Sunday, September 18, 2011

30 in 30: Top NHL Fantasy Sleeper Picks - Minnesota Wild

It’s almost time for those annual fantasy hockey drafts. While most drafts feature the same players going in the first two rounds, it’s those players that you take in the mid-late rounds that will win you your league. Here’s the fourteenth of the thirty players that could be great sleeper picks in your draft this year.
 
Guillaume Latendresse - Minnesota Wild
Position – Left Wing
Height – 6’2”
Weight – 230
Drafted - 2nd Round, 45th Overall, 2005 NHL Entry Draft
2010/2011 Stats – 11GP, 3G, 3A, 6P, +2, 8PIM
 
There were a lot of high expectations on Guillaume Latendresse heading into last season. During the 2009/2010 season he had been traded by the Montreal Canadiens to the Minnesota Wild for young forward Benoit Pouliot. Both players had run their course with the teams that drafted them and it seemed like the change of scenery did wonders for both of them, especially Latendresse. Before being traded to the Wild, Latendresse had 3 points in 23 games. After the trade he rejuvenated his career by scoring 37 points in 55 games. The Wild were so impressed that they resigned him that off-season to a two year deal worth $5million. In the first year of his new contract he suffered a groin injury in November and ended up missing most of the season while on the injured reserve list.
 
It will be important for Latendresse to have a bounce back season this year. After the team acquired Dany Heatley, it's safe to assume that a healthy Latendresse will be penciled in on the team's second line with Matt Cullen and Devin Setoguchi. With his six points last season it will be easy to overlook Latendresse but if he can stay healthy he could be a great late round pick up for your team.
 
Previous Sleeper Picks:

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