There comes a time when the best course of action is to throw in the towel on your fantasy team. To sell the farm and start from scratch.
I took that approach to this offseason with one of my keeper teams and the transformation is nearly complete now, following the conclusion of our annual rookie draft.
I’ve made a total of 19 trades since the start of May, parting with most of my proven talent in exchange for draft picks turned prospects.
I went in this direction for a couple of reasons. For starters, I didn’t think my core group was going to be competitive with the league’s powerhouses even in their prime, which was nearing. I was destined to be an also-ran and thus waste their best years.
This particular 28-team dynasty league is also transitioning to a new relegation system, moving from four random divisions lacking parity to three relatively even divisions reflective of last season’s standings. I was slotting into the third division, as one of the stronger bottom-feeders, but without the necessary talent or depth to do any damage in the second division if and when I was promoted for future seasons.
The first division is stacked with 10 loaded teams that should contend for the title over the next few years. The second division is filled with 10 middle-of-the-pack rosters that could go up or down in the years to come, though a couple are armed with enough youth to make some long-term noise.
The third division, where I reside, is mostly made up of rebuilders. The other seven teams were already prospect-heavy from past rookie drafts and poised to be equally potent down the road. I might have been in better shape for the present — for next season — but I wasn’t going to stay ahead for long. I was bound to be bringing up the rear sooner than later.
Realizing that reality, I took a step back in hopes of taking two steps forward. Probably not next season, considering I’ve gutted my team in terms of the current roster, but providing I stay the course, I’m in better shape to get where I want to go — that top division, eventually.
Baby steps, though, and that means I’ll likely be picking in the top five, possibly the top three in next year’s rookie draft. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. Whenever you blow it up, growing pains are to be expected. The key is making the right picks and crossing your fingers that those prospects develop into impact players — in real life and, especially, in fantasy. I’m cautiously optimistic that will be the case for my team, and that I’ll be trending in the right direction with this revamped roster.
Original Roster
FORWARDS = Artemi Panarin, Mika Zibanejad, Craig Smith, Ales Hemsky, Jesper Fast, Tomas Jurco, Derek Dorsett, Frank Vatrano, Michael Mersch, Conor Sheary, Tanner Kero, Sven Andrighetto, Ty Rattie, Hudson Fasching, Alexander Khokhlachev, Nikolai Prokhorkin and Danny Kristo
DEFENCEMEN = Adam Larsson, Calvin de Haan, Chris Tanev, Jakub Kindl, Nikita Nesterov, Jared Cowen, Tony DeAngelo, Jeremy Roy, Travis Dermott, Gustav Forsling, Vili Saarijarvi and Kristian Nakyva
GOALTENDERS = Kari Lehtonen and Michal Neuvirth
2016 Draft Picks = 1st Round Pick (8th overall), 1st Round Pick (12th overall), 1st Round Pick (19th overall), 1st Round Pick (26th overall) and 2nd Round Pick (38th overall)
Chicago Blackhawks forward Artemi Panarin was essentially my only untouchable from that original roster and the one player that I refused to field offers on over the course of this rebuild. I listened to almost everybody else.
Current Roster
FORWARDS = Artemi Panarin, Joffrey Lupul, Sam Gagner, Emerson Etem, Bryan Rust, Tomas Jurco, Magnus Paajarvi, Frank Vatrano, Michael Mersch, Tanner Kero, Michael McCarron and Tyler Bertuzzi
DEFENCEMEN = Dan Boyle, Nikita Nesterov, Philip Larsen, Andrew MacDonald, Jakub Kindl, Patrick Wiercioch, Michael Matheson, Tony DeAngelo, Gustav Forsling, Jeremy Roy and Travis Dermott
GOALTENDERS = Michael Hutchinson, Jonas Gustavsson and Zachary Fucale
2016 DRAFT PICKS = 1st Round Pick (2nd overall, Patrik Laine), 1st Round Pick (3rd overall, Jesse Puljujarvi), 1st Round Pick (22nd overall, Tyler Benson), 1st Round Pick (24th overall, Carter Hart), 3rd Round Pick (83rd overall, Christian Fischer), Bonus Round Pick (85th overall, Dmytro Timashov) and Bonus Round Pick (86th overall, Artur Kayumov)
Trade History
Here’s how it all went down, in chronological order, so you can be the judge . . .
OUTGOING = 1st Round Pick (19th overall) and 1st Round Pick (26th overall)
INCOMING = 1st Round Pick (15th overall), 3rd Round Pick (69th overall) and 3rd Round Pick (71st overall)
OUTGOING = Mika Zibanejad, Adam Larsson, 1st Round Pick (12th overall), 1st Round Pick (15th overall) and 3rd Round Pick (71st overall)
INCOMING = 1st Round Pick (2nd overall, Patrik Laine), 2nd Round Pick (32nd overall) and 3rd Round Pick (60th overall)
This deal went down long before Adam Larsson (above) was traded to the Edmonton Oilers and Mika Zibanejad was moved to the New York Rangers. Larsson’s fantasy value went up as a result while Zibanejad’s could go either way, but I still consider this to be a fair blockbuster in the fallout. I reacquired the 12th overall pick (see below) and the outgoing picks turned into Dante Fabbro (15th), Nikita Zaitsev (32nd) and Linus Hultstrom (71st).
