Toronto Maple Leafs: Which players should be on your Fantasy team?

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Fantasy Hockey is always a difficult game to play but for hockey fans it forces us to keep track on everything going on in the NHL. Eastern Conference fans have stay up to date on the Western Conference and vice versa. Staying up late watching a Western Conference team because a player on that team was on your Fantasy roster (best excuse to stay up late and watch more hockey, I’m not complaining). The other problem is that fans want to have the best team but want to include a player from their own team on their roster (to which your friend a homer and a argument ensue). I usually try to get a Toronto Maple Leafs player on my roster but I always rank them with the rest of the NHL so that I can justify drafting them.

Sep 23, 2014; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs forward Brandon Kozun (67) celebrates his goal against the Philadelphia Flyers with Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Henrik Tallinder (22) and forward Trevor Smith (23) and defenceman Jake Gardiner (51) at the Air Canada Centre. Toronto defeated Philadelphia 4-0. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports

Apr 10, 2014; Sunrise, FL, USA; Toronto Maple Leafs center Tyler Bozak (42) celebrates his goal against the Florida Panthers with left wing James van Riemsdyk (21) right wing Phil Kessel (81) and defenseman Jake Gardiner (51) in the second period at BB&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports

The creation of fantasy sports has given sports fans something fun, competitive and at times frustrating to the point of having a temper tantrums (not my brightest moments ) to participate in. Fantasy Football dominates the field mainly because of the popularity of the NFL and because games are played once a week which is manageable. Fantasy Hockey on the other hand requires more attention. Rosters need to be set almost every night and Saturday lineups are the worst to figure out, do I play Phil Kessel against the Boston Bruins or play Logan Couture against the Anaheim Ducks. As a Fantasy owner you should face tough lineup decisions, if the choice is too easy to sit a player he may not be worth a spot on your roster.

One tip that works for me is to try to avoid front loading one position in the draft, do not panic about losing a player, stick to your strategy and avoid taking a player because you are afraid of him being picked. For example if Jake Gardiner is ranked 213th overall do not select him 75th overall. A better option may be available and just like any draft you take the best player available, or draft the best player in the position on your team that needs to be filled (i.e. if you need a defencemen take the best defencemen even if the best player available is a forward). Goalies usually go fast so do not be afraid to get your goalies a bit earlier, in one pool I had Henrik Lundqvist and Jonathan Quick as my goalies while maintaining a decent roster.

So for the Toronto Maple Leafs fans that want to draft a player on the team to be a part of your roster here is my top 10 rankings for Leafs fantasy players

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