FANTASY PICKS: PART 4---SASKATCHEWAN BORN PLAYERS

With the fourth installment of our Fantasy Picks for you, the Prairiepuck took a look at the up-and-coming stars in the league, those of whom have Saskatchewan in their blood. You may think that it may not add up to many players, but you would be wrong. Put it this way...If Saskatchewan would have an all-star team, the team would be incredible.

Without further adieu, coming in at #10 on the Saskatchewan players to watch:

10. Jarret Stoll (Melville, SK)- LOS ANGELES KINGS

One, of the best face-off men in the league, Jarret Stoll will have an interesting year. In not the greatest of situations offensively, Stoll will have to contribute much more than he did in Edmonton. An offensive core of Stoll, Kopitar, Handzus, Frolov, Brown, and Calder will be an interesting group to watch.

9. Chris Kunitz (Regina, SK)- ANAHEIM DUCKS

Anaheim is perhaps the team that has changed the least in the past 2 years, since they won the Stanley Cup. With the exception of Teemu Selanne, who has not been signed yet (he will), an addition of Brendan Morrison will propell the Ducks back to contenders in the West. Kunitz, who is among the solid core of forwards on the team, is an excellent leader and a reliable choice to put up 50-60 points this year.


8. Brooks Laich (Wawota, SK) - WASHINGTON CAPITALS

Of course, AO is the face of this franchise, but he can not carry the team every night. He needs a strong supporting cast, and Brooks Laich fits that bill perfectly. Entering in his 4th full season in the league, Laich is coming off a career-high year, posting almost as many goals last year (21), as he did in all of his previous years combined (22). Is it a coincidence that this happened the year that Ovechkin took the league by storm? Not at all. Expect Brooks Laich to get more time on the powerplay and penalty kill this year, tallying over 50 points.


7. Cam Ward (Saskatoon, SK) - CAROLINA HURRICANES

It is no question that Cam Ward proved that he is a number one goaltender after his Conn Smythe performance in 2006. Carolina, however, has failed to make the playoffs for the past 2 years, and they will be looking to Ward to backstop them into the playoffs this season. Carolina is widely regarded as "wildcard" pick this year, and with Ward between the pipes, I agree that this team could turn some heads.

6. Scott Hartnell (Regina, SK) - PHILADELPHIA FLYERS

A gritty, tough, and hard-working player, Hartnell is an impact player that Philadelphia knew they needed when they traded for him last off-season. Hartnell is an asset to special teams, consistently tallying 10 power play goals in each of his last 3 seasons, and 25 game winning goals in his 7 year career. In overtime in the playoffs, this is the guy you want on the ice. With proven chemistry with players like Daniel Briere and Mike Richards, Scotty could put up career-high numbers this season.


5. Patrick Marleau (Aneroid, SK) - SAN JOSE SHARKS

If anybody needs a rebound year this season, it's Patrick Marleau. After an 86-point season 2 years ago, Marleau only put up 48 points last season, and if San Jose has any hope of pushing past the 2nd round of playoffs this year, they will need some added scoring punch to take the full load off guys like Thornton and Cheechoo. Marleau is a clutch player, as his performances in the playoffs prove, but he will need a better campaign in 2008/2009.

4. Wade Redden (Lloydminster, SK) - NEW YORK RANGERS

Acquired by the blueshirts via Free Agency, Redden is a proven puck-moving defenseman, as he has tallied 410 points in 12 seasons with the Ottawa Senators. On a new team which lacked the veteran presence, who can't favour the Rangers to win the cup this year? Solid goaltending in Lundqvist, a revamped forward core of Drury, Gomez, Naslund, Zherdev, and potentially Shanahan or Sundin, and now a defensive core of led by Wade Redden? Watch out for the blueshirts folks.




3. Brenden Morrow (Carlyle, SK) - DALLAS STARS

If it wasn't for those damn Red Wings, Brenden Morrow could very well have made a strong candidate for the Conn Smythe trophy in last year's playoffs. Definitely a clutch player in important times in the game, Morrow is an excellent leader for this squad, and the choice to transfer the Captain status from Modano to Morrow has proven to be an excellent move. Dallas will be a contender for the cup this year, thanks to the leadership of Brenden Morrow.

2. Ryan Getzlaf (Regina, SK) - ANAHEIM DUCKS

Coming off a career high year of 82 points, Ryan Getzlaf has an extremely bright season ahead of him. An All-star for the first time last season, and the offensive leader of the Anaheim Ducks, are all reasons why Ryan Getzlaf WILL BE THE CAPTAIN OF THIS TEAM very soon. Getzlaf is an excellent pick for your Fantasy pool this season.

AND THE NUMBER 1 PLAYER TO WATCH FROM SASKATCHEWAN THIS YEAR:

Dan Ellis (Saskatoon, SK) - NASHVILLE PREDATORS

The faith that the Predators franchise has in Ellis is phenomenal, trading away their number one goaltender Chris Mason to St. Louis in the off-season, securing Ellis the #1 position. After an incredible playoff performance against the "would-be" Stanley Cup Champions, Detroit Red Wings, Ellis has made it clear that he deserves to be the starter. Kudos to the Nashville organization for their incredible depth in the system, being able to develop prospects that are worthy of overtaking starting positions. Dan Ellis will propell the young Predators team well into the post season this year.

Coming Soon, the Top #5 goaltenders to watch for in 2008/2009!!

T-O-P