Fantasy Corner: Centers 61-90

61. Tomas Plekanec, MTL (Age: 26)
‘08-‘09 Stats: 80 GP, 20 G, 19 A, 39 PTS, -9, 54 PIM
3-Year Average: 81 GP, 23 G, 29 A, 52 PTS, +5, 44 PIM
Note: Plekanec did not come close to matching the numbers he put up in ’07-’08, his breakout year (81 GP, 69 PTS). He had four separate stretches of at least seven games without a point, and was in a horrible funk to end the year (18 GP, 3 PTS).

62. Steve Ott, DAL (Age: 27)
‘08-‘09 Stats: 64 GP, 19 G, 27 A, 46 PTS, +3, 135 PIM
3-Year Average: 52 GP, 10 G, 14 A, 24 PTS, +0, 106 PIM
Note: Ott has always had a knack for finding the penalty box, but he developed more of a knack for finding the back of the net in ‘08-’09.

63. Valtteri Filppula, DET (Age: 25)
‘08-‘09 Stats: 80 GP, 12 G, 28 A, 40 PTS, +9, 42 PIM
3-Year Average: 77 GP, 14 G, 17 A, 31 PTS, +11, 30 PIM
Note: Filppula could be in for a breakout season as he was an offensive threat down the stretch for the Wings last year. He tallied 16 points in 23 playoff games (3 G, 13 A).

64. Rich Peverley, ATL (Age: 27)
‘08-‘09 Stats: 66 GP, 15 G, 29 A, 44 PTS, +13, 33 PIM
3-Year Average: 66 GP, 15 G, 29 A, 44 PTS, +13, 33 PIM*
Note: A change of scenery sure did Peverly some good, as he thrived after being traded from Nashville to Atlanta (39 GP, 35 PTS). He also carried a +16 rating with the Thrashers, the highest of all the team’s forwards.

65. Keith Tkachuk, STL (Age: 37)
‘08-‘09 Stats: 79 GP, 25 G, 24 A, 49 PTS, -11, 61 PIM
3-Year Average: 79 GP, 26 G, 29 A, 55 PTS, -2, 55 PIM
Note: Tkachuk still has juice left in the tank, as he scored 25 goals for the 3rd consecutive season. He tied for 8th in the NHL and ranked 1st on the Blues with 14 PPG.

66. Andrew Cogliano, EDM (Age: 22)
‘08-‘09 Stats: 82 GP, 18 G, 20 A, 38 PTS, -6, 22 PIM
3-Year Average: 82 GP, 18 G, 24 A, 42 PTS, -3, 21 PIM**
Note: Cogliano recorded back-to-back 18 goal seasons in his first two years in the NHL. He has a lot of upside and 20-25 goals is not out of reach for him in ’09-’10.

67. Cody Hodgson, VAN (Age: 19)
‘08-‘09 Stats: N/A
3-Year Average: N/A
Note: Hodgson was ranked as a top 5 prospect by The Hockey News back in April (ahead of guys like Derick Brassard, T.J. Oshie, and Claude Giroux). He could be stuck on the 3rd line, though, with Henrik Sedin and Kesler ahead of him.

68. Matt Cullen, CAR (Age: 32)
‘08-‘09 Stats: 69 GP, 22 G, 21 A, 43 PTS, +11, 20 PIM
3-Year Average: 69 GP, 17 G, 27 A, 44 PTS, +4, 35 PIM
Note: Cullen has recorded at least 40 points in each of the four seasons since the lockout. He scored 20 goals for the 2nd time in his career in ’08-’09.

69. James Sheppard, MIN (Age: 21)
‘08-‘09 Stats: 82 GP, 5 G, 19 A, 24 PTS, -14, 41 PIM
3-Year Average: 80 GP, 5 G, 17 A, 22 PTS, -7, 35 PIM**
Note: Sheppard could be in for a breakout year under new head coach Todd Richards in Minnesota. He won’t be drafted in most leagues, but he is worth keeping an eye on as he could center the 2nd line for the Wild.

70. Doug Weight, NYI (Age: 38)
‘08-‘09 Stats: 53 GP, 10 G, 28 A, 38 PTS, -15, 55 PIM
3-Year Average: 75 GP, 19 G, 23 A, 42 PTS, +2, 63 PIM
Note: Weight still has the ability, but not the talent around him, to produce decent stats. He could be moved at the trade deadline and become this year’s version of Bill Guerin as the Islanders don’t figure to be in the playoff race come March.