OUTGOING = Craig Smith, Ty Rattie and 2nd Round Pick (32nd overall)
INCOMING = 1st Round Pick (12th overall)
OUTGOING = 1st Round Pick (8th overall), 1st Round Pick (12th overall), 2nd Round Pick (38th overall), 3rd Round Pick (60th overall), 3rd Round Pick (69th overall), Calvin de Haan, Vili Saarijarvi, Hudson Fasching, Sven Andrighetto, Alexander Khokhlachev, Nikolai Prokhorkin, Kristian Nakyva and Danny Kristo
INCOMING = 1st Round Pick (3rd overall, Jesse Puljujarvi)
This was, according to most, a massive overpayment on my part, but I was bound and determined to get third overall after previously acquiring second, with plans to pick the Finns — or Auston Matthews if he somehow fell into my lap the way Jesse Puljujarvi (above) fell into the lap of the Edmonton Oilers at fourth overall in the 2016 NHL Draft. For the record, those outgoing picks became Olli Juolevi (8th), Alex Nylander (12th), Sam Steel (38th), Dryden Hunt (60th) and Will Bitten (69th). Puljujarvi will have to be pretty special if I’m going to save any face here. That said, a handful of those assets I gave up aren’t likely to have much if any, fantasy value going forward.
OUTGOING = Michal Neuvirth
INCOMING = Karri Ramo, Zachary Fucale and 2nd Round Pick (48th overall)
OUTGOING = Kari Lehtonen and 2nd Round Pick (48th overall)
INCOMING = Michael Hutchinson, 1st Round Pick (17th overall) and 3rd Round Pick (73rd overall)
OUTGOING = Ales Hemsky
INCOMING = Artturi Lehkonen
OUTGOING = Nikita Tryamkin
INCOMING = Tyler Bertuzzi
OUTGOING = Tyler Bertuzzi and Jesper Fast
INCOMING = David Musil, 1st Round Pick (24th overall, Carter Hart) and 3rd Round Pick (84th overall)
Carter Hart of the WHL’s Everett Silvertips — the CHL’s goaltender of the year selected in the second round of the NHL draft by the Philadelphia Flyers — was the prospect I had in mind when acquiring the 24th overall pick, so I was happy to see that plan come to fruition and I do believe he has a bright future. The Flyers were already loaded with goalie prospects — Anthony Stolarz, Alex Lyon, Felix Sandstrom and Matej Tomek — but Hart could be the best of that bunch and could be backstopping Canada at the 2017 world juniors.
OUTGOING = Chris Tanev
INCOMING = 3rd Round Pick (71st overall)
OUTGOING = 3rd Round Pick (73rd overall) and 3rd Round Pick (84th overall)
INCOMING = 2nd Round Pick (39th overall)
OUTGOING = 3rd Round Pick (71st overall)
INCOMING = Brandon Davidson, Keith Kinkaid and Dalton Thrower
OUTGOING = 1st Round Pick (17th overall)
INCOMING = 1st Round Pick (22nd overall, Tyler Benson) and 2nd Round Pick (38th overall)
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OUTGOING = Prospect Drops (Keith Kinkaid, David Musil and Dalton Thrower)
INCOMING = Bonus Round Pick (90th overall)
OUTGOING = 2nd Round Pick (38th overall), 2nd Round Pick (39th overall) and Bonus Round Pick (90th overall)
INCOMING = Michael Matheson and Bonus Round Pick (98th overall)
OUTGOING = Artturi Lehkonen and Brandon Davidson
INCOMING = Bonus Round Pick (85th overall, Dmytro Timashov), Bonus Round Pick (86th overall, Artur Kayumov) and Bonus Round Pick (99th overall)
OUTGOING = Michael Hutchinson and Conor Sheary
INCOMING = Tyler Bertuzzi and Anton Slepyshev
OUTGOING = Bonus Round Pick (98th overall) and Bonus Round Pick (99th overall)
INCOMING = 3rd Round Pick (83rd overall, Christian Fischer)
OUTGOING = Derek Dorsett and Anton Slepyshev
INCOMING = Emerson Etem and Michael McCarron
Total Assets Exchanged
OUTGOING = Mika Zibanejad, Craig Smith, Ales Hemsky, Jesper Fast, Conor Sheary, Derek Dorsett, Ty Rattie, Hudson Fasching, Sven Andrighetto, Tyler Bertuzzi, Artturi Lehkonen, Anton Slepyshev, Alexander Khokhlachev, Nikolai Prokhorkin, Danny Kristo, Adam Larsson, Calvin de Haan, Chris Tanev, Brandon Davidson, Nikita Tryamkin, Vili Saarijarvi, Kristian Nakyva, Dalton Thrower, David Musil, Kari Lehtonen, Michal Neuvirth, Michael Hutchinson, Karri Ramo, Keith Kinkaid, 1st Round Pick (8th overall), 1st Round Pick (12th overall, twice), 1st Round Pick (15th overall), 1st Round Pick (17th overall), 1st Round Pick (19th overall), 1st Round Pick (26th overall), 2nd Round Pick (32nd overall), 2nd Round Pick (38th overall, twice), 2nd Round Pick (39th overall), 2nd Round Pick (48th overall), 3rd Round Pick (60th overall), 3rd Round Pick (69th overall), 3rd Round Pick (71st overall, twice), 3rd Round Pick (73rd overall), 3rd Round Pick (84th overall), Bonus Round Pick (90th overall), Bonus Round Pick (98th overall) and Bonus Round Pick (99th overall)
