Tim Gleason

Gleason's +12 differential in 2011-2012 led all Hurricanes, though his fantasy owners were left wishing the 29 year-old blue-liner had been directly involved in a few more of those goals, finishing the season with one goal and 17 assists. Though the +12 rating might be enticing when the later rounds of your draft roll around, savvy owners should pass on Gleason; outside of last season, his track record in the plus-minus is spotty at best and he does not have the offensive upside that make him worth a gamble in any but the deepest of leagues.

Gleason is a character player who likes to work in his own zone and disrupt the flow of the opposition. He blocked a team-high 141 shots in 2010-11, and collected 85 penalty minutes to boot. All of this makes Gleason an invaluable cog on Carolina’s blue line, but limited upside handling the puck leaves him out of the spotlight as it pertains to fantasy hockey.

Arguably the biggest highlight of Gleason's 2009-10 campaign was being selected to play in the 2010 Winter Olympics as a replacement to Mike Komisarek, a Toronto defenseman who was injured at the time. Prior to the selection, Gleason was one of the most underrated defensemen in the NHL. He's more of a stay-at-home type, however, resulting in few scoring opportunities, but he's good for the occasional assist on a Carolina blue line that figures to improve in 2010-11. Be forewarned that he sustained a broken bone in his foot late last season, even though he's had an offseason to heal.

Skip over Gleason if you’re looking for a rearguard with a polished touch on offense. He did manage 12 assists last season, but unquestionably, his job is geared more towards shutting down opponents.

He's a solidly-built rearguard who has yet to demonstrate any real offensive prowess. Some growth in his point total would not be totally unexpected, but a sudden jump to the 35-40 point range is probably not in the cards for 2008-09. He definitely figures in Carolina's long-term plans, as the team gave him a four-year contract over the summer.

Gleason probably has a job on the Carolina blue line, but he has no business being in your fantasy plans this season.

Has the ability to be an offensive force in the NHL, but he may need a season or two to develop it. Nevertheless, the Kings feel confident putting him out there every game and he will be in the top four coming out of camp.