Top 40 Defensemen: Weekly Fantasy Hockey Rankings (Week 1)

Over the course of the 2018-2019 NHL season, RotoBaller will be breaking down our fantasy hockey player rankings by position. These positional rankings will be updated and posted on a weekly basis, starting with forwards every Sunday, defensemen on Monday, and goaltenders each Tuesday. Note: Rankings are determined considering a standard Yahoo league format (goals, […]

Top 75 Forwards: Weekly Fantasy Hockey Rankings (Week 1)

Over the course of the 2018-2019 NHL season, RotoBaller will be breaking down our fantasy hockey player rankings by position. These positional rankings will be updated and posted on a weekly basis, starting with forwards every Sunday, defensemen on Monday, and goaltenders each Tuesday. Note: Rankings are determined considering a standard Yahoo league format (goals, […]

Semyon Varlamov Strong In Win On Thursday

Colorado Avalanche goaltender Semyon Varlamov started the 2018-2019 season off strong on Thursday night, stopping 20 of 21 shots in a 4-1 win against the Minnesota Wild. The performance bodes well for the Russian goaltender expected to participate in a timeshare program with Philipp Grubauer. Varlamov had a strong season in 2017-2018, helping the Avs […]

Mikko Rantanen Collects Two Points In Opening Night Win

Colorado Avalanche right-winger Mikko Rantanen registered an assist and an empty-net tally in his team's 4-1 victory over the Minnesota Wild on Thursday night. The 21-year-old also posted a plus-one rating and four shots on goal to go along with his two points on the night. Rantanen is fresh off an excellent sophomore season, having […]

Top 25 Fantasy Hockey Goalie Rankings for 2018-2019

Over course of the 2018-2019 season, RotoBaller breaks down the fantasy hockey player rankings by position. The rankings will be updated and posted on a weekly basis, starting with forwards every Sunday, defensemen on Monday and goaltenders each Tuesday. Note: Rankings are determined considering a standard Yahoo league format (wins, goals against average, save percentage, […]

Semyon Varlamov Draws Start For Avalanche In Opener

Colorado Avalanche goaltender Semyon Varlamov will get the nod for his team when the Wild come to town for the season opener on Thursday night. The 30-year-old is coming off a 2017-2018 campaign in which he posted 24 wins, a 2.68 goals against average and a .920 save percentage in 47 starts. Despite the solid […]

Top 40 Fantasy Hockey Defensemen Rankings for 2018-2019

Over course of the 2018-2019 season, RotoBaller breaks down the fantasy hockey player rankings per position. The rankings will be updated and posted on a weekly basis, starting with forwards every Sunday, defensemen on Monday and goaltenders on Tuesday. Note: Rankings are determined considering a standard Yahoo league format (goals, assists, plus-minus, power play points, […]

Top 75 Fantasy Hockey Forward Rankings for 2018-2019

Over course of the 2018-2019 season, RotoBaller breaks down the fantasy hockey player rankings by position. The rankings will be updated and posted on a weekly basis, starting with forwards every Sunday, defensemen on Monday and goaltenders each Tuesday. Note: Rankings are determined considering a standard Yahoo league format (goals, assists, plus-minus, power play points, […]

Breakout NHL Defensemen You Have To Own In 2018-19

On fantasy hockey draft day, forwards are generally the belle of the ball. While getting top-end forward talent is always a good plan to start the draft, a solid stable of blueliners is integral to championship aspirations. Last season, Vladimir Tarasenko was a top 15 pick in a majority of fantasy drafts. Likewise, John Carlson […]

Top 100 Fantasy Hockey Rankings for 2018-2019

Over course of the offseason, RotoBaller contributed a six-piece feature breaking down the top 100 fantasy hockey player rankings heading into the 2018-2019 season. This article (the final edition) features some movement up and down the rankings as a result of trades, signings, injuries, etc. When the puck drops and the 2018-2019 season is officially […]

Top 100 Fantasy Hockey Rankings for 2018-2019 (10-1)

Over the next few weeks, RotoBaller will be kicking off the NHL offseason with a feature breaking down the top 100 player rankings heading into the 2018-2019 fantasy hockey season. The top 100 rankings will be released in six segments, starting from the bottom (100-81) and concluding with a two-piece set featuring our top 20 […]

Breakout NHL Forwards You Have To Own In 2018-19

Alas, the offseason has flown by faster than Connor McDavid. It feels like just last week we saw Alexander Ovechkin drunkenly swimming in a public fountain during the aftermath of the Washington Capitals' Stanley Cup victory. Now, we stand on the precipice of the 2018-19 NHL season which also means fantasy hockey draft day is […]

Sophomore Slump? Second-Year Players Due For A Decline

As the NHL continues to shift to a higher skilled, faster game, more NHL coaches are entrusting their young players with better opportunities to have a greater impact offensively. The days of talented youngsters having to grind out extended periods of time on the fourth line before moving up in the lineup seems to be […]

Top 100 Fantasy Hockey Rankings for 2018-2019 (60-41)

Over the next few weeks, RotoBaller will be kicking off the NHL offseason with a feature breaking down the top 100 player rankings heading into the 2018-2019 fantasy hockey season. The top 100 rankings will be released in six segments, starting from the bottom (100-81) and concluding with a two-piece set featuring our top 20 […]

Top 100 Fantasy Hockey Rankings for 2018-2019 (80-61)

