2017 NHL Playoff Pool Tips
2017 NHL Playoff Pool Tips
Winning a NHL Playoff Pool is quite different from winning a regular season Fantasy Hockey or Hockey Pool championship. Playoffs pools are exciting and hinge on something quite different from the regular season, amount of games played. During a season pool every player will play 82 games, a playoff pool can be determined by who lasts the longest. I have compiled some simple tips for you to win your 2017 NHL Playoff Pool.
Narrow It Down
I won my 2015 NHL Playoff Pool by loading up on players from two teams, the Blackhawks and the Lightning. That strategy obviously worked since both teams ended up in the Stanley Cup finals. The key to winning a playoff pool is to pick players who will last a long time in the playoffs. It doesn’t matter if you are picking the best players in the NHL, you will be doomed if they are not going to go very far in the playoffs. You want players who will make it through the bracket and accumulate points along the way.
Have A Few Options/Back Up Plan
I believe the Blackhawks and Capitals are going to be the two teams who make a serious push in the playoffs. Other people most likely believe this as well. In a Box Pool you can select whoever you want and can even end up with the same team as others. In a draft you may see the team you want players from get depleted quickly. Have a framework in your mind of what teams you think could make the Stanley Cup Finals, Conference Finals, past the first round etc; One year I won a playoff pool because I had players from Nashville make a deep push to the Conference Finals. Be flexible, but know what you are doing.
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No Bias
This is a tricky point. If you want to just cheer your team on and hope for the best ignore this point. If you want to actually win your pool do not draft with bias. I am an Ottawa Senators fan, I am not going to target the Ottawa Senators in my draft. Why? I do not believe that they are the team most likely to make it to the Eastern Conference Finals. There are plenty of other teams I will target before I target the Senators. Try to not let your love for your favorite team impact how you pick in a playoff pool.
Target Players Who Actually Score
You want to pick players who have 1st or 2nd line roles, players who are on the PP, players who are put in a position to succeed. I am not going to be picking players like Jordin Tootoo or Daniel Winnick, even thought I think their teams are going to go to the Cup Finals. I am not picking fourth line players.
Do Not Pick Injured Players
This may seem really simple… But DO NOT PICK PLAYERS WHO WILL NOT PLAY. Kris Letang is a prime example of this. Letang is a high point producer on Pittsburgh, he is going to miss 4-6 weeks of action with a neck injury. Having Letang on your team will result in you accruing zero points in your playoff pool.
Good Luck!
Good luck in your playoff pool! Think about who you see making the Stanley Cup finals and pick accordingly. If the team you favor gets depleted quick transition to taking players who you think will make the conference finals. Do not draft with bias, do not draft injured players and target players who will actually score. Good luck!
Next: 2017 Printable Playoff Bracket
Best of luck in your NHL Playoff Pool and stay tuned to Fantasy CPR each and every day for all your fantasy sports news and analysis!