71. Rod Brind’Amour, CAR (Age: 39)
‘08-‘09 Stats: 80 GP, 16 G, 35 A, 51 PTS, -23, 36 PIM
3-Year Average: 72 GP, 20 G, 41 A, 61 PTS, -5, 40 PIM
Note: The 38 year old captain has lost a step, recording a dreadful -23 +/- rating on a ‘Canes team that reached the ECF last season. While he recorded a point in 14 of the last 17 regular season games, he was virtually invisible in the playoffs (21 GP, 4 PTS).

72. Dainius Zubrus, NJD (Age: 31)
‘08-‘09 Stats: 82 GP, 15 G, 25 A, 40 PTS, +6, 69 PIM
3-Year Average: 81 GP, 17 G, 29 A, 46 PTS, -4, 56 PIM
Note: Zubrus has seen a drop in production in his two seasons in New Jersey. He did not record a multi-point game in his final 39 regular season games and had only one point in the playoffs (7 GP).

73. Kyle Turris, PHX (Age: 20)
‘08-‘09 Stats: 63 GP, 8 G, 12 A, 20 PTS, -15, 1 PIM
3-Year Average: 63 GP, 8 G, 12 A, 20 PTS, -15, 1 PIM*
Note: The 3rd overall pick in 2007 has a lot of upside but I feel that it might take some time for him to blossom and reach his full potential. He may be a year away from warranting serious fantasy consideration.

74. Martin Hanzal, PHX (Age: 22)
‘08-‘09 Stats: 74 GP, 11 G, 20 A, 31 PTS, -4, 40 PIM
3-Year Average: 73 GP, 10 G, 24 A, 34 PTS, -6, 34 PIM**
Note: See comment above. Like his teammate, Hanzal may be a year or two away. He only scored two goals in his final 40 games of the ’09-’10 season.

75. Michael Handzus, LAK (Age: 32)
‘08-‘09 Stats: 82 GP, 18 G, 24 A, 42 PTS, -7, 32 PIM
3-Year Average: 57 GP, 9 G, 18 A, 27 PTS, -1, 57 PIM
Note: Handzus rebounded nicely from a poor showing in his first season with L.A. in ’07-’08 (82 GP, 21 PTS). He scored 7 PPG, which is more than double what he had in his three previous seasons.

76. Mike Comrie, FA (Age: 29)
‘08-‘09 Stats: 63 GP,10 G, 17 A, 27 PTS, -15, 32 PIM
3-Year Average: 68 GP, 17 G, 23 A, 40 PTS, -12, 54 PIM
Note: Comrie has yet to sign with a team but should be somebody’s 3rd line center come October 1st. He was battling injuries last year and had the worst season of his career. Playing on a good team could rejuvenate him as he’s been stuck in Phoenix, Ottawa, and New York (Islanders) since the lockout.

77. Craig Conroy, CGY (Age: 37)
‘08-‘09 Stats: 82 GP, 12 G, 36 A, 48 PTS, +20, 28 PIM
3-Year Average: 80 GP,12 G, 27 A, 39 PTS, +8, 52 PIM
Note: Conroy had a bit of a resurgence in ’08-’09 as he nearly topped 50 points. He has a +36 +/- rating since being traded to Calgary at the trade deadline in 2006 (189 GP).

78. Mike Modano, DAL (Age: 39)
‘08-‘09 Stats: 80 GP, 15 G, 31 A, 46 PTS, -13, 46 PIM
3-Year Average: 74 GP, 19 G, 29 A, 48 PTS, -5, 43 PIM
Note: At 39 Modano may finally be running out of gas after failing to record 20 goals for the first time since the lockout. He found the back of the net only one time in his last 35 games a year ago.

79. Josh Bailey, NYI (Age: 19)
‘08-‘09 Stats: 68 GP, 7 G, 18 A, 25 PTS, -14, 16 PIM
3-Year Average: 68 GP, 7 G, 18 A, 25 PTS, -14, 16 PIM*
Note: The Islanders rushed Bailey to the NHL in ’08-’09 and the results were not good. Expect him to post better numbers than he did a year ago.

80. Steve Reinprecht, FLA (Age: 33)
‘08-‘09 Stats: 73 GP,14 G, 27 A, 41 PTS, +0, 20 PIM
3-Year Average: 68 GP, 13 G, 27 A, 40 PTS, -2, 25 PIM
Note: At this point in his career, Reinprecht is your run-of-the-mill 15 goal, 25 assist veteran center. He will only be picked in deeper leagues. I would draft a young player with upside over him.