Over the next few weeks, RotoBaller will be kicking off the NHL offseason with a feature breaking down the top 100 player rankings heading into the 2018-2019 fantasy hockey season. The top 100 rankings will be released in six segments, starting from the bottom (100-81) and concluding with a two-piece set featuring our top 20 […]

Top 100 Fantasy Hockey Rankings for 2018-2019 (100-81)

Over the next few weeks, RotoBaller will be kicking off the NHL offseason with a feature breaking down the top 100 player rankings heading into the 2018-2019 fantasy hockey season. The top 100 rankings will be released in six segments, starting from the bottom (100-81) and concluding with a two-piece set featuring our top 20 […]

Nail Yakupov Going to the KHL's SKA St. Petersburg

Former Colorado Avalanche and first overall pick of the Edmonton Oilers, Nail Yakupov, has decided to leave for the KHL. Yakupov has struggled to produce since scoring 31 points in 48 games during his rookie year in 2012, a struggle that culminated in playing for three different teams in three years and failing to score […]

Avs Take Martin Kaut 16th Overall

The Colorado Avalanche landed Czech right winger Martin Kaut with the 16th overall pick on Friday night. There was some concern for the young winger's health after he had heart surgery and remained in Europe for an extra year despite being drafted by the WHL's Brandon Wheat Kings, but he made it clear to reporters […]

Avalanche Acquire Brooks Orpik, Philipp Grubauer on Friday

The Colorado Avalanche have acquired defenseman Brooks Orpik and goaltender Philipp Grubauer from the Washington Capitals on Friday. In exchange, the Avs sent a 2018 second-round pick to be used in the draft on Saturday. Orpik registered 10 assists in 81 regular season games last season and Grubauer, the Caps backup goaltender last season, posted […]

Avalanche Take Winger Martin Kaut 16th Overall

The Colorado Avalanche selected forward Martin Kaut with the 16th overall pick in the 2018 NHL Draft. Kaut was not as highly ranked as some of the other players available with this pick, but after his strong showing in the most recent World Juniors (seven points in seven games) and inclusion on the Czech World […]

Samuel Girard A Game-Time Decision For Game 5

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Samuel Girard will be a game-time decision for Friday's Game 5 in Nashville. Girard's status is immensely important for an Avalanche team seeking to stave off elimination. Not only would the Avs get to plug Girard back into their top-four defensive group, but his return would allow the team to adequately shift […]

Andrew Hammond To Start Game 5 on Friday

Colorado Avalanche goaltender Andrew Hammond will get the nod in place of the injured Jonathan Bernier as the Avs look to avoid elimination on Friday night in Game 5. The Avalanche are now down to their third goaltending option, as starter Semyon Varlamov has also been out with an injury since late March. Hammond was […]

Jonathan Bernier Leaves Game 4 With Injury

Colorado Avalanche goaltender Jonathan Bernier suffered a lower-body injury in Wednesday's contest with the Predators and did not return. Prior to his premature departure, Bernier had stopped 23 of 26 shots against. The news comes at a tough time for the Avalanche, as the team will travel back to Nashville for Game 5 in an […]

Gabriel Landeskog Shines With Three-Point Night In Game 3

Colorado Avalanche left winger Gabriel Landeskog scored a goal and added two primary helpers in a crucial Game 3 win on Monday night. Landeskog displayed excellent vision in setting up both goals scored by Nathan MacKinnon, giving the Avalanche a 3-0 and then 4-0 lead in the second period. The 25-year-old's goal, an empty-netter, simply […]

Nathan MacKinnon Buries Two Goals in Game 3 Win

Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon found the back of the net twice in a 5-3 win against the Predators in Game 3 on Monday. MacKinnon displayed his quick release on both of his goals, beating Pekka Rinne on both the blocker and glove side. The MVP candidate will step onto the ice on Wednesday for […]

Jonathan Bernier Struggles Continue In Game 2

Colorado Avalanche goaltender Jonathan Bernier allowed another four goals in his team's 5-4 loss to the Predators in Game 2 on Saturday night. Thrust into starting duties for the entirety of the opening round due to Semyon Varlamov's knee injury, Bernier has struggled through the first two games, allowing a combined eight goals on 62 […]

Nathan MacKinnon Finds Scoresheet Again In Loss

Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon found the back of the net and added a helper in Saturday night's losing effort against the Predators. The Hart candidate was hightly noticeable with his elite speed and puck skills that carried him to 39 goals, 58 assists and 284 shots on net over the course of his 74 […]

Samuel Girard A Sleeper Pick For Colorado

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Samuel Girard is a player to keep an eye on as the series against the Nashville Predators continues this afternoon. Girard was held pointless in Game 1 despite being second among defensemen in ice time but did fire off four shots and a block while seeing time on the top powerplay unit […]

Erik Johnson To Miss At Least Six Weeks With A Fractured Patella

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Erik Johnson will be out for the rest of the regular season with a fractured patella. Johnson's injury, combined with the recent announcement of starting goaltender Semyon Varlamov's ailment, will be a tough obstacle for the Avalanche to overcome as the team fights for the final wild card spot in the West. […]

Semyon Varlamov Out Rest Of Season With Lower-Body Injury

Colorado Avalanche goaltender Semyon Varlamov will miss the rest of the regular season with what is being described as a lower-body injury. This comes as a huge blow for Colorado, a team that is currently tied with the Blues for the final wild-card spot in the West. Fantasy owners can certainly feel free to drop […]