Cherry Picking.

So the very first Just A Bit Offside hockey fantasy draft just concluded. 10 bloggers. Winner take all. Thanks to those that signed up, and thanks to those that expressed interest, but didn't sign up in time. Maybe next year.

You'd think with it being my league, I would've ended up with a better draft position. But no. Hell no. I ended up with the 10th pick. Dead freakin' last.

So that means a drastic, last minute, change in strategy. Forget about elite goal scores and top flight goalies. They'll be gone by the time I pick. Let's concentrate on some of the scoring catagories I can win. Penalty minutes. +/-, blocked shots, hits...

Starting lineup is 2 Centers, 2 RW, 2 LW, 4 Defense, 1 Forward, 2 Goalies

So with that in mind, I give you the Don Cherry Pickers.

Round One - 10th pick - Mike Green, Defense Washington

Round Two - 11th pick - Drew Doughty, Defense Los Angeles

and with that, I locked up the top two elite defensemen in the NHL. Others weeped.

Round Three - 30th pick - Jimmy Howard, Goalie Detroit

Round Four - 31st pick - Joe Thornton, Center, San Jose

one of the top 5 goalies in the league, good for 40 wins, and the top assist man in hockey.

Round Five - 50th pick - Jeff Carter, Center, Philadelphia

Round Six - 51st pick - Mike Cammalleri, LW, Montreal

one of the top all around players in the league, and the #1 point scorer for my favourite team. (homer pick)

Round Seven - 70th pick - Scott Hartnell, LW, Philadelphia

Round Eight - 71st pick - Steve Downie, RW, Tampa Bay

here's where I go big or go home. Two 25 goal scorers who are always in the top 5 in penalty minutes. Took them early, but had to.

Round Nine - 90th pick - Carey Price, G, Montreal

Round Ten - 91st pick - P.K. Subban, Defense, Montreal

Price is the man in Montreal now, a lock for 30-38 wins easy, to get him this late was golden.  Everyone knew I was getting Subban, it was only a matter of when.

Round Eleven - 110th pick - Mike Knuble, RW, Washington

Round Twelve - 11th pick - Lubomir Visnovsky, D, Anaheim

a 30 goal 70 point man in the 11th round? Yes please. And 20 goal man Lubomir rounds out my defense core nicely.

Round Thirteen - 130th pick - Dustin Brown, RW, Los Angeles

Round Fourteen - 131st pick - Antii Niemi, G, San Jose

a tough gritty winger who is one of the top hitters in hockey, and the #1 goalie for the best team of the last three years.

Round Fifteen - 150th pick - Mason Raymond, LW, Vancouver

Round Sixteen - 151st pick - Wojtek Wolski, LW, Phoenix

two good 20-25 goal wingers this late, absolutely.

Round Seventeen - 170th pick - Scott Gomez, C, Montreal

the number one line center of the Montreal Canadiens for Mr Irrelevant.

So there you go. No Ovechkin, No Stamkos, No Crosby or Brodeur.... but I'll win it all just the same.