INCOMING = Emerson Etem, Artturi Lehkonen, Michael McCarron, Tyler Bertuzzi (twice), Anton Slepyshev, Michael Matheson, Brandon Davidson, Dalton Thrower, David Musil, Michael Hutchinson, Jonas Gustavsson, Karri Ramo, Keith Kinkaid, Zachary Fucale, 1st Round Pick (2nd overall, Patrik Laine), 1st Round Pick (3rd overall, Jesse Puljujarvi), 1st Round Pick (12th overall), 1st Round Pick (15th overall), 1st Round Pick (17th overall), 1st Round Pick (22nd overall, Tyler Benson), 1st Round Pick (24th overall, Carter Hart), 2nd Round Pick (32nd overall), 2nd Round Pick (38th overall), 2nd Round Pick (39th overall), 2nd Round Pick (48th overall), 3rd Round Pick (60th overall), 3rd Round Pick (69th overall), 3rd Round Pick (71st overall, twice), 3rd Round Pick (73rd overall), 3rd Round Pick (83rd overall, Christian Fischer), 3rd Round Pick (84th overall), Bonus Round Pick (85th overall, Dmytro Timashov), Bonus Round Pick (86th overall, Artur Kayumov), Bonus Round Pick (90th overall), Bonus Round Pick (98th overall) and Bonus Round Pick (99th overall)
Actual Assets Breakdown
OUTGOING = Mika Zibanejad, Craig Smith, Ales Hemsky, Conor Sheary, Derek Dorsett, Hudson Fasching, Sven Andrighetto, Ty Rattie, Artturi Lehkonen, Anton Slepyshev, Alexander Khokhlachev, Nikolai Prokhorkin, Danny Kristo, Adam Larsson, Calvin de Haan, Chris Tanev, Brandon Davidson, Nikita Tryamkin, Vili Saarijarvi, Kristian Nakyva, Dalton Thrower, David Musil, Kari Lehtonen, Michal Neuvirth, Michael Hutchinson, Karri Ramo, Keith Kinkaid, 1st Round Pick (8th overall), 1st Round Pick (12th overall), 1st Round Pick (15th overall), 1st Round Pick (17th overall), 1st Round Pick (19th overall), 1st Round Pick (26th overall), 2nd Round Pick (32nd overall), 2nd Round Pick (38th overall), 2nd Round Pick (39th overall), 2nd Round Pick (48th overall), 3rd Round Pick (60th overall), 3rd Round Pick (69th overall), 3rd Round Pick (71st overall), 3rd Round Pick (73rd overall), 3rd Round Pick (84th overall), Bonus Round Pick (90th overall), Bonus Round Pick (98th overall) and Bonus Round Pick (99th overall)
INCOMING = Emerson Etem, Michael McCarron, Tyler Bertuzzi, Michael Matheson, Zachary Fucale, 1st Round Pick (2nd overall, Patrik Laine), 1st Round Pick (3rd overall, Jesse Puljujarvi), 1st Round Pick (22nd overall, Tyler Benson), 1st Round Pick (24th overall, Carter Hart), 3rd Round Pick (83rd overall, Christian Fischer), Bonus Round Pick (85th overall, Dmytro Timashov) and Bonus Round Pick (86th overall, Artur Kayumov)
Final Thoughts
Obviously, this rebuild hinges on Laine and Puljujarvi being the real deal. If either of them bust or end up being mediocre, my team will be reeling for the foreseeable future. I gambled on the Finns blossoming into stars, potentially even superstars, and becoming the faces of my franchise, along with Panarin, Vatrano, Matheson, DeAngelo, and hopefully either Fucale or Hart.
If both goalie prospects pan out and any of those other defencemen, then I’ll be firing on all cylinders going forward. Ideally, I’ll be able to continue building around those seven or eight players, while adding some more core pieces from next year’s rookie draft. We roster 18 NHL players year-round — including a minimum of six forwards, four defencemen and one goaltender, plus seven reserves of any position but a maximum of two goalies — so I’m not even halfway there in terms of quality keepers.
Rome wasn’t built in a day and this fantasy team remains a work in progress, but the foundation has been laid for future success. At least I think so.
What say you? Would you have stuck it out with the original roster or do you prefer my current roster?