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.

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.

Open Ice: The Phil Factor

Sean Allen looks at the difference a single player can make on an team, using Phil Kessel and Ryan Smyth as the positive and negative examples of the rule.

NHL Forecaster: Holiday traffic

The Chicago Blackhawks hit the road, heading west for the Thanksgiving week, but don't fret. In his Week 8 NHL Forecaster, Sean Allen says the Hawks will feast upon weak opponents.

06 November 2009: Chicago Blackhawks right wing Patrick Kane (88) during a regular season game between the Colorado Avalanche and the Chicago Blackhawks at the...

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.

Front Line: Ascending Kings

Sean Allen revises his preseason opinions on certain players based on the on-ice action to date. Among his latest conclusions: The LA Kings are better than advertised, and the St. Louis Blues are not.

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.

Niklas Hjalmarsson (L to R), Patrick Kane, Dustin Byfuglien, Brian Campbell and Dave Rolland of the Chicago Blackhawks celebrate the first goal scored...