2011 NHL Fantasy Hockey: 14 Sleepers You Need to Own on Your Fantasy Team

There is nothing quite like having a sleeper pick pay off in fantasy sports.  Of course, for every success story, there are probably at least two or three drop-adds, but that comes with the territory.  

Sometimes when you pick a player, you know exactly what you are getting in your lineup. Other times, you make a selection expecting that 50-point player to explode for an extra 20 or 30 points.  It happens a few times every year, and the goal is to own as many of these sleepers as possible.

My definition of a sleeper pick is a simple one:  A sleeper is a player that can provide your team with more value than expected for one reason or another.  All kinds of circumstances can create a sleeper, but the theme is the same.  These are players that can perform better than their draft positioning led on.

Here are 14 players that I think have the circumstances needed to break away from their sleeper status.

Jamie Benn

Why owners are sleeping on him:  The general presumption is that the top six in the Dallas Stars lineup is shot now that Brad Richards isn't in town.  Benn missed 13 games last year and put up 56 point—numbers just low enough to keep some owners from highlighting Benn's name as a target on draft day.

Why you shouldn't sleep on him:  Benn is primed for a breakout season.  He's heading into the magical third year of his career and will have every opportunity to play big minutes in Dallas.  20 goals is pretty much a given here, but he could put up much bigger numbers for the Stars.  Benn is also a left wing, and goal scoring left wingers don't grow on fantasy trees.  Or whatever.

James van Riemsdyk

Why owners are sleeping on him:  This isn't really a traditional sleeper pick in that JVR isn't going to sink to the mid-rounds.  Most owners are aware of the opportunity that is in front of van Riemsdyk.  The scary thing here is that he still might provide more value than his third- or fourth-round selection implies.  In a one-year league, he's a good pickup.  The sky is the limit for this kid in keepers.

Why you shouldn't sleep on him:  The Flyers retooled their forward corps over the summer, adding a few pieces, but shipping away their two most prominent players in Mike Richards and Jeff Carter.  This makes way for Claude Giroux and van Riemsdyk to put up massive numbers.

Blake Wheeler

Why owners are sleeping on him:  After Blake Wheeler hit the sophomore slump, the Boston Bruins saw fit to deal him to Winnipeg (Atlanta) for some cap relief last season.  The move also cost Wheeler a chance to lift the Stanley Cup.

Why you shouldn't sleep on him:  In Boston, Wheeler was stuck behind a glut of talent, wasn't considered a top-six forward and wasn't included on the power play unit.  He will get every chance to continue to change all of that in Winnipeg.

Worthy of note:  Wheeler put up 27 points in 58 games with Boston before the trade.  In 23 games with the Jets (Thrashers), he posted 17.

James Neal

Why owners are sleeping on him:  James Neal had one goal in 20 games as a Penguin and Sidney Crosby's return date is still unknown.

Why you shouldn't sleep on him:  Neal may not be able to occupy Crosby's wing immediately, but playing with a rejuvenated Evgeni Malkin is a pretty good consolation prize.  Expect Neal to settle into Pittsburgh's system and score a lot more often this season.

Kyle Okposo

Why owners are sleeping on him:  Limited action last year prevented Kyle Okposo from having the breakout season many were expecting.

Why you shouldn't sleep on him:  Okposo is healthy again—so are the rest of the Islanders for that matter—and he should be good for his breakout season a year later.  He'll put up at least 50 points like he did in his sophomore year, but the chemistry with John Tavares implies a lot more is possible.

Mark Streit

Why owners are sleeping on him:  Missing an entire season because of injury can knock you off of most fantasy owner's radars.  That would be the case for Mark Streit.

Why you shouldn't sleep on him:  62-56-49.  Those are the point totals for Streit during the three seasons leading up to his injury.  He's good for at least 50 points from the blueline, but the Islanders have a dynamic top power play unit that could bump him up another 10 or 15.

Peter Mueller

Why owners are sleeping on him:  Peter Mueller finally wore out his welcome in Phoenix, who traded the former first-round pick after he put up only 17 points in 54 games.  The fresh mountain air in Colorado seemed to do him a world of good until a concussion cut his season short.

Why you shouldn't sleep on him:  Mueller racked up 20 points in 15 games for the Avalanche.  If he can continue at even half that rate, he is fringe-fantasy relevant.  The best part about him may be that he probably won't even cost you a pick.  Keep an eye on him, and if he appears to be heating up, grab him off the wire.  The 22-year-old has the pedigree and linemates to put up some points.

Grant Clitsome

Why owners are sleeping on him:  Grant Clitsome is not a big name blueliner and he's playing in Columbus.

Why you shouldn't sleep on him:  Clitsome may or may not be a guy who is a viable fantasy option for your blueline for an entire season.  His sample size is small (31 games last year), but he produced when given the chance (19 points).  The Blue Jackets didn't do Clitsome any favors by adding James Wisniewski, but whenever Wis can't go (or is suspended...) look for Clitsome to get some solid power play time.

Magnus Paajarvi

Why owners are sleeping on him:  34 points on a struggling Edmonton team doesn't exactly scream "pick me!" for Magnus Paajarvi.

Why you shouldn't sleep on him:  He scored 11 of his 15 goals after the All-Star break, leading the team during that time frame.  Another year wiser and stronger, Paajarvi will continue to move along as a goal scorer and player.

Evander Kane

Why owners are sleeping on him:  Evander Kane's growth has been pretty standard—not a lot of fireworks to draw the attention of poolies.

Why you shouldn't sleep on him:  Kane improved upon his rookie season totals last season by a notable margin, making the jump from 26 points to 43.  Heading into his third year, he is poised to make another similar jump.  Sixty points isn't out of the question at all.

Mikko Koivu

Why owners are sleeping on him:  Because they haven't read any of my fantasy hockey articles up to this point.

Why you shouldn't sleep on him:  Mikko Koivu got new linemates in Devin Setoguchi and Dany Heatley over the summer and things have been working out quite well for them.  The trio has racked up 13 points in two preseason games.  Preseason typically means nothing, so discount this as you will.  Koivu is still a gifted playmaker skating with high-end finishers.

David Perron

Why owners are sleeping on him:  David Perron just resumed light skating after losing almost an entire season and offseason to a concussion.

Why you shouldn't sleep on him:  Barring a miracle turnaround, you probably shouldn't draft Perron, but monitor his progress and once he is ready to return, don't hesitate to add him.  He was set for a breakout year before getting his head knocked off.  If Perron can resume that form, then he'll be a valuable asset.

Steve Sullivan

Why owners are sleeping on him:  Steve Sullivan is injury-prone, and that doesn't get better with age.

Why you shouldn't sleep on him:  As long as he stays healthy, Sullivan has a great situation in Pittsburgh.  He'll be skating alongside top-end centers on a nightly basis and will see time on a power play unit with either Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.

Tomas Fleischmann

Why other owners are sleeping on him:  They've probably been there, done that.  Or blood disorders give them the willies.

Why you shouldn't sleep on him:  A solid amount of upside for a later-round selection.  In 22 games for Colorado, he put up 21 points before a strange blood condition grounded him for the season.  As a side note, maybe players who are traded to Colorado should hold off a bit on the point-per-game paces...it seems to end badly.