Hockey pool fans, the season is near. Soon we will be surrounded by 7-game series, unexpected playoff heroes, and dark horse teams pushing conference champs deep into overtime.

And we get to win our fantasy drafts, collecting bevy money based on correctly guessing which teams will win 10+ games and which players will head to the World Championships after a first round sweep!

So who do you plan to take as your #1 centerman? Who will be your sleeper pick? Which goalie has the best chance of winning 16 games? These are the questions that NHL fans will be pondering RIGHT ABOUT NOW!

Pulling off a flawless hockey playoff draft is nearly impossible, but what’s the fun in being a hockey fan if you don’t go out on a limb every once in a while?

So without further ado…

2011 Fantasy Hockey Top 5 Picks: Centers

1. Henrik Sedin – Team bound to play a lot of games = a lot of points.
2. Ryan Getzlaf – Really hot down the stretch.
3. Joe Thornton – Jumbo Joe could be #1 if the Sharks finally win games.
4. Steve Stamkos – Team is iffy, but Stamkos is electric.
5. Nicklas Backstrom – Playing with A+ wingers doesn’t hurt…

Picking the top center of the team you think will advance furthest is a good strategy here, even if the player isn’t a top 5 scorer. For instance, if you think the Wings will keep winning series, take Datsyuk over Sedin any day. Playoff pool drafts are all about taking the best players from the TEAMS you think will play the most games.

Stanley Cup Fantasy Draft Top 10 Wingers

1. Martin St. Louis – An ageless assist machine.
2. Claude Giroux – Haven’t heard of Giroux before? That’ll change…
3. Alex Ovechkin – Enough said.
4. Milan Lucic – Possible sleeper pick, Lucic was born to play playoff hockey.
5. Alex Semin – If the Caps make a run, Semin could pot 15 goals.
6. Patrick Marleau – Red hot down the stretch
7. Marian Hossa – If you think the Hawks will win games, a good pick.
8. Henrik Zetterberg – Like money in the bank.
9. Bobby Ryan – Sleeper pick on a fringe playoff team.
10. Daniel Sedin – Oh right, we forgot about the Art Ross trophy winning winger playing on the President’s Cup winning team…

Again, it’s all about picking a winning team. Or, if you’re feeling risky, wait until the 8th place teams settle into place and pick 100% off their rosters.

Fantasy Playoff Top 10 Defensemen

1. Nick Lidstrom – Possibly his final kick at the can?
2. Brian Rafalski – Possibly the best #2 d-man in hockey.
3. Drew Doughty – The Kings could go deep this year.
4. Zdeno Chara – The East’s top team?
5. Tomas Kaberle – Could well score a point every time the B’s play.
6. Chris Pronger – Love him or hate him, he might be the safest bet on this list.
7. Jack Johnson – Possible sleeper pick.
8. Alexander Edler – If Vancouver keeps winning, Edler will get points.
9. Dan Boyle – #1 D on a top contending team.
10. Christian Ehrhoff – Another solid Canuck option.

Lubomir Visnovsky would be one of the top picks if you liked the Ducks’ chances of winning games, but those are pretty slim odds.

2011 Hockey Pools’ Top 10 Goalies

1. Roberto Luongo – The West’s #1 safest choice?
2. Ryan Miller – Great goalie, mediocre team.
3. Jimmy Howard – Okay goalie, great team.
4. Carey Price – For Habs fans this is the start of a good era…
5. Antti Niemi – If the Sharks can score, Niemi will win many games.
6. Cam Ward – Maybe not his year, but who knows?
7. Marc-Andre Fleury – Prime Conn Smythe Trophy candidate.
8. Nichal Neuvirth – Will he play or won’t he? Risky pick.
9. Ilya Bryzgalov – Great goalie, mediocre team.
10. Tim Thomas – Likely Vezina winner and possibly the best Eastern Conference playoff choice

Who will win 16 games? That’s the big question.

2011 NHL Stanley Cup Team Predictions

This is an intriguing year in the Eastern Conference. The Penguins have key injuries in Crosby and Malkin, the Flyers have struggled of late, the Caps have goaltending questions, and there are several hot goalies in the lower seeded teams that could steal series all by themselves. The Bruins are the clear #1 pick for the Eastern Conference because they constantly outmatch their opponents in goal and defense. Their scoring is just good enough, plus deep throughout the lineup, making them the odds-on favourite to emerge out of the East. If you believe in odds when it comes to playoffs, that is…

The West is more of a question mark. Yes, the Canucks are #1 and seem relentless, but do they have the passion to win games 5, 6 and 7? Really?

The Sharks are highly motivated, led by former Captain Marleau who has once again proven why he was chosen Captain in the first place. Of all the Western teams, their desire to win it all may be the highest.

The Red Wings are always good, so barring major injuries, they could easily again emerge as the Cup finalist.

The remaining teams all have pros and cons. Pekka Rinne could win the playoffs all by himself, and the defending champ Blackhawks might not even show up for the party.

Sneezl is predicting a final series between the San Jose Sharks and the Boston Bruins, with the Sharks winning the series in 7 games. I sure don’t like the Sharks, but their chances to win are as good as anyone’s!

(Remember: have fun and don’t gamble!)

Good luck with your drafts!