Twelve players to watch for this season's pool: The Peak's annual fantasy primer for the NHL season

By Matt Lee The Peak (Simon Fraser University) BURNABY, B.C. (CUP)

To win a hockey pool you have to depend on first-line talent, scoring defencemen, and superstar goaltending, but it's the players you draft in the late rounds that are going to make the difference. Canadian University Press member newspaper The Peak analyzes 12 players who I think can help get you to the top and earn you bragging rights this season. Ville Leino, LW ,Detroit – Leino was impressive during his brief stint with the Red Wings last season, scoring nine points in a 13-game audition before looking NHL-ready during seven games of the postseason. The Red Wings have slotted Leino to play on the fourth line to start the season, but don't be surprised if he's playing top six minutes by Christmas. (Prediction: 49 points) Valtteri Filppula, C, Detroit – After the trio of Datsyuk, Zetterberg, and Franzen, it's Filppula who is expected to anchor the second line and second powerplay unit. The absence of Marian Hossa and Jiri Hudler really opens the door for Filppula to seize the second-line centre slot. (Prediction: 57 points) Patrick O'Sullivan, RW, Edmonton – Sullivan is entering his fourth NHL campaign, which is a sign that he's ready for a breakout. After arriving from Los Angeles at the trade deadline, O'Sullivan had a tremendous second half and this season should see first-line minutes as well as tons of powerplay time. Opportunity is knocking here. (Prediction: 59 points) James van Riemsdyk, LW, Philadelphia – I originally suspected the second overall selection after Patrick Kane in the 2008 draft was still another year away but he has had an outstanding preseason and has shown he belongs in the NHL. Due to the superior talent ahead of him, he will start with minimal powerplay time, but will eventually arrive as a superstar. (Prediction: 49 points) Claude Giroux, LW, Philadelphia - I really like Giroux's chances of exploding this season. He spent half his rookie season with the Flyers and tacked on 27 points while playing minimal minutes. Now, he'll be depended on to anchor the second line; Giroux has the potential to be an 85-point player in the NHL and that time will arrive soon. (Prediction: 61 points) Matt Lombardi, C, Phoenix – Lombardi had a heck of time getting scoring opportunities in Calgary but now has a great opportunity to make a name for himself in the desert. He will be a huge part of the offense with the Coyotes and will see a big spike in powerplay minutes in addition to top line shifts. (Prediction: 62 points) Artem Anisimov, C, New York – Anisimov came into training camp and surprised everyone in the preseason, showing poise with the puck and offensive flair which is very limited on the Rangers outside of Marian Gaborik. He's currently listed as a third-line centre, but he is definitely someone to watch to have an outstanding campaign. (Prediction: 43 points) Steven Stamkos, C, Tampa Bay – The first overall pick from 2008 had a rocky start to his career but finished very strong in the second half, leading the Lightning in scoring in the final stages of the season. As he has now acclimatized to the rigors and speed of the game, look for a huge sophomore season. (Prediction: 70 points) Nikita Filatov, LW, Columbus – Filatov will be, in my mind, the best rookie skater of the 2009-2010 season. Despite the fact head coach Ken Hitchcock likes to bring rookies along slowly, there's no denying Filatov's talent. The slick Russian winger had four goals in eight games last year, including a hat trick, and has been penciled for second line duty with Antoine Vermette and Jakub Voracek. (Prediction: 55 points) Drew Doughty, D, Los Angeles – The hulking blueliner is ready to take control of the Kings defence and blossom into the franchise defenceman he was bred to become. He will likely see first unit powerplay time ahead of all other defenders and will play in all situations this season. And don't worry about a sophomore slump; Doughty is ready to blossom into a top defenceman. (Prediction: 39 points) Paul Kariya, LW, St. Louis – Kariya had a horrid year last season due to the fact he was stricken with injury which limited him to a mere 11 games before getting surgery on both of his hips. However, he is reportedly in fantastic shape this season and despite the fact his best years are behind him, there's a very real possibility Kariya could lead the Blues in scoring this season. (Prediction: 75 points) Alex Goligoski, D, Pittsburgh – It's hard to imagine a blueliner who plays behind fellow defenders Sergei Gonchar and Kris Letang getting much powerplay time, but Goligoski has all the tools necessary to be a powerplay specialist. If Gonchar goes down with injury again, however, Goligoski could arrive to a situation which sees him play with some of the best talent in the league. (Prediction: 48 points)

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