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: 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.

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.

Front Line: Semin on the rise

Sean Allen's news, notes and rankings of fantasy hockey forwards focuses on the rise of Alexander Semin to the Washington Capitals' top line.

Central Division preview

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

ST. LOUIS - OCTOBER 30: Paul Kariya #9 of the St. Louis Blues of the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday, October 30, 2008 at...

Ovechkin, Crosby go 1-2

Victoria Matiash breaks down the 22 rounds of the first fantasy hockey mock draft of the season.

Forwards: Ovechkin, Malkin at top

Fantasy hockey forwards rankings for the 2009-10 season

2009-10 Sleepers and Busts

ESPN.com fantasy hockey writers reveal their favorite sleeper and most dreaded bust candidates for the 2009-10 fantasy hockey season.

The best among the rookies and sophs

Sean Allen scans the NHL rookies and sophomores for potential sleepers.

Fantasy Forecaster: Strike With Oilers

Tristan H. Cockcroft breaks down the week ahead in the NHL, highlighting teams with the most games and the best and worst matchups.

Open Ice: Five underowned defensemen

Sean Allen leads off his weekly pickups column by profiling five underowned fantasy hockey defensemen.

Fantasy Forecaster: Belief in the Blackhawks

Tristan H. Cockcroft breaks down the weekly schedule, highlighting teams with the most games and the best and worst matchups.