUF
• Andrew Mangiapane, CGY
• Alex Nylander, CHI
• Rasmus Sandin, TOR
• Tanner Hirose, DET
• Sam Steel, ANA
• Evan Bouchard, EDM (yeah players can get picked that get send down or can possibly get sent down, it is the risk you take)
• Jack Hughes, NJ
• Ryan Donato, MIN …. I guess he kind of counts
• Michael Blackwood, NJ
• Travis Sanhiem, PHI (I think he juuust counts)
• Ilya Mikheyev, TOR
• Elvis Merkzlikins, CBJ
• Nikita Gusev, NJ
• Barret Hayton, ARI
• Erik Brannstrom, OTT
• Nikolai Prokhorin, LA
• Quinn Hughes, VAN
• Sami Niku, WPG
• Karson Kuhlman, BOS
• Dillon Dube, CGY
• Cale Makar, COL
• Denis Gurianov, DAL
• Adam Fox, NYR
• Cody Glass, VGK
• Danil Yurtaykin, SJ – Which for some reason officepools does not have in the system.

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That is all for me this week, I have one final draft with friends Saturday.

I will be back next week with some #Analysis of prospects. Follow my twitter: @FHPQuinn