Total Pro Sports – With the NHL  regular season over and the NHL playoffs now under way it’s time to take a look back at the 2008-09 the NHL season and see who some of the top players were in terms of fantasy.

This entry will take a look at some of the players, 10 to be exact, who increased their value or surprised during the season. We’ll be keeping out the usual suspects, so if you’re looking for Alexander Ovechkin, Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin you wont find them.

Lets take a look at the 2008-09 NHL Fantasy Studs.

LW – Zach Parise – New Jersey Devils: These weren’t your typical New Jersey Devils this year as they finished in the top 15 for goals for with 238 and were lead by the young gun Zach Parise. In 82 games this year Parise scored 45 goals and had 49 assists for 94 points with 30 of those points coming on the power play. Zach also registered 24 penalty minutes, a plus/minus rating of plus-30, 364 shots on goal and 8 game winning goals.

C – Jeff Carter – Philadelphia Flyers: The Philadelphia Flyers were a goal scoring machine this year finishing 5th for goals for with 260 and a large part of that had to do with the great play of  the young goal scorer known as Jeff Carter. In 82 games this year Carter netted 46 goals and had 38 helpers for 84 points with 24 of those points coming while on the power play. Jeff also registered 68 penalty minutes, a plus/minus rating of plus-23, 342 shots on goal and 12 game winning goals.

C – Ryan Getzlaf – Anaheim Ducks: The Anaheim Ducks had a disappointing season this year but still managed to make it into the playoffs and Ryan Getzlaf was a major reason why. In 81 games this year Getzlaf scored 25 goals and had 66 assists for 91 points with 37 of those points coming on the power play. Ryan also had 121 penalty minutes, a plus/minus rating of plus-5, 227 shots on goal and 2 game winning goals.

C – Marc Savard – Boston Bruins: The Boston Bruins surprised everybody this season by winning the Northeast Division and finishing 1st in the Eastern Conference and Marc Savard ‘s top notch playmaking abilities were a big reason why. In 82 games this year Savard scored 25 goals and had 63 assists for 88 points with 30 of those points coming on the power play. Marc also registered 70 penalty minutes, a plus/minus rating of plus-25, 213 shots on goal and 5 game winning goals.

RW/LW – Alexander Semin – Washington Capitals: The Washington Capitals finished 3rd for goals for with 268 and, aside from Ovechkin, Alexander Semin was a key factor in Washington’s offence. In 62 games this year Semin scored 34 goals and added 45 assists for 79 points with 30 of those points coming on the power play. Alexander also had 77 penalty minutes, a plus/minus rating of plus-25, 223 shots on goal and 8 game winning goals.

D – Mike Green – Washington Capitals: In what will surely be a Norris Trophy season for the offensive d-man, Mike Green played a big role in the Washington Capitals winning the Southeast Division and finishing 2nd in the Eastern Conference. In 68 games this year Green scored 31 goals and had 42 assists for 73 points with 38 of those points coming on the power play. Mike also registered 68 penalty minutes, a plus/minus rating of plus-24, 243 shots on goal, and 4 game winning goals.

D – Dan Boyle – San Jose Sharks: Definitely a big rebound year for Dan Boyle who was instrumental in the San Jose Sharks winning the Pacific Division, finishing 1st in the Western Conference and winning the Presidents Trophy as the league’s top team. In 77 games this year Boyle scored 16 goals and added 41 assists for 57 points with 32 of those points coming on the power play. Dan also registered 52 penalty minutes, a plus/minus rating of plus-6, 213 shots on goal and 4 game winning goals.

D – Shea Weber – Nashville Predators: The Nashville Predators weren’t quite able to make the playoffs this year but it was a great breakthrough year for their #1 d-man Shea Weber. In 81 games this year Weber scored 23 goals and added 30 assists for 53 points with 19 of those points coming on the power play. Shea also registered 80 penalty minutes, a plus/mius rating of plus-1, 251 shots on goal and 4 game winning goals.

G – Steve Mason – Columbus Blue Jackets: A terrific season for the Columbus Blue Jackets as they made the playoffs for the first time in franchise history and the shoe-in for the Calder Trophy goalie Steve Mason had a lot to do with it. In 61 games this year Mason recorded 33 wins while posting a 2.29 GAA, .916 SAV% and a league leading 10 shutouts. The future obviously looks bright for this young goaltender and is a must have for the 2009-10 fantasy season.

