Open Ice: A new play on the Rater

Sean Allen takes an alternate look at player values by evaluating only the scoring categories for the top players owned in ESPN standard fantasy hockey leagues.

Front Line: Deconstructing Mike Fisher

Sean Allen explains the disparity between his ranking of Mike Fisher and what Player Rater says about the Senators forward's stats.

Front Line: Has Gaborik reached peak?

Marian Gaborik has risen up to No. 5 in the forwards rankings after a great start, but Sean Allen thinks he can't get much higher.

Open Ice: Howard spreads his wings

Sean Allen proposes some worthy fantasy hockey pickups such as new Red Wings starting goalie Jimmy Howard and some new blood on the top lines in Colorado and Florida.

Front Line: Hossa back, rising

Marian Hossa defied even the most optimistic of prognoses by returning to the Blackhawks before the calendar turned to December. With his injury behind him, Sean Allen is ready to consider him elite again.

Front Line: What's wrong with Havlat?

Sean Allen explores three possible explanations for Martin Havlat's struggles in his weekly roundup and rankings of everything related to fantasy hockey forwards.

Front Line: Stars shine

Sean Allen takes a closer look at the teams that are scoring more than expected, like the Dallas Stars, and adjusts their forwards accordingly in his weekly news and rankings feature.

Front Line: Ranking the injured

Ranking the injured, and players returning from injury, can be tricky business. Sean Allen reveals his methods as he introduces the convalescing Phil Kessel to the rankings.

Front Line: Let your sleepers lie

Sean Allen ponders the question of how long you should wait on your sleepers before deciding this isn't their year and running the risk of watching them live up to their potential on someone else's roster. Plus, weekly forward news, notes and rankings.

NHL Forecaster: Wild, wild week

Sean Allen previews Week 4 of the NHL season, advising fantasy owners to load up on Nashville Predators opponents, including the Minnesota Wild.

PHILADELPHIA - SEPTEMBER 29: Andrew Brunette #15 of the Minnesota Wild skates against the Philadelphia Flyers during the preseason NHL game at...

Front Line: A leap of faith

Sean Allen explains why he is willing to move up injury-prone forwards Marian Gaborik and Martin Havlat in his weekly forwards rankings.

Northwest Division preview

Sean Allen looks at every Northwest Division team from the fantasy hockey perspective for the 2009-10 season.

Forwards: Ovechkin, Malkin at top

Fantasy hockey forwards rankings for the 2009-10 season

Open Ice: Finding solutions for your late-season problems

Sean Allen is in Q-and-A mode as he addresses late-season problems fantasy owners could have.