This preseason has been especially rough around the NHL as multiple players have been dinged up and several will be out for an extended period of time. Luckily, most of the players who have been injured this preseason won’t be out for long. However, when you’re drafting a fantasy hockey team, how do you value those players who will be out for an extended period of time?

Obviously there are guys like Raffi Torres or Josh Harding that nobody should be drafting unless you’re in either a dynasty league or very large league with multiple IR spots where you can stash them until the second half of the season. There are plenty of players, however, who will be back in the next month or two who have value in most 10 or 12 team leagues.

Valuing Injured Players in Your Fantasy Hockey Draft

Pavel Datsyuk: Shoulder Injury - Returns Mid-to-Late October

Datsyuk only played 45 games last season due to injury, and now he’s hurt again. This doesn’t bode well for a guy who’s 36 and on the downside of his career. Last season it was a knee injury that limited Datsyuk. This year, it’s his shoulder. Hopefully this doesn’t limit the elite stick handling that makes him a highlight machine, but it’s a real cause for concern. Aside from the lockout shortened 2012 season, Datsyuk has missed at least 12 games each full season since 2009. With an average draft position of 43rd on Yahoo right now, Datsyuk is being taken too soon in most leagues. When he’s healthy he’s still great, but you should let someone else take a chance on him if he’s going that high.

Jonathan Drouin: Fractured Thumb - Returns Mid-to-Late October

Lightning GM Steve Yzerman has stated that Drouin will most likely make the roster, which is good news for Tampa Bay fans. However, the rookie will be recovering from a fractured thumb for the next few weeks. Drouin is currently being drafted 120-130th overall in fantasy leagues. While that would be fine if Drouin ends up playing on a line with Steven Stamkos, he’s currently listed as the second line left wing in Tampa Bay. Considering that Drouin has never played in the NHL, is coming off an injury, and might not be playing on the top line, it seems like he’s slightly overvalued in anything but keeper leagues. The Tampa Bay Times is reporting that Drouin is hoping to be available for the team’s home opener on Oct 9th. That’s a very good sign and if it’s the case, his draft position is justified. Given the hype around Drouin and the organizations’ faith in him, he’s probably worth grabbing before someone else does. Especially if he’s the potential rookie of the year candidate people think he’ll be.

Derek Stepan: Fractured Fibula - Returns Late October/Early November

Last season Stepan started slowly (0 goals in October) partially because he sat out of training camp due to a contract dispute. If he started slow when he was healthy last year, will missing training camp and bouncing back from an injury mean he plays even worse this year when he returns? Stepan’s average draft position is 155th on Yahoo right now. While he did have a decent second half last year, he is going way too high if he’s going to miss possibly a month or more of the season, and has started slowly in the past. You should let someone else draft him. When he starts to show signs of life perhaps you can buy him low and hope he turns it on in the second half of the season again.

Jordan Staal: Broken Leg - Returns in January

It’s been a week since Staal broke his leg and still his average draft position is 159th. Why? Please don’t be the person who drafts Staal. He’s not Steven Stamkos and won’t be superhuman coming back from a broken leg. By the time he returns everyone will be in mid-season form making it more difficult to adjust to the game speed, especially when dealing with leg injuries and he’ll be a step slower. Wait for Staal to come back from his injury, see how he looks, then grab him off the waiver-wire if he can help you.

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