81. John Mitchell, TOR (Age: 24)
‘08-‘09 Stats: 76 GP, 12 G, 17 A, 29 PTS, -16, 33 PIM
3-Year Average: 76 GP, 12 G, 17 A, 29 PTS, -16, 33 PIM *
Note: Mitchell put up decent numbers in his rookie season with Toronto. He could develop into a 15-20 goal scorer, but Maple Leaf players aren’t all that attractive in fantasy and Mitchell is no different.

82. Paul Gaustad, BUF (Age: 27)
‘08-‘09 Stats: 62 GP, 12 G, 17 A, 29 PTS, +4, 108 PIM
3-Year Average: 66 GP, 10 G, 19 A, 29 PTS, +4, 89 PIM
Note: Gaustad isn’t much of an offensive threat, but he could be useful in deeper leagues that have PIM as a category. He found himself in the box in 27 different games last season.

83. Brendan Morrison, WSH (Age: 34)
‘08-‘09 Stats: 81 GP, 16 G, 15 A, 31 PTS, +3, 32 PIM
3-Year Average: 67 GP, 15 G, 21 A, 36 PTS, -3, 37 PIM
Note: Morrison’s production has really dropped off since he posted 51 points in ’06-’07 with Vancouver. His ceiling isn’t much higher than 35 points, despite the offensive talent surrounding him in Washington.

84. Alex Steen, STL (Age: 25)
‘08-‘09 Stats: 81 GP, 8 G, 20 A, 28 PTS, -10, 30 PIM
3-Year Average: 80 GP, 13 G, 22 A, 35 PTS, -2, 29 PIM
Note: Steen failed to score 10 goals for the first time in his career in ’08-’09. He should be more comfortable in his second year with the Blues and could be a pleasant surprise in deeper leagues.

85. Artem Anisimov, NYR (Age: 21)
‘08-‘09 Stats: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PTS, +0, 0 PIM
3-Year Average: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PTS, +0, 0 PIM*
Note: Anisimov has a good shot to make the Rangers out of camp. For those unfamiliar with the name, think of Anisimov as a Russian Jordan Staal. He won’t make a huge fantasy impact as a 3rd line center, but has good size, can handle the puck well in traffic, and has a good feel for the game overall (hockeysfuture.com).

86. Maxim Lapierre, MTL (Age: 24)
‘08-‘09 Stats: 79 GP, 15 G, 13 A, 28 PTS, +9, 76 PIM
3-Year Average: 66 GP, 11 G, 12 A, 23 PTS, +7, 68 PIM**
Note: Lapierre had the best season of his young career, scoring 10 goals for the first time. He could develop into a quality 3rd line center with 35-40 point potential.

87. Robert Lang, FA (Age: 39)
‘08-‘09 Stats: 50 GP, 18 G, 21 A, 39 PTS, +6, 36 PIM
3-Year Average: 69 GP, 19 G, 29 A, 48 PTS, +9, 51 PIM
Note: Lang would be higher on this list but he is still in limbo between the NHL and the KHL. Don’t draft him, but if he signs on with an NHL team he could be a good waiver wire pickup.

88. Eric Belanger, MIN (Age: 31)
‘08-‘09 Stats: 79 GP, 13 G, 23 A, 36 PTS, -5, 26 PIM
3-Year Average: 78 GP, 14 G, 22 A, 36 PTS, -4, 27 PIM
Note: Belanger has recorded between 33 and 37 points in 6 straight seasons. He may not be great, but at least he’s consistent.

89. Darren Helm, DET (Age: 22)
‘08-‘09 Stats: 16 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 1 PTS, -7, 2 PIM
3-Year Average: 16 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 1 PTS, -7, 2 PIM*
Note: Helm has yet to score a regular season goal, but he has 6 playoff goals in his young career. He should play a full season in Detroit and could put together a decent season on the 3rd line.

90. John Madden, CHI (Age: 32)
‘08-‘09 Stats: 76 GP, 7 G, 16 A, 23 PTS, -7, 26 PIM
3-Year Average: 77 GP, 13 G, 20 A, 33 PTS, -4, 22 PIM
Note: Madden did not post good stats in ’08-’09 but he is only a year removed from scoring 20 goals. He has above-average 3rd line wingers in Ladd and Byfuglien to play alongside.

10 Young Centers to keep an eye on:
Brandon Sutter, CAR (Age: 20)
Cal O’Reilly, NSH (Age: 23)
Colin Wilson, NSH (Age: 19)
Jiri Tlusty, TOR (Age: 21)
Mikael Backlund, CGY (Age: 20)
Oscar Moller, LAK (Age: 20)
Shawn Matthias, FLA (Age: 21)
T.J. Hensick, COL (Age: 23)
Torrey Mitchell, SJS (Age: 24)
Zach Boychuk, CAR (Age: 19)