G – Niklas Backstrom – Minnesota Wild: A disappointing season for the Minnesota Wild as they failed to make the playoffs but it wasn’t from a lack of effort by their goaltender Niklas Backstrom. In 71 games this year Backstrom recorded 37 wins while posting a 2.33 GAA, .923 SAV% and 8 shutouts. Niklas also made a whopping 1900 saves during the season. Although things appear to be up in the air with the Wild right now, Backstrom is still a solid fantasy option and should be good for at least 30 wins again next season.

Remember to check back tomorrow to take a look at our 2008-09 NHL Fantasy Duds.

This entry will take a look at some of the players, 10 to be exact, who either increased their value or surprised many of us. So, if you’re looking for Alexander Ovechkin, Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin you wont find them on this list.

Lets take a look at the 2008-09 NHL First Half Fantasy Studs.

C – Ryan Getzlaf – Anaheim Ducks: It’s no surprise he’s one of the bright young players in the league, but no one expected him to do this well. He currently sits tied for 4th overall in the league for points with 56 (17 goals & 39 assists). He’s also managed to rack up 85 penalty minutes and 26 power play points.

C – Jeff Carter – Philadelphia Flyers: Carter had a promising rookie campaign back in 2005-06 but had troubles improving on it the last two seasons. That all changed this year as he’s currently 2nd overall in the league for goals scored with 30.  He’s also managed 21 assists for 51 points on the season so far.

LW – Zach Parise – New Jersey Devils: For being on a team not known for scoring, Parise is having himself one helluva season. Zach is tied for 5th overall in the league for points with 55 (28 goals & 27 assists). He also has a +/- rating of plus-20, 193 shots on goal and averaging 1.17 points per game.

C – David Krejci – Boston Bruins: Look up the word “surprising” in the dictionary and you’ll see a picture of this man right beside it, although most people probably don’t even know what he looks like. Krejci has played a big part in the Bruins success thus far and if you don’t believe me just look at his stats. He’s in the top 10 in the league for points with 52 (17 goals & 35 assists), has a +/- rating of plus-25 and has put up 15 power play points.

RW – Devin Setoguchi – San Jose Sharks: A team like the Sharks already stacked with players like Thornton, Marleau, Michalek and Boyle no one really expected anything out of sophmore Setoguchi. However, he’s already more than doubled his points from last season in the same amount of games, 44 points in 44 games, and has a +/- rating of plus-16.

D – Dennis Wideman – Boston Bruins: Just like Krejci, Wideman has played a big part in the turn around of the Boston Bruins this season. He’s tied for 6th amoung defencemen in the NHL for points with 31 (9 goals & 22 assists) and has a +/- rating of plus-26.

D – Shea Weber – Nashville Predators: On what has been an up and down season for the Predators they’ve been able to rely on one constant the whole season, Shea Weber. Weber is tied for 5th amoung defencemen in the NHL for points with 32 (14 goals & 18 assists). He’s also managed 11 points on the power play and has a +/- rating of plus-6, which is pretty good for being on a not so good team.

D – Rob Blake – San Jose Sharks: Just when it seemed like Blake was on the decline of his career he goes and proves everyone wrong. Blake currently has 29 points (7 goals & 22 assists) and a +/- rating of plus-13.

G – Steve Mason – Columbus Blue Jackets: Not even the Blue Jackets expected this one. He started out the season in the AHL but due to an injury to Pascal Leclaire he was called up and never looked back. Mason has collected 17 wins, and posted a league leading 2.05 GAA, .926 SAV% and also leads the league with 6 shutouts. Oh, and I forgot to mention he’s done all of that in just 30 games so far on a weak Columbus team who are fighting for 8th in the West because of his great play.

G – Scott Clemmensen – New Jersey Devils: When Martin Brodeur went down due to injury everyone thought the Devils season went down with it. However, a man by the last name of Clemmensen had something to say about that. In 30 games so far he’s collected 19 wins while posting a 2.29 GAA and a .922 SAV%.

Remember to check back tomorrow to take a look at our 2008-09 NHL First Half Fantasy